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‘The Eras Tour’ serves up Taylor Swift, larger than life
That Taylor Swift is a great songwriter is no longer in question. What’s up for debate is whether she’s a great concert artist as well. By artist we don’t mean a gifted vocalist. The era of the pop concert as a singing showcase and a straightforward live onstage performance of recorded music ended in 1990 with Madonna’s third concert tour. Called Blond Ambition, the highly theatrical show combined music, spectacle and, most crucially, storytelling with a several-act structure based on themes or narrative arcs, deconstructed songs and elaborate sets to redefine the pop concert as performance art. It has since been the template and gold standard by which all concerts, especially those by female superstars, have been measured. Yes, even Madonna’s own subsequent tours have been assessed through the Ambition lens and, arguably, none of them has quite equaled the one that gave the world the cone bra as an icon of female sexuality and woman power. [caption id="attachment_201371" align="aligncenter" width="1987"] LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 11: Taylor Swift attends "Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour" Concert Movie World Premiere at AMC The Grove 14 on October 11, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)[/caption] Feast for the eyes Swift’s The Eras Tour, as seen in the filmed concert currently showing in cinemas worldwide, certainly serves up a feast for the eyes. Most of it is courtesy of the massive stage consisting of a backdrop that stands several stories high, a huge main platform and a long runway that juts well into the audience floor and features its own diamond-shaped mini-stage with a “hyperactive” central hydraulic platform consisting of several mobile blocks that rise to various heights throughout the almost three-hour show. It’s not only one of the biggest stages ever built for a pop concert, but is also probably the biggest LED installation ever assembled in and outside the music world. And it’s never not in use, lighting up the cavernous 70,000-seat SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles (where the movie was filmed over three shows) with eye-popping digital images, pre-recorded videos and live footage from the concert itself. The set is so massive that it makes Swift and her troupe of dancers look like ants. But thanks to the big screens, she literally looks larger than life to the live audience at different points in the show. The film does the opposite, and is the better for it: It brings Swift into the intimate space of the cinema and, thus, closer to the audience. Eras further highlights and celebrates the main thing that has helped the 33-year-old singer-songwriter conquer the pop world, the core attribute that makes Taylor Swift Taylor Swift: relatability. [gallery columns="2" size="full" ids="201372,201370"] It’s all over her music: a repertoire of mostly slow and mid-tempo ballads that tell about the blush, excitement, joy, ecstasy, frustrations, confusion, sadness, heartbreak, anger and regrets of modern-day romantic relationships, in creative confessional journal prose that listeners of all ages, colors and persuasions find no difficulty accessing and plugging into. It’s all over her wholesome, winsome, non-threatening all-American girl-next-door public persona. This is on fuller display in her performance in Eras than even in her 2020 documentary movie, Miss Americana & The Heartbreak Prince, which chronicled mostly the period between her Reputation Tour in 2018 and the release in 2019 of her seventh studio album, Lover. Between the many floral, even pastoral, and fluid graphic images onscreen and the tasteful, immaculate set pieces, between the squarely schematic album-era sectioning and the billowy ball gowns and sparkly and sexy but modest bodysuits, between the Cheshire-Cat grin Swift wears through most of the show, even during moments in some heartbreak songs, and her dorky cheerleader energy, The Eras Tour plays like Little Miss Sunshine & The Hearty Princess. It’s all what anyone would expect from the reigning America’s Sweetheart. Thoroughly entertaining It’s a great Taylor Swift show, for sure — thoroughly entertaining and one that sends stans to Swift heaven. But it stops at being a Taylor Swift show with a faithful rendition of her songs when, for something called Eras, it should be giving audiences, both fans and casuals alike, more to chew on than what they already know and are familiar with — a recast, a reinterpretation, a recontextualization of her music and impact. [caption id="attachment_201373" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] US singer-songwriter Taylor Swift performs onstage on the first night of her "Eras Tour" at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on March 31, 2023. (Photo by SUZANNE CORDEIRO / AFP)[/caption] The show is content to be a pop concert about Taylor Swift. Coming almost 20 years into her career, it should’ve reached for the world outside of Taylor Swift, or even just a small part of it: What do Taylor and her songs, for instance, say about the times we are living in? The Eras Tour could have aspired to life and art, or at least something approaching it, and thereby become a truly era-defining experience. The post ‘The Eras Tour’ serves up Taylor Swift, larger than life appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Paying tribute to Criselda, Rustan’s bestselling iconic fashion designer
In her lifetime, Criselda Lontok epitomized the kind of woman for whom the legendary Glecy Rustia Tantoco established her home-based establishment that would grow into the country’s foremost luxury department store. No wonder that the Rustan’s Department Store founder, known for her keen understanding of the ladies of Manila’s 400, offered to Criselda, one of Manila’s most beautiful women and smartest dressers, a beauty queen and a fashion model, an exclusive line intended for her kind. Criselda, who had served initially as a buyer and merchandiser, and spearheaded a number of homegrown Italian-inspired Rustan’s labels, accepted the challenge, keeping in mind her friends and acquaintances, the quintessential upper-class Filipina — fashionable, committed to philanthropic and civic causes, herself engaged in an enterprise or a profession that fits her colegiala or finishing school education and, of course, prominent and socially-adept. Having seen the world and constantly on the go in the jet-setting era, these women, like Criselda herself, knew the best of foreign brands and were accustomed to wearing them. [caption id="attachment_186354" align="aligncenter" width="1365"] JOHN Fernandez, Criselda Lontok’s son. | PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF RUSTANS[/caption] Taking her cue from the composite personality traits of her intended clientele, beautiful people as they were then called, Criselda went on to create dresses that appealed to the ladies’ fine sensibilities anchored on a lifestyle of privilege, comfort, grace and sophisticated aesthetics. Her ingenuity could not have been more apt, as proven by her designs hogging the limelight, the topic of conversation among socialites who finally found the dress that fit them and their style — and becoming the best-seller of Rustan’s. From its beginnings in the early 1980s, the label Criselda went on to grow as among the top offerings and go-to brands of the country’s sole purveyor of high style. And even as Rustan’s aimed for inclusivity to address the needs of professionals and customers who aspired to the good life within their budget, Criselda remained the top choice for those who sought to be attractive and stylish, while being practical and wise in their choices. A Criselda was always a good investment. Through the decades, just like a select few things that get better as they get older, Criselda, the exclusive clothing brand, has transcended fashion trends and social seasons and has maintained its eminent position in the country’s pret-a-porter sector. Criselda’s recent demise might have led to a void, especially in the firmament of Philippine fashion, but her eponymous brand, Criselda, just like her name, has endured. She may be gone but she is remembered, first by her Rustan’s family led by Zenaida R. Tantoco, chief executive officer and chairman of the Rustan Group of Companies, her friends, devoted clientele, and the many others whose lives she touched through her professionalism, kindness, friendliness and warmth, which she generously gave especially to those who came to peruse her creations, mostly cut along classic lines but not sacrificing women’s desire to be chic and trendy. Her career with Rustan’s is a story worth telling as it is inspiring, one that would encourage our young women to pursue their dreams. As a young wife and mother who believed she could contribute to the world out there, Criselda applied for a job at Rustan’s. The grand lady of the number one purveyor of luxury in the country, Glecy R. Tantoco, took her in despite her initial doubts as to whether Criselda, who comes from a good family in Batangas and married into another good family from Laguna, would stick it out despite the rigorous requirements of the job. Glecy Tantoco was known for her insistence on the efficiency of her staff, along with a strong sense of service and an overall image in terms of personal looks and demeanor that defined the Rustan’s style of appropriateness, class and good breeding. [caption id="attachment_186355" align="aligncenter" width="1078"] ERNIE Lopez and Bertha Felicino of Bantay Bata.[/caption] Thankfully, Criselda proved herself worthy, even as she had to deal directly with her tough and no-nonsense boss. In fact, they clicked, as Glecy turned out to be a supportive mentor. Taking Criselda under her wing, she gave her additional responsibilities and assigned her to the forefront when dignitaries and international socialites shopped at Rustan’s. More than the label and the prestige, what Glecy Tantoco gave her were the right work ethic and belief in herself. Criselda remembered her mentor, “GRT (as Glecy was called) was so very hardworking, you just had to be as hardworking, too. I truly admired her foresight. She had the drive. She taught me that I must be sure of myself and only if I was sure should I pursue whatever I wanted to do.” It did not take long for Criselda’s outfits to become a must among Manila’s prominent women who love to wear them not only when attending big parties but also when visiting with friends, shopping at the mall, or relaxing with the family at home. Whether these were day dresses, afternoon outfits, cocktail dresses, or ravishing evening gowns, they lapped them up, happy at the thought of not having to bother with fittings and the encumbrances that went with wearing haute couture. If they wore her creations, it was because they believed her when she spoke to them of fashion sense and carriage and, of course, compatibility with what they wore. She once said, “It is important to consider your age. An 80-year-old woman should not even wear mini skirts...just a little above the knee is permissible but not one that shows her prominent varicose veins and other unsightly parts.” The post Paying tribute to Criselda, Rustan’s bestselling iconic fashion designer appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Zephanie mas nag-mature, nagsusuot na ng mga sexy outfits; Babaerong aktor bantay sarado sa palabang dyowa
ISA pang talent ng Cornerstone Entertainment na tila kumakawala na rin sa pagiging wholesome, ang singer na si Zephanie Dimaranan or Zephanie. Dumalo kasi ang 2019 Idol Philippines grand winner sa nakaraang Vogue Philippines Gala 2023 nitong Martes, Agosto 29 na ginanap sa Shangri-La BGC at ka-date niya ang kapwa niya Sparkle Artist na si The post Zephanie mas nag-mature, nagsusuot na ng mga sexy outfits; Babaerong aktor bantay sarado sa palabang dyowa appeared first on Bandera......»»
