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Historic surf meet carves new tourism niche for Baler
The inaugural World Surf League (WSL) competition launched here will create a new niche for the municipality and the province in terms of tourism, a Department of Tourism (DOT) official said......»»
Tokong, Esquivel sustain momentum, start strong in Baler International Pro
Fresh off massive wins in La Union last week, surfers Marama Tokong and Jay-r Esquivel Jr. dominated their respective heats in the Baler International Pro here Thursday......»»
Surfing spotlight shines on Baler anew with historic International Pro tilt
The inaugural international competition in the “Birthplace of Philippine Surfing” will “definitely” be big for the surfing community here, according to the head of the Association of Surf Riders in Aurora Inc. (ASRAI)......»»
DPWH completes Aurora infrastructure projects
Baler, Aurora — At least two infrastructure projects were completed by the Department of Public Works and Highways which is expected to provide the residents of this town new facilities for sports and government services. DPWH Aurora District Engineer Roderick Andal disclosed that the first project completed is the covered court of the Aurora National High School located at Barangay Reserva which has a floor area of 600 square meters and is now being used by school staff and students for their outdoor activities. The P6.37 million was allocated for the project under the 2023 General Appropriations Act and is necessary for the learning development of the students. Andal said that with the new structure completed, the school can hold scheduled activities even in the rainy season. DPWH hopes that the interest of students in sports will increase because the project has been prepared for basketball and volleyball. Funds saved during the implementation were used to construct a comfort room near the multipurpose facility. The post DPWH completes Aurora infrastructure projects appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Weekend respite in Baler
Famous for surfing is Baler located in Aurora province, about 231 kilometers away from Manila. Baler, however, has other attractions besides surfing, including the rock formation in Diguisit, Barangay Zabali, and the waterfalls in San Luis, Aurora, among other spectacles that visitors will want to see for themselves. Of course, surfer aficionados will always prefer to go there for the big waves rushing from the vast Pacific Ocean to the Baler shoreline. Confortable quarters This, we experienced when we visited this surfing destination in June, a pre-pandemic plan that finally pushed through this year. Our hotel was located near the beach, about 100 meters away from shoreline. We booked the rooms online and paid half for our two-day stay with the balance to be fully paid when we arrived. Each of the four couples in our group shelled out close to P5,000 for the two-day stay with breakfast. Enjoying the beach and swimming at the hotel’s pool were, of course, free, except the use of a surf board at P200 per hour and the hiring of a surfing instructor at P300 per hour. Smooth drive Our six-hour drive from Manila to Baler was a breeze using Google and Waze maps. The trip from Manila to Nueva Ecija was uneventful, our excitement building as we traversed the steep and zigzag road starting near Pantabangan Dam all the way to Baler town. From Manila, travelers may opt to travel by bus at P1,200 fare for one way and P2,400 for a round-trip. Food for the soul Baler’s beach area is safe to explore, with plenty of choices for accommodations and dining. In the morning, you can wake up to a gentle breeze and feel energized by sight of the rushing waves from your window. Adventurous spirits may try surfing and other water activities. For those who don’t know how to swim, it is entertaining to watch the folks using their skills in balancing while the rushing waves hit their surf boards without falling to the water. Don’t forget to shop for souvenirs at Balete before heading home. Our group of four couples — Rick and Angie Galang, Efren and Tina Impreso, Dante and Ofelia Magbanua, yours truly and Lyn Junco — certainly recommend a staycation in Baler’s peaceful environment where the sound of waves crashing on the shoreline can be heard day and night. The post Weekend respite in Baler appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PAGASA: Goring continuing to weaken
