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MVP Cup 2024: One Invitational golf tilt fires off
Smart Infinity kicks off the summer by treating its members to a memorable and exclusive two-day golf tournament at the recent MVP Cup 2024: One Invitational held at the Manila Golf and Country Club......»»
DOLE lauds outstanding Public Employment Service Offices across nation
The Department of Labor and Employment urged collective action to address the Philippines’ job problems on 25 October during the 23rd National PESO Congress in Palo, Leyte. DOLE Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma stressed in his speech the vital role of Public Employment Service Offices or PESO and DOLE’s frontline partners in promoting productive employment at the local level. “The responsibility of realizing the objectives of the Philippine Labor and Employment Plan and the Trabaho para sa Bayan Act is not the DOLE’s responsibility alone. It is jointly shared with our social partners, especially our PESOs. The challenges we face in our employment landscape demand collective action and innovative solutions,” Laguesma said. Laguesma also emphasized the need for open and constructive dialogue with PESO managers across the nation as he bared the department's five-point agenda, which includes strengthening its core functions, fortifying partnerships with employers and educational institutions and digitalizing public employment services. DOLE conferred awards to PESOs with outstanding accomplishments in the past year during the 2022 National Search for Best PESO Awards. Among the accomplishments are the 2.4 million jobseekers employed through the facilitation of PESOs, which translates to a 91 percent placement rate across the regions. PESO Bataan won in the first-class province category, PESO Lanao del Norte in the second-class province category and PESO Aurora in the third to fifth class category. DOLE also hailed PESO Iloilo City as champion for the highly urbanized city category and PESO Oroquieta City, Misamis Occidental for the component and independent component city category. Among the awardees for the municipal PESOs were PESO Villasis, Pangasinan (first class municipality category); PESO Pila, Laguna (second to third-class municipality category); and PESO Llanera, Nueva Ecija (fourth to sixth-class municipality category). The University of Batangas was elevated to the Hall of Fame for winning the search for best PESO in 2018 and 2019 and the Bayanihan Service Award in 2020 and 2021. The university job’s placement office received a trophy and a P250,000 cash prize. The post DOLE lauds outstanding Public Employment Service Offices across nation appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Anak Datu’ opens a rush of truth from ripples of trauma
A year after it premiered, Anak Datu is returning to the stage, opening the 37th season of Tanghalang Pilipino, the resident theater company of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. When it debuted, it immediately became a landmark production in several ways. It was one of the first plays to be mounted with a live audience after the lockdowns and restrictions of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 and 2021. And it was the first play to be staged at the newly opened CCP Black Box Theater or Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez. Anak Datu is one of the few plays on the Tausug and Moro people and cultures of Mindanao, portrayed with marked sensitivity and apparent diligence. It was lauded by critics and audiences, with former Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo as one of the prominent people who trooped to CCP to watch the play on 1 October 2022. The play went on to win six awards at the 13th Gawad Buhay and five at the 35th Aliw Awards. [caption id="attachment_192618" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] the tausug pangalay dance is incorporated into the play.[/caption] Fine-tuned production Despite the accolades and being one of the most important theatrical events in 2022, the play was faulted by some for what was seen as its confusing storytelling, its shifts in timeline and milieus, and the cumbersome sets. The second staging afforded the creative team the opportunity to fine-tune these and other aspects of the production. According to director Chris Millado, former CCP vice president and artistic director, they were able to make the storytelling clearer and supply an elevated platform to make the designs of the light projections more visible. For Dennis N. Marasigan, current CCP vice president and artistic director, “[o]n its rerun, Tanghalang Pilipino's Anak Datu is tighter, its storytelling and technical aspects clearer and crisper, and its staging even more affecting, effectively overlaying story, myth and history.” The restaging marks another milestone in the journey of the play, which started in 2018 from talks that artist Toym Imao, son of the late National Artist for visual arts Abdulmari Asia Imao, had with Millado and veteran actor and TP artistic director Fernando “Nanding” Josef about making a stage adaptation of the elder Imao’s short story for children, written in 1968, the year Toym was born. The team recruited award-winning playwright Rody Vera to write the script. The plan became more concrete when Josef decided to make the project TP’s first original play after the pandemic lockdowns. By then, the play has evolved into something larger than the original story. Serving as Anak Datu’s set designer, Imao recalled the anxieties they felt during the first stages of production, especially the prospect of one of them getting sick and shutting down the show. “But we were able to tell an essential story that was important, especially for a nation that was coming out of the devastating election of May 2022 for a lot of people. It is something important for us na nakapagkuwento kami (we were able to tell a story),” he said. [caption id="attachment_192619" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Ramli Abdurahim as the pirate Jikiran.[/caption] Three stories Anak Datu tells three stories — Toym’s childhood with his father (Paul Jake Paule) and mother, Grace de Leon (Toni Go-Yadao); his father’s short story; and the recent history of his father’s people, the Muslim Tausug in Sulu Archipelago and the Moro, the collective Muslim ethnic groups, of Mindanao. The Imao family portion shows Toymie (Carlos Dala) growing up with Voltes V and other preoccupations of middle-class children in Metro Manila. Then there is the story of the disputed 1968 Jabidah Massacre, told through Jibin Arula (Gie Onida), the lone survivor — how young Tausug men, mostly illiterate, were recruited by the military, transferred to Corregidor and then massacred upon the discovery of a suspicious plot. Also dramatized is the 1974 Palimbang Massacre, in which the military allegedly murdered more a thousand Moro men inside the Malisbong masjid in the province of Sultan Kudarat, while 3,000 women and children were detained and about 300 homes were burned down. These incidents were said to have sparked the conflicts and armed struggle in Mindanao that would scar the region for decades. Along with the contemporary scenes is the retelling of the short story Anak Datu, set in a pre-colonial time and rendered in mythical mode, combining both the familial and the tragic. The Tausug village of datu Karim (Hassanain Magarang) and his wife Putli Loling (Tex Ordoñez-De Leon and Lhorvie Nuevo) is attacked by pirates, led by Jikiran (Ramli Abdurahim), who kidnaps the pregnant Putli Loling. She gives birth to Karim, who grows up knowing Jikiran as his father but later learns the truth. [caption id="attachment_192620" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Artist Toym Imao taking a picture with the cast and creative team.[/caption] Graceful movements All throughout, the play shifts among these threads of stories, each one compelling and multi-layered. Counterbalancing the oral storytelling is the dramatization through graceful movements, choregraphed by Magarang using the pangalay or Tausug traditional dance, a shared art form with the Yakan (pamansak) and Sama (igal) peoples, thus rendering the stories more visual and adding allure and distinctive cultural flavor to the play. The dances are accompanied by a live kulintangan or gong ensemble. The stark interiors of the theater come alive and burst with colors courtesy of the lighting by Katsch Catoy and projection design of GA Fallarme, who uses Abdulmari Imao’s paintings and traditional Tausug and Meranaw motifs such as the okir as inspirations. Toym’s set pieces are highly movable to keep up with the constant shifts in storytelling, and the bigger ones are like art installations, contributing to the visual richness of the production. Harnessing memory, myth and history, Anak Datu is able to weave its stories into an enthralling whole, establishing interconnectedness and consolidating the story of a person, a family and a community into the very story of a nation, like three or more streams converging into a great river. Tanghalang Pilipino’s Anak Datu runs 29 September to 15 October at Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez (CCP Black Box Theater). The post ‘Anak Datu’ opens a rush of truth from ripples of trauma appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Trio wins physics Nobel for illuminating electrons
