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Immigration officer convicted
The National Bureau of Investigation yesterday revealed that a Bureau of Immigration officer has been convicted for the falsification of travel records showing that former Wirecard chief operating officer Jan Marsalek was in the Philippines even if he did not arrive and leave the country in 2020. The NBI said BI officer Marcos S. Nicodemus has been found guilty by the Pasay City Regional Trial Court of violations of Republic Act 10175, the Cybercrime Prevention Act, and RA 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. Though the RTC decision was not provided by the NBI, it said that Nicodemus “was sentenced by the court to a maximum imprisonment of nine years for each of the criminal cases with perpetual disqualification to hold public office.” Marsalek, an Austrian national, has been wanted by the German government for his involvement in the $2.2 billion Wirecard fraud. In 2020, the Philippine government joined the hunt for Marsalek due to Wirecard’s links in the country and discovered travel records that showed that the Austrian came to the Philippines in 2020. Then Department of Justice Secretary and now Solicitor General Menardo I. Guevarra ordered the NBI to conduct an investigation. In August 2020, the NBI “recommended to the DoJ the prosecution of subject Marcos Nicodemus for falsifying the travel records of an Austrian national.” “Investigation conducted by NBI-IAID (NBI-International Airport Investigation Division) revealed that based on Marsalek’s travel records, he arrived in the Philippines through NAIA Terminal 1 on 23 June 2020, processed by Immigration Officer Darren Ilagan but with a mysterious ‘canceled by user’ remark and departure on 24 June 2020 at Mactan-Cebu International Airport processed by Immigration Officer Perry Michael Pancho,” the NBI said. “However, NBI-IAID discovered thru CCTV (closed circuit television) footages that Marsalek never entered the Philippines and he did not even depart through MCIA,” the NBI said. The records of Marsalek were found to be spurious due to the following: Existing immigrations protocol as of that date disallowing passengers from entering Philippine territory due to Covid situation; absence of actual scanned data page of the passport; existing protocol that incoming flights of airlines disallowing the boarding of a passenger who will be prevented entry based on the destination country’s protocol as of flight date. The NBI said that Ilagan testified that Nicodemus, who was his supervisor, “ordered him to conduct a derogatory check upon Marsalek despite the fact that he was already not on duty on that date and that Marsalek is not present during checking.” Guevarra in 2020, said that the travel records of the Marsalek were falsified possibly as “diversionary tactics to mislead his pursuers.” The post Immigration officer convicted appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Hong Kong’s top court to rule on same-sex marriage
Hong Kong's top court will decide Tuesday whether to recognize same-sex marriages, rendering a verdict in one of the most consequential cases on the subject in the city's history. Over the past decade, LGBTQ activists in the former British colony have won piecemeal victories in court, striking down discriminatory government policies on visas, taxes, and housing benefits. But the case brought by jailed pro-democracy activist Jimmy Sham -- set to be decided at 2:30 pm local time (0630 GMT) Tuesday -- will be the first time Hong Kong's Court of Final Appeal has directly addressed the issue of same-sex marriage. Since launching his challenge in 2018, Sham, 36, has twice failed to convince the courts that Hong Kong should legally recognize his marriage to a same-sex partner, which was registered in New York nearly a decade ago. In his most recent setback, in August 2022, appeal judges wrote that Hong Kong's constitutional text "only provides access to the institution of marriage to heterosexual couples". Sham has argued the city's ban on same-sex marriage violates his right to equality, while the lack of a policy alternative -- such as civil unions -- does the same, in addition to breaching his right to privacy. British rights lawyer Karon Monaghan, representing Sham, told the court in June the ban disadvantages same-sex couples in areas such as inheritance and housing rentals. A poll this year found that 60 percent of Hong Kongers supported same-sex marriage, compared to just 38 percent a decade ago. Some international businesses in the city have also backed marriage equality campaigns, crediting it as a way to attract talent. But the city's Beijing-approved leadership has shown little appetite for passing laws that advance LGBTQ equality. Rights advocacy has partly gone underground after Beijing imposed a national security law on Hong Kong in 2020, following huge and sometimes violent pro-democracy protests in the finance hub. Sham, a prominent democracy campaigner, is one of dozens of activists behind bars awaiting prosecution under the security law on charges unrelated to LGBTQ rights. In July, a radio show promoting gay rights aired by Hong Kong's public broadcaster was canceled after a 17-year run. The post Hong Kong’s top court to rule on same-sex marriage appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Canada wildfires inflict brutal toll on tourism, other areas of economy
