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MAP wants Metro under ‘state of traffic calamity’
Business group Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) is calling on the government to declare a “state of traffic calamity” in Metro Manila, citing the economic losses from the congestion on roads......»»
RUPERT’S CHOICE: FILIPINAS OF PASSION AND COMPASSION
To say that a Rupert Jacinto portrait is an exact representation of his subject would be a distortion of the truth. Rupert does not aim to fashion a replica, nor the same exact image of the human being who poses before him and his camera. As an artist and a craftsman, Rupert is a master of the interpretation of the essence of a human being. He even goes further. Through his photography, he pays tribute to his every subject, what moves and defines them, and what inspires and propels them to do their best in their varied endeavors. In his latest book, Having a Ball, A Tribute to Tina Hidalgo Jacinto, recently launched at Rustans Department Store, he highlights 10 women of exceptional passion and compassion, and presents the “Having a Ball” columns written by Tina, his late wife and muse, in the Manila Bulletin. Devoted to Tina, who had been behind him from day one of his career as a photographer, Rupert pays tribute to her being his favorite subject, companion in life’s journey, confidante and the inspiration for the great body of works that he produced in her lifetime. Of course, Tina remains to be Rupert’s inspiration, hers being the whispering voice that continually prompts him to do his usual best. Rupert’s choice of subjects for this book affirms his commitment to highlighting the best of the Filipina, as exemplified by the ladies he featured, as follows: [caption id="attachment_171026" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Nedy Tantoco[/caption] Zenaida R. Tantoco is the president and CEO of Rustan Commercial Corporation and Stores Specialists, Inc. She is the president of The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra Society, Inc. (PPOSI). For more than 12 years, she was a member of the board of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Nedy has produced operas to raise funds for the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, the PPOSI, and the noteworthy projects of the Philippine Italian Association of which she is the president. She recently produced at the CCP Giacomo Puccini's Turandot with a cast from Italy, South Korea and the Philippines. [caption id="attachment_171021" align="aligncenter" width="451"] Margie Moran Floirendo[/caption] Margie Moran Floirendo is currently the president of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. She was chairman of the board of the CCP. She brought honor to the Philippines when she became Miss Universe 1973. She is an advocate of Philippine ballet and Mindanao tourism. [caption id="attachment_171028" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Pinky Tobiano[/caption] Pinky Tobiano is a cancer survivor and philanthropist. She is the CEO of Progressive Laboratories and Kpp Powers Commodities, Founder and chairman of the Board of the Harvard Business School (Philippine Chapter) and president of the Association of Bureau of Animal Industry-Recognized Laboratories. Pinky is admired by legions for her iconic tablescapes, the best proof of her exceptional creativity. [caption id="attachment_171022" align="aligncenter" width="314"] Mache Torres-Ackerman[/caption] Mache Torres-Ackerman is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, educator, leadership coach, international author, and US Certified Life Coach specializing in Hypnotherapy focused on providing individual/group counseling /clinical hypnosis services (childhood traumas; family issues; addiction; relationships). [caption id="attachment_171025" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Jacqueline Michelle Lim[/caption] Jacqueline Michelle Lim is the CEO of Amanah Oil and Gas Corp. She is gifted with psychic abilities. An old soul, she loves antiques, old manuscripts, and photographs from yesteryears. [caption id="attachment_171027" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Mayor Nina Quiambao[/caption] Mayor Nina Quiambao is the first woman mayor of Pangasinan. Her priorities are social-cultural development, social protection, agricultural modernization, good governance, economic and infrastructure development, environment protection, and disaster resiliency. [caption id="attachment_171020" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Cory Navarro[/caption] Cory Navarro is the founder and chairman of King’s Group of Companies. A top hostess, she invites renowned chefs to whip up their specialties for her family, friends and guests. [caption id="attachment_171024" align="aligncenter" width="454"] Marissa Gutierrez[/caption] Marissa L. Gutierrez is