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Foreign dignitaries receive ‘Love from the Philippines’
The attache of the Embassy of India and other foreign dignitaries assigned here in the country have given the Department of Tourism a tap at the back for conceptualizing the Philippine Experience Program which showcases the country's tourist attractions and provinces' rich traditions and sumptuous delicacies. In an interview, Shikha Kumari, Political Attache of the Embassy of India, also extolled the warmth and hospitality of the locales of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, and Quezon where the second leg of the Philippine Experience took place. "We love the smiles and greetings of the locales. It's indeed we felt the love of the Philippines. Indeed there's so much to explore with the Philippines and we can deliver this to our nationals who would want to visit this wonderful country," she told the DAILY TRIBUNE. Other dignitaries that joined the CALABARZON leg of the Philippine Experience and felt the warm Filipino hospitality are Hanada Takihiro, minister and co sul general from the Embassy of Japan, Huang Yaping and Liang Hao from the Embassy of China, Indian Attache Saurav Kumar, and representatives from the Embassies of Japan and Indonesia, among other delegates such as social media influencers, tour operators and the mainstream media, including the DAILY TRIBUNE. Seeking for DoT's interventions Meanwhile, two local executives in the provinces of Batangas and Quezon have sought the help of the DoT to back and further boos tourism initiatives in their respective municipalities and provinces. Taal, Batangas Mayor Fulgencio Mercado sought the support of Tourism Secretary Cristina Garcia Frasco in making their province's tourism efforts to be realized. "We really need these projects in order for us to show our local and foreign tourists what more we can offer to them aside from the wonders of Taal Volcano," he said during a program at the Taal Heritage Village on Sunday. Taal Lake is now closed to tourists because of the continuous activities of Taal Volcano. On the other hand, San Pablo City Vice Mayor Justin Colago expressed gratitude to the DoT for choosing the city as one of the venues in the second leg of the Philippine Experience. "We want to collect the help that we need to be able to develop further our destinations, particularly our Seven Lakes. We still need to promote our coconut industry, as well as its by-product buko pie as makers of this delicacy were indeed affected by the Covid pandemic," Colago said. San Pablo City is also where the famous Villa Escudero is situated, which closed doors when the contagion hit the country in March 2023. Other places visited by the Philippine Experience were Museo ni Aguinaldo in Kawit, Cavite; Bakood Festival of Bacoor, Cavite; Casa San Pablo in San Pablo City; Pagsanjan Falls (Cavinti Falls) in Pagsanjan, Laguna; the wood carvers in Paete, Laguna, and the weavers of Lumban, Laguna, home of the famous barongs and ternos. The Philippine Experience Program is just one of the many projects of Secretary Cristina Garcia Frasco, a program that facilitates a cultural tourism circuit development focused on heritage, culture, and arts to enhance current tour and domestic circuit offerings, which include: Food and Gastronomy, Pilgrimage and Wellness, Living Cultures and Heritage, and an Arts caravan. The program also aims to diversify the cultural tourism product offerings of the country, equalize opportunities across the regions, support the preservation of the country’s heritage, and artistic resources and assets, and most importantly, instill a sense of pride and patriotism among the Filipino people through a greater appreciation of the country’s inheritance and legacy. The post Foreign dignitaries receive ‘Love from the Philippines’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
LAWMAKER ON WHEELS — Ejercito’s love for Phl sports is one of a kind
Senator JV Ejercito’s love for cycling is hard to miss. From interviews to his social media posts, the 53-year-old lawmaker would always find a way to display his love for cycling — and sports in general. That’s why in a recent interview with Daily Tribune, Ejercito took the opportunity to preach the benefits of cycling and how he wants to spearhead the staging of more local and international tournaments that would encourage a lot of enthusiasts to take the sport seriously. “We need to have more competitions like Ronda Pilipinas. I hope somebody picks up the cudgels for it to continue because competition improves the quality of our athletes,” said Ejercito, referring to the annual professional road cycling competition that covers major cities in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. The prestigious bikefest started in 2011 and has drawn the interest of the best local and international riders. It, however, got canceled this year as it prepares to transition from being an annual to a biennial event. “We need competitions,” Ejercito stressed. But batting for the staging of a professional cycling competition is just a mere fraction of Ejercito’s love for the sport. In fact, during the height of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, Ejercito took the cudgels for the cyclists when he slammed the Inter-Agency Task Force for raising the proposal of requiring cyclists to wear face shields on the road. Ejercito stressed that this proposal will put the cyclists’ lives at risk as they might suffer hypoxia or lack of oxygen. Having first-hand experience on the challenges of the sport, Ejercito asserted