Joanna Schlosser found refuge from advancing wildfires at a winery where she works, but is now dealing with a tourism downturn and other wide-ranging fallout on the business -- and Canada's economy. An inferno jumped Okanagan Lake and was barreling down hills behind her Kelowna home when a knock on the door woke up the family of five, ordering them to leave immediately. For two weeks, they stayed at a guest house at Quails' Gate winery with other evacuees, some of whom lost their homes. About 200 houses in the valley would be destroyed. "Your home is your biggest investment and with only five minutes to get out you start to reel about things you left behind that you might not ever see again," Schlosser told AFP. She also fretted about the grape harvest now underway. None of the 222 wineries in the region reported any direct fire damage. But they suffered a big drop in revenues as tourists stayed away during the peak month of August. Kelowna's airport and main highway closed temporarily. Tasting tours, weddings, and other events at the wineries were canceled. "We're now facing a pretty devastating season in terms of winery traffic and sales," said Schlosser. Across Canada, more than 15 million hectares (37 million acres) have been scorched, and 200,000 people displaced, spanning from Halifax on the Atlantic coast to parts of the Northwest Territories. Stephen Brown of Capital Economics noted that forest fires do not normally have a measurable impact on the Canadian economy. But this year, he said in a research note, "With the fires so widespread, we are seeing more of an impact than usual." "The worst Canadian wildfires on record appear to be behind much of the recent weakness in GDP and, with more areas now under evacuation orders, the data are likely to remain weak in the coming months," he said. Sun blocked, roads closed Statistics Canada on Friday reported a 0.2 percent contraction in the second quarter and a weak start to the third. It pointed to wildfire disruptions at mines and oil facilities. Lumber mills were also idled. Outfitters saw their livelihoods upended by fishing bans. A road to Tofino, a tourist hotspot on Vancouver Island with ancient forests and sandy beaches, was cut off. In the Okanagan Valley, orchards lamented smoke blocking out the sun delaying the ripening of apples. The toll, however, is "not as bad as it could have been," said Tony Stillo at Oxford Economics. "Even though the wildfires are record-setting, they're happening in more remote areas with less of an implication for large population or economic centers or transportation corridors -- things that would cut off supply lines," he explained. Disruptions have also been relatively short. Oxford Economics in a June report warned that wildfires could slash Canada's economic growth this year by as much as 0.3 to 0.6 percentage points. Firefighting costs rise Ottawa estimates the annual cost of fighting wildfires at Can$1 billion (US$737 million) and noted that, according to the Canadian Climate Institute, climate impacts such as more and bigger fires could halve Canada's projected economic growth in the coming years. By 2030, the average annual losses from disasters are forecast to reach Can$15.4 billion. Insurance losses have already jumped fivefold since 2009 to more than Can$2 billion annually, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada. The bureau's Jason Clark said the number of catastrophic events and insurance payouts will continue to rise. Most worrying, he said, is that Canadians aren't dealing anymore with one localized disaster every few years or decades, but rather "several events stacked on top of each other in a single year" -- including fires, floods, heatwaves, and powerful storms. "Where countries regularly experience large losses it has a significant impact on insurance risk assessments and premiums," he said. "We need to be better prepared." Back at Quails' Gate, Schlosser assessed the smoke's impact on grapes, noting that the industry has developed mitigation techniques. "Sometimes it works quite well and others (the smoke taint) is just not something you can avoid," she said, adding that "sommeliers may talk about it in terms of terroir like it's part of that vintage." Smoke taint can add character to a wine, but also risks producing overpowering burnt or medicinal notes. The post Canada wildfires inflict brutal toll on tourism, other areas of economy appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
LIST: Flights canceled on August 29
Several domestic flights were canceled on Tuesday due to unfavorable weather condition......»»
