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How nations allow or restrict legal gender change
A small number of countries have made it easier for transgender people to change their legal gender, while other nations have restricted such changes, notably Russia and Pakistan. Here is a snapshot of the situation around the world. Exception, not the rule According to the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA), 24 UN member states have legally allowed people to change their gender on the basis of self-identification. In about 40 other countries, the legal and administrative process can take years and may include requirements such as psychiatric diagnosis, hormone treatment, gender confirmation surgery, or even sterilization. Making it easier Argentina has led the way on transgender rights, allowing a change of gender on national ID cards with a simple declaration since 2012. Several Latin American countries have followed suit. Denmark was the first European country in 2014 to allow adults to apply for a gender change without undergoing medical or psychological assessments, with Belgium, Ireland, Malta, Norway, Portugal, and most recently Spain following suit. Since 2017, France has allowed transgender people to change their status on their ID documents without treatment, surgery, or sterilization but they must receive court approval. The issue of trans rights sparked a fierce row in 2022 in Scotland, where parliament passed a bill making it easier for people to self-identify their gender that was sensationally vetoed by London. The German cabinet in August 2023 signed off plans under which Germans will be able to change their name or legal gender by making a simple application to their local registry office. The law still has to go to parliament. Hesitating Sweden, one of the world's most liberal countries, was the first in the world to authorize physical and legal gender reassignment for adults in 1972. But last year it began restricting hormone therapy available for children diagnosed with gender dysphoria, such as puberty blockers, citing the need for caution following a strong increase in demand. It also restricted access to mastectomies for teenage girls wanting to transition. Finland in 2020 had already restricted hormone treatment for minors. Making it harder Russia adopted new legislation in July 2023 banning "medical interventions aimed at changing the sex of a person" and "the state registration of a change of gender without an operation". President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly railed against transgender rights in his speeches. Pakistan's religious judiciary ruled in May that landmark transgender legal protections from 2018 are un-Islamic and therefore void. An appeal is being sought with the Supreme Court. Pakistan continues to recognize the existence of a third gender, neither masculine nor feminine, as do India and Nepal. Restricting gender-affirming treatment, such as puberty blockers for minors, has become a major campaign of US conservatives. Arkansas in 2021 became the first US state to ban physicians and health workers from offering transition-related treatment to transgender minors. A federal judge in June overturned the ban. Around 20 states, including Florida and Texas, have passed similar laws. Anti-LGBTQ sentiment in Hungary has escalated during the rule of Viktor Orban's right-wing government. In May 2020, the country passed a law making it impossible for transgender people to change their name and gender on their ID documents. The post How nations allow or restrict legal gender change appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Mike Enriquez honored by PMAP with posthumous award
For his contributions to the industry as one of the country’s most trusted broadcast journalists, Miguel “Mike” Enriquez was posthumously conferred a Makatao Award for Media Excellence by the People Management Association of the Philippines. The award was personally received by his wife, Lizabeth “Baby” Enriquez, together with GMA Network first vice president for radio Glenn Allona and assistant vice president for GMA Integrated News John Ray Arrabe, during a ceremony held at GMA Network last 15 September. Presenting the award to Mrs. Enriquez were 2022 PMAP president and board of trustees for Media and Communications member Ellen Fullido; PMAP communication specialist and Makatao Awards for Media Excellence program lead Martin Alcantara; training head Richard Mamuyac; and HR Head Bernadette Tan. A five-time Makatao awardee and Hall of Famer, Enriquez was recognized by PMAP for his dedication to and enduring legacy in advancing public knowledge, as well as his promotion of sound people management in the country through his years of service as broadcaster. Enriquez was recognized as Best TV Male Newscaster at the 3rd Makatao Awards in 2013. He achieved back-to-back Best Radio News Anchor wins at the 6th and 7th Makatao Awards in 2017 and 2018. He then took home the Best Radio News Program Host award during the 8th and 10th Makatao Awards in 2018 and 2022. Enriquez. who passed away last 29 August at the age of 71, was the president of RGMA Network, Inc. and GMA Network's senior vice president and consultant for Radio Operations. He anchored DZBB's “Super Balita sa Umaga” and “Saksi sa Dobol B." He was one of the anchors of GMA's flagship newscast “24 Oras” and of the late-night newscast “Saksi.” He also hosted the long-running public affairs program “Imbestigador.” Several Kapuso news personalities and shows were also recognized at PMAP’s 11th Makatao Awards held last 30 August. State of the Nation anchor Atom Araullo won Best TV News Program Host, while GMA Integrated News Digital Strategy and Innovation Lab's online newscast Stand for Truth was named the Best Online Broadcast for its "Emergency Landing" episode. In the radio category, the tandem of Arnold Clavio and Connie Sison were recognized as Best Radio Public Affairs Program while “Dobol Weng sa Dobol B” was named Best Radio Public Affairs Program. Joey Reyes Zobel and Melo Del Prado completed the awards by winning Best News Program Hosts. For more stories about the Kapuso Network, visit www.GMANetwork.com. The post Mike Enriquez honored by PMAP with posthumous award appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
A resounding FIBA World Cup hosting success
In 2007, sports patron and prominent business executive Manny V. Pangilinan flew to Geneva to mend the country’s scarred relationship with FIBA when the Philippines was suspended due to a struggle between the Basketball Association of the Philippines and the Philippine Olympic Committee. Over the years, MVP, along with the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas or SBP, were able to make amends and formed a strong bond with FIBA. And as they say, the rest was history. MVP’s vision to host the FIBA World Cup in a tri-nation bid was approved. The country, together with Japan and Indonesia, was granted to host the 2023 FIBA World Cup, with 32 teams competing for the coveted Naismith trophy for the 2023 Last Sunday, the World Cup curtain finally closed, with several records written, erased, and etched in FIBA history. First, the expanded World Cup adopted by the organizers successfully achieved a more competitive playing field. Nine of the 32 that came to this World Cup did not play in the previous World Cup. After two weeks of grueling competition, six of the eight countries that previously entered the quarterfinals in the 2019 World Cup failed to advance to the next round. Argentina, France, Spain, Poland, Australia, and the Czech Republic were eliminated earlier in the group stages, with only the US and Serbia moving to the semi-final round. Second, for the first time since it participated in the tournament, Germany won the World Cup