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Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 1600 GMT, March 25
JAKARTA -- One was killed and nine others, including children, went missing after a landslide struck a village in the Indonesian province of West Java on Sunday, a local official said Monday. The disaster took place in Cibenda village in West Bandung regency on Sunday after torrential rain reportedly poured over the area for around two hours. (Indonesia-Landslide) - - - - SYDNEY -- Local media repo.....»»
3 suspected rebels killed in clash in Philippines Batangas
MANILA, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Three suspected rebels were killed in a clash with government forces in Batangas province, south of Manila, on Tuesday, the Philippine military said. The military said a 30-minute gunfight broke out around 6:30 a.m. local time after the troops ran into a group of New People's Army (NPA) rebels in Rosario town. The troops recovered three rifles, six jungle packs, and some mater.....»»
Xinhua world news summary at 1530 GMT, March 26
MANILA -- Three suspected rebels were killed in a clash with government forces in Batangas province, south of Manila, on Tuesday, the Philippine military said. The military said a 30-minute gunfight broke out around 6:30 a.m. local time after the troops ran into a group of New People's Army (NPA) rebels in Rosario town. (Philippines-Clash) - - - - BEIRUT -- Two people were killed and nine other civ.....»»
Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 1600 GMT, March 25
JAKARTA -- One was killed and nine others, including children, went missing after a landslide struck a village in the Indonesian province of West Java on Sunday, a local official said Monday. The disaster took place in Cibenda village in West Bandung regency on Sunday after torrential rain reportedly poured over the area for around two hours. (Indonesia-Landslide) - - - - SYDNEY -- Local media repo.....»»
PSA opens PhilSys registration for ages 1 to 4
Children ages one to four years old can now register with the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) for the national ID......»»
PSA-7: Report to us if PhilSys ID not accepted
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Philippine Statistics Authority in Central Visayas (PSA-7) urged Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) ID holders to report to the agency if some entities do not accept their IDs. PSA-7 chief administrative officer of Edwina Carriaga told CDN Digital in a phone interview that the agency is urging PhilSys ID (National ID).....»»
EDITORIAL — Next, speedy justice
After a year of being on the run, Arnolfo Teves Jr. is finally being brought back to the country to face multiple indictments for serious offenses. Teves was arrested Thursday in East Timor’s capital Dili by local police. He had been hiding in plain sight in Timor-Leste, occasionally posting videos taunting Philippine authorities who wanted him for multiple murder cases......»»
Tolentino to PPA: Hire veterinarians to assist travelers with pets
Senator Francis Tolentino has urged the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) to hire veterinarians to vet on-site the pets travelers bring along in their trips and making the boarding process on sea vessels a lot easier......»»
GCash sets sights on further international expansion
With GCash Overseas, Filipinos in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Germany, Qatar, Kuwait, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia can now download and use the GCash app, whether they have Philippine SIMs or local mobile phone numbers in the countries or territories where they live......»»
Role of women athletes acknowledged
Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Richard Bachmann championed the women athletes and their unparalleled role in elevating the local sports development in the inaugural Women in Sports Awards Wednesday night at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum......»»
AI flaw? Study shows image-generators being trained on explicit photos of children
Hidden inside the foundation of popular artificial intelligence image-generators are thousands of images of child sexual abuse, according to a new report that urges companies to take action to address a harmful flaw in the technology they built. Those same images have made it easier for AI systems to produce realistic and explicit imagery of fake children.....»»