the President of Gikab Foundation in Negros. She is an entrepreneur engaged in land banking, building and selling real estate. She is a product of the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts. She owns the 1335 Mabini Art Gallery. [caption id="attachment_171029" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Aida Posadas[/caption] Aida Posadas is an heir to the Posadas Estate. A God-centered person, she is an Instagram artist, nature lover and mother to her one and only son, Wowee Posadas, who owns the two-decade old 19 East Bar and Restaurant. [caption id="attachment_171023" align="aligncenter" width="444"] Marge Organo[/caption] Marge Organo is a talented glass sculptor who trained in the Corning Museum of Glass in New York, USA and The Glassmaking School of Kamenicky, Senov, Czech Republic. She has exhibited at the Galerie Joaquin. Marge established Altheamed Pharmaceuticals which distributes Ophtha and ENT medicines, as well as cataract lenses from US, Europe and India. The company is now known as Qure Corp. Pharma, after her son took over the reins of the company. The post RUPERT’S CHOICE: FILIPINAS OF PASSION AND COMPASSION appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Indefinite water cuts loom, Maynilad says
The scheduled water service interruptions across more than half a million households supplied by west zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services Inc. will be indefinite due to the depleting water supply as El Niño hits. At a press briefing on Monday, Maynilad Water Supply Operations Head Ronald Padua confirmed that service disruptions, which will last for nine to 11 hours, or between 7 p.m. and 4 a.m. or 6 a.m., will start on Wednesday, 12 July. The affected areas are the cities of Manila, Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela and Quezon City. “I cannot answer yet the question about when we will experience these interruptions. Hopefully, there will be some rain at the Ipo watershed,” Padua told reporters. “Ipo dam has only a small storage capacity. Even if the release from Angat Dam is low, when there are local rains in the region, the water level rises and it helps divert water to Metro Manila,” he said. Padua said Maynilad did not consider the adverse effects of El Niño in its latest business plan due to the delayed announcement by the weather bureau. “Our latest business plan included assumptions that normal water will arrive for us. Our anticipation also takes into account the PAGASA forecast so if there is no forecast, we will not anticipate it. But we assure you that all this is being talked about,” Padua explained. To mitigate the impact of the interruptions, Maynilad vowed to fast-track the completion of its water augmentation projects. Among other things, Padua said Maynilad targets to complete more than 60 deep wells across its service area. Due to the depleting Angat Dam, whose water elevation fell below the 180-meter minimum operating level last weekend, the National Water Resources Board allocated only 48 cubic meters per second or cms for water concessionaires starting 8 July. The water share was lower than the 52 cms released from 16 April to 30 June, and the 50 cms from 1 to 7 July. Thus, Maynilad has been getting less supply than it needs to maintain normal service levels. The Water Resources Management Office or WRMO of the Department of Environment and National Resources on Sunday issued Bulletin No. 2 to all barangay officials and condominium and subdivision managers in the National Capital Region to advise residents to cut down on activities that consume large amounts of water, such as watering lawns and washing vehicles. The order came after the water in Angat Dam dipped to a critical level. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration had reported a significant drop in Angat’s water level since Friday. The decline, it said, averaged more than 0.40 meters daily as it further fell to 1.79.56 meters or .56 meters below its normal operating capacity. The WRMO advisory aims to raise awareness about the importance of water conservation and encourage residents to reduce water usage where possible. “As we prepare for even drier conditions due to El Niño, it is more than ever important to conserve water in order to prevent massive interruptions later this year,” the WRMO bulletin said. Residents, it added, should practice rainwater collection for non-potable use of water, and to reuse laundry and dishwashing water to water plants. All government agencies have also been directed to conserve water in their respective offices while local government units in Metro Manila were told to hasten pipe repairs of water concessionaires Manila Water and Maynilad. The post Indefinite water cuts loom, Maynilad says appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
What next for Trump? Golf, Twitter and maybe another run?
