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Starting ‘em young
Three days from now, Filipinos will troop to the polling precincts once again to elect their Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials in what is supposed to be an integral component of the country’s democratic system. The elections, postponed many times before, allow for the representation and participation of local communities and the youth. However, these elections have not been without controversy, with allegations of vote buying and the distribution of illegal campaign materials tarnishing the democratic process. Held every three years, the Barangay and SK Elections, also known as BSKE, play a critical role in the Philippine political landscape. Barangays are the smallest administrative units in the country, serving as the frontline of government service delivery. The SK, on the other hand, specifically represents the youth, offering them an opportunity to engage in the political process from a young age. Barangay elections ensure that the grassroots communities are represented in local governance. Residents can choose leaders directly responsible for addressing their immediate concerns, such as public safety, health, and education. SK elections aim to involve the youth in decision-making processes. By participating in these elections, young people can gain valuable experience in leadership, advocacy, and community service, setting the stage for their future involvement in national politics. These elections serve as a training ground for democracy, allowing citizens to exercise their right to vote and make informed choices. The principles of accountability, transparency, and participation are nurtured at the community level. Barangay elections can be particularly empowering for marginalized groups, including women and indigenous communities, who have the opportunity to run for office and make their voices heard. However, despite the importance of the BSKE, they have been marred by allegations of vote buying and the distribution of illegal campaign materials. These practices raise concerns about the integrity of the electoral process and whether they indicate an early introduction to corrupt political practices. Vote buying, whereby candidates offer money, goods, or services in exchange for votes, is a long-standing issue in Philippine politics. While it is not exclusive to Barangay and SK elections, the fact that such allegations surface even in these local-level contests is troubling. It begs the question of whether young people are witnessing and, to some extent, participating in a system that normalizes the exchange of votes for material gain. One possible explanation for the prevalence of vote buying is the socio-economic conditions in many barangays. Poverty and inequality can create an environment where voters may be more susceptible to monetary incentives. This underscores the need for broader efforts to alleviate poverty and promote education and awareness about the value of their vote. Another issue is the widespread use of illegal campaign materials, such as posters, banners, and pamphlets that do not conform to electoral regulations. While this may seem like a relatively minor infraction, it contributes to a culture of disregard for the rule of law and electoral integrity. Starting young in politics should ideally involve nurturing values of ethics and civic responsibility. Instead, when young people are exposed to campaigns that flout the rules, it may inadvertently teach them that bending or breaking rules is an acceptable strategy to achieve political goals. This sends a damaging message about the importance of playing by the rules in a democracy. Addressing the issues of vote buying and illegal campaign materials in barangay and SK elections is crucial to preserving the democratic process and instilling positive values in young people. Schools and community organizations should conduct programs to educate young people about the significance of their vote, ethical campaigning, and the consequences of vote buying. Such programs can help instill a sense of civic responsibility. The Commission on Elections, on the other hand, should vigorously enforce campaign finance and election laws, penalizing candidates who engage in illegal practices. It is crucial, therefore, to address these issues by emphasizing education, enforcement of election laws, transparency, and community involvement. In doing so, these elections can better serve as platforms for shaping the future leaders of the nation who are committed to the principles of democracy, integrity, and ethical governance. The post Starting ‘em young appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Davao Cenro underscores how trees mitigate rising temperatures
The Davao City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) recently underscored the vital role of trees in mitigating rising temperatures. In a radio interview, Christopher Asibal, chief of the Cenro Upland Community Project & Forest Management Section, explained that trees and humans have a symbiotic relationship. Trees provide oxygen for humans to breathe, while humans help trees by absorbing their carbon dioxide. Asibal also noted various environmental ordinances in the city, particularly the recent Heritage Tree Ordinance, which aims to protect trees that hold significant value for both the city and the environment. He urged Dabawenyos who have trees in their areas to take proper care of them, especially during the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Election (BSKE) period when campaigners often attach banners to trees. Asibal said that any injury to a tree can serve as an entry point for fungi, leading to the tree's deterioration......»»