History of empathy
In a world often marred by conflict and divisiveness, genuine compassion and solidarity illuminate the path of hope. Israel’s recent gesture to assist victims of the ongoing war with the terrorist group Hamas is a testament to the nation’s commitment to humanity and its willingness to lend a helping hand to those in need. Israel, a nation that has itself faced considerable challenges and conflicts, understands the plight of those impacted by war. With a history shaped by resilience and determination, Israel has learned the importance of standing in solidarity with those facing adversity. This history of empathy serves as the foundation for its decision to assist victims of war, transcending borders and differences to offer a lifeline to those in desperate need. The Israeli government, led in the country by Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss, reached out with unwavering support to the grieving families of four Filipinos who tragically fell victim to the heinous Hamas terrorist attack on Israel. With a deep commitment to healing and restoration, Israel through Fluss vowed to provide financial aid to guide the families through this challenging chapter of their lives. Regardless of nationality, for as long as the affected individuals are documented, Fluss said they are officially recognized as victims of terrorism. As such, much-needed financial assistance will be extended to their parents, spouses and children. According to Ambassador Fluss, the Israeli government has well-defined legislation in place to assist Israeli citizens, Filipinos and other foreign nationals affected by such circumstances. The support, coursed through either the Philippine government or victims’ families, will be provided through monthly financial aid, tailored to address specific needs such as education, healthcare and housing, as explicitly stipulated in Israeli law. Going beyond providing immediate aid, Israel’s gesture fosters an environment conducive to peace and reconciliation. By reaching out to victims of war, Israel sends a powerful message of unity, empathy, and a shared commitment to healing wounds inflicted by conflict. This goodwill inspires hope and encourages dialogue, paving the way for greater understanding and eventual resolution of conflicts. Israel’s gesture may inevitably draw criticism from various spectrums, with skeptics raising concerns about underlying motives or highlighting political complexities. Nevertheless, it is best to acknowledge the profound significance of taking action to alleviate profound human suffering, regardless of political considerations. Instead of fueling hate, aiding victims of war should ignite a powerful call for international collaboration wherein nations join hands and work together toward conflict resolution — transcending divisive narratives. Israel’s commitment to humanitarian aid is not mere rhetoric but a tangible demonstration of addressing immediate needs and contributing to the long-term recovery and stability of the kin of 1,400 fatalities, 5,240 injured, 223 hostages, and conflict-affected communities. May the compassionate outreach of the Israeli government inspire resistance to blame-assigning through a constructive and problem-solving mindset. The post History of empathy appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Our lives stopped’: Relatives plead for Israel hostages
Moran Betzer Tayar, wracked by anguish about the kidnapping of her nephew and his wife by Hamas fighters on October 7, summed up her feelings during a press conference: "On Saturday morning, our lives stopped." The 54-year-old, speaking in Paris on Wednesday, is on a European tour with other relatives of hostages snatched by the Palestinian militant group during a raid that killed more than 1,400 people, most of them civilians. Israel's retaliation has so far killed more than 6,500 people, including 2,704 children, Hamas says. The Islamists are still believed to be holding more than 200 hostages. It is the plight of these people that Betzer Tayar -- who says she is "worried sick" and cannot eat -- and her compatriots are desperate to keep in the public eye. She told a press conference organized by the Council of Jewish Institutions in France how her relatives were snatched from Kibbutz Nirim, where community members were reportedly besieged for nine hours in one of dozens of attacks staged on 7 October. 'They got me' Two sisters -- Shani and May Yerushalmi -- joined Betzer Tayar to describe how their sister, Eden, was taken from the bar where she was working. "She called us, screaming, saying that terrorists were shooting at them," said Shani Yerushalmi, describing the attack at a rave party where 270 people were killed. Eden hid among bodies of her friends in a car, her sister said, before trying to use a bush as cover. "She told us she could hear the terrorists coming," Shani Yerushalmi said. "We knew it was the last moment with her. Her last sentence was: Shani, they got me." She played the screams of her sister, recorded on her phone, to the gathered journalists. Another of the women on stage, Ofir Weinberg, described how her cousin Itay Svirsky was taken from Kibbutz Beeri, where Hamas fighters killed at least 100 people, according to Israeli authorities. Messages began to pour into the family WhatsApp group on 7 October -- the calls for help and the progress of the attackers documented minute by minute. "I can't even begin to describe the feeling you have when you feel like you're losing your family one by one," said Weinberg. The families have had no news of their loved ones since the Hamas attack. The Israeli army has confirmed only that they are among the hostages taken to Gaza. They are asking for the Red Cross to be allowed to visit their relatives to answer the most basic questions -- whether they are still alive, where they are, and whether they are hurt. But political questions remain taboo. Those caught in the middle of the tragedy decline to speculate on the best course of action for their loved ones: a ground invasion of Gaza or a ceasefire and negotiations. "We're not representing the country... We don't tell Israel what to do," said Ofir Weinberg. "I don't have the answers. I'm just a citizen." The post ‘Our lives stopped’: Relatives plead for Israel hostages appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar: Scaling the realms of social responsibility