LIST: Flights canceled on August 28 due to ‘Goring’
The Manila International Airport Authority on Monday announced some domestic flights have been canceled due to bad weather brought by Typhoon Goring......»»
Phl ‘unaware’ of US, Japan, Australia joint navy drills
The Philippines is “unaware” of the plan of the United States, Japan and Australia to conduct joint navy exercises in the South China Sea, Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said Monday. In a radio interview, Brawner said the AFP is still verifying with their Japanese counterparts the report released by the Kyodo News over the weekend regarding the planned navy drills of the three countries. Brawner denied that the Philippines had declined participating in the joint military activity. “Actually ‘yung nabasa po natin dun sa Kyodo News ay bini-verify pa rin natin sa ating counterpart sa Japan, sa US, sa Australia. Kung meron man po silang mga activities na ganun ay hindi po tayo informed, hindi po totoo 'yun na nag-decline tayo (Actually, we are still verifying with our counterpart in Japan, US and Australia if they have activities like what we read in Kyodo News.. If they already have such activities, we were not informed, and it’s not true that we declined),” Brawner said. “Actually, maybe what they mean is that we did not join or commit a ship; however, we have an ongoing exercise. In fact today, our exercise is ongoing in Palawan with the Australian armed forces,” he added. The joint navy exercises reportedly aim to underscore the commitment of the three countries to the rule of law in the region, following the water cannon incident last 5 August where the China Coast Guard drove away Philippine vessels and troops conducting a resupply mission for personnel stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal. According to the report, the US plans to deploy its aircraft carrier, the USS America, while the Japan Self-Defense Force would send one of its helicopter carriers, JS Izumo, one of its largest warships, during drills. The Royal Australian Navy, for its part, has committed to send its helicopter carrier HMAS Canberra. The report said the Philippines "canceled" its participation in the joint drill since the three other nations' aircraft “are too large to land on the decks of Philippine warships." The US, Japan and Australia were among the countries that recognized the 2016 arbitration ruling on a 2013 case filed by the Philippines over the parts of the SCS. The post Phl ‘unaware’ of US, Japan, Australia joint navy drills appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘NBN-ZTE, China’s first salvo’
Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito on Monday refuted a claim that it was his father, former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada, who promised China the BRP Sierra Madre would be removed from Ayungin Shoal. Ejercito pointed out that it was his father who ordered in 1999 that the World War II-era ship be run aground to bolster the Philippines’ sovereignty claim to what was also called the Second Thomas Shoal. The senator was reacting to a former government official’s claim in an opinion piece in a national daily that it was Estrada who promised the Chinese the Sierra Madre would be removed. “That claim seems inconsistent. The mere fact that President Estrada was the one who ordered the BRP Sierra Madre be grounded on Ayungin Shoal, it’s impossible that he would commit to removing the same,” he told reporters in a Viber message. Ejercito also took a swipe at the ex-official in connection with a controversial project the administration he worked for entered into with China. “At least President Erap had the courage to fight for our sovereignty,” the senator said. “Unlike them who paved the way for the NBN-ZTE, the first salvo of Chinese intrusions in our country.” Estrada’s son to former actress Guia Gomez was referring to the canceled National Broadband Network project with ZTE Corp., a Chinese telecommunications firm. China continues to insist it has territorial rights over Ayungin Shoal, which is located 105 nautical miles west of Palawan and is part of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, as affirmed by a 2016 arbitral ruling. No such pledge After a China Coast Guard vessel used a water cannon in an attempt to drive away Philippine Coast Guard-led resupply boats headed to the BRP Sierra Madre last 5 August, Beijing claimed the Philippines had pledged to tow away the scuttled tank landing ship that serves as the Philippines’ outpost on Ayungin. In reaction, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he knew of no such promise by the Philippine government to remove the Sierra Madre, adding that if there was such a pledge made by a past administration, he was rescinding it. “Who was closer to China? Was it Erap? The VFA (Visiting Forces Agreement) was in fact approved during his time,” Ejercito averred, referring to the military cooperation deal between the Philippines and the United States. According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Philippines decided in 1999 to deploy the BRP Sierra Madre as a permanent station on Ayungin Shoal in response to China’s illegal occupation of Panganiban Reef in 1995. The deployment was years ahead, according to the DFA, of the conclusion in 2002 of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. “[It] is therefore not a violation of the DOC,” the DFA pointed out. The post ‘NBN-ZTE, China’s first salvo’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
LIST: Canceled flights for August 10
Airport officials announced the cancellation of several international flights on Thursday, August 10 due to the unfavorable weather condition being experienced in some parts of the country......»»