championship, beating all its opponents in the elimination rounds for an immaculate 7-0 and completing an 8-0 game sweep by beating Serbia in the final, 83-77. FIBA secretary general Andreas Zagklis was quoted by AP saying the expanded qualification field “has changed global basketball on the men’s side.” Third, the three host countries had record-breaking attendance, a rousing success for the tri-nation hosting of the world’s biggest basketball show. Across 92 games in 15 days in five different venues (three in Manila, one each in Okinawa and Jakarta), Zagklis said the World Cup drew a total of 700,000 fans pending the final numbers from the bronze-medal match between USA and Canada and Serbia-Germany finale. In the opener on 25 August, the Philippines tallied a World Cup record featuring 38,115 fans who witnessed the thrilling battle between home team Gilas Pilipinas and the Dominican Republic at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan. The milestone highlighted the Philippines’ hosting and smashed the previous record of 32,616 spectators who watched the gold medal match between the USA and Russia in the 1994 games in Toronto, Canada. Zaglis was all praises for the three countries, especially the Philippines, whom he described as an excellent host. “I don’t think it’s easy to find anywhere in the world that has this kind of service to the visitors. Always with a smile and kindness and with a solution-oriented approach. I can only express how grateful FIBA is to the Philippines,” Zaglis said. SBP president Al S. Panlilio had mixed emotions as the FIBA World Cup ended. “We have proven that our country can host a global basketball event as huge as the FIBA World Cup. Everyone involved — the local organizing committee, various private and public stakeholders, volunteers, peace and order personnel, traffic enforcers, the LGUs, and basketball-loving Pinoys who bravely trooped to the venues to watch the games — must be congratulated for making the event a whopping success.” “But there’s also a feeling of extreme bittersweetness as it comes to an end, yet overshadowed by extreme hopefulness for the 2027 World Cup in Qatar,” he added. Panlilio spearheaded the country’s bid for the multiple-nation hosting of the World Cup along with MVP, SBP chairman emeritus, in 2017. He acknowledged what MVP did to bring the FIBA World Cup to the Philippines with his creative vision of bidding for multi-nation hosting. “It was a privilege to help realize that creative vision by collaboratively working with various groups and stakeholders and successfully hosting the World Cup. We are proud of the effort everyone contributed to make this huge undertaking a monumental and amazing feat,” Panlilio said. The post A resounding FIBA World Cup hosting success appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Marawi City siege victims seek P17.4B
People adversely affected by the 2017 Marawi siege have filed a total of P17,456,836,830 in claims from 4 July to 31 August this year, the Marawi Compensation Board told lawmakers on Monday. But the board said the 4,762 claimants represented only 19 percent of the estimated 23,489 individuals directly affected by the five-month armed conflict between government forces and the combined Maute and Abu Sayyaf terror groups. The siege ended on 23 October 2017 with the surrender or killing of the remaining militants. The conflict left over 1,100 people dead, including 44 government troopers. It displaced over 350,000 people. MCB chairperson Maisara Dandamun Latiph told a hearing of the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on the Marawi Siege Victims Compensation Act of 2022 that the claimants included those whose properties were destroyed in the fighting. Other claimants had relatives who were killed or who were wounded during the siege which prompted then President Rodrigo Duterte to declare martial law in Mindanao, Latiph said. “These (figures) are based on verified application claim forms that were filed under oath,” she said, adding that the filing was just the first step in a process that includes multi-layered evaluation by lawyers and engineers. So far, only 220 applications had been assessed, while 120 claims totaling P395 million had been processed, the MCB official said. Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said the MCB needs at least P89 billion to compensate all the war victims. The government initially allocated only P1 billion for compensation under Republic Act 11696, or the Marawi Siege Victims Compensation Law. The law tasked MCB to oversee the process of application and payment of compensation to qualified claimants. Compensation rates are based on the implementing rules and regulations of RA 11696. Under the guidelines, a damaged structure would be compensated P12,000 per square meter if it was made of concrete, P9,000 per sqm if made of wood and concrete, and P6,000 if made of light materials. 5-year process Owners of destroyed properties are to be paid P18,000 per sqm. (concrete), P13,500 (concrete and wood), and P9,000 for those made of light materials, mainly wood. Compensation of P350,000 will be paid to the kin or heirs of each victim who died in the siege. Latiph said the board eyes to complete the compensation process within five years. She said they are targeting to accommodate 200 claims daily, 150 recommendations a week, and 600 decisions a month. Data from Task Force Bangon Marawi showed there were more than 17,000 households in the 24 barangays in Marawi City that were most affected by the conflict. The Marawi siege was the deadliest conflict in the Philippines since the Moro rebellion in the 1970s. It was also the first time that the Islamic State was able to establish a stronghold in Southeast Asia. The post Marawi City siege victims seek P17.4B appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
P17.5B worth of claims filed by Marawi siege victims
A total of P17,456,836,830 worth of claims have been filed by the victims of the 2017 Marawi siege, according to the chairperson of the Marawi Compensation Board. During the hearing of the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on the Marawi Siege Victims Compensation Act of 2022 on Monday, MCB chairperson Maisara Dandamun Latiph said the applications for compensation were filed by 4,762 claimants from 4 July to 31 August. The number represents only 19 percent of the estimated 23,489 individuals affected by the conflict. "These are people or individuals who claim that they have structure na nasira (that were destroyed) or they have a death claim. That 4,762 are claims filed. These are based on verified claims application forms (VCAF) that were filed by the claimants. VCAF means that they have filed a claim under oath," she added. Dandamun-Latiph said the filing of VCAF is just part of the step 1 process. Step 2 includes the second layer of evaluation by the lawyers and engineers. “Ibig sabihin, dadaan na naman siya sa second layer of verification which is yung (It means the claim still has to undergo a second layer of verification which is the) legal and technical evaluation," she said. So far, only 220 have been assessed while 120 claims worth P395 million have already been processed. Citing data from his office, Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, who chairs the panel, said the MCB needs to process at least P89 billion to compensate all the war victims. The government had initially earmarked only P1 billion for the compensation, which is being lodged under the MCB budget. Created under Republic Act 11696 or the Marawi Siege Victims Compensation Law, MCB was tasked to oversee the process of application and payment of compensation to qualified claimants. Meanwhile, compensation rates are provided based on the implementing rules and regulations of MCB. A damaged structure