France's Pierre Agostini, Hungarian-Austrian Ferenc Krausz, and Franco-Swede Anne L'Huillier won the Nobel prize in physics on Tuesday for research using ultra-quick light flashes that enable the study of electrons inside atoms and molecules. Their technique employs pulses measured in attoseconds, a unit so short that there are as many in one second as there have been seconds since the universe's birth over 13 billion years ago, the jury said. The laureates' research has made it possible to examine moves or changes so rapidly that they were previously impossible to follow, with potential applications in both electronics and medical diagnostics. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences likened the process to how the flapping wings of a hummingbird turn into a blur for the human eye but can be slowed and examined using high-speed photography. "We can now open the door to the world of electrons. Attosecond physics gives us the opportunity to understand mechanisms that are governed by electrons," Eva Olsson, chair of the Nobel Committee for Physics, said in a statement. 'Not so many women' In 1987, L'Huillier "discovered that many different overtones of light arose when she transmitted infrared laser light through a noble gas," the Nobel Committee noted, adding that her exploration of the phenomenon laid "the ground for subsequent breakthroughs". In the early 2000s, Agostini and Krausz worked on how to isolate light pulses that lasted only a few hundred attoseconds. Agostini is a professor at Ohio State University in the United States, while Krausz is a director at the Max Planck Institute in Germany. "It was just atomic physics interacting with lasers," Agostini said of his early work, in an interview released by his university. "We were not really aware it would go that far, but a lot of people were interested both in the method and the result." L'Huillier, only the fifth woman to be awarded the Physics Prize since 1901, is a professor at Lund University in Sweden. She told reporters she was in the middle of teaching a class when she received the call from the Academy, making it "difficult" to finish the class, to whom she did not reveal the news. "I am very touched ... There are not so many women that get this prize so it's very, very special," she said. Before L'Huillier, Marie Curie (1903), Maria Goeppert Mayer (1963), Donna Strickland (2018), and Andrea Ghez (2020) were the only women to have won the award. Speaking later at a press conference, she encouraged young women interested in science to "go for it" and said it was possible to combine a research career with an "ordinary life, with a family and children." French President Emmanuel Macron congratulated the trio. "What a source of pride for our nation!" Macron said in a post to X, formerly known as Twitter. L'Huillier and Krausz had been seen as contenders for the honor, having been awarded the prestigious Wolf Prize last year together with Canadian physicist Paul Corkum. Fellow Hungarian However, Krausz said he had not been expecting a call. "I was not sure whether I was dreaming or whether it was reality," he told the Nobel Foundation in an interview. The physics award is the second Nobel of the season after the Medicine Prize on Monday, awarded to messenger RNA researchers Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman for their groundbreaking technology that paved the way for mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. Krausz said he had actually been listening to an interview with Kariko when he received the call, adding he was especially impressed with her determination as she toiled away at her research despite struggling to achieve recognition and secure funding for it. "That's what I would like to convey to future generations," Krausz said. The Physics Prize will be followed by the Chemistry Prize on Wednesday, with the highly watched Literature and Peace Prizes to be announced on Thursday and Friday. The Economics Prize -- created in 1968 and the only Nobel not included in the 1895 will of Swedish inventor and philanthropist Alfred Nobel, which founded the awards -- closes out the 2023 Nobel season on Monday. The post Trio wins physics Nobel for illuminating electrons appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Trio wins physics Nobel for illuminating electrons
France's Pierre Agostini, Hungarian-Austrian Ferenc Krausz and Franco-Swede Anne L'Huillier won the Nobel prize in physics on Tuesday for research using ultra quick light flashes that enable the study of electrons inside atoms and molecules. Their technique employs pulses measured in attoseconds, a unit so short that there are as many in one second as there have been seconds since the universe's birth over 13 billion years ago, the jury said. The laureates' research has made it possible to examine moves or changes so rapid that they were previously impossible to follow, with potential applications in both electronics and medical diagnostics. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences likened the process to how the flapping wings of a humming bird turn into a blur for the human eye, but can be slowed and examined using high-speed photography. "We can now open the door to the world of electrons. Attosecond physics gives us the opportunity to understand mechanisms that are governed by electrons," Eva Olsson, chair of the Nobel Committee for Physics, said in a statement. 'Not so many women' In 1987, L'Huillier "discovered that many different overtones of light arose when she transmitted infrared laser light through a noble gas," the Nobel Committee noted, adding that she has continued to explore this phenomenon, "laying the ground for subsequent breakthroughs". In the early 2000s, Agostini and Krausz worked on experiments that made it possible to isolate light pulses that lasted only a few hundred attoseconds. Agostini is a professor at Ohio State University in the United States, while Krausz is a director at the Max Planck Institute in Germany. L'Huillier, only the fifth woman to be awarded the Physics Prize since 1901, is a professor at Lund University in Sweden. L'Huillier told reporters she was in the middle of teaching a class when she received the call from the Academy, making it "difficult" to finish the class, to whom she told nothing. "I am very touched ... There are not so many women that get this prize so it's very, very special," she said. Before L'Huillier, Marie Curie (1903), Maria Goeppert Mayer (1963), Donna Strickland (2018) and Andrea Ghez (2020) are the only women to have won the award. Speaking later at a press conference, she encouraged young women interested in a career in science to "go for it". The laureate, who is married and has two sons, stressed it was possible to combine a research career with an "ordinary life, with a family and children." French President Emmanuel Macron congratulated the trio, noting that "two of our brilliant French researchers" had been honoured. "What a source of pride for our nation!" Macron said in a post to X, formerly known as Twitter. L'Huillier and Krausz had been seen as contenders for the honour, having been awarded the prestigious Wolf Prize last year together with Canadian physicist Paul Corkum. Fellow Hungarian However, Krausz said he had not been expecting a call. "I was not sure whether I was dreaming or whether it was reality," he told the Nobel Foundation in an interview. Speaking at a press conference a few hours later, he said: "There are signs that it could be reality". The physics award is the second Nobel of the season after the Medicine Prize on Monday, awarded to messenger RNA researchers Katalin Kariko, a Hungarian like Krausz, and Drew Weissman for their groundbreaking technology that paved the way for mRNA Covid-19 vaccines. Krausz said he had actually been listening to an interview with his compatriot when he received the call, adding he was especially impressed with Kariko's determination as she toiled away at her research despite struggling to achieve recognition and even secure funding for it. "That's the most important lesson for me, that's what I would like to convey to future generations, that if you believe in something and are convinced it's the right thing to do ... the important thing is to keep believing in it," Krausz said. The Physics Prize will be followed by the Chemistry Prize on Wednesday, with the highly watched Literature and Peace Prizes to be announced on Thursday and Friday. The Economics Prize -- created in 1968 and the only Nobel not included in the 1895 will of Swedish inventor and philanthropist Alfred Nobel, which founded the awards -- closes out the 2023 Nobel season on Monday. The post Trio wins physics Nobel for illuminating electrons appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Beauty takes the spotlight
