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WATCH: Why your choice of mattress can affect your sleep, posture
You do not have to suffer through sleepless nights because there is an option available on the market that its makers say can improve your sleep quality and even your posture......»»
Travel with Confidence: Why Quality Travel Gear is a Great Investment
Have you ever left the house for a getaway and found yourself wondering, ‘Did I turn off the lights or appliances? Did I lock the doors and windows?’ These kinds of situations can haunt you during your travels, making for an uncomfortable experience. Traveling worry-free is essential, and ensuring everything is in order before you […].....»»
Indian banking sector continues to improve with better asset quality, high credit growth: Survey
New Delhi [India], March 21 (ANI): The health of the Indian banking sector continues to improve with better asset quality and high credit growth, a survey conducted by industry body FICCI and banking association Indian Banks' Association (IBA) showed. The eighteenth round of the survey was carried out for the period July to December 2023. Those banks that were surveyed together represent about 77 per cent of the banking i.....»»
New species of Amazon anaconda, world’s largest snake, discovered
It was thought that there was only one species of green anaconda in the wild, the Eunectes murinus, but the scientific journal 'Diversity' reveals that the new 'northern green anaconda' belongs to a different, new species, Eunectes akiyama.....»»
Dune: Part Two review: Timothee Chalamet, Zendaya amaze in epic sequel
The vision of filmmaker Denis Villeneuve truly knows no bounds, this as he carries it out once more in his latest film "Dune: Part Two," a continuation of Frank Herbert's iconic novel on the big screen (where it belongs)......»»
Maja Salvador finds her niche in hosting
Maja Salvador belongs to that circle of thespians who have also successfully proven themselves as hosts. Her recent win as Best Host in the Game/Quiz Program category at the Asian TV Awards is a testament to that......»»
Michelle Dee to beauty pageant aspirants: Know and embrace yourself
Michelle Marquez Dee belongs to that circle of Pinay beauty queens who strongly represented the country and left a lasting impression on the global pageant stage......»»
Message of PM Anwar Ibrahim
Crisis brings out the best and the worst in man. It reveals his true persona behind the façade of photo-shopped and public relations-created images. Amidst the Israel-Hamas war, former president Rodrigo Duterte outrageously advised Israel President Benjamin Netanyahu to make “Gaza the world’s biggest cemetery.” And just recently, our ambassador to the United Kingdom twitted on social media (taken down later) that “Palestinian children should be killed . . .” These comments went viral among Moro netizens who unleashed a barrage of angry libelous words against the source. Now, juxtapose this with the public statements by regional leaders about the crisis. And from the gallery of regional statesmen, I pick Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’Seri Anwar Ibrahim whose poignant messages earned the praise of not a few, including non-Muslims. The reaction of these leaders betrays the dichotomy of opinions along religious lines. The Muslim countries, true to their affiliation with the Muslim Palestinians, as members of the World Brotherhood of Muslims or “Ummah Islamiyyah” stood should-to-shoulder with the Palestinians. On the flip side are the non-Muslims led by the United States which condemned the 7 October surprise attack by Hamas on Israel. The world is now on edge because of the strong words of revenge of rightist President Benjamin Netanyahu using the world media stage for his threats of annihilation and cutting off of basic supplies of food, medicines, water, electricity, and fuel to the Palestinians of the Muslim City of Gaza. According to jurists, these are crimes against International Humanitarian Law and other UN covenants and Geneva Conventions. And they claim that while Israel has the right to defend itself, that is not a license to commit genocide. Prime Minister Ibrahim stood tall among Muslim leaders in expressing the sentiment of his government. He had been vocal at every turn of the crisis. He must have had a premonition of the impending catastrophe. His eloquent speech before the United Nations General Assembly on 22 September, which in my book is in the same league as the “What it means to be a Muslim” speech of King Abdullah of Jordan, has earned praise from many observers. He said, “In the Middle East, the politics of dispossession continues with a vengeance with more illegal settlements being built, stripping Palestinians of land that rightfully belongs to them. This constitutes a gross violation of international law. It also poses an insurmountable obstacle to a two-state solution, not to mention the continued killings. There is also flagrant hypocrisy in dealing with the issue of Palestine. The international community must speak up against the atrocities committed towards the Palestinians even as they so vehemently speak out against human rights violations, injustice, and abusive regimes.” When the war broke out on 7 October, one of the countries that reacted immediately was Malaysia. PM Ibrahim issued a statement expressing his country’s solidarity with the struggles of the Palestinians and reiterated his indictment of the international community for its “one-sided actions regarding . . . cruelty and oppression against the Palestinians. The confiscation of land and property belonging to the Palestinian people . . . done relentlessly by the Zionists.” After the bombing of the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza, which killed more than 500 innocent civilians, PM Ibrahim described it as being “on an insane and inhumane level. What is most regrettable is that Western countries, which speak about human rights, seem to differentiate between peoples, with some considered first-class and others as subordinates.” PM Ibrahim knows how geopolitics works. There will be consequences for standing up against the position of the world powers, the US and Europe, which had expressed total support for Israel. There might be a price to pay. Economic, trade, and political relationships might be put in jeopardy. But the Islam in him outweighed other interests. And for that, Muslims salute him. We are proud to belong to the Malay race. amb_mac_lanto@yahoo.com The post Message of PM Anwar Ibrahim appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
