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Jaymee Joaquin, ‘Games Uplate Live’ host, dies at 44
Filipina actress and host Jaymee Joaquin has passed away after a long battle with breast cancer. She was 44 years old. Colleague-turned-friend Corss Ebora-Valenton paid tribute to the former actress on 19 October. “She was powerful not because she wasn’t scared but because she went on so strongly despite the fear. You will be dearly missed, Jayms,” Valenton wrote. Valenton added that she was grateful for the opportunity to work and be reunited with Joaquin the previous year for Jaymee’s passion project titled Beautiful Scars, which chronicles Filipina breast cancer “thrivers.” “Itutuloy at tatapusin namin ang proyekto natin. Your legacy lives on with the @beautifulscarsdocu,” she added. Meanwhile, Joaquin’s cousin, Erika Geronimo, also shared the news of her death. “It is with a heavy heart that our family announces the passing of my cousin, Jaymee Topacio aka Jaymee Wins or Jaymee Joaquin. She lived an extraordinary life filled with adventure, laughter, and love. She inspired and touched a lot of lives through her advocacy and talent. She will be greatly missed and will always be in our loving memory as a strong woman,” Geronimo wrote. “A life so beautifully lived deserves to be beautifully remembered,” she concluded. Joaquin’s acting and hosting career in the Philippines blossomed when she was the game show jock for the late-night interactive show Games Uplate Live. She also appeared in numerous television shows and movies, such as Super Inggo 2: Ang Bagong Bangis (2007), Shake, Rattle and Roll 9 (2007), My Big Love (2008) and Tanging Ina Niyong Lahat (2008). In 2016, the former Star Magic actress was diagnosed with breast cancer. Despite her cancer recurring four times and forcing her to go through multiple surgeries, Joaquin maintained a healthy and positive mindset. She ventured into blogging, podcasting and writing two books, titled That Sh*t Called Cancer and No-Hair Mama, Don’t Care. The post Jaymee Joaquin, ‘Games Uplate Live’ host, dies at 44 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Hagedorn’s zest for change remembered
Palawan Rep. Edward Hagedorn passed away Tuesday morning, his chief of staff confirmed to the Daily Tribune. He was 76. Hagedorn’s official Facebook page said the lawmaker “died peacefully” but did not reveal the cause of his demise. However, he had previously disclosed his battle with pancreatic cancer. “Cong. Ed’s life speaks volumes, particularly his role as a champion for the environment, tourism, agriculture, and peace and order,” the post read. “His efforts created inclusive spaces for the community and inspired a collective desire for change... Above all, Cong. Ed’s life journey has always been fueled by hope and was void of fear.” Hagedorn’s family had yet to share details of his wake and funeral at press time. Before his stint in Congress, Hagedorn was the long-time mayor of Puerto Princesa City, serving from 1992 to 2013. He took a brief hiatus in 2001 due to term limits. In 2013, he ran for the Senate but lost. In 2022, he ran for congressman of Palawan’s third district and won. The House leadership is “deeply saddened” by the loss of Hagedorn, describing him as a “guiding light and inspiration” to many House members. “As we remember Cong. Ed, let us not only grieve his passing but also celebrate the inspiration he provided. His legacy calls us to continue his work with the same passion and love he demonstrated every day,” Speaker Martin Romualdez said. “To have known and worked with Cong. Ed has been an honor and a privilege. His spirit and legacy will undoubtedly continue to inspire us all,” he added. “May we find solace in the immense legacy he leaves behind and the countless lives he touched.” Back in July, Hagedorn was found guilty of malversation of public property by the Sandiganbayan for his failure to turn over government-issued firearms when he was mayor of Puerto Princesa City. Hagedorn maintained he was innocent of the charges. During that period, he revealed that his doctor had recommended a special diet to address his elevated body mass, especially following knee surgery. With CELESTE ANA FORMOSO The post Hagedorn’s zest for change remembered appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Comelec addresses vote buying, selling
The Commission on Elections has formed a committee with other government agencies in its drive against vote buying and vote selling for the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections on 30 October. In an interview with Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon, Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said the different government agencies including the Department of Justice and Philippine Information Agency formed a “standing, permanent committee” to battle what they call the “modern cancer of society.” When asked what actions he will take against the standing culture of vote buying and vote selling, filing cases in the court is the solution to counter the unlawful offense. The post Comelec addresses vote buying, selling appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Comelec, PAO sign MOA to battle vote-buying, vote-selling
