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NAIA lady scanner, others found ‘guilty of stealing’
According to Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, the female Security Screening Officer and three other members of the Office for Transportation Security who were caught on closed-circuit television were "found guilty of stealing" in the cash-swallowing incident that occurred on 8 September 2023 at Terminal 1's final security checkpoint at Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Bautista said the guilty verdict was included in the investigation report handed to him by the OTS group of investigators, including the CCTV footage showing the lady scanner putting the money into her mouth and three other accomplices. The female SSO is facing administrative and criminal cases, as well as those who were involved in the 8 September incidents. “Ang sinasabi sa imbestigasyon ay guilty na pera ang sinubo. Although ang sinasabi nga ng babae ay chocolate daw, mayroon siyang affidavit. Pero ang nakita ng mga imbestigador na guilty siya,” Bautista said in an interview with the media after a Senate hearing on Tuesday. “Ang result ay, although hindi pa lumalabas officially, parang lumalabas na talagang nakita na mayroon silang pagkakasala. Apat kasi yung nakita natin dito na may talagang ginawa sa CCTV. Siguro pag nagkaroon ng criminal investigation, may lalabas pa kung mayroon pang other people involved,” he added. CCTV footage showed that at around 8:20 p.m. on 8 September, the Chinese passenger, identified only as Mr. Cai, placed his shoulder bag on the inspection tray at the final security checkpoint. As Cai passed through the body scanner, the screener could be seen conducting a manual search of his bag on the inspection table. The screener “suspiciously turned away while apparently holding something in her left hand with her fist tightly closed. She then swiftly placed something in her waist area and went back to the inspection table.” Cai had returned to the screening area and complained after discovering that his wallet was open and some of his money was missing. The passenger confronted the screener, who turned her back on him. In footage taken by another CCTV camera, she was “clearly seen deliberately swallowing the dollar bills, folded into one small piece,” as she used a handkerchief to cover her mouth. The screener was seen having difficulty swallowing the bills despite drinking water from a bottle given to her by a colleague. The screener’s supervisor approached her, “seemingly communicating with her” as she was “almost choking in her effort to swallow the dollar bills” to “apparently ensure that the bills were properly disposed of (no evidence),” according to the report. Cai has refused to file charges against the screener. Former OTS Administrator Ma.O. Aplasca confirmed on Friday, 22 September, that they received the counter affidavit of the accused and even said that, as of today Friday, she continues to deny the allegations that she swallowed the dollar bills. An OTS source said that it is not the normal way to eat chocolate by pushing something into her throat with her finger and drinking bottled water afterward. Secretary Bautista has directed the Office of Transportation Security (OTS) to immediately file the necessary charges against security screening personnel found involved in an 8 September incident of baggage theft at Terminal 1 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Bautista expressed frustration and dismay at the incident at NAIA that the Secretary was recently trying to promote among potential foreign investors who may want to operate and maintain the country's main gateway. He even authorized imposing the maximum penalty on those found guilty to demonstrate the Department's determined push to rid NAIA as well as other attached agencies of scalawags. Former OTS Administrator Ma.O. Aplasca submitted his courtesy resignation last Tuesday, 26 September, to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. through DOTr Secretary Bautista after Speaker of the House of Representatives Martin Romualdez asked him to resign or the speaker would personally block the budget of OTS and DOTr due to the repeated stealing scandal. The post NAIA lady scanner, others found ‘guilty of stealing’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
AI ‘no substitute’ for fashion designers’ creativity
AI is transforming the fashion world but the fast-growing technology will never be a replacement for designers' "original creativity", according to the head of a pioneering project. Fashion innovator Calvin Wong has developed the Interactive Design Assistant for Fashion (AiDA) -- the world's first designer-led AI system. It uses image-recognition technology to speed up the time it takes for a design to go from the first sketch to the catwalk. "Designers have their fabric prints, patterns, color tones, initial sketches and they upload the images," Wong told AFP. "Then our AI system can recognize those design elements and come up with more proposals for designers to refine and modify their original design." Wong said AiDA's particular strength was its ability to present "all the possible combinations" for a designer to consider, something he said was impossible in the current design process. An exhibition at Hong Kong's M+ Museum in December featured collections by 14 designers developed using the tool. But Wong stressed it was about "facilitating designers' inspiration" not "using AI to take over a designer's job, to take over their creativity". "We must treasure the designer's original creativity," he added. Wong heads up the Laboratory for Artificial Intelligence in Design (AidLab), a collaboration between Britain's Royal College of Art (RCA) and Hong Kong Polytechnic University where he is a professor in fashion. 'Transformational' RCA vice chancellor Naren Barfield predicted the impact of AI on the fashion industry would be "transformational". "The impact is going to be huge from the ideation and conception stage through to prototyping, right the way through to manufacture, distribution, and then ultimately recycling," he said. So-called personalization is already being used to improve customer experience with better product recommendations and more effective searches, helping shoppers find what they want quickly and easily. But as the technology evolves so too is the range of highly specialized tools being developed. AiDA was just one of the AidLab projects being showcased in the British capital ahead of London Fashion Week, which started on Friday. Others included the Neo Couture project which aims to use advanced technologies to digitally preserve the specialized skills and techniques used by couturiers. With the UK fashion industry facing a skills shortage, it is creating an AI-assisted training system to help teach couture skills. Another project aims to increase sustainability to reduce the estimated 92 million tonnes of clothing that end up in landfills each year. One potential use of the AI Loupe project is to help designers overcome the problems of using so-called deadstock fabric. Designers can photograph leftover fabric and then use the tool to get the missing details to assess its suitability for their designs. "It uses the camera as your index, the material is the QR code that brings the information," said project researcher Chipp Jansen. Retain control The future of AI in fashion design, however, is not clear-cut. New York brand Collina Strada's founder Hillary Taymour this week admitted that she and her team used the AI image generator Midjourney to create the collection they showed at New York Fashion Week. Although Taymour only used images of the brand's own past looks to help generate its Spring/Summer 2024 collection, looming legal issues could keep AI-generated clothes off the catwalks for now. "In terms of fashion designed by AI, I would expect to hear from designers that there are questions of intellectual property rights," said Rebecca Lewin, a senior curator at London's Design Museum. "Because whatever comes back will have been scraped from published images and to get that regulated will need a lot of work." The RCA's Barfield said the area would be tricky but he expected it to be resolved through test cases and legislation. "I don't know how fast (AI) will be transformational but if it gives companies a competitive advantage I think they'll invest and take it up quickly," he said. The only thing currently holding companies back was the "massive investment" in infrastructure required, he said. "But once they've done that they can take the plunge then they will be making savings on material waste and productivity," he added. As for designers' fears that it might become a substitute for the human creative process, he said the key was who controlled the decision-making. Using a "genetic algorithm" where you started with one design and used the software to generate successive ones the computer could produce 1,000 varying looks, something that might take weeks to draw, he said. On the other hand, if the designer retained control AI could offer huge benefits by hugely speeding up the process "without necessarily making the decisions for them", he added. The post AI ‘no substitute’ for fashion designers’ creativity appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Trump says his problem with Biden is competence, not age
Joe Biden, America's oldest president, received support from an unexpected ally over his age: Donald Trump said the Democrat was "not too old" to seek a second term, while quickly adding: "I think he's incompetent." The former president's comments, made in an interview with NBC's "Meet the Press" to be aired Sunday, come as America faces a profound debate over the aging of its political class, a major factor ahead of the 2024 elections -- when Biden will be just shy of 82 and Trump himself 78. Polls show that while the age gap between the two men is small, Americans worry more about Biden's age, with one survey finding that three in four people doubt his ability to last a second term. That Trump ended his own term in office as the second-oldest president ever (Ronald Reagan was 77 at the end of his term) presents the real estate magnate with a challenge, however, in repeatedly portraying Biden as too "sleepy" to do the job. But that hasn't stopped the Republican, who would be 82 at the end of a second term, from trying to thread that needle. "Some of the greatest world leaders have been in their 80s," he told NBC. "I'm not anywhere very near 80, by the way. "And Biden's not too old," Trump added. "But I think he's incompetent, and that's a bigger problem." Biden, who overcame a stuttering problem as a youth, has often been mocked for his verbal stumbles. But he remains trim, physically active, does not drink and is often seen riding his bicycle during weekends at his Delaware home. Democrats say he also fares well on the competency front, having overseen the passage of major legislation, including a massive infrastructure bill, the largest gun-safety bill in decades, and the Build Back Better social spending program. Biden has also been active on the global stage. Indeed, during his just-ended trip to Vietnam -- which analysts say was staged partly to highlight his vigor -- that country's 79-year-old Communist leader smilingly complimented Biden on his relative youth. Trump, for his part, has gotten mostly positive marks during annual physicals -- though he has been classed as overweight and does no exercise other than golf. Like Biden, he does not drink. Trump, too, has had his share of bizarre verbal moments, mangled pronunciations and physical stumbles. But in the NBC interview, he said his own age does not concern him, noting that his parents had long lives. "So genetically, that's a good thing." His insistence on his own competency was ridiculed during the 2020 presidential campaign when Trump said he had scored an "amazing" result on what he said was a test of mental acuity. He said he had to remember, in order, these words: "Person, woman, man, camera, TV." His proud and repeated recitation of those five words was ridiculed by political rivals and went viral on social media. Still, in an apparent reference to that test made in the NBC interview, Trump said, "I aced it. I got everything right." The post Trump says his problem with Biden is competence, not age appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Trump says his problem with Biden is competence, not age