SC denies Senate certiorari petition
To maintain the separation of powers between the three departments of the government, the Court cannot exercise a power that belongs to the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee. This was stated in an SC en banc decision penned by Associate Justice Amy C. Lazaro-Javier, denying the petition for certiorari and prohibition filed by the Senate of the Philippines challenging the constitutionality of a memorandum issued by then President Rodrigo Duterte. In 2021, the SBRC started an investigation on the budget utilization of the Department of Health following a report from the Commission on Audit that there was a deficiency of P67,322,186,570.57 in public funds intended for the government’s Covid-19 response. The committee then conducted hearings on the following matters: the DoH’s underutilization of its 2020 budget; the procurement of Covid-19 vaccines by local government units; unspent funds, misstatements, irregularities, and deficiencies of the DoH, as found by CoA; and payment claims issues between the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation and private hospitals. Concerned officials from the executive department, including then DoH Secretary Francisco Duque lll, attended the hearings. But then Pesident Duterte, through Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea, stopped the executive officials from attending the hearings, by issuing a memorandum dated 4 October 2021 directing all officials and employees of the Executive Department to cease attending the SBRC hearings on the government’s disbursement of the Covid-19 funds. The Memorandum also asserted that the SBRC inquiry has turned into a preliminary investigation of sorts meant to identify the persons allegedly liable for irregularities that existing statutes already defined and punish. It claimed that the SBRC has stepped into the mandates of other branches of government. Viewing the memorandum as an obstruction to the Senate’s constitutional function to conduct inquiries in aid of legislation, Senate Resolution 131 was passed, authorizing the filing of the present petition before the Court. In denying the Senate’s petition, the Court found that it failed to meet the requisites for a petition for certiorari to prosper. The post SC denies Senate certiorari petition appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PCG’s problematic dualism
There is a world of difference between the roles of a civilian agency and those of a military command. No civilian agency or military command should be doing the role of the other, lest they overlap, conflict, or render redundant their authority. The role of the Philippine Coast Guard is a good subject for legislative review — whether it fulfills a purely civilian function or a purely military one. The fact that it’s an attached agency of the Department of Transportation as much as an attached service of the Department of National Defense “confers” upon it a dualism that may be at cross purposes. While the PCG can fit either role, it shouldn’t. For in so doing, the line between maritime law enforcement and national defense is blurred. One may be led to think that, perforce, the PCG is unadulteratedly a military organization as it used to be part of the Philippine Navy, a major branch of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Something explains this duality, but it may require assessment as to whether it must continue to have this dual character. In principle, any individual or unit that performs a task or mandate that essentially belongs solely to the military must forthwith be under a military commander or military organization. Who can even begin to fathom what it means when the Commandant of the Philippine Coast Guard reports directly to the Transportation Secretary in the enforcement of maritime law, but also reports to the Defense Secretary if not the President in wartime? If one should take a cursory look at those who served as commandants of the PCG since its founding in 1967 under different presidents, one would find, viz.: 1) During Rodrigo Duterte’s term, only three served for over a year, while four served for less than a year, and one for only 18 days; 2) Under Benigno Aquino, four barely completed a year, one just a year, and one more than two years; 3) Under Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, three served for barely a year, two served over two years or so; 4) Under Joseph Estrada, one served for two years; 5) In Fidel Ramos’ time, five served for less than a year, one for 32 days, and one for almost three years; 6) Under Corazon Aquino, two served for two years, one for three years, and two for a week or so; 7) Under Ferdinand Marcos Sr., four served for over a year, three served for 3, 4, 5 years, respectively. This tells us that commandants, as presidential appointees, must be the personal choices of the presidents they serve. With a change of the occupant