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration on Monday said “Goring” continues to weaken while moving north-northeastward over the Philippine Sea. Heavy rainfall due to “Goring” is still expected in the northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan by Monday with 50 to 100 millimeters of rain pouring expected over the Batanes, Babuyan Islands and the northern portions of mainland Cagayan, Apayao, and Ilocos Norte by Tuesday. Batanes will have greater than 200 mm raindrops on Wednesday, including Babuyan Island at 100 to 200 mm while 50-100 mm rains are expected in the northern portions of mainland Cagayan, Apayao, and Ilocos Norte. PAGASA said the southwest monsoon enhanced by “Goring” meanwhile brings occasional or monsoon rains over the western portions of Central Luzon, Southern Luzon, and Visayas over the next three days. “Goring” is forecast to maintain its strength or may slightly weaken further in the next 12 hours due to the upwelling of cooler ocean waters and the onset of dry air intrusion before re-intensifying as it turns northwestward. The weather disturbance may pass close to Batanes at or near its peak intensity. PAGASA said interaction with the rugged terrain of Taiwan during its close approach will result in a weakening trend beginning by late Wednesday. Typhoon “Goring” was last tracked at 245 km East Northeast of Casiguran, Aurora, packing maximum sustained winds of 155 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 190 kph. Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal no. 1 remains hoisted over the Batanes, Babuyan Islands, the northern and eastern portions of mainland Cagayan (Camalaniugan, Pamplona, Gonzaga, Santa Teresita, Baggao, Buguey, Santa Ana, Claveria, Aparri, Ballesteros, Abulug, Sanchez-Mira, Santa Praxedes, Allacapan, Lal-Lo, Lasam, Peñablanca, Iguig, Amulung, Gattaran, Alcala), the eastern portion of Isabela (Dinapigue, San Mariano, San Guillermo, Ilagan City, Tumauini, San Pablo, Cabagan, Maconacon, Divilacan, Palanan), the northern and central portions of Aurora (Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dilasag, Baler, Dipaculao, Maria Aurora, San Luis), Polillo Islands, the northern and eastern portions of Camarines Norte (Capalonga, Jose Panganiban, Paracale, Vinzons, Talisay, Daet, Mercedes) including Calaguas Islands, the northeastern portion of Camarines Sur (Siruma, Tinambac, Lagonoy, Garchitorena, Caramoan), and the northern portion of Catanduanes (Panganiban, Caramoran, Viga, Bagamanoc, Pandan). The post PAGASA: Goring continuing to weaken appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PAGASA: ‘Goring’ now a super typhoon
State weather bureau Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration on Sunday revealed that tropical storm “Goring” has already reached super typhoon category and was spotted based on all available data, including those from Baler and Daet Weather Radars, at 95 km east northeast of Casiguran, Aurora. PAGASA said that Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 3 is up over the eastern portion of Isabela which include Divilacan, Palanan, Dinapigue, Ilagan City and San Mariano while TCWS No. 2 is hoisted over the eastern portion of mainland Cagayan, the northern and central portion of Isabela, the extreme northern portion of Aurora and the eastern portion of Quirino. It added that “Goring” is forecast to begin its loop over the Philippine Sea east of Cagayan-Isabela area Sunday and the super typhoon will then turn northeastward and northward tomorrow before shifting northwestward on Tuesday. On the track forecast, it will make landfall over the southern portion of Taiwan on Wednesday evening or on Thursday early morning. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. over the weekend assured that the government will exert all efforts to ensure that aid will be swiftly given to those who will be affected by “Goring.” Meantime, the Cagayan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council also on Sunday reported that around 448 families took refuge because of the effects of “Goring.” The PDRRMO listed the 448 families with 1,473 are from the six municipalities of Gonzaga, Lal-lo, Sta. Ana, Gattaran, Baggao and Sta. Teresita while 141 families with 388 individuals were brought to the evacuation centers while the rest took shelter in the houses of their relatives. Also, some roads in the province were deemed impassable because of the flood caused by the rains poured by “Goring” — the Abariongan Ruar-Abariongan Uneg road, Tammuco-Balagan-Abaruangan Ruar road and Tamban Bridge in the municipality of Sto. Niño. The flooding was also enhanced by the swelling of the river. In other developments, Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. has urged local chief executives in the Cagayan Valley Region and in other affected regions to be on their toes and carry out the necessary critical preparedness actions in accordance with the agency’s “Operation Listo” disaster preparedness manual. The DILG chief has also already directed their office in Region 2 to activate the Emergency Operations Center and Disaster Online Reporting and Monitoring System to ensure the adherence of local government units within their jurisdiction to Operation LISTO Disaster protocols. Amid the looming onslaught of “Goring,” the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines has also taken preventative measures, said that airports that may be potentially affected include Tuguegarao Airport, Basco Airport, Itbayat Airport, Cauayan Airport and Palanan Airport. The post PAGASA: ‘Goring’ now a super typhoon appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
