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Bello confident of Dabawenyos’ support in his cyber libel trial
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 27 February)—Defeated vice-presidential candidate Professor Walden Bello said that the people of Davao are for the “rule of law” and will support him as his trial for the two counts of cyber libel began on Monday at the Regional Trial Court Branch 10 here. Bello told reporters in a press conference […].....»»
US lawmaker in Taiwan visit reassures support regardless of future election outcome
'I am very confident that support for Taiwan will continue regardless of who occupies the White House,' US Representative Mike Gallagher tells a news conference in Taipei.....»»
DSWD, HOR to distribute rice, cash aid to 2.5 million poor Filipinos in next 2 weeks
2.5 million poorest of the poor will receive rice and financial assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development and members of the House of Representatives within the next two weeks under the “Malaya Rice Project." The DSWD said the handing out of rice and financial aid will kick off in the National Capital Region in partnership with 33 lawmakers from NCR and the DSWD’s Field Office-National Capital Region, according to DSWD Assistant Secretary for Strategic Communications Romel Lopez. “The DSWD FO-NCR social workers will be the ones to distribute the rice and cash aid through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program of the Department,” Lopez, who is also a DSWD spokesperson, said during the Weekend Report aired live in DSWD’s Facebook account. DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian and Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez met and agreed that the 33 NCR lawmakers will identify 10,000 indigent residents per congressional district who are eligible to receive rice assistance, which includes senior citizens, solo parents, and persons with disabilities. Each beneficiary will receive P1,000 and 15 kilos of rice worth P500 to P600, with the process taking less than a month, according to the Speaker. In a news conference on Thursday (5 October), Speaker Romualdez told House reporters that the rice distribution is in line with the program of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to bring affordable and quality rice to the people, particularly those categorized as “poorest of the poor.” “Hindi ito one-shot deal. So this will be part of the program again, hand-in-hand with the DSWD using the AICS. And once it is successful, and I'm confident that it will be… we'll be able to replicate this and do further successive rounds of this,” Romualdez explained. Aside from the NCR, the “Malaya Rice Project” will also be implemented in Metro Cebu, Davao, and other highly urbanized areas where there are poor people in need of assistance. With more than 250 legislative districts in the country, the initial target of 10,000 recipients for each district will benefit at least 2.5 million Filipinos during the first round of the joint DSWD-HOR rice distribution and cash aid project. The post DSWD, HOR to distribute rice, cash aid to 2.5 million poor Filipinos in next 2 weeks appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Senate to approve 17 bills up for final reading says Zubiri
The upper chamber will approve 17 bills that are set for the third and final reading, said Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri on Saturday. Zubiri noted that four of these bills are part of the priority legislation of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council or LEDAC while 12 are local bills for the improvement of state universities and colleges. “In fact, on Monday, we will approve four measures that are part of our LEDAC commitments. And so far, we are on track to meeting our deadlines because, by the end of this year, we hope to approve all 20 LEDAC priority measures pending in the Senate,” the Senate President said. Zubiri noted that the Senate has approved a total of five bills on second reading during the previous week which includes Senate Bill 2001 or the New Philippine Passport Act; SB 1846 or the Internet Transactions Act of 2023; SB 2224 or the Ease of Paying Taxes Act; SB 2028 or An Act Recognizing the Octogenarians, Nonagenarians, and Centenarians; and SB 2233 or the Public Private Partnership Act. These bills, except for SB 2028, are LEDAC priority bills, he said. “These measures will be up for final reading on Monday. The deliberations on these bills have been exhaustive and I am confident that we did a good job of crafting these pieces of legislation, the efforts and expertise of the legislative staff in the Senate included,” he added. There are two bills pending President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s signature including the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act and the Local Government Unit Income Classification Act. The Philippine Salt Industry Development Act, meanwhile, has been approved by the Senate on final reading and is on standby for bicameral committee action. Zubiri said there are 12 local bills involving SUCs that are also up for approval on final reading. After the approval of the four LEDAC measures on Monday, the Senate will set the schedule for the bicameral conference committee hearing with their counterparts in the lower house, bringing the measures closer to enactment into law. Undergoing amendments before their approval on the second reading is the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers while the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act—which has been certified as urgent and has a high possibility of being approved in its third reading. Further, the Real Property Valuation and Assessment Reform Act, Waste-to-Energy Bill, Mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, and National Service Training Program, as well as the National Disease Prevention Management Authority/Center for Disease Prevention Bill are all in the interpellation and are pending approval on second reading. Zubiri assured that the Senate will meet its commitment to approve on final reading the remaining 17 of the 20 LEDAC measures before the session adjourns in December of this year. The remaining LEDAC bills, he added, are all up for deliberations and discussions. ”With our pace in approving these LEDAC measures, I am confident that come December, all of our LEDAC commitments will have been met," Zubiri said. The post Senate to approve 17 bills up for final reading says Zubiri appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
US authorities seize artworks allegedly stolen by Nazis
US authorities seized three artworks allegedly looted by the Nazis and which are being sought by the heirs of a Jewish art collector who died in the Holocaust, officials said Thursday. They confirmed a report in The New York Times that said New York investigators had taken these works by the 1900s Austrian expressionist Egon Schiele from three US-based museums. In warrants issued Tuesday and seen by AFP, the New York State Supreme Court said "there is reasonable cause to believe" the works constitute stolen property. The works were seized from the Art Institute of Chicago, the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, and the Allen Memorial Art Museum at Oberlin College in Ohio. The works in question include "Russian War Prisoner" (1916), a watercolor and pencil on paper piece valued at $1.25 million, seized from the Art Institute, and "Portrait of a Man" (1917), a pencil on paper drawing valued at $1 million and taken from the Carnegie Museums. "Girl With Black Hair" (1911), a watercolor and pencil on paperwork valued at $1.5 million, was seized from Oberlin. The warrants state that these works can remain where they are for 60 days, and they will be taken to New York at a later date. The art pieces are being sought by the heirs of Fritz Grunbaum, a prominent Jewish art collector and cabaret artist who died in the Dachau concentration camp in Germany in 1941. "We are confident in our legal acquisition and lawful possession of this work," the Art Institute of Chicago said, adding that the piece held there is the subject of a civil case in federal court. The Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh pledged to "cooperate fully with inquiries from relevant authorities." The Times said the probe underway concerns about a dozen Schiele works allegedly stolen by the Nazis. Grunbaum's heirs have been in court for years trying to recover works that belonged to him. Courts ruled in 2005 that they had waited too long to act. But in 2016 then-president Barack Obama signed into law the Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery Act to help recover art misappropriated or looted by the Nazis, and in 2018 Grunbaum's heirs received a favorable court judgment and recovered two pieces. The subject remains topical in other countries as well. In France, parliament adopted a framework law this July to facilitate restitution of property looted from Jews under German Nazi rule. According to statistics released at an international conference in the Czech Republic in 2009, some 100,000 of an estimated 650,000 stolen works have still not been returned. The post US authorities seize artworks allegedly stolen by Nazis appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Jennica Garcia feel na feel na ang pagiging artista: Namumukhaan na tayo…
SA kauna-unahang pagkakataon sa kanyang showbiz career, confident nang masasabi ni Jennica Garcia na isa siyang artista. ‘Yan ang proud na sinabi ng aktres matapos siyang tanungin ng INQUIRER sa isang press conference tungkol sa kanyang pagbida sa hit drama series na “Dirty Linen.” “I have been in this industry for quite some time, but The post Jennica Garcia feel na feel na ang pagiging artista: Namumukhaan na tayo… appeared first on Bandera......»»