in Malacañang, a change in the leadership of the PCG also takes place, good or bad. It’s said that the PCG’s “transformation into a non-military organization” and its “civilian character” allowed it “to receive offers of vessels, equipment, technology, services, cooperation and other needed assistance from other countries,” that otherwise would not have been feasible were it a military agency. President Fidel Ramos signed Executive Order 475 on 30 March 1998 to separate the PCG from the Philippine Navy, and Executive Order 477 to transfer it from the DND to the DoTC, a month thereafter. Thus, even FM Jr. has been heard saying, “Our friends from other countries will help strengthen the PCG’s capabilities.” Today, the President envisions the PCG as a “central actor” insofar as West Philippine Sea matters are concerned; thus, he ordered several 40-foot long patrol vessels to be built in Cebu to improve the PCG’s capabilities in maritime territorial disputes. In the face of China’s unprecedented coast guard expansion — the largest in the world — “civilianizing” the PCG makes little sense. It’s a Catch-22 on how to “reinvent” the PCG. Military strategists had miserably failed. The post PCG’s problematic dualism appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Neither estafa nor qualified theft (2)
In Balerta v. People, the Court found that juridical possession as an element of the crime of estafa by misappropriation was not present because the accused was a cash custodian with no independent right or title to the funds received: In the case at bench, there is no question that the petitioner was handling the funds lent by Care Philippines to BABMPC. However, she held the funds on behalf of BABMPC. She had mere physical or material possession over the funds but held no independent right or title, which she could set up against BARMPC. The petitioner was nothing more than a mere cash custodian. Hence, the Court finds that juridical possession of the funds as an element of the crime of estafa by misappropriation is absent in the instant case. In Reside v. People, the Court came to a similar conclusion and held that the accused, a school principal tasked to receive tuition fees and forward these to the school, did not have juridical possession over the funds received. In the case at bench, it cannot be gainsaid that the petitioner, in addition to her duties as principal, was authorized to receive or collect matriculation fees from the parents and/or students enrolled in TGWSI. Per a verbal agreement with De Dios, the petitioner shall forward all payments received together with the remittance voucher slips to the school. As it happens, the money merely passes into the petitioner’s hands, and her custody is only until the same is remitted to the school. Consequently, as principal and temporary cash custodian of TGWSI, the petitioner acquires only physical or material possession over the unremitted funds. Thus, being a mere custodian of the unremitted tuition fees and not, in any manner, an agent who could have asserted a right against TGWSI over the same, the petitioner had only acquired material and not juridical possession of such funds and, consequently, cannot be convicted of the crime of estafa as charged. The prosecution alleged that petitioner Medina was responsible for collecting remittances from the Department of Education, accepting premium payments from PPSTA members, and depositing these payments in PPSTA’s bank account, as instructed by the PPSTA Treasurer. The record is bereft of any allegation or proof that petitioner Medina had any independent right or title to these funds that she could set up against PPSTA. Contrary to the findings of the CA, petitioner Medina was not a “trustee” of the PPSTA members’ payments, as she received these sums as an employee of, and on behalf of, her employer. Consequently, petitioner Medina only had material and not juridical possession of these funds, and she cannot be convicted for estafa under Article 315 (b) (l) of the Revised Penal Code or RPC. Second, jurisprudence holds that a conviction for simple or qualified theft (in lieu of estafa) is possible if all the elements of theft are alleged in the information. However, the evidence on record needs to be more sufficient to convict petitioner Medina of theft, whether simple or qualified. Simple theft is committed when the following elements concur: (1) taking of personal property; (2) that the said property belongs to another; (3) that the said taking be done with intent to gain; (4) that it be done without the owner’s consent; (5) that it be accomplished without the use of violence or intimidation against persons, nor of force upon things; and (6) that it be done with grave abuse of confidence. Theft becomes qualified when committed with grave abuse of confidence, among other qualifying circumstances enumerated in Article 310 of RPC. (To be continued) The post Neither estafa nor qualified theft (2) appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Foreign commercial vessel rams Pinoy fishing boat, 3 fishermen die