This writers’ workshop loves Filipino literature
The Palihang Rogelio Sicat discussion on 21 June held in UP Diliman looked and sounded like an art class session. Manolo Sicat, the well-known artist and sculptor, was delivering a demo-lecture on printmaking. He said figures and words can go together in a work of art. [gallery columns="2" size="full" ids="175634,175632"] He had a PowerPoint presentation of print images. A pair of prints of a couple of dancers were passed around. One was in black and white, the other in color. Texture and motion were their immediate charm. “But what has printmaking to do with us?,” said Christian Balagoza, a boyish writer. “We’ll know when we get the printmaking session,” said sir Reuel Aguila, director PRS 16 (2023). Art collab This is the latest PRS innovation. When the session was held a few days later, Sicat conducted an honest-to-goodness printmaking workshop at the UP College of Fine Arts. A colleague, Prof. Ambie Abano, welcomed the group and opened her atelier to show mural-sized prints made from wooden originals. It is the artist’s impressive collection of prints featuring landscapes of lush trees in dark, brooding background. Fellows from the previous online batch joined the art activity. During the three-hour session, everyone polished her rubber board, chiseled images and texts, and finally print the works on paper. They were amazed to pick up the skill fast and admire the results in no time. Thumbs and nails got smudged with sticky ink yet everyone was smiling at the wet and black artworks clipped on wires that crossed the studio. 16 years of PRS This is one of the activities that make PRS unique. Thanks to its founders -- dramatist Reuel Aguila, retired professor now a lecturer at the UP, and fictionist Jimmuel Naval, dean of the UP College of Arts and Letters. The partner is always on the lookout for ingenious ways to improve the workshop, all for the good of young writers. PRS began as an informal workshop of a number of young writers held in the mansion of Ligaya Tiamson Rubin in Angono, Rizal, in 2008. Today, fellows accepted in the workshop are pegged at 15. Fellows like the idea that they are the main commentators of the manuscripts. During workshops, they get to be the lead discussant. “They learn to be critical and not rely too much on the opinion of the panelists,” said Aguila. The PRS is the only writers’ workshop that aspires to be mobile, going around the country to make its appellation ‘national’ true. It literally brings the creative writing life closer to practitioners. PRS collaborates with local governments, and with their support the workshop had been to Palayan City, Nueva Ecija (2009); Baler, Aurora (2010); Alfonso, Cavite (2011); Sta. Cruz, Marinduque (2012); Angeles City, Pampanga (2014); and Makati City (2015). It also cooperates with the academe as in UP Visayas-Tacloban (2017), UP Baguio (2018) and UP Los Baños (2019). There were times PRS stayed at its home base UP Diliman like during the 50th anniversary of the UP Department of Filipino and Philippine Literature (UP-DFPL) in 2017. It went online as Zoom conference twice during the pandemic. With the renowned writer Rogelio Sicat as PRS idol, the workshop chooses Filipino language as its medium of writing literature. It also accepts works from the region’s translated into Filipino. Institutional support PRS is the official outreach program of the UP-DFPL whose incumbent chair Schedar DT Jocson said that from the beginning, it has supported PRS and its objectives. Many of its panelists are from the department, including alumna Dr. Lulu Torres-Reyes, the PRS 16 guest of honor. Other PRS supporters include the UP Sentro ng Wikang Filipino (UP-SWF). “We are honored to be part of a movement that brings Philippine literature closer to the common people. PRS writers enrich the catalog of our website,” said director Jayson Petras. Friends and business people also support PRS, like Palawan Pawnshop / Palawan Express Padala company. Lively discussion about literature An hour