will be compensated P12,000 per square meter (sqm) if it is concrete; P9,000 if mixed concrete and wood; and PP6,000 if made of light materials. Individuals with destroyed properties are to be paid P18,000 per square meter if structures were made of concrete; P13,500 per sqm if mixed concrete and wood; and P9,000 if made of light materials or mainly wood. A compensation of P350,000 will be given to kin or heirs of victims who died from the siege. Latiph said the Board is eyeing to complete the compensation process within five years. She said they are targeting to accommodate 200 claims daily, 150 recommendations a week, and 600 decisions a month. Dela Rosa said the MCB should make sure that the payments for siege victims will not put into corruption." As early as now, nakikita na namin dito kung gaano ka-importante yung role ninyo talaga diyan sa Marawi Compensation Board dahil nandiyan kayo sa gitna eh (we can see how important your role there in the Marawi Compensation Board because you are in the middle). You have to make sure that you are operating within the budget and fiscal capability ng ating gobyerno (of our government)," Dela Rosa said. "At the same time, you have to ensure duly and justly compensated lahat ng victims di ba? Ambigat ng papel niyo (all of the victims, right? Your role is very important). So, good luck. We are here to support you," he added. The data of the Task Force Bangon Marawi showed there are more than 17,000 households residing within the 24 most affected barangays in Marawi City, excluding businesses and other establishments. The five-month armed conflict in Marawi started on 23 May 2017 when members of the local Daesh-inspired Maute rebel group attacked the city. The government forces declared the war-torn city liberated on 17 October of the same year. But, the conflict left over 1,100 people dead and the center of Marawi City in shambles. The post P17.5B worth of claims filed by Marawi siege victims appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Netflix finally finds a manga hit with ‘One Piece’
Netflix has spent years trying to adapt Japanese manga and anime into live-action TV with little success, but its latest effort, "One Piece", may finally have cracked the code. The US streaming giant's latest show, based on the most famous manga comic of them all, was watched more than 18 million times in its first four days, putting it at the top of the charts. The story of Monkey D Luffy, a boy with a straw hat and stretchy superpowers determined to become king of all pirates by finding a treasure known as one piece, has captivated manga fans since its first editions in 1997. And it should have been a shoo-in for TV success, having already been widely adapted for the screen in a series of animated movies. But manga fans feared the worst before the Netflix live-action version hit the screens in late August. The American giant has tried and failed with other beloved Japanese manga and anime. Its "Fullmetal Alchemist" and "Death Note" failed to convince in 2017 and 2021's "Cowboy Bebop" was ditched after one season, crumbling under the weight of bad reviews. With One Piece, Netflix cannily sought to keep fans onside by holding on to the most valuable commodity: the comic's author, Eiichiro Oda. 'Guard dog' Oda is tightly bound to the comic, having written all the editions for its entire run -- a world record -- and was brought on as series supervisor by Netflix. He was well aware of the challenge. "Various manga had been made into live action, but there was a history of failure," he told the New York Times in a rare interview published in late August. "No one in Japan could name a successful example." He told the paper that Netflix agreed to give him final approval. "I read the scripts, gave notes, and acted as a guard dog to ensure the material was being adapted in the correct way," he said. Reviews have been broadly positive, with Charles Pulliam-Moore writing on The Verge website the series "gets all of the important things right". He wrote that the series, with a budget of more than $100 million, had put huge efforts into re-creating Oda's vision in its production design and populating its scenes with a cast of whimsical background characters. This effort, he wrote, meant the series "is able to feel like a living, breathing place with history that you can step into". And that history still has much left to be told -- the first run of eight episodes covers only the first 12 volumes of a comic that now boasts roughly 100. The post Netflix finally finds a manga hit with ‘One Piece’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
NBI clarifies role in interception
The Bureau of Immigration on Wednesday clarified its role in the interception of Filipinos with arrest warrants at ports of entry and exit. Commissioner Norman Tansingco said arresting Filipinos is not within the immigration’s mandate, pointing out that BI officers cannot serve warrants of arrest against Filipinos. Tansingco made this clarification in response to a query made by Senator Robin Padilla on 5 September during his privilege speech, citing the case of Mohammad Said, a 61-year-old man who allegedly attempted to depart the country for Malaysia on 10 August but was stopped by the BI. The BI chief added that it is the local law enforcement agencies — the NBI and the PNP — who are authorized to conduct arrests. He also clarified that they implement derogatory records as received from courts, Interpol, foreign governments and other competent authorities. If encountered, those with criminal records are turned over to the NBI or the PNP, who in turn, affect the investigation and arrest. Tansingco further clarified that Said was intercepted for being the subject of an Interpol red notice issued in 2017. The said record contained Said’s full name, sex, date of birth, place of birth, and even his passport number. The post NBI clarifies role in interception appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
NewJeans x LINE FRIENDS pop-up store opens in Manila this September
After its successful launch in Hongdae and Gangnam in South Korea, the LINE FRIENDS store will bring its collaboration with K-pop’s hottest girl group NewJeans to other parts of Southeast Asia. The pop-up store will run in Thailand from 2 September to 1 October, Singapore from 15 September to 23 November and Malaysia from 21 September to 15 December. The Philippines will be the pop-up store’s last Southeast Asia location, from 23 September to 23 December. Based on what the Hongdae and Gangnam pop-up stores offered, fans may finally get their hands on a massive selection of delightful merchandise, from the NewJeans and Powerpuff Girls collaboration to bunny or bunini plushies that come in all sizes, forms and versions, as well as phone cases, stickers, accessories and more. Fans can also expect large LED screens that capture the group’s visuals, and Instagram-worthy corners that will make each visit memorable. Originally started as digital stickers, LINE FRIENDS are featured characters that are known for their charming designs and concepts. In 2017, LINE FRIENDS launched BTS’ BT21 to represent BTS’ brand to a global audience. Meanwhile, NewJeans is a five-piece girl group based in South Korea. Since the group’s successful debut in July 2022, Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin and Hyein have taken the world by storm with songs like “Attention,” “Hype Boy,” “Ditto,” “OMG” and “Super Shy.” The NewJeans x LINE FRIENDS pop-up store will be at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City. The collection is also available online through KPOPMERCH on Shopee starting 25 August. The post NewJeans x LINE FRIENDS pop-up store opens in Manila this September appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Is prior demand necessary?