NTF-ELCAC gives Church a seat
The Catholic Church will play a more significant role in the anti-insurgency effort through a recalibrated National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, or NTF-ELCAC, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año said yesterday. The task force will now have the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines’ Episcopal Commission on Public Affairs as a member. “We welcome the CBCP through its Episcopal Commission on Public Affairs to the NTF-ELCAC Executive Committee and we look forward to working with them in pursuing peace and development in all parts of the country, especially in conflict-affected areas,” Año said. The task force indicated an openness to suggestions from the Church in adopting “moral and ethical approaches in addressing the communist insurgency,” as cited by CBCP president and Kalookan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David in a recent statement. “We are opening the door of NTF-ELCAC to the Church because it has an important role to play in ending violence and terrorism in the country,” Año said. “For more than 50 years, we have lived with the scourge of the communist armed conflict. With peace now in sight, the Church has an important role to play in ensuring peace and development in the long term,” he added. With the CBCP in the NTF-ELCAC, Año believes that concerns raised by the Church or by cause-oriented groups supported by them could be immediately addressed. “Because of this development, the Church will have more opportunity to relay its concerns, since its mandate is to act as a liaison of the CBCP to the government,” he said, citing the attendance of Fr. Jerome Secillano at the NTF-ELCAC executive committee meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Malacañang on Friday. Año reiterated that the task force’s main mandate is to formulate “whole-of-nation” policies to end armed conflict in the country. “CBCP’s membership in the task force ensures a whole-of-nation’s participation because the religious sector is an important component of the nation,” he said. Intervention in influenced areas Año sees the CBCP making significant contributions to the development of areas previously under the influence of the New People’s Army, as well as facilitating social inclusivity in the pursuit of peace. “Given that we are now on the road to total victory, it’s necessary that we recalibrate the way we do things and the entry of the CBCP to the NTF-ELCAC is one of the changes we have implemented under the Marcos administration,” he said. More rebels rejoin society NTF-ELCAC also expressed optimism the government can sustain its peace-building effort to encourage more rebels to reintegrate into mainstream society. At a forum on Saturday, NTF-ELCAC director Alexander Umpar said that in 2023, a total of 959 villages cleared of the insurgency were included in the Barangay Development Program or BDP, an initiative that aims to bring sustainable development programs to conflict-prone and conflict-affected communities. Under the BDP, each village recipient receives a package of programs, activities, and projects worth a maximum of P20 million. BDP beneficiaries in 2021 and 2022 numbered 822 and 1,406, respectively, he said. Umpar said the NTF-ELCAC is confident that by 2028, it would have attained its goal of achieving lasting peace and development in areas that are vulnerable to armed conflict. “‘By 2028, it is about sustaining the momentum of NTF-ELCAC gains with regard to the dismantling of guerrilla fronts, the reintegration of former rebels, and most of all, building resiliency for our communities under the ambit of good governance toward unity, peace and development,” he said. The government, he said, has dismantled 69 of 89 guerrilla fronts since the creation of the task force in 2018. One of the 20 remaining guerrilla fronts, he said, is active while 19 others had weakened. “‘When we say strategic victory, this (because) of the 19 weakened guerrilla fronts and only one is left to be confronted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” he said. “There are still concerns about the armed groups but they are no longer able to initiate an armed struggle or to topple our government. So, that’s the strategic victory,” Umpar said. On the other hand, NTF-ELCAC director Jose Descallar urged rebels to give up and join the government in its goal of transforming the country into a “new Philippines.” He said the military could shift its focus to “external threats,” once the government is able to address the local insurgency. Meanwhile, Director Emmanuel Santos of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity said the conduct of localized peace engagements has been proven to be the “most effective” approach in addressing the communist insurgency. “We’re localizing the engagement so we will be closer to the people to make them feel that the government is really here,” Santos said. He added, however, that there should be “clear directions” to ensure the full reintegration of FRs into mainstream society. The post NTF-ELCAC gives Church a seat appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Red carpet for acting QCPD chief
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte over the weekend welcomed the Philippine National Police’s appointment of P/Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan as the new acting commander of the Quezon City Police District following the courtesy resignation of P/Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III. Belmonte hopes the new QCPD leadership will continue to adhere tp human rights, justice and equal treatment of QCitizens regardless of their gender, religious beliefs and status in life. “We are confident that Director Maranan will bring dedication, expertise, and commitment to community safety in this important institution. We look forward to working closely with him and the entire police force to ensure that the security and well-being of the people of Quezon City remain a top priority,” she said. “We also hope that Maranan can also bring justice into the gun-toting incident that happened recently through a fair and unbiased investigation,” Belmonte stressed, referring to the latest incident of road rage that prompted Torre to resign. Maranan was the former PNP Public Information Office chief. With his new designation, PNP spokesperson P/Col. Jean Fajardo will now take over the office in an acting capacity. Their designation were effective 31 August, according to a copy of a PNP headquarters’ order released to the media on Friday. Torre previously resigned from his post after receiving flak for holding a press conference with a former police officer who was involved in a viral road rage video. The post Red carpet for acting QCPD chief appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Belmonte wants Maranan to continue Torre’s style in protecting QC