An Evening with Club Bulakeño Royalty
I spent an evening in the presence of royalty. Club Bulakeño made a regal comeback with highly anticipated ball after three years of hiatus due to the pandemic! This year’s theme brought European Royalty to the Manila Hotel, dubbing the night as “A Royal Affair: A Night of Majestic Opulence.” [caption id="attachment_177753" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] Mario Katigbak, Baby Tan, Milo Bondoc, Ofelia Trinidad, Sonny Tanchanco, Nedy Tantoco and Patrick Jacinto.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_177763" align="aligncenter" width="1368"] Joel Cruz, Edgard Cabangon, Gerard Ramirez and Nini Licaros.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_177769" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] Malou Martinez, Ruby Chua, Angola Consul Helen Ong and Irene Montemayor.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_177765" align="aligncenter" width="1199"] Yoli Ayson and Beging Soriano.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_177764" align="aligncenter" width="1199"] Shirley Sobremonte and Roselle Rebano.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_177762" align="aligncenter" width="1199"] Shelly Lazaro and Florence Monzon.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_177761" align="aligncenter" width="1484"] Connie Garcia and Shilpa Tolani.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_177760" align="aligncenter" width="1199"] Becky Garcia, Cocoy Cordoba and Mayenne Carmona.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_177759" align="aligncenter" width="1445"] Atty. Sal Panelo and Connie Haw.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_177754" align="aligncenter" width="661"] Marissa Fenton, Bulakeño 'Empress of Austria.'[/caption] [caption id="attachment_177756" align="aligncenter" width="1199"] Nene Leonor and Tokie Tantoco.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_177757" align="aligncenter" width="1199"] Alice Samson and Bong Prada Lim.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_177758" align="aligncenter" width="1199"] Lydia Abastillas-Reyes, Bulakeño founder.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_177768" align="aligncenter" width="1077"] Angel Fenton, Club Bulakeño’s muse, and her escort Prince of Kuwait Abdulah Delah.[/caption] As we expected, we got nothing but grandeur all around. Kings and queens arrived in ornate attire at the Manila Hotel Ballroom, transformed into a rich, red Royal Court. The night started with a dance, followed by the entrance of the servers who were also dressed as courtiers. It was like being transported back to the Renaissance era. A feast fit for kings and queens satiated us for an eventful night ahead. The juicy steak was cooked to perfection, which we savored with the flawless sound of live opera serenading us. As for dessert? We got a feast for the eyes as the past Club Bulakeño queens descended the grand staircase. Not long after, this year’s crowned Club Bulakeño muse, Angel Fenton, walked in with Prince Abdullah Dellah of Kuwait. She was joined by her proud father, Ian Grant, for her first waltz, while her mother, Marissa Fenton, was glowing with pride as she sat regally on her chair, as though the queen mother’s throne. Sounds like modern royalty to me with a touch of history! Before being dismissed from the royal festivities, we were treated to a grand raffle, giving a lucky few something to remember the evening by. One last curtsy to the royal court and we were off on our own chariot rides home from one of the most exquisite evenings ever. Already, we are looking forward to the next Club Bulakeño Ball. You gotta believe me. Cheers! The post An Evening with Club Bulakeño Royalty appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bong Go assists ‘sakadas’ in Antique
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go’s team visited Sibalom, Antique on Friday, 25 August, to provide assistance to sugar migrant workers, or sakadas. The said relief activity not only highlighted his dedication to public service but also underscored the importance of strengthening the agricultural sector in the country. Recognizing the important role of farmers in upholding food security, Senator Go, who is a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, has consistently championed the reinforcement of agricultural support systems. He stood as one of the authors behind Republic Act No. 11901, which broadened the scope of the financing system for agriculture, fisheries, and rural development. Go also co-sponsored and co-authored in the Senate the measure that became RA 11953, also known as the New Agrarian Emancipation Act. The law condones loans incurred by agrarian reform beneficiaries, including interests, penalties, and surcharges. Furthermore, the senator also filed SBN 2117, which aims to provide full crop insurance coverage for agrarian reform beneficiaries, as well as SBN 2118 which aims to provide better insurance coverage and services to farmers and help mitigate the impact of natural disasters on the agricultural sector, if enacted into law. "Nais kong hikayatin ang lahat ng mga lingkod-bayan na makiisa sa pagtulong sa ating mga magsasaka. Ang kanilang mahalagang papel sa ating pagkain at ekonomiya ay di-matatawaran. Suportahan natin sila sa pamamagitan ng pagpapalakas ng kanilang sektor at pagpapalaganap ng mga programa na tutugon sa kanilang mga pangangailangan. Sa pagkakaisa, makakamit natin ang mas maunlad at masaganang buhay para sa ating mga magsasaka,” Go urged in his video message. Go’s team, together with the team of Governor Rhodora Cadiao, held the distribution at the University of Antique, where 1,000 sakadas received masks and shirts from Go while select recipients received shoes, mobile phones, and balls for basketball. The Department of Social Welfare and Development also provided financial assistance. Continuing his message, Go expressed his concern that access to medical assistance programs remains a pressing issue in many regions, especially in rural areas. It is for this reason that the senator mentioned that there is a Malasakit Center at Angel Salazar Memorial General Hospital in San Jose de Buenavista if they may need medical assistance from the government. Malasakit Centers bring together representatives from DSWD, Department of Health (DOH), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. These one-stop shops aim to support poor and indigent patients in reducing their hospital costs to the least possible amount. Go is the principal author and sponsor of RA 11463 or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019 which institutionalized the Malasakit Centers program. According to DOH, the Malasakit Centers program has already benefitted over seven million Filipinos, with 158 Malasakit Centers established all over the country. The senator then mentioned that there will also be a Super Health Center set to be established in the town. Super Health Centers offer basic health services, including database management, outpatient, birthing, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: x-ray and ultrasound), pharmacy, and an ambulatory surgical unit. Other services available include eye, ear, nose, and throat (EENT) care, oncology centers, physical therapy and rehabilitation centers, and telemedicine, which enables remote diagnosis and treatment of patients. DOH has identified more locations in Antique to build Super Health Centers, in addition to Sibalom. These include Culasi and San Jose de Buenavista. Acknowledging the necessity for specialized care, Go has championed the establishment of Regional Specialty Centers. These centers focus on specific medical fields, ensuring that patients receive expert care without the need to travel long distances to urban centers. In the Senate, Go served as a principal sponsor and co-author of the Regional Specialty Centers Act. This legislation has been recently approved into law by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. Go, vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, also supported the acquisition of a motor vehicle in Sibalom, multi cabs in Laua-an, and an ambulance unit in San Jose. The senator likewise supported the expansion of a water system in Libertad, improvement of the Tobias Fornier Municipal Hall, flood control projects in Hamtic, San Jose and Laua-an, construction of solar streetlights in various barangays in Barbaza, improvement of a public park in Belison, construction of a covered court in San Remigio, construction of a bridge in Patnongon, and road improvements in Laua-an, San Remigio, Sebaste, Sibalom, and Valderrama. On 23 August, Go’s team was in Tobias Fornier, where they provided assistance to the beneficiaries of the medical and dental mission held in the town. The post Bong Go assists ‘sakadas’ in Antique appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Magician Efren