Three Filipino fishermen died when the fishing boat they were maneuvering was rammed by a foreign commercial vessel in Bajo de Masinloc, Zambales on Monday, a belated report from the Philippine Coast Guard said on Wednesday. The PCG, on the other hand, failed to identify which flag the commercial vessel belongs to. "One crew of FFB DEARYN shared that it occurred around 4:20 AM on 02 October 2023 while their mother boat was moored to payao for fishing 85 nautical miles northwest of BDM. The mother boat submerged, resulting in the death of its three crew members, including its boat captain," the PCG report released on Wednesday said. Further, the report said the eleven crew members who survived the maritime incident utilized their eight service boats to leave the vicinity waters and transport the deceased victims to Barangay Cato, Infanta, Pangasinan. "They arrived around 10 AM yesterday, 03 October 2023, and reported the incident to the nearest Coast Guard sub-station for necessary assistance," the PCG report stated. Bajo de Masinloc is a known lair of Chinese maritime operatives guarding the lagoon for Filipino fishermen, as they claim that it belongs to their territory. The Philippines, on the other hand, claims that the Bajo de Masinloc, or Scarborough Shoal, belongs to the exclusive economic zone of the country. The post Foreign commercial vessel rams Pinoy fishing boat, 3 fishermen die appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Escoto: BFAR’s WPS ops need added funding
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, which has been conducting patrols with the Philippine Coast Guard in the West Philippine Sea, welcomes a proposal to reallocate confidential funds to the bureau. An agency of the Department of Agriculture, the BFAR, through its director, Atty. Demosthenes Escoto, said on Tuesday the added funding would significantly enhance its monitoring and surveillance efforts in the WPS. Escoto said that while the decision rests with Congress, he is grateful to lawmakers for considering the augmentation of BFAR’s funds. “We extend our heartfelt appreciation to the members of Congress advocating for additional funds for the DA-BFAR and other security agencies,” Escoto said. “This initiative would empower our agency to strengthen and enhance our monitoring, control, and surveillance activities in the WPS and other fishing grounds to ensure the sustainable use of our marine resources and safeguard the livelihoods of our fisherfolk,” he added. Utilizing its current assets, BFAR has been actively combating illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing, a persistent threat in Philippine waters, Escoto said. He said the agency employs floating assets to monitor unlawful fishing activities and conduct resupply missions in collaboration with government agencies, particularly the PCG. Supply missions These missions provide essentials such as engine oil, drinking water, and ready-to-eat snacks to Filipino fisherfolk engaged in fishing activities in the WPS. This year, the DA-BFAR also launched the Livelihood Activities to Enhance Fisheries Yields and Economic Gains from the WPS, a livelihood project worth nearly P80 million. The program seeks to provide local fisherfolk with essential tools, knowledge, fishing gear and paraphernalia, and post-harvest training to help them fish more effectively in the WPS and reduce their post-harvest losses. Likewise, the DA-BFAR delivered last June almost P5 million worth of livelihood inputs and capacity-building programs to residents of Pag-asa Island in Kalayaan, Palawan, under the LAYAG-WPS project. The assistance included fiber-reinforced plastic boats, fish aggregating devices, rain catchers, and more. “The DA-BFAR respects the wisdom of our lawmakers in determining the need for budget augmentation,” Escoto said. “Nevertheless, the DA-BFAR remains committed to combating IUU fishing and empowering Filipino fisherfolk with our existing assets and resources.” “We want to ensure that they can fish peacefully, productively, and sustainably in our waters, especially in the WPS, which rightfully belongs to Filipinos,” he added. The post Escoto: BFAR’s WPS ops need added funding appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Confidential fund to boosts BFAR surveillance efforts in WPS
Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Director Atty. Demosthenes Escoto on Tuesday said reallocating confidential funds to the bureau would significantly enhance its monitoring, control, and surveillance efforts in the West Philippine Sea and other fishing grounds across the country. Escoto said that while the decision rests with Congress, he is grateful to lawmakers' consideration of augmenting its funds. "We extend our heartfelt appreciation to the members of Congress advocating additional funds to DA-BFAR and other security agencies," Escoto said. "This initiative would empower our agency to strengthen and enhance our existing monitoring, control, and surveillance activities in the WPS and other fishing grounds to ensure the sustainable use of our marine resources and safeguard the livelihoods of our fisherfolk," he added. Utilizing its current assets and available resources, DA-BFAR has been actively combating illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing, a persistent threat in Philippine waters. The agency employs floating assets to monitor unlawful fishing activities and conducts resupply missions in collaboration with government agencies, particularly the Philippine Coast Guard. These missions provide essentials such as engine oil, drinking water, and ready-to-eat snacks to Filipino fisherfolk engaged in fishing activities in the WPS. This year, the DA-BFAR also launched the Livelihood Activities to Enhance Fisheries Yields and Economic Gains from WPS, a livelihood project worth nearly P80 million. The program seeks to provide local fisherfolk with essential tools, knowledge, fishing gear and paraphernalia, and post-harvest training to help them fish more effectively in the WPS and reduce their post-harvest losses. Last June, the DA-BFAR delivered almost P5 million worth of livelihood inputs and capacity-building programs to residents of Pag-asa Island in Kalayaan, Palawan, under the LAYAG-WPS project. Assistance included Fiber Reinforced Plastic boats, fish aggregating devices, rain catchers, and more. "The DA-BFAR respects the wisdom of our lawmakers in determining the need for budget augmentation," Escoto said. "Nevertheless, the DA-BFAR remains committed to combating IUU fishing and empowering Filipino fisherfolk with our existing assets and resources. We want to ensure they can fish peacefully, productively, and sustainably in our waters, especially in the WPS, which rightfully belongs to Filipinos," he added. The post Confidential fund to boosts BFAR surveillance efforts in WPS appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Dela Rosa: FPRRD not nosy on VP Sara’s political issues