Sandara Park, SB19 teaming up for Christmas collab
Sandara Park and P-pop phenomenon SB19 are collaborating on a Christmas project. Park herself confirmed the news during the Acer Day Concert on 6 August. “Sa Christmas pa pero abangan niyo. I’m looking forward to it,” said Park excitedly. Park also revealed her desire to collaborate with “Popstar Royalty” Sarah Geronimo, a sentiment shared by Geronimo who had already said she wanted to work with the former ABS-CBN star turned K-pop icon. At the Acer Day Concert, Park was able to reunite with her “old friend” Geronimo and met the loveteam of Donny Pangilinan and Belle Mariano, among the performers who graced the tech company’s musical presentation. Afterwards, Park thanked her Pinoy fans on Instagram for their steadfast support. [caption id="attachment_168118" align="aligncenter" width="790"] P-POP group SB19. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF IG/OFFICIAL SB19[/caption] “PH Daralings & Blackjacks, Mahal ko kayo!! Hope to be back soon,” she wrote. Park’s self-titled digital extended play was published in July, marking her first solo release in South Korea in more than a decade. Fans in Manila had been looking forward to seeing her live at The Super Stage by K-pop on 11 August at the Mall of Asia Arena, but the show was canceled, disappointing many admirers of the K-pop powerhouse. The post Sandara Park, SB19 teaming up for Christmas collab appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
LIST: Canceled flights for August 7
A number of domestic flights have been grounded on Monday, August 7 due to the unfavorable weather condition being experienced in some parts of the country......»»
Senate to return to in-person sessions, hearings next week
The Senate is set to return to full face-to-face sessions and hearings next week, Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri announced Wednesday. Before adjourning the session, Zubiri reminded his colleagues about the removal of hybrid sessions and hearings which will be implemented on Monday, 7 August. “In view of the presidential Proclamation 297 which lifts the state of public health emergency throughout the Philippines due to Covid-19 and considering that almost all activities have returned to pre-pandemic levels, the Senate will no longer conduct hybrid hearings and meetings beginning Monday, 7 August 2023 and shall revert back to our pre-pandemic practice of conducting hearings and meetings physically,” he said. Marcos lifted the state of public health emergency on 22 July. The move of the upper chamber of Congress came after the House of Representatives began conducting full face-to-face sessions on Tuesday. “This is in line also with the House of Representatives because the House of Representatives although they did hybrid sessions they are now canceled all the hybrid sessions and hybrid hearings,” Zubiri said. “We had face-to-face sessions, but we allowed hybrid. So, in line of that, we will also continue that practice, and we will now go face-to-face for our conduct of public hearings,” he added. The Senate chief said hybrid sessions and hearings would still be permitted but only in case of force majeure or an occurrence of an emergency. Due to the emergence of Covid-19 in 2020, the Senate adopted Senate Resolution No. 372 allowing plenary sessions and committee hearings through teleconferencing while the enhanced community quarantine was still in place in the country. Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa previously made a comment about a then-newly implemented rule, saying: "Sarap ng buhay! Sarap ng buhay! Ganito na lang tayo palagi ah!” The remark, which was interpreted as insensitive, earned the ire of many people including his fellow government officials in the senate. The post Senate to return to in-person sessions, hearings next week appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Phl cinema in the first year of BBM
Here, we look back at the state of the Philippine film industry since he took the seat of power 13 months ago. When President Marcos Jr. became the 17th leader of the nation, the country was on the brink of the “new normal.” The campaign elections even saw multitudes of crowds in the streets, the Filipinos’ political passion overpowering the fear of a Covid-19 infection. Covid-pandemic viewing By May 2022, the month of the presidential campaigns, the Department of Health said the country was at “minimal-risk case classification” with an average of only 159 cases per day. By June 2022, when the President took his oath, 69.4 million Filipinos had been fully vaccinated. Along with the country, the Philippine film industry started healing. On the same month, the country went under Covid-19 