When networks projected he had lost his bid for reelection to Joe Biden, President Donald Trump was playing golf. He’ll soon have plenty more time to enjoy the links if he so desires. US President Donald Trump (Photo by MANDEL NGAN / AFP/ MANILA BULLETIN) But if there’s one constant for Trump, it is his love of the limelight and few expect this most unusual of presidents to pursue a traditional post-White House life of public reticence, reflective memoir-writing and occasional charitable events. He will lose the keys to the White House but not his login on Twitter, where Trump and his itchy fingers could still wield powerful control over his Republican Party. Some allies have already spoken of Trump planning a rematch in 2024. Only one other president, Grover Cleveland, has served non-consecutive terms, winning in 1892 after narrowly losing reelection four years earlier. Former White House chief of staff Mark Mulvaney said with understatement that Trump — who has refused to concede and made unsubstantiated claims of widespread fraud — “doesn’t like losing.” “I would absolutely expect the president to stay involved in politics and would absolutely put him on the shortlist of people who are likely to run in 2024,” he told an Irish think tank. “He’s a very high-energy 74-year-old.” Trump’s children have made clear that they are still demanding loyalty from Republicans. “The total lack of action from virtually all of the ‘2024 GOP hopefuls’ is pretty amazing,” Donald Trump Jr. tweeted on Thursday. He called out by name Senator Lindsey Graham, a former Trump critic turned supporter who coasted to reelection. Hours afterward, Graham was on Trump’s favorite Fox News show pledging money for the president’s legal defense and repeating unsubstantiated accusations of election irregularities. – Trump TV? – The thrice-married New York-born hotel developer and television celebrity has made no secret that he longs for some comforts of his pre-White House days. “I had a nice life. I had the greatest life,” Trump said in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in his final campaign rally. His main product to fund that lifestyle has been his own name. According to his disgraced former lawyer Michael Cohen, the 2016 presidential run itself was conceived as a “branding opportunity” — until he unexpectedly won. Trump had rebuilt his public profile in the 2000s as the host of reality TV series “Celebrity Apprentice” following a string of bankruptcies. The president has hinted about seeking to start a “Trump TV” brand as he has increasingly complained about Fox News, accusing the channel that helped fuel his rise of being insufficiently right-wing. Viewers, he tweeted, “want an alternative now. So do I!” And no one can deny Trump has the gift of the gab. At his innumerable rallies, he held large crowds in a kind of mesmerized attention with stream-of-consciousness shifts from conspiracy theories to jokes to pet peeves, like his peculiarly passionate criticism of feeble water pressure in bathroom faucets. And he has a potential readymade vehicle for the project in the form of openly Trump-supporting cable channels One America News and NewsMax TV — current minnows that a Trump takeover could turn into giants. – Prison, or a road trip? – No less plausible is a scenario where Trump is embroiled in serious legal problems. Prosecutors in New York are already probing Trump’s hush money payment to a porn star, his tangled business dealings and mysterious accounting practices. Then there are those old rape and other sexual assault allegations. As president, Trump is largely protected from prosecution. Some have speculated that he may again challenge accepted norms by trying to issue a pre-emptive pardon to himself. Eight Trump associates, including men who served as his campaign managers, lawyer and national security advisor, have already been indicted or imprisoned for serious crimes including over the 2016 campaign’s links to Russia. Or, just maybe, Trump will want to get away from it all. However implausible this sounds, he has dropped a few hints. In June at the White House he mused about taking a road trip in an RV with his former model wife Melania. Less romantic but equally heartfelt, he paused mid-speech during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania to admire parked trucks. “Nice trucks,” the president said. “You think I could hop into one of them and drive it away? I’d love to do it, just drive the hell out of here. Just get the hell out of this.”.....»»