that the proposal might create more harm than good. “I am not in favor of requiring face shields to those who are biking and exercising. This might cause hypoxia or lack of oxygen. While breathing hard, intake of oxygen is already minimized with masks so what more if they will require them to wear face shields? This can be fatal,” Ejercito said. “Cyclists usually are away from each other. Face shields should be required in enclosed and crowded places. There is already a mask that is required anyway.” “Wearing a face shield while cycling is dangerous. The mask is enough.” But that’s not all. Ejercito also fought hard for the rights of cyclists through Senate Bill 393 that pushes for more bicycle lanes in major thoroughfares. He believes that by putting up bicycle lanes, the government would encourage the public to bike to their respective schools or offices instead of riding cars, buses or trains. The public would also get to save a lot on their transportation expenses while helping the government solve the worsening traffic situation. “This legislation is one way to help unburden commuters who are choosing to ride their bicycles and other non-motorized vehicles in order to escape the worsening traffic situation and save money on fares and fuel, especially now that prices of petroleum products have skyrocketed,” the bill’s explanatory note said. Ejercito said the government will also benefit from this proposal. “Though we admire such resilience and innovation, the government should also look into improving road conditions for alternative means of transportation,” Ejercito, the son of former President Joseph Estrada, said. “Until such a time that the government has finished its goal to provide mass transportation that is people-centered and accommodating to every walk of life, there will always be room for alternative forms of travel.” Ejercito admitted that he even considered riding his bicycle to work. “Even I couldn’t bear it each time I load up on gas. I shell out P5,000 every time. It’s hard on my pockets. Hopefully, I can save by biking to work,” Ejercito said. As of May 2023, about 546 kilometers of bike lanes were already established in Manila, Metro Cebu and Metro Davao, according to the Department of Transportation. Aside from cycling, Ejercito also plays golf and boxing. He is also an avid fan of basketball. In fact, he was at the sidelines when Gilas Pilipinas battled China in the FIBA Basketball World Cup together with other senators in Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, Joel Villanueva and Juan Miguel Zubiri. Ejercito said if there will be a chance, he will gladly lend a helping hand to Philippine sports. After all, he is no stranger to grassroots sports after serving as chairman of the committee on youth and sports when he was still representing San Juan City in the House of Representatives. With him in charge, he was able to help the Philippine Sports Commission with its funding that led to the rise of promising athletes like Hidilyn Diaz, who went on to become the country’s first Olympic gold medalist. “There’s no specific NSA (national sports association) but if there is an opportunity, I will help. I box, I cycle and I even played basketball before,” the mild-mannered Ejercito said. Truly, sports, especially cycling, occupies a very special place in Ejercito’s heart. And he will keep on helping Filipino athletes — one pedal at a time. The post LAWMAKER ON WHEELS — Ejercito’s love for Phl sports is one of a kind appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PEZA anticipates more Chinese investments in PH
Philippine Economic Zone Authority Director General Tereso O. Panga said more Chinese companies are choosing the Philippines as their next investment destination for their operations, at the completion of the 20th China-ASEAN Expo last 19 September. “With our robust economic performance and aggressive investment strategy, we are bullish in attracting more Chinese investments to the country especially in our ecozones, which can provide the best business ecosystem for our investors,” said Panga. During the Philippine Investment Forum in China, Philippine Ambassador to China Jaime A. FlorCruz highlighted that Chinese investors have expressed positive and increased interest in locating in the Philippines. He reported that the state visit of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. secured over $22 billion in strategic investment commitments. FlorCruz also stated that “In the past 6 months since I took this role as Ambassador, I have met many Chinese executives actively seeking investment opportunities across numerous industries in the Philippines. Many are now poised to invest in the Philippines.” After the forum, two big Chinese companies met with Philippine officials to discuss business opportunities. One company, a leading global provider of smart devices, seeks to expand its presence in the Philippines, especially in the area of consumer electronics. Another company, one of the five largest power generation groups in China, aims to bring in renewable energy projects to the country. PEZA seeks to attract investments from high-tech industries and emerging technologies in industrial manufacturing transport, technology media and telecommunications, health and life sciences, agro-processing, renewable energy development and green ores. To date, a total of 164 Chinese companies/projects are registered at PEZA, generating P25.822 billion investments (as of May 2023) and creating 16,221 direct jobs (as of March 2023). On the sidelines of the CAEXPO, Panga represented the Philippines during