Time and again, I have emphasized the importance of strict adherence to procedural rules. Again, no matter how meritorious your case is, if you do not follow procedure, it can be dismissed on a mere technicality. That will be a crushing defeat; a knockout punch in the very first round. Your time, resources, and effort, all go down the drain. All for nothing. Specifically, I talk about sending a demand to your obstinate lessee before filing an ejectment suit. Section 2, Rule 70 of the Rules of Court expressly mandates that the ejectment suit “shall be commenced only after demand to pay or comply with the conditions of the lease and to vacate is made upon the lessees, or by serving written notice of such demand upon the person found on the premises, or by posting such notice on the premises of no person be found thereon, and the lessee fails to comply therewith after 15 days in the case of land or five days in the case of buildings.” Failure to comply, even if the lessor has all the right to dispossess the lessee, will result in the dismissal. Such is what happened in Velia J. Cruz v. Spouses Maximo and Susan Christensen (G.R. 205539 promulgated 4 October 2017). Petitioner Velia Cruz inherited property from her mother. Respondent Spouses Maximo and Susan Christensen already leased said property from her mother during her lifetime. Ms. Cruz, upon her mother’s passing, thus became the spouses’ lessor. In time, lessees failed repeatedly to pay rent. Thus, Ms. Cruz was constrained to demand that the lessees vacate the property and pay all unpaid rentals. The parties met at the barangay for conciliation. No settlement was inked. Three years later, Ms. Cruz finally sent a demand letter to vacate the property and pay the rental arrears. There being a refusal still by the lessees, Ms. Cruz was constrained to file an ejectment suit. At the trial court, Ms. Christensen admitted the lease but made an issue out of the demand letter. She denied having received it and claimed she did not know whose signature appeared on the letter, allegedly receiving it on her behalf. The court, on account of this ground, dismissed the case. It opined that since it was not established who received the demand letter, it could not be said that the lessee received it. Thus, a failure to comply with the demand requirement. Upon dismissal, Ms. Cruz wasted no time appealing to the next level of court. The Regional Trial Court on appeal, gave her the nod. It gave due course to her appeal and required the lessee to vacate the premises and pay the unpaid rentals. Respondent spouses’ turn to go up. The Court of Appeals reversed the Regional Trial Court and reinstated the dismissal by the trial court. Thus, Ms. Cruz had no other recourse but to go up to the final bulwark of justice. Among the issues raised was the sufficiency of the demand; or if such is necessary in the first place. In ruling in favor of petitioner Cruz, the Supreme Court declared, “[T]he property in this case is owned by petitioner. Respondents had a month-to-month lease with the petitioner’s predecessor-in-interest. Petitioner contends that no prior demand was necessary in this case since her Complaint was premised on the expiration of respondent’s lease, not on the failure to pay rent due or to comply with the conditions of the lease. “The jurisdictional requirement of prior demand is unnecessary if the action is premised on the termination of the lease due to expiration of the terms of the contract. The complaint must be brought on the allegation that the lease has expired and the lessor demanded the lessee to vacate, not on the allegation that the lessee failed to pay rents. The cause of action which would give rise to an ejectment case would be the expiration of the lease. Thus, the requirement under Rule 70, Section 2 of a prior ‘demand to pay or comply with the conditions of the lease and to vacate’ would be unnecessary. xxx xxx “However, the respondents’ Answer to the Complaint is telling. Respondents admit that they only had a month-to-month lease since 1969. They contend that they had been continuously paying their monthly rent until sometime in 2002 when the petitioner refused to receive it. Thus, as early as 2002, the petitioner, as the lessor, already refused to renew respondents’ month-to-month verbal lease. Therefore, the respondent’s lease had already long expired before the petitioner sent her demand letters. “Respondents cannot feign ignorance of petitioner’s demand to vacate since the matter was brought to barangay conciliation proceedings in 2005. The barangay certification issued on 11 August 2005, shows that no compromise was reached between the parties.” “Therefore, the respondents’ insistence on the non-receipt of the demand letter is misplaced. Their verbal lease over the property had already expired sometime in 2002. xxx xxx The demand letter would have been unnecessary since respondents’ continued refusal to vacate despite the expiration of their verbal lease was sufficient ground to bring the action.” Clear as day. Another good distinction learned. If the ground is the expiration of the lease, no demand is needed. In case you as a landlord, are in a like situation, you know that no demand before the institution will not be a fatal infirmity. Sources: Section 2, Rule 70, Rules of Court Velia J. Cruz v. Spouses Maximo and Susan Christensen as cited above The post Is prior demand necessary? appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Cooking is in his Spanish blood
Sometime in 2017, a veterinarian from the province of Valencia in Spain went on vacation with three of his best friends to the island of Siargao in the Philippines. They enjoyed surfing a lot and fell in love with the place so hard that by the end of their 15-day holiday, they promised to return and even considered relocating. [caption id="attachment_178310" align="aligncenter" width="1707"] CHEF Luis Martinez | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF DOñA ELENA[/caption] A year later, the four amigos made their “final decision.” They made the big move to Siargao and “luckily” found work. The veterinarian, though, ended up becoming a chef and opened a restaurant he called Alma. Then the pandemic struck and, soon, a super typhoon hit the island. The newbie chef had to close down his first culinary venture. Fast-forward to 2023: Chef Luis Martinez is coolly directing his staff at Terraza Martinez restaurant in Bonifacio Global City this late morning of 30 August for an event in collaboration with Doña Elena brand of olive oil. He then introduces the menu he’s specially prepared for the media representatives covering the event. Martinez maintains his coolness as he sits down for an interview with DAILY TRIBUNE and another publication. He says his three friends of 35 years who came with him to Siargao six years ago are still on the island. “We’ve known each other for 35 years. I have my little family from Spain here.” Back in Spain, he has his parents, four siblings and other relatives that make up his “core family” of 25 members who can all cook. He fondly remembers growing up bonding with his family around the kitchen “cooking, eating, drinking wine” particularly every Sunday and on Christmas. He mentions a couple of his comfort food, such as paella, which traces some of its origins in Valencia, and cocido, a beef soup that he likens to the Pinoy bulalo. That’s how Martinez learned how to cook around age nine. “I never studied culinary arts. I never worked in a kitchen before. My first kitchen was Siargao three years ago. Now, this one,” he says of Terraza Martinez, which he set up in 2022 with the Nikkei Group that runs several restaurants. He also admits to making a lot of mistakes along the way of his trial-and-error ways while trying a lot of flavors. [gallery size="full" columns="2" ids="178311,178312"] In terms of culinary, he says he brings “almost everything” of the Spain he grew up into Terraza Martinez. “My idea is I want to make our guests to feel like having lunch or dinner in Spain,” he explains, “with the same kind of ambience, with the same kind of essence where you have a little of tapas, paella, where you can enjoy not only the food but the company of your friends and the comfort of the food. So I’m trying to bring some Spanish culture here as we eat there.” Martinez turns candid when asked about his observations of Filipino cuisine: “The flavors are a little bit sweet than we’re used to. Also, I need to put a little bit