Joe Biden, America's oldest president, received support from an unexpected ally over his age: Donald Trump said the Democrat was "not too old" to seek a second term, while quickly adding: "I think he's incompetent." The former president's comments, made in an interview with NBC's "Meet the Press" to be aired Sunday, come as America faces a profound debate over the aging of its political class, a major factor ahead of the 2024 elections -- when Biden will be just shy of 82 and Trump himself 78. Polls show that while the age gap between the two men is small, Americans worry more about Biden's age, with one survey finding that three in four people doubt his ability to last a second term. That Trump ended his own term in office as the second-oldest president ever (Ronald Reagan was 77 at the end of his term) presents the real estate magnate with a challenge, however, in repeatedly portraying Biden as too "sleepy" to do the job. But that hasn't stopped the Republican, who would be 82 at the end of a second term, from trying to thread that needle. "Some of the greatest world leaders have been in their 80s," he told NBC. "I'm not anywhere very near 80, by the way. "And Biden's not too old," Trump added. "But I think he's incompetent, and that's a bigger problem." Biden, who overcame a stuttering problem as a youth, has often been mocked for his verbal stumbles. But he remains trim, physically active, does not drink and is often seen riding his bicycle during weekends at his Delaware home. Democrats say he also fares well on the competency front, having overseen the passage of major legislation, including a massive infrastructure bill, the largest gun-safety bill in decades, and the Build Back Better social spending program. Biden has also been active on the global stage. Indeed, during his just-ended trip to Vietnam -- which analysts say was staged partly to highlight his vigor -- that country's 79-year-old Communist leader smilingly complimented Biden on his relative youth. Trump, for his part, has gotten mostly positive marks during annual physicals -- though he has been classed as overweight and does no exercise other than golf. Like Biden, he does not drink. Trump, too, has had his share of bizarre verbal moments, mangled pronunciations and physical stumbles. But in the NBC interview, he said his own age does not concern him, noting that his parents had long lives. "So genetically, that's a good thing." His insistence on his own competency was ridiculed during the 2020 presidential campaign when Trump said he had scored an "amazing" result on what he said was a test of mental acuity. He said he had to remember, in order, these words: "Person, woman, man, camera, TV." His proud and repeated recitation of those five words was ridiculed by political rivals and went viral on social media. Still, in an apparent reference to that test made in the NBC interview, Trump said, "I aced it. I got everything right." The post Trump says his problem with Biden is competence, not age appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Make way for a new Atayde in showbiz: Gela, the younger sibling of Arjo and Ria
There are now five Ataydes in Pinoy showbiz, although two of them do not use the surname for their showbiz work. There used to be only two actor Ataydes: Arjo and Ria. A third one will be introduced on 28 August as an actor in the latest ABS-CBN series Senior High: Gela Atayde, who has just made a name for herself as part of a team that emerged world champion in an international hip-hop dancing competition in the US. So who are the two Ataydes who don’t go by that surname in showbiz? Sylvia Sanchez and Maine Mendoza. The former is the mother of Arjo, Ria and Gela, while Maine is the brand-new Mrs. Arjo Atayde. She married Arjo on 28 July in Baguio City. [caption id="attachment_175680" align="aligncenter" width="893"] Sylvia Sanchez And Maine Mendoza-atayde. | Photograph Courtesy of Ig/sylvia Sanchez[/caption] Businessman Art Atayde is the father of Sanchez’s actor children. They have another son, Xavi, the youngest in the family. There are no talks (yet?) about Xavi wanting to join showbiz. Sanchez having three children active in front of the camera may be matched by Pen Medina, who has four sons who are actors, too, though not as prominently as Sanchez’s children. Medina’s thespian sons are Ping, Karl, Alex and Victor. Ping now appears with his father Pen in ABS-CBN’s Batang Quiapo. Alex, Karl and Victor, meanwhile, have played major roles in indie films. We personally know that Pen also has a lovely grown-up daughter, but she is not interested to become an actor. (Pen and I had theater workshops in our youth conducted by Joonee Gamboa and the late Adul de Leon. It was in those workshops that Pen met the would-be mother of their children.) Further back, it’s actually actor Eddie Gutierrez who used to have three sons and one daughter in showbiz: Tonton Gutierrez, Ramon Christopher (who started in showbiz without using a surname), Ruffa Gutierrez, Richard Gutierrez and his twin Raymond Gutierrez. Just a few years ago, another female Gutierrez — Janine — joined showbiz. She is the daughter of Ramon Christopher, more popularly known as “Monching,” whose mom is the singer Pilita Corrales. Janine’s mother is actor Lotlot de Leon, one of the two adopted daughters of then-couple Nora Aunor and Christopher de Leon. Tonton is Eddie’s oldest child, and his mother is beauty queen-actress Liza Lorena. A few years after he had a son with Corrales, the elder Gutierrez married Annabelle Rama, and Ruffa is their first child and only daughter. They had another son, nicknamed Rocky, before they had the twins Richard and Raymond. World championship Gela Atayde has just gotten back from the World Hiphop Dance Championship in Phoenix, Arizona where her team, Legit Status, won the world championship on 6 August by beating 54 other teams. Gela, 21, speaks with as much overflowing self-confidence as her Kuya Arjo and Ate Ria. At her media launch in Morato, Quezon City a few days ago, Gela declared that she really likes to be recognized as a dancer and to be able to hone her acting career at the same time. “One of the big reasons why I really wanted to enter showbiz was to introduce dance. I guess as a dancer, I realized that it is not as appreciated as we hope it would be. So I guess for me since I was given the opportunity to do it, I want to explore and show everyone what dance is all about — not just hip-hop but maybe other styles so it can be talked about more often,” she said. Her first ABS-CBN project is the series Senior High, which will see her playing a campus dancer and acting alongside her mother Sylvia as well as young stars Andrea Brillantes and Kyle Echarri. The series, produced by Dreamscape Entertainment, replaces Iron Heart, topbilled by Richard Gutierrez. The upcoming show recently trended on social media as it featured SB19’s hit song “Bazinga.” Also in the show’s cast are Juan Karlos, Elijah Canlas, Zaijian Jaranilla, Xyriel Manabat, Daniela Stranner, Miggy Jimenez and Tommy Alejandrino, along with Angel Aquino, Baron Geisler and Mon Confiado. Senior High will be released on 28 August, 9:30 p.m. via the Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live, JeepneyTV, A2Z and TV5. It will also stream on iWantTFC and on TFC. It’s a season of “revenge” entertainment at ABS-CBN. The just-concluded series Dirty Linen had a family avenging the death of their loved ones in the hands of a greedy well-off family, while the forthcoming film A Very Good Girl, starring internationally acclaimed actor Dolly de Leon and Kathryn Bernardo, is likewise powered by a revenge yarn. The post Make way for a new Atayde in showbiz: Gela, the younger sibling of Arjo and Ria appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Man jumps off LRT rails
A still unidentified man believed to be mentally disturbed suffered broken bones on his left foot and bruises on the head when he jumped off the railing in time for an arriving train at Light Rail Transit Line 1 Blumentritt Station in Manila. According to Transportation Assistant Secretary Jorjette Aquino, the said victim was not run over by the train as the train operator managed to push the emergency brakes of the locomotive. The incident occurred in the Southbound lane where rescue workers manage to lift the said man at 6:33 a.m. The train operation went back to normal at 6:44 a.m. The said victim was rushed to the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center (JRMMC) and subsequently underwent a medical X-ray process. The incident was captured by a CCTV camera wherein the unidentified man was described only as wearing a white shirt, seemingly uneasy and disturbed, walking to and fro at the train station before deciding to leap probably intending to commit suicide. The post Man jumps off LRT rails appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Philippine director puts women at the ‘heart’ of drug war film
Widows and mothers are at the "heart" of a gritty documentary by Philippine filmmaker Sheryl Rose Andes, who turns the camera on women left behind by former president Rodrigo Duterte's deadly drug war. More than 6,000 people were killed in police anti-drug raids during Duterte's six-year term, which ended in June 2022, government data shows. Rights groups estimate the real figure was in the tens of thousands, mostly poor men living in slums who died at the hands of law enforcers, hitmen and vigilantes. Many of the victims had wives or partners and mothers, who have had to deal with the heartbreak and hardship of losing a loved one and often the family's main breadwinner. In her new documentary "Maria", Andes follows two of these women, Mary Ann Domingo and Maria Deparine, as they struggle to survive and find justice. "We have to register that this thing really happened. And now people need to see what has happened to their families," Andes told AFP in an interview. Andes said she was inspired to make the film out of fear that Filipinos could forget, or never learn, about the brutal period in their nation's history. She got a "huge wake-up call" when one of her students in a filmmaking course she teaches at Mapua University in Manila expressed surprise that the drug war was "really happening". That moment in 2020 -- four years into Duterte's drug war, which made headlines around the world and sparked an international investigation into alleged human rights abuses -- left her aghast. Three years later, "Maria" is the first full-length documentary to compete in the country's independent film festival Cinemalaya, which opened August 4. "Maria" -- a common name for women in the Catholic-majority Philippines -- focuses on the harrowing experiences of Domingo and Deparine, which Andes says gives the film "heart and emotion". The documentary shows the women doing menial jobs to support their families and making tearful visits to the tombs of their loved ones. "I zoomed in on the details because it should not just be about numbers," said Andes. "This is a story about women. I don't want this to be remembered as a drug war story." 'It is very difficult' Deparine lost two of her sons within days of each other in September 2016. One was with a local drug dealer when they were abducted by unidentified men. They were both shot in the head and their bodies dumped under a bridge. Six days later, a second son was arrested by police at the home of a drug-dealing couple. He was later found dead under another bridge. Since their deaths, Deparine, who works in a fish cannery and voted for Duterte in 2016, has moved multiple times with her husband and surviving son as they struggle to make enough money to pay the rent. In the same month Deparine lost her sons, Domingo's partner and teenage son were killed in a nighttime police raid while the family slept in their shanty home. Later, she and three of her surviving children had to flee for fear of their safety. Lawyer Kristina Conti, who is helping Domingo seek justice for their deaths, said the four officers who allegedly shot dead her partner and son had been freed on bail and were back in uniform after serving short suspensions. That's despite the men facing a homicide trial. "As a mother who lost her partner, it is very difficult. At times I just wanted to give up, and at times I actually did," Domingo, 49, told AFP in an interview. "This (film) is our chance to show to the world what happened to us." 'Political stand' Catholic priest Flaviano Villanueva, who appears in "Maria", said widows, mothers and grandmothers endured "unimaginable" hardships to keep their remaining family members alive. Villanueva, who runs a support group for the families of the drug war's dead, said there was a "social stigma" that led to discrimination against those left behind. Orphans were "bullied" at school and widows excluded from government assistance because "her husband got killed for being a drug addict", he told AFP. Another woman who features prominently in the film is former Philippines vice president Leni Robredo, a vocal critic of the drug war who is seen consoling Domingo and Deparine. Robredo ran in the 2022 presidential election but lost by a huge margin to the son and namesake of the country's late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, who has continued the drug war. Andes, who spent a decade working for a non-government organisation before turning her hand to filmmaking, refuses to shy away from difficult subjects. She said documentaries were a "powerful tool" in retelling history, but she feared that Filipinos preferred "escapism" and were not prepared to face grim reality. Despite Duterte stepping down more than a year ago and Marcos Jr vowing to take the drug war in a new direction, Andes said the killings "never stopped". "A documentary takes a political stand," she said. "We are not fiction and we are not here to titillate." The post Philippine director puts women at the ‘heart’ of drug war film appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Lights, camera, action!