Palay prices dip to P11/kg in some areas
Palay prices continued to go down, even dipping to as low as P11 per kilogram (/kg) as farmers approach the tail-end of the harvest season with a series of strong typhoons. Latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that the average farm-gate price of palay continued its downward movement, falling by 4.1 percent to P15.79/kg from the price level of P16.47/kg in the previous week. Year-on-year, the price increased by 0.2 percent from its average price of P15.76/kg in the same week of the previous year. Unfortunately, prices went down to as low as P11/kg in areas like Surigao del Sur and Cavite, which means some farmers were forced to sell their produce at a loss. In other areas like Agusan del Sur and Bulacan, farmers barely made money, with palay sold at exactly or just slightly above P12/kg. In the Philippines, the average production cost of rice farmers stood around P12.72/kg, which is higher or nearly double than what rice farmers in Vietnam and Thailand spend to produce the staple. This means that if prices fell below that amount, farmers would receive earnings that are lower than what they spent for. Some said that with the current production cost, the breakeven farmgate price of fresh harvest should be around P14.50/kg. Meanwhile, highest palay prices were recorded in areas like Bataan, Nueva Ecija, Zambales, Pampanga, Rizal, and Palawan wherein the commodity were sold at P18/kg to P21/kg, the same PSA data showed. Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) National Manager Raul Montemayor said that in the next few weeks, as farmers approach the tail-end of the harvest season, palay prices will definitely go down further. This, as palay, when damaged by storms, could yield to poor quality rice, which, among other reasons like the continuous entry of imported rice, could result in traders deciding not to buy at all. “Rainy weather is also to blame since traders have to discount for grain deterioration due to lack of drying facilities,” he said. A data from the Department of Agriculture (DA) showed that as of October 29, Typhoon Quinta already destroyed 79,239 metric tons (MT) of palay worth P1.13 billion within 62,880 hectares of farms. Then there’s the threat of Typhoon Rolly, which is expected to make landfall in Quezon and Aurora provinces on Saturday (October 31) and become a super typhoon. Montemayor also thinks that the continuous decline in palay prices is already “not surprising” since government intervention is doing very little for farmers. According to him, the National Food Authority’s (NFA) palay procurement has had minimal impact despite pronouncements of DA, while the planned suspension of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances (SPS-ICs) on rice “came in too late, as in last year, to influence farmgate prices.” “Too little too late [actions] again by the DA,” Montemayor said. “At this time, [DA can do] very little. Damage was already done and most farmers have already harvested. Some typhoon-affected farmers (like those in Occidental Mindoro and Isabela) are asking NFA to buy storm-damaged palay but I doubt if they will do that since the agency itself doesn’t have dryers,” he added. Montemayor was particularly referring to Agriculture Secretary William Dar’s previous order for NFA to intensify its palay procurement in order to address decline in palay prices. To recall, NFA, whose sole mandate now is to secure the government’s buffer stock, buys palay at P19/kg and is given P7 billion every year to do this. Also, more than a week ago, Senator Cynthia Villar, chairperson of the senate agriculture committee, asked the DA to stop issuing SPS-ICs to rice importers during harvest time, which would probably take effect after the next planting season. Business Bulletin sought the reaction of DA Spokesperson Noel Reyes regarding the decline in palay prices, but he is yet to respond......»»
Coconut farmers are poorest agri people
Coconut farmers are now the poorest people in the agriculture sector, much poorer than when they were 30 years ago. This was the assessment of Danny Carranza, a coconut farmer and member the Kilusan Para sa Tunay na Repormang Agraryo at Katarungang Panlipunan (Katarungan). (MB FILE, Keith Bacongco) Carranza blamed the coconut farmers’ poverty on the low copra prices, inability to intercrop and modernize, and now the COVID-19 pandemic, which isolates some of them who are living in far-flung areas. “If you’re going to compare, we are much poorer now than we were back in 1990,” said Carranza. Carranza said the “crisis in coconut” that started in the 1990s was never resolved, but even worsened especially when farmers failed to diversify and intercrop before copra prices, dictated by world prices, crashed in 2019 and in the previous years. “The price of copra is improving, reaching P16/kg from P8/kg last year, but that is still not enough,” Carranza said, adding that farmers’ income from a hectare of coconut plantation does not reach P10,000 anymore. At present, about 95 percent of the 3.5 million hectares of coconut farms in the Philippines are meant to produce copra, which is the material for coconut oil manufacturing. But with the collapse of the prices of coconut oil in the world market over the last two years, prices of copra have also dropped plunging farmers into deeper poverty. According to the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), prices of copra at farmgate as of October 15 stood at P21.86/kg, which is higher compared to P14.55/kg price level during the same day last year. But Carranza said that it normally takes three to four years for coconut farmers to recover when a typhoon hits