Former President Rodrigo Duterte is not prying on political issues concerning his daughter, Vice President Sara Z. Duterte, said Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa. “Hindi naman nakikialam si Pangulong Duterte, ‘no, pagdating sa gano’ng mga bagay. Hindi kami nakapag-usap tungkol diyan. Hindi siya nakikialam (President Duterte is not nosy when it comes to such thing. We have not talked about that. He is not interfering),” Dela Rosa said in a radio interview Sunday night. Earlier this week, some members of the House of Representatives eyeing realigning the confidential and intelligence funds of some civilian agencies, including the Department of Education and Office of the Vice President, to augment budgets of the intelligence and security forces tasked to resolve the increasing tensions in the West Philippine Sea. Dela Rosa emphasized that the former President respects the separation of the powers between the executive and legislative bodies. “The power of the purse solely belongs to the Congress. He never intervened even when he was the President, he respects the separation of powers of the executive and legislative branches of government,” he said. “On a personal note, wala siyang ginawang tawag, wala siyang ginawang pagbanggit at wala kaming ginawang pag-uusap patungkol diyan (On a personal note, he did not make any calls, he did not mention it and we did not talk about that matter,” he added. Dela Rosa was asked if the Senate would do the same plan to realign the civilian intelligence and confidential funds. He replied: “I can’t speak for and on behalf of my colleagues ‘no? The Senate is composed of 24 republics. May kanya-kanyang desisyon ‘yan, baka mamaya magkakamali ako sa aking forecast kasi pwedeng magbago, pwedeng magbago ‘yung isip ng isang senador pagdating sa botohan (They have their own decisions, maybe later I could make mistake in my forecast because it could change, a senator could always change his mind when voting time comes).” Dela Rosa said the chamber’s decision will always come out from the plenary session's result. “Hindi talaga ako makapagbigay sa’yo ng fearless forecast. Wala akong nakikita pa na magiging desisyon collectively ng ating Senado. So hintayin na lang natin (I couldn’t give you a fearless forecast right now. I still couldn’t see the collective decision in the Senate. So let’s just wait),” he stressed. As an ally to Dutertes, Dela Rosa sees the questioning of the OVP and DepEd’s CIF serves as “clear politicking” by the opposition. “So that’s... klarong pamumulitika ‘yan. Hindi naman lumabas ‘yang issue na ‘yan noon noong ang Vice President ay miyembro ng oposisyon (That’s a clear politicking. It does not came when the previous vice president was a member of the opposition). They were mum about that tackling of confidential and intelligence fund,” he said. Dela Rosa pointed out that the issue came with the opposition’s “aggressiveness” to downplay the possibility of Sara’s running as president in the next national elections. “Most likely pulitilka. May halong pulitika at ‘yun nga, meron din namang katuturan ‘yung mga sinasabi nila pero ‘yun nga, makikita mo ‘yung aggressiveness ay masasabi mo talaga may pamumulitika,” he said. The OVP has been in the limelight after the Commission on Audit reported that it has spent the P125 million CIF in just 11 days. Dela Rosa defended Sara noting that the COA’s report was only an observation and did not explicitly state that the OVP used its CIF in corruption. “Hindi naman sinabi ng COA na ‘yan ay corruption. That was an observation of COA na naubos (that it was exhausted) within that period of time. So is there a violation?" Dela Rosa said. Dela Rosa challenged Sara’s “detractors” to come out with evidence over the allegation that OVP and DepEd, under the vice president’s leadership, had utilized their CIF into graft and corruption. “Maghanap sila ng ebidensya na ito’y ibinulsa para siguruhin natin na ‘yung mga taong kurap ay hindi dapat manatili sa gobyerno. Pero kung ito’y ginamit sa tamang paraan (Find evidence that it was pocketed to make sure that corrupt individuals won’t last in the government. But if it is used appropriately), then my God, that’s Government Appropriations Act,” he said. The post Dela Rosa: FPRRD not nosy on VP Sara’s political issues appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Senior high school student shoots self
A senior high school student shot herself in the head and died instantly early dawn Monday in Tondo Manila. P/Cpl. Sir Christian Joseph Pineda of the Manila Police District — Homicide Section, identified the victim as Claire James Estrella, 17, resident of 324 Nepomucenon Street, Tondo, Manila who succumbed to a bullet wound right in the temple (forehead). Investigation revealed that the incident occurred at around 12:15 a.m. inside the house of the victim. According to witness Hernando Domondon, 43, pump mechanic, they were about to sleep with her wife when they suddenly heard a loud gunfire at a nearby house. They immediately rushed to investigate where the sound came from. When they entered the victim’s house, they saw her sprawled on the floor bloodied that they immediately sought the help of neighbors to bring the victim to the Tondo Medical Center where she was pronounced dead on arrival. It was learned that the gun used by the victim belongs to his father, Rommel Estrella, which was taken from the vault. Investigation is now ongoing to determine the motive of the suicide. The post Senior high school student shoots self appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