Beauty enthusiasts were drawn to a “new light” on the night of 7 September as Rustan’s The Beauty Source, the Philippines' foremost destination for opulent beauty, proudly introduced its annual Beauty Addict event. “See Beauty in a new light” came the invitation, and the retail hub renowned for curating the world’s most prestigious beauty brands in makeup, skincare, fragrance and personal care products, welcomed guests to its revamped Beauty Hall. The transformed space boasts of world-class interiors and cutting-edge retail architecture, providing the perfect backdrop for the most coveted and luxurious beauty brands. The occasion raised the bar for luxury retail and reaffirmed Rustan’s dedication to only choose the best products for its affluent customers. Excitement meets elegance The big day welcomed luxury beauty brands, such as CHANEL, Clarins, La Prairie, Anastasia Beverly Hills, Tom Ford, MAC, La Mer, Clé de Peau Beauté, Shiseido, Hermes, Diptyque, Maison Francis Kurkdjian, L’Occitane, Grown Alchemist, Malin+Goetz, L:a Bruket and many more. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was graced by Rustan’s chief executive officer Zenaida Tantoco, president Donnie Tantoco and executive vice president Anton Huang, accompanied by the radiant Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray. The evening was further elevated with captivating performances by the Halili Dance Group and the Manila String Machine Orchestra, with Bea Tantoco. As the night unfolded, guests reveled in a special afterparty with live music from Renee Dominique and renowned local DJs. The open dancefloor beckoned, while the champagne bar, sponsored by the Philippine Wine Merchants, and delectable hors d’oeuvres by Margarite Forés ensured a night to remember. Exclusive beauty gifts and selfie contest For the early birds, a prized two-sided Beauty LED Compact Mirror was given away to the first 100 visitors at Rustan’s Beauty Hall. With LED lights that mimic sunlight, this attractive mirror has both conventional and magnifying mirrors. Sharing event selfies on social media accounts qualified the selfie-savvy participants for the competition, which gave the chance to win the prized “Best Selfie Award,” which came with a hefty P10,000 Rustan’s The Beauty Source shopping spree. Glamour all the way to November From 8 to 17 September, Rustan’s offered a one-week promotion with exclusive discounts and rewards to keep its customers happy. With the Beauty Addict Holiday Gift with Purchase promotion, which is active until 30 November, Rustan’s continued the celebration throughout the holiday season. A Kate Spade New York Make It Pop Floral Jewelry Box was given out to Beauty Addict members with a minimum purchase. Rustan’s introduced the Beauty Addict Holiday Raffle, with the big prize being a three-night vacation for two in the romantic city of love — Paris, France — to heighten the anticipation. The winner will also receive KrisFlyer miles from Singapore Airlines to use on a Business Class Saver Award ticket to Paris, France. Every P2,500 spent at Rustan’s Beauty Source rewarded Beauty Addict members one entry into an electronic drawing. Every Metrobank card transaction give cardholders two entries. Promo ends 30 November. The post Beauty takes the spotlight appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Asian Institute of Management appoints Erramon Aboitiz as new chairman
UnionBank of the Philippines chairman of the Board of Directors Erramon "Montxu" I. Aboitiz has taken on a pivotal role as the new chairman of the Board of Trustees at the Asian Institute of Management beginning 1 September 2023. Aboitiz joins an esteemed group of accomplished business leaders who share the commitment to advance the growth and well-being of Asia and its people. Montxu is the seventh chairman of AIM, succeeding Peter Garrucho who assumed the role in 2017. Montxu served as the president and CEO of Aboitiz Equity Ventures for a decade from 2009 to 2019, and briefly as the CEO of Aboitiz Power Corporation in 2018. Additionally, Montxu is a former trustee of the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation before Aboitiz Group president and CEO Sabin Aboitiz assumed the same role. Montxu earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a major in Accounting and Finance from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington, USA. In 2011, he received the Management Man of the Year award from the Management Association of the Philippines and was recognized as Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young. Seven years later, AIM conferred an honorary doctorate degree in management on Montxu. In 2019, the Aboitiz Group, through its social responsibility arm the Aboitiz Foundation, made a $10 million donation to AIM, marked as the Aboitiz 100th Anniversary Commitment Fund. The said fund is being used to address the local and regional gap in data science and innovation. With this donation, AIM’s Aboitiz School of Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship conducts world-class teaching and research with real-world applications with data science professionals and leaders. The post Asian Institute of Management appoints Erramon Aboitiz as new chairman appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Park Seo-joon promotes self-care, self-awareness
IAM Worldwide, a health and wellness company, recently announced its collaboration with internationally acclaimed South Korean superstar Park Seo-joon as its newest global ambassador. Park Seo-joon’s prolific career spans both television and film, and his exceptional talents have garnered him a dedicated fan base worldwide. Known for his remarkable performances in hit dramas, such as What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim (2018), Itaewon Class (2020) and the newly released films Dream (2023) with singer-actress IU and Concrete Utopia (2023) with Park Bo-young, he has captivated audiences with his charisma, versatility and dedication to his craft. Park Seo Jun also plans to continue his global popularity through the Hollywood movie The Marvels and the Netflix series Gyeongseong Creature, which are both scheduled to be released in the second half of this year. Park Seo-joon will share his endorsement and support to IAM Worldwide’s line of products: Amazing Pure Organic Barley, a powdered drink made from organically grown Barley grass in Australia; Amazing Acai Berry Extract that effectively protects the body from the damaging effects of free radicals and enhances one’s memory while promoting skin elasticity; Amazing Grape Juice with Garcinia Cambogia, a popular supplement that is “a revolutionary fat burner” and “a breakthrough in natural weight loss;” and Amazing Choco-Barley, known to have lots of health benefits to detoxify the body. There’s no denying that the partnership between IAM Worldwide and Park Seo-joon signifies a shared commitment to promoting health, wellness and vitality. Park Seo Jun’s influential voice and genuine dedication to personal well-being align seamlessly with IAM Worldwide’s mission to inspire individuals to embrace healthier lifestyles. The post Park Seo-joon promotes self-care, self-awareness appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
This writers’ workshop loves Filipino literature
The Palihang Rogelio Sicat discussion on 21 June held in UP Diliman looked and sounded like an art class session. Manolo Sicat, the well-known artist and sculptor, was delivering a demo-lecture on printmaking. He said figures and words can go together in a work of art. [gallery columns="2" size="full" ids="175634,175632"] He had a PowerPoint presentation of print images. A pair of prints of a couple of dancers were passed around. One was in black and white, the other in color. Texture and motion were their immediate charm. “But what has printmaking to do with us?,” said Christian Balagoza, a boyish writer. “We’ll know when we get the printmaking session,” said sir Reuel Aguila, director PRS 16 (2023). Art collab This is the latest PRS innovation. When the session was held a few days later, Sicat conducted an honest-to-goodness printmaking workshop at the UP College of Fine Arts. A colleague, Prof. Ambie Abano, welcomed the group and opened her atelier to show mural-sized prints made from wooden originals. It is the artist’s impressive collection of prints featuring landscapes of lush trees in dark, brooding background. Fellows from the previous online batch joined the art activity. During the three-hour session, everyone polished her rubber board, chiseled images and texts, and finally print the works on paper. They were amazed to pick up the skill fast and admire the results in no time. Thumbs and nails got smudged with sticky ink yet everyone was smiling at the wet and black artworks clipped on wires that crossed the studio. 