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DPWH to fund P5.385B worth of projects in Lapu-Lapu in 2025
LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu — The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will fund P5.385 billion worth of projects for Lapu-Lapu City in 2025. These projects were submitted to Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan during its City Development Council (CDC) meeting. The amount has four components, which consist of the Asset Preservation Program, National Road Network.....»»
‘Beetle’ beats ‘Barbie’ in N. American theaters
It was a good news/bad news weekend for "Blue Beetle," the latest superhero film to hit North American theaters and the first built around a live-action Latino protagonist. The DC Studios/Warner Bros. production topped the charts for the Friday-through-Sunday period and even dethroned "Barbie," that reigning queen of pinkness, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations said Sunday. But its estimated take of $25.4 million was "the lowest DC superhero debut of this era" other than 2021's money-losing "Wonder Woman 1984." "Beetle" stars 22-year-old American actor Xolo Mariduena -- who is of mixed Mexican, Cuban, and Ecuadoran descent -- as a new college graduate whose body is taken over by the mysterious Scarab, which gives him superhuman powers. Analyst David A. Gross said that while ticket sales for "Beetle" were only a third of the average for new superhero flicks, reviews have been good and overseas prospects are strong. "Barbie," in its fifth week out, scored $21.5 million in ticket sales, "a huge result at this point in its theatrical run," according to Variety. The Warner Bros. fantasy-comedy has now taken in an eye-popping $1.27 billion globally. In third, also in its fifth week out, was Universal's "Oppenheimer," at $10.6 million. The historical drama about the origins of the first atomic bomb has passed the $700 million mark globally. Fourth place went to Paramount's animated "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem," at $8.4 million. Its huge voice cast includes Maya Rudolph, Ayo Edebiri, John Cena, Jackie Chan, Ice Cube, and Paul Rudd. And in fifth was Universal's new talking-dog comedy "Strays," at $8.3 million, a concerning start for a movie made on a $46 million budget. Rounding out the top 10 were: "Meg 2: The Trench" ($6.7 million) "Talk to Me" ($3.2 million) "Haunted Mansion" ($3 million) "Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One" ($2.7 million) "The Last Voyage of the Demeter" ($2.5 million) The post ‘Beetle’ beats ‘Barbie’ in N. American theaters appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
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......»»
‘Joys of life’: Hong Kong food traditions endure in city of flux
by Saad Sayeed and Holmes Chan Hong Kong, China | AFP Bent over a low bench in his cluttered Hong Kong workshop, dark-framed glasses perched on his nose, Lui Ming deftly assembles a bamboo steamer, a utensil essential to Cantonese cooking. It's a craft the 93-year-old has been perfecting for seven decades, and steamers like his are an indispensable part of yum cha, the Cantonese brunch involving tea and dim sum -- perhaps the most prized culinary ritual in the city. The circular bamboo baskets are ferried in small trolleys around yum cha restaurants, filled with bite-sized dumplings and other delicacies. "My only hobbies are yum cha and Cantonese opera," Lui tells AFP while twisting thin strips of bamboo to build the single most important dim sum-making tool. "Those are the joys of my life." Hong Kong is equally acclaimed for its fine dining restaurants and its street-side eateries, and the enduring use of handwoven steamers in both is part of a set of unique food traditions that have shaped its culinary landscape for generations. As in many modern metropoles, the flow of commerce in the finance hub brings constant change, but Hong Kong’s cuisine remains wedded to a network of traditions that residents view as staunch markers of local identity. "Bamboo steamers absorb moisture and there won't be condensation (on the lid)," Lui explains, adding that metal or plastic versions would never pass as part of an authentic yum cha experience in Hong Kong. But he does add steel around the bamboo rim to make his steamers more durable and improve insulation, an innovation he says he pioneered. "For steaming buns, there is no substitute." - Hong Kong institutions - Liu's shop is located on Shanghai Street, a historic stretch of road in Hong Kong's Kowloon district that is a treasure trove of kitchenware and utensils. One block north is Chan Chi Kee cutlery -- a family-run Hong Kong institution more than 100 years old. Retired craftsman Mr. Chan, who is part of the clan that runs the shop and now in his 80s, spends much of his time there. He started forging cleavers when he was around 15 years old as part of the already-established family business. "I was given a piece of metal and shaped it into a knife," he says, giving only his surname. "It was on the mountainside in the squatter huts... But eventually there was not enough space -- they built housing there." Today, Chinese chefs from around the world visit Chan Chi Kee's storefront on Shanghai Street to buy handcrafted cleavers and woks. "At least 80 percent of Chinese restaurants in Hong Kong use our knives," Chan tells AFP. But rising property prices and the city's shift away from manufacturing has pushed the bulk of