Making plans for August? Whether you’re a drama enthusiast, a thrill-seeker, or simply a lover of cinematic brilliance, Lionsgate Play has got you covered. With an impressive roster of exclusive blockbusters and engaging series at your fingertips, you’re set to experience a rollercoaster of emotions right from your living room. So, gear up and get ready to immerse yourself in a world of incredible entertainment! High Heat — Release Date: 11th August 2023 In this action — packed crime thriller, Ana (Olga Kurylenko), an ex-KGB operative turned chef, is targeted by the local mafia, who are hell-bent on collecting on her husband’s (Don Johnson) debt by targeting her new restaurant. Now, Ana must rely on her lethal skills as she embarks on a deadly rampage to eliminate the entire crime syndicate one by one to save her restaurant and survive the night. Two Sinners and a Mule — Release Date: 25th August 2023 After being kicked out of their small town due to their sinful behavior, Alice (Chantelle Albers) and Nora (Hannah James) journey to Virginia City to make their dreams come true and open a restaurant. Along the way, they stumble upon an injured bounty hunter named Elden (Cam Gigandet). Seizing an opportunity for a share of the reward, they nurse Elden back to health and join forces to track down their target, Grimes (Cord Newman). However, things get complicated when both Nora and Alice develop romantic feelings for Elden. And unbeknownst to them, Grimes is hot on their trail, turning the hunters into the hunted. Will they be able to survive this dangerous pursuit and fulfill their dreams? Find out in this thrilling tale of love, adventure, and survival in the Wild West. Run the World Season 2 — Release Date: 4th August 2023 A vibrant series set in Harlem, Run the World follows the lives of a group of ambitious and dynamic lifelong best friends with Southern roots. In Season 2, Whitney (Amber Stevens West), Renee (Bresha Webb), and Sondi (Corbin Reid) continue navigating their careers, relationships, and personal growth while striving for world domination. With wardrobes ready for any occasion, these women epitomize the perfect blend of aspirational glamour, relatable authenticity, and the power of thriving together. Gray — Release Date: 18th August 2023 In the thrilling espionage film Gray, CIA spy Cornelia Gray (Patricia Clarkson) emerges from two decades of hiding, evading government agents who believed she was a traitor. Returning to her former life, Gray discovers that there is now a new mole within her old spy network. As she navigates the dangerous world of espionage, Gray must uncover the mole’s identity and protect her own life in a high-stakes game of trust and betrayal. Manhattan (Seasons 1 & 2) — Release Date: 4th August 2023 Step into the secretive world of World War II’s Manhattan Project and experience the emotional journey of the scientists and their families as they navigate love, loyalty, and the weight of their groundbreaking work. Starring Rachel Brosnahan, Michael Chernus, and Christopher Denham, Manhattan offers a unique blend of historical inspiration and fictional storytelling, providing a gripping and thought-provoking exploration of this pivotal historical moment. Ash vs. Evil Dead — Release Date: 11th August 2023 In this thrilling film, Bruce Campbell reprises his iconic role as Ash Williams, the chainsaw-handed monster fighter from the Evil Dead films. After three decades of avoiding responsibility and evil forces, Ash faces a new deadite threat. When Ash’s careless actions unleash a deadly plague of supernatural creatures, he must again battle against the forces of darkness to save humanity. Accompanied by his loyal sidekick Pablo (Ray Santiago), enigmatic Ruby (Lucy Lawless), and moody wild child Kelly (Dana DeLorenzo), Ash embarks on an epic quest to stop the impending destruction. With humor, horror, and non — stop action, Ash vs. Evil Dead delivers a thrilling and nostalgic continuation of the beloved franchise. The post Lights, camera, action! appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
New Geely subcompact
Leading automobile maker Geely Philippines is gearing up to unveil to the local market its latest five-seater subcompact crossover SUV that aims to give the Filipino motorist a unique driving experience. Set to hit the roads this August 2023, the GX3 Pro is proof of Geely Philippine’s commitment to provide motorists and car enthusiasts with top-of-the-line vehicles that blend performance, style and affordability. The GX3 Pro’s contoured silhouette and spacious windows enhance its aesthetics and provide unobstructed vistas from the city to the great outdoors. Inside the cabin, elegance melds with practicality as the SUV’s two-tier dashboard and user-friendly control panel design ensure that every drive becomes a delightful experience. The car comes in a 5-speed manual transmission or a continuously variable transmission (comfort variant). At its heart is a robust engine that delivers 102 horsepower and 142 Nm of torque. Notably, this engine is the same proven powerhouse used in the Geely Emgrand, ensuring reliable performance whether you’re navigating the bustling streets of Metro Manila on weekdays or embarking on off-road trips on out-of-town weekends. The GX3 Pro ensures a safe and secure driving experience with its array of driver assistance features. The Comfort variant comes equipped with cruise control, reverse camera with dynamic guide lines, back-up sensor, and traction and stability control. Meanwhile, the S variant is fitted with a reverse camera with dynamic guide lines and back-up sensor. Both variants are designed to keep drivers and passengers protected with two airbags. The Comfort variant also boasts of a sunroof that adds a touch of luxury and allows sunlight to elevate the mood during those memorable drives. The GX3 Pro offers the discerning Filipino motorist the attractive option of owning an SUV loaded with cutting edge features starting from P778K introductory SRP for the S variant. The post New Geely subcompact appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Katya Angara – The journey of a woman and artist
The promising artist that Katya is today is the latest phase in a lifelong journey that began at an early age when she began drawing characters from cartoon comics. All the while she was growing up in a home that nurtured her interest in the arts, as much as it prepared her for rigorous academic training. She read early in life, in a house filled with books. In this second part of our interview, Katya shares with us how she made a number of choices that would lead to where she is today. But once upon a time, for all that had been given to her on a silver platter, she was in a quandary as to what to do with her life. But when she finally decided on what she wanted, there was no stopping the talented and smart girl who, it turned out, possessed an intellectual prowess not unlike those of her parents, the lawyer, and senator Edgardo Angara, whose affinity for the land had been impressed on his daughter, and the lady educator Gloria Manalang Angara, who opened up her daughter’s eyes and minds to the wonders of world literature and the other arts. And it was in art that the young girl did not only find solace but also healing. Here is the final part of our interview: DT: After high school, did you immediately leave for London? KA: To be honest, and I don’t want filters here, I had mental health issues at that time. I was severely depressed. Before I went to London, I went through a tumultuous period of deciding where to go with my education. So, after Poveda, I went to Woldingham (boarding school). then I did half of my BA Psychology degree at UP Diliman from late 2000 to 2002. I loved my time at Diliman but it was a tumultuous transitional period for me, so I decided to revisit pursuing university in London. Central Saint Martins, to be precise, is one of the most prestigious and distinguished art and design schools in the world DT: Around what time was this? KA: It was in 2002. I was bouncing around like I couldn’t anchor myself to one thing. Like, okay, I’m here in London already. And then, okay I’m going to study Psychology in UP. So, what’s with the leap, the sudden jump, the sudden shift? I couldn’t make up my mind. And I think that frustrated my parents for the longest time. I was also being hard on myself because I ended up causing a lot of frustration for myself. And I think that depressed me. So, you know, I’ve been diagnosed with different things. I’m bipolar. And then, I had the hallmarks of ADHD. Let’s just say that my brain works differently DT: Well, one can never be sure about oneself. KA: No, you can never be sure about yourself. And I was questioning myself. For the longest time, all those years I thought, what’s wrong with me? Why am I making all these strange decisions? Why am I behaving this way? Why do I react to people this way?”. You know, parang I shouldn’t be talking or reacting to people like this in this kind of situation. And I’m not just saying with family or what. But with my classmates in school. What drew me to art was it being a place that has its own language e. It’s a place where I can express myself. Art is also a way of healing your own wounds. It’s also a way of revealing those aspects of yourself that you wouldn’t be able to otherwise. It really was a way of healing for me. And I didn’t even know that I needed it. Because again, I was a very quiet and introverted kid. I don’t know why. I couldn’t rely on people, talk to people the way I thought, or maybe people thought I should. So, you know, I kept to myself. I’d hide away in the library every recess or lunch. I didn’t want to talk to anyone. So, that carried on until my university years. Daily Tribune (DT): What did you finally take up in college? Katya Angara: Well, first I just wanted to do a purely art course. So, my foundation course to get me a degree was an Art and Design course. My first choice for this was Central Saint Martins, which continues to be ranked as one of the best art and design schools in the world. I was over the moon when I made it in. DT: What did you have to show to qualify? KA: I needed to show my work. I had some already since I was drawing a lot in my childhood and teenage years. DT: Your works are not the usual ones that use oil, watercolor, acrylic, and all that. KA: I was drawing mostly. And for some reason, I have always been more of a draftsman eh. I’m always more into drawing. I have more illustrating tendencies. DT: Like pen and paper? KA: Yes, pen and paper. Pencil, charcoal. I’ve always had a thing for dry media and pen and ink. It’s more about the control and the precision. That’s my personality. DT: That’s not easy ah. KA: It’s not easy. But you have an affinity for it. And your hands have to be steady. Which is unlikely for someone with pasmado hands like me. But that’s where I find my control eh. That’s why I like it so much. DT: So, what was it like when you showed your drawings at Central Saint Martin? KA: So, I showed my drawings because that was required during the interview. And so I went through the ropes. They asked questions like, "why do you want to do this course here?" DT: Your work must have been good to get you accepted. KA: They were fine. I think it was good enough. But there was a lot I had to improve on. I only knew that once I got into the school. Then, you told yourself, Ah, oo nga pala. There was so much I had to learn. That I could be taught. DT: How was your learning experience? KA: From the beginning, as a child, I always copied from cartoons. And they didn’t like that. They didn’t want to see any cartoons or anything like that. They wanted to see me. They wanted to see my work. My drawing from life. DT: So, how did you do that? It must have been challenging KA: So, I gave them the best of my life drawings. But when I showed them my other works, they weren’t happy with them. So, I learned from that. Being young, you got a bit crushed. But then, you realize it’s a different way of thinking. It’s a different way of doing things. Okay, there’s still so much to learn in terms of art. And it’s not the be-all and end of it all. And then, they said, “This is where you should be learning from.” And they showed me art books. They said, “Go to this gallery or this museum.” DT: How was it like living abroad? Back home, you were the daughter of a senator. KA: Which means nothing when you’re abroad. It meant nothing. Which I actually loved. It was something that I was looking for. Because I lived in a bubble back home. To my parents’ credit naman there’s a reason for that. I was very protected. They wanted to keep me safe and secure given my father’s position. So, I’d always lived in a bubble. I’d always have bodyguards and drivers and all that. And it just felt at times a little restrictive. DT: So, it was a welcome thing? KA: It was a welcome thing. Really, I felt different. I felt normal na parang my family name didn’t mean a thing. And that was refreshing. I could be anything I wanted to be. I could experiment and nobody would judge. Because in schools like that and abroad, especially in Europe, they’re so open-minded. They’re so liberal. DT: How were the teachers? KA: Oh, wonderful. Of course, you always have your favorites, right? Very varied. Depending also on what course you were taking up, whether industrial design or sculpture which I was horrible at when I tried it. I didn’t really get close to my tutors until I moved on to my actual degree. Funny enough, instead of ending up in a practical course. Which would have been like Fine Arts, Graphic Design, or even Illustration because I love drawing. You would think that I would end up in a more practical course like Fine Arts, Graphic Design, or even Illustration, I did a complete shift and I did a theoretical course. I did Curation, Art Criticism, and Art History. So, my training is as a curator and an art critic. DT: Wow, that was very intellectual. It’s good that you always read a lot. KA: Yes, I think that helped because you have to read a lot. You have to love reading. You have to like doing the research. And that served me well. Who would have known, right? But if you think about it, as long as you follow what you want to do in life, it just opens up even if you don’t intentionally seek it. Somehow it just finds you It just fell into place for me in that sense. This is not what I initially set out to do. But I think you have to allow yourself to change your mind. Parang whatever happens at the time, you change with it. You adjust to it. And it worked out beautifully for me. DT: So, were the teachers terrors? KA: Mabait naman sila. But they have very different personalities. My course leader was a lovely older lady who was really into Victorian arts and culture. As in, Victoriana lahat. She would tell you everything about English Victorian history. And she was very passionate about it. And you know, it involved a lot of writing and research. But my favorite tutor was someone who was writing about comic books. Comic books and Pop culture. So, for me, that was a revelation because I didn’t think you could take comics books and put them in the academe. You know, academic level like intellectual. Pwede pala e. Because he showed me a way. He took me under his wing and he showed me his work and from there I learned to write. And because I love comic books. I’m actually a huge geek. I’m a nerd, I’m a dork. DT: What was your thesis? [caption id="attachment_165427" align="aligncenter" width="463"] Roger Sabin was Katya's pop culture mentor at Central Saint Martins in London.