Author’s Note. Back in my high school days, it was normal for us students to skip classes to play billiards at the “Pink House” along Katipunan Ave. across the Ateneo campus. Our dean of discipline, Mr. Vergara, whom we dubbed Garaver, would raid the Pink House regularly to round us back to the corral. So, I can rightfully say that I speak with authority on the subject of billiards. Efren can make billiards magic because he shoots with his mind, not his hands. In truth, billiards is more of a cerebral rather than a physical game, an intellectual game rather than plain geometry and angles. That is why Efren, the Magician is revered by everyone, especially global billiard pros and commentators. He would ponder silently while chalking his cue stick and his mind would be racing through complex possibilities with lightning speed before finally making his move without hesitation. Billiards is the merging of the physics of motion and momentum and the metaphysics of “feel” and psychic power. Especially in eight-ball, it requires analysis and strategy as to where to place the cue ball for the next shot, what Filipinos call “preparacion” — a Spanish word. This is the expertise of Efren the Magician, or Efren “Bata” (The Kid) Reyes, rightfully the greatest pool player in the world today, according to pool commentators and pros. He makes his “preparacion” with ease. This has made him the first non-American to win the US Open Pool Championship. TV anchors would normally predict how Efren would play his “preparacion,” but many times they would be wrong because Efren thinks out of the box. He would go for a complex three-rail bank shot with ease instead of the more obvious straight shot. Indeed, Filipino pool players, led by Efren, are noted worldwide for the unique way they play, and how they are changing the way pool is played on the global level. The great champions from Europe and America have started adopting the unorthodox way Filipinos play. There is today a radical Filipino pool culture respected in the global arena. Efren is especially noted for casually shifting from his right hand to his left to shoot, which is a unique Filipino playing style. He is an expert in masse, giving the cue ball enough of a spin to curve around or jump over an obstructing ball by hitting the cue ball at a steep angle using a shorter cue stick. Another expertise of Efren is the “safety shot,” hiding the cue ball from the target ball, if he has no open shot to make. Rather than risk a dangerous shot to pocket the ball, this defensive strategy often leaves the opponent with an impossible shot. Efren can maneuver and hide the cue ball from the target ball with ease. Efren’s charisma abroad is phenomenal. They all love the way he scratches his head when he makes a blunder. You would not know if he made a mistake or played his magic, because, either way, he has on this sheepish smile. He would giggle if he did a “tsamba,” a lucky accident of sinking a ball in an unintended pocket. He brims with humility even in his greatness. Filipinos are good at billiards partly perhaps because it is a poor man’s game, as Efren was as a kid. One can spend hours in the billiard hall. Time just melts away. It is called making “istambay,” a corruption of the English word “stand by.” Just hanging around the pool hall all day and learning lessons from the experts, like Efren did as a kid. In contrast, sports like basketball and swimming are essentially more expensive to go into. Billiards is an “easy” and “cheap” sport because it is essentially entertainment, but at the same time cerebral. It can be expensive only if you gamble. Efren is known as the richest pool player of all time. He has earned about $2 million or P100 million as of February 2023. He is in the Guinness World Records. He and Francisco Bustamante hold the records for the greatest number of victories in pool in 2006 and 2009, respectively; followed by Li Hewen and Fu Jianbo of China in 2007 and 2010, respectively. (Source: guinnessworldrecords.com) At the age of 68, Efren still has not retired. Unlike in boxing or basketball where great athletes retire early, in pool, which requires little physical effort, there are a few rare great pros who are septuagenarians. Wikipedia lists Efren’s titles and achievements at a phenomenal 137, as of this writing. The post Magician Efren appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Claudine sa 3 beses na pag-adopt ng bata: ‘I think I have so much love to give and I wanted to share it’
TATLO na ngayon ang adoptive children ng aktres at celebrity mom na si Claudine Barretto. Bukod nga kay Sabina Santiago, ang dalawa pang bata na itinuturing din niyang mga “angel” sa kanyang buhay ay sina Quia at Noah. Ayon sa aktres, nagdesisyon siyang mag-ampon dahil feeling niya, nag-uumapaw pa rin ang pagmamahal sa kanyang puso, The post Claudine sa 3 beses na pag-adopt ng bata: ‘I think I have so much love to give and I wanted to share it’ appeared first on Bandera......»»
Sublime! ‘Barbie’ tops $1bn globally in first for solo woman director
Hollywood's pink wave has yet to crest as Warner Bros.' "Barbie" dominated for a third straight weekend in North American theaters, pushing the film's global haul past $1 billion in a first for a woman director, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations said Sunday. The Greta Gerwig-directed blockbuster, starring Margot Robbie as iconic doll Barbie and Ryan Gosling as boyfriend Ken, earned a projected $53 million for the Friday-through-Sunday period, for a domestic total of $459 million and a whopping $1.03 billion worldwide. Not only has "Barbie" thus become the first movie directed solely by a woman to pass the $1 billion mark, but it did so faster than any film -- including those directed by men -- in Warner Bros.' 100-year history, executives there said. The film, which earlier scored the biggest opening weekend of the year, "has captured the imagination of moviegoers around the world and the results are incredibly impressive," analyst Paul Dergarabedian of Comscore said. Universal's "Oppenheimer," the dark historical drama that has placed second to "Barbie" in their debut weeks, was bumped by Warner Bros. newcomer "Meg 2: The Trench," an action film featuring gargantuan prehistoric sharks. "Meg 2" pulled in $30 million for the weekend, while Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer" earned $28.7 million to push its global total to $552 million. That total made the story about the creation of the atomic bomb the all-time top-grossing World War II film, ahead of Nolan's own "Dunkirk" ($527 million) and Steven Spielberg’s "Saving Private Ryan" ($482 million), not adjusted for inflation, according to Hollywood Reporter. Fourth place for the weekend went to "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem," the latest in the franchise about a team of reptilian heroes in a half-shell. The Paramount animated comedy, featuring the voices of Jackie Chan and Post Malone, brought in $28 million. Disney released "Haunted Mansion" slid two spots to fifth, with the lavishly produced kid-centric film -- starring LaKeith Stanfield, Tiffany Haddish, and Owen Wilson -- earning $8.9 million. Holding its own in sixth was the independent "Sound of Freedom," from Santa Fe Films and Angel Studios, at $7 million. The low-budget action thriller has sparked controversy, with critics saying its story about child sex trafficking plays into Qanon conspiracy theories. All in all, it was an exceptional weekend for Hollywood, with the top four films all raking in $28 million or more. Not only did the top films come close to doubling the total from the same weekend last year, they surpassed the corresponding pre-pandemic weekend in 2019, analysts said. Ken might even have said -- a line Ryan Gosling reportedly ad-libbed during the filming of "Barbie" -- that the weekend was "Sublime!" Rounding out the top 10 were: "Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part 1" ($6.4 million) "Talk to Me" ($6.2 million) "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny" ($1.5 million) "Elemental" ($1.2 million) The post Sublime! ‘Barbie’ tops $1bn globally in first for solo woman director appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Canada PM Trudeau and wife announce separation
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Wednesday that he and his wife of 18 years, Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau, are separating. In a post on Instagram, the prime minister said "that after many meaningful and difficult conversations, we have made the decision to separate." A statement from his office added that the couple have signed "a legal separation agreement." It said the public can expect to continue seeing them and their three children together as "they remain a close family" and both parents will be a "constant presence in their children's lives." They asked for privacy ahead of a family vacation scheduled for next week. Trudeau and his wife, a former entertainment reporter, were childhood friends and reconnected in 2003 while co-hosting a charity ball. They soon started dating and married in 2005 in Montreal. They have three children together: Xavier, 15, Ella Grace, 14, and nine-year-old Hadrien. The separation is the first for a Canadian prime minister since Trudeau's late father Pierre Trudeau, who split from Margaret Trudeau in the late 1970s and eventually divorced in 1984 during his final months in office. Sunny days, heavy storms In his 2014 memoir "Common Ground," the younger Trudeau recalled that the "dark drama" at home and his parents' eventual divorce had been hard on him. His own breakup comes as Trudeau's ruling Liberals are struggling in the polls against the opposition Conservatives ahead of elections expected before the end of 2025. Trudeau announced last week a major shakeup in his cabinet with the stated goal of strengthening his economic team ahead of that looming campaign. This involved changing more than two-thirds of his political inner circle, with seven new recruits joining the cabinet and around 20 ministers reassigned to new roles. Sophie Gregoire, 48, had been a constant presence at her 51-year-old husband's side at political events over the past decade, as he took the party from third place to form a government in 2015, and through two more winning ballots in 2019 and 2021. But she has appeared in public less in recent years, at times lamenting the struggles of marriage, saying last year in a social media post that they had "navigated through sunny days, heavy storms and everything in between." Trudeau himself has also hinted at difficulties, writing in his memoir: "Our marriage isn't perfect, and we have had difficult ups and downs, yet Sophie remains my best friend, my partner, my love. We are honest with each other, even when it hurts." On their latest anniversary in May, Trudeau posted a photo online of the pair holding hands as they drove along a remote Canadian highway in a motor home, with the caption "Every mile of this journey together is an adventure. I love you Soph." The post Canada PM Trudeau and wife announce separation appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bong Go provides support to flood victims in Davao City