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte welcomed the Philippine National Police's appointment of P/Brig.Gen. Redrico Maranan as the new acting commander of the Quezon City Police District following the courtesy resignation of P/Brig.Gen. Nicolas Torre III. "Kaisa ang lokal na pamahalaan, malugod kong tinatanggap ang pagkakatalaga kay Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan bilang Acting Director ng Quezon City Police District," Belmonte said in a statement. "Inaasahan ko na itutuloy, kundi man lalong pagbubutihin ni General Maranan ang magagandang nasimulan ni General Nick Torre gaya ng 3-minute response sa bawat natatanggap na tawag ng saklolo sa Helpline 122 ng lokal na pamahalaan," the Mayor added. Belmonte also hoped that the new leadership of QCPD will continue to adhere to human rights, justice, and equal treatment to QCitizens regardless of their gender, religious beliefs, and status in life whom the local government has been serving and giving importance all year round. "Malawak ang karanasan ni General Maranan sa Philippine National Police. Mahigit isang-daan na rin ang kaniyang natanggap na parangal mula nang siya ay maging pulis. Marami na siyang hinawakang pwesto gaya ng: PIO, intelligence officer ng Cavite Police Provincial Office at provincial director ng Pangasinan," Belmonte said. "We are confident that Director Maranan will bring dedication, expertise, and commitment to community safety to this important institution. We look forward to working closely with him and the entire police force to ensure that the security and well-being of the people of Quezon City remain a top priority," she added. "We also hope that Maranan can also bring justice into the gun-toting incident that happened recently through a fair and unbiased investigation," Belmonte stressed, referring to the latest incident of road rage that prompted Torre to resign, to give an impartial investigation to take its course. Maranan was the former PNP Public Information Office chief. With his new designation, PNP spokesperson P/Col. Jean Fajardo will now take over the office in an acting capacity. Their designation was effective as of August 31, according to a copy of a PNP headquarters' order released to the media on Friday. Torre previously resigned from his post after receiving flak for holding a press conference with a former police officer who was involved in a viral road rage video. The post Belmonte wants Maranan to continue Torre’s style in protecting QC appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Listening to our indigenous people
Last 9 August, the world celebrated International Day of the World’s Indigenous People. According to the United Nations, there are an estimated 476 million indigenous peoples in the world living across 90 countries. While they make up less than 5 percent of the world’s population, they account for 15 percent of the poorest. They also speak an overwhelming majority of the world’s estimated 7,000 languages and represent 5,000 different cultures. In the Philippines, our indigenous peoples have constantly enriched our nation’s arts and music, as well as contributed to our medicine and agricultural sectors through invaluable gifts sourced from their lands, cultures, traditions, knowledge, systems, and practices. But despite their huge contributions to nation-building, the Philippine indigenous people continue to struggle to make their voices heard and are seemingly unable to fully benefit from the innovations and creations brought about by or derived from their genetic resources, traditional knowledge, and traditional cultural expressions. Unfortunately, this is not only happening in the Philippines but also to indigenous cultural communities and indigenous peoples around the world. Because of this, negotiations are currently being conducted by the World Intellectual Property Organization on how to best protect the GRTKTCEs of indigenous peoples everywhere. Presently, WIPO is negotiating three texts that will hopefully provide the needed protection for the GRTKTCEs. These international instruments are: Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge; Traditional Knowledge; and Traditional Cultural Expressions or Folklore. And last 21 July 2022, the WIPO General Assembly decided to convene a Diplomatic Conference that will conclude an International Legal Instrument Relating to Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources and Traditional Knowledge Associated with Genetic Resources no later than 2024. In preparation for this Diplomatic Conference, the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines will be conducting consultations with stakeholders on the draft international instrument in Baguio City this August, as well as Iloilo City and Davao City this October. Aside from indigenous peoples and/or their representatives, also taking part in the consultations are government agencies like the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, as well as other members of the Interagency on GRTKTCE which includes the Department of Agriculture, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Foreign Affairs, National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the National Museum of the Philippines. What’s more, the Department of Trade and Industry’s regional offices, as well as non-government organizations and associations, universities, and local government units will join the consultations. With the presence of our indigenous people and indigenous cultural communities at these consultations, we are confident they will make a marked impact on the Philippines’ position on the draft international instrument that will protect their GRTKTCEs. On our part, IPOPHL has been implementing initiatives to strengthen the protection of the IP rights of our indigenous people and indigenous cultural communities. For example, we have entered into a Joint Administrative Order with the NCIP to provide rules and regulations on IP rights applications that involve the use of knowledge systems and practices of the indigenous peoples. We are also closely working with NCIP, other cultural agencies, and Congress on the passage of a law that will protect Community Intellectual Rights. Furthermore, IPOPHL has implemented a sui generis system to protect geographical indications, which are expected to benefit the agricultural and handicraft sectors as well as promote traditional and indigenous products of indigenous cultural communities. We are also working with Congress to finalize a proposed legislation to further strengthen GI protection and enforcement. We firmly believe that through a more responsive IP system, our indigenous people will be empowered through their IP rights, helping them to achieve a certain degree of control over the exploitation and use of their GRTKTCEs to bring about positive change to their current circumstances. The post Listening to our indigenous people appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Julie Anne San Jose is confident Rayver Cruz will not cheat on her