The Commission on Elections and the Public Attorney’s Office signed a memorandum of agreement on the poll body and the prosecutorial arm’s cooperation against vote-buying and vote-selling on Monday, 2 October. As the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataang elections are fast approaching, Comelec chairperson George Garcia and PAO chief Persida Acosta led the signing of the MOA. Garcia pointed out the need for this cooperation to put an end to vote buying/selling, what he referred to as the “modern cancer of democracy”. “Nangangahulugan lang na ‘di puwede na palagpasin natin ang eleksyong ito at ang mga susunod na eleksyon nang hindi natin kasama ang PAO sa paglaban lalong-lalo na sa modern cancer na ito. Yan ay para ma-empower natin ang mga kababayan na maglakas-loob na dumulog at pumunta sa Comelec upang magreklamo. Hindi lang sa pamimili kundi sa pamimigay at pagtanggap ng mga goods, ng money at promises mula sa mga candidates,” Garcia said in his speech. [This means that we should not let these coming elections and future elections pass without involving PAO in fighting this modern cancer. This will empower the public to have the courage to file complaints with the Comelec. Not only on vote-buying but on giving and receiving goods from the candidates.] Acosta’s take on the signing of the MOA is to protect the sanctity of the 'voice of the people' and will fortify the country’s democracy and the rule of law. The post Comelec, PAO sign MOA to battle vote-buying, vote-selling appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Phl, Australian armies prep for Exercise Carabaroo 2023
The Philippine Army and its counterpart in Australia are now preparing for the upcoming Exercise Carabaroo this year which targets to enhance both armies’ interoperability and war-fighting capabilities. The Philippine Army’s Exercise Control Group visited the Combat Simulation Centre, Robertson Barracks in Darwin City, Northern Territory last 24 August to meet with their Australian counterpart for a planning conference on their bilateral drills. Key officers from the 1st Brigade Combat Team, Training and Doctrine Command, and Headquarters Philippine Army led by the Exercise Director Col. Diosdado Carlos D. Pambid discussed the contingent's role and groundwork for the upcoming battle scenarios that will be held around Robertson Barracks, Melville Island, Tiwi Islands and Gunn Point in Darwin City. Exercise Carabaroo 2023 seeks stronger ties and relationships between participating military forces. The latest bilateral Exercise Carabaroo was held in September last year between the Philippine Army and the Australian Defence Force, where around 150 troops from the Philippine Army’s 1st Brigade Combat Team, First Scout Ranger Regiment and Special Forces Regiment (Airborne) trained alongside their Australian counterparts at the Robertson Barracks and Mount Bundey Training Area in Australia. The post Phl, Australian armies prep for Exercise Carabaroo 2023 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
QC supports renaming two roads after late Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte on Sunday said they welcomed the Senate's approval of a measure renaming Agham and BIR Roads after the late Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago. "Buong puso po nating sinusuportahan ang hakbang na ito ng Senado na ipangalan kay dating Senador Miriam Defensor-Santiago ang dalawang kalsada ng ating lungsod," Belmonte said. "Napakalaki pong karangalan para sa ating siyudad na dalhin ang pangalan ng ating senadora na walang takot na lumaban kontra katiwalian at tumayo para sa kapakanan at karapatan ng taumbayan," she added. With 22 affirmative votes and zero negative votes or abstention, the Senate approved on third and final reading House Bill 7413 seeking to rename the roadways of Agham Road and BIR Road to “Senator Miriam P. Defensor-Santiago Avenue." Santiago, who passed away in September 2016 after a long battle with lung cancer, held various positions in three branches of government. She served as presiding judge of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court and worked as Commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and Secretary of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR). She also served as Senator for three terms. “Siya rin ang una nating Asian judge na nahalal sa International Criminal Court, unang Pilipino na napili bilang commissioner para sa International Development Organization at nagsilbi rin bilang Legal Officer ng UN High Commission for Refugees sa Geneva, Switzerland. Patunay ang lahat ng kanyang pwestong hinawakan kung gaano siya kagaling. Nararapat lamang na mabigyang-halaga ang kanyang pagiging mahusay na lingkod-bayan,”Belmonte said. For her “…bold and moral leadership in cleaning up a graft-ridden government agency”, Defensor-Santiago received the Magsaysay Award for Government Service, known as the Asian equivalent of the Nobel Prize, in 1988. The post QC supports renaming two roads after late Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Geneva patient’ the latest in long-term remission from HIV