In an effort to bolster the country's disaster preparedness and response capabilities, Senator Christopher "Bong" Go has been advocating for two crucial bills in the Senate that he earlier filed: Senate Bill No. (SBN) 188, which seeks to establish the Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR), and SBN 193, mandating the establishment of mandatory evacuation centers nationwide. On Saturday, July 29, Go led two relief operations for thousands of flood victims in Barangays Lasang and Bunawan in Davao City. In his speech, Go said that the government should remain proactive in its approach in dealing with disaster-related situations, considering that the country is highly vulnerable to natural calamities. SBN 188 proposes the creation of the DDR, an independent government agency dedicated to strengthening the nation's resilience against the impacts of natural and human-induced disasters. The DDR aims to consolidate disaster-related functions and resources from different agencies under a single, unified body. By streamlining disaster response efforts, the department can facilitate quicker and more efficient aid delivery to affected communities during times of crisis. “Importante po ito sa akin. Unang-una, halimbawa dito po sa Barangay Lasang, binaha sila. Di ba ang barangay po ang nakikipag-coordinate kaagad with the LGUs. Ito pong barangay level na pagbaha, how about ‘yung mga national level, o municipal level o city level, o province-wide na pagbaha… maayos na koordinasyon ang kailangan,” he said. “Bago dumating ang bagyo, balita pa lang sa PAGASA, coordination kaagad ng Department of Disaster Resilience, kung mayroon tayong isang departamentong nakatutok para sa mga disaster related… bago dumating ang bagyo, coordination with LGUs. Ilikas ang mga kababayan natin sa ligtas na lugar, dalahin sa mga evacuation center. Preposition of goods by the DSWD,” Go added. “Kailangan koordinasyon kaagad ng departamento na i-involve kaagad ang mga ibang departamento na kasamahan niya. DSWD preposition of goods, mga Coast Guard, Navy para ilikas agad ang mga kababayan natin sa ligtas na lugar at maayos na evacuation center, sa Department of Health para malinis ang evacuation center, sanitation para ligtas ang mga kababayan natin. At pag-alis ng bagyo, hindi lang puro task force, dapat isang departamento na pwedeng mag-coordinate hanggang makabalik sa normal na pamumuhay ang lugar na tinamaan ng bagyo. Restoration of normalcy kaagad at rehabilitation effort,” he said. The Office of Civil Defense has recently voiced its support for the establishment of the DDR, emphasizing the importance of such institution in improving operations in managing and responding to future crises. "Things can be better if there will be an independent authority or department, but it’s not that simple – tanggap po namin iyon… We leave it to Congress and we leave it to the Palace, to Malacañang. Meanwhile, kami naman, we are doing our best given the limitations, makakaasa po kayo," OCD Administrator Ariel Nepomuceno said in a past interview. Alongside the establishment of DDR, Go champions SBN 193, which calls for the creation of mandatory evacuation centers across the Philippines. These evacuation centers are designed to be equipped with necessary facilities to provide temporary shelter and essential services to evacuees during disasters. The senator noted that these evacuation centers will be strategically placed in areas less prone to hazards, ensuring the safety and well-being of evacuees during disasters. Furthermore, the centers will be equipped with essential amenities such as food, clean water, medical services, sanitation facilities, and temporary sleeping quarters. Go cited that the Philippines, located in the Pacific Ring of Fire and the typhoon belt, is no stranger to the destructive forces of nature. “Yearly, the country faces the threat of typhoons, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, and other hazards. These disasters not only result in loss of lives and livelihoods but also impede economic progress and development,” shared Go. To minimize the devastating impact of disasters, Go underscored that comprehensive disaster resilience measures are imperative. The senator is confident that by supporting these priority bills, the Senate and the Filipino people can collectively work towards a safer, more resilient nation, where communities can recover swiftly and thrive even in the face of adversity. “Ang lugar natin nasa Pacific Ring of Fire tayo. Prone tayo sa mga bagyo, prone tayo sa pagputok ng bulkan, prone tayo sa sunog, ‘di ba? So dapat po ay magkaroon na tayo ng isang maayos na departamento, Department of Disaster Resilience at Mandatory Evacuation Center sa mga syudad, munisipyo, at probinsya para hindi magamit ang mga eskwelahan tuwing may mga sunog, baha. Nagagamit po ang eskwelahan, naantala ang pag-aaral ng mga bata dahil ginagamit po as evacuation center,” he said. Together with Councilors Dante Apostol, Marissa Abella, Diosdado Mahipus, and Al Ryan Alejandre, Go provided grocery packs, masks, vitamins, and snacks to 4,399 flood victims. The senator also extended shoes, mobile phones, bicycles, watches, and balls for basketball and volleyball to select recipients. Meanwhile, Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, urged those who have health issues to seek assistance from the Malasakit Center at the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) in Davao City. The Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which Go principally authored and sponsored, brings together various government agencies, including the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Health (DHOH), the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHIC), and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), under one roof to provide a convenient process for availing medical assistance particularly for poor and indigent patients in public hospitals. There are now 158 Malasakit Centers nationwide which have assisted more than seven million Filipinos, according to DOH data. In SPMC alone, the Malasakit Center there has assisted more than 200,000 patients. On the same day, Go attended the ribbon-cutting of the multipurpose building in Brgy. Lasang and road concretion with drainage canal construction in Brgy. Bunawan, two infrastructure projects he supported the funding of as vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance. He likewise supported the acquisition of multi-purpose vehicles for the community, construction of various multipurpose buildings and local roads, rehabilitation of water systems, drainage systems and flood control structures in different barangays throughout the city, the construction of a 300-bed capacity infectious diseases building for SPMC and the acquisition of ambulances, among others. ### The post Bong Go provides support to flood victims in Davao City appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Queen Bee’ tagged top smuggler