When Rayver Cruz moved to GMA-7 in 2018 after 18 years of being under contract with ABS-CBN, he made many new friends in the Kapuso network, including its homegrown star Julie Anne San Jose. They worked together on the musical programs Studio 7 and when it folded in 2020, on All-Out Sundays, as well as in the reality competition show "The Clash". Rayver and Julie Anne also started working on a movie but filming halted when the Covid-19 pandemic hit in March 2020. Meantime, their friendship grew and developed into a romantic relationship. They made their status publicly known by exchanging “I love yous” during the singer-actress’ Julieverse concert in November 2022.The couple eventually resumed filming their first movie together, now titled "The Cheating Game", and is now showing in cinemas. “Ang surreal pa rin kasi napakabilis talaga ng panahon,” Julie Anne said in a recent online presser for the first film venture of GMA Public Affairs, in cooperation with GMA Pictures. It is directed by Rod Marmol, who also wrote the script with Sharon Masula and Jessie Villabrille. “We’re very, very excited and grateful kasi panibagong family, may new set of characters, new set of people to work with, a great production team. Everyone’s been so nice and accommodating, and sobrang maalaga sila. We had a healthy working environment.” “Mas na-excite ako kasi si Ray ulit ang katrabaho ko,” she added, referring to her on-and-offscreen leading man. “But this time, sa acting naman. Kasi usually nakikita kami sa The Clash, AOS, sa mga performances, hosting.” She went on mentioning their costars Winwyn Marquez and Martin del Rosario. “It’s such a delight kasi parang breath of fresh air. Very, very excited to show to everyone what we did.” Rayver expressed the same sentiments during media conference. “Sobrang excited, halo-halo ang nararamdaman ko, pero lamang ang excitement. Pinaganda naman ito nang husto. Siyempre first movie project namin. Excited and happy na mapabilang sa first movie project ng GMA Public Affairs.” He also declared being “very, very proud” of how his leading lady and girlfriend showed a “different Julie Anne” in the movie tackling the touchy topic of cheating in relationships. She plays Hope, an idealistic young professional who thinks she can change the world through the nongovernmental organization she’s set up with her fiancé. She then discovers her fiancé’s infidelity through a sex video that has gone viral. Her world crumbles until she meets Rayver’s character, Miguel,a self-made businessman who seems to be the Mr. Right that Hope is looking for. But is he really? Julie Anne agreed she’s showing a different side of her in the movie, especially since she just essayed the role of Maria Clara in the hit drama series "Maria Clara at Ibarra". “So ibang Julie naman ang makikita n’yo dito. I guess mas daring, bolder, stronger. I feel I had to take a leap of faith din, or I had to take risks din, like everyone din sa movie — si Ray, si Martin, si Win. It’s a team effort.” On cheating “May iba-iba kasing klase ng cheating,” Julie Anne pointed out. “If you watch 'The Cheating Game', lahat ng kinds ng cheating parang ando’n, lahat ng elements. I think it will also explain kasi may kanya-kanya tayong definition. “Pero for me, non-nego siya. Once it’s done, it’s done. But, most importantly, forgive yourself. ’Yun ang major takeaway ko sa film na ito as a viewer. But as someone who’s part of the cast, madami siyempre akong natutunan sa buong production, sa story.” Rayver put in his two cents, too. “Kahit saang side ka mapunta, iba-iba ang atake ng tao. Gano’n din ang mangyayari sa character namin ditong apat. Iba-ibang circumstances, reaction sa betrayal or sa cheating. Doon kami magtatagpo. Maganda ang lumabas kasi gina-guide kami.” When asked if she’s experienced being cheated on, Julie Anne gave this response: “Parang lahat naman tayo nakaka-experience ng ganitong mga sitwasyon. Not just in relationships, but in general, in life. Iba-iba talaga tayo ng coping mechanism. For me, it’s a non-nego. “Paano ako naka-move on? Sa akin kasi sobrang bigat na reason ang cheating. Mabilis akong maka-move on. Of course, surround yourself with people na sumusuporta sa ’yo kasi importante na may support system ka parati. Always be with your friends, your loved ones, family. Sila talaga ang talagang dadamay sa ’yo. “Importante rin na patawarin mo hindi lang ang taong nagkasala sa ’yo, pero patawarin mo rin ang sarili mo. Eventually, matututunan mong makabangon ulit. Iwasan mo — halimbawa naloko ka na — kasalanan ng iba. Sana huwag mong hayaan na mangyari ulit. At least you’ll know how to handle and deal with it.” Rayver offered a different perspective: “Siguro minsan okay na (ma-experience), ’yun kasi ang mga paraan na binibigyan ka ng lesson in life. Doon ka matututo, sa experience. Para sa future relationships, or pagsubok na ganyan, medyo aware ka na. Alam mo na how to handle. Lahat naman tayo nabubulag pag nagmahal tayo dahil grabe tayo magmahal. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Kailangan mo ’yun, experience in life. “Kung sa kabilang side ka naman, na nag-cheater. Siguro mas okay na i-own mo na lang, and eventually maging mas honest. Para iwas sa super sakitan na mangyari. Naniniwala naman ako na lahat ng tao, nagbabago. Mas okay na maging happy lang tayo in life. Pampatibay, pampa-texture in life.” Julie Anne confidently declared that her current relationship would not end up as a casualty of cheating. “Kasi matagal na kaming magkaibigan. Naniniwala ako na ang friendship ang best foundation ng isang relationship. Hindi ko na kailangang mag-pretend. Hindi na rin niya kailangang mag-pretend. Kilala na namin ang bawat isa. Importante rin ang comfortability. And honesty.” Rayver plays Miguel, who seems to be the Mr. Right that Julie Anne’s character Hope is longing for (still from "The Cheating Game). The post Julie Anne San Jose is confident Rayver Cruz will not cheat on her appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
RCBC DiskarTech, Metro Pacific’s mWell seal largest financial and health tech collab
RCBC DiskarTech, the Philippines’ first multilingual financial inclusion super app, and Metro Pacific’s mWell, the Philippines’ healthcare mega app, have announced a pioneering and strategic partnership aimed at empowering Filipinos’ health and financial wellness. The agreement for the Philippines’ largest fintech and healthtech collaboration was officially sealed during the 10th London Tech Week at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in London, United Kingdom, by RCBC executive vice president and chief innovation and inclusion officer Lito Villanueva and president and CEO of mWell Chaye Cabal-Revilla. “This is the future of finance — cross-sector collaborations that ultimately elevate our quality of lives and standards of living. We are enthusiastic to collaborate with mWell to create exciting and engaging opportunities for the health and financial wellness of Filipinos. By combining our strengths, we create a wide array of options for people to become empowered and take charge of their well-being both physically and financially,” said Villanueva, who represented both RCBC and FinTech Alliance.Ph in the London Tech Week. mWell, the healthcare arm of Metro Pacific Investment Corporation, is dedicated to making health and wellness available