production for the knives, woks and steamers to Guangzhou, China -- though a small select stock is still "Made in Hong Kong". Increased wages have also contributed to soaring costs, says Wong Yan-wai, a dried seafood trader for over three decades. "Most dried seafood is not processed in Hong Kong because of the high cost," Wong, 53, tells AFP. The fresh seafood is caught across the world and dried on-site -- in South Africa, Japan, Brazil and Australia -- before being shipped to Wong's shop on Des Voeux Road. More colloquially known as "Dried Seafood Street", it and its neighbouring side streets are home to nearly 200 vendors hawking dried scallops, bird's nest, abalone, sea cucumber and more. Pulling out a dried fish bladder from an ornate gold box, Wong says it is priced at 168,000 Hong Kong dollars ($21,500) due to its age and size. "For businesses that do well, they can make 800 million to a billion Hong Kong dollars a year in revenue." - 'Modernise Cantonese food' - Ten minutes away, ArChan Chan deftly flips dried shrimp in a carbon steel Chan Chi Kee wok to make her version of the classic Cantonese dish known as stir-fry king. The 37-year-old chef at Ho Lee Fook, located in the glitzy Central district, is one of the city's most celebrated women chefs and among a handful of young innovators redefining Cantonese food. "One of the biggest challenges I have is how to modernise Cantonese food," ArChan says. The answer lies in sourcing quality ingredients while making small tweaks to dishes' flavour profiles, such as adding fermented aged garlic soy to a classic razor clam dish. In her sleek kitchen, Archan lifts the lid of a bamboo steamer to unveil three glistening vegetable dumplings, ready to be served. "There is such a big wealth of knowledge," she tells AFP. "I want to be able to learn and absorb as much as possible and just to pass it on." © Agence France-Presse The post ‘Joys of life’: Hong Kong food traditions endure in city of flux appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Mayor Chan proposes P2.8 billion annual budget for 2023
LAPU-LAPU CITY, Philippines — Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan has proposed a P2.8 billion annual budget for 2023. This was confirmed by Councilor Annabeth Cuizon, chairman of the Committee on Finance in the city council. Cuizon said that on Monday, October 10, 2022, the City Development Council (CDC) already approved the proposed Annual Investment […] The post Mayor Chan proposes P2.8 billion annual budget for 2023 appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Thailand Moves a Step Closer to Welcoming Back Foreign Tourists
Thailand will start issuing special visas to foreign tourists starting October, easing a more than five-month-old ban on visitors to revive the nation’s ailing tourism-reliant economy. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha’s cabinet approved a proposal to issue visas to tourists planning to stay between 90 and 280 days in Thailand, according to government spokeswoman Traisuree Taisaranakul. The tourists will undergo a mandatory 14-day state quarantine on arrival at partner hotels or hospitals and follow health and safety regulations, she said. The government expects about 1,200 visitors to avail themselves of these visas each month, generating about 1.2 billion baht ($38.5 million) in revenue. The easing of border restrictions may boost the nation’s pandemic-battered tourism industry and cushion the blow to an economy projected to contract 8.5% this year. The news of cabinet approval for special visas triggered a rally among hotel and travel operators in Bangkok. A measure of Thai tourism and leisure stocks jumped 4.5%, the biggest gainer among the Stock Exchange of Thailand’s 28 industry groups. It was also the index’s largest increase since May 26. While Hotel operators Erawan Group Pcl and Central Plaza Hotel Pcl surged more than 8%, Minor International Pcl advanced 5.5%. Thailand’s tourism and hospitality sectors are counting on the return of international visitors, who contributed to two-thirds of tourism income before the pandemic, to reverse the slump in businesses and save millions of jobs. A government campaign to boost travel by locals through hotel and air travel concessions has failed to make up for the slump in earnings, but the move to allow foreigners in small batches will still be a relief to the industry. “There will not be a huge economic impact from this as it still can’t compensate for the revenue lost, but it will help,” Somprawin Manprasert, chief economist at Bank of Ayudhya Pcl said. “This plan still targets a higher-spending group of foreign visitors which will not benefit tourism industry operators that have lower to mid-price points, who will still suffer.” The move to relax curbs on foreign tourists also follows Thailand’s relative success in containing the coronavirus outbreak. The nation went without a local transmission for 100 days before the virus-free run was ended early this month. Though Thailand was the first country outside China to report the deadly virus, its cumulative cases stand at 3,480 with most patients already discharged from hospitals. The reopening to foreign tourists may be risky, but it is a manageable risk worth taking, Bank of Thailand’s Senior Director Don Nakornthab wrote in an article on the central bank’s website. The country may be headed for a second straight year of contraction in 2021 if it continued to restrict foreign visitor arrivals, Don wrote......»»