the Roundtable Meeting on Investment Cooperation with the theme: “China-ASEAN Cooperation in Green Low-Carbon and Digital Economy”. He noted, “The China-ASEAN Cooperation in Green Low-Carbon and Digital Economy represents a vital step toward sustainable development, environmental conservation and economic growth, not just for the participating nations but for the entire world.” The PEZA Chief also laid out some of the initiatives of PEZA and the national government to contribute to attaining the Sustainable Development Goals. These projects include the integration of SDGs to the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028 and PEZA’s participation in the Global Reporting Initiative. PEZA is strengthening its ecozone development initiatives as part of the medium-term strategies under the PDP 2023-2028. Panga explained that on top of the conventional ecozones, PEZA is venturing into new frontiers in ecozone development to cater to new industries and to promote emerging global eco-industrial park models in the Philippines. “We intend to transform our ecozones and our registered export enterprises to be more sustainable, resilient and innovative and thereby make them competitive in the local and global value chain,” he said. So far, PEZA manages 422 economic zones nationwide which host 4,352 locator companies engaged in various industries including export manufacturing and IT-BPO. Considered as one of the largest expositions in China, the CAEXPO is an international economic and trade event co-sponsored by the central governments of China and the ASEAN countries. It is one of the key projects that form part of the Philippine-China Development Plan and is a major promotional platform that supports the country’s ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement. PEZA is the lone investment promotion agency partner of the Department of Trade and Industry export promotion arm Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions for the CAEXPO participation. Following this event, PEZA joined the Special Envoy to China for the Philippine Investors’ Roadshow in Beijing, China on 26-30 September 2023. The post PEZA anticipates more Chinese investments in PH appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Remulla: Phl ‘not provoking’ China but ‘asserting our rights under UNCLOS’
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said the Philippines is ”not provoking" but "asserting our rights under the UNCLOS which is being respected by the whole world, hopefully by everybody including china in the future,” in reaction to Beijing's warning on Tuesday, 26 September, that Manila should not to "stir up trouble" after the Philippine Coast Guard removed a floating barrier at Scarborough Shoal that was allegedly deployed by China to block Filipino fishermen from the area. Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea has long been a source of tension between the countries. China seized the ring of reefs from the Philippines in 2012 and has since deployed patrol boats. The latest spat was due to a 300-meter (328-yard) floating barrier that was found across the entrance of the shoal last week during a routine Philippine government resupply mission to fishermen plying the waters near the shoal. Remulla said yesterday, “I think we know that we have to file a complaint. Its a matter of choosing the complaint to file and where to file the complaint, whether its the International Criminal court or the Permanent Court of Arbitration or other forum." The DOJ chief said he is more inclined to file the case with the PCA because of its familiarity with the case. The PCA in 12 July 2016 issued a unanimous award under Annex VII to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (the “Convention”) in the arbitration instituted by the Republic of the Philippines against the People’s Republic of China. It said: “This arbitration concerned the role of historic rights and the source of maritime entitlements in the South China Sea, the status of certain maritime features and the maritime entitlements they are capable of generating, and the lawfulness of certain actions by China that were alleged by the Philippines to violate the Convention. In light of limitations on compulsory dispute settlement under the Convention, the Tribunal has emphasized that it does not rule on any question of sovereignty over land territory and does not delimit any boundary between the Parties.” -- The post Remulla: Phl ‘not provoking’ China but ‘asserting our rights under UNCLOS’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Russia launches first Moon mission in nearly 50 years
Russia launched its first probe to the Moon in almost 50 years on Friday, a mission designed to give fresh impetus to its space sector, which has been struggling for years and become isolated by the conflict in Ukraine. The launch of the Luna-25 probe is Moscow's first lunar mission since 1976, when the USSR was a pioneer in the conquest of space. The rocket with the Luna-25 probe lifted off at 02:10 am Moscow time (2310 GMT Thursday) from the Vostochny Cosmodrome, according to live images broadcast by the Russian space agency Roscosmos. The spacecraft is due to reach lunar orbit in five days. It will then spend between three and seven days choosing the right spot before landing in the lunar south pole area. "For the first time in history, the lunar landing will take place on the lunar south pole. Until now, everyone has been landing in the equatorial zone," senior Roscosmos official Alexander Blokhin said in a recent interview. Roscosmos expects the probe to land on the Moon around August 21, a source in the agency told AFP. 