and accessible to more Filipinos, regardless of their location. By integrating various health services into a single platform, mWell aims to improve the overall well-being of our countrymen wherever they may be. RCBC DiskarTech, on the other hand, is a financial inclusion super app that revolutionizes the accessibility and convenience of financial services for the Filipino mass market. Offering features such as savings, fund transfers, mobile loads, telemedicine, insurance and loans, RCBC DiskarTech is widely patronized by underserved, unbanked and marginalized segments of Philippine society. “At mWell, we believe that health is not just the absence of illness but the holistic well-being of individuals. mWell continues to trailblaze digital healthcare with this pioneering collaboration, the first of its kind in the Philippines. By partnering with RCBC DiskarTech, we can now address the financial aspect of wellness. We are confident that this collaboration will have a positive impact on the lives of many, making more Filipinos healthier and wealthier,” added Cabal-Revilla, who led the mWell Team representing the ASEAN delegation at London Tech Week and the NHS Expo Conference. The partnership focuses on promoting consumer awareness and access to health and credit scores that would redound to promoting life balance among users of the two mobile apps. RCBC DiskarTech will extend its expertise in financial literacy and provide flexible loan solutions to mWell customers, tailored to their health and other personal needs. By leveraging RCBC’s award-winning financial solutions, mWell users will gain valuable knowledge and guidance in managing their finances effectively and purchasing wellness products through financial loan services. “The recent years have underscored the crucial link between health and financial wellness. With our partnership with mWell, RCBC continues to explore possibilities in empowering Filipinos to live healthier and wealthier lives,” said Eugene S. Acevedo, president and CEO of RCBC. The post RCBC DiskarTech, Metro Pacific’s mWell seal largest financial and health tech collab appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
AI to stay relevant in BPO, group claims
As artificial intelligence is causing global worry over the loss of jobs for humans, executives of the Contact Center Association of the Philippines maintain that AI would bring more benefits than harm, particularly to their industry. CCAP president Mickey Ocampo said artificial intelligence would be more helpful, than detrimental, to the BPO industry. He said the country’s contact center and business process management sector continues to evolve amid the emergence of new technologies, particularly Generative AI, which is quickly being incorporated into various tasks across the information technology and business process management or IT-BPM industry. “The impact of a generative AI will come within the next, maybe, two to four years. This will allow our country to develop using upskilling our people. Generative AI will increase productivity as at a certain level we will be able to handle more calls or more non-voice inquiries. AI will also generate additional jobs,” he said during Daily Tribune’s Straight Talk program last Tuesday. Ocampo said their group is confident the sector could easily keep its position as the world’s top provider of voice and business process outsourcing services and it’s being the “heart of customer experience (CX)” with the adoption of Generative AI, which critics say could either be a boon or a bane to the BPO industry. “Generative AI can be used to automate and enhance various aspects of customer interactions. Some examples are chatbots and virtual assistants. There are automated email responses for faster adaptability. To illustrate, in the past, when an agent needed to respond to a customer’s call, he had to look at the CRM and backtrack or even go to the knowledge base. Now, these things are automated, further enhancing agent productivity,” Ocampo said. CCAP managing director Rosario Cajucom-Bradbury said Generative AI will have an impact on client business, in the way services are delivered and in the corporate services of providers, namely, human resource and finance, among others. She said the use of Generative AI Assist working alongside agents when handling calls will increase their efficiency, productivity, and resolution in delivering customer service. “Thus, the call agent is provided the opportunity to have more focused active listening and genuine empathy rather than being preoccupied with navigating the system for resolution. Filipinos’ innate trait of service orientation combined with the power of Generative AI will enhance the employee’s experience at work which would translate to an even more satisfying customer experience — therefore helping the Philippines retain being the ‘heart of CX’ and at the same time meeting or even exceeding growth targets,” Bradbury explained. Additional 1.1M jobs Ocampo said with the use of Generative AI by CCAP members, they can generate an additional 1.1 million jobs for Filipinos until 2028, covering all types of BPO services, namely, finance, insurance, medical, and health, and overall cost-based customer service for fast moving and consumer goods. “And if we go back to the generative AI, new job roles are created. Generative AI will be useful to the end users and the consumers and the business. We will continue to upskill our workforce to cope with AI,” Ocampo said. The aggressive target is part of the 2028 IT-BPM Roadmap, which was launched in the third quarter of 2022, coinciding with the start of the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. It also sets a target of 2.5 million full-time employees (2.3 million to be accounted for by CCAP-member firms) and a 40-percent countryside expansion. In 2022, the contact center sector employed 1.4 million individuals, which was 87 percent of the 1.6 million total employment in the local IT-BPM industry. Ocampo said the impact of Generative AI would be reflected in the sector’s figures in two to four years, clarifying that the emerging technology was not factored in when the IT-BPM Roadmap was set “because it surfaced just about seven months ago although AI had already been widely used across the industry.” These and more interesting issues and developments would take center stage in the upcoming Contact Islands Conference 2023. With the theme “The Philippines, the Heart of CX,” the conference is set to once again facilitate a world-class delegate experience and an excellent venue for the exchange of views, coaching, networking, and benchmarking for the sector’s leaders and decision-makers. The conference is set for 26 to 28 July at the Dusit Thani Mactan in Lapu-Lapu City Cebu. The post AI to stay relevant in BPO, group claims appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
RCBC DiskarTech, Metro Pacific’s mWell seal largest financial and health tech collab