16 years of PRS This is one of the activities that make PRS unique. Thanks to its founders -- dramatist Reuel Aguila, retired professor now a lecturer at the UP, and fictionist Jimmuel Naval, dean of the UP College of Arts and Letters. The partner is always on the lookout for ingenious ways to improve the workshop, all for the good of young writers. PRS began as an informal workshop of a number of young writers held in the mansion of Ligaya Tiamson Rubin in Angono, Rizal, in 2008. Today, fellows accepted in the workshop are pegged at 15. Fellows like the idea that they are the main commentators of the manuscripts. During workshops, they get to be the lead discussant. “They learn to be critical and not rely too much on the opinion of the panelists,” said Aguila. The PRS is the only writers’ workshop that aspires to be mobile, going around the country to make its appellation ‘national’ true. It literally brings the creative writing life closer to practitioners. PRS collaborates with local governments, and with their support the workshop had been to Palayan City, Nueva Ecija (2009); Baler, Aurora (2010); Alfonso, Cavite (2011); Sta. Cruz, Marinduque (2012); Angeles City, Pampanga (2014); and Makati City (2015). It also cooperates with the academe as in UP Visayas-Tacloban (2017), UP Baguio (2018) and UP Los Baños (2019). There were times PRS stayed at its home base UP Diliman like during the 50th anniversary of the UP Department of Filipino and Philippine Literature (UP-DFPL) in 2017. It went online as Zoom conference twice during the pandemic. With the renowned writer Rogelio Sicat as PRS idol, the workshop chooses Filipino language as its medium of writing literature. It also accepts works from the region’s translated into Filipino. Institutional support PRS is the official outreach program of the UP-DFPL whose incumbent chair Schedar DT Jocson said that from the beginning, it has supported PRS and its objectives. Many of its panelists are from the department, including alumna Dr. Lulu Torres-Reyes, the PRS 16 guest of honor. Other PRS supporters include the UP Sentro ng Wikang Filipino (UP-SWF). “We are honored to be part of a movement that brings Philippine literature closer to the common people. PRS writers enrich the catalog of our website,” said director Jayson Petras. Friends and business people also support PRS, like Palawan Pawnshop / Palawan Express Padala company. Lively discussion about literature An hour of PRS discussion on a story or poem does not exhaust its reading or interpretation. To address the gap, sessions are set beyond the allotted time and well into almost midnight. Fellows do not seem to mind as they are very eager to huddle with seniors who are just as willing to forego of an early bedtime. PRS goes one more step. In 2022, it created post-workshop online sessions. Here, senior and beginning writers discuss new works. Everyone is excited to have these disquisitions that aim to improve writing skills. Dedication is demanded from both sides. The recent PRS workshop had the Sicat siblings Luna and Manolo beaming with pride. They were quite surprised to know that almost 300 young writers had already experienced the workshop. PRS is also proud that esteemed writers served as its panelists, including Bienvenido Lumbera, Edgardo Reyes, Ricardo Lee, Rogelio Ordoñez, Lualhati Bautista, Rosario Lucero, Elmer Ordoñez, Jose Dalisay, Marne Kilates, Jess Santiago, Fidel Rillo, Edgardo Maranan, Lilia Quindoza Santiago, Delfin Tolentino, Bonifacio Ilagan, Frank Cimatu, Joi Barrios-Le Blanc, Chris Millado, Jerry Gracio, Richard Gappi, Eros Atalia, Joselito delos Reyes, Choi Pangilinan and Junley Lorenzana Lazaga. PRS connects the lives of senior and beginning writers. Rogelio Sicat would be proud of this long -running project named after him. The post This writers’ workshop loves Filipino literature appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bong Go continues efforts to improve public service delivery
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go remains committed to supporting economic recovery and bolstering the healthcare system in various communities. Being an adopted son of Zambales, he continues to help improve public service delivery in the province. In a speech during his visit to Olongapo City, Zambales, on Saturday, 19 August, Go reiterated his dedication to providing immediate aid to communities in need especially the poor. “Huwag po kayong magpasalamat sa akin. Parati naming naririnig ‘salamat Senator Bong Go, salamat (dating) pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte sa mga tulong.' Sa totoo lang po, kami po ang dapat magpasalamat sa inyo dahil kami po’y mga probinsyano na binigyan n’yo po ng pagkakataon na makapagserbisyo po sa inyo. Maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat,” Go said. “Hinding-hindi ko po sasayangin ‘yung pagkakataong ibinigay ninyo sa akin, magtatrabaho po ako para sa Pilipino. Wala po akong piling oras, Lunes hanggang Linggo, umaga hanggang gabi magtatrabaho po ako para sa Pilipino sa abot ng aking makakaya,” he added. Go and his team distributed grocery packs, vitamins, masks, and snacks to 2,000 struggling residents, composed of persons with disabilities, solo parents, and transport workers, at the Rizal Triangle Multipurpose Center. The senator likewise gave away bicycles, shoes, mobile phones, watches, shirts, and basketball and volleyball balls. Meanwhile, financial support was also extended by the DSWD to assessed beneficiaries. The relief operation was in partnership with the Olongapo City local government, in coordination with Congressman Jay Khonghun and Mayor Rolen Paulino, Jr. “Ang tawag po sa kanya ay Mr. Malasakit. Alam niyo kung bakit? Kasi po yung puso niya (ay may malasakit), malapit sa tao si Senator Bong Go. At maliban po diyan, siya ang nagsulong ng mga Malasakit Centers… At gusto ko lang din ipaalam sa inyo na si Senator Bong Go po ay matagal na niya akong tinutulungan upang magkaroon tayo ng Malasakit Center dito sa hospital natin,” Paulino said in his speech, referring to ongoing efforts to establish a Malasakit Center in Olongapo in coordination with DOH. “Thank you very much po. Napakalaking tulong po ng ginagawa niyo sa amin… Siya po yung nagiging susi para marami pa tayong matulungan. Ang totoo po diyan, ang tinutulungan niya po ay hindi lang Olongapo, buong Zambales ang natutulungan ninyo,” Mayor Paulino continued. To further help alleviate the burden of poor and indigent patients, Go maintained his support for the continued operations of Malasakit Centers nationwide, including the one at President Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Hospital in Iba town. Initiated in 2018 and institutionalized under Republic Act No. 11463, which was principally authored and sponsored by Go in 2019, these centers serve as a vital bridge between the government and the people, offering streamlined access to medical assistance programs from concerned agencies, including the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Health (DOH), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO). Currently, there are 158 Malasakit Centers nationwide and, according to DOH, these centers have helped more than seven million Filipinos nationwide. “Ang Malasakit Center po is a one stop shop. Nasa loob na po ng ospital ang apat na ahensya ng gobyerno – PhilHealth, PCSO, DOH, DSWD na handang tumulong sa ating mga kababayan. ‘Yan po ang Malasakit Center, batas ‘yan na isinulong ko noon, pinirmahan ni dating Pangulong Duterte. One stop shop po ‘yan, lapitan n’yo lang po, para po ‘yan sa poor and indigent patients,” said Go in an interview after the event. Go's vision for a stronger healthcare sector continues through his advocacy for the establishment of more Super Health Centers (SHCs). Recognizing the importance of accessible healthcare services, especially after experiencing a global health crisis, Go has championed the cause of establishing these centers to provide primary care, early detection of diseases, and needed medical consultations to a broader range of citizens. Go cited that necessary funds have been allocated last year for DOH to construct SHCs in Iba, Botolan, and Castillejos, while another center will be established in Castillejos under the 2023 budget. The SHCs are medium versions of polyclinics and are bigger than rural health units, which offer basic services, such as database management, out-patient, birthing, isolation, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: x-ray, ultrasound), pharmacy, and ambulatory surgical unit. Other available services are eye, ear, nose, and throat (EENT) service, oncology centers, physical therapy and rehabilitation center, and telemedicine where remote diagnosis and treatment of patients will be done. “Ang ikinaganda po nito, (pwede na) diyan na po magpapakonsulta. It will help decongest the hospital. Importante ang early detection ng sakit para hindi na lumala at hindi na kailangan dalahin sa ospital. Magpakonsulta po kayo sa Super Health Center para mabigyan kayo agad ng primary care,” Go encouraged. Through Resolution No. 205 dated 8 August 2022, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Zambales pronounced Go as its adopted son, noting that the senator has "embodied the spirit of good governance and public service" by exerting great efforts to help the whole province. To ensure the progress of the city, Go, vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, supported the road rehabilitation along Elicano Street East Bajac-Bajac and the improvement of drainage canals in Barangay Barretto. On the same day, Go was in Subic where he was the guest speaker during the commencement exercise of Kolehiyo ng Subic, Class Matalaghay 2023. The post Bong Go continues efforts to improve public service delivery appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
MPTC, SMC forges historic P72-B toll road deal