There is something quite riveting about Ana Margarita “Ginggay” Hontiveros-Malvar. Her gaze direct, her rhetoric fluid, she shares stories of immersing in conflict areas, of being in Leyte post-“Yolanda” and in Marawi post-violence, and within the same conversation, of her corporate hat within the “power, banking, food, land and infrastructure sectors.” Not so much as a vein mars her refined features. If not for those eyes, which reveal a depth of thought and feeling, hers would likely be a face some might take as just another classic beauty. Then again, her relationship with similarly strong-minded women cannot be discounted. She says, from the get-go, that she would rather not talk about herself or her sisters (Risa, the senator, and Pia, the broadcast news personality). Unlike them, she took the private route, but now unwittingly finds herself in the limelight. The Aboitiz Group, for which she handles a vital role, has many exciting things to share, Ginggay says. Smiling, she proceeds to rattle off some of these pillars — in education (“to create future leaders” who are solutions-oriented), in climate action and in enterprise and jobs. “For over 35 years, we’ve delivered probably over 5,000 CSR (corporate social responsibility) projects, spread over all the business units all over the Philippines. We’ve partnered with something like 600,000 individuals and organizations and we’ve invested the amount of P5.1 billion in all these different programs. We’re trying now to reevaluate what it is that’s next for Aboitiz Foundation, and then how we can serve our stakeholders better, and what are some of the things that we want to scale. Maybe to create a bigger impact in the country, help the country more, I think is what we want to do.” In the pipeline toward this goal of creating a bigger impact on development, Aboitiz Foundation is seeking more collaboration — “more conversations between organizations that are doing a lot of work already here in the country, and probably having a stronger voice and then putting that voice out there,” she enthuses. Clearly, Ginggay is in her element in the world she inhabits — at the heart of an “old legacy conglomerate,” her words, that now sees the need to transform along with the climactic times. “I lead a department called Reputation Management. We cover brands, media, corporate communications, sustainability — the ESG (environmental, social and governance) journey for the Aboitiz Group. We provide strategy, direction, governance and then very recently, just this year, we have our CSR arm which is called Aboitiz Foundation. It was recently also placed under us. Because at the end of the day, Aboitiz Foundation is like the big ‘S’ in our ESG — it’s really all about the social impact, the social good that we want to continue,” Ginggay tells the DAILY TRIBUNE in an interview on Pairfect. Ginggay is currently vice president for Reputation Management and Sustainability at Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc., a holding company of the Aboitiz Group. For the Aboitiz Foundation, meanwhile, she works to help “scale its impactful programs for systemic change.” The mother of two is also communications lead for the Philippines’ Private Sector Advisory Council and team leader for APEC Business Advisory Council, which are areas where the visionary leader, Aboitiz Group chief executive officer Sabin Aboitiz, holds key roles. Grateful her children are adults now, Ginggay keeps her nurturing side on overdrive with her current responsibilities. “Aboitiz is a group,” she emphasizes. “And as a family of organizations, our priority has always been about people. That’s always been our passion, whether it’s the well-being of our own employees or the well-being of communities where we have our businesses. It’s really always been about people. “We don’t feel it’s right that a business does well and then the community that it’s in doesn’t. It cannot be like that — it has to go hand in hand. So, we’ve always been like that. Very people-centric. I think what we’re trying to change now in our transformation or evolution is to see how can we use more of technology and innovation and balance it with our people-centric approach. So maybe we can be a little bit faster, be better, be more data-driven in the kinds of things that we’re doing,” she says. And has her heart always been in this kind of work — one she freely admits is demanding and sometimes even emotion-driven? “My dad was pretty laidback. And he usually let us do what we want to do as long as you know, like, please do well in school, and things like that,” Ginggay recalls. “My mom was very attentive to us and she just wanted to make sure that aside from doing well in studies, you also had to do well in something else. And then, very ingrained, I think, in our DNA, I think as a family also, is that aspect of service, whether it’s public service, or you know, just