[/caption] KA: Because I wanted Roger Sabin, my pop culture tutor, as my professor for my thesis, it was about a 1990s Japanese animated film called Ghost in the Shell 101. It was an animated film based on a very heavy graphic novel, a manga or Japanese comics, by Masamune Shirow. And for me, his work is revelatory. It wasn’t just the style of the Ghost in the Shell. And to think just one man could draw like this. I mean it was a very thick graphic novel. He could draw like that. And he wrote the story too. And to think you had the mental stamina to be able to write something like that and to draw. DT: You must enjoy doing comics. KA: Since I was a kid, I’ve made my own comic books. You know, I would sell my own comic books and people would actually buy them. I taught myself to draw in the comic book style. I learned them all. You know, there’s like Stan Lee of Marvel. DT: You really had it in you. KA: I had it in me. My love for comic books started by reading the ones my brother had collected over the years. He had a stash of them, so, I just devoured them. It was all very amazing to me. Kasi the drawings, the stories, these are worlds written by someone else. So, you have Marvel comics, DC comics, Dark Horse comics. [caption id="attachment_165417" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] With brother, Senator Sonny Angara, whose comic books she devoured for their cartoon figures.[/caption] Q: You didn’t idolize anybody? A: Well, I wasn’t particularly huge on the American comics. I think it was until I stumbled upon the Japanese comics or manga. That really piqued my interest to a degree I never felt before. Kasi it wasn’t just the style, which at first for me was very girly. I mean, I love the romantic comics. But I also felt myself leaning toward the darker stuff. DT: What did you like about Ghost in the Shell? KA: It’s a cyberpunk graphic novel. So, ang galing, ang ganda ng style. It was like, wow. You know, the sheer amount of detail that he puts into the drawings. I said I want to draw like this. I want to tell a story like this. But I don’t know if I was capable of telling if I had the stamina to tell something so intricate and complex. DT: When did you graduate? KA: In 2008. The BA in the UK is only three years. That’s why you take a foundation course. There’s a BA in Curation, and Communication, and criticism in Arts and Design. DT: I am told that you graduated at the top of your class. But you’re not telling me. KA: It sounds so funny kasi eh. Anyway, I graduated with first-class honors for my degree. So, basically, I was Suma Cum Laude in my batch in my year. So, that was what sealed the deal for me and my dad. Kasi for the longest time, I was kind of meandering. I was kind of flip-flopping. My mom knows this eh She goes, “You know Katya you have a tendency to be whimsical.” I am an artist eh, what can I do? Besides, I was young and I wasn’t sure. I knew what I wanted to do, which was to be in the arts but not where I wanted to go. I was asking myself if I had the stamina, the commitment, the fortitude to see it through. [caption id="attachment_165415" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Katya and mom Gloria Angara, who first ignited her interest in the arts.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_165419" align="aligncenter" width="854"] Katya with her dad, the late Senate President Edgardo Angara from whom she learned to apply the principles of nature to her art[/caption] DT: College made you really bloom. KA: Yes. It was the environment. it was the people I was with. Because I was able to go into something I really enjoyed. I wasn’t just doing homework because I was told to do homework. I loved what I was doing. I was invested in it. DT: What did you do after you graduated? KA: Apart from community work, I also worked for some small galleries. I did some work for the Victoria and Albert Museum. I tried to have experiences in bigger institutions, bigger museums, and small independent galleries. I thought that experience would hone me and make me well-rounded. With the smaller galleries, I was able to practice my curatorial background. I was able to help a lot of young artists. They don’t know how to talk about their work or they’re not confident enough to do so. So anyhow, apart from helping them put together shows, I help them speak about their work. Or offer them a perspective they have never seen or thought about. And I feel that that was helping them and I think that’s where I have been able to engage with them. It was fulfilling to help them find their voice as an artist. DT: All the while, you were all alone in London? KA: I was married actually. To a Filipino who was born in the UK, in London. He’s an Englishman, for all purposes. It didn’t work out. We have a daughter. I had a beautiful little girl with him. She lives in London with her father. She’s been here. She lived here in her early years. After she was born in 2010, I decided to move back here. Then, after four years, we went back to London because it was what my husband wanted. He and my dad had a falling out. DT: When was your first exhibit? KA: Last year. Earlier, I did a group show at the Lethaby Gallery at Central Saint Martins. So, I did it with other emerging artists. My next group show was at The Crucible. But it was for a book that Sari Ortiga had commissioned me to do. He wanted to do a series of children’s books about Philippine artists. I did mine. Mine was about Anita Magsaysay-Ho. I did the illustration. It wasn’t new to me because I had been making my own books. I would staple them myself. Although up until that point I didn’t know how to really do it professionally. I found out it could be lucrative and fulfilling. This was in 2008 when I didn’t have a daughter yet. DT: Tell me about your forthcoming show. (The current show had yet to be opened). What paintings are you showing? KA: They’re not paintings, they’re not just drawings. They’re an amalgamation. They’re what you call a compendium of everything I’ve ever done as an artist. The book illustration, and then I dabbled a bit in black-and-white photography. I like the look of black and white photography. So, I do it with my phone or a simple camera. It’s also good for taking reference photos for my work. Because if you can’t sit in the park drawing people or objects, or subjects, the next best thing is you take pictures. And you can draw from those pictures. Kaya maganda siya for reference. So, my work is that, actually. DT: So, what about your subjects? KA: Well, I’m a very central person. We live in a very conservative culture. And I have subjects that would make people say ay, you know, you shouldn’t talk about that. So, there’s no filter, it’s very raw, very natural. In London, I was able to talk to people about things like BDSM or Bondage Sado-Masochism. And you know, that can get a bad rap. Because if you do it wrong, it would look strange to anyone who is not familiar with it. Among the Japanese, there is a subculture that does that. DT: Do they consider BDSM an art form? KA: There’s a particular Japanese artist whose work I used to admire. He’s a photographer. And his subject is BDSM. There were pictures of women tied up and then there were flowers and reptiles. So it was very sexual. I found myself drawn to that because there’s the element of the dark side. Carl Jung, the psychoanalyst, talked about how we have to make our unconscious conscious. The darkness in us is unconscious. And if you don’t make your darkness conscious, it’s going to come out in other ways at some point. Meaning to say, you shouldn’t repress those sides of you. I think it is a side that’s intertwined with the creative side of me. I can’t be an artist without being sensual. Without that aspect, all that would be macabre. Which brings me to my mom again. She used to chide me for reading Stephen King when I was a kid. I’m a huge Stephen King fan. She was like, “It’s so macabre, so dark.” And I’m like, “I like it, I like his work.” He’s such a skilled writer. And I like how he could take something so mundane and make it terrifying and frightening on all levels. Stephen King said that he writes two thousand words every morning. I’m not sure if I can do that. I wanted to write na rin eh because the natural partner of my art is my writing. Because as a curator, I didn’t just read. I had to write a lot. And that’s where I honed my skills. Kasi siyempre, it’s a sword that you have to sharpen every now and then. So, for the show. I did a lot of writing. I did my own writing. DT: While we're on the talk of artists, what about the Filipino artists? Who among them do you admire? Do you have any mentors and idols? KA: Among Philippine artists, Junyee is my second father and my first artistic mentor. He is my OG sage and shaman of Philippine art, the Father of Philippine Installation Art. I'm actively lobbying for him to become National Artist soon, as no one deserves it more than he does, with his magnificent oeuvre. I'll always remember how, in a fleeing moment of impostor syndrome, he consoled me by saying that making art for myself always comes first. Love the process and the rest follows. The maverick attitude is very Junyee! And yet, he lives a modest life in the forest-like setting of his home in Los Banos, echoing the nature-loving ethos of our favorite Japanese animator, Hayao Miyazaki, creator of Toroto, Nausicaa, Spirited Away, among many other magical films. Since I was a child, Junyee saw my potential and continued to push me to have my own gallery shows, as did his longtime friend and one of my other mentors, Sari Ortiga. Sari's daughter Yasmin is a good friend and batchmate of mine from Poveda. Sari owns and runs the distinguished Crucible Gallery, and he hired me to illustrate one of the children's books for his series "Growing up with Philippine art" in 2009. It's thanks to Sari that I pushed myself to evolve as an artist, to grow outside of my comfort zone. The acclaimed visual artist and sculptor Jinggoy Buensuceso is something of a bad boy du jour of the Philippine art scene, and his dissident attitude is something I can identify with. I love the unorthodox, the sensual, the macabre, the dark stuff that delves deep into the psyche. I'm so bored of the "covers" or "riffs" of the countless Amorsolo, Basquiat, Picasso, or Rothko-type artworks that I see so much of in the local art scene. As wtih Junyee and Sari, Jinggoy has taught me how to navigate the perilous seas of art and life, echoing Junyee's advice to remain myself, in a world that often pushes us to be someone else. My three mentors, by example, taught me how to be original. DT: How many are you exhibiting? How many works? KA: Now, I have 9 complete pieces. I’d like to add another one. Honestly, medyo cramming ito because I only had two months to do the show. Normally for this kind of work - especially with the big piece I am doing - it’s a seven-foot piece. I would need, preferably to be comfortable, at least four to six months to do all this work. Kasi, there is so much nicer when you give it time to compost. To come together, to become fertile. DT: Is there enough time for one more work? A: Yes. I have one more work that I want. Because I feel that it rounds it up eh. If I do ten, I love the work that I’ve already done. Again, it’s not a painting, it’s a collage. So, I’d call it a photographic collage with paper cuttings on canvas. I wanted to treat canvas in a way that is not painting DT: Shouldn’t someone curate for you? KA: For now, I’m happy to have to do it myself. Because I feel that I’m the only one who can portray myself in a way that I feel I should be portrayed. Kasi it’s art eh. You’re trying not so much to explain yourself as you’re trying to convey who you are to somebody without being obvious. That’s art. DT: Where does Stephen, your partner, come in? [caption id="attachment_165418" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] With her partner and anchor, Stephen Lu.