Two industry powerhouses—Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. or MPTC and San Miguel Corp. or SMC—are set to jointly develop two toll road projects with a combined cost of P72 billion that would further ease mobility in Southern Luzon. The companies signed a Memorandum of Agreement last Monday, 14 August, where they formalized their bid to design, build and operate the 87.96-kilometer Cavite-Batangas Expressway or CBEX and Nasugbu-Bauan Expressway or NBEX. According to SMC President and CEO Ramon S. Ang, the partnership is a “historic collaboration” that will deliver world-class road networks for Filipinos. “This collaboration stands as a testament to what we can achieve when we are united in purpose,” Ang said. Meanwhile, MPTC Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan said: “Together with SMC, we envisage a future where our CBEX and NBEX can help pave the way for connectivity and economic growth in the CALABARZON region.” The CBEX is a 27.06-kilometer road that will establish a crucial link connecting CALAX’s Silang (Aguinaldo) Interchange to Batangas, Meanwhile, the 60.90-kilometer NBEX will provide seamless connectivity from Nasugbu to Bauan, Batangas. The route will traverse the townships of Silang, Amadeo, Tagaytay, Indang, Mendez, and Alfonso in Cavite before crossing into Nasugbu and finally reaching Bauan, Batangas. The groundbreaking of CBEX is scheduled for 2024, while NBEX is likely to be complete and open to the motoring public by 2027. In 2018, MPTC presented a proposal for the 50.4-kilometer Cavite-Tagaytay-Batangas Expressway project to the Department of Public Works and Highways and was granted the original proponent status. Similarly, SMC's unsolicited proposal for the CBEX and NBEX was approved by the Cavite and Batangas government. Both projects share the common goal of connecting the provinces of Cavite and Batangas through Tagaytay City and MPTC and SMC have come together as partners in this significant venture. The post MPTC, SMC forges historic P72-B toll road deal appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
India announces new French fighter jet deal as Modi visits Paris
India announced a new multi-billion-dollar deal for French fighter jets on Thursday as Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Paris for a two-day trip that will see him feted as the guest of honor during France's national day celebrations. India's defense ministry said that the country intended to order 26 more Rafale jets as well as another three Scorpene-class submarines, with the price and other terms still being worked out. India is one of the biggest buyers of French arms, and Modi announced a landmark deal for 36 Rafale fighter jets during a 2015 trip to Paris that was worth around 4.0 billion euros at the time. Some of those Indian-piloted Rafales will take part in a flypast on Friday during France's Bastille Day military parade where Modi will sit alongside French President Emmanuel Macron as guest of honour. "This closeness is not limited to just the leaders of two countries, it is in fact a reflection of the unwavering friendship between India and France," Modi told an enthusiastic crowd of Indians living in France on Thursday evening. Despite differences over the war in Ukraine and tensions over human rights in India, Western democracies are courting Modi and India as a counterweight to China in Asia. Macron's red carpet welcome comes weeks after Modi was given the rare honor of a White House state dinner in Washington -- a city he was once banned from visiting. "India is one of the pillars of our Indo-Pacific strategy," an aide to Macron told reporters this week on condition of anonymity. Human rights But amid the pomp and diplomatic courting in France, a resolution from the European Parliament on Thursday served as a reminder of Modi's controversial leadership style and Hindu nationalist agenda that has critics at home and abroad. Sitting in Strasbourg in eastern France, EU parliamentarians approved a motion that urged India to end violence in the country's restive northeastern Manipur state and to protect minorities there. Clashes between the majority Meitei, who are mostly Hindus, and the mainly Christian Kuki tribe have left at least 120 people dead, 50,000 displaced and over 1,700 houses destroyed, the parliament said. It criticized the "nationalistic rhetoric" of the local state government, run by Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party. Modi's role during Bastille Day in France was "an affront not only to India's minority communities, journalists and human rights defenders but also to India as a democracy," the text's chief negotiator, Pierre Larrouturou, said. A protest called against Modi drew only a few dozen people in central Paris on Thursday. Strategic partnership Modi has visited France four times since Macron came to power in 2017, while Macron was honored with a state visit to New Delhi in 2018. Aides on both sides have talked up the personal chemistry between the two leaders and pointed to cooperation on climate change, space technology, and nuclear power as part of a 25-year-old "strategic partnership" between France and India. Modi told the French newspaper Les Echos that bilateral trade had doubled in the last nine years and Macron's "thinking really matches ours". India and France "are naturally compatible" and "we see France as one of our foremost global partners," Modi added. Few observers expect Macron to raise rights concerns with Modi publicly. "The fact that explains France's relative success in this relationship is that unlike the US, the UK, Canada, Germany and a few other European countries, you've hardly seen France commenting on the internal affairs of India," Constantino Xavier from the Centre for Social and Economic Progress, a New Delhi-based think tank, said this week. "That has been appreciated on the Indian side." Modi has been dogged by allegations he was complicit in religious violence during his tenure as chief minister of the western state of Gujarat in 2002 when around 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, were killed in sectarian riots. The Indian government and judicial probes have cleared him of culpability. Since his first crushing electoral victory in 2014, he has also been denounced by rights groups for increased discrimination and violence towards the country's Muslims, as well as stifling independent media. "Diversity is the biggest strength of our democracy," he told the meeting on Thursday evening that also lauded the country's economic growth. Many European and American businesses, including US tech giant Apple, are ramping up production there to mitigate the threat of supply chain disruptions from China. The war in Ukraine has heightened concerns in the West about the risk of conflicts disrupting the flow of key raw materials and technology from China, but it has also exposed a rift with India. New Delhi, which has long sought to balance its ties with Moscow and the West, has declined to condemn Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine and has emerged as a top buyer of discounted Russian oil during the biggest conflict in Europe since World War II. The post India announces new French fighter jet deal as Modi visits Paris appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Lopez scholarship benefits 13 students
Lopez-led First Philippine Industrial Park or FPIP and FIRST Industrial Science and Technology College Inc. or FIRST College have opened a P1-million educational fund for poor yet bright students of two host cities in Batangas province. The scholarship fund, a pilot program for FPIP, will accept an initial batch of 13 indigent scholars. FPIP president Francis Giles Puno and FIRST College President Joaquin Quintos IV signed a memorandum of agreement recently to implement a holistic educational grant for eligible students. The program is open to all incoming Grades 11 and 12 students who are currently enrolled in FIRST College and residing either in Tanauan City or Santo Tomas City in Batangas. Scholars each enjoy a financial grant of P74,500 per year for tuition and matriculation fees, including P4,200 in monthly stipend and Internet allowance. As recipients under this holistic scholarship program, the eligible scholars will receive close guidance from, as well as kumustahan and counseling sessions with, FPIP and FIRST College. These interactions will help FPIP and FIRST College track the progress of the scholars and ensure their academic and personal development. First Philippine Holdings Corporation, a diversified conglomerate controlled by the Lopez family, established FPIP in 1996 with Sumitomo Corporation of Japan to create a world-class economic zone for global manufacturers and traders, as well as a platform for employing ordinary Filipinos and for generating government revenues. The 520-hectare ecozone, straddling Santo Tomas and Tanauan in Batangas, now provides employment for almost 80,000 Filipinos, aside from generating hundreds of millions of pesos in tax revenues for the host LGUs. FPH subsequently established FIRST College in 2018 with a vision to create a school that will deliver real-world, relevant, up-to-date, practical, technical training. Located right inside FPIP, FIRST College offers a unique curriculum and academic approach in close collaboration with industry partners, many of whom are FPIP locators themselves. This close collaboration allows students to gain extensive hands-on learning experience with industry professionals as their mentors. FPIP is a proud and consistent partner to its host communities in providing jobs and programs to link educational gaps for its network schools in Batangas. The post Lopez scholarship benefits 13 students appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Yes, anybody can fly with aerial arts