TOP GAN — JGFP’s dynamic chief steers jungolf to new heights
There’s a big room in Oliver Gan’s office building in Quezon City dedicated to the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines. It has two office staff, golf sets, boxes, trophies, shirts and two large white boards filled up with schedules and marginal notes. That particular afternoon, Gan was charting the interschool championships which is JGFP’s major event of the year. He was going through the logistics of the competitions as well as the events JGFP is staging leading up the interschool. Hectic day in the office for the 40-year-old Gan. Except that his real office was in the adjacent room where he runs the family business. “Running our family business and running the JGFP is easy for me. As long as there are no parents complaining,” Gan said jokingly. “But that is impossible. Between the two, it seems like running the family business is easier.” Yet despite that, Gan has been hands-on in JGFP. And for good reasons. One of them is the fact that Gan is himself a national jungolf champion. The other is because he has two daughters, Nicole and Stephanie, who happen to be two of the most promising jungolfers in the country. Gan said he’s playing golf at least once a week. But his downtime is not entirely for golf. “I used to play baseball and volleyball back in high school but concentrated on golf when my teammates outgrew me,” Gan said. Lately, his evenings are spent on the basketball court. “I used to play in the Xavier Alumni Basketball League,” said Gan, who acts as the team “owner,” being both the manager and playing coach of their batch. He is also chairman for sports in the alumni association of Xavier School. On the national level, Gan is former program officer of the Philippine Sports Institute for the National Capital Region and adviser for golf at the Games and Amusements Board. Clearly, his heart belongs to golf. And it shows in his work at JGFP. “We parents invest so much time and effort in our kids’ golf. We now know that our efforts are not wasted,” Gan said. “Before, golf was very exclusive. Not everyone can play it. Especially the children. Now our efforts to give golf a wider talent pool is gaining traction. Everyone is taking notice and is starting to cooperate.” That’s why JGFP is working on “giving it back to the kids, especially the under-privileged,” supporting several scholars. Through Gan’s initiatives, JGFP has been gaining the support of the private sector which is crucial in every grassroots program. JGFP, too, has reached Mindanao where there are a lot of untapped talents. And just recently, it announced that former Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo as JGFP’s “godfather.” “I think we are doing well. People know junior golf is in good hands. Businessmen are supporting the foundation. We are staging tournaments left and right. Golf courses offer to hold our events. We are getting invitations and accreditations from all over the world,” Gan said. But what Gan is counting as his biggest moment was when JGFP managed to span to Visayas and Mindanao which will soon have their own inter-school meets. “All the regional winners, we will pit them against each other in a truly national inter-school championships,” Gan said. “And from there we get the players to represent the country in international meets.” Such ambitious plans for JGFP. But nothing far-fetched with Gan at the helm. The post TOP GAN — JGFP’s dynamic chief steers jungolf to new heights appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
'SoxIsNext in your bucket list
Most people assume that some provinces in Mindanao are not safe places to travel, so this region is perhaps one of the less visited in our country. From a recent visit, allow me to show some things that will enlighten every explorer. If you looking for beautiful places in Mindanao, start in Region XII — more popularly known as SOCCSKSARGEN and formerly known as Central Mindanao. The name was coined from the names of the four major provinces and a highly urbanized city that make up the region: South Cotabato, Cotabato City, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos City. SOX for short This region is one of the most exciting and unique trips for thrill-seekers and nature lovers. Along with stunning sceneries is the region’s well-preserved culture and extraordinary hospitality. Ideally, a minimum of five full days will let you get a real feel of the place, and you have to choose entry and exit points at either General Santos City Airport or Cotabato Airport. Sarangani Province The first destination is Sarangani Province, the capital of which is Alabel. It takes about three hours to get there from General Santos City. A popular activity there is the whitewater tubing in New La Union at the Municipality of Maitum. On the other side is the Municipality of Glan where one may find majestic white-sand beaches. [caption id="attachment_185061" align="aligncenter" width="525"] KingKim Beach Resort in Glan, Sarangani.[/caption] General Santos City Also called GenSan, this place is known as the Tuna Capital of the country. Being highly urbanized, the city is easy to explore. [caption id="attachment_185064" align="aligncenter" width="525"] General Santos City Fish Port Complex.