[/caption] KA: Stephen is somewhat of an anchor for me. So, I feel comfortable, I feel more confident when he’s around. But I guess I’m okay. DT: Now, as we wind up, let’s talk about how you are like your parents and not like them. You said that your interest in the arts came from the exposure that you received from your mother, and of course, the presence of books at home. Tell me more about your father’s role in your becoming the person that you are. KA: One of my fondest memories of my father was his love of nature, gardening, and farming, which I learned from him. He was at his best and calmest when he was at his farm in Nasugbu and Baler. Whilst my father was a “man of the soil”, I learned to be an “artist of the soil”, a gardener who applies the principles of nature to my art. Hence the overlying themes of nature in my oeuvre of artwork. And the most resonant themes of philosophy (which my father also studied and applied in his life) are the themes relating to lessons learned from nature: patience, fortitude, temperance. From this I’ve become more acutely aware of life’s transience, making our time all the more precious, being grateful for small and simple pleasures, and the opportunities that come my way. The naïveté of my younger years meant that I didn’t have a complete grasp of the opportunities presented to me by my father, I took much for granted. Now I see why he did what he did, he gave me the tools to be able to achieve my full potential. Only now that I’m embracing that fire and heading in a direction that makes the most of my talents. I had impostor syndrome for the longest time. Always questioning and doubting myself. Now I can fully embrace who I am and it is cathartic. DT: In what way are you like them? KA: I have the different strengths of my parents. I’ve inherited their academic minds and cultured tastes, with an eye for detail and beauty. I have many mannerisms and behavious in common with my mum, in terms of poise and self-possession. But, she is like Audrey Hepburn and I am infinitely more of a Marilyn Monroe. Marilyn was also a very private person and something of a poet and writer. I guess it’s no surprise that I am drawn to art and writing; I am highly introspective, painfully self-aware and attuned to my moods and to the moods of others; like my Dad, I’m intuitive and know how to read people. DT: My last question is, how has art influenced you in your direction in life? And where are you going from here? KA: Being an introvert, I don’t always translate into easy social interactions with most people. So I channel it all into my art. It’s a language that best expresses my psyche, thoughts, and emotions. Working with my hands is healing and consolation for the isolation, depression, and anxiety attacks that grip me on bad days. That’s why as an artist of the soil, gardening and art go hand in hand. In the future, I can see myself tending to the land and becoming a farmer as my father was. It’s like coming home. The post Katya Angara – The journey of a woman and artist appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘The Cheating Game’ director thinks Julie Anne is superstar material
GMA Public Affairs, GMA Network’s news and public affairs division, is now producing movies. Its debut feature, the romantic drama, The Cheating Game, stars real-life couple Julie Anne San Jose and Rayver Cruz, or “JulieVer.” San Jose plays Hope, an NGO worker who breaks up with her fiancé and colleague Brian (Martin del Rosario) for cheating on her. [caption id="attachment_164002" align="aligncenter" width="1708"] Martin del Rosario as Brian.[/caption] Trying to move on from her painful break-up, she starts looking for a new job until she is finally hired by a company specializing in social media content, where she channels all her negative energy. Hope soon meets a random guy, Miguel (Cruz), at a Kamuning overpass, who begins to actively pursue her without reason. Wary at first, she eventually warms up to Miguel, who tells her that he is giving her license to use him as her rebound. [caption id="attachment_164001" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Rayver Cruz as Miguel.[/caption] But Hope’s promising new romance with Miguel is not that hopeful, as it is still overshadowed by a viral sex video that involves Brian its leakage may or may not involve those close to her. The Cheating Game is directed by fiction author Rod Marmol, who is best known for helming Cuddle Weather (2019) and Mata Tapang (2018). The story and concept are by Peabody award-winning documentary writer and producer Shao Masula, with Marmol and Jessie Villabrille serving as screenwriters. Julie Anne San Jose’s acting method In an exclusive chat with Daily Tribune, Marmol describes the 29-year-old San Jose, who showed impressive naturalism in her performance as the scorned woman. “I sincerely think that Julie has all the makings of a movie superstar. She has it all. Unparalleled professionalism. Magaan sa set (Easy to work with on set). Understands her character through and through,” Marmol said. In the film, San Jose’s Hope is frequently tearful. Effortless in her small and big dramatic scenes, she earned the admiration of her director, who reveals San Jose’s talent in shedding tears in front of the camera. “She knows not just one way of crying, marami (but many). She knows how to cry beautifully, how to wail uncontrollably, how to let only one tear drop fall, how to hold back her tears. She has mastered her instrument and this allows her to seamlessly morph from one character to another,” Marmol said. Marmol further told Daily Tribune that while they were filming The Cheating Game, San Jose was also shooting the final episodes of GMA’s hit series Maria Clara at Ibarra, praising the actress for her excellent command of her craft. “Ganoon siya kahusay (That’s how good she is),” he praised. Not your typical romance The Cheating Game cannot be simply boxed in a specific genre, making the film not your typical or formulaic love story. When asked about his influences as a director, Marmol candidly revealed his inspirations for GMA Public Affair’s first offering. “Some of my inspirations for this movie are films like Amélie (2001), Once (a 2007 Irish romantic musical drama) and, of course, Phoebe Waller-Bridges’ series Fleabag (on HBO). Gustong-gusto ko ng mga madaldal na pelikula na hindi takot mag-swimming sa emosyon (I am enamored with dialogue-heavy films that are not afraid to wallow in emotion). I’m a big sucker for beautifully-flawed female leads,” he explained. He also explained that his top three favorite filmmakers are Hirokazu Kore-eda, Jordan Peele and Lino Brocka. “Ang galing nilang maghimay ng kalungkutan (They are so good at dissecting sadness),” he explained. For the film’s style, treatment and color palette, which sometimes shifts to dreamy, with a touch of European vibe but highlights the nitty-gritty reality of Metro Manila, Marmol does not take credit for it alone. “Regarding the treatment of The Cheating Game, tingin ko ay (I think it is the) combined effect iyon ng (of the) talent ng core team namin (of our core team). Our assistant director is Chad Cabigon, who has mounted dozens of the most-awarded Filipino films of the past decade. Our director of photography is Arbi Barbarona, an Urian-winning filmmaker from Davao. Our production designer, this is his first movie, Kenneth Villanueva. Kaya, ang fresh pa ng mata and ramdam mo pa yung (So the vision is still fresh and you can feel that) hunger to be excellent. And syempre lahat ng ito, nakabalot sa (And of course, these are all under wrapped in the) guidance ng (of) GMA Public Affairs.” Millennial issues When asked what he is most excited about showing this movie to the Filipino audience, Marmol said: “I hope that the Filipino audience appreciates the honesty of the movie. We tried to capture the gray area that most people find themselves in when trying to heal from a traumatic heartache while building the foundation of a new romance. I also hope that they appreciate what Julie’s character, Hope Celestial, is trying to represent — which is the generation of overworked, underpaid millennials.” Asked about the challenges of directing The Cheating Game, Marmol said: “Challenges? Hmm, as always, marami (a lot) haha. Pero siguro, like most Filipino films, resources. It’s hard to compete with Hollywood movies when we only get less than a tenth of the resources that they get.” He explained that 95 percent of The Cheating Game was shot in only 11 days. “I hope that in the future, we get more investors betting on Filipino films so we can afford to prepare more and execute our stories in the best manner possible. We owe that to ourselves, we owe that to our stories, we owe that to our audiences.” The film also stars Winwyn Marquez, Yayo Aguila, Candy Pangilinan, Phi Palmos, Thea Tolentino, and Paolo Contis. The Cheating Game is now playing in cinemas. [gallery columns="2" size="full" ids="163999,164000"] The post ‘The Cheating Game’ director thinks Julie Anne is superstar material appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
French war photographer Marie-Laure de Decker dead at 75
Marie-Laure de Decker, the French model who stepped behind the camera to become an internationally recognized war photographer, has died at the age of 75, her family said Saturday. She died in hospital on Saturday following a long illness, her family said. Born in Algeria -- when it was still a French colony -- she started her career as a model before deciding to branch out into photography. In the late 1960s, she took memorable shots of the artists Man Ray and Marcel Duchamp and the writer Philippe Soupault. She covered the Vietnam War early in her career and met with success despite her relative lack of experience. "I said to myself: people are going to see that I'm not a real photographer," she wrote in a 1985 memoir. She only had an old Leica camera with her, she recalled. "In fact, I realized afterwards, this old Leica was a marvel." She faced particular challenges working as a female war photographer, she said. "If you're a woman, you're never taken seriously." On the other hand, she added: "There is an advantage to being a woman, as was the case in South Africa -- they don't kill you right away, they give you a chance." Chad Moussa Faki, current chair of the African Union Commission, paid tribute to her Saturday, speaking of his "great sadness" at the news of her death. Her images, he wrote on Twitter, "immortalized part of the history of Chad". De Decker spent much of her career at the Gamma photo agency: from 1971 until it closed down in 2009. Their association ended on bad terms. When she asked to get her photos back, she only got the black-and-white shots and not the color ones and she lost a subsequent legal bid to recover them and have her copyright recognized for their digital versions of the photos. Marie-Laure de Decker is also known for her photos of celebrities such as French singer Serge Gainsbourg, Caroline of Monaco, and France's former president, Valery Giscard d'Estaing. She had two sons with lawyer Thierry Levy. The post French war photographer Marie-Laure de Decker dead at 75 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Ready to try yoga? Some tips before attending your first class
If you’ve always wanted to try yoga but still haven’t for one reason or another, then dilly-dally no more. Yoga offers many proven benefits for the body, mind and, most especially, the spirit. These benefits, as listed in an article on Johns Hopkins Medicine’s website, include improving strength, balance and flexibility; getting back pain relief; easing arthritis symptoms; and keeping the heart healthy. Yoga also helps you to relax, thus you get to sleep better. It means you’ll have more energy and brighter moods the following day. Additionally, you get to manage stress and improve your mental health. You may even lose weight, if that’s your intention, and achieve a slimmer figure. Finally convinced to sign up for your first class? Here are a few pointers from longtime yoga teachers Johnna Villaviray-Giolagon and Sheila Alon. “Yoga isn’t exercise,” Villaviray-Giolagon pointed out. “Don’t treat it like one.” Yoga actually began as a spiritual practice rooted in Indian philosophy (so you will hear many Sanskrit terms during practice). It then became popular beyond India as a way of promoting physical and mental well-being. [caption id="attachment_151879" align="aligncenter" width="720"] PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF SHEILA ALON | YOGA teacher Shiela Alon.[/caption] The teacher, who leads the Stretchy Flow, Vinyasa and Power Yoga classes at Community Fitness (located in Pasig City), shared these tips: “No heavy meal at least two to three hours before class, so you don’t throw up. Leave your ego at the door. Anything new, even if it’s slow movement, is bound to challenge our body. Wear comfortable clothes. You don’t have to be half-naked or fully clothed. Listen to the teacher and observe the demo. There are terms used that sound woowoo but make sense over time.” Alon, who teaches Yin yoga at the Yogaplus Virtual studio, has these reminders: “You do not need any previous yoga experience nor to be flexible. Every day is a learning day and our practice will be different, so just keep an open mind and heart. Your body is very intelligent, and it knows what it needs. You just have to listen to it.” She acknowledged the challenges of attending a virtual class, compared to going to a physical studio, especially for the first time. “The best tip is to just be open to learn something new about your body! I know first-timers will tend to be self-conscious, but keeping the camera open will allow the teacher/instructor to guide you and give options, so that you can make your first class accessible and fun! “It also helps to tell the teacher if you have any medical condition or injury, so that he or she can help give you verbal cues to make your practice a safe space and enjoyable, too. Yoga is not all pretzel poses. It’s a journey to getting to know what your body is capable of, moving, breathing — being present and meeting new faces in the community. Common types of yoga There are many and various types or styles of yoga, ranging from gentle practices (less poses, more meditation) to physically demanding ones (headstand, anyone?). Some of the common yoga classes, Villaviray-Giolagon said, are Ashtanga, Vinyasa, Bikram, Hatha and Yin. Ashtanga: A rigorous and fast-paced type of yoga that follows a fixed sequence of poses. It is made up of six series, namely Primary, Intermediate and four Advanced series. In many classes, Villaviray-Giolagon said, only half of the primary series is taught. Vinyasa: A fluid and dynamic yoga that links breath and movement in creative sequences. Villaviray-Giolagon described it as something like “freestyle dancing,” as the teacher “choreographs” what is done in class. Bikram: A hot and sweaty yoga that consists of 26 poses and two breathing exercises in a heated room. Hatha: A branch of yoga that focuses on posture and breathing techniques. “Poses are practiced on their own, like drills,” Villaviray-Giolagon said. “Can feel like the exercises in calisthenics class. It’s usually more accessible in gyms.” Yin: A slow, passive style of yoga, done mostly on the floor in seated or lying-down postures. “It targets the connective tissues instead of the muscle,” Villaviray explained. “Poses are practiced on the ground for maybe three to five minutes or longer.” The post Ready to try yoga? Some tips before attending your first class appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