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla yesterday said officials of the Department of Agriculture and the Bureau of Customs have a lot of explaining to do concerning the rampant smuggling of onions and garlic into the country. “We demand an explanation from the BoC and the DA regarding these developments,” Remulla said, alluding to what he described as the apparent total control onion and garlic smugglers have over the commodities’ supply chain. In his second State of the Nation Address last Monday, Marcos vowed to stop hoarders and smugglers dead in their tracks, saying “their days are numbered.” Remulla said smugglers have been buying up the harvest of local farmers to influence supply and demand and, consequently, command higher prices for onions and garlic when they release them into the market. Smugglers, he added, have been hoarding the commodities and keeping them in cold storage to create artificial shortages. If true, the activities cited by Remulla would be a violation of Republic Act 10845, which classifies large-scale agricultural smuggling as economic sabotage punishable by life imprisonment. “Smugglers have essentially taken over the industry, orchestrating its operations using significant capital resources and even private storage facilities,” he said. He stressed that “it is inconceivable” that the BoC and the DA are not aware of the smugglers’ activities, including their having set up an intricate control and distribution system. “They (smugglers) possess substantial financial resources, enabling them to purchase entire harvests, and they maintain dominance over all imports. This has severely compromised the existing system,” Remulla said. From planting to harvesting to storage and distribution, smugglers have applied a stranglehold on the system to control the pricing of onions and garlic, Remulla said. He described the setup as highly sophisticated, with the smugglers demonstrating a mastery of the field. He said DA and BoC officials must also explain why agricultural products from other countries are flooding the Philippines. In May, the Philippine National Police reported that from 2019 to April 2023, onions were the third most smuggled commodity into the country, after counterfeit products and tobacco products. However, the P137.6-million worth of onions that Brig. Gen. Romeo Caramat Jr. said illegally entered the country during that period, was too paltry compared to the estimates cited in congressional investigations. Key players Remulla said there were over 20 key players in the onion and garlic cartel in the country, including a certain “Queen Bee,” against whom the DoJ will file charges soon. “We have successfully identified the key players. The cases will be filed at the appropriate time. Currently, we are meticulously verifying the specifics of their modus operandi,” he said. As for the “Queen Bee,” Remulla said, “That’s what they call her, the Queen Bee. But we are also looking at other individuals. When it comes to the different regions, the main person in control holds around 55 to 60 percent of the operations.” The DoJ is set to also summon officials of the Bureau of Plant Industry, an agency under the DA, to present onion importation documents covering the past decade. Remulla said the President himself ordered the DoJ to form an Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Task Force which will have as members seasoned prosecutors. After nine hearings, the Agriculture and Food Committee of the House of Representatives concluded that a cartel has been conspiring with the Philippine Vegetable Importers, Exporters and Vendors Association or PhilVIEVA to raise onion prices. The trading, import, cold storage, and trucking companies allegedly involved in the smuggling were all linked to PhilVIEVA. According to a House subcommittee, a cartel is to blame for the price increases. Rep. Stella Quimbo said PhilVIEVA is a fully-equipped group that can control the supply of onions throughout the country, as farmers have to contend with the lack of space in cold storage facilities. During the House hearings, operators said the facilities were filled with onions. Quimbo said that if there was more than enough supply, onion prices should not have surged. Quimbo went on to accuse Lilia “Leah” Cruz, the organizer of PhilVIEVA, of being the leader of the onion cartel. “If at the first hearing Leah Cruz was the denial queen, by hearing number nine, to us she was the undisputed onion queen,” Quimbo said. “That’s why we are calling on the NBI, PCC, and the DA’s enforcement section, let’s all help each other, the ball is in your court, peel away the onion cartel,” she said. Cruz is also reportedly a major shareholder in Golden Shine International Freight Forwarders Corporation, a trucking company affiliated with PhilVIEVA. The post ‘Queen Bee’ tagged top smuggler appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
United States women’s star Rapinoe to retire at end of season
United States women's team star Megan Rapinoe announced on social media on Saturday that she would be retiring from football at the end of this season. "It is with a deep sense of peace & gratitude that I have decided this will be my final season playing this beautiful game," the 38-year-old posted. "I never could have imagined the ways in which soccer would shape and change my life forever," she added. The two-time World Cup winner, well known for her activism, is part of the USA squad for the upcoming women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. Rapinoe plays in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) for Seattle based OL Reign -- their season concludes in November. The winger currently has 199 caps over a span of 17 years playing for her country and also won an Olympic gold medal in London in 2012. She was awarded the Best FIFA Women's Player in 2019 but her fame came as much for her espousal of causes and her campaigning as for her skills on the field. Rapinoe publicly came out as gay in July 2012 and has been a high-profile campaigner on social issues including LGBTQ+ rights, racial inequality and gender and pay equality. She was a leading voice in the US women's team's successful fight for equal pay and conditions which resulted in a law suit and eventual new collective agreement being struck in 2021. Rapinoe made headlines in 2016 when she took a knee during the national anthem in solidarity with NFL player Colin Kaepernick. "I've been able to have such an incredible career, and this game has brought me all over the world and allowed me to meet so many amazing people," said Rapinoe. "I feel incredibly grateful to have played as long as I have, to be as successful as we've been, and to have been a part of a generation of players who undoubtedly left the game better than they found it." "To be able to play one last World Cup and one last NWSL season and go out on my own terms is incredibly special," she added. Last July she received the highest civilian honour in the United States when President Joe Biden awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Rapinoe was the first footballer to receive the award and one of just six female athletes or coaches. "Beyond the World Cup title to Olympic medals, Megan is a champion for essential American truth that everyone is entitled to be treated with dignity and respect," Biden said at the award ceremony. "She helped lead the change for perhaps the most important victory for anyone on our soccer team or any soccer team: equal pay for women." US women's team coach Vlatko Andonovski said Rapinoe remained an important part of the team for the World Cup which starts on July 20. "Megan Rapinoe is one of the most important players in women's soccer history and a personality like no other," he said. "She has produced so many memorable moments for her team and the fans on the field that will be remembered for a very long time, but her impact on people as a human being may be even more important. "It's been a wonderful experience to coach her in the NWSL and for the national team and I'm looking forward to her being an important part of our team at the World Cup." The Californian has spent most of her career playing in domestic leagues but had a brief spell in Australia with W-League team Sydney FC in 2011 and two years later played for French club Lyon, reaching the final of the Champions League. At the 2019 World Cup in France, she scored in the 2-0 win over the Netherlands in the final and was named Player of the Match. She won the Golden Boot as top scorer and Golden Ball for best player in the tournament. sev/jc © Agence France-Presse The post United States women’s star Rapinoe to retire at end of season appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
New flavors to savor
The food and beverage world is very dynamic, It is constantly evolving, and it always has something new to offer so people do not get bored with what they eat and drink. The choices become limitless and more diverse. Below are some of the new flavors to savor on a hot and humid afternoon or a stormy evening. [caption id="attachment_150180" align="aligncenter" width="525"] PhotoGRAPHS by Dolly Dy-Zulueta FOR THE DAILY TRIBUNEAngel’s Pizza’s Creamy Spinach Sushi Bake Pizza.[/caption] Sushi bake in pizza form Sushi bake, which is a food trend that emerged during the pandemic, has been incarnated into pizza form in Angel’s Pizza’s new Creamy Spinach Sushi Bake Pizza. Inspired by this Japanese-style sushi bake, this new pizza flavor also drew inspiration from Angel’s Pizza’s Creamy Spinach Dip Pizza, so it is like a marriage of the two — a creamy spinach base with generous mounds of crabstick, Japanese mayonnaise, Sriracha sauce, strips of seaweed and chopped parsley. The Creamy Spinach Sushi Bake Pizza is available in either original hand-tossed or thin crust pizza in Medium (nine-inch pizza, good for two) at P370, Family (12-inch pizza, good for three to four) at P515, or Big Family (14-inch pizza, good for five to seven) at P655. Established in 2009, Angel’s Pizza is the fastest growing pizza brand in the Philippines. It is part of The Figaro Group, and it now has 34 stores in Metro Manila and 56 stores in the provinces. Order pizza via the Angel’s Pizza mobile app, website (www.angelspizza.com.ph), hotline (02) 8922-2222 (Metro Manila), or through GrabFood and Foodpanda. [caption id="attachment_150181" align="aligncenter" width="525"] photoGRAPH COURTESY OF Halo Halo StoryHalo Halo Story’s ube scramble.