RCBC DiskarTech, the Philippines' first multilingual financial inclusion super app, and Metro Pacific’s mWell, the Philippines’ healthcare mega app, have announced a pioneering and strategic partnership aimed at empowering Filipinos' health and financial wellness. The agreement for the Philippines’ largest fintech and healthtech collaboration was officially sealed during the 10th London Tech Week at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in London, United Kingdom, by RCBC executive vice president and chief innovation and inclusion officer Lito Villanueva and president & CEO of mWell Chaye Cabal-Revilla. "This is the future of finance -- cross-sector collaborations that ultimately elevate our quality of lives and standards of living. We are enthusiastic to collaborate with mWell to create exciting and engaging opportunities for the health and financial wellness of Filipinos. By combining our strengths, we create a wide array of options for people to become empowered and take charge of their well-being both physically and financially,” said Villanueva, who represented both RCBC and FinTech Alliance.Ph in the London Tech Week. mWell, the healthcare arm of Metro Pacific Investment Corporation, is dedicated to making health and wellness available and accessible to more Filipinos, regardless of their location. By integrating various health services into a single platform, mWell aims to improve the overall well-being of our countrymen wherever they may be. RCBC DiskarTech, on the other hand, is a financial inclusion super app that revolutionizes the accessibility and convenience of financial services for the Filipino mass market. Offering features such as savings, fund transfers, mobile loads, telemedicine, insurance and loans, RCBC DiskarTech is widely patronized by underserved, unbanked and marginalized segments of Philippine society. "At mWell, we believe that health is not just the absence of illness but the holistic well-being of individuals. mWell continues to trailblaze digital healthcare with this pioneering collaboration, the first of its kind in the Philippines. By partnering with RCBC DiskarTech, we can now address the financial aspect of wellness. We are confident that this collaboration will have a positive impact on the lives of many, making more Filipinos healthier and wealthier,” added Cabal-Revilla, who led the mWell Team representing the ASEAN delegation at London Tech Week and the NHS Expo Conference. The partnership focuses on promoting consumer awareness and access to health and credit scores that would redound to promoting life balance among users of the two mobile apps. RCBC DiskarTech will extend its expertise in financial literacy and provide flexible loan solutions to mWell customers, tailored to their health and other personal needs. By leveraging RCBC's award-winning financial solutions, mWell users will gain valuable knowledge and guidance in managing their finances effectively and purchasing wellness products through financial loan services. “The recent years have underscored the crucial link between health and financial wellness. With our partnership with mWell, RCBC continues to explore possibilities in empowering Filipinos to live healthier and wealthier lives,” said Eugene S. Acevedo, President and CEO of RCBC. The post RCBC DiskarTech, Metro Pacific’s mWell seal largest financial and health tech collab appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bourses weaken amid persistent debt fears
Asian markets sank Wednesday on worries that hardline Republicans could vote down a crucial bill to hike the US borrowing limit and risk a catastrophic default that could hammer an already fragile global economy. Further signs that China’s post-pandemic recovery was fading added to the downbeat mood on trading floors, as did worries that the US Federal Reserve is likely to increase interest rates again next month. Local shares slid on heavy turnover as funds were tracking the latest Morgan Stanley Capital International or MSCI rebalancing results and with the end-of-month window dressing at hand, according to Regina Capital Development Corp. managing director Luis Limlingan. Wall St. was still a mixed bag to open the week, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average down 50 points and the S&P 500 up by 0.9 percent, he added. Buoyant mood dissipates The buoyant mood that started the week, after US President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy finalized a debt deal, was giving way to a fear that the far-right Freedom Caucus could torpedo it. The Treasury has warned that if the borrowing ceiling is not lifted by June 5, the government will run out of cash to service its debt obligations. Members on both sides of the political spectrum have raised concerns about the agreement, with Republicans saying it does not have enough spending cuts and the left wing of the Democratic Party unhappy that Biden agreed to any limits at all. The Treasury has warned that if the borrowing ceiling is not lifted by June 5, the government will run out of cash to service its debt obligations. While McCarthy has described the deal as “transformational” and expressed confidence the bill will pass, leading Freedom Caucus member Chip Roy called it a “turd sandwich.” “Not one Republican should vote for this deal. It is a bad deal. No one sent us here to borrow an additional $4 trillion to get absolutely nothing in return,” Roy said at a Freedom Caucus news conference. He later warned McCarthy would face a “reckoning.” That came as another GOP Representative, Dan Bishop, called party members to vote McCarthy out as speaker. And CMC Markets analyst Michael Hewson said ratings agencies were “already sharpening their pencils on downgrades for the US credit rating.” Still, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries remained confident, telling Bloomberg Television: “We will be able to get this bill over the finish line tomorrow.” Meanwhile, the Nasdaq Composite outperformed the other two indices primarily on the excitement around artificial intelligence, which briefly pushed Nvidia’s market cap above $1 trillion on Thursday. The post Bourses weaken amid persistent debt fears appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Covid-19 is here to stay