KaladKaren’s historic feat: First transwoman anchor in local TV news
ABS-CBN takes pride in being the manager of transwoman star KaladKaren, who has been making waves in the TV industry. She is now the first transwoman news anchor in the Philippines, as co-host of TV 5’s Frontline Pilipinas evening newscast. She joined Gretchen Ho, Jes delos Santos, Justin Quirino and Mikee Reyes as news presenters on 12 June. There are gays and transwomen who are hosts of talk shows and variety shows on TV, such as Boy Abunda, Vice Ganda and Allan K, but KaladKaren is really the first to read out showbiz, lifestyle and cultural reports on a straight news program. In April, she emerged as the first transwoman to win best supporting actress at the Metro Manila Film Festival, specifically at the first-ever summer edition of the festival. She won for her hilarious turn in the film Here Comes the Groom. As an anchorwoman, she is billed as KaladKaren, a made-up name close to the Tagalog word “kaladkarin,” which refers to someone who is easy to drag along for any decent or indecent occasion. She started using “KaladKaren” as a performer in UP Mass Communication productions on campus. Her real name is Jervi Li. [caption id="attachment_151722" align="aligncenter" width="446"] PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF IG/KALaDKAREN | JERVI Li aka KaladKaren.[/caption] At her contract-signing recently at ABS-CBN, the celebrity impersonator was asked by a tabloid editor how exactly her name should be spelled and pronounced. The graduate of the University of the Philippines-Diliman stressed that her professional showbiz name should be spelled as one word, with the second “K” capitalized and the last syllable spelled with an “e”, not “i”, to emphasize “Karen,” the first name of the woman she famously impersonates: ABS-CBN broadcast journo Karen Davila. Corporate and news executives of TV 5 obviously find the pedestrian name “KaladKaren” good enough for a news presenter. On camera, her colleagues address her simply as “Karen.” KaladKaren is directly managed by Star Magic, the division for talent recruitment and development headed by Laurenti Dyogi, who is also ABS-CBN head of Television. Dyogi was present at the contract signing along with other Star Magic executives. KaladKaren said she will also be part of an upcoming series, a reality show and a movie. The country is actually late in giving transwomen a shot at news anchoring. The US and other countries have been doing so as far back as 2015. In February 2015, reporter and former TV news helicopter pilot Zoey Tur joined US television program Inside Edition as a special correspondent, becoming America’s first transgender TV reporter. Tur, formerly known as “Chopper Bob,” rose to fame for the live helicopter coverage of the 1994 police chase on Los Angeles freeways of fugitive American football star O.J. Simpson, who was charged with the murder of his ex-wife and her friend. In March 2018, Marvia Malik became Pakistan’s first transgender news presenter at Kohenoor TV. In an interview with Deutsche Welle, Malik said she had to work hard to break taboos and finally be accepted by a society that discriminates against transgender people. In February this year, Malik survived a gun attack outside her residence in Lahore. According to NDTV, Malik was returning from a pharmacy when two gunmen opened fire on her. Bangladeshi activist Tashnuva Anan likewise broke barriers by becoming the first transgender news anchor in her home country in 2021. Anan moved to New York from Bangladesh about a year and a half ago to pursue her acting career. She made her off-Broadway debut in Public Obscenities at SoHo Rep in May 2023. India Willoughby is the first transgender TV news reporter in the United Kingdom. In 2017, she joined 5News on Channel 5, where she read the lunchtime and evening updates. She was a familiar face to millions of viewers in her former life as Jonathon, a contestant in Celebrity Big Brother. Nora Reichardt, who has worked at Local News 5 in Des Moines since July 2021, said she gradually came into her identity as a transgender woman over the course of several years and began a medical transition process. And Diana Zurco, 40, recalled her youthful rebellion ahead of her debut as the country’s first transgender newscaster in Argentina’s public TV station, a milestone for an excluded community that is often the target of violence and has a life expectancy roughly half that of the rest of the population. The post KaladKaren’s historic feat: First transwoman anchor in local TV news appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
MMDA upgrading EDSA CCTVs
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority is currently modernizing its closed-circuit TV cameras throughout the 24-kilometer stretch of Epifanio delos Santos Avenue, or EDSA. MMDA acting chairman Romando Artes ordered the installation of high-resolution and night-capable CCTV cameras, as well as back-facing units that could record license plates after the vehicles had passed by. The high resolution cameras will be added to existing ones, which were installed as part of the bus carousel program. The MMDA said the installation of the cameras was agreed upon amid the Supreme Court’s suspension of the non-contact apprehension policy, or NCAP. Many motorists have been using the busway because of the NCAP’s suspension, exposing them to accidents, MMDA spokesperson Melissa Carunungan said. The NCAP system was previously used by the MMDA to issue traffic violation tickets to motorists using the busway, but NCAP’s suspension has emboldened them, Carunungan said. MMDA has admitted before that it do not have enough traffic enforcers to catch all violators, thus it wants the ban on the NCAP by the SC lifted. As the MMDA awaits the SC’s verdict on the legality of the NCAP, it has opted to upgrade its camera system to still be able to monitor violations and accidents. Carunungan reported that there were 9,500 monthly average violations by motorists prior to the NCAP suspension, but that number rose to 22,000 violations per month after the NCAP suspension. There were 32,000 violations in May alone, she added. The MMDA also expressed optimism that the single ticketing system will solve issues like corruption and kotong because the system’s context mechanism has made payment or protest periods shorter. Previously, the payment for offenses varied by territory and was occasionally higher in some towns, but now the fines for the 20 most prevalent violations under STS had been standardized. With the implementation of the STS, the fines have become consistent, and the payment may be made immediately after the infraction, as the enforcers have a device for it. If the NCAP is reintroduced, the MMDA said motorists will be treated fairly because they can currently monitor all key roads in the city 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The MMDA is also preparing to computerize the mailing of notifications and has already reached an agreement with PhilPost. A barcode would be printed on the envelops for the quick sending of notices, which would also address the concerns raised by motorists such as due process and data privacy concerns. The post MMDA upgrading EDSA CCTVs appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Pride screenings showcase a rainbow of stories
Cinema is one of the most engaging artforms and creative expressions through which the LGBTQ+ community documents their lived experiences, conveys their desires and struggles, celebrates their identities and advocates for reforms and deeper understanding. Thus, film screenings are popular activities during LGBTQ+ Pride Month. This year, several institutions, streaming service companies and film groups are mounting screenings, giving these works more opportunities to reach more audiences. Here is a rundown: FDCP’s Pelikulaya LGBTQIA+ Film Festival The Film Development Council of the Philippines brings back the Pelikulaya LGBTQIA+ Film Festival this year with the theme “Mga Kuwentong Mapagpalaya” (Liberating Stories), and the aim is training the spotlight “on underrepresented members of the LGBTQIA+ community to promote a better understanding of inclusivity, diversity and equality.” According to Tirso Cruz III, FDCP chairman and chief executive officer, Pelikulaya “aims to raise awareness of LGBTQIA+ issues. We believe that by using the power of film, we can do our part in showcasing films that celebrate LGBTQIA+ stories. Hoping to create understanding of the lives, perspectives and advocacies shown in each film.” “With that, the FDCP sends our love and gratitude to you all for being with us, and we hope you’ll have a memorable experience in all of our Cinematheque Centres across the Philippines,” he added. To be held from 23 to 30 June, Pelikulaya will screen titles at the Cinematheque Centres in Manila, Davao, Iloilo, Nabunturan and Bacolod, and several theaters in Metro Manila including Cinema ‘76 and UP Film Institute’s Cine Adarna/Videotheque. Some of the titles will also be available for streaming on JuanFlix (www.juanflix.com.ph) starting 30 June with a subscription fee. A special screening of a digitally restored and remastered version of Wong Kar Wai’s Happy Together will kick off the festival on 23 June at the Shangri-La Plaza Mall in Mandaluyong City. Aside from Happy Together, films that will be screened at the Cinematheque Centres are Girl (directed by Lukas Dhont); Portrait of a Lady on Fire (directed by Celine Sciamma); Women Do Cry (directed by Vesela Kazako and Mina Mileva); Billie and Emma (directed by Samantha Lee); Mamu, and a Mother Too (directed by Rod Singh); Metamorphosis (directed by J.E. Tiglao); and The Boy Foretold by the Stars (directed by Dolly Dulu). Ishmael Bernal’s Manila by Night will have a free screening. Priced from P100 to P200, tickets to Manila screenings may be purchased through bit.ly/CCManilaTickets. [caption id="attachment_146567" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Lukas Dhont’s ‘Girl’ is inspired by a true story of a young trans girl who aspired to be a ballerina.[/caption] Short films will be screened for free at the Cinematheque Centres, and the lineup includes Alingasngas ng mga Kuliglig (directed by Vahn Leinard Pascual); Love in the Ungodly Hour (directed by Bradley Jason Pantajo); Dikit (directed by Gabriela Serrano); Gulis (directed by Kyle Jumayne Francisco); Noontime Drama (directed by Kim Timan and Sam Villa-Real); and Nang Maglublob ako sa Isang Mangkok ng Liwanag (directed by Kukay Zinampan). [caption id="attachment_146563" align="aligncenter" width="525"] ‘Dikit,’ a short film by Gabriela Serrano.[/caption] To be available for streaming on JuanFlix are Sila-Sila (directed by Giancarlo Abrahan); Metamorphosis; Mamu, and a Mother Too; Rome and Juliet (directed by Connie Macatuno); How to Die Young in Manila (directed by Petersen Vargas); Nang Maglublob ako sa Isang Mangkok ng Liwanag; and This is Not A Coming Out Story (directed by Mark Felix Ebreo). Portrait of a Lady on Fire and Women Do Cry will be also be available on a pay-per-view basis. At Cinema ’76 Cinema ’76 Film Society is bringing in acclaimed movies this Pride Month. Headlining is Happy Together, the 1997 Cannes-winning romantic drama directed by renowned Hong Kong filmmaker Wong Kar-Wai and featuring Tony Leung and the late Leslie Cheung as two lovers caught in a turbulent affair. Aside from Happy Together, two films featuring transgender experiences will also be shown. Girl is the debut film of Belgian filmmaker Lukas Dhont and won the Camera d’Or for Best Feature Film at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival. The film was inspired by a true story of a young trans girl who aspired to be a ballerina. On the other hand, Fanny: The Right to Rock is a documentary by Canadian filmmaker Bobbi Jo Hart about Fanny, the legendary Filipina-American-fronted rock band whose trailblazing impact in music was written out of history. The film touches on the place of women, women of color, queers and older women in a straight male-dominated industry. [caption id="attachment_146564" align="aligncenter" width="525"] ‘Fanny The Right to Rock,’ a documentary about a forgotten queer band.[/caption] The three films will have a limited run from 21 to 27 June at Cinema ’76 on Tomas Morato Avenue in Quezon City. On iWantTFC A streaming platform with international reach, iWantTFC celebrates all types of love with a special selection of movies and series called Love is Love that includes Drag You and Me, iWantTFC’s latest original series that tackles drag culture and stars Andrea Brillantes, JC Alcantara and Christian Bables. Other iWantTFC originals that viewers may stream are the Girls’ Love series Sleep with Me, starring Janine Gutierrez and Lovi Poe, and Fluid, Boys’ Love (BL) rom-com Oh, Mando! and advocacy series Mga Batang Poz. [caption id="attachment_146566" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Photograph courtesy of Dreamscape Entetainment | ‘Drag You and Me’ is an iWantTFC original series that tackles drag culture.