[/caption] Ube-flavored scramble Your childhood memories of ice scramble or iskrambol has always been pink icy perfection. Young Filipino entrepreneur Duncan Yu, owner of Halo Halo Story, a new growing chain of stores specializing in Halo-Halo, introduces an innovation in the new Ube Scramble. As a pre-opening treat for a new outlet at SM Centerpoint, ube scramble is ube-flavored (halayang ube) ice, imported skimmed milk powder, chocolate syrup, marshmallows and rainbow sprinkles. It is available for a limited time only at Halo Halo Story branch in SM Center Pasig and its drive-through at 42 Quezon Ave., Santa Mesa Heights, Quezon City. Halo Halo Story opened its first store at SM Center Pasig almost a year ago, and it serves different variants of Halo-Halo, including Ubeng Ubeng Ube (loaded with halayang ube and artisanal ube ice cream with no added table sugar), Buko Pie, Four Cheese, and Maja Blanca. “Most of the flavors are my childhood favorites,” Yu says. “With Halo Halo Story, I wanted to bring back the vibe of how people used to go to dessert places to chat or catch up on each other’s lives. I wanted people to ‘chill’ more with our desserts.” [caption id="attachment_150178" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Kangkong King’s new salted-egg-flavored chips.[/caption] Now in salted egg flavor Kangkong King, a brand of kangkong or water spinach chips, is introducing a new flavor variant — the salted egg. Kangkong King uses 100-percent, real kangkong leaves, which are battered and then fried leaf by leaf in coconut oil to become a vegan-friendly, gluten-free and dairy-free snack that is rich in dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals and also contains antioxidants and iron. It keeps its chips fresh and healthy by using carefully sourced ingredients and controlled production. Kangkong King was established in 2019 by siblings Frank and Anne Gaw with their friends Andrew Tan Lee, Benjamin Ng and Jay Tan. Now, Kangkong King’s crispy fried water spinach chips come in seven flavors: KKK Original, BBQ, Sour Cream, Cheese, Plain (no flavoring), Sweet Corn, and Spicy. Occasionally, the brand releases limited-edition flavors, such as Honey Butter and Sinigang. Salted Egg is the newest variant. Kangkong King has kiosks located at Robinsons Galleria, Robinsons Place Manila, SM Fairview, Alabang Town Center, and SM City North EDSA. Orders may also be placed online via www.kangkong.com (website), shopee.ph/kangkongkingph (Shopee), and kangkongkingph’s FB and IG pages. The post New flavors to savor appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Go stresses importance of brotherhood, malasakit
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go emphasized the importance of upholding the values of brotherhood, service and malasakit in serving the Filipino people during the induction and oath-taking ceremony of the Davao City Global Eagles Club at Waterfront Insular Hotel in Davao City last Saturday, 24 June. In his speech, Go acknowledged the special connection he feels with the club as a fellow Davaoeño. He likewise expressed his gratitude in becoming a member of the Davao City Global Eagles Club, while highlighting the significance of the Philippine Eagles, which symbolize the city. Go then took the opportunity to express his unwavering support for the country’s uniformed personnel, acknowledging their sacrifices in ensuring the safety and security of the nation. As the vice chair of the Committee on National Defense in the Senate, Go assured his continuous support for the uniformed personnel. He likewise voiced his disapproval towards proposals that could have a negative impact on the existing pension benefits provided to retirees and the anticipated benefits for active service members upon retirement. “They risk their ives in the performance of their duty. That is why I have full support for our uniformed personnel,” he stated. Go, also the Chair of the Committees on Health and Sports highlighted the establishment of Malasakit Centers, which provide accessible healthcare services to the particularly poor and indigent Filipinos. Launched in 2018 and institutionalized through the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which Go principally authored and sponsored, the program aims to provide accessible medical and financial assistance to Filipinos through these one-stop shops. Go likewise emphasized the significance of Super Health Centers, which aim to address the need for more medical facilities in remote regions. The senator reaffirmed his dedication to improving access to essential healthcare services as he conducted a site inspection for the Super Health Center in Bantay, Ilocos Sur last Monday, 26. In his speech, Go emphasized the significance of the Super Health Center initiative. He highlighted the need to bring medical services closer to the people, particularly in municipalities that lack adequate health facilities and in far-flung communities. Go personally distributed assistance to struggling Ilocanos in partnership with the local government led by Governor Jerry Singson. In his speech during the activity, Go encouraged the residents to continue wearing masks whenever possible especially in crowded areas and follow health protocols to continue efforts to overcome the spread of COVID-19. The post Go stresses importance of brotherhood, malasakit appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Japan provides health clinic with birthing facility in Paracelis, Mountain Province
On 27 June 2023, Nishimura Tokiko, Second Secretary, represented the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines in the ceremonial turnover of a barangay health station under “The Project for the Construction of Health Station with Birthing Facility in Paracelis, Mountain Province.” The event was also attended by Paracelis Mayor Marcos G. Ayangwa and other key local government officials. Approved in 2019, the project is part of Japan’s Official Development Assistance through the Grant Assistance for Grass-roots Human Security Projects. The Municipality of Paracelis has a mountainous landscape, and only the district hospital in the Poblacion had a DOH-registered birthing facility. As a result, pregnant women who lived far from the town center had to travel the mountainous terrain for a few hours and pay costly transportation charges in order to access needed healthcare services. Many women opted out of long distance travel and instead gave birth at home without appropriate care. To address the situation, the Embassy of Japan provided a grant amount of $80,927 or approximately P4.15 million to the municipal government of Paracelis. The grant covered the construction of a health station with a birthing facility to decrease the travel time and expenses of pregnant women, as well as to lessen home births. In her message, Nishimura conveyed her heartfelt joy that pregnant women residing in Barangay Palitud and those from neighboring barangays in Bantay, Anonat and Butique now have easier access to needed care and safe delivery at the health station. She cited the priceless long-term impacts of this project and expressed hope that the new facility would help the more than 12,000 residents from these barangays to better manage their health. As the top ODA donor for the Philippines, the Government of Japan launched the GGP scheme in the Philippines in 1989 to reduce poverty and help various communities engage in grassroots activities. At present, 557 grassroots projects have been implemented by the GGP. Japan believes these projects will strengthen the friendship between Japan and the Philippines and contribute to sustaining strategic partnerships between the two countries. The post Japan provides health clinic with birthing facility in Paracelis, Mountain Province appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bong Go checks on evacuees affected by Mayon’s unrest
Sen. Bong Go went to Albay on Thursday, 22 June to provide support to evacuees affected by Mt. Mayon’s unrest, aid indigents, and conduct an inspection of the Super Health Center in Tabaco City. Emphasizing the significance of investing in local health facilities, Go underscored the role of Super Health Centers in enhancing the accessibility of vital healthcare services for the local residents. “Ito pong Super Health Center, isa po ito sa pamamaraan para ilapit natin ang serbisyo medikal sa ating mga kababayan at madi-decongest ang mga ospital dahil hindi na kailangan ng mga buntis na pumunta ng ospital, pwede na po diyan ‘yung mga primary care,” he underscored. The Super Health Center that Go inspected is located in the National Housing Authority resettlement area in Brgy. San Vicente. The housing project was part of the Duterte administration’s efforts to provide housing for Typhoon Rolly victims in 2020. The project was approved in 2021 and started construction in 2022. There are 2361 housing units, built on a 20 hectare LGU property. This strategic location for the Super Health Center was made to provide essential medical services to recovering typhoon victims and their community. It will benefit the more than 2000 housing beneficiaries residing in the area. Through the collective efforts of fellow lawmakers, sufficient funds had been allocated for 307 Super Health Centers in 2022 and 322 in 2023. The Department of Health, the lead implementing agency, identifies the strategic areas where they will be constructed. Aside from Tabaco City, the DOH has identified the cities of Legazpi and Ligao; and the town of Camalig, Malilipot, and Pio Duran as locations for the Super Health Centers in Albay. Super