A man dubbed the "Geneva patient" is the latest person with HIV to be declared in long-term remission -- however he did not receive a transplant with a virus-blocking gene mutation like previous cases, researchers said on Thursday. But they stopped short of saying the man was "cured" of HIV, warning there was still a chance the virus could still return. Five people have previously been declared cured of HIV: the Berlin, London, Duesseldorf, New York and City of Hope, California patients. All had bone marrow transplants to treat serious cases of cancer, receiving stem cells from a donor with a mutation of the CCR5 gene. This mutation is known to block HIV from entering the body's cells. In 2018, the Geneva patient similarly received a stem cell transplant to treat a particularly aggressive form of leukaemia. But this time the transplant came from a donor who did not carry the CCR5 mutation, French and Swiss researchers told a press conference in the Australian city of Brisbane as part of an AIDS conference that begins at the weekend. This means that the virus is still able to enter the patient's cells. However, 20 months after the man stopped taking antiretroviral treatment -- which reduces the amount of HIV in the blood -- doctors at Geneva University Hospitals have not found a trace of the virus in his system, the researchers said. While they cannot rule out that the man's HIV will return, the researchers said they consider him to be in long-term remission. 'Magical' "What is happening to me is magnificent, magical," the Geneva patient said in a statement. The patient, a white man who chose not to be named, was diagnosed with HIV in 1990. He had been on antiretrovirals until November 2021, when his doctors advised him to stop taking the treatment after the bone marrow transplant. Two previous cases, known as the Boston patients, had also received normal or "wild type" stem cells during their transplants. But in both cases, HIV returned a few months after they stopped taking antiretrovirals. Asier Saez-Cirion, a scientist at France's Pasteur Institute who presented the Geneva patient case in Brisbane, told AFP that if there was still no sign of the virus after 12 months "the probability that it will be undetectable in the future increases significantly". There were a couple of possible explanations for why the Geneva patient remains HIV free, Saez-Cirion said. "In this specific case, perhaps the transplant eliminated all the infected cells without the need for the famous mutation," he said. "Or maybe his immunosuppressive treatment, which was required after the transplant, played a role." 'Promising' Sharon Lewin, the president of the International AIDS Society holding the HIV science conference in Brisbane, said the case was "promising". "But we learned from the Boston patients that even a single" particle of the virus can lead to HIV rebounding, she cautioned. "This particular individual will need to be watched closely over the next months and years." While these cases of long-term remission raise hopes that one day HIV can truly be cured, the brutal and risky bone marrow transplant procedure is not an option for the millions of people living with the virus around the world. It is instead a last-ditch attempt to treat life-threatening cancer in people who also have HIV. Alexandra Calmy, head of the HIV unit at Geneva University Hospitals, acknowledged that the procedure is not an option for most HIV patients. But the exceptional case of the Geneva patient "opens the door to ways to reach lasting remission in the absence of a transplant carrying a mutation," she told an online press conference on Thursday. Saez-Cirion said the case had also encouraged the researchers to continue studying innate immune cells, which act as the first line of defence against various pathogens, and could help control the virus. For his part, the Geneva patient said he was now "looking to the future". The post ‘Geneva patient’ the latest in long-term remission from HIV appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Final Beatles record’ out this year aided by AI: McCartney
A "final Beatles record", created with the help of artificial intelligence, will be released later this year, Paul McCartney told the BBC in an interview broadcast on Tuesday. "It was a demo that John (Lennon) had, and that we worked on, and we just finished it up," said McCartney, who turns 81 next week. The Beatles -- Lennon, McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr -- split in 1970, with each going on to have solo careers, but they never reunited. Lennon was shot dead in New York in 1980 aged 40 while Harrison died of lung cancer in 2001, aged 58. McCartney did not name the song that has been recorded but according to the BBC it is likely to be a 1978 Lennon composition called "Now And Then". The track -- one of several on a cassette that Lennon had recorded for McCartney a year before his death -- was given to him by Lennon's widow Yoko Ono in 1994. Two of the songs, "Free As A Bird" and "Real Love", were cleaned up by the producer Jeff Lynne, and released in 1995 and 1996. An attempt was made to do the same with "Now And Then" but the project was abandoned because of background noise on the demo. McCartney, who has previously talked about wanting to finish the song, said AI had given him a new chance to do so. 