[/caption] There are also empowering movies and series about loving freely and living authentically, such as The Boy Foretold by the Stars and its sequel series Love Beneath the Stars, Black Sheep’s hit series Hello Stranger starring Tony Labrusca and JC Alcantara, and the Star Cinema film My Lockdown Romance, starring Jameson Blake and Joao Constancia. Stories on learning how to embrace one’s sexuality and being true to oneself are told by The Panti Sisters, Die Beautiful, The Third Party and Baka Bukas. Thai BL series, such as 2gether the Series, Still 2gether, A Tale of a Thousand Stars and Bad Buddy are also available to stream as well as well-loved and classic LGBTQ-themed movies, such as T-Bird at Ako, Si Chedeng at si Apple and In My Life. These can be viewed on the iWantTFC app (iOs and Android) and website (iwanttfc.com). In other select countries, watch iWantTFC on a larger screen with select devices, including VEWD, ROKU and Amazon Fire streaming devices, Android TV, select Samsung Smart TV models, Telstra TV (in Australia) and VIDAA. On Jungo Pinoy New Filipino streaming app Jungo Pinoy, which boasts of having the largest Filipino-dubbed movie library in the world, as well as original films and TV series, also has a selection of LGBTQ-themed and queer-created films and series, which can be viewed either for free or through a subscription plan. Recommended watch includes: eCupid (exclusive Filipino-dubbed), a romantic comedy directed by JC Calciano and starring Morgan Fairchild, Houston Rhines and Noah Schuffman, tells the story of a gay man nearing 30 years old tapping into an otherworldly internet advertisement that begins to control his life. Hoping to end his seven-year romance rut, he uses the site to get everything he wants until he discovers that what he thought he wanted wasn’t the thing that would ultimately make him happy. Ten Year Plan (exclusive Filipino-dubbed) is another romantic comedy directed by Calciano and starring Jack Turner and Michael Adam Hamilton. In the film, two best friends make a pact to be together in a decade if neither finds love. With two months left until their deadline, they both scramble to find someone to avoid being each other’s last resort. [caption id="attachment_146565" align="aligncenter" width="525"] ‘TEN Year Plan,’ directed by JC Calciano.[/caption] Adan is a Filipino lesbian mystery and romance movie starring Cindy Miranda, Rhen Escano and Ruby Ruiz. In the movie, a naive provincial girl finds a way to be independent through the help of her girl best friend, but their actions have consequences. [caption id="attachment_146562" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Photographs Courtesy oF JUNGO PINOY | ‘ADAN’ tells about a lesbian story.[/caption] Daddy Issues, starring Jo Ashe and Rachel Barry, is a comedy about loss and starting over. In the film, when her emotionally distant father dies and leaves her his company, a hapless stand-up comic moves to Los Angeles to take over the family business. Tucked is about an aging drag queen who forms an unlikely friendship with a younger queen. As they discover more about each other, they realize how to truly be themselves. Starring Derren Nesbit and Jordan Stephens, this film is about love, loss and friendship. Lady Gaga: iTunes Festival features the pop star’s performance at the Itunes Music Festival, which also marked the world premiere of tracks from her album ARTPOP. [caption id="attachment_146570" align="aligncenter" width="525"] PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF JUNGO PINOY | WATCH pop star Lady Gaga perform in ‘Lady Gaga iTunes Festival.’[/caption] Sam Smith: Austin City Limits features the non-binary English singer and songwriter performing their greatest hits, such as “Nirvana” and “I Know I’m Not the Only One” on the stage at Austin City Limits. [caption id="attachment_146569" align="aligncenter" width="525"] ‘Sam Smith: Austin City Limits.’[/caption] At the Quezon City Public Library A weekly film screening is part of the celebration of LGBTQ+ Pride Month of one of the country’s most active public libraries, the Quezon City Public Library (QCPL). With the theme, “Equality for All,” their celebration aims “to highlight the unique contributions and lived experiences of the members of the LGBTQIA+ community through various library activities and informational resources.” “This celebration also forwards an aspiration: that one day, we will be able to genuinely acknowledge the existence of our fellow LGBTQIA+ brothers and sisters as equally valuable as everyone. And that they too deserve equal opportunity in any given situation and honest representation in all of its forms, shapes and sizes,” the library explained. The film screenings started with Love, Simon and Everything Everywhere All at Once on 9 June and All My Life and Bekikang on 16 June. Other films to be shown are Perks of Being A Wall Flower and Boys in the Band on 23 June, and Eternals and Imitation Game on 30 June. Screenings are from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Conference Room of QCPL. Contact the library to reserve slots. At the UPFI Film Center The University of the Philippines Film Institute also had screenings of LGBTQ+ films on 17 June, in partnership with the UP Diliman Gender Office. Shown were short films Gutab, Dory, Niknik, Kurozetto, Bakit, Papa? and Nang Maglublob Ako sa isang Mangkok ng Liwanag. The post Pride screenings showcase a rainbow of stories appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Leveled up smartphone’s midrange game
When it comes to phones, we want something that can provide flawless performance and a "premium feel," yet they usually come at a high price. Thankfully, the new Samsung Galaxy A54 5G eliminates the need for compromise by providing the best of both worlds. Here are some ways that the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G delivers an awesome flagship-like experience at its mid-range price: High-End Aesthetic Feels One of the first things we consider for a phone is the captivating design, something that matches our #aesthetic and something we can be proud to whip out any time when we are with friends—this is what the Galaxy A54 5G delivers; a premium look that is chic and classy at the same time. Taking its design cues from the ultra-elegant Samsung Galaxy S23 series, the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G is also flaunting a revamped design similar to the flagship line; with Gorilla Glass 5 at the front and back for a premium look, a plastic frame that’s slightly rounded at the side to give you a more comfortable grip and a more high-end in-hand feel of the phone. When it comes to colors, the A54 5G comes in vibrant shades sure to appeal to Gen Z vibes; the funky Awesome Lime, and the classic Awesome Graphite, with the modern-looking Awesome Violet as an online-only offer, giving a nice contrast from the classic shades of the Galaxy S23 series. It also has a refreshed camera module design, getting rid of the camera bump from the latter version, which complements the high-end look of the phone. And like the Galaxy S23 series, this phone also boasts an IP67 water and dust resistance rating, so you are in the clear from both the occasional splash and taking it on the road this summer. Awesome camera In terms of photography, the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G delivers outstanding performance with its triple back camera setup, which lets you capture awesome moments from various perspectives. The new 50MP f/1.8 main camera has a larger sensor with a 1.0µm pixel size that can capture brighter shots than the 64MP f/1.8 primary lens on the Galaxy A53, which has a 0.8µm pixel size. At the back, there is also a 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide lens and a 5MP f/2.4 macro lens. Endless selfies can be taken with a 32MP f/2.2 front-facing camera. The camera’s night mode will let you capture amazing memories in low-light conditions with ease. When it comes to display, this phone packs a brilliant 6.4-inch Super AMOLED panel—which falls in between the Galaxy S23’s 6.1-inch panel and the Galaxy S23+’s 6.6-inch display—with a 120Hz refresh rate and crisp Full HD+ resolution for a watching experience like no other. You can even have an immersive viewing experience even in harsh lighting conditions, thanks to its brightness that comes up to 1000 nits. Impeccable performance Inside the premium-looking casing of this phone, you’ll find the in-house Exynos 1380 which keeps the Always-On display. It’s backed by 8GB of RAM and 128GB/256GB of expandable storage and ultra-fast 5G connectivity, giving you fast performance and more time for work or play, and wide storage for keeping files or awesome memories captured with your phone. Like the Galaxy S23 series, the Galaxy A54 5G also has a 5,000mAh battery that provides up to two days of battery life on a single charge, with video playing lasting up to 21 hours*, so you can be uninterrupted as you watch your favorite shows, play mobile games, or just scroll through social media. Free-handed personalization The Samsung Galaxy A54 5G also runs on Android 13 with Samsung's One UI 5.1, which allows you to personalize your phone’s display. You can also enhance pictures with features such as the Object Eraser, which removes unwanted objects in pictures, and the Remaster Mode, which optimizes photos by boosting their color and clarity. The Samsung Galaxy A54 5G also offers the best-in-class OS and security updates that you won’t get with any other Android brands in the market. For a worry-free ownership experience, this phone provides up to five years of security upgrades, with features that let you protect your personal information and precious memories. It also offers four generations of Android OS updates that will make sure that your phone keeps up with the latest advancements in the Android system. So what are you waiting for? Get your own Samsung Galaxy A54 5G and get freebies worth up to PHP9,900! You can get a free 25W travel adapter for the whole month of May 1. You can also get a free clear phone case from May 12 to May 31 and if you’re waiting for the payday weekend, you can bring home the Galaxy A54 5G with a free Buds Live2, the perfect accessory partner for the Galaxy A series. The Galaxy A54 5G retails for only PHP 26,990 for the 256GB variant and PHP 24,990 for the 128GB variant and comes in three trendy colors: Awesome Graphite, Awesome Lime, and the online-exclusive Awesome Violet—a friendly price for a phone that gives you the high-end vibes and functionality! Secure your own Galaxy A54 5G with awesome deals, such as Home Credit's flexible payment options and 0% Credit Card installment plans. If you wish to trade in your old gadget, you can save up to PHP 10,150. Bundle discounts with other Samsung devices are also available: get 50% off the Galaxy Buds2 Pro and Galaxy Buds2, and 30% off the Galaxy Watch5 Series. You will also continue to receive a Free Travel Adapter with your phone. The post Leveled up smartphone’s midrange game appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Filipina fashion designer carves a name in Osaka
A young Filipina fashion designer based in Osaka, Japan, has continuously etched a name for herself – and for the country – as she faithfully upholds unique craftsmanship in all her creations. Her name: Pamela Madlangbayan. [caption id="attachment_141460" align="aligncenter" width="525"] FASHION DESIGNER: Pamela Madlangbayan[/caption] Pamela’s father was once an OFW. Longing to be together, the family relocated to the Land of the Rising Sun in 2006. However, come college, Pamela wished to alleviate some of her parents’ financial burdens. Thus, she earnestly searched for scholarships all across Japan and beyond. She was accepted into the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, where she finished her Fashion Design and Merchandising degree. As the worrisome pandemic halted the world into an absolute standstill, Pamela, on her final year, had serious second thoughts on her specialization. “I didn’t know whether I should even pursue fashion since nobody really needs designer clothes during a global crisis — at least that’s what it felt like,” she earlier admitted. Still, she continued to tread on her chosen path. Before long, she found herself back in Japan, a fashion capital of the world, creating bespoke pieces for the Japanese fashionista crowd. Today, she is an essential component of EINS, a curated vintage shop in Osaka. Armed with black suits, she breathes new life into these coats as she paints, embroiders and reshapes them. [caption id="attachment_141463" align="aligncenter" width="525"] MASTERFUL EMBROIDERY: Hand-stitched detailing on a vintage jacket[/caption] “I feel almost like Dr. Frankenstein, busily stitching together different suits and trousers to construct new hybrids. We gained a niche circle of clients who ordered these deconstructed avant-garde garments, as well as the custom painted suits to don for special occasions,” she said. She has likewise began teaching part-time at a major fashion institute, as an interpreter for Oleg Mitrofanov, a professor at various universities and colleges across continents. The duo covers courses from Introduction to Fashion and Concept Creation to reviewing student portfolios for the students’ graduate collection. As of recent, Pamela is busy with what is perhaps one of the most important projects in her career so far – the TAYO Fashion Showcase as part of the Filipino-Japanese Friendship affair, the first of its kind in Osaka. Founded by the illustrator and textile designer Feanne, Pamela was then tapped by the Philippine Consulate General as the event coordinator. TAYO, with a double meaning — us or to rise in Filipino and diverse or multicultural in Nihongo — will host a group of established fashion and jewelry designers from the Philippines, joining sustainable fashion designers from Japan in a celebration of craftsmanship. “I couldn’t be more excited to be able to bridge two of my homes through the fields I’m most passionate about,” she said. “The idea that we can be anything and everything all at once” is what continues to inspire the young fashion prodigy. “I can be anything as long as the hunger and passion to learn is present. The thought that I can grow and evolve into someone with an enriched mind and enhanced soul through arts is what keeps me truly going,” she disclosed. During her free time, she loves to stroll across the city and take pictures with her film camera — I repeat, film camera! She likewise makes an effort to use less social media, plus a term called touching grass which means to unplug and enjoy real life, which allows her more opportunity to appreciate nature and meet new people. On the other hand, she acknowledges that as a self-labeled “Official Grown Up,” pressure is internal. She