No doubt waves of jubilation and sighs of relief greeted the recent announcement from the World Health Organization saying Covid-19 was no longer a global health emergency. At a meeting on the pandemic held last week, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesuss told a press conference that the pandemic had been observed to be on a downward trend. “This trend has allowed most countries to return to life as we know it before Covid-19,” said Tedros. “Our emergency committee recommended to me to end the public health emergency of international concern. I have accepted that advice.” Despite the welcome announcement, the WHO official noted that the virus has not stopped spreading, although with a lower level of concern, and therefore, continues to be a global health threat. People should not take the recent WHO pronouncement as a signal to let one’s guard down and return to their usual pre-pandemic lifestyles. It has been observed that even before the seemingly welcome pronouncement, many have long discarded their masks, joined big crowds or assemblies, and have been quite careless in paying attention to hygienic practices. Saying that the virus will continue to transmit, Dr. Mike Ryan, executive director of WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme, said that this is seen in terms of the virus’s evolution every day “in our communities, age vulnerabilities, protection vulnerabilities, and many other things.” The Department of Health, for its part, said the public should not be confident since the threat remains. “The WHO did not say the pandemic is over, “said DoH Officer-in-Charge Ma. Rosario Vergeire. As early as January of this year, the DoH official already said that if the state of a public health emergency is lifted, the country “will remain cautious and vigilant” and will still be imposing the same restrictions to prevent the spread of the dreaded virus. Although health authorities have not yet seen any reason to ring the alarm bells, a rise in Covid-19 cases has been reported lately. A DoH bulletin issued last week said new Covid-19 cases in the Philippines rose 112 percent in the first week of May. There were 9,465 additional infections, 50 severe and critical. An average of 1,352 cases a day were recorded in the past week. No need to panic, though, as the situation today has been manageable because of recent advances in technology and the availability of vaccines and bed space in hospitals, unlike the first months of the pandemic. The DoH attributed this state of affairs to “our effective and collaborative responses to recover and re-open our economy fully.” So why the increase in the number of cases? Many cite the recent incidences of long weekends that translate to more occasions involving reunions or meetings with families and friends, the opening up of more public spaces like malls, transport stations, cinemas and concert and fun event venues that are virtual crowd-drawers. The disease is not going away anytime soon and is here to stay, said Dr. Maria Van Kerkhave, head of the WHO’s program on emerging diseases. “We just need to make sure we are tracking the virus because it will continue to evolve.” And we must all do our part to ensure that it does not lead to more hospital confinements and, worse, deaths. Since it was declared a pandemic in early 2020, there have been more than 765 million confirmed cases and 7 million deaths worldwide. “Covid-19 continues to leave deep scars,” warns Tedros. “Those scars must serve as permanent reminders of the potential for new viruses to emerge with devastating consequences.” Despite being vaccinated, I got infected with COVID-19 early on during my stint as commissioner of the Bureau of Customs last year. The good thing was I quickly recovered and returned to work after my self-imposed quarantine ended. Recently, there have been reports of outbreaks in areas where people gather, particularly in crowded indoor settings where people talk loudly or breathe heavily, like gyms and music or choir practices. Be involved. Wear your mask again if you have dropped the habit. As health experts suggest, avoid the 3Cs: closed spaces, crowded locations, and close contact with people, especially in places with inadequate ventilation. Better, meet your friends outside. Isolate yourself when sick and follow your doctor’s prescriptions. Get vaccine/booster shots when necessary. The life you save may be your own. The post Covid-19 is here to stay appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Anji Salvacion releases new single ‘Paraiso’
Anji Salvacion presented a glimpse of her pop singing prowess in her new single “Paraiso.” Produced by Exale and written by Annie Lux, “Paraiso” goes beyond the straightforward parameters of a love song and instead promotes self-esteem. “Self-confidence right now is very hard to achieve because everybody in this generation is competing with each other,” she said. “I just want to remind everyone that it’s not about competing against one another. It’s about going at your own pace. That’s what the song really means to me — embracing yourself, your body, your beauty, your skin, your everything, your personality. That’s what it’s all about,” Anji explained. In a media press conference, the Pinoy Big Brother: Kumunity Season 10 big winner further stressed that, “I like to explore and experiment with different sounds. I believe that ‘Paraiso’ is the perfect song to introduce the new me.” The song, Anji’s Tarsier Records debut single, displays her evolving musical style, vocal power and artistic development. “When I first heard the song, I felt excited because it’s really empowering. I really love the lyrics of the song,” she said. “It made me dance, but at the same time, it made me so nervous,” Anji continued. “The lyrics are so beautiful, even the beat. I don’t know if I’m going to deliver this well.” [caption id="attachment_123268" align="aligncenter" width="525"] ANJI Salvacion calls for self-love in her new song ‘Paraiso.’[/caption] She added: “‘Yung pag-record namin sobrang nakakatuwa siya because when I first heard the song it made me confident about myself. It made me love myself even more so I want everyone to love themselves even more. If you’re hearing this everyone, love yourself.” The singing star of Siargao disclosed having butterflies in her stomach on the first day of the recording session with Annie and Exale. Since she was used to only working with Rox Santos, head of ABS-CBN Music and Jonathan Manalo, creative director of ABS-CBN Music, she said that “I was really nervous because it was my first time to work with different people… but everyone in Tarsier was so chill and so welcoming, especially Miss Annie.” Anji competed in Idol Philippines’ first season in 2019 before signing up for Pinoy Big Brother. Then, she made her debut in the music industry by releasing three soundtracks, including “Buo,” “Keeps on Coming Back” and “Don’t Be Afraid.” The post Anji Salvacion releases new single ‘Paraiso’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Beauty Gonzalez, first celebrity endorser of local skin care line