their plantation because coconut trees don’t recover fast. Several typhoons have devastated coconut trees lately. “Farmers’ income is dictated by world prices, they don’t have enough funds to modernize their industry, and the government has failed to support them in the diversification of their coconut plantations,” Carranza said. “Then things got worse because of climate change. And then, because of lockdown, a lot of farmers who live in far-flung areas were isolated and couldn’t deliver their produce,” he added. In 2018, farmers working in coconut farms only received a daily nominal wage rate of P264, based on Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data. To alleviate the current situation of coconut farmers, the Department of Agriculture (DA) has announced that it will soon distribute a P5,000 worth of assistance to coconut farmers, which will be withdrawn from the agency’s P24-billion stimulus package granted under ‘Bayanihan 2’. The problem, according to Carranza, is that the assistance may only benefit farmers who own 1 hectare of coconut plantations or less. The PCA is also setting aside a portion of its budget to finance on-farm and off-farm livelihood projects for coconut farmers such as intercropping and livestock. Meanwhile, Pambansang Kilusan ng Magbubukid sa Pilipinas (PKMP) Chairman Eduardo Mora said the legal team of Senator Bong Go pledged to help coconut farmers push for provisions that they want to be included in the Coco Levy Act, the proposed law that will pave the way for the release of the P100-billion coco levy fund. “It was the office of Senator Bong Go that informed us that the senate version of Coco Levy Act was already passed in third and final reading. But his legal team also assured to help us in the congress version of the law, in bicameral, and in the drafting of the IRR [implementing rules and regulation] of the law,” Mora told Business Bulletin. Mora’s group, which represents more than a hundred thousand coconut farmers in the country, has been calling for increased farmers’ representation in the planned coconut trust fund management committee. Coconut farmers also don’t want the funds to be handled by PCA, Mora said. Business Bulletin already sought for Agriculture Secretary William Dar’s reaction regarding the farmers’ opposition of the Coco Levy Act, but he hasn’t responded yet. .....»»
DFP employees turn the table, file graft raps vs Belgica
Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) Commissioner Greco Belgica has been slapped with a complaint for graft and several administrative charges before the Office of the Ombudsman by nine employees of Duty Free Philippines (DFP). Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) Commissioner Greco Belgica Alexander Sablan, Ernesto Mangalindan, Romeo Silva Jr., Eric Oracion, Rizalino Santos, Nilo Duarte, Joaquin Vibal, Francis Daco, and Carlito Ardales want Belgica to be held liable for violations of Section 3(b), (e), (f), and (k) of R.A. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, Grave Misconduct, Conduct Prejudicial to the Service, and Gross Inexcusable Negligence. The DFP employees said they were “very frustrated and disappointed” in Belgica for taking on their case of “smuggling” against DFPC Chief Operating Officer (COO) Vicente Pelagio Angala. They said in the complaint that they sought Belgica’s help after listening to his program with DZRH called “Ireklamo Mo Kay Greco.” They then went to his house in San Miguel Avenue near Malacañang and sought help regarding allegations of anomalies and corruption within DFP. He listened to their concerns and introduced his father, Gregor Belgica, and his lawyer sibling, Atty. Jeremia Belgica. The Belgica clan assured the DFP employees that they have their support, and they said they were lucky because they do not have to pay for any legal fees. However, when they filed the plunder complaint before the Ombudsman on March 16, 2017, with the help of the firm of Belgica’s brother – Belgica Aranas ALim Dela Cruz and Association – they had to pay P1,000 per page or a total of P130,000. Things went downhill when Belgica contacted Angala and set up a meeting with them. During the meeting, they were made to sign a “waiver” which they did not get to read and they were also kept in the dark. In the end, Belgica made recommendations to President Duterte against officials of DFP. However, they said the recommendations did not really include the names of those involved, but just mentioned that charges be filed against “public officials.” The money which they used to pay the Ombudsman was also returned. “Ginamit niya ang aming kaso para magkaroon ng koneksyon sa mga malalaking negosyante sa Duty Free upang gamitin niya sa kanyang pansariling interest. (He used our case to connect with big business owners in Duty Free so that he could use it for his own personal gain),” the complaint read. Contacted by the Manila Bulletin for his side, Belgica said he is ready to defend himself and provide answers “anywhere and anytime.” He added that the complaint that he asked for money is a “fabricated story,” and he said that he had been very generous to the DFP employees. The fact that the group has besmirched his reputation, Belgica said he is going to file counter-charges and “pray hard that they all go to jail.” Belgica likewise made some accusations of his own: “This group is being sponsored by the same people who also filed a case against me on the entrapment operations and anti-corruption initiatives that we have been doing. This group has been trying to rally more people to fabricate cases and allegations in order to undermine the anti-corruption initiatives of the administration.”.....»»