photograph courtesy of Lariza Jane E. Cabaltierra AERIAL silks. photograph courtesy of Kate Cometa AERIAL hammock. Zendaya as circus aerialist Anne Wheeler in the 2017 musical drama film The Greatest Showman is truly captivating. But do you know that you can also do her aerial tricks? Well, yes, if you take lessons in aerial arts, which are offered in local studios. Aerial arts is a type of performance in which one or more artists perform aerial dance and acrobatics with the use of an apparatus, such as hoop, silks and hammock as the most common ones. Aerial hoop Aerial hoop (also known as lyra) looks a lot like hula hoop, though made of steel and suspended from an overhead point upon which a performer can do tricks while spinning. Nesh Zamora teaches aerial hoop at Elite Aerial Arts, which she co-owns. She began her aerial arts journey in 2012. She was then engaged to be married and weighed about 138 pounds, so she wanted to slim down to fit nicely into her wedding gown. She “chanced upon” a dance and fitness studio around the Ortigas area, where she discovered pole fitness, dance and eventually, aerial arts. She fell in love with aerial hoop and silks that she continued taking lessons in different studios in Metro Manila and in the United States even after she achieved her ideal weight. “It was a slow start for me,” she recalls. “I needed to psych myself to believe that I can be at par with the other girls in class. Would you believe it took me six sessions to just be able to climb the aerial fabric? There are no shortcuts in learning aerial arts. It is truly for everyone as long as they are willing to put in the work.” Zamora says she started teaching aerial hoop and silks in 2014, after taking “intensive classes from known aerialists in countries like Thailand, Hong Kong and the US.” Today, she also teaches and performs (during parties or corporate events) aerial silks and hammock, as well as less common types like aerial straps, cube, moon and lyrapole. She recommends aerial arts not only for only for its health and health and confidence-boosting benefits but also the friendships formed among students and teachers. “Whatever lifestyle, gender, age and even weight you may have when you enter our studio, you will end your first session knowing that aerial arts is for you.” Tips for new students: 1. Make sure you choose a studio with qualified instructors and which puts premium to student safety in terms of the quality of equipment used and instruction pacing. 2. Come to class with an open mind. 3. Try out all types of aerial equipment to see what excites you the most. 4. Listen and watch intently. Don’t be shy to ask your instructors to repeat or demonstrate what is being taught. 5. Enjoy and document your progression by taking photos and videos. 6. Never compromise your safety. Elite Aerial Arts Address: 143-3 Maginhawa St., Sikatuna Village, Quezon City. Website: eliteaerialarts.com. FB: Elite Aerial Arts, IG: @eliteaerialartsph. Aerial silks Aerial silks (also referred to as tissu, fabric and ribbon) are two long pieces of fabric made of not silks but a blend of polyster-lycra or nylon tricot that measure at least 16 meters each. These fabrics are draped down from a single point, which is then connected on a ceiling or outdoor rig using steel or aluminum hardware. The performer will climb the silks and do different kinds of sequences on them. Lariza Jane E. Cabaltierra is an aerial instructor at Idanceph dance studio and a junior member of the Whiplash Dance Company. In 2014, or merely a year after she learned aerial silks, this former teacher of ballet for kids made the cut in the Hall of Fame of TV5’s Talentadong Pinoy with her stunning performance. Over the years, she’s learned many other apparatuses, such as hoop, hammock, chandelier, moon and helix. She says not to believe in misconceptions that aerial arts is only for women who are young, strong and have a dance background. “It’s a step-by-step process. Little by little, your body will become strong and you will have confidence that you can do the tricks. As long as you’re happy with what you are doing, just keep going. What matters is what your heart wants.” Tips for new students: 1. Wear comfortable clothing that is suitable for the class you will be attending. 2. Do some proper warm-ups before class starts. 3. Expect more laughter and be ready to surprise yourself. 4. If you have a health concern, don’t be shy or don’t hesitate to tell the teacher or coach about it. 5. Be friendly, so you can make new friends and have a support system. 6. Most of all, just enjoy the class. Idanceph Address: #96 Maginhawa St., M Place Building, Diliman, Quezon City. FB: Idanceph. Aerial hammock Aerial hammock (also called slings) is similar to the one used in aerial yoga or aerial fitness, but with a much longer fabric, so the performer can do more tricks while spinning. Kate Cometa teaches aerial hammock at Beast House Pole and Aerial Dance Studio. She discovered aerial arts in 2016, when, as she tells it, “life had me all kinds of confused,” especially in her relationships and career choices, while suffering from insomnia and anxiety. “When I started in aerial silks, I looked more like a flailing sausage than a graceful aerialist. For two whole months, I couldn’t even manage a simple invert.” But she didn’t give up and even became “obsessed” with aerial arts, not minding “spending all my money on class cards and super cool aerial outfits.” She then joined her first recital and realized that it wasn’t just a hobby but already her “heart and soul.” She also ventured into hoop and silks, and even outside her comfort zone with pole dance. In 2018, she started teaching aerial hammock and joined her first competition, the Philippine Aerial Cup, in the amateur women pole division. “The most important thing is to allow yourself to be a beginner and fully enjoy the class,” Cometa points out. “There’s no need to worry about your fitness background or any preconceived notion. Everyone is welcome. It’s an inclusive community that embraces diversity and celebrates the uniqueness of each individual.” Tips to new students: 1. Listen to your teacher and truly know your body parts, both left and right. It may sound simple, but you’d be surprised how often we forget those essential details when we’re hanging in the air. 2. Approach your aerial journey with an open heart that is ready to accept new things, embrace challenges and love every step of the process. It’s through this openness that you’ll find the true magic of aerial arts. 3. Let the guidance and expertise of your instructor sink in and trust that they are there to support you on your incredible journey. (Cometa leads the aerial flow workshop in Cebu on 8 to 10 July.) Beast House Pole and Aerial Dance Studio Address: 2nd Floor, Pioneer Centre, United Street corner Pioneer St., Kapitolyo, Pasig City. FB: Beast Home Pole and Aerial Dance Studio. IG: @beasthomeph. The post Yes, anybody can fly with aerial arts appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
New jail chief to follow ‘BJMP Plan 2040’
The incoming 10th Chief of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology on Tuesday said he will continue working on the BJMP’s J.A.I.L. Plan 2040, the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s “Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan” Program, and the Marcos administration’s Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028. BJMP J.A.I.L. Plan 2040 stands for Journey for Advancement Innovation and Long-term Development Plan 2040. Jail director Ruel Rivera was appointed by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. Monday evening. In his new role as BJMP chief, Rivera said he is committed to the BJMP’s mandate of providing secure, reformation-oriented, and well-managed jail facilities across the country. Rivera said he will work closely with BJMP personnel, stakeholders, and partners to uphold the BJMP commitment to professionalism, integrity and service excellence. Rivera will be leading the BJMP’s 20,813 personnel in taking care of 126,606 persons deprived of liberty confined in 479 jails and with a nationwide congestion rate of 365 percent. A member of PATNUBAY Class of 1995, Rivera received his degree in Public Safety from the Philippine National Police Academy. He pursued a Master’s in Public Administration at Batangas State University and acquired Doctorate units in Philosophy on Educational Management at the University of Rizal System. The Daily Tribune learned that throughout Rivera’s career, the new BJMP chief has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership skills, strategic thinking, and a deep understanding of the complexities and challenges faced by the Jail Bureau. He played a vital role in implementing innovative programs and initiatives aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of the BJMP’s operations and the rehabilitation of PDL. In his 28 years in public service, Jail Director Rivera brings a distinguished career in jail management to this position. With his years of experience in various capacities within the BJMP, he displayed exemplary dedication and commitment to the bureau’s mission of ensuring safe and humane custody of PDL. He never shied away from being deployed to various regional offices as a staff officer, Regional Chief of Directorial Staff and Assistant Regional Director, until his eventual ascent to the seat of the Regional Director of BJMP-MIMAROPA from 2013 to 2014. Rivera also became the NHQ’s Chief of the Finance Service Office, Director for Investigation and Prosecution, Director for Logistics, and Director for Comptrollership, before joining the BJMP’s Command Group, the decision-making body of the Jail Bureau, serving as the Chief of Directorial Staff in 2017, Deputy Chief for Operations in 2018, Deputy Chief for Administration in July 2019, and Acting Chief, BJMP on March 27, 2023. Rivera replaced General Allan Iral who optionally retired from the service at the age of 54 after reaching the maximum tour of duty of four years as BJMP chief last June 23, 2023. The post New jail chief to follow ‘BJMP Plan 2040’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