of PRS discussion on a story or poem does not exhaust its reading or interpretation. To address the gap, sessions are set beyond the allotted time and well into almost midnight. Fellows do not seem to mind as they are very eager to huddle with seniors who are just as willing to forego of an early bedtime. PRS goes one more step. In 2022, it created post-workshop online sessions. Here, senior and beginning writers discuss new works. Everyone is excited to have these disquisitions that aim to improve writing skills. Dedication is demanded from both sides. The recent PRS workshop had the Sicat siblings Luna and Manolo beaming with pride. They were quite surprised to know that almost 300 young writers had already experienced the workshop. PRS is also proud that esteemed writers served as its panelists, including Bienvenido Lumbera, Edgardo Reyes, Ricardo Lee, Rogelio Ordoñez, Lualhati Bautista, Rosario Lucero, Elmer Ordoñez, Jose Dalisay, Marne Kilates, Jess Santiago, Fidel Rillo, Edgardo Maranan, Lilia Quindoza Santiago, Delfin Tolentino, Bonifacio Ilagan, Frank Cimatu, Joi Barrios-Le Blanc, Chris Millado, Jerry Gracio, Richard Gappi, Eros Atalia, Joselito delos Reyes, Choi Pangilinan and Junley Lorenzana Lazaga. PRS connects the lives of senior and beginning writers. Rogelio Sicat would be proud of this long -running project named after him. The post This writers’ workshop loves Filipino literature appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
LTOPF caravan launched
BALER, Aurora — A two-day caravan to process License to Own and Possess Firearms kicked off here last Wednesday as part of the Philippine National Police’s efforts to bring its services closer to the people. The one-stop shop caravan at Camp Victor Ravina, Barangay, Sabang here encourages hassle-free licensure for all firearms in the province as part of the collaborative project of the Aurora Police Provincial Office and the provincial government of Aurora. Lt. Samson E. Tumaliuan, inspection team leader of the Firearms and Explosive Section of Regional Civil Security Unit-3, said the caravan is a convergence of services that seeks to provide concerned individuals with a one-stop venue for the processing of requirements such as a neuro-psychiatric examination, drug test, police clearance and notarization of documents. “This is to extend registration services to the public and of course, to reduce the number of unregistered firearms in the entire province,” Tumaliuan said, adding that of the 253 registered gun holders in the province, at least 212 have already applied for the LTOPF. The post LTOPF caravan launched 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......»»
Signal No. 2 in 17 areas as Typhoon Egay intensifies — Pagasa
MANILA, Philippines — Seventeen areas are now under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) Number 2 as Typhoon Egay (international name: Doksuri) steadily intensifies, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said in its 5:00 p.m. update. Pagasa said the center of Egay, which was last spotted some 500 kilometers east of Baler, Aurora, has increased […] The post Signal No. 2 in 17 areas as Typhoon Egay intensifies — Pagasa appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Metro Manila, other Luzon areas under Signal '1 as ‘Egay’ intensifies
Typhoon Egay has intensified further as it continues to move westward slowly, according to the state weather bureau. According to PAGASA’s 11 a.m update today, 24 July, "Egay" was last located 525 kilometers east of Baler, Aurora. The storm is currently packing maximum sustained winds of 150 kilometers per hour and gusts up to 185 kilometers per hour. "Egay" is expected to continue its intensification to a super typhoon category, reaching its peak by tomorrow evening. The storm may make landfall in extreme Northern Luzon. Thus, PAGASA has raised Signal #2 in the provinces of Catanduanes, the central and eastern portions of Isabela, eastern portions of Albay, eastern and central portions of Cagayan, eastern portions of Camarines Sur, northern portions of Camarines Norte, eastern portions of Quirino and northern portions of Aurora. In Visayas, Signal #2 is also hoisted in the northeastern portions of Northern Samar, specifically the towns of Laoang and Palapag. Signal #1 is raised in the rest of mainland Luzon, the remaining provinces in Samar island, Biliran, the northern and central portions of Leyte and the northern portions of Cebu. PAGASA is forecasting "Egay" to move west-northwestward in the next 12 hours before turning northwestward toward extreme Northern Luzon. The typhoon is expected to pass close to or make landfall in the Batanes-Babuyan Islands area tomorrow evening to Wednesday afternoon. A possibility of a landfall in the northeastern portion of Cagayan is not ruled out by the state weather bureau due to the presence of high pressure north of the typhoon. PAGASA has warned about the potential effects of the southwest monsoon (Habagat) that could bring occasional rainfall to the western portions of Luzon and Visayas for the next three days. Typhoon "Egay" is expected to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Thursday. The post Metro Manila, other Luzon areas under Signal #1 as ‘Egay’ intensifies appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