less of what I’ll put in Spain. I use a little bit of sugar to make it a little sweet. “I need to adjust, yes. When I opened my first place, I got a lot of complaints because they were saying my food was little bit salty. They were expecting a little bit of sweetness. So I need to adjust, yes. Even here in Terraza Martinez. It has a little bit of Filipino taste.” The chef, for instance, had to take out gazpacho, a cold soup, from the menu because Filipinos tend to prefer hot soups. Overall, though, the reception to Terraza Martinez has been overwhelmingly positive by diners who are made up of “90 percent Filipinos and 10 percent foreigners.” This makes Martinez truly “surprised and happy,” saying, “I wasn’t expecting this a lot of people. All our customers really like the place. They like the food. For me, because I’m the chef, wow!” Next on the chef’s plate is a new restaurant in Siargao he hopes to open soon. That means he’ll be dividing his time, about 15 days each, in Siargao and in Manila. Spain can wait in the meantime. “I try to visit my family and friends every two months, maximum three… I spend summer here because right now I’m opening a restaurant, so I cannot go.” Meantime, Martinez continues to learn more about the Philippines with some help from his Filipina girlfriend, who’s teaching him a bit of the national language. He also picks up words here and there from conversations. He also looks forward to surfing in Siargao, but, when he’s in Manila, just swims and has recently taken up boxing to burn the calories he consumes eating. The post Cooking is in his Spanish blood appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Manila cops nab wanted rapist
After six years in hiding, a wanted rapist in Biliran province was tracked down by MPD-DelPan police operatives early dawn on Saturday in Tondo, Manila. P/BGen Andrei Dizon, MPD Chief, identified the suspect as Gonzalo Esperanza, 63 years old, single, male, jobless, and resident of Purok 5, Isla Puting Bato, Parola Compound in Tondo, Manila. The suspect was apprehended near his residence. The arrest came on the strength of a warrant of arrest issued by Presiding Judge Bienvenido Montalla of RTC Branch 16 in Naval, Biliran, dated 30 August 2017, with no recommended bail for charges of three counts of rape. Presently the suspect is under the custody of MPD-Del Pan, pending the transfer to Kawayan MPS, Biliran PPO, PRO8. The post Manila cops nab wanted rapist appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Grumbling mounts
There continues to be discontent among certain sectors regarding the proposed policy on military pensions, and now there is another idea floated to scrap the free college education. Just like a low rumbling sound of thunder, affected sectors are grumbling over Finance Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno’s statement that the free access to state university education is “unsustainable” — which is indicative of a potential effort to repeal a landmark legislation enacted during the administration of President Rodrigo R. Duterte, who appointed Diokno as Budget and Management secretary and then Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas governor. For six years as a member of Duterte’s economic team, we were oblivious to Secretary Diokno’s opposition to Republic Act 10931, or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act of 2017. Straight from the horse’s mouth during a forum organized by the University of the Philippines School of Economics on 19 August, he said the law is anti-poor since “there are more poor people who do not attend college.” To say that subsidizing college education really “consumes a lot of funds” is irresponsible, anti-Filipino and anti-development. RA 10931 was embraced by Filipinos during a period when the financial situation of the government appeared stable. The blame for becoming indebted to finance the efforts to control the pandemic falls neither on the people nor on the national government. Fast forward to post-pandemic, there is no convenient excuse for sacrificing human investment through debt for education to support lavish government expenditures in the wake of the national government pronouncements that the gross national product increased to P5.643 billion in the second quarter of 2023 from P5.592 billion in the first quarter of 2023. Truth be told, 2.46 million students were beneficiaries of a free college education during the academic year 2021-2022. It is not only they who are reaping the rewards of one of the “most long-lasting” legacies of former president Duterte’s administration, but their families, communities, and the country. Jade Baguna, a Tertiary Education Subsidy or TES program graduate in Social Work, cannot help but share the positive impact of the policy on his life and his family. Despite facing challenges like long walks to and from school and a meager weekly allowance during high school, the program enabled him to complete his degree, achieve the eighth position in the board examination, and become a Social Work instructor. The Finance Secretary may have lost his train of thought that investing in free college education has long-term economic benefits. A well-educated workforce is crucial to driving innovation, technological advancements, and economic growth. By providing access to higher education, the country can nurture a pool of skilled professionals who will contribute to various industries, drive entrepreneurship and attract investments. At a time when the need to rejuvenate an economy is paramount, scrapping free college education may limit the availability of qualified workers, hinder economic development and reduce global competitiveness. One of the most compelling arguments for a free college education is that it promotes equal opportunity and social mobility. By removing financial barriers, individuals from all socioeconomic backgrounds can pursue higher education based on merit and potential rather than financial means. This ensures that talented and motivated students, regardless of their background, have a fair chance to improve their lives and contribute to society. Sec. Diokno’s sustainability concerns sparked a debate. Commission on Higher Education Chairperson Prospero de Vera said there is nothing better than for a country to invest in its young people and produce highly skilled manpower. “It’s the best anti-poverty strategy. You educate an individual, you make him employable, and you make sure the poverty stops with him or with her,” he said. For Cagayan de Oro 2nd District Representative Rufus Rodriguez, taking out the scholarship program is synonymous with seeing a decay of education in our country. “Education is the great emancipator of people from the bondage of poverty. With education you are able to move forward with your family,” he said. Senator Francis Tolentino has this to say: “Perhaps the lack of money of the national government should not be the reason why they cannot be given the opportunity to study. Education is a basic human right. We need to provide our youth with the necessary basic tertiary education.” Higher education provides a holistic learning experience and fosters personal growth and critical thinking. It promotes civic engagement, social responsibility, and the development of well-rounded citizens. By scrapping free college education, we risk limiting these benefits and creating a society that is less educated, less informed, and less equipped to tackle complex societal challenges. Time and again, it pays to revisit Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Access to education should not be seen as a privilege but as a fundamental right. In other words, recognizing education as a human right implies that every individual is entitled to receive an education, without any form of discrimination, as it is legally protected. The post Grumbling mounts appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PBBM backs suggestions to simplify visa applications