[/caption] You must visit the General Santos City Fish Port Complex, claimed to be the largest producer of tuna in the country. You will be amazed by the sight of the fresh, huge tunas. For local fare, you can head to the Tiongson Arcade where they serve fresh and delicious grilled seafood. Sultan Kudarat Named after Sultan Muhammad Dipatuan Kudarat, one of the greatest leaders who ruled this area under the Sultanate of Maguindanao, this province is known for its rich cultural heritage and warm hospitality. It is gradually gaining attention as a tourist spot in Mindanao because of attractions like the La Palmera Ridges located in the Municipality of Columbio. [caption id="attachment_185062" align="aligncenter" width="525"] La Palmera Mountain Ridge in Sultan Kudarat.[/caption] You will also love with the mesmerizing sights and perfect rock formation of Pangadilan falls. The grand capitol in Sultan Kudarat is also an attraction in the province and is labeled as the biggest capitol in the country. It is open to the public. Lake Sebu Lake Sebu is the Land of the Dreamweavers and first-class municipality of South Cotabato. It is surrounded by placid lakes and mountains. Most of the residents here are T’Boli, an indigenous people of South Cotabato. Tourism here is slowly booming because of the activities, one of which is the zipline in 7 Falls, also known as the highest zipline in Southeast Asia — perfect for the adrenaline junkie. [caption id="attachment_185063" align="aligncenter" width="525"] 7 Falls, Lake Sebu, South Cotabato. | PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF MICHAEL PINGOL[/caption] Lake Sebu’s famed T’nalak is a sacred cloth woven by the T’boli people. Traditionally made by women of royal blood, these fabrics depict different kinds of patterns that reference folklore and stories. Lake Sebu is also known for its majestic waterfalls, lakes, rivers and springs, its rich biodiversity and culture, and for being a major supplier of tilapia in nearby areas. Cotabato City Cotabato City does not belong to the Province of Cotabato or South Cotabato, as it politically and geographically belongs to Maguindanao Province. It was formerly a part and the regional center of Region XII, but due to the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law, it is now part of Bangsamoro and serves as its regional center. It now has an independent component city status. One of its attractions is the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mosque or the Grand Mosque. It is the second-largest mosque in Southeast Asia after the Istiqlal Mosque of Indonesia, and the largest Mosque in the Philippines. It is considered an Islamic architectural masterpiece. Pastil is one of the most popular Maguindanaon delicacies. It is steamed rice with shredded chicken that is wrapped in banana leaves. It is available in every street in the city. Lnguages spoken here are Hiligaynon, Ilocano, Maguindanao, Cebuano and Chavacano, but they also speak Tagalog. Most of the residents are Islam and Roman Catholic. SOCCSKSARGEN is a treasure trove of experiences. To further promote safe travels to this region, the Tourism department created the hashtag #SoxIsNext. The post #SoxIsNext in your bucket list appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
North Korean leader in Russia for Putin talks as US warns on arms deal
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrived in Russia on Tuesday ahead of a meeting with President Vladimir Putin that the United States has warned could see an arms deal to support Moscow's assault on Ukraine. Making a rare foreign trip and his first since the pandemic, Kim was seen stepping onto a red-carpeted train platform before meeting Natural Resources Minister Alexander Kozlov. Kim and Putin are expected to meet at an unspecified location in Russia's Far East later this week, the Kremlin has said. Putin is currently attending the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, the Pacific port city closest to the North Korean border, though there has been no indication that the internationally isolated pair would hold their talks there. Reporters granted access to the Russian leader at the forum refrained from asking Putin details of the visit but he told journalists he would soon travel to the Vostochny Cosmodrome, a Russian spaceport some 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) from Vladivostok. "I've got my programme there, and when I get there you'll know," he was quoted by Russian news agencies as saying. Kim received a VIP welcome from a military honor guard, with the national anthems of both countries playing, as he arrived in the Russian border town of Khasan Tuesday morning, the state-run KCNA news agency said. Kim told his Russian hosts that his visit was a "clear manifestation" of North Korea "prioritizing the strategic importance" of its ties with Russia, KCNA said. The agency did not specify when or where Kim would meet with Putin, saying only that after the arrival ceremony the North Korean leader "left for his destination." Experts say Moscow will likely seek artillery shells and antitank missiles from North Korea, which wants advanced satellite and nuclear-powered submarine technology in return. Siemon Wezeman, a senior researcher at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, said it was "entirely possible" North Korea had large stocks of ammunition that could be used by Russia. "Whether any deal is struck remains to be seen," he said. "We will not know for sure until there is hard evidence that Russia has used North Korean arms and ammunition on the battlefield in Ukraine," he added. The White House warned last week that North Korea would "pay a price" if it supplied Russia with weaponry for the conflict in Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin and Kim would "cooperate on sensitive areas that should not be the subject of public disclosure and announcements". Steadfast