6,500 people stranded in Bicol, Easter Visayas regions due to ‘Egay’
As Typhoon Egay further intensifies, making weather forecaster PAG-ASA raised storm signals over the southeastern portion of Isabela province and the northeastern portion of Catanduanes, more than 6,500 people were now stranded in various ports in the Bicol Region and Eastern Visayas, the Philippine Coast Guard reported on Monday. In its 5 a.m. weather bulletin, PAG-ASA said Egay was last seen 565 kilometers east of Baler, Aurora with maximum sustained winds of 140 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of 170 kph. With this, the PCG monitored that a total of 3,104 people, consisting of passengers, cargo truck drivers and helpers, are currently stranded in the ports of Pioduran, Tabaco, San Andres, Virac, Aroroy, Mintac, Cawayan, Matnog and Pilar in the Bicol Region. While in the Eastern Visayas, 3,440 passengers, truck drivers and cargo helpers stay in various ports in the Eastern Visayas, namely the Port of San Ricardo, Padre Burgos, Balwarteco, Sta. Clara and Dapdap. Further, the PCG reported that a total of 36 vessels are taking shelter on those said ports as of Monday morning. The post 6,500 people stranded in Bicol, Easter Visayas regions due to ‘Egay’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PLDT gets NTC nod for landing stations
Integrated telecommunications firm PLDT Inc. has secured a provisional authority from the National Telecommunications Commission to build two new cable landings eyed to further improve local Internet services. The company confirmed on Wednesday that the planned landing stations will be part of the Apricot cable system — the newest Intra-Asia submarine cable facing the Pacific side of the country. PLDT said the new cable landing stations, which will be in Baler, Aurora, and Digos, Davao, are scheduled to be completed by early 2025. Particularly, it will add resiliency to its existing landing stations in Batangas, La Union and Daet. “The Apricot cable system’s route ensures a significantly higher degree of resilience. When our Baler and Davao cable landing stations are completed, PLDT will have alternate sites facing the Pacific, making it easier to hook up to data offices in the US,” PLDT and Smart president and CEO Alfredo S. Panlilio said. The entire 12,000-kilometer-long Apricot cable system will connect the Philippines, Japan, Singapore, Indonesia, Taiwan, and Guam. It is expected to be operational by the end of 2025, which will help augment PLDT’s international capacity for data traffic particularly to the US and across Asia and the Pacific. Likewise, it will raise PLDT’s total international capacity to more than 140 Tbps. As of the end of the first quarter, PLDT had already expanded its total fiber footprint to over 1.1 million kilometers — consisting of over 231,000 km of international fiber and over 874,000 km of domestic fiber. The post PLDT gets NTC nod for landing stations appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Combined LPA, habagat to affect parts of Phl
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration announced on Thursday that rainy weather will be experienced throughout the country due to the combined effects of the low-pressure area off Infanta, Quezon, and the southwest monsoon or habagat. Citing the latest PAGASA bulletin, weather specialist Patrick del Mundo said that the LPA is unlikely to become a tropical cyclone in the next 24 hours but already affects several parts of the country. “This LPA remained less likely to become a tropical cyclone in the next 24 hours, but we are expecting it to move closer to parts of Aurora, Quezon, and Camarines Norte area,” Del Mundo said. However, PAGASA has not ruled out the possibility of the weather disturbance intensifying into a tropical depression. The LPA was last tracked 90 kilometers over Northeast of Infanta, Quezon, or 85 km Southeast of Baler, Aurora. Del Mundo said the Southwest Monsoon is still affecting Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. “Due to the combined effects of LPA and southwest monsoon, we expect the sky to be cloudy throughout the day, along with scattered rain, lightning, and thunder,” Del Mundo said. The combined LPA and the southwest monsoon will trigger rain showers and thunderstorms called “monsoon rains” in Metro Manila, Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, and MIMAROPA. The post Combined LPA, habagat to affect parts of Phl appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Combined LPA, Habagat to affect most part of Phl— Pagasa