'Now and Then' Working with Peter Jackson, the film director behind the 2021 documentary series "The Beatles: Get Back", AI was used to separate Lennon's voice and a piano. "They tell the machine, 'That's the voice. This is a guitar. Lose the guitar'," he explained. "So when we came to make what will be the last Beatles' record, it was a demo that John had (and) we were able to take John's voice and get it pure through this AI. "Then we can mix the record, as you would normally do. So it gives you some sort of leeway." McCartney performed a two-hour set at last year's Glastonbury festival in England, playing Beatles' classics to the 100,000-strong crowd. The set included a virtual duet with Lennon of the song "I've Got a Feeling", from the Beatles' last album "Let It Be". Last month, Sting warned that "defending our human capital against AI" would be a major battle for musicians in the coming years. The use of AI in music is the subject of debate in the industry, with some denouncing copyright abuses and others praising its prowess. McCartney said the use of the technology was "kind of scary but exciting because it's the future", adding: "We'll just have to see where that leads." The post ‘Final Beatles record’ out this year aided by AI: McCartney appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Rodolfo Biazon dies at 88
The family of Rodolfo Gaspar Biazon announced his passing today. He was 88 years old. “It is perfectly fitting that today, Independence Day, at around 8:30 am, the soldier who dedicated his life and laid it on the line in defending freedom and democracy, has been set free from the pains of this world,” the family wrote in a statement released on social media. “He courageously fought his last battle like a Marine would, but it is the Lord’s will which prevails. Born on 14 April 1935, Biazon was named Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in 1991. He was elected senator in 1992 with a 3-year term, and then again from 1998-2010. He became a member of the House of Representatives representing Muntinlupa from 2010-2016. In the same statement, it was disclosed that Biazon had been diagnosed with lung cancer in July 2022. He then had two bouts with pneumonia this year, the second one being more serious, which further compromised his already weakened lungs. For those wanting to pay respects, there will be further announcements from the family. The post Rodolfo Biazon dies at 88 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Zelensky seeks diplomatic, military support in Hiroshima
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will plead for diplomatic and military support in Hiroshima Sunday as he addresses G7 allies and a few nations who have pointedly declined to condemn Russia's invasion. In a surprise trip to a city synonymous with the horror of nuclear war, Zelensky began his day huddling with G7 leaders. Later he will address assembled leaders from India, Brazil, Vietnam, and Indonesia and is expected to give a speech to rally support for Ukraine's defense against Moscow's 15-month onslaught. His appearance at the G7 summit has firmly shifted the spotlight onto Russia's aggression and comes after a victory in his long-running campaign to win US backing for the supply of American-made advanced fighter jets. Zelensky bounded down the stairs from a French government plane on Saturday and began a punishing schedule of talks, meeting leaders from Europe, India, Indonesia, and Canada over several hours. While Zelensky is assured the support of long-standing G7 backers, he is on shakier ground with others in Hiroshima, including Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who has accused the West of "encouraging the war" and is yet to confirm he will even meet his Ukrainian counterpart. The reception was warmer from India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who told Zelensky: "I understand your pain and the pain of Ukrainian citizens very well." "I can assure you that to resolve this India and, me personally, will do whatever we can do." Zelensky offered an upbeat assessment of the encounter, saying he believed India "will participate in the restoration of the rules-based international order that all free nations clearly need." French President Emmanuel Macron praised the trip as "a way to build peace," calling it an "honor" to have supplied the plane that carried the Ukrainian leader to Hiroshima. Zelensky is looking for support for a ten-point peace plan, centred on the demand that Russia retreat from Ukrainian territory. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the message from Ukraine and its allies was clear: "Russia must withdraw troops". Any peace plan, he said, "can't simply be linked to a freeze of the conflict." "Russia should not bet that if it holds out long enough, it will end up weakening support for Ukraine." Zelensky had previously been scheduled to attend the G7 summit remotely but arrived on the back of a major breakthrough in his battle to wrest advanced weaponry from the West. The White House dropped its longstanding reluctance to allow allies to supply Kyiv with F-16 fighter jets, opening the way for Ukraine to receive its most sophisticated material yet. Washington insisted the aircraft were part of a US strategy to support Ukraine "in a way that avoids World War III," and deflected criticism that their decision was too long coming. Zelensky acknowledged the jets would not help the war effort immediately, but hailed the decision as "a great result". "It really will help our society, our people to save houses, families." Mick