service in general — whether it’s to your community or to your family, or your immediate set of, I suppose, stakeholders. So, it’s almost been like part of my DNA or something like that, or probably my character as well.” With so much on her plate, and a daily grind that consists of steering various teams to ensure the conglomerate is moving toward its goals smoothly, Ginggay makes sure she takes time — even just 30 minutes a day, she says — disconnecting from it all and connecting with herself. “Our days are very fast — they are jam-packed with schedules, meetings, a lot of stakeholder engagement activities,” she says. “There’s a lot of collaboration also that goes on between our team and the rest of the business units in the Aboitiz Group, and then a lot of meetings as well with the board just to check in on directions and things like that. It’s very fast-paced. It’s very demanding. It takes a lot of time and I think a lot of commitment… and this is what I see from all our team leaders and team members — people are really passionate about what they do. I think that’s important.” For Ginggay, certainly, such passion is necessary to lead the company toward its goals including “delivering on communications and brand that are integral to the transformation of the group into the Philippines’ first techglomerate.” Techglomerate, she explains, “is a dream in Aboitiz Group, something that we have really been working hard on for the past few years. We kind of coined the term from ‘technology’ and ‘conglomerate,’ putting it together — and it is really about trying to be more technologically advanced but we also want to incubate exciting businesses which are more in the techspace or, say, data science. To incubate all these new companies and hopefully lead in certain industries… and I think at the end of the day we realized we have a much greater responsibility to the country.” And what’s next? “We realized that to stay ahead, we also need to transform… and I suppose that transformation should happen first and foremost at the level of the person. We’re also really focused on building a new kind of culture for the Aboitiz Group, still very much rooted in our core values of responsibility, innovation, teamwork, integrity. But now, probably trying to imbibe more of the behaviors like being more entrepreneurial, trying to be more articulate, being better storytellers, being more open to new things, being more data-driven in our decisions, you know, and a lot of other things that we’re trying to do in terms of helping to develop this new culture.” In her capacity as first vice president at Aboitiz, as well as in her other roles — senior adviser for Agripreneurship at Go Negosyo, for example — Ginggay keeps her “eye on the prize” no matter what challenges come along. This “multi-disciplined, results-oriented and multi-awarded leader,” as she is described in the Women of the Future, may prefer to keep herself below the radar, but Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar will certainly not stay unnoticed. The post Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar: Scaling the realms of social responsibility appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
First relief convoy enters Gaza devastated by ‘nightmare’ war
The first aid trucks arrived in war-torn Gaza from Egypt on Saturday, bringing urgent humanitarian relief to the Hamas-controlled Palestinian enclave suffering what the UN chief labelled a "godawful nightmare". Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas after the Islamist militant group carried out the deadliest attack in the country's history on October 7. Hamas militants killed at least 1,400 people, mostly civilians who were shot, mutilated or burnt to death, and took more than 200 hostages, according to Israeli officials. Israel has retaliated with a relentless bombing campaign on Gaza that has killed more than 4,300 Palestinians, mainly civilians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. An Israeli siege has cut food, water, electricity and fuel supplies to the densely populated and long-blockaded territory of 2.4 million people, sparking fears of a humanitarian catastrophe. AFP journalists on Saturday saw 20 trucks from the Egyptian Red Crescent, which is responsible for delivering aid from various UN agencies, pass through the Rafah border crossing from Egypt into Gaza. The crossing -- the only one into Gaza not controlled by Israel -- closed again after the trucks passed. The lorries had been waiting for days on the Egyptian side after Israel agreed to a request from its main ally the United States to allow aid to enter. UN chief Antonio Guterres warned Friday that the relief supplies were "the difference between life and death" for many Gazans, more than one million of whom have been displaced. "Much more" aid needs to be sent, he told a peace summit in Egypt on Saturday. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken welcomed the aid and urged "all parties" to keep the Rafah crossing open. But a Hamas spokesman said "even dozens" of such convoys could not meet Gaza's needs, especially as no fuel was being allowed in to help distribute the supplies to those in need. 