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. supports the suggestions of the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) to simplify visa applications for tourists and overseas students. In a statement from the Presidential Communications Office on Friday, Marcos Jr. met with the group during the PSAC Tourism Sector Group's fourth meeting in Malacañang earlier this week. The PSAC recommended standardizing information on application procedures, student visa requirements, clinic accreditation for medical clearance, and diploma criteria for international students. The suggestions also call for the automatic certification of at least Level 3 hospitals nationally for tourists' medical clearances, the revision of documentation requirements to reduce the number of criteria, and the online filing of student visa applications. “We can choose to remove it altogether, the requirement for a medical certificate, or if we will continue to require a medical certificate, as long as it’s a recognized clinic, and it comes out in the actual list of hospitals or something like that, I’m sure there’s a way,” Marcos said. “So, I think the easiest is to align ourselves,” he added. To support government policy promoting the country as an educational hub in the Asia-Pacific region, the Department of Foreign Affairs highlighted Joint Memorandum Order (JMO) No. 01, series 2017, which streamlined procedures for the admittance of international students. According to the JMO, international students may enter the Philippines by applying for a student visa at a Foreign Service Post or by obtaining a temporary visa to convert to a student admission status. The foreign individual must attend in person for an interview and fulfill additional consular procedures after receiving the authorization to obtain the student visa. Officials told Marcos Jr. that applicants may skip the in-person interview to expedite the process. But the candidates will only show up in person if government intelligence agencies recommend doing so for security concerns. In Southeast Asia, the Philippines has the longest processing period for student visas, taking about two months. According to Rene Limcaoco of Hertz Philippines, there is a sizable market for this type of travel. Limcaoc said there were five million applications from international students before the pandemic. He expects ten million international students by 2030. The Philippines had 3.4 million foreign tourists as of 14 August 2023, which is 71.4 percent of the 4.8 million baseline industry target for this year. This year, the nation hopes to make P2.24 billion and employ 5.3 million Filipinos in the tourism industry. This year, it anticipates 85.1 million domestic travelers and 4.8 million overseas visitors. The post PBBM backs suggestions to simplify visa applications appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PPA reiterates: Keep off booze
Following the sacking of eight port officials in Bohol after being caught on CCTV having a drinking binge inside an office of the Philippine Ports Authority during a birthday celebration of their acting manager, PPA general manager Jay Daniel Santiago released a memorandum strictly prohibiting the consumption of alcohol in the workplace. “All PPA officials and employees, Contract of Service and outsourced personnel are hereby prohibited from drinking alcoholic beverages in all PPA premises (offices, training venues, etc.) AT ALL TIMES, during and even beyond office hours on weekends, including weekends, holidays and non-working days,” the PPA Memorandum Circular 013-2023, signed by Santiago, read. Santiago immediately fired the officials from the Bohol Port Management Office in Tagbilaran City after a drinking spree inside the PMO’s multipurpose hall last 16 August. “This prohibition shall include consumption of “alcoholic beverages, such as, but not limited to, malt beverages, wine, and intoxicating liquor”, including reporting for work while under the influence of alcohol,” the memo further read. Violation of the said memorandum “will be penalized to the fullest extent of the law in accordance with the provisions of the 2017 Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service.” The post PPA reiterates: Keep off booze appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PPA reiterates: Drinking sprees in offices barred
Following the sacking of eight port officials in Bohol after being caught on CCTV while having a drinking spree inside the office of the Philippine Ports Authority during a birthday celebration of their acting manager, PPA General Manager Jay Daniel Santiago released a memorandum in reiteration of the strict prohibition on the consumption alcoholic beverages in the workplace. “All PPA officials and employees, Contract of Service and outsourced personnel are hereby prohibited from drinking alcoholic beverages in ALL PPA PREMISES (offices, training venues, etc.) AT ALL TIMES, during and even beyond office hours on weekends, including weekends, holidays and non-working days,” the PPA Memorandum Circular 013-2023, signed by Santiago, said. According to the PPA, Santiago immediately fired the officials from the Bohol Port Management Office in Tagbilaran City after a drinking spree inside the PMO's multipurpose hall last 16 August. “This prohibition shall include consumption of “alcoholic beverages, such as, but not limited to, malt beverages, wine, and intoxicating liquor”, including reporting for work while under the influence of alcohol,” the memo further said. Violation of the said memorandum “will be penalized to the fullest extent of the law in accordance with the provisions of the 2017 Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service.” On Friday, Santiago maintained that government officials who make the office a place for drinking, even if there are birthdays or any occasion, have no place in the government. “They should be the first ones to ensure order in the piers, not the first to become bad examples for their constituents in Bohol,” the PPA chief said. According to Santiago, the acting port manager has already apologized for their behavior. The post PPA reiterates: Drinking sprees in offices barred appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
How ‘Here Lies Love’ co-producer found his mark on Broadway
When Here Lies Love, the hit musical about former First Lady Imelda Marcos, made history by debuting on Broadway debut with an all-Filipino last July, one of its co-producers, Don Michael H. Mendoza, also reached a career milestone. His goal of putting his name on a Broadway show before turning 40 came true now that he’s 34. [caption id="attachment_172743" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Don Michael Mendoza with Daily Tribune’s (from left) Dinah Ventura, Jojo G. Silvestre, Gigie Arcilla, Vangie Reyes, Marc Reyes, Raffy Ayeng, Gibbs Cadiz and Nick Giongco.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_172742" align="aligncenter" width="525"] ‘Always ask for what you want because the worst that can come back is a no.’ | Photographs Courtesy of Daily Tribune.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_172741" align="aligncenter" width="525"] DON Mike Mendoza with Daily Tribune’s Jojo G. Silvestre and Dinah Ventura.[/caption] It happened, and it’s not just any show. It’s the first Filipino musical on Broadway,” he tells Daily Tribune’s Dinah Ventura and Jojo Silvestre in an interview on their online show Pairfect. “It’s very important to me because a lot of my career is based on the idea of D,E & I — diversity, equity and inclusion — especially in a country like America that’s a melting pot. “It’s very important to make sure that unrepresented voices and communities are brought to the front. To be part of that, for me personally, is an incredible honor because it’s exactly aligned with how I live my professional life every day, every year.” “For the Fil-Am community,” he adds, “I think it’s important for people to see themselves in that arena, whether be as a producer, an actor, or a stagehand, or on the creative team as an assistant director. You know, it says a lot when someone tries to reach that can see themselves in a role that they want to achieve. “Because for a long time, my role models were very few. They’re mostly Americans, they’re white people. And I wanted to be an actor and my only acting influences in the media was Paolo Montalban. He was in Cinderella, American Adobo… He’s now a friend — which is amazing! But I didn’t really have many role models. So, to our community, both Filipino and Fil-Am, they can now look at this production and say, whatever they feel is their career path, ‘I can do it, too.’ So, it’s very powerful.” Beginnings Don Michael Hodreal Mendoza, nicknamed Don Mike, was born in Washington D.C., the capital city of the United States, to immigrant parents. His father Donald Mendoza’s family hails from Cavite and is involved in local politics. His mother Maria Leonila Hodreal has families in Marinduque (maternal side) and Bicol (paternal side). His grandfather Querubin Hodreal created what is now known as the Easy Rock Manila radio station. “My mom, who’s part of that legacy, says even though we’re in the States I somehow ended up doing what our family does, in entertainment and media,” he says, beaming. From Washington D.C., Mendoza’s nuclear family moved to the city of Pittsburgh in the Pennsylvania state, where he grew up. “But I was also raised here in Manila, in Ayala Alabang, for a couple of years,” he points out. He was then between the ages of six and eight, also starting his education at Montessori Manila in BF Homes. “We’re lucky we’re able to come home a lot, so even though I grew up on majority in America, we’d come home every other year.” That explains why he also has exposure and gets inspiration from Filipino movies and entertainment. Mendoza started performing in school plays and high school musicals “for fun.” For college, though, he “needed to study that wasn’t the arts because immigrant families want you to do something that makes money in their eyes.” So he took up broadcast journalism and political science at the American University in D.C. But he didn’t like political science, so he dropped it and added musical theater to his studies without telling his parents until he got into the program. After graduation, he was torn between two goals: becoming a Broadway actor like Jose Llana, who currently plays the late President Ferdinand Marcos in Here Lies Love, and becoming the “Filipino Anderson Cooper.” He ended up staying in D.C with a job in marketing, which eventually became his master’s degree. Mendoza started auditioning and trying to get into shows. “But I wasn’t getting cast the way I wanted to,” he recalls, “because it’s very hard for a Filipino, an Asian male actor to get parts, unless you decided to be in Miss Saigon, which was one of the only very few shows that hire Asian people. So, I kinda fell into producing.” That was when he met a fellow Fil-Am, Regie Cabico, who’s 20 years older than him and became his mentor. He remembers Cabico telling him, “The way to be successful for someone like us in the arts is to start your own opportunities.” Thus, the birth, in 2012, of their company, La Ti Do, which is into production of cabarets and concerts. “I met so many people and worked with so many actors and performers without knowing it’s producing,” he says, smiling at the memory. “I just realized producing means organizing. It means you’re in charge, you’re putting things together and hire people. In those 10 years, I was able to produce small musicals and concerts and special events.” He then put up his own DMH Mendoza Productions, which has La Ti Do as its cabaret-concert arm, to allow him to “produce bigger and more incredible things.” For starters, he produced the off-Broadway play Hazing U that tackles violence in fraternities. Around that time, February 2023, he heard about Here Lies Love being restaged, this time on Broadway. The musical created by David Byrne and Fatboy Slim originally premiered off-Broadway in 2013 at The Public Theater in New York City. A year later, it moved to the Royal National Theater in London, England, and then was restaged at Seattle Repertory Theater in the US in 2017. Mendoza admits with regret that he missed seeing Here Lies Love’s off-Broadway premiere and thought he’d never see it ever again “just because Filipino things don’t usually last very long in America.” So when he heard it was coming to Broadway, he basically called everybody he knew who’s involved in the production to ask how he could help. “I wasn’t really looking for a producer stature,” he says. “I said to many people I’m willing to sell t-shirts in the lobby just to support this show.” It turned out his good friend Lora Nicolas Olaes, who he stayed with in New York, was in the first workshop of the show in 2011, and she personally knows one of the lead producers, Clint Ramos. Olaes then connected Mendoza and Ramos via email, which led to Mendoza joining the Here Lies Love production team. “I’m still having trouble today saying I’m a co-producer. I’m so used to just doing rather than labeling,” he says. “It’s been a wild ride from then till now. I don’t regret any of it. It’s been the best experience so far.” He then shares that having an all-Filipino cast and a predominantly Filipino production team is very important for the lead producers. Two of the five are Filipino: Clint Ramos, a Tony award-winning costume designer, and Jose Antonio Vargas, a Pulitzer prize-winning journalist. This extends to other producers, such as Hal Luftig, Diana DiMenna and Patrick Catullo, as well as to musical writers David Byrne and Fatboy Slim. “They wanted to reach beyond the cast and make sure that the show is escorted into Broadway by Filipinos because it’s a Filipino story,” Mendoza points out. Aside from Llana, the main cast is made up of Arielle Jacobs (as Imelda) and Conrad Ricamora as (Ninoy Aquino), with Lea Salonga (as Ninoy’s mother Aurora) in a limited run until 19 August. “It’s beyond the cast. So our creative team, our production team, our stagehands, everybody. Even our house staff, some of them are Filipinos. We really wanted to make a mark on Broadway. That’s how it came about. So that was an early decision. Because the off-Broadway production was mixed. It was not all-Filipino. It had Ruthie Ann Miles as Imelda. She’s not Filipino. It was hard to move from her and bring in Arielle Jacobs, who is just as amazing, but, you know, it was very important for the team to be culturally accurate. Because it’s our story.” “It’s our show,” he reiterates. “Let’s bring it to the world. Our people are playing themselves. I’ve said this in an interview: The general public is trained to love Filipino as other ethnicities. This is the first time we’re training them to love us, Filipinos, as ourselves.” Musical textbook Mendoza’s fellow co-producers include Salonga and Fil-Am celebrities like comedian Jo Koy, musical artist H.E.R. and rapper Apl.de.ap. “Our show is a musical textbook,” he explains. “It’s a musical built around facts, what happened historically during her lifetime. Our whole goal for the show is to present to you what happened with, of course, entertainment attached to it. There’s a misconception that it’s a documentary. It is not. It’s musical theater. It’s supposed to be fun. You see what happened. “We empower our audience to make their own decision. We don’t tell them, ‘This was a bad person. This was a good person.’ Here’s what this person did in their life and how she was affected by her surroundings, and go home and do the research. You figure it out. We liken it to giving someone a Zip file of Philippine history in the 21th century and you go home and unzip the Zip file to get into the details. “But we give you an overview. It’s really up to the audience when they leave the show. I know it’s the goal of our writers and directors to not impose an opinion. We’re just here to entertain and make you learn. When you leave, it’s up to you.” Mendoza happily reports that Here Lies Love is being received “very well.” He adds, “The critics have come and said really wonderful about the show, especially the ones we’re nervous about, like the New York Times, or The Washington Post, or the Wall Street Journal. It trickles down to everyone who’s seen the show. I think we’re so proud and excited that it’s well-received. Audience members love it, they keep coming back.” He also notes that audiences are “pretty diverse. You see Filipinos, you see Americans, you see visitors. It’s really a big hodge-podge of different people. We’re happy about that, too. It’s not biased to just one community.” Indeed, Mendoza is living his dream and he has this piece of audience for the younger generation who also hopes to break into theater or arts in general: “Always ask for what you want because the worst that can come back is a no.” He then shares what she’s picked up from Kris Jenner: “If somebody says no to you, you’re asking the wrong person. Keeping asking for what you want. Not just manifesting, but really it’s just speaking up. Nobody can read your mind. Nobody can see what’s happening in your mind and in your heart. So if you express it, you ask and you’ll get there. It may not happen in the timing that you want, but it will happen if you keep pushing.” The post How ‘Here Lies Love’ co-producer found his mark on Broadway appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Viral engagement video of Jon Semira and Yassi Pressman went viral after separation