Versatile actress Beauty Gonzalez is the newest face of Hey Pretty Skin. In a media conference held last 14 April at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Hey Pretty Skin chief executive officer Anne Barretto formally introduced Gonzalez as its first celebrity endorser. “We would like to welcome Beauty Gonzalez to the Hey Pretty Skin family,” said Barretto. “We are very excited to work with her and we are just elated that she accepted our invitation to become our first-ever celebrity endorser.” “I am very thankful for the trust they have given me,” Gonzalez replied. “Hey Pretty Skin has been in the market for only a year. To pick me as their first celebrity endorser is really a big deal. I trust Ms. Anne and her vision. I believe in her products and how it can help people achieve better glowing skin and feel good inside.” Gonzalez was chosen for having that beautiful glow inside and out. [caption id="attachment_123269" align="aligncenter" width="525"] WITH Hey Pretty Skin CEO Anne Barretto (right).[/caption] “We believe using Hey Pretty Skin products does not just improve your skin, but also boosts your confidence in your everyday life,” explained Barretto. “When we have good and healthy glowing skin, we are more confident in facing anything that comes our way. We believe Gonzalez is an embodiment of that. She has flawless skin. She is beautiful. She’s living her best life now.” Meanwhile, the endorsement is more personal to Gonzalez considering what she has been through in life. “Like everyone else, I had a lot of insecurities before. So, I helped myself. I lost weight and started taking care of my skin. That’s when I started to see myself differently… na kaya naman pala. Through Hey Pretty Skin, I hope I can inspire more people to do the same. To start having a skin regimen and just show their skin a little more love,” shared Gonzalez. Gonzalez endorses various Hey Pretty Skin products including the top-selling Neoglow Set and Kojieko soap, the Prestige Glow Set, Tinted Sunscreen, Happy Lift Serum, Facial Foam Cleanser and the Angel White Body Scrub. Hey Pretty Skin is available at heyprettyskin.com, Shopee, Lazada and Rising Era Dynasty branches in Metro Manila, General Santos City, Ozamis City and Hong Kong. It is officially distributed nationwide by Rising Era Dynasty led by its president and CEO Red Era. The post Beauty Gonzalez, first celebrity endorser of local skin care line appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Paul Jatayna to speak at Liverpool conference
Artist and LGBTQ+ advocate Paul Jatayna, one of the lead organizers of the Philippines’ queer rave community, Elephant, has been chosen as an international delegate for the Sound City Conference, which will be on 28 April in Liverpool, England, United Kingdom. Supported by the British Council, UK’s international agency for cultural relations and educational opportunities, Jatayna is set to speak on the panel about “Gender Balance and Inclusivity in International Territories.” Sound City is the UK’s independent music conference and Association of Independent Music UK’s Conference in The North. For over 15 years, they have remained at the forefront of the global music conference circuit and welcomed leading industry figures, emerging artists and aspiring music business professionals from across the world to Liverpool for a full-day program of educational panels, in-conversations and networking parties. “We are honored to be working alongside the British Council to bring an outstanding group of speakers from around the world to Sound City 2023. With a shared passion for creating new business opportunities, advancing gender equality and shaping a brighter future for generations to come, we are confident that their insights and expertise will leave an indelible mark on the music industry and inspire positive change for years to come,” said Jo Whitty, Sound City chief operating officer. This delegation will open opportunities for Jatayna to talk about the Filipino LGBTQ+ community and to share the core values of Elephant, enabling a safe place for all and promoting platforms for marginalized artists in the drag and music scene. “It is important to me that I get to represent the queer community that I belong to and to raise awareness of the achievements and learning curves that we face, especially on the political and economic influence on queer nightlife psychology. I am also very keen to learn from other queer communities from other parts of the world and to understand how they customize and create their own safe space,” Jatayna shared. Mich Dulce, British Council in the Philippines’ Head of Arts, said that “equality, diversity and inclusion have always been part of the British Council’s values,” and they are thrilled to have Jatayna for the conference, which will happen alongside the three-day Sound City Liverpool festivities, from 28 to 30 April, featuring local, national, and international emerging talents. The post Paul Jatayna to speak at Liverpool conference appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Chot sees solid turnout
The buildup of the Gilas Pilipinas team tasked to regain supremacy of the Southeast Asian Games next month in Cambodia intensifies this Wednesday. Head coach Chot Reyes was thinking of holding a workout Monday but he opted to call it off and scheduled a scrimmage instead on Wednesday so all the invited players can attend. Key players from newly-crowned Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup champion TNT and Barangay Ginebra are expected to show up as the preparations for the 5 to 17 May sportsfest enters the twilight zone. “We’re not yet complete (by Monday), so most likely we will hold it on Wednesday,” Reyes said. ‘Hopefully I’ll get selected.’ Whether this is going to be the start of the daily workout remains to be seen. “That’s the plan,” Jong Uichico, another Gilas assistant coach, said. Mikey Williams, who just won his second title and second Finals Most Valuable Player award in the process, will lead the Gilas pool players coming from TNT and he will be joined by Calvin Oftana and Poy Erram. For Oftana, getting selected and being able to play for Gilas in the SEA Games will be a dream come true. “Hopefully I’ll get selected,” said Oftana, who just won his first championship in the PBA right in his first finals appearance. Roger Pogoy, who was originally included in the expanded pool, will miss the action in the SEA Games as he suffered a fractured pinky which will sideline him for the next six weeks. Justin Brownlee, the beloved Barangay Ginebra import, and the Philippine team’s newest naturalized player, will once again backstop Gilas’ campaign along with fellow Gin Kings Scottie Thompson, Governors’ Cup Best Player of the Conference winner Christian Standhardinger, highly-athletic wingman Jamie Malonzo, Jeremiah Gray and returning 6-foot-9 center/forward Japeth Aguilar. Aguilar is coming off a knee injury which forced him to miss the sixth and final window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers held a few months ago at the Philippine Arena. “In the meantime, it’s going to be back to work for us, Justin, Scottie, Jamie, Christian and hopefully Japeth, he can continue to get better,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone, who also serves as one of the assistant coaches of Reyes. “It’s back to work for us, so no rest for the weary.” But Gilas also have several other prospects outside of the two protagonists in the recent championship series. San Miguel Beer stars CJ Perez, Marcio Lassiter and Chris Ross are eager play as well as Arvin Tolentino of NorthPort, a long-time member of the pool. Meralco stars Chris Newsome and Aaron Black had also worked out in the previous training session, so as brothers Michael and Ben Philipps from La Salle and incoming Ateneo freshman Mason Amos. Last year, the Philippines was dethroned as king of the SEA Games after losing the gold medal match to Indonesia in Hanoi. The post Chot sees solid turnout appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»