Alert Level 2, with 50-percent allowed capacity in indoor cinemas. Live film festivals The Marcos administration saw the return of Filipino film festivals in theaters. On Marcos’ fifth month as president, the QCinema International Film Festival, with the theme “in10City,” held hybdrid screenings — in-person and online. The Metro Manila Film Festival in December 2022, six months into the new presidency, went full force in cinemas for the second time during the pandemic. Earlier, in 2020, during the Duterte administration, the festival was held online for the first time, and the following year, in December 2021, after level alert measures in the Philippines were relaxed, the MMFF finally went back to the cinemas. However, only around 300 cinemas (down from the usual 900) were allowed to screen the MMFF entries. Meanwhile, the 18th edition of the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival was held from 5 August to 31 October 2022 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, in select mall cinemas and online. But what made a mark during the Marcos administration’s first year was the inaugural edition of the 2023 Summer Metro Manila Film Festival. The SMMFF was held in Metro Manila and throughout the Philippines. Organized by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority in partnership with the Cinema Exhibitors Association of the Philippines, the first MMFF was supposed to be held in 2020, but was canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2023, held from 8 to 18 April 2023 with the theme “Tuloy-tuloy ang Saya,” the summer festival featured eight entries and, like its December counterpart, even held a Parade of Stars. About Us But Not About Us by Jun Lana, produced by The IdeaFirst Company, Octobertrain Films and Quantum Films, emerged as the first Best Picture of the summer festival. [caption id="attachment_161372" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] About Us But Not About Us by Jun Lana[/caption] The Film Development Council of the Philippines’ sixth edition of its own mini-film festival, held during the Marcos administration’s third month, headed back to cinemas, offering free access to award-winning classic films of the new National Artists for Film and Broadcast Arts at TriNoma Cinema in Quezon City and in all Cinematheque centers nationwide (Manila, Iloilo, Negros, Davao and Nabunturan). CCP closes for renovations On 1 September 2022, CCP president Margarita Moran-Floirendo announced during a hearing of the Senate committee on cultural communities, that The Cultural Center of the Philippines — home to the Cinemalaya festival — will close its doors starting January 2023 for renovation and structural retrofitting works, and will reopen in March 2025. This marks the first time that Cinemalaya, on its 19th year, which has the theme “ilumiNasyon,” will be held at various venues inside the adjacent Philippine International Convention Center, from 4 to 13 August 2023. The rise of political films With the country deeply driven by polarized political views, the Marcos administration saw a war between political commercial films. [caption id="attachment_161370" align="aligncenter" width="1800"] ‘MAID in Malacanang’ stars Cristine Reyes, Diego Loyzaga and Ella Cruz. | Photograph courtesy of viva[/caption] On 29 July 2022, Darryl Yap’s period drama Maid in Malacañang, touted as “the most controversial film of the year,” was released to packed cinemas. The movie, about the Marcos family’s last three days in Malacañang Palace before they were forced into exile, premiered at SM North EDSA and was released nationwide on 3 August 2022. Yap, who passionately campaigned for Marcos, became a controversial filmmaker with the release of his Marcos film. Leni Robredo supporters tried to boycott the film, with some Filipino movie critics exposing themselves as heavily political and non-neutral with their reviews, accusing the film of propaganda and historical revisionism. The attempt to quash the movie’s release failed and it became a box-office hit, with producer Viva Films releasing a statement that it earned a whopping P21 million on its opening day and P63 million three days after its release. It was the first time in Philippine cinema history that local theaters nationwide saw a deluge of moviegoers lining up to watch a movie on the big screen, mostly driven by political affiliation. Another unsuccessful political attempt to diminish the film’s release was Vince Tañada’s re-release of his Martial Law film Katips to counter Maid in Malacañang. Tañada’s film eventually won Best Picture at the Famas Awards. MIM actress Ella Cruz’s remark during a press conference, that “history is like tsismis,” further fanned the flames