After confirming their breakup recently, an engagement video of former couple Jon Semira and Yassi Pressman circulated online. In the video, Semira narrated how their love story started and bloom when he first saw Pressman in Toronto way back in July 2017. He claimed that it was a case of love at first sight on his part. He also shared how Yassi's love became a great life hack giving him superhuman strength. "It gives me superhuman strength. And it gives me energy and drive, and motivation, and belief that you can, I can do anything... Our love is such a powerful feeling that I don't take for granted and I'm thankful for every day. I want this forever", he lovingly uttered. It was after that that he asked Pressman to marry him. His exact words were "Yassi, make me the happiest, luckiest, smartest man in this universe... Yas, will you marry me? Please don't leave me hanging!" With tears in her eyes, Pressman nodded and gave him a sweet "Yes". The engagement possibly happened in 2022. The unfortunate news of their separation was announced by Semira on 16 August 2023. The post Viral engagement video of Jon Semira and Yassi Pressman went viral after separation appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Of China’s ‘One Belt One Road’
Sometime in August 2016, I attended the formal media launch of One Belt One Road, or OBOR, in Beijing, China. I thought then that OBOR, also referred to later as Belt and Road Initiative, must be one of the most, if not the most, significant programs of President Xi Jinping, as it was attended by hundreds of print and broadcast journalists from around the world, the Philippines included. OBOR was to revive the “Silk Road” economic belt of ancient China, a land trade route carrying its finest silk and other goods to its neighboring Central Asian countries and later to as far as Europe; whereas today’s Road refers to the 21st Century land and maritime silk route to Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa. The land route was launched, I think in 2013, while the maritime route was given a big push in 2017. Early on, China set up the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank as part of the OBOR mechanism. China sank in the initial capital and was joined later by other member countries. The Philippines was the last country to join AIIB when the late President Noynoy Aquino signed its Charter in the last few minutes of 31 December 2015, and this was ratified a year later during Duterte’s term. In sum, AIIB had 106 members to start. The Philippines, if we look at the records, derived from loans and infrastructure projects, was quite slow in availing of cheap money from this BRI initiative. Indonesia, Singapore, and other ASEAN and African countries had done so for various infra projects, among these railways, dams, and ports. The small loan amount we obtained was later topped up by China in terms of gifts which came in the form of bridges, schools, medical supplies, and vaccines when the Covid-19 pandemic broke out. Add to that are the much-needed arms for our armed forces to get rid of the marauding Maute ISIS terrorist group in Marawi City and additional help to rehabilitate it later. Alarmed by the inroads China was making with the BRI through the land and marine infrastructure built with the billions of dollars it loaned to countries along the silk routes, the West was quick to make a big issue of it when Sri Lanka defaulted, calling China’s loans a “debt trap.” Of course, not a few of those struggling economies defaulted as the impact of the new infrastructure on their development had yet to gain traction. However, President Xi Jinping waived the interest dues. How is it for China midway to the Road’s target completion date of 2049? The BRI has covered more than 68 countries with an estimated 65 percent of the world’s population. All told, the largesse from China resulted in the reduction of dependency on the US and it created new markets for Chinese products. The US of A is fast losing its dominance. China, once wallowing in the quagmire of poverty, is now the second-largest economy in the world and growing. Will China then go beyond firing water cannons at Philippine Coast Guard vessels? This could only be answered by another set of questions. Is China willing to cut the marine silk route that passes through or close to the West Philippine Sea? Will its land route suffice to bring its products to its export markets in the event the sea lane is altogether cut off? Will the Chinese people relish going back to poverty and isolation? The answers are a big NO. So why EDCA? Why not pursue the Philippines-China joint oil exploration in the WPS as the offer stands at a 60/40 sharing agreement in favor of the Philippines? Why build more military bases when these are veritable beckons to war which we as a policy abhor? Why not take advantage of the short maritime link between China and the Philippines to enhance our economy? The price of fuel is skyrocketing. Our peso is depreciating as in a free fall. We have solutions and yet these, too have become problems. The post Of China’s ‘One Belt One Road’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Meralco e-vehicle unit sold for P87M
The Manila Electric Co. or Meralco has sold its wholly-owned subsidiary, ESakay Inc., to an affiliate under the Pangilinan Group for P87.4 million. Meralco informed the stock exchange on Tuesday that ESakay was sold to On-Us Solutions Inc. through a share purchase agreement on Tuesday, 15 August. However, the power distributor did not provide additional details on the transaction. E-bikes operator ESakay was formed in 2017 to engage in the business of owning, maintaining, and operating transport service networks of charging stations, batteries, and vehicles utilizing electric energy and other alternative energy sources. On-Us Solutions operates Byahe, a privately owned company operating modernized jeepneys that are 30 Euro-4 compliant across seven routes within Metro Manila, Pampanga, and Nueva Ecija. Metro Pacific Tollways Corp., an affiliate of Meralco, has a minority stake in the company. The post Meralco e-vehicle unit sold for P87M appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Another Ecuador politician slain, six days ahead of vote
A local politician in Ecuador was killed Monday, party officials said, less than a week after a presidential front-runner was gunned down at a campaign rally ahead of this weekend's elections. Pedro Briones, a member of the Citizen Revolution Party of former president Rafael Correa, and one of the movement's leaders in the province of Esmeraldas on the border with Colombia, was killed by unknown gunmen. "My solidarity with the family of comrade Pedro Briones, new victim of violence," Luisa Gonzalez, one of the main presidential candidates, said on X, the social media platform formerly called Twitter. "Ecuador is going through its bloodiest period," said Gonzalez, a close former associate of Correa. She called the government inept and said the country has been taken over by organized crime gangs. Correa added his condolences on social media: "They murdered another of our colleagues in Esmeraldas. Enough is enough!" Neither the police nor the government immediately confirmed the attack but Ecuadoran media, citing a local police source, said the victim was shot at his home in the town of San Mateo by two men on a motorcycle who later fled. The murder came less than a week after the August 9 killing, in the capital Quito, of one of the presidential favorites, the centrist Fernando Villavicencio. The 59-year-old journalist was on a crusade against corruption and was in second place in the polls when he was shot as he left a campaign rally. One of his main feats as a journalist was to have put the former president Correa, who served from 2007-2017, in the dock thanks to one of his investigations. Correa, now living in Belgium, was sentenced in absentia to eight years in the case. Most of Ecuador has been under a state of emergency and President Guillermo Lasso has blamed organized crime for the killing of Villavicencio. Six Colombians were arrested as part of the probe into the assassination and one was killed shortly after the attack by the candidate's bodyguards. The post Another Ecuador politician slain, six days ahead of vote appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»