Ryan, a strategist and retired Australian major general, called the decision "very significant". "F-16s have the sensors and weapon systems that are either equal to, or overmatch, Russian fighters," he told AFP, saying the jets would make life "more difficult" for Russian missile-launching aircraft operating in and around Ukraine. Zelensky meets Biden later Sunday, though the White House has declined to confirm US media reports it could announce a new package of weapons for Ukraine. While Ukraine has dominated the summit, the leaders have also taken aim at China, with a thinly veiled statement denouncing efforts to "weaponize" trade and supply chains, and warning they would "fail and face consequences". The grouping also warned China against its "militarisation" in the South China Sea and urged Beijing to press Russia to end its invasion of Ukraine. It insisted however that it still seeks "constructive and stable relations" with China. China hit back late Saturday, expressing its "strong dissatisfaction" with the G7's final communique, and Russia too lashed out at the group. "Look at the decisions discussed and taken today at the G7 summit in Hiroshima, which aim to contain both Russia and China," Moscow's top diplomat Sergei Lavrov said. The post Zelensky seeks diplomatic, military support in Hiroshima appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Kris Aquino begins taking anti-cancer medication for possible six autoimmune conditions
Kris Aquino has revealed a new health update as she continues to battle several autoimmune conditions, this as she begins to take methotrexate......»»
Final bell rings for boxing chief Ed Picson
Philippine sports lost a pillar -- both inside and outside the boxing ring. Edgar “Ed” Picson passed away following a long battle with liver cancer, his friend and longtime colleague Joaquin Henson announced. He was 69. A Letran College alumnus, Picson started his television career as a semi-regular in "John N Marsha" -- a highly-successful sitcom featuring comedy king Dolphy and Nida Blanca in the 1980s -- while doing boardwork as a radio DJ. He made it into sports the following decade as he served as commentator for “Blow By Blow,” the weekly boxing program that launched Manny Pacquiao’s professional career. He also served as color commentator for the Philippine Basketball Association and wrote a regular column at the Manila Bulletin. In 2009, his biggest break came. With the group of industrialist Manny Pangilinan taking over the leadership of the Association of Boxing Alliances of the Philippines from Manny Lopez, Picson was appointed as executive director who will man the day-to-day operations of the organization. A few years later, he was tapped as Vargas’ secretary general replacing Patrick Gregorio. Under Picson, Philippine boxing flourished as he retained the services of longtime coaches like Pat Gaspi, Ronald Chavez and Roel and Boy Velasco while expanding its talent identification program in major provinces like Cebu, Davao and Cagayan de Oro. To make the program more holistic, he hired a foreign mentor in Donn Abnett of Australia and provided the boxers with deep knowledge in strength and conditioning, psychology, nutrition and other sport sciences. The result was truly impressive as his leadership inspired Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam to win a silver medal while Eumir Marcial took home a bronze medal in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. His achievement was greatly rewarded when Vargas passed him the Abap leadership in November of 2021. To make up for his lingering battle with cancer, he tapped a young sport leader in Marcus Manalo to assist him as his secretary general. The boxers were preparing for the 32nd Southeast Asian Games at the Teachers Camp in Baguio City when news of Picson’s demise broke out at high noon on Wednesday. “It is with deep sadness that I confirm that ABAP president Ed Picson passed away this morning due to complications from cancer of the liver,” Manalo said in a statement. “ABAP will have a special board meeting tomorrow and will come up with an official statement.” Henson said branded Picson as a sports broadcasting “legend.” “ABAP president and dear friend Ed Picson passed away at 11 this morning due to complications from liver cancer,” Henson said in a social media post. “Ed was a legend in sports broadcasting and when Senator Manny revived ‘Blow By Blow’ late last year, he was invited to cover the fights but he declined. He will be missed.” Another broadcasting colleague in Bill Velasco said he will definitely miss Picson, whom he worked with in the PBA panel in the 1990s. “Lost another old friend today. Farewell, Ed Picson, my colleague from Vintage Enterprises in the early 1990’s,” Velasco said. “You were always articulate, level-headed, and spoke your mind. A great sportscaster, voice talent, and boxing official. God bless you, kind sir.” The post Final bell rings for boxing chief Ed Picson appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Philippine boxing head, ex-sports mediaman Ed Picson passes away
Association of Boxing Alliances (ABAP) in the Philippines president and chief executive officer, and longtime sports broadcaster Edgar “Ed” E. Picson died Wednesday due to complications from a long battle with liver cancer......»»