breaks down steps one by one – and her anxiety disappears. “Pressure is something that we instill into ourselves. You’d be surprised how little people expect from you because they’re too busy tending to their own.” Let us hear from Pamela Madlangbayan on all the various aspects of her interesting life in Japan: [caption id="attachment_141462" align="aligncenter" width="525"] TOKYO FASHION SCENE: EINS bondage suits Photo credit: SHIN (@s.yoshi8024)[/caption] On EINS: After a year and a half, we got the attention of a popular high-end curated vintage store within the Shimokitazawa neighborhood in Tokyo. They currently hold my pieces with the EINS label tag and my artist alias Sabotten as the signature on all painted items. I’m very proud of the creations that I was able to produce with only little resources, a lot of imagination and many hours of manual labor. Therefore, to have those stocked in the heart of Tokyo’s alternative fashion scene is such a huge motivation for me to continue slowly, but surely! [caption id="attachment_141465" align="aligncenter" width="525"] CLASSIC REBIRTH: An EINS painted apparel[/caption] Her alter ego: Sabotten is alive and well! I’ve used that alias as my artist identity because I feared that Pamela Madlangbayan as a person might change the perception of the clients towards the art I create. The reason I kept my identity anonymous for my work at the brand is because I do not submit to the MODE-KEI fashion tribe — which is our main clientele. With fashion, it’s never just about the clothes, people buy the personality and the perception that comes with it. But now that my namesake label is in the works, I am gradually bringing the two artist identities together. After all, despite the contrasting elements, these are all a body of my field. I embrace everything now, without trying too hard to set them apart. [caption id="attachment_141466" align="aligncenter" width="525"] ALTER EGO CREATION: Custom-made Sabotten illustrated garment[/caption] Teaching: It’s been an honor and a privilege to work with Oleg Mitrofanov. Last December, we went to the most prestigious fashion school in Tokyo to conduct a week-long winter seminar. I’ve dreamt of – and even made it a goal at one point – to enroll at this school and it feels surreal to be teaching there. [caption id="attachment_141464" align="aligncenter" width="525"] NOBLE INITIATIVE: Pamela’s designs are brought to life by members of the FIBERS community Photo credits: Pamela Mejia/FIBERS[/caption] TAYO collection: The latest collection that will be unveiled at TAYO is a love letter to our laborers. My grandfather and those who came before him were produce farmers, mainly coffee, fruit and vegetables in Silang, Cavite. My great-grandmother was a seamstress during and after the war. They are my roots. Therefore, I want to honor my family, as well as those who continue to work in these sectors. Since the event will take place right after the Philippine Independence Day, I should shed the spotlight on our farmers and textile industry workers and craftsmen. I believe that they are the pillars of our society, often overlooked. However, they are the ones who keep our nation’s traditional agriculture and culture alive. My creations will be the “friendship show piece” of the event, one that binds both cultures. I am aware with the issues surrounding cultural appropriation and tokenization. I see both the Philippines and Japan as my homes, having lived here for almost two decades. Yes, I did a lot of research as to how I can pay homage to both cultures with the utmost respect. [caption id="attachment_141467" align="aligncenter" width="525"] FILIPINO-JAPANESE ELEMENTS: The Kimonoterno, a combination of two national dresses[/caption] Advocating Filipino craftsmanship: When talking to my Japanese peers, most of them do not really have an idea of what the Philippine fashion scene is like. I think it’s always worth talking about how much talent and skill our craftsmen and designers have, as well as our very rich culture and heritage. I’ve always wanted to share this aspect of the Philippines here in Japan and I believe the best way to do it is to, just do: Put out works, talk about Philippine fashion, promote my Filipino friends’ brands to Japanese friends. Empowering marginalized women: Though charity is altruistic and wonderful, it’s still a temporary fix to deep-seated social issues. I think the best way to uplift less-privileged communities is to connect and cultivate new groups where everyone can share their skills and experiences for the betterment of everyone involved. Through a referral of Allesandra Gutierrez, currently based in the Philippines, I was given the privilege to work with Fashion Innovative Businesses for the Environment, Reformation and Sustainability, a collective actively moving across countries in Southeast Asia -- from the Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand. I likewise connected with Pamela Mejia who spearheads a communal project that empowers marginalized women through needlework and other crafts. [caption id="attachment_141468" align="aligncenter" width="525"] IN HER WORLD: Pamela on a business trip in Tokyo[/caption] Advice to aspiring fashion designers: Being a designer is not a race. It’s a discipline that you hone over the years through practice, coupled with a lot of research. Stay grounded, remain eager to learn, try to look outwards, not inwards. See the world and think of what you can offer. Otherwise, we’re just creating more landfill. The post Filipina fashion designer carves a name in Osaka appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Over 30 peacekeepers injured in clashes in northern Kosovo
Over 30 peacekeepers deployed in a NATO-led mission in Kosovo were injured Monday in clashes with Serb protesters who demanded the removal of recently elected ethnic Albanian mayors, as tensions flare in the Balkan nation. NATO'S Kosovo Force (KFOR) said it had faced "unprovoked attacks" while countering a hostile crowd after demonstrators clashed with police and tried to force their way into a government building in the northern town of Zvecan. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said 52 Serbs were hurt, three seriously, while one was "wounded with two gunshots by (ethnic) Albanian special forces". Hungary's defense minister said on Facebook that "more than 20 Hungarian soldiers" were among the wounded, with seven in serious but stable condition. Italy's foreign minister said three of its soldiers were seriously wounded, and the country's prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, joined NATO in calling for "all parties to take a step back to lower tensions". Kosovo's Serbs boycotted last month's elections in northern towns, which allowed ethnic Albanians to take control of local councils despite a minuscule turnout of under 3.5 percent of voters. Kosovan Prime Minister Albin Kurti's government officially installed the mayors last week, defying calls to ease the tensions by the European Union and the United States, which have both championed the territory's 2008 independence from Serbia. Many Serbs are demanding the withdrawal of Kosovo police forces -- whose presence in northern Kosovo has long sparked resistance -- as well as the ethnic Albanian mayors they do not consider their true representatives. Early Monday, groups of Serbs clashed with Kosovo police in front of the municipal building in Serb-majority Zvecan and tried to enter, after which law enforcers responded by firing tear gas, according to an AFP journalist at the scene. NATO-led peacekeepers in the KFOR mission at first tried to separate protesters from the police, but later started to disperse the crowd using shields and batons, an AFP journalist saw. Several protesters responded by hurling rocks, bottles and Molotov cocktails at the soldiers, but were quickly repelled a few hundred meters away from the Zvecan municipal building. "While countering the most active fringes of the crowd, several soldiers of the Italian and Hungarian KFOR contingent were the subject of unprovoked attacks and sustained trauma wounds with fractures and burns due to the explosion of incendiary devices," the NATO force said in a statement. Eleven Italian soldiers were injured with "three in a serious condition", Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said. "We will not tolerate further attacks against KFOR," said Meloni. "It is essential to avoid further unilateral actions by the Kosovo authorities and for all parties to take a step back to lower tensions". NATO strongly condemned the "unprovoked" attacks against KFOR troops, adding that such actions were "totally unacceptable". "Violence must stop immediately. We call on all sides to refrain from actions that further inflame tensions, and to engage in dialogue," NATO said in a statement. KFOR commander Division General Angelo Michele Ristuccia slammed the "unacceptable" attacks and underlined that KFOR will "continue to fulfill its mandate impartially". Kosovo police said "organized" demonstrators rallied in northern Kosovo towns, home to many ethnic Serbs who reject Kosovo's independence from Serbia. "The protesters, using violence and throwing tear gas, tried to cross the security cordons and make a forced entry into the municipality facility" in Zvecan, Kosovo police said in a statement. "Police were forced to use legal means, such as (pepper) spray, to stop the protesters and bring the situation under control." Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in 2008, and Belgrade and its key allies Russia and China have refused to recognize it, effectively preventing Kosovo from having a seat at the United Nations. Serbs in Kosovo remained largely loyal to Belgrade, especially in the north, where they make up a majority and reject every move by Pristina to consolidate its control over the region. KFOR said it had bolstered its presence in northern Kosovo following the latest developments and urged Belgrade and Pristina to engage in an EU-led dialogue to reduce tensions. "We call on all sides to refrain from actions that could inflame tensions or cause escalation," KFOR said in a statement. Police had already used tear gas Friday to disperse Serbs in northern Kosovo who protested the installation of the mayors. Belgrade responded by placing its army on high alert and ordered forces towards the Serbian border with Kosovo. Russia's foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, speaking on a visit to Kenya, said that "Serbs are fighting for their rights in northern Kosovo". "A big explosion is looming in the heart of Europe, where NATO in 1999 carried out an aggression against Yugoslavia," Lavrov said, referring to the 1999 NATO intervention against Belgrade that effectively ended the war between Serb forces and ethnic Albanian guerrillas. The US ambassador and European Union envoy have summoned the ethnic Albanian mayors to a meeting in Pristina in a bid to ease tensions. France said it "condemns this violence in the strongest possible terms and calls on all parties, in particular the Kosovo government, to take immediate steps to reduce tensions". Two media teams from Pristina reported that protesters had slashed their tires and spray-painted their vehicles, while a local journalists' association called on law enforcers to provide a safe working environment for the media. After his first-round victory at the French Open on Monday, Serbian tennis superstar Novak Djokovic penned the message "Kosovo is the heart of Serbia. Stop the violence" on a television camera. "Kosovo is our cradle, our stronghold, center of the most important things for our country," Djokovic told reporters. The post Over 30 peacekeepers injured in clashes in northern Kosovo appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Hit-and-run of Filipino cyclists in Kuwait no correlation to visa issue — DFA
There is no correlation between the hit-and-run incident that left 11 Filipinos injured along the Arabian Gulf Road and the bilateral issues of the Philippines and Kuwait, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Sunday. In a text message to Daily Tribune, DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Affairs Eduardo de Vega quoted the initial report from the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait. “According to the Philippine Embassy, they see no correlation between this incident and the current issue about the visa and deployment bans being discussed,” De Vega said. The Philippines and Kuwait are currently in a deadlock after the latter maintained its suspension of visas for Filipinos in their country despite efforts from Philippine officials to resolve the issue. The visa suspension order was attributed to the establishment of an emergency shelter for distressed overseas Filipino workers in the Gulf state. De Vega noted that road accidents involving bicycles in Kuwait have been frequent over the years, adding that this is not an isolated case. He noted that there were minor to serious injuries caused to 11 Filipino bikers. “The Embassy visited the two hospitals where they were taken to ascertain their condition and offer assistance,” he said. Of the 11 Filipino bikers, seven were discharged after treatment and were able to give their statements at the Maidan Hawally Police Station. “They were assisted by lawyers hired by the Embassy,” he said. The official noted that aside from the seven, two of the Filipinos are still under observation for back injuries while two others have been admitted for treatment: one in the ICU for head trauma and brain edema and one more (a female) being treated for fractures to ribs and vertebrae. The perpetrator, who was the driver of the SUV that hit the Filipino cyclists, surrendered to the police and is now under investigation. “The Ministry of Interior says that all necessary legal measures will be taken against him,” De Vega said. At the moment, he said police are checking the camera footage and other evidence. “If the actions of the perpetrator are deemed intentional, the charges will be upgraded to a felony,” he said. The post Hit-and-run of Filipino cyclists in Kuwait no correlation to visa issue — DFA appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»