Health Centers shall offer basic medical services under one roof, such as database management, out-patient, birthing, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: x-ray, ultrasound), pharmacy, and ambulatory surgical unit. Other available services in Super Health Centers 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. Go also took the lead in organizing a relief operation at the Barangay San Antonio covered court in the city. The operation assisted 151 evacuees and 250 indigent residents. Go personally oversaw the distribution of essential aid from his office such as grocery packs, snacks, masks, and vitamins to the beneficiaries. Select individuals were also given additional items, including shirts, shoes, mobile phones, watches, and balls for basketball and volleyball. Furthermore, a team from the Department of Social Welfare and Development extended financial assistance to all qualified beneficiaries. More indigents will also be provided aid in the coming days through the initiative of the Office of Sen. Go, the LGU, and DSWD. Go, as Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, also offered to assist those with medical concerns as he encouraged them to seek the services of the Malasakit Center at Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital in Legazpi City. Currently, there are 158 operational Malasakit Centers that have assisted more than seven million Filipinos nationwide, according to the DOH. “Ang Malasakit Center po ay one-stop shop, nasa loob na ho ng hospital ‘yung apat na ahensya ng gobyerno — ‘yung DOH, DSWD, PhilHealth, at PCSO. Tutulungan po kayo na mabayaran ang inyong billing,” said Go, who principally authored and sponsored Republic Act No. 11463 or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019. Meanwhile, to help boost development in Albay and as Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go has also supported the construction of multipurpose buildings in Ligao City, Oas and Polangui; rehabilitation of several roads in Camalig, Daraga, Jovellar, Legazpi City, Ligao City, Pio Duran and Rapu-Rapu; and rehabilitation of flood control systems in Malilipot, Camalig, Daraga, Guinobatan, Malinao, Manito, Oas and Polangui. On the same day, Go likewise extended his assistance to evacuees in the town of Malilipot. Amid the continued state of unrest of the Mayon Volcano, Go reiterated his call for the passage of his proposed measures that will establish the Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR), as well as mandatory evacuation centers throughout the country. Go stressed that his proposed Senate Bill No. 188, which will establish the DDR, would centralize efforts, streamline coordination, and ensure more swift and effective response to emergencies. “It should be a cabinet-level dahil tuwing mayro'ng sakuna, dapat may point person talaga with clear authority and mandate,” added Go. The creation of the said department, if enacted into law, shall concentrate on three key result areas, namely: disaster risk reduction, disaster preparedness and response, and recovery and building forward better. The Office of Civil Defense has recently voiced its support for the establishment of the DDR. "Nabanggit nga kanina, paano natin pagbabawalan doon ‘eh coordination lang naman tayo, hindi ho ba? So kailangan po ng mas malakas na kapangyarihan ang Office of Civil Defense, maaaring maging departamento o authority; but it needs legislation," OCD Administrator Ariel Nepomuceno said in a recent interview when asked about evacuation efforts in permanent danger zones near active volcanoes. "Things can be better if there will be an independent authority or department, but it’s not that simple – tanggap po namin iyon… We leave it to Congress and we leave it to the Palace, to Malacañang. Meanwhile, kami naman, we are doing our best given the limitations, makakaasa po kayo," the OCD chief said. Meanwhile, Go also highlighted his proposed SBN 193 which seeks to mandate the establishment of permanent, secure, and well-equipped evacuation centers in every municipality, city, and province throughout the Philippines. “Sa pamamagitan ng panukalang ito, hindi rin maaantala ang pag-aaral ng mga bata tuwing ginagamit na pansamantalang tuluyan ang mga eskuwelahan. Mas madali ring makakabangon ang ating mga kababayan kung protektado at komportable sila sa mga dedicated evacuation centers lalo na sa Albay at sa mga malalapit sa aktibong bulkan, pati na rin sa coastlines o ibang danger zones kapag may bagyo o iba pang kalamidad na dumarating,” he said. “Hindi man natin masasabi kung kailan darating ang sakuna, mas mabuti nang laging handa tayo,” he ended. The post Bong Go checks on evacuees affected by Mayon’s unrest appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Celebrating independence, overcoming challenges
We all wish for the good health of our loved ones. It would pain anyone to see their family members, friends or partners suffering through disease, more so if they cannot receive adequate medical attention due to financial constraints or inaccessible health services. Unfortunately, many poor Filipinos and those living in remote areas face precisely this dilemma. As we go around the country, I have personally witnessed the dire need to make medical assistance and health services — both basic and specialized — more accessible to Filipinos. That is why as Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, I continue to push for initiatives to improve healthcare access, including the establishment of more Malasakit Centers, Super Health Centers and Regional Specialty Centers. Just last on Friday, 9 June, I was honored to lead the inauguration of the 158th Malasakit Center at the Diosdado P. Macapagal Memorial Hospital in Guagua, Pampanga, together with our new Health Secretary, Teodoro Herbosa, as well as local leaders led by Governor Dennis Pineda and Vice Governor Lilia Pineda, among others. The Malasakit Center aims to streamline and expedite the delivery of medical assistance particularly to poor patients by consolidating the programs of various government agencies under one roof. Launched in 2018, it was later institutionalized under the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which I principally authored and sponsored in the Senate. According to the DOH, over seven million Filipinos nationwide have benefited from the program so far. During the inauguration, my team and I also aided 120 in-patients, 174 out-patients, and 378 front liners at the hospital. Additionally, a team from the Department of Social Welfare and Development extended assistance to qualified patients. On the same day, we visited Bulacan to assist 1,000 students in Guiguinto town with Mayor Agay Cruz and Congressman Boy Cruz, as well as 1,465 struggling Bulakeños in Meycauayan City. We also attended the ribbon-cutting and blessing of the city’s Super Health Center together with Mayor Henry Villarica. I have also long been advocating for the establishment of more Super Health Centers throughout the country. Through the efforts of our fellow lawmakers, sufficient funds had been allocated for 307 Super Health Centers in 2022 and 322 in 2023. DOH, as the lead implementing agency, identifies the strategic areas where they will be constructed. While our Super Health Centers bring basic health services closer to Filipinos, especially in remote areas, I am hopeful that we could also soon provide our kababayans improved access to specialized medical services following the recent ratification of the Bicameral Conference Report on the Regional Specialty Centers Act, which I authored and principally sponsored. If enacted, it will bring key medical services closer to the people by establishing specialty centers that cater to specific medical needs in different regions. Meanwhile, we have also continued distributing aid to many indigent Filipinos in various regions. On 5 June, I was in Digos City, Davao del Sur, with Mayor Josef Cagas and other local leaders to aid 1,500 indigents and witness the groundbreaking of its Super Health Center. We were in Agusan del Norte with Governor Angel Amante-Matba the following day, where we attended the groundbreaking of the Super Health Center in Las Nieves and inspected the ongoing construction of the Las Nieves Bridge. We then added 1,500 indigents in the town before visiting the Butuan City Super Health Center. We likewise assisted 2,000 residents in the city. Following this, I attended the annual general assembly of the Philippine League of Secretaries to Sanggunian Inc. in Davao City. Iloilo was our next destination where we attended the groundbreaking of the Barotac Viejo Super Health Center on 7 June and provided aid to 1,000 indigents in the town. I was also invited by Congressman Boboy Tupas and Mayor Bongbong Tupas to inspect the town’s new fire station. That day, we assisted 1,897 typhoon victims in Banate. We then made our way to Silay City in Negros Occidental, where we participated in the groundbreaking of a Super Health Center, dropped by the Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital where I was instrumental in funding the construction of its new building, and extended aid to 2,000 underprivileged residents. Additionally, we joined in the commemoration of Silay City’s Charter Anniversary led by Mayor Joedith Gallego as we attended the PWD Sitting Volleyball event where I highlighted our efforts for more inclusive sports development programs as