'Reeling in pain' Tens of thousands of Israeli troops have deployed to the Gaza border ahead of an expected ground offensive that officials have pledged will begin "soon". As international tensions soar, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi was hosting a peace summit in Cairo on Saturday attended by regional and some Western leaders. "The time has come for action to end this godawful nightmare," Guterres told the summit, calling for a "humanitarian ceasefire". The region "is reeling in pain and one step from the precipice", he said. Guterres said "the grievances of the Palestinian people are legitimate and long" after "56 years of occupation with no end in sight". But he stressed that "nothing can justify the reprehensible assault by Hamas that terrorised Israeli civilians". "Those abhorrent attacks can never justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people," he added. Egypt, historically a key mediator between Hamas and Israel, has urged "restraint" and the relaunch of the long-frozen peace process. But diplomatic efforts to end the violence have made little headway, without the participation of Israel and its enemy Iran, a supporter of Hamas and other armed groups. 'Sliver of hope' A full-blown Israeli ground offensive carries many risks, including to the hostages Hamas took and whose fate is shrouded in uncertainty. So the release of two Americans among the hostages -- mother and daughter Judith and Natalie Raanan -- offered a rare "sliver of hope", said Mirjana Spoljaric, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross. US President Joe Biden thanked Qatar, which hosts Hamas's political bureau, for its mediation in securing the release. He said he was working "around the clock" to win the return of other Americans being held. Natalie Raanan's half-brother Ben told the BBC he felt an "overwhelming sense of joy" at the release after "the most horrible of ordeals". Hamas said Egypt and Qatar had negotiated the release and that it was "working with all mediators to implement the movement's decision to close the civilian (hostage) file if appropriate security conditions allow". Traumatised families with loved ones missing in Gaza demanded more action. "We ask humanity to interfere and bring back all those young boys, young girls, mothers, babies," Assaf Shem Tov, whose nephew was abducted from a music festival where Hamas killed hundreds, said Friday. Devastation Almost half of Gaza's residents have been displaced, and at least 30 percent of all housing in the territory has been destroyed or damaged, the United Nations says. Thousands have taken refuge in a camp set up in the city of Khan Yunis in southern Gaza. Fadwa al-Najjar said she and her seven children walked for 10 hours to reach the camp, at some points breaking into a run as missiles struck around them. "We saw bodies and limbs torn off and we just started praying, thinking we were going to die," she told AFP. In Al-Zahra in central Gaza, Rami Abu Wazna was struggling to take in the destruction wreaked by Israeli missile strikes. "Even in my worst nightmares, I never thought this could be possible," he said. Israel's operation will take not "a day, nor a week, nor a month" and will result in "the end of Israel's responsibilities in the Gaza Strip", Defence Minister Yoav Gallant warned on Friday. Regional tensions flare In Gaza, retired general Omar Ashour said the destruction was "part of a clear plan for people to have no place left to live". "This will cause a second Nakba," he added, referring to the 760,000 Palestinians who were expelled from or fled their homes when Israel was created in 1948. The United States has moved two aircraft carriers into the eastern Mediterranean to deter Iran or Lebanon's Hezbollah, both Hamas allies, amid fears of a wider conflagration. Fire across Israel's border with Lebanon continued overnight, with one Israeli soldier killed, Israeli public radio said. The military said it hit Hezbollah targets after rocket and missile fire. Violence has also flared in the West Bank, where 84 Palestinians have been killed since October 7, according to the Palestinian health ministry. The post First relief convoy enters Gaza devastated by ‘nightmare’ war appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Parent to Karapatan: ‘Please stop posting about my son, I beg you’
Former Overseas Filipino Worker Jerome Christopher David, father of Job who was among three rebel fighters said to have been captured in a military encounter, asked the activist group Karapatan to stop posting on social media about his son and two companions and painting them as victims of abduction or enforced disappearance. “Sana itigil na ng Karapatan na mag-post sila sa Facebook na ang anak ko ay dinukot, tinurtyor, Hindi po totoo ‘yon, kayo mismo (Karapatan) ang nagko-commit ng human rights (violation) na walang permiso namin na i-post niyo ‘yung profile picture ng anak ko na sila ay dinukot,” said David appealed during a virtual press conference of the Integrated Communications Office Center, the media bureau of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict. “Tama na po, ‘wag niyo na pong i-post ‘yan, pakiusap lang po. Kung ano man po ang inyong ipinaglalaban puwede niyo naman daanin sa matiwasay na paraan. Tama na po, ako na po ang nakikiusap sa inyo (Please stop your posts. Whatever is your advocacy, you can do it in a peaceful manner. Please stop, I'm begging you). My son is now living peacefully,” he reiterated. Brigadier General Randolph Cabangbang, commanding general of the Army’s 203rd Infantry Brigade, revealed to the media that the parents of Job, Alia Encela and Peter del Monte are contemplating taking legal action against Karapatan for alleged continued harassment. “In fact, I’m discouraging them (parents) not to file what they think is a writ of Amparo. Sabi ko wala namang nakikinig sa Karapatan. Having said that, we’re consulting lawyers, we’re studying it,” Cabangbang said. “To Karapatan, hands off our families, hands off our children,” he said. NTF-ELCAC spokesman Joel Sy Egco, who is also ICOC director-designate, reiterated his