Laput makes heads turn
Rookie Shevana Laput did not disappoint on her first start for De La Salle University in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 85 women’s volleyball tournament. Fresh from a long Holy Week break, the semifinals-bound Lady Spikers turned to the Filipino-Australian recruit for points at the opposite position during their clinical 25-15, 25-16, 25-16 win over University of the Philippines on Sunday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City. The 6-foot-1 Laput, who saw limited minutes in La Salle’s first 10 games, produced nine points to help her squad get back on the winning track after seeing its nine-game winning streak snapped before the long lull. Long-time Lady Spikers assistant coach Noel Orcullo was not surprised at all with Laput’s output. La Salle did not waste time in developing Laput during the break as an added weapon on the wing to give head coach Ramil de Jesus another opposite spiker option besides veteran Baby Jyne Soreno with Leila Cruz sidelined for the rest of the season due to a right knee injury she sustained at the start of the second round. “Actually, we expected that performance from her since we focused on preparing her for the role during the Holy Week. So, we really expected her to deliver,” Orcullo said. Laput expressed gratitude for the trust given to her despite being one of the new members of the Lady Spikers, who are eyeing to reclaim the crown it last held back in 2018. “It feels great. It just shows that I developed and improved as a player and the coaches trust my abilities to have me play in the first six. It's great and it's an honor,” Laput said. The towering spiker played an inspired game with her family including brother James, who plays for Magnolia Hotshots in the Philippine Basketball Association, watching live. “It's a great feeling that my family is supporting me. My mom and my little sister, actually, surprised me this week. They came on Thursday. It's their first time watching a live game,” the head-turner said. “I'm definitely nervous having them there supporting me, it feels like I need to perform (well). It's a great feeling to know that your family is there supporting you.” With its 13th straight Final Four appearance secured, La Salle now shifts its sights on clinching a twice-to-beat advantage in the semis. The Lady Spikers battle Adamson University on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena to assure themselves of at least a playoff for a Final Four bonus. After that La Salle will face Ateneo de Manila University on 23 April before wrapping up the elimination round against winless University of the East on 29 April. Orcullo bared La Salle’s coaching staff has been preparing Laput to play a much bigger role in the coming games. “We need to build her confidence with the second round drawing to a close,” he said. “So that heading into the semifinals and hopefully in the finals, she will have that confidence in her and that anytime her number is called she’ll be able to deliver.” The post Laput makes heads turn appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Tearful Biden ends Ireland trip with nod at re-election
US President Joe Biden ended an emotional visit to Ireland on Friday with a campaign-style exhortation for hope, as he inched closer to formally launching his 2024 bid. The 80-year-old Democrat, who has Catholic Irish roots, had a tearful encounter with a priest before a concluding speech that coincided with an angry address back home by Donald Trump, his potential Republican rival for next year's White House battle. "I told you my plan is to run again," Biden told reporters before flying to the United States. "I've already made that calculus. We'll announce it relatively soon. But the trip here just reinforced my sense of optimism about what can be done." Biden was feted by an estimated 27,000 people as he spoke in front of the floodlit St Muredach's Cathedral in Ballina, one of his family's ancestral hometowns, in northwest Ireland. In 1828, Biden's forebear Edward Blewitt sold the bricks that went into the construction of the Roman Catholic cathedral, using the money to fund his famine-stricken family's later emigration to the United States. The Irish and Americans were united by an optimistic vision, Biden said in the speech. "More than anything, hope is what beats in the hearts of all our people," he said, reprising the core message of his and Barack Obama's historic campaign in 2008. "Even during times of darkness and despair, hope has kept us marching forward toward a better future, one of a greater liberty, greater dignity and greater possibilities." Biden was in a more sorrowful mood earlier on a visit to the celebrated Roman Catholic pilgrimage shrine at Knock, near Ballina. Organizers made