Milk tariff collections rise by 31% to P2.4 billion
Revenues raised by the government from various imported milk products jumped by 31 percent to P2.36 billion in 2023, the highest in at least eight years, from P1.8 billion in 2022......»»
Sy family invests P5 billion in Megawide affiliate
The Sy family is once again playing a big brother role to a company led by businessman Edgar Saavedra, this time investing in Megawide’s affiliate renewable energy real estate investment trust......»»
New DCPO chief pledges technology-driven approach
THE new director of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) underscored the utilization of technology to streamline their operations......»»
Cebu Pacific books P8 billion profit in 2023
Low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific found itself landing on solid ground in 2023, as it booked a profit of nearly P8 billion on the back of a resurgent demand for air travel......»»
Mega Millions Jackpot Winner of $1.13 Billio
A lucky individual in Monmouth County, New Jersey struck gold this week by winning the $1 billion Mega Millions jackpot. The winning ticket was sold.....»»
Pacatiw tries to buck cage rust in ONE Championship return
More than a year since his last ONE Championship bout, Jeremy Pacatiw acknowledged that he has a lot to work on before his comeback fight......»»
JG Summit FY23 profit: P19.6-B (up 216%)
JG Summit, the Gokongwei Family’s diversified conglomerate, teased its FY23 financial results headlined by a 216% increase in the company’s net income to P19.6 billion......»»
Globe closed on an additional P1.16-B in tower sales
Globe Telecom, the Zobel Family’s telecommunications company, disclosed that it closed on the sale of another 91 cell towers to Frontier Towers to raise approximately P1.16 billion in cash......»»
P1.1 billion released to restore heritage school buildings
The Department of Budget and Management has released P1.1 billion to conserve and restore heritage school buildings in the country......»»
Angels rebound, Crossovers roll on
Petro Gazz and Chery Tiggo carved out contrasting wins over Capital1 Solar Energy and Nxled, respectively, and stayed in the thick of the fight for the semifinals of the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the PhilSports Arena last night......»»
Globe gets P5 billion from sale of towers
Telco-to-tech provider Globe Telecom Inc. raised almost P5 billion from the sale of towers in the first quarter, providing it with some of the capital needed to upgrade services and pay debts......»»
BTr raises P120 billion from T-bond sale
The government raised the entire program of P120 billion in long-term securities this month even as investors’ asking rates were mixed......»»
Australia s reputation among Pacific neighbours weakening
From carrying the Coalition's AUKUS pact to supporting Israel's self-defence initiative, Labor's reputation is souring among voters. Bilal Cleland reports.ASIA IS SENSITIVE to memories of the White Australia Policy, the f.....»»
Indian Coast Guard ship docks at Manila port amid tensions in South China Sea
Manila [Philippines], March 26 (ANI): Amid tensions in the South China Sea, the Indian Coast Guard ship, Samudra Paheredar docked at the Manila Bay in the Philippines as part of a broader initiative aimed at demonstrating ICG Marine Pollution Response capabilities, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said in an official release on Tuesday. The ICG ship which arrived at the port on Monday, is on an overseas deployment to ASEAN c.....»»