DOLE: Distressed businesses may avail of bank loans for 13th month pay
The Department of Labor and Employment told distressed businesses which can’t afford to pay for their employees’ 13th-month pay to avail of loans from banks. Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III (ROBINSON NIÑAL JR. / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the Bankers Association of the Philippines had earlier said it is open to offering loans for businesses heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. “Siguro pwedeng umutang muna para may pambayad sila (Maybe they could borrow from banks so they could pay their employees’ 13th month),” Bello told DZMM Teleradyo in an interview. Aside from borrowing from banks, Bello said the labor department is also eyeing to subsidize the 13th-month pay of employees from micro and small enterprises (MSE). Malacanang said it will discuss the matter with the Departments of Budget and Management (DBM) and Finance (DOF) to see if the government can shoulder the 13th month P13.7 billion needed to subsidize the 13th-month pay of MSE workers. Bello reiterated that there should be no deferment in the giving of 13th-month pay to employees. The labor secretary said it should be given on or before December 24, with no extensions. Employees entitled to a 13th-month pay include those who have been working at a business or company not less than a month regardless of their employment status......»»
Moviegoer: TWO WOMEN
JUST A THOUGHT: Music in the soul can be heard by the universe. —Lao Tzu TWO WOMEN: They were icons in their fields, one in the movie world, the other in lifestyle journalism. They ought to be remembered, not only for the marks they made in their lifetime, but just as importantly, for the color and vibrancy with which they lived their lives. Here’s hoping the heavens will still make women of their caliber, with that bravura, generosity, and sense of style, with matching humor, in the days to come. Marichu Vera Perez-Maceda and Ethel Soliven-Timbol, two feisty, accomplished women, died within days of each other this September. ‘’Manay’’ Ichu, as she was fondly called by all, was 77. Ethel T was 80. Both suffered from lingering illnesses. JOLLY GOOD FELLOW: For all her sophistication and pedigree, ‘’Manay’’ Ichu, industry pillar and heiress to the legacy of Sampaguita Pictures, was the easiest person I have had to deal with in the movie business. Marichu Vera Perez-Maceda She was always casual and jolly in her conversations, and showed genuine interest in the other person. She was simple as she was grounded. In the late 1970s, I joined her on a coverage of a movie her outfit, MVP Productions, was filming in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro. On the first day of shoot—the film was “Dyesebel” — early the next morning, the set was filled with young actors and actresses, either half-naked or in swim suits. Dyesebel herself, Alma Moreno, wore pearly shells on her breast and a fishtail. Ichu surprised everyone by showing up at the beach, wearing high heels and a formal white gown. She said she dressed that way because she wanted to create a happy, glam-filled set. OLD SCHOOL, OLD WORLD: ‘’Manay’’ Ichu could be playful. She loved to laugh. Tell her a bad joke, and she’ll still laugh for you. I guess that’s her way of showing she cares for you and your presence. Or maybe, she was just being polite. Politeness comes with the territory. Marichu is so old school, so old world, that her death can be compared to the passing of an era, such as the Philippine Commonwealth. They don’t make men and women like them anymore. People who are gentle, genteel, elegant. To the end, she lived up to the demands of that bygone era she was brought up in. She wrote letters to friends by long hand. Her last letter to me was written in 2019, in which she enclosed a basket of tinapang bangus from Pangasinan. She sent Christmas cards delivered at your doorstep. She wrote sympathy notes when someone dear passes on. She was everything this new world has ceased from being. COLOR IN JOURNALISM: Throughout her lifetime, many couldn’t understand her. She wasn’t a woman for nothing. Ethel Soliven-Timbol, 80, who reigned as Lifestyle Editor of the Manila Bulletin from 1976 to 2007, was a tough nut to crack. She was feisty, all right, yet she could also be very funny and witty. Ethel Soliven-Timbol She gave color to journalism by speaking her mind, what first came to it, regardless of audience, location, or circumstance. Often, that remark could be biting, which sent people cowering in fear, or in awe. An old school journalist, Ethel demanded perfection from her writers. She screamed over wrong grammar or syntax, swore at PR persons who wrote bad press releases. On a good day, in the middle of editing and closing pages, we would hear her sing out loud, as if she was alone in the big newsroom, nonchalantly. But, that was Ethel, she could get away with most anything. She was queen, after all, and who cared if she couldn’t sometimes hit those high notes? SOFTY SIDE: We, Ethel’s long time colleagues at the Bulletin, also knew the lady’s other side. She could be soft and tender, like the slice of moisty chocolate cake she would offer me in the afternoons when her desk would be flooded with all sorts of pastries and food from everywhere, from people who worshiped at her feet for a square inch of space in her most sought after section. Dianne Feinstein said, ‘’Toughness doesn’t have to come in a pinstriped suit.’’ Ethel did one better. She dressed elegantly at all times, never forgetting she was one tough lady whose voice was to be taken seriously at all times, whether or not she was joking, or just being her spoiled-little-rich-girl self. Bye, Ethel!.....»»