'The ambition of our ancestors' The spacecraft, which will remain on the Moon for a year, will be tasked with "taking (samples) and analysing the soil" as well as "conducting long-term scientific research", the Russian space agency said. The launch is the first mission in Russia's new lunar programme, which gets underway at a time when Roscosmos is being deprived of its partnerships with the West amid the conflict with Ukraine. According to Russian space expert Vitali Iegorov, the mission is the first time that post-Soviet Russia has attempted to place a device on a celestial body. "The biggest question will be: can it land?" he told AFP, stressing that this mission is "of great importance" for Russia. President Vladimir Putin has pledged to continue Russia's space programme despite sanctions, pointing to the USSR's sending of the first man into space in 1961, at a time of escalating East-West tensions. "We are guided by the ambition of our ancestors to move forward, despite difficulties and external attempts to prevent us from doing so," Putin said at the Vostochny Cosmodrome last year. The mission is important for the Russian space sector, which is suffering from funding problems, corruption scandals and increasing competition from the United States and China, as well as from private initiatives such as billionaire Elon Musk's SpaceX. The post Russia launches first Moon mission in nearly 50 years appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Intelligence failure
With former president Rodrigo Duterte choosing to remain tight-lipped about his meeting last week with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, pundits went to town sowing intrigue and trying to drive a wedge not only between Duterte and his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, on one side, but President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., on the other. It did not help that Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro had to add grist to the rumor mill by issuing a statement days ago, pressing Duterte to reveal what he and Xi talked about. On Monday, hours before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivered his second State of the Nation Address, Teodoro apologized. In a television interview, Teodoro stressed that Duterte “should be treated with the respect and dignity due to any former president,” short of admitting he may have come off as disrespectful in needling Duterte to spill the beans. “So, President Duterte’s visit to China is not unexpected, neither is it a cause for concern. And I apologize for the unintended spin put in a jocose comment on my part,” Teodoro said, in an attempt to blunt the sharp edges of his comments last week. But Teodoro’s backpedaling and his half-baked apology all the more laid bare the panicky inquisitiveness he displayed days ago, which was a far cry from Marcos’ own politically astute handling of journalists’ queries. While he might have been caught flat-footed by Duterte’s trip to Beijing, Marcos Jr. would not be put on the spot when he said he hoped the meeting between the former president and the Chinese leader would ease tensions between the two countries. Likewise, Marcos said he welcomed any form of communication between the Philippines and China, especially given the tension between the two countries’ forces in the disputed waters of the South China Sea. Mr. Marcos’ response to the meeting was cautious, but diplomatic, something that would hew to Xi’s declaration later that, indeed, he and Duterte talked about moving the relations between China and the Philippines closer. While the present administration is seen to have pivoted the country back to the loving embrace of Uncle Sam, Marcos reiterated that he wants to maintain a good relationship with China, while vowing to defend the Philippines’ interests in the South China Sea. Not that the President should concern himself with the trips outside the country of his predecessor; he has the myriad problems of the country — inflation, debt repayments, food security — to focus his energies on. Just the same, judging from the President’s initial statement, it was clear that Mr. Marcos was not briefed about Duterte’s important trip to Beijing. Important, considering the geopolitics at play; important, as seen from the President expressing hope his predecessor would speak about it. But that should have been it. That Marcos wanted to know was to be expected. Still, for Teodoro to echo it reeked of panicky inquisitiveness or a misplaced doggedness to justify his being awarded the defense portfolio just recently. Under any defense playbook, the President not knowing in advance about Rody’s trip to Beijing was a failure of intelligence, and that may be the reason Teodoro has been tripping over himself with one gaffe after another. As the missteps mount, the crazier the spins that are being spread, one of which is that Duterte traveled to China to solicit support for his party as a credible alternative to the Marcos administration. Two things we’d say about this fiasco. One, no one can order Duterte around. President or not, he has never been a pushover; more like someone who would do the opposite just for spite. Two, he’d never ask for support for his party from China because that would be treason. And so, can the loonies behind these coffee-shop yarns already get back to their padded cells or to buying pirated movies? The post Intelligence failure appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Happy problem: A year’s salary or 365 days of paid leave?