Rainy weather will be experienced throughout the country due to the combined effects of the low-pressure area off Infanta, Quezon, and the southwest monsoon or Habagat, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Administration said Thursday. Citing the latest PAGASA bulletin, weather specialist Patrick Del Mundo said that the LPA is unlikely to become a tropical cyclone in the next 24 hours but already affects several parts of the country. “This LPA remained less likely to become a tropical cyclone in the next 24 hours, but we are expecting it to move closer to parts of Aurora, Quezon, and Camarines Norte area,” Del Mundo reported. However, PAGASA has not ruled out the possibility of the weather disturbance intensifying into a tropical depression. The LPA was last tracked 90 kilometers over Northeast of Infanta, Quezon, or 85 km Southeast of Baler, Aurora (15.3°N, 122.3°E). Del Mundo said the Southwest Monsoon is still affecting Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. “Due to the combined effects of LPA and southwest monsoon, we expect the sky to be cloudy throughout the day, along with scattered rain, lightning, and thunder,” he added. The combined LPA and the southwest monsoon will trigger rain showers and thunderstorms called “monsoon rains” in Metro Manila, Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, and MIMAROPA. Southwest Monsoon will bring occasional rains over Bicol Region and Western Visayas. PAGASA warned that scattered to widespread rains could cause possible flooding or landslides in the above-mentioned areas. While Central and Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, BARMM, and SOCCSKSARGEN will experience Cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms due to Habagat. Isolated rain showers or thunderstorms will prevail over the Caraga and Davao Region due to localized thunderstorms. The post Combined LPA, Habagat to affect most part of Phl— Pagasa appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Zubiri signs enrolled Maharlika Investment Fund bill
Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri on Wednesday signed the controversial Maharlika Investment Fund bill in Washington, D.C., a crucial requirement before the Senate transmits it to Malacañang for President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s approval. Zubiri, who is currently in the United States for an official trip, signed the enrolled copy of the bill at the Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C. Senate Secretary Renato Bantug personally flew to the United States to get the Senate chief’s signature. Aside from the MIF bill, Bantug also brought with him two enrolled measures such as the Estate Tax Amnesty Extension Act and the Act recognizing Baler, Aurora, as the birthplace of Philippine Surfing. “The Maharlika bill is a priority measure, and the Estate Tax Amnesty Extension is very time-sensitive. Many people are waiting for these bills. Fortunately, the enrolled copies were already prepared by the time Secretary Bantug was set to join us in Washington,” Zubiri said in a statement. “So he was able to bring them along with him, instead of letting them sit in the Senate waiting for my return, and I was able to sign them on Philippine soil, here in the embassy,” he added. He clarified that Bantug was supposed to be part of the Senate delegation and “only brought the enrolled bills with him.” Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel “Babe” Romualdez, and Senator Francis Tolentino, who are part of the working visit, witnessed the signing. According to Zubiri, the Estate Tax Amnesty Extension Act is set to be sent to Malacañang for the signature of the President, while the Maharlika Investment Fund Act is set to be sent to the House of Representatives for the signature of the Speaker. “We have a few more days of meetings here in Washington, but with these enrolled bills already signed, we can send them out straightaway upon our return,” he said. The Senate chief refused to answer questions about how the chamber addressed the different terms and prescriptive periods found in Sections 50 and 51 of the MIF bill. He, however, noted that “the corrections were thoroughly discussed by the majority bloc in our Viber group, including the letter of correction sent by Senator Mark Villar.” In the approved version of the MIF bill, Section 50 prescribes a 10-year period for the prosecution of crimes and offenses, while Section 51 provides a 20-year period. The post Zubiri signs enrolled Maharlika Investment Fund bill appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