warning to Karapatan to stop their donation drives using what he called the “abduct-surface-donate-release” scheme. “Kahit ano pa ang sasabihin niyo, kayo-kayo na lang ang naniniwala sa sinsabi niyo sa inyong echo chamber mismo (Whatever you say, only you listen to each other within your echoc chamber). NTF-ELCAC continues to gather evidences of your scamming activities and in due time charges will be filed against you,” he said. Egco said ELCAC’s National Secretariat led by Executive Director Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr. will support and assist parents and the Army if and when legal charges are ready to be filed against Karapatan and other such organizations. “Again, Encela, del Monte and David are not detained, they voluntarily submitted themselves to be in the custody of the military as they’re undergoing the processes of rebuilding their lives ruined by the CPP-NPA-NDF before joining their families and to mainstream society,” he said. The three were captured by Army troopers on September 23, 2023 during combat operations in Sitio Malaglag, Barangay Lisap in Bongabong, Oriental Mindoro. Cabangbang said he was relieved and looking forward to turning over the three former rebels to their parents safe and sound. "It’s a happy moment dahil buhay itong tatlo na sa di kalauna’y makakasama na nila muli ang kanilang mga magulang” (these three are alive and will be reunited soon with their parents), he said. During the conference, ICOC showed a 7-minute video clip of the parents and relatives of Encela, del Monte and David having happy moments hugging, laughing and eating together. Cabangbang also thanked the three former rebels for their voluntary insights and analysis of how their former comrades operate in his brigade’s area of operation. “For the past weeks, napakarami na po nilang naitulong sa ating brigade. They have been providing the necessary analysis and the information that we need, such that for the past two days may naengkwentro po na grupo nila because of their insightful analysis and correct and timely information,” Cabangbang added. In the encounter, the soldiers recovered three high-powered firearms and personal paraphernalia of the fleeing rebels. Cabangbang said they believed that two of the rebels were wounded because of blood traces from the recovered firearms and one of them could be the deputy commander of the group. “When I arrived here, there were only 15 NPA rebels in our AOR. Minus Alia, Peter and Job, only 12 remaining. We’ve already identified them all,” he said. Now, Cabangbang said, the three are reaching out to their former comrades to give up the armed struggle and surrender to the government. The post Parent to Karapatan: ‘Please stop posting about my son, I beg you’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Luxembourg, EU’s richest country, grapples with housing crisis
Luxembourg's residents may be classified as the wealthiest in the European Union, but the sky-high cost of buying or renting a home in the country has made living there nearly impossible for some. The crisis has become the number one concern in the Grand Duchy of 660,000 people -- smaller than Rhode Island, the smallest US state -- as it goes to the polls on Sunday. Pascale Zaourou, a teacher and mother of three children, had to wait five years before being able to access coveted social housing. "On the private market, renting an apartment with two rooms costs at least 2,000 euros -- it's difficult with only one income," she told AFP at a recent demonstration in Luxembourg City. "Affordable housing is scarce, especially for young people and single-parent families," she said. Antoine Paccoud, a researcher at the Housing Observatory, which compiles data guiding government policy, backed up that sentiment. "More and more Luxembourgers are crossing the border to live in Germany, Belgium, or France just because rents and property prices are lower," he said. The situation is jarring for a country with a flourishing economy based around financial services. Net average earnings for a single worker in Luxembourg were 47,000 euros ($49,000) annually in 2022, according to estimates from the EU's statistics agency -- the highest in the bloc. 'Overshadows all others' In the capital city, new-build flats sell for 13,000 euros per square meter (around $1,300 per square foot) and older ones go for 10,700 euros. The average cost of a house is 1.5 million euros. Rents increased by 6.7 percent between June 2022 and June 2023, much faster than the inflation rate of 3.4 percent over that period. Philippe Poirier, a political analyst at the University of Luxembourg, told AFP that housing has become "the question that overshadows all others" at the legislative elections. He ticked off "the scarcity of housing and land, the cost of construction or purchase, and the high rents" as the key problems. The two major political parties hoping to spearhead the next government have pledged action. Prime Minister Xavier Bettel's Liberal Party promised to create a super-ministry for housing, wants to tax vacant properties more and invest in social housing. Socialist leader Paulette Lenert -- the health minister in the current coalition government -- is pushing for huge investments in affordable housing. 