They say wealth these days is measured not just by how much money you have, but by how much freedom you have with your time. So imagine the "happy problem" of choosing between cash or paid leaves. That may truly be the case when a company in Shenzen, China, opted to dangle to its employees not cash or any material prize but a year’s worth of paid leave. The Straits Times reported an employee won such an unusual reward during a company dinner that was meant to alleviate stress from its workforce after years in the pandemic. In a video, the unidentified employee was holding a giant check that says “365 days of paid leaves.” Usually, companies grant each employee two weeks of paid leaves. So an entire year of vacation – with the paychecks coming in – is a jackpot in itself. One of the company’s employees reportedly said the prize can be convertible to cash depending on the winner’s salary. It didn’t state whether the company gave away secondary prizes like a few months of paid leave. Or maybe consolation prizes of several paid half-days off. But it certainly made the news viral with several commenters wishing to apply to the company, while others suggested the winning employee should get the prize in cash instead. The post Happy problem: A year’s salary or 365 days of paid leave? appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Choosing a vaccine a political decision?
Just when we thought the British-Swedish pharma firm AstraZeneca has stolen a march on its rivals, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said Monday a bigger delivery of 25 million doses is due in March from Sinovac Biotech of China......»»
Pentagon chief reaffirms support after latest China aggression in WPS
Austin emphasized US support for the Philippines in defending its sovereign rights and jurisdiction in a phone call with Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro on Wednesday. .....»»
Dela Rosa considers war with China but admits: ‘Hindi naman natin kaya’
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa is already fed up with China’s persistent harassments in the West Philippine Sea, prompting thoughts of engaging in war with Beijing. But he knows, war is not an option. “Naubos na ang sasabihin ko dapat dyan. Short of declaring war na tayo dyan against sa kanila e,.....»»
FOCAP condemns Chinese embassy’s claims on ‘manipulated’ West Philippine Sea videos
The Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines strongly rejected and condemned yesterday China’s “false and baseless” claims that journalists manipulate videosthey recorded in the South China Sea to present the Philippines as a victim......»»
Roque: Xi, Duterte agreed to keep West Philippines Sea status quo
The Philippines under former president Rodrigo Duterte had a “gentleman’s agreement” with China to keep the status quo in the West Philippine Sea, a former Cabinet official said yesterday, as fresh tensions surround the WPS due to recent incursions by Beijing that targeted a Filipino resupply mission and a research team......»»
Opinion - South China Sea- Philippines must softly manage disputes or miss out economically
Manilas assertive transparency strategy is touted as a model for managing maritime disputes but it diminishes key economic opportunities. As Chinese investment pours into other Southeast Asian countries, the Philippines must reduce geopolitical risks without acquiescing to Beijing......»»
India backs Philippines in dispute with China
New Delhi has drawn a strong response from Beijing after reiterating its support for Manila in a territorial dispute India has "firmly reiterated" its support for the Philippines and its "national sovereignty," as Manila remains locked in a territorial dispute with Beijing in the South China Sea. Ten.....»»
India backs Philippines in sea dispute with China
New Delhi has drawn a strong response from Beijing after reiterating its support for Manila in a territorial dispute India has "firmly reiterated" its support for the Philippines and its "national sovereignty," as Manila remains locked in a territorial dispute with Beijing in the South China Sea. Ten.....»»
Philippine scientists harassed by China helicopter
Another case of harassment at sea by the Chinese has been reported – this time near Pag-Asa Island last Saturday – involving a helicopter, which hovered dangerously close to a group of Filipino scientists doing research work on a sand bar called Sandy Cay, causing minor injuries......»»
Panatag is proven PH territory; China claims it by bogus history
A civilian supply expedition to Panatag (Scarborough) is set this summer. The shoal is Philippine territory. Filipinos have every right to enter its 15,000-hectare lagoon bound by rocks and reefs......»»
‘Trade with China should continue’
The Philippines should continue to pursue stronger trade ties with China despite rising tensions in the West Philippine Sea, according to the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. and the Department of Trade and Industry......»»
China blocks Philippine supply run in disputed waters (VIDEO)
Manilla and Beijing have traded accusations over a naval incident near the Spratly Islands Chinese patrol boats used water cannons on Saturday to disrupt an attempt by the Philippine military to deliver supplies to a reef in a disputed part of the South China Sea, where the Philippine Navy intentionally grounded a tan.....»»
China blocks Philippine military supply boat in disputed waters (VIDEO)
Manilla and Beijing have traded accusations over a naval incident near the Spratly Islands Chinese patrol boats used water cannons on Saturday to disrupt an attempt by the Philippine military to deliver supplies to a reef in a disputed part of the South China Sea, where the Philippine Navy intentionally grounded a tan.....»»