Huge mass in Lisbon ahead of pope’s arrival for ‘Catholic Woodstock’
A sea of flag-waving pilgrims from around the world packed a Lisbon park on Tuesday for an open-air Mass that kicked off a week-long jamboree of Catholic youth on the eve of the arrival of Pope Francis. Lisbon's patriarch, Cardinal Manuel Clemente, delivered the homily at the service held at the hillside Eduardo VII Park with sweeping views of the Portuguese capital and the Tagus River. "Lisbon welcomes you wholeheartedly," he told the crowd as pilgrims waved national flags in the air. Local authorities expect some 300,000 people to attend the opening Mass of World Youth Day, which is actually a week of religious, cultural, and festive events held every three years in a different city. Francis is set to arrive in Lisbon on Wednesday morning to join the event, which has been dubbed the "Catholic Woodstock". The 86-year-old pontiff is by Church standards the most liberal pope in decades and is very popular with young people. During his papacy, he has tried to create a more compassionate church, reaching out to the gay community and talking frankly to youngsters about abortion, divorce, and gender identity. "Pope Francis is open to young people," said Cristina Kelly, a 39-year-old who came from Brazil, just before the start of the Mass. "He called on us and we came. People need that today, for young people to be called to God," she told AFP. 'Recharge spiritual battery' In Portugal, the pope has a typically packed schedule for his five-day visit, despite having spent nine nights in hospital after undergoing hernia surgery in June. Francis, the first Latin American pope, is due to make 11 public pronouncements and hold numerous meetings, and on Saturday will visit the shrine of Fatima north of Lisbon. Church organizers expect one million faithful will attend the event's closing mass which will be delivered by the pope on Sunday at a waterside park on the outskirts of Lisbon. Images of the pope were on display on banners across the city as well as on screens on automatic bank machines along with the message: "I am with you". A Lisbon pastry shop is even selling cookies with the image of the smiling pontiff wearing a crucifix. "My goal is to recharge my spiritual battery because sometimes, as young people, we let it run low," Xochilt Cecilia Velis, a 24-year-old from El Salvador, told AFP in central Lisbon. World Youth Day is part of the Vatican's efforts to galvanize young Catholics at a time when secularism and disgust over clerical child sex abuse cause some faithful to abandon the Church. Meeting with abuse victims The gathering comes as the Portuguese Catholic Church is reckoning with its legacy of clerical sexual abuse. A report released in February by an independent commission determined that at least 4,815 children had been abused by clergy members in Portugal since 1950. The inquiry -- similar to audits elsewhere in Europe and the Americas -- concluded that the Church hierarchy "systematically" tried to conceal the abuse. Pope Francis is scheduled to meet privately with abuse victims during his visit but the date of the encounter or other details has not been released. Initially scheduled for August 2022, but postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Lisbon World Youth Day is the 16th international edition of what has become the largest gathering of Catholics worldwide. Church organizers said there are pilgrims registered to take part in this year's event from every country in the world except the Maldives. A brainchild of the late Pope John Paul II, the event started in 1986. The current one is the fourth presided over by Pope Francis, who became head of the Catholic Church in 2013. The last three events took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2013, in Krakow, Poland in 2016, and in Panama City, Panama in 2019. The post Huge mass in Lisbon ahead of pope’s arrival for ‘Catholic Woodstock’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Nepal celebrates 70 years since first Everest summit
The sons of Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa led celebrations in Nepal on Monday to mark the 70th anniversary of the historic first ascent of Everest. The scaling of the 8,849-metre (29,032-foot) peak on 29 May 1953 changed mountaineering forever and made the New Zealander and his Nepalese guide household names. "In a whole lot of ways, it was not just Ed Hillary and Tenzing Norgay that reached the summit of Mount Everest, it was all of humanity," Peter Hillary said at a school founded by his father in the remote village of Khumjung at 3,790 meters. "Suddenly, all of us could go," he said. And gone they have. In the past seven decades, more than 6,000 climbers have climbed the world's highest mountain, according to the Himalayan Database. It remains dangerous, with more than 300 losing their lives in the same period, including 12 this year. Five others are missing, putting 2023 on course to be a record deadly year. As well as supporting tourism, the rapid