'Holding on to land' But the structural problems with housing run deep and changing them will not be easy. Paccoud said a lack of inheritance tax and only symbolic duties have encouraged owners to sit on land without developing it. "0.5 percent of the resident population, or 3,000 people, own half of the buildable land," he said. "These owners are holding on to their land as long as possible because prices are increasing." The economic opportunities on offer also bring in droves of foreign workers, which helps drive up the cost of the limited housing pool. Around half the people living in Luxembourg are not citizens of the country. There is a wide gulf in terms of homeownership rates between native Luxembourgers, at 80 percent, and foreign residents at just 50 percent. While many Luxembourgers have nearly guaranteed jobs working for state institutions, foreigners have to deal with the changeable job market. "Those who are at the bottom of the scale in Luxembourg are rather the resident foreigners," Poirier said. As a result, and despite the high salaries and an official minimum wage of 2,571 euros a month, Luxembourg ranks in the top three in the eurozone in terms of risk of poverty for single-parent families with one income, according to a recent report by the Chamber of Employees. The post Luxembourg, EU’s richest country, grapples with housing crisis appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Proving filiation (2)
A scrutiny of the records would show that petitioners were born during their parents’ marriage. The certificates of live birth would also identify Danilo de Jesus as their father. There is perhaps no presumption of the law more firmly established and founded on sounder morality and more convincing reason than the presumption that children born in wedlock are legitimate. This presumption indeed becomes conclusive in the absence of proof that there is physical impossibility of access between the spouses during the first 120 days of the 300 days that immediately precede the birth of the child due to the following: (a) the physical incapacity of the husband to have sexual intercourse with his wife; (b) the fact that the husband and wife are living separately in such a way that sexual intercourse is not possible; or (c) serious illness of the husband, which absolutely prevents sexual intercourse. Quite remarkably, upon the expiration of the periods outlined in Article 170, and in proper cases Article 171, of the Family Code (which took effect on 03 August 1988), the action to impugn the legitimacy of a child would no longer be legally feasible, and the status conferred by the presumption becomes fixed and unassailable. Thus, applying the preceding pronouncement to the instant case, it must be concluded that the petitioner —who was born on 5 March 1945, or during the marriage of Alfredo Aguilar and Candelaria Siasat-Aguilar and before their respective deaths — has sufficiently proved that he is the legitimate issue of the Aguilar spouses. As the petitioner correctly argues, Alfredo Aguilar’s SSS Form E-1 (Exhibit “G”) satisfies the requirement for proof of filiation and relationship to the Aguilar spouses under Article 172 of the Family Code; by itself, said document constitutes an “admission of legitimate filiation in a public document or a private handwritten instrument and signed by the parent concerned.” Petitioner has shown that he cannot produce his Certificate of Live Birth since all the records covering the period 1945-1946 of the Local Civil Registry of Bacolod City were destroyed, which necessitated the introduction of other documentary evidence — particularly Alfredo Aguilar’s SSS Form E-1 (Exhibit “G”) — to prove filiation. It was erroneous for the CA to treat the said document as mere proof of open and continuous possession of the status of a legitimate child under the second paragraph of Article 172 of the Family Code; it is evidence of filiation under the first paragraph thereof, the same being an express recognition in a public instrument. To repeat what was stated in De Jesus, filiation may be proven by the admission of legitimate filiation in a public document or a private handwritten instrument and signed by the parent concerned, and such due recognition in any authentic writing is, in itself, a consummated act of acknowledgment of the child, and no further court action is required. Relative to the said form of acknowledgment, the Court has further held that — given the pronouncements herein made, the Court sees it fit to adopt the following rules respecting the requirement of affixing the signature of the acknowledging parent in any private handwritten instrument wherein an admission of filiation of a legitimate or illegitimate child is made: Where the private handwritten instrument is the lone piece of evidence submitted to prove filiation, there should be strict compliance with the requirement that the same must be signed by the acknowledging parent; and Where the private handwritten instrument is accompanied by other relevant and competent evidence, it suffices that the claim of filiation therein be shown to have been made and handwritten by the acknowledging parent as it is merely corroborative of such other evidence. (To be continued) The post Proving filiation (2) appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Inheritance predicament