NLEX gears up to improve road infra, quality of service
Now that the pandemic is gone and the restrictions have been relaxed, most Filipinos are making up for lost time by traveling to various destinations, especially during long weekends. Most Filipinos opt to go on road trips to popular destinations in central and northern Luzon, such as beach resorts in Zambales and Pangasinan, surfing resorts in La Union, beautiful parks in Baguio, and historical sites in Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte. These destinations are usually accessible via the North Luzon Expressway or NLEX. Although maintaining the road infrastructure and quality of service remains a big challenge, the management of NLEX Corp. through Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. or MPTC continues to invest in various capital projects to continuously improve the road quality and motorist experience. Thus, the recent toll fee adjustment approved by the Toll Regulatory Board or TRB will be of great help to the management of NLEX in carrying out its planned projects, such as improving road conditions and modernizing its toll collection system. The TRB allowed NLEX to adjust its rates effective 15 June 2023. Under the new toll fee matrix, Class 1 vehicles will pay an additional P7, Class 2 vehicles P17, and Class 3 vehicles P19. The new rates are part of NLEX’s allowed period adjustments from 2012, 2014, half of 2018, and 2020, and now 2023 is the fourth and final tranche of adjustments. In an interview, Rogelio L. Singson, MPTC president and CEO, assured motorists they can expect improvements to NLEX’s road infrastructure and quality of service. MPTC will prioritize plans and projects to decongest chokepoints or areas of heavy traffic flow. It plans to build and implement multi-lane barrier-less systems throughout its expressway network to improve traffic flow by 30 percent. The plan includes expanding the roadway at entry and exit points, which are occasionally filled with vehicles. Right-of-way acquisition remains a challenge to the road expansion at several entry and exit points. Hence, NLEX has been coordinating with the local government units and has suggested letting the national government take over these road-widening projects. This way, the Department of Public Works and Highways will manage the budget and maintenance of these roads. “Admittedly, the improvements at NLEX will not be immediate. There is still much to fix on the roads and our toll collection system. Nonetheless, our chairman, Mr. Manny V. Pangilinan, has instructed us to implement these improvements as soon as possible,” Singson said. What is surprising is that critics are actively opposing the latest toll fee adjustment, even though these were pre-programmed and agreed upon by NLEX and the government. Under its agreement with the government, NLEX can file a petition for a rate adjustment with the TRB every two years. The actual increase is manageable to motorists, as NLEX and TRB have staggered the collection, which should have taken place in 2012. Hence, the recent adjustment is a win-win for all stakeholders, such as the TRB, NLEX, and the motorists. The improvements at NLEX since MPTC took over its operations have helped greatly develop the central and northern Luzon regions. The road infrastructure and service quality improvements have moved goods and people much faster and more cost-efficiently, thus spurring the growth of businesses and industries in the regions. The difference between NLEX today and back in the day is also undeniable. Traveling is much faster and more comfortable, particularly with the opening of various establishments along the expressway where motorists can eat and rest before proceeding to their destinations. In the end, motorists also stand to benefit from the latest toll adjustment, as it would allow MPTC to continue investing in capital projects to maintain NLEX’s road infrastructure, decongest traffic and reduce queues, improve its facilities and services, and ensure the safety of motorists. The post NLEX gears up to improve road infra, quality of service appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Oscar-winning UK actress turned MP Glenda Jackson dies at 87
British actress Glenda Jackson, the two-time Oscar-winning actress who went on to become an MP, died on Thursday at the age of 87, her agent said. Lionel Larner said Jackson "died peacefully at her home in Blackheath London this morning after a brief illness with her family at her side". "She recently completed filming 'The Great Escaper' in which she co-starred with Michael Caine," he added. The film tells the true story of a World War II veteran who escaped his care home to attend a commemoration of the D-Day landings in France. Jackson won the Best Actress Oscar in 1970 for her leading performance in Ken Russell's film adaptation of author D.H. Lawrence's novel "Women in Love". She won it again in 1973 for her role in "A Touch of Class", in which she played a woman falling in love with the man with whom she is having an affair. Despite her status as a formidable actress, she frequently showed her lighter side with appearances on the popular British comedy series the "Morecambe and Wise Show". Jackson was elected as a Labour MP for her local London constituency of Hampstead and Highgate in 1992 and served as a transport minister in Tony Blair's government between 1997 and 1999. Labor leader Keir Starmer said Jackson's death "leaves a space in our cultural and political life that can never be filled". "From award-winning actor to campaigner and activist to Labour MP and government minister, Glenda Jackson was always fighting for human rights and social justice," he added. Alastair Campbell, Blair's influential press chief in government, called her "one of the finest actresses of our lifetime". "I sometimes felt she found the transition to politics harder than she expected. But a great life well lived," he tweeted. 'Formidable' Jackson also advised Labor's Ken Livingstone when he was London mayor on housing policy and campaigned against homelessness in the capital from 2000 to 2004. She was born on 9 May 1936, in Birkenhead, a small port town near Liverpool, northwest England, to a bricklayer and a cleaning lady. At 16 she went to work in a chemist's shop, doing amateur dramatics in her spare time. When she was 18 she won a scholarship to the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London. Jackson stepped down as an MP in 2015 and returned to the stage after an absence of 23 years for a rare gender-swapping role in a London production of "King Lear" in 2016. In 2018, aged 82, she won her first Tony -- the equivalent of the Oscars for theatre -- for best actress in "Three Tall Women" and a year later reprised the role of "King Lear" on Broadway for a performance. The New York Times described it as "powerful and deeply perceptive". Jackson was married to actor Roy Hodges from 1958 to 1976. Their son Dan Hodges is a political columnist. In 1978, she was made a Commander of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II. The post Oscar-winning UK actress turned MP Glenda Jackson dies at 87 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bong Go bats for better fire prevention, sends aid to Parañaque fire victims
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go remains committed to help Filipinos affected by crisis situations as he sent his team to assist fire victims residing in Barangays La Huerta and San Dionisio in Parañaque City on Friday, 9 June. Go’s team held the relief activity at Villanueva Village Basketball Court and distributed grocery packs, snacks, vitamins, shirts and masks to a total of 76 affected households. The senator's personnel also gave away shoes and mobile phones to select recipients. Aside from the senator’s team, a team from the Department of Social Welfare and Development extended financial assistance to further help the victims recover from the damage caused by the fire incident. Through his video message, Go maintained that the government continues to prioritize better fire prevention efforts as the Bureau of Fire Protection is currently undergoing a modernization program, following the enactment of Republic Act No. 11589 in 2021. The BFP Modernization Act, which was primarily authored and co-sponsored by Go, mandates the agency to undergo a 10-year modernization program to transform the bureau into a world-class institution that would significantly improve its capability to respond to fire-related incidents by recruiting more firefighters, acquiring new fire equipment and developing specialized training, among others. “Sa pag-iikot ko ng bansa para makatulong sa mga nasunugan, nakita ko po talaga ang importansya ng pagpapalakas ng ating fire prevention campaigns. Kaya