growth in the climbing industry has raised revenue for Nepal, which today charges foreigners an Everest permit fee of $11,000. Family members of both the climbers joined locals and officials at the school on Monday morning to inaugurate the Sir Edmund Hillary Visitors Centre, housed in the original building, which opened in 1961. Butter lamps were lit in front of a photograph of Hillary and Tenzing, and their sons, Peter Hillary and Jamling Norgay, cut a red ribbon to open the doors to the center. A renovated museum also opened in Tenzing Norgay's name in Namche Bazaar, the largest tourist hub in the trek to the Everest base camp. In Kathmandu, officials and hundreds from the mountaineering community joined a rally with celebratory banners. Top Nepali climbers, including the record holder for most Everest ascents Kami Rita Sherpa, were honored in a ceremony. Sanu Sherpa, the only person to climb the world’s 14 highest peaks twice, called on the government to support the Nepali guides, who bear huge risks to carry equipment and food, fix ropes and repair ladders. "The government has not done much for the Sherpa. I think it would be of great help and we would be happy if the government helps educate children of those climbers who died on mountains," Sherpa told AFP. The post Nepal celebrates 70 years since first Everest summit appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Marcos’ Eid al-Fitr message to Muslims: sustain values, teachings during Ramadan
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday, 21 April urged the Muslim community to uphold all the ideals instilled during Ramadan. The Chief Executive made the call after expressing solidarity with the Muslim community in the Philippines and overseas as they celebrate Eid al-Fitr. "As you culminate the holy month of Ramadhan by celebrating the Festival of the Breaking of the Fast, may you sustain the values, teachings, and practices that you have wholeheartedly discerned and embodied throughout this time," Marcos said in his Eid'l Fitr message. "Let these form the foundations of your characters as you continue to fulfill righteous deeds and strive to live a virtuous life moving forward," Marcos added. He added that the whole Filipino community joins all Muslims in celebrating this solemn day "for we recognize the Islamic faith and embrace it as part of our own collective consciousness." "With our many faiths informing all our actions and bridging all our differences as a diverse set of peoples, we can transcend any challenge and still remain united under the banners of camaraderie, respect, and love," Marcos said. The Islamic holiday of Eid al-Fitr, commemorating the conclusion of Ramadan, is observed during the first three days of Shawwal, the tenth month of the calendar. Malacaang has already designated Friday a holiday in honor of the event. Over 1.7 billion Muslims worldwide mark Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, by fasting and praying. The Feast of Breaking the Fast, also known as Eid'l Fitr, was previously announced by the Office of the Bangsamoro Mufti to fall on Saturday, 22 April 2023. The post Marcos’ Eid al-Fitr message to Muslims: sustain values, teachings during Ramadan appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
7 nanlaban drug suspects dead after Baste Duterte declares drug war
Less than a week after Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte declared a "war on drugs" in the city, at least seven drug suspects were killed during a buy-bust operation in the city — violence that highlights the seriousness of the mayor's recent threat of outright killing persons caught using illegal drugs......»»
'India, Russia have taken extra care to look after each other s interests': EAM Jaishankar
Singapore, March 25 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Sunday stressed that Russia is a country with which India has always had a positive relationship. While addressing the members of the Indian Community in Singapore, Jaishankar said that both countries have taken extra care to look after each other's interests. "I will ask myself...Has Russia helped us or harmed us?...Are there gains to be made from Russ.....»»
Missing man found dead in Barangay Bonbon
CEBU CITY, Philippines — A 50-year-old man who had been missing for two weeks was found dead in Sitio Golivas, Barangay Bonbon, Cebu City. The victim was identified as Adriano Fuentes Durano, a resident of Kiniasan, Barangay Bonbon, Cebu City. Police Major Philip John Libres, chief of Malubog Police Community Precinct, stated that on Tuesday.....»»
Sarangani Writers League welcomes 11 new members, all women
ALABEL, Sarangani (MindaNews / 24 March) – The Sarangani Writers League (SWL) recently welcomed its new members, all of them women, for helping develop the literary community in the province of Sarangani. The new members successfully navigated the application process, fulfilled all requirements, and surpassed the evaluation criteria: Catherine R. Discorson, Mariele M. Gallego, and Eva […].....»»