the last-minute discovery of a link between the Biden family and one of their priests, Father Frank O'Grady, who returned to Ireland after years serving as a chaplain in the US army. The president's son Beau Biden died of brain cancer aged 46 in 2015. Father O'Grady administered the last rites at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center outside Washington. O'Grady was not on the official guest list but was given hurried security clearance. Biden said it was "incredible" to meet by chance with the priest. "It seemed like a sign," he said of the 10-minute meeting, which was joined by his remaining son Hunter and the president's sister, Valerie Biden Owens. O'Grady told Irish broadcaster RTE that Biden "certainly misses his son" but that the president said his Catholic faith had "sustained him". "He has been grieving a lot, but I think the grief is kind of going down a bit," the priest said. Knock Shrine parish priest Richard Gibbons told the BBC that Biden "got the shock of his life" at discovering O'Grady's presence in Knock. "He was crying, it really affected him and then we said a prayer, said a decade of the rosary for his family. "He lit a candle and then he took a moment or two of private (reflection) for prayer." The US president went on to visit the Mayo Roscommon Hospice nearby with his son, sister, and Irish cousin Laurita Blewitt. In 2017, he came for the building's groundbreaking, and a plaque there commemorates Beau Biden. Biden then headed to the picturesque riverside town of Ballina, which was proudly displaying US flags and red, white and blue bunting as locals thronged the streets in anticipation. Ballina commissioned a five-meter-high (16-foot-high) mural of Biden when he won the 2020 presidential vote. Blewitt descendants still live in the town, where the Mocha Beans cafe changed its shop sign to read "Mocha Biden" for the occasion. "That buzz is incredible around Ballina today," the cafe's owner Trevor Mangan told AFP. As a baby, Flori Garvin was given a cuddly toy donkey by Biden when the Democrat visited Ballina as vice president. Now aged seven, she was back with her grandmother, Elizabeth Robinson, 63. "She hasn't stopped talking about it," Robinson said. "She thinks she's going to see him herself." The surrounding county of Mayo was the ancestral homeland of one branch of the Biden family, and the president also toured a genealogy center to find out more about his origins. Biden had declared in a speech Thursday to the Irish parliament: "I'm home." Ahead of a potential rematch against Trump, the president dwelt both at the parliament and the cathedral on the success of Irish emigres in carving out a new life far from home. "We Irish," he said on Friday, "we always believe in a better tomorrow because no matter what, we've always carried hope in our hearts." The post Tearful Biden ends Ireland trip with nod at re-election appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Hugh Jackman advises everyone to use sunscreen following more skin cancer tests
Australian actor Hugh Jackman has shared a public, but also personal, service advisory reminding everyone to use sunscreen as the summer months roll in......»»
LA Tenorio visits Antipolo Cathedral amid cancer battle
MANILA, Philippines–LA Tenorio on Friday sought spiritual guidance in his ongoing battle against colon cancer when he went to Antipolo Cathedral following Barangay Ginebra’s victory over San Miguel Beer in Game 1 of the PBA Governors’ Cup semifinals on Friday. Photos provided by the parish on its official Facebook page showed Tenorio reflecting before the […] The post LA Tenorio visits Antipolo Cathedral amid cancer battle appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Creation of National Cancer Institute sought in Congress
Calls for the establishment of the National Cancer Institute of the Philippines (NCIP) have recently been revived in Congress in an effort to strengthen the country’s capability to battle the dreaded disease......»»
Novak Djokovic shrugs off dad drama to reach 10th Australian Open final
MELBOURNE—-Novak Djokovic shrugged off controversy involving his father to reach a record-extending 10th Australian Open final on Friday and set up a blockbuster decider with Greek trailblazer Stefanos Tsitsipas and a battle for the world number one ranking. Nine-times champion Djokovic maintained his perfect semi-final record at Melbourne Park with a 7-5 6-1 6-2 win […] The post Novak Djokovic shrugs off dad drama to reach 10th Australian Open final appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Emmy-winning star Kirstie Alley dies at 71
Kirstie Alley, the two-time Emmy-winning actor who starred in the hit television sitcom "Cheers," died Monday after a battle with cancer, her family said. She was 71......»»