naman nagpapasalamat ako sa dating pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa pag-apruba ng BFP Modernization Act para mas lalo pang lumakas ang kapasidad ng ahensya,” expressed Go. “Sa mga nasunugan naman po, alam ko pong napakahirap ng panahon ngayon at kayo po ay nasunugan pa pero huwag po kayong mawalan ng pag-asa. Ang pera naman po ay kikitain pero ang pera ay hindi po nabibili ang buhay. A lost life is a lost life forever. Kaya mag-ingat po tayo palagi,” he reminded. Go then offered additional assistance to any resident in need of medical care as he encouraged them to seek the services of the Malasakit Center located at Ospital ng Parañaque. After he witnessed the struggles of financially disadvantaged Filipinos in settling their medical expenses, Go initiated the Malasakit Centers program in 2018 and was institutionalized under Republic Act No. 11463 in 2019, which he principally authored and sponsored. The center houses relevant agencies where patients can conveniently avail medical assistance programs, such as DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. There are now 158 Malasakit Centers nationwide. Go likewise mentioned that Super Health Centers will be strategically located in the city as identified by the DOH, including two in different barangays. Through the collective efforts of fellow lawmakers, sufficient funds had been allocated for 307 Super Health Centers in 2022 and 322 in 2023. The DOH, as the lead implementing agency, identifies strategic areas where these centers will be built. Services offered in Super Health Centers include database management, out-patient, birthing, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: x-ray and ultrasound), pharmacy and ambulatory surgical unit. Other available services are eye, ear, nose, and throat service, oncology centers, physical therapy and rehabilitation center and telemedicine, where remote diagnosis and treatment of patients will be done. Aside from the assistance provided, Go, who is Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, supported several initiatives in the city to ensure its progress amid crisis situations. Among the projects are the rehabilitation and construction of several multipurpose buildings, rehabilitation of drainage in Brgy. Don Bosco, improvement of the Parañaque River Promenade Bridge and acquisition of an ambulance unit. Last 2 June, Go’s team also assisted more fire victims in the city. The post Bong Go bats for better fire prevention, sends aid to Parañaque fire victims appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
MMCL, ASU partner on Global Classroom
As the world moves towards a more internationalized landscape, there is a growing need to equip students with tools that will help them navigate the rapidly shifting industry space. Through its groundbreaking partnership with Arizona State University (ASU), Mapúa Malayan Colleges Laguna (MMCL) is rolling out high-tech Global Classrooms to facilitate a borderless learning experience. Students can now have access to ASU’s world-class content and ASU-enhanced course programs. They can engage in online learning experiences co-lectured by ASU faculty in the United States and professors from the ASU-Cintana Alliance universities. Apart from the Global Classrooms, the ASU-Cintana Alliance also provides students the unique opportunity to participate in student exchange and summer immersion programs with partner schools in the US and other countries. The ASU-enhanced curriculum remains faithful to the tenets that the Mapúa legacy is built upon. The school of business pushes for global immersion and real world experiential learning. For health sciences, the focus zeroes in on global readiness, and advanced and immersive facilities. ASU is among the Top 1 percent of universities worldwide, ranked by the Center for World University Rankings for 2022-2023. It is also among the Top 150 Universities Worldwide by Shanghai Ranking 2022. The latest US News & World Report online program rankings place ASU’s W.P. Carey School of Business in the Top 10 in the US, including the no. 1 spot for online bachelor’s in business programs and the online bachelor’s program in psychology in the no. 4 spot. Mapúa Malayan Colleges Laguna (Mapúa MCL) is one of Mapua’s three major campuses in the Philippines. Located in Cabuyao, Laguna, it first opened its programs to students in 2007. MMCL has been ranked as among the best board exam performing private schools, and also the first ISO 21001:2018 — EOMS Certified school in the Calabarzon area. The college also holds the distinction of being the youngest school to attain CHED Autonomous status in the country. MMCL offers programs in engineering, computer science, information technology, multimedia arts, and HRM, apart from senior high school. In 2022, it opened up a new post-graduate course, Master of Science in Shipping Business, in collaboration with the Business College of Athens. Mapúa Malayan Colleges Laguna (MMCL) is rolling out high-tech Global Classrooms to facilitate a borderless learning experience. The post MMCL, ASU partner on Global Classroom appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bureaucratic (mal)practice
What welfare state model — replete with assumptions, measures, and calculations — allowed government to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, provide free healthcare to the sick, give cash subsidies to the jobless? This bureaucratic (mal)practice transfers the burden to the taxpayers-at-large if the pattern of government spending is to extend help to the needy. Seemingly a grand equalizer, privileges go to the poor like manna from heaven while obligations pass to the rich like punishment from above, effectively blurring the relationship between entitlements and contributions. Economists have done very little to incentivize interdependence rather than this vicious dependence by the least affluent class on the more affluent class of society. And what angelic genius of an idea have grandstanding politicians invented in the government’s strongest pretension as a welfare state — when navigating like a rudderless ship in fiscally constrained waters — they should not have dared to venture? Came the fire that ravaged the entire Central Post Office building from the basement to the roof of the iconic five-story structure, stripped of its “flesh” solely because water sprinklers had not been installed in the whole edifice that could have averted the tragic inferno. At no point had the government come to its senses on how to preserve a P1-million investment a hundred years ago — or to how much it would cost to build the same structure today. An editorial in a leading newspaper has profusely romanticized the role of the old post office with an unmuffled scream for restoration and reform toward modernity — one more superior than private courier services (i.e. FedEx, DHL, United Parcel Service). But the long prose hardly rolled out — in a manner clear as crystal and hard as diamond — what “structural weaknesses of the agency” ought to be re-engineered. Its nostalgia for the charred edifice as a Filipino heritage is vacuous or paying mere lip-service absent any well-defined reform parameters beyond its existing mandate. Instead, why doesn’t the government sponsor an international competition for the design of a new Central Post Office building by forming a judging committee as early as now? Thereafter, the winning entry will be commissioned to begin construction of what would later be a new heritage landmark. In short, let a new structure rise and supplant that which now lies in ruin – for want of water sprinklers. It will not strain logic that the charred remains of a once-proclaimed national treasure has fallen into an absolute case of “sunk cost,” which simply means that there is nothing more to retrieve. At this critical juncture, however, let it be a local concern rather than a national one given that as head of a local government unit, the city mayor of Manila is in the best position to determine its needs in accordance with existing comprehensive land use plans. Besides, LGU Manila is one of the highest revenue-generating local governments and therefore has the wherewithal to foot the construction of a new post office. What “outstanding universal value,” if any, is the old building known for to deserve classification as a cultural heritage or as a national treasure, as the case may be? What heritage — natural, cultural, historical — is there to really preserve other than the nightmare of the Battle of Manila in World War II? A single article in a referenced journal should be enough proof that it attained a level of recognition of unsurpassed value. When the National Museum of the Philippines declared it an important cultural property for “exceptional cultural, artistic, and historical significance to the Philippines,” it came so rather belatedly in 2018. From then on, it received public funds for its protection, conservation and restoration. If officialdom will download awesome sums of money to restore what was lost, methinks that in both economic and accounting costs, it will be foolhardy to do so. For now, blame not Congress or any board of inquiry for probing why it burned to the ground — beyond the worn-out narrative of faulty wiring. Let heads roll! The post Bureaucratic (mal)practice appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»