Kaladkaren inokray-okray sa Woman of Influence award: Bakit siya?!
MAS pinahanga pa ng award-winning actress at TV5 news anchor na si Kaladkaren ang mga LGBTQIA+ community sa bago niyang award. Isa si Kaladkaren o Jervi Li sa tunay na buhay sa mga binigyan ng pagkilala bilang Woman of Influence ng Cosmopolitan Philippines kamakailan. Kasama niyang tumanggap ng naturang award sina Iza Calzado, Carla Abellana.....»»
'India, Russia have taken extra care to look after each other s interests': EAM Jaishankar
Singapore, March 25 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Sunday stressed that Russia is a country with which India has always had a positive relationship. While addressing the members of the Indian Community in Singapore, Jaishankar said that both countries have taken extra care to look after each other's interests. "I will ask myself...Has Russia helped us or harmed us?...Are there gains to be made from Russ.....»»
Sibol exec wants improved conditions for women in esports
Esports has once been dubbed as a male-dominant industry, both in competitions and within top positions in different related organizations. Recent years have seen a shift in the role of women in the industry but like in traditional sports, the change is considered minimal, and more could be done......»»
‘Not war with China; don’t rely only on US’ – Marcos Jr.
In an interview on Bloomberg TV last Wednesday, as reported in another national daily, he made two related comments that could represent important government policy stands. First, regarding China’s increasing aggressive moves against Philippine vessels in the West Philippine Sea; second, about the United States’ repeated assurance of its “iron-clad” defense commitment under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty. The post ‘Not war with China; don’t rely only on US’ – Marcos Jr. appeared first on Bulatlat......»»
DOT advises public to ‘travel wisely’ this Holy Week
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Tourism (DOT) is advising the public to “travel wisely” to ensure safety during the Holy Week celebrations. “Travelers needing accommodation, tours, transportation, and other tourism-related services are strongly advised to patronize DOT-accredited tourism enterprises. Accreditation by the DOT recognizes establishments as having complied with the department’s minimum standards set.....»»
Maine Mendoza, Kylie Verzosa wasak ang puso sa pagpanaw ni Dr. Gia Sison
NAGLULUKSA ang online community, pati ang ilang celebrities sa pagpanaw ng host at mental health advocate na si Dr. Gia Sison. Ilan lamang sa nagbigay-pugay ay sina Maine Mendoza at Kylie Verzosa na inalala ang pagiging mabuting kaibigan sa kanila ng namayapang doktora. “This is so sad. Rest easy, Doc Gia. You will be remembered.....»»
SC upholds decision granting Napoles bail in one PDAF case
Pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles and former Masbate Rep. Rizalina Seachon-Lanete have been allowed to post bail after the Supreme Court dismissed a case related to the Priority Development Assistance Fund......»»
Drug den in Punta Princesa, Cebu City shut down, three men nabbed
CEBU CITY, Philippines — With the help of concerned citizens, law enforcers arrested three newly identified drug personalities and dismantled a suspected drug den in Sitio Tres de Abril, Barangay Punta Princesa, Cebu City on Thursday afternoon, March 21, 2024. The drug bust took place at around 1:25 p.m. in the barangay, which was previously.....»»
Rama asks Malacañang to suspend Gwen over CBRT dispute
CEBU CITY, Philippines – Preventive Suspension. Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama is seeking the suspension of Governor Gwen Garcia over issues related to the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT). Rama filed an administrative complaint before the Office of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. against Garcia after the governor issued a cease and desist order to the.....»»
OCD-Davao advocates for community fire brigades
AN OFFICIAL from the Office of Civil Defense-Davao Region (OCD-Davao) underscored the necessity of establishing community fire brigades as part of their community intervention strategy......»»
Fil-Am hooper to hold basketball camp before NBTC stint
Filipino-American basketball player Braylon “BJ” Williams will be paying it forward to the local hoops community right before he makes waves in the upcoming National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) Manila Live tournament next week......»»