No isolation via internet
The Marcos administration is expected to further narrow the country’s so-called “digital divide” as it focuses on connectivity projects in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas or GIDAs, an official of the Department of Information and Communications Technology said on Saturday. In a briefing, DICT Undersecretary Jocelle Batapa-Sigue said the department is prioritizing connectivity projects in the countryside, targeting the GIDAs. At the same time, private telecommunications companies are implementing their infrastructure projects in highly urbanized areas. To emphasize the significance of the Marcos administration’s efforts to promote digital inclusivity during National ICT Month, Batapa-Sigue said the concluding events of the celebration on 30 June would take place on Sacol Island in Zamboanga City. Sacol Island is one of the remotest areas of the country. “If we look at it, all the connectivity programs implemented and funded by the DICT are not focused on urban areas because commercial players are already present there. So what we prioritize are the GIDA areas,” the DICT official said. Islanders connected “Sacol Island is a very distant island but is home to many children and families. Last year, for the first time in their lives, they could send messages and post on Facebook because the DICT provided Internet access,” Batapa-Sigue said. On Friday, President Marcos led the eGov PH Super App kick-off ceremony in Malacañang to underline the importance of digital transformation in governance and economic development. To date, Batapa-Sigue said, Internet connectivity coverage in the Philippines is at around 73 percent. “So, for us, even though this number is significant, it is still small because, as you mentioned, your signal gets Interrupted. So it’s not only a question of coverage, it’s also a question of speed, latency, affordability, and access to the internet,” she said. The DICT official said the agency has also started a national broadband project with a landing station in Baler, Aurora, to cover the whole country. The National Fiber Backbone Phase 1 Spectrum light-up launch held last April at the Baler Cable Landing Station will initially provide high-speed Internet connectivity in Luzon. The event facilitated the initial 100 Gbps link-up between Los Angeles, California, and the cable landing stations and the San Fernando, La Union CLS. Establishing the connectivity link-up is part of the Luzon Bypass Infrastructure (LBI) that will provide high-speed internet connectivity to Northern Luzon and Metro Manila once the NFB Phase 1 becomes operational. The LBI, a project of the DICT in partnership with Meta (Facebook) and the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA), is a building block of the NFB. The post No isolation via internet appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Betty’ accelerates over the waters east of Aparri, Cagayan
Typhoon Betty slightly accelerates northwestward at 20 kilometers per hour over the waters east of Cagayan according to Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration. The state weather bureau said in its bulletin on Monday, 29 May that the typhoon was located 525 km east of Aparri, Cagayan as of 4:00 am. “Betty” is packing maximum sustained winds of 155 km/h and gustiness of up to 190 km/h, the bulletin added. “BETTY will move generally northwestward slowly today and may become slow-moving or almost stationary from tomorrow to mid-Wednesday while over the waters east of Batanes,” PAGASA said. Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 has been raised over Batanes, the eastern portion of Babuyan Islands (Babuyan Islands, Camiguin Islands, Didicas Islands, Pamuktan Islands), and the northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan (Santa Ana). Meanwhile, Signal No. 1 is raised over the rest of Babuyan Islands, the rest of mainland Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, the northeastern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Kasibu, Quezon, Solano, Bagabag, Diadi, Villaverde, Bayombong, Ambaguio), Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Ilocos Norte, the northern and central portions of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao, Baler), Polillo Islands, the northern portion of Catanduanes (Caramoran, Viga, Gigmoto, Panganiban, Bagamanoc, Pandan), the