Chair of the Senate Sports Committee. On 8 June, we helped 1,493 beneficiaries in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija, in partnership with Governor Oyie Umali, Mayor Vianne Cuevas, Congressman GP Padiernos, and other local leaders. That same day, we aided 1,160 indigents in Quezon City with Cong. Marivic Pilar-Co. On 9 June, together with Senator Robin Padilla and in partnership with Governor Luigi Villafuerte, Congressman Lray Villafuerte, and Congressman Migz Villafuerte, we distributed aid to 2,699 indigents in Pili, Camarines Sur. That day, we attended the groundbreaking of the Super Health Center in Talisay, Camarines Norte, with Mayor Dondon Mancenido, where we likewise assisted 1,500 residents. Together with Governor Dong Padilla, I conducted a monitoring visit to the Malasakit Center at the Camarines Norte Provincial Hospital in Daet, Camarines Norte, where we aided 262 patients and 811 front liners. Finally, I headed back to Davao City to attend the 2023 Mindanao League of Municipalities of the Philippines Convention. Meanwhile, my office separately aided 186 fire victims in Quezon City, 41 in Caloocan City, 76 in Parañaque City, and 10 in Baguio City. Likewise helped were 1,015 indigents in Alitagtag, Batangas; 1,500 in Cabanatuan City and 1,040 in General Mamerto Natividad, Nueva Ecija; 500 in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte; 360 in Culasi, Antique; 150 in Island Garden City of Samal, Davao del Norte; 53 in Iba and 13 in Botolan, Zambales; 1,620 in San Vicente, Camarines Norte; 380 Tesda graduates in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu; and 90 indigent couples in Baroy, Lanao del Norte. My team likewise witnessed the groundbreaking of the Super Health Centers in Barangay Talon-talon, Zamboanga City on 6 June, and Mabuhay, Zamboanga Sibugay on 8 June. As we commemorate Philippine Independence Day this Monday and celebrate the heroism and sacrifices of our forefathers to gain the liberties we enjoy today, I hope we can take this time to come together and exert efforts to help free more Filipinos from disease, poverty, and other challenges that beset our society today. The post Celebrating independence, overcoming challenges appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
A mother’s love
Sa Ugoy Ng Duyan Sana’y di nagmaliw ang dati kong araw Nang munti pang bata sa piling ni nanay Nais kong maulit ang awit ni inang mahal Awit ng pag-ibig habang ako’y nasa duyan Sana’y di nagmaliw ang dati kong araw Nang munti pang bata sa piling ni nanay Nais kong maulit ang awit ni inang mahal Awit ng pag-ibig habang ako’y nasa duyan [Refrain:] Sa aking pagtulog na labis ang himbing Ang bantay ko’y tala, ang tanod ko’y bituin Sa piling ni nanay, langit ay buhay Puso kong may dusa sabik sa ugoy ng duyan Sana’y di nagmaliw ang dati kong araw Nang munti pang bata sa piling ni nanay Nais kong maulit ang awit ni inang mahal Awit ng pag-ibig habang ako’y nasa duyan Sa aking pagtulog na labis ang himbing Ang bantay ko’y tala, ang tanod ko’y bituin Sa piling ni nanay, langit ay buhay Puso kong may dusa sabik sa ugoy ng duyan Nais kong matulog sa dating duyan ko, inay O! Inay Each year, we celebrate Mother’s Day on the second Sunday of May for the unconditional love and the support we get or have gotten from our first teachers, our biggest fans, and oftentimes our true friends — our respective mothers. For Filipinos, in and out of the country, the song Sa Ugoy ng Duyan (music by Lucio San Pedro and lyrics by Levi Celerio) is a beautiful and classic homegrown lullaby that perfectly captures the love between a mother and a child. San Pedro composed the piece during the World War 2 Japanese occupation of the Philippines, inspired by the melody that his mother, Soledad Diestro, hummed in putting him to sleep as a boy. Completing the melancholic melody would be Celerio who, as fate would have it according to accounts, found himself joining San Pedro aboard the SS Gordon in a stopover in Honolulu, Hawaii on a trip back to Manila in 1947. Coming from the Juilliard School of Music in New York City, San Pedro would embark on his first and, as it turned out, greatest collaboration with Celerio in finishing the song sa Ugoy ng Duyan as we know it today rendered by such artists like Lea Salonga. Celerio’s lyrics are powerful in their simplicity in speaking to the deep bond that exists between mothers and their children. There’s so much yearning in the singer’s wish to never forget a childhood filled with a mother’s memories, of wanting to hear the mother sing again and again. Sleep — a luxury in today’s fast-paced world marked by a rat race that has never been as frenetic — becomes heavenly and sublime, peaceful and quiet under the stars when touched off by a mother’s lullaby. In the line, “Puso kong may dusa sabik sa ugoy ng duyan,” we are reminded that hardships become bearable when there’s a mother or a mother’s memories to guide us. Sa Ugoy ng Duyan reminds us of the love and comfort that mothers provide their children, a song that all people, Filipino or not, could relate to no matter what age or background one has. As we honored mothers yesterday, let us make it more meaningful by making it a continuing celebration of their lives and their contributions in our chartering our own paths. Let Mother’s Day be every day. The post A mother’s love appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Toni Garrn to divorce Alex Pettyfer
It’s not new how celebrity couples in Hollywood sail and sink instantly — despite tying the knot. While there are a handful of couples who lead a long and happy marriage, Alex Pettyfer and Toni Garrn are not part of that club. Last 22 April, Toni announced via Instagram Stories that she is divorcing Pettyfer, her husband of two years. Her statement reads: “Alex and I have made the very difficult decision to divorce. We will continue our relationship as friends and co-parents to our angel Luca. Please respect our privacy during this sensitive time. Thank you.” According to E! News, Toni and Alex were first spotted together in February 2019 but People reported that the two had been dating since 2018. Alex proposed to Toni on Christmas eve 2019, wed in October 2020 in Germany and exchanged vows in June 2022 in Greece. They welcomed their first baby together in July 2021. Toni, 30, is a former Victoria’s Secret model while Alex, 33, is an actor best known for his works in I Am Number Four, Beastly, Magic Mike, The Infernal Machine, among others. The post Toni Garrn to divorce Alex Pettyfer appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Corpuz, Yin share lead
WASHINGTON (AFP) — Americans Angel Yin and Allisen Corpuz, each chasing their first LPGA title, fired five-under-par 67s to share the lead after Saturday’s third round of the LPGA Chevron Championship. In the year’s first women’s golf major, Yin and Corpuz stood on 10-under 206 after 54 holes on the Jack Nicklaus Signature course at The Woodlands near Houston, Texas. “I feel really good this week,” Yin said. “I’ve been feeling really good and calm this entire year leading up. I’m just happy to see myself playing good.” Yin birdied three of the last four holes to charge into a tie at the top with Corpuz, who birdied four of the first five holes in a bogey-free round. ‘I feel really good this week.’ “Been playing really solid these past three days,” Corpuz said. “Really just fairways and greens, give me good looks at birdie and managed to convert a few of them.” Corpuz’s father is a Filipino whose family migrated to Hawaii. South Korea’s Amy Yang, American Megan Khang and Switzerland’s Albane Valenzuela shared third on 207 with a pack on 208 including American Nelly Korda and South Koreans Kim A-lim, Choi Hye-jin and Kim Hyo-joo. Yin, in only her third start of the year, hasn’t managed a top-10 LPGA finish since sharing third in last May’s Founders Cup. But the 24-year-old was the 2019 US Women’s Open runner-up and captured a Ladies European Tour victory at Dubai in 2017. “I feel really good actually,” she said. “A lot of everything that has been happening the last few years has been leading up to this.” Yin opened with a birdie, answered her lone bogey at the third with a birdie at the fourth and birdied 11, then got a stunning break when her tee shot at 12 bounced out of water and onto a bank, allowing her to escape with par before her birdie binge at 15, 16 and the par-5 18th. “Extremely shocked. How rare is that, right?” Yin said of her luck at 12. “My caddie said let’s see you hole this chip and it didn’t go in but it touched the lip. That was TV worthy.” Corpuz, 25, is in her second LPGA season. Her best finish was a runner-up spot last August in Japan. Corpuz said she has felt comfortable this week and knows Yin well for their final-pairing Sunday matchup. “I’ve just been trying to tell myself, ‘Get more comfortable in contention. Just keep learning from every experience,’” she said. “Had a few close calls beginning of this year and end of last year so really just trying to keep everything the same.” Khang birdied the second hole and grabbed the lead with birdies at the par-3 seventh and par-5 eighth holes before stumbling back to 9-under with a bogey to start the back nine. Khang responded with a 10-foot birdie putt at 11 to reclaim the lead but bogeys at 13 and 14 and a birdie at the par-3 17th left her one adrift. The post Corpuz, Yin share lead appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»