Dear Atty. Shalie, My parents were married for almost 20 years and had three children. Five years ago, their marriage was annulled; and a year later, my father married his second wife and had two more children. After my parents’ separation, their properties were not legally distributed, in accord with the court’s decision. Hence, the house and other properties, real and personal, that belonged to and acquired by my parents during their marriage have not been properly accounted for and divided between them. My mother and we (her three children) left our home and went to live with our grandparents in the province. Unfortunately, my father passed on a year ago without a will, and without having settled the subject properties from the first marriage. My father’s stepmother has begun processing the settlement of my father’s estate. What can we, as heirs from the first marriage do? Further, does our mother still have any recourse to get her share of the properties left by my father? Daniel *** Dear Daniel, It appears from your narration that your parents never moved for the execution of the decision nullifying their marriage. Thus, the subject property remained under the state of co-ownership among your parents and you, as the children of the first marriage. Upon your father’s death, succession set in and thus, the application of the law governing succession and the procedural rules governing the settlement of deceased persons. Your rights as children to the delivery of your presumptive legitimes had been superseded by your successional rights as compulsory heirs. You can protect your successional rights in the proceeding for the settlement of the estate of the deceased spouse filed in court, wherein the main purpose is to settle and liquidate the estates of the deceased, and the determination of the assets that form part of the decedent’s estate, the heirs who shall participate in said estate, and the amount or proportion of these heirs’ respective shares therein. Your mother, on the other hand, being a stranger to the settlement proceeding, should file a separate civil action for partition before the regular courts against the administrator of your father’s estate. Atty. Shalie Lazatin-Obinque The post Inheritance predicament appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Man on a mission
He has been to hell and back since entering the country’s premier military school, the Philippine Military Academy, where he graduated magna cum laude in 1982, to seeing action as a police officer, and lately to waltzing into the ring of fire by entering politics. Much has been written about the exploits of former police general Benjamin “Benjie” Magalong, Baguio City Mayor, since 2019, with the positive usually outweighing the negative. Love him, hate him, but believe me, Magalong is no lone ranger. He can sustain the hard yards of fighting criminality and corruption that one wonders where he gets all the energy and focus in addressing the challenges that come his way. Last month, Magalong and a few local chief executives launched “Mayors for Good Governance,” a campaign for responsible leadership and anti-corruption in local governments. They signed A2, a manifesto committing local executives to transparency and the rule of law. The movement has already received support from more than 150 city and municipal mayors nationwide, a testament to how much rests on his stewardship. Corruption is like a “communicable” disease that can easily transmit the evils that go with it from the lowest strata to the highest echelon of society. It has many forms and strains — from petty graft to large-scale kickbacks — and affects people from all walks of life, generations, and races. People get used to it until it becomes a way of life, and in the process, they lose their independence of thought because their eyes are shut. Pope Francis described it best: “Some people behave in relation to corruption as they would with drugs. They think they can take it and leave it as they please. They start with something minor: a kickback here, a bribe there. And between this and that, they gradually lose their freedom.” Fighting corruption is like fighting drugs; it is never one-sided. There are hits and misses along the way. Anything is fair game when you put a face into a noble cause. I was a field operative of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency assigned in Region 8 when Magalong was director of PDEA’s Special Enforcement Service, which was responsible for dismantling numerous drug laboratories and causing the dismissal of several police scalawags. Magalong is one straight arrow. He never compromises his name when it comes to fighting drugs and crime. However, he is also a caring leader who always looks after his men like he would his children. He never tolerates shenanigans but lavishes praise and support for a well-done job. That’s why it did not come as a surprise when he was made chairman of the Mamasapano Board of Inquiry in 2015, which investigated the carnage of 44 Special Action Forces in Maguindanao. I have seen firsthand Magalong’s sincerity when it comes to public service. A public servant who goes beyond his comfort zone to give timely and proper assistance to the public, Magalong has the integrity and bravery to stand by his ideals to the detriment of his career because he wants the country to succeed. Like Magalong, I also had my share of fighting the tentacles of corruption in PDEA and later at the Bureau of Customs, once touted as the most corrupt government agency, during my seven-month stint as a commissioner despite the brickbats and the Sword of Damocles hanging above me. It was a lonely battle indeed, especially since I came to the bureau all alone. Tormentors coming from opposite directions were having a field day — from the not-so-harmless Marites (Mare, ano ang latest?) and Mariposa (Mare, post mo na) to greedy politicians and industry shenanigans. I have no moral qualms regarding Magalong’s mission — to take the arduous and lifelong task of making a difference in people’s lives, especially the poor, who are most hurt by corruption. Taking the high road is never easy, and I am sure that knowing Magalong, he could surmount all the hurdles, including the legal ones, that come in the end. The post Man on a mission appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»