northeastern portion of Camarines Sur (Caramoan, Garchitorena, Lagonoy, Tinambac, Siruma), and the northern portion of Camarines Norte (Vinzons, Paracale, Jose Panganiban, Capalonga, Talisay, Daet, Mercedes, Basud). A marine gale warning remains in effect over the northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Luzon, eastern seaboards of Central Luzon, the eastern and southern seaboards of Southern Luzon, the eastern and western seaboards of Visayas, and the eastern seaboard of Mindanao. “The typhoon will turn north northeastward or northeastward on late Wednesday or Thursday and gradually accelerate towards the waters east of Taiwan and the southern portion of Ryukyu Islands. BETTY may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Friday,” PAGASA said. The post ‘Betty’ accelerates over the waters east of Aparri, Cagayan appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Building climate-resilient housing
Holcim Philippines, Inc. and climate-resilient-housing organization Build Change have strengthened their partnership to improve access of Filipinos to climate-resilient housing renovations. The parties will collaborate on a pilot project to expand funding access to vulnerable, low-income families through scalable, sustainable and appropriate microloans to strengthen houses using low-carbon Holcim products and through Build Change’s partner microfinance institution Alalay sa Kaunlaran, Inc. The project aims to strengthen 28 houses in Baler, Aurora, against extreme weather, create 100 jobs and train 1,500 people in climate-resilient buildings. Holcim Philippines will provide grant funding complementary to the loans taken by clients for the strengthening of select houses in Aurora. In addition, Holcim Philippines will share technical guidance on the proper use of its products and help promote the program. Meanwhile, Build Change will provide technical assistance to incrementally strengthen houses through its developed tools and resources and coordinate with ASKI for the project implementation in Nueva Ecija and Aurora. Holcim chief sustainability officer Zoe Sibala shares: “We are proud and excited to move to this next stage of our partnership with Build Change that will significantly contribute to protecting the most vulnerable Filipino families from the devastating effects of climate change. This initiative enables them to make the needed improvements in the right manner to raise the performance of homes against typhoons and earthquakes that regularly hit the country. We look forward to its success that highlights our commitment to building greener, smarter and for all.” [caption id="attachment_131560" align="aligncenter" width="956"] Photograph Courtesy of HOLCIM | (from left): Holcim Philippines chief sustainability officer Zoe Sibala, president and CEO Horia Adrian, Build Change vice president of programs Juan Caballero and Philippine program manager Girlie Lopez.[/caption] Build Change country program manager Girlie Lopez said: “In our work with MFIs, Build Change has proven that families are willing to take out loans to strengthen their houses if adequate financing and technical assistance options are available for people without access to conventional credit. In collaboration with Holcim Philippines, Build Change will continue to work with MFIs and homeowners to take these lessons and financial products to the next level of scale. We are excited about this partnership and confident it will make a difference in improving the lives of Filipinos.” In 2022, Holcim Philippines and Build Change formalized their cooperation to work on disaster-resilient housing projects in highly vulnerable areas in the country. Build Change has worked in the Philippines since Typhoon Yolanda in 2013. During this period, it has supported post-disaster reconstruction and work to prevent housing loss against future disasters. Its accomplishments include constructing over 2,000 safer buildings for 40,000 people, training over 4,700 individuals in safe construction practices, creating 560 jobs, and expanding its network of partners in the local government and business sector for a more significant impact. Christian business leaders in Nueva Ecija started ASKI in 1989 to support the community’s development by providing microfinancing access to small entrepreneurs and other members of society not served by bigger funding institutions. It has grown to help rural communities and overseas Filipino workers with a portfolio of P1.7 billion with 98 branches in Regions 1, 2 and 3 serving more than 100,000 clients and ensuring more than 800,000 members and their families. The post Building climate-resilient housing appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»