Longtime partners Kevin Alas, Selina Dagdag tie the knot – Kevin’s agent
BY WAYLON GALVEZ Longtime partners Kevin Alas of the NLEX Road Warriors and PBA courtside reporter Selina Dagdag tied the knot Tuesday in a civil ceremony at the office of San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora. Charlie Dy, who represents the PBA star’s business transactions, confirmed to Manila Bulletin the couple’s special day. […].....»»
Barangay contact tracing teams pushed
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) stressed that each barangay should have its own contact tracer team as the country battles the surging number of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) cases. (JANSEN ROMERO / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said that all business centers should have their own contact tracing teams. The call was made after the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Philippines skyrocketed to 98,232 on Aug. 1 and a record-high 4,963 new infections were recorded by the Department of Health (DoH). In combating the pandemic further, Año assured that local government units (LGUs) will continue to be at the forefront in the contact tracing, testing, and referrals to the hospitals of COVID-19 patients in their localities. He noted the DILG has issued Memorandum Circular 2020-077 that compels the LGUs to establish their own task forces against COVID-19. In the midst of the fight against the pandemic, Año asked the public to be resilient in preventing the transmission of the disease by adhering strictly to quarantine protocols. “Help us ensure participative and effective governance as we undertake to implement the national action plan for COVID 19,’’ said Año......»»
PH notifies WTO on 3 probes on steel safeguards Manila Bulletin Business
PH notifies WTO on 3 probes on steel safeguards Manila Bulletin.....»»
Ayala, partner push 2 wind projects in Vietnam Manila Bulletin Business
Ayala, partner push 2 wind projects in Vietnam Manila Bulletin.....»»
Stock market cheers GCQ announcement Manila Bulletin Business
Stock market cheers GCQ announcement Manila Bulletin.....»»
Meralco to install 3.3 M smart meters to prevent billing errors Manila Bulletin Business
Meralco to install 3.3 M smart meters to prevent 'billing errors' Manila Bulletin.....»»
Meralco to install 3.3 million smart meters Manila Bulletin Business
Meralco to install 3.3 million smart meters Manila Bulletin Business Manila Bulletin.....»»
Philippines logs 40 pertussis deaths this year
MANILA, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Forty children have died of whopping cough, a respiratory infection also called pertussis, since this year, the Philippines' Department of Health (DOH) has reported. The DOH said in a statement on Wednesday that cases have continued to increase since the start of this year, recording 568 cases from Jan. 1 to March 16. "The total number of cases for the same period in 2023 was.....»»
DMK criticises Election Commission for being biassed in allocating symbols to political parties
Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], March 28 (ANI): The Deputy Secretary of the Student Wing of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Ka Amutharasan, has accused the Election Commission of India (ECI) of having a biassed attitude towards opposition parties by allocating election symbols as per their wishes. "ECI has allocated the symbols for the Tamil Manila Congress and Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhgam that those parties wished for. Th.....»»
Jollibee invests $28 million in beverage tech firm
Filipino-owned Asian food conglomerate Jollibee Foods Corp. is investing $28 million for a 10 percent stake in beverage technology company Botrista Inc. to support the growth of its coffee and tea business......»»
Stocks eke out gains, back at 6,900
The stock market eked out gains to move back up to the 6,900 level as investors continued to hunt for bargains......»»