allies Kim is travelling to Russia with his top military officials including Korean People's Army Marshal Pak Jong Chon and Munitions Industry Department Director Jo Chun Ryong, analysts said. This indicates a Putin-Kim summit "is likely to heavily focus on Russia and North Korea's possible military cooperation," Yang Moo-jin, president of the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, told AFP. Moscow sent Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu to Pyongyang in July. He has recently mooted bilateral joint naval drills. Kim has been steadfast in his support for Moscow's assault on Ukraine, including, Washington says, supplying rockets and missiles. But both Moscow and Pyongyang have denied North Korea has or will supply arms to Russia, which has eaten into its vast stockpiles of munitions since it launched its Ukraine offensive early last year. Kim has not travelled outside North Korea since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. His last proper overseas trip was in 2019, also to Russia to meet Putin. 'Begging' for help "North Korea has the crude ammunition that Putin needs for his illegal war in Ukraine, while Moscow has submarine, ballistic, and satellite technologies that could help Pyongyang leapfrog engineering challenges it suffers under economic sanctions," said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul. On Monday, the United States described Putin as desperate in seeking a meeting with Kim. "Having to travel across the length of his own country to meet with an international pariah to ask for assistance in a war that he expected to win in the opening month, I would characterize it as him begging for assistance," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said. "I will remind both countries that any transfer of arms from North Korea to Russia would be in violation of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions," he added. Washington has said Russia could use weapons from North Korea to attack Ukrainian food supplies and heating infrastructure heading into winter to "try to conquer territory that belongs to another sovereign nation". Andrei Lankov, a North Korea expert at Kookmin University in Seoul, told AFP that the upcoming meeting was part of Moscow's "gentle diplomatic blackmail" of Seoul because Russia did not want South Korea to supply weapons to Kyiv. Seoul is a major arms exporter and has sold tanks to Kyiv's ally Poland, but longstanding domestic policy bars it from selling weapons into active conflicts. "The major worry of the Russian government now is a possible shipment of the South Korean ammunition to Ukraine, not just one shipment but a lot of shipments," Lankov said. The post North Korean leader in Russia for Putin talks as US warns on arms deal appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Group presents gold as divine-guided fiat
The founder of the Global Gold Monetary Fund understands that attaining the goal of reintroducing gold as a monetary standard and medium of exchange faces huge challenges. In a briefing in Intramuros, Manila during the debut of the Global Gold Monetary Fund, Allain De La Mottez, founding member of GGMF, said “he and his group will surely face attacks to discredit and devalue the effort.” “The attacks might outweigh the benefits. But if God is with us, then who can be against us?” he said. De La Mottez said choosing the Philippines as the launching pad for the gold-backed monetary system will give the country a critical role in the new order. He said the goal is to make gold a global currency, whereas a piece of gold in the Philippines will have the same value in the United States, providing parity in contrast to the fiat currency’s volatility and uncertainty. Further, Mottez said as the GGMF prepares to commence its gold-backed monetary system by January 2024, it will welcome members from other countries by “offering them the opportunity to partake in the promising future it envisions.” Being GGMF members, countries will have access to a suite of benefits, including the Gold Collateral System, in which GGMF will distribute securely stored physical gold among members through 50-year trust certificates, renewable as per the Jubilee principle; Debt Forgiveness Program: GGMF assumes member countries’ liabilities, including those in local and foreign currency, following the 50-year jubilee principle for structured debt relief; and New Monetary System, in which members participate in a revolutionary platform with dedicated unit trusts backed by Bailment Agreements, and receive initial Gold Unit allocations, bolstering and sustaining global economies. Movement turns global “This marks an extraordinary opportunity for individuals and entities alike to become part of a global movement aimed at reshaping the future of finance through the time-tested brilliance of gold,” Mottez said. With the use of modern technology, Mottez said GGMF offers global banking services, advocating decentralized systems and the intrinsic value of gold. “With our mission deeply rooted in the belief that gold is a divine asset meant to serve humanity, GGMF aspires to pave a new path toward financial stability and independence for all who embrace its vision, guided by the principles of faith in gold’s enduring value,” he said. Mottez said, to date, GGMF had been in talks with 249 countries with the goal of making gold a legal tender. “We have this unwavering commitment to revitalizing gold as a pivotal medium of exchange at the core of financial transactions. Unlike fiat paper currencies, gold cannot be wiped out. It boasts intrinsic value and, most importantly, belongs to God,” according to Mottez. The post Group presents gold as divine-guided fiat appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»