of political debate online. Eight months later, in March 2022, Viva released Yap’s second installment in his Marcos trilogy, Martyr or Murderer, which now focused on Ferdinand Marcos and the assassination of Ninoy Aquino. Two anti-Marcos movies rose to combat the film — Joel Lamangan’s Oras de Peligro, released on the same day, and Tañada’s movie adaptation of his musical play Ako Si Ninoy, released one week earlier. Movie buffs, political analysts, film critics, the press and social media influencers dove into feverish commentaries on the three films, and Philippine cinemas were ignited and, for a while, became alive with social discourse. New FDCP head On 21 July 2022, Tirso S. Cruz III officially assumed his position as the head of the country’s national film agency, the Film Development Council of the Philippines. He replaced Liza Diño, who was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte as FDCP chairperson on 12 August 2016. [caption id="attachment_161368" align="aligncenter" width="736"] FDCP chair Tirso Cruz III. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF FDCP[/caption] Cruz, a veteran actor, said that the target of the FDCP under the Marcos administration was to support local films, not just in Metro Manila, but also from regional filmmakers. He also professed support for film students and highlighted archiving as part of the FDCP’s agenda, with 42,000 materials in its archives to be salvaged. MTRCB In September 2022, the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board released a statement addressing the controversy about its proposal to expand its jurisdiction to online streaming services like Netflix, Vivamax, Amazon Prime and other streaming platforms. The MTRCB said it was responding to multitudes of complaints from parents and other concerned groups demanding that the agency regulate movie and TV online platforms to protect children from harmful viewing. The Marcos administration has seen a continuous boom in streamers, which began during the pandemic, with Vivamax becoming one of the leading local streamers due to the popularity of Filipino sexploitation films. On 23 February 2023, MTRCB chairperson Lala Sotto-Antonio expressed her gratitude to Senators Francis “Tol” Tolentino, Grace Poe and Sherwin Gatchalian for the separate bills they filed that would amend and expand the board’s mandate. “We welcome the move to amend the charter of the MTRCB as it will allow the agency to adequately adapt to changes in technology and the ever-evolving needs of the viewing public and our other stakeholders,” Sotto-Antonio said before the Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media chaired by Senator Robinhood C. Padilla. Eddie Garcia Act In January 2023, the chamber passed through voice voting House Bill 1270, or the proposed Eddie Garcia Act, at the House plenary session. [caption id="attachment_161367" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] HOUSE Bill 1270 has been proposed in honor of the late actor Eddie Garcia. | Photograph courtesy of gma-7[/caption] Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte authored the bill, which aims to provide workers in the movie, television and radio entertainment industry opportunities for well-paid employment and protect them from economic exploitation, abuse and harassment, as well as hazardous working conditions. The bill was named after the late veteran actor Eddie Garcia, who died in 2019 after suffering a neck injury while shooting the television series Rosang Agimat, produced by GMA Network. According to Villafuerte, productions would go from 16 to 24 continuous work hours per set and would rush productions to save costs. The proposed law mandates that normal work hours of the worker or talent shall be eight hours a day; overtime work should not exceed more than 12 hours in a 24-hour period; and the total number of work hours shall not exceed 60 hours in a week. Paul Soriano Relatively unknown to most Pinoy moviegoers, filmmaker Paul Soriano was put on the limelight as the man behind the President’s advertisements — way back from campaigns since Marcos started out as vice governor, and then, governor of Ilocos Norte, up until his senatorial campaign, and eventually his campaign for the vice presidency and presidency. [caption id="attachment_161371" align="aligncenter" width="781"] PRESIDENTIAL Adviser on Creative Communications Paul Soriano. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF ig/PAUL SORIANO[/caption] Of course, the opposition in the film industry predictably canceled Soriano, the blood nephew of First Lady Liza Cacho Araneta-Marcos. Dolly de Leon It was also during the BBM era that Filipina actress Dolly de Leon gained international fame for her performance in the 2022 Cannes Palme d’Or winner Triangle of Sadness. [caption id="attachment_161366" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Dolly de Leon gained international fame for her performance in the 2022 Cannes Palme d’Or winner ‘Triangle of Sadness.’ | Photograph courtesy ofig/dolly de leon[/caption] The 54-year old film, television and theater actress made history by becoming the first Filipino actor to be nominated at the British Academy Film Awards and Golden Globe Awards. Filipino movie fans and critics, having been exposed to global content since the rise of the streamers, plus the proliferation of self-published movie reviews, are generally still disappointed with the output and system of the Philippine film industry, but filled with hope that, with full support from the government, Philippine cinema will finally become truly internationally competitive, sustainable and recognized. The post Phl cinema in the first year of BBM appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Volcano erupts near Icelandic capital
A volcano erupted near Iceland's capital on Monday, the country's meteorological office said, marking the third time in two years that lava has gushed out in the area. Local media footage shows a massive cloud of smoke rising from the ground as well as a substantial flow of lava at the site around 30 kilometers (19 miles) from Reykjavik. According to an AFP reporter, the smoke can be seen from the road connecting the capital to the international airport, with cars pulled over and people taking pictures. "The eruption is taking place in a small depression just north of Litli Hrutur ('Little Ram' in Icelandic) from which smoke is escaping in a north-westerly direction," the meteorological office said. "There are three fissures with lava basically running in all directions," Thorvaldur Thordarson, Professor in Volcanology at University of Iceland, told AFP. He added that the fissures are in total around 200 to 300 meters long and "it is a low intensity, effusive eruption." This means "it's not causing widespread threats due to explosive activity" but "if the eruption continues for long enough it could be a threat to infrastructure." Thousands of small earthquakes were recorded in the area in the week leading up to the eruption, signaling that the magma below the ground was moving and an eruption was imminent. The Icelandic authorities advised against going to the site, located in difficult terrain without a road connection before they assessed the situation. The magma broke through the ground at around 1640 GMT, just a few kilometers from two previous eruptions in the last two years. The first was on 19 March 2021 in the Geldingadalur Valley and lasted six months, while the second occurred on 3 August 2022 in the Meradalir Valley, lasting three weeks. Prior to the 2021 eruption, the region had remained dormant for eight centuries, but volcanologists believe the new cycle of increased activity could last several years. The effusive eruptions that have occurred in this area so far have not been very dangerous, nor have they had any impact on air traffic. The 2021 and 2022 eruptions attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors hoping to catch a rare glimpse of an active volcano. Thordarson said the eruption could last anywhere from "a few days" to more than half a year like in 2021, or even longer. Land of fire and ice Iceland has 33 volcanic systems currently considered active, the highest number in Europe. It has an eruption every five years on average. The North Atlantic island straddles the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a crack in the ocean floor separating the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates. In April 2010, some 100,000 flights were canceled, leaving more than 10 million travelers stranded, following the massive eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano. Other volcanoes, such as Askja in the uninhabited highlands of central Iceland, have recently shown signs of activity. One of the country's most dangerous volcanoes is Katla, near the south coast. It last erupted in 1918, with an unusually long pause suggesting an imminent reawakening. The 1783 eruption of the Laki volcanic fissure in the south of the island is considered by some experts to be the most devastating in Iceland's history, causing its biggest environmental and socio-economic catastrophe. Between 50 to 80 percent of Iceland's livestock was killed, leading to a famine that left a quarter of the country's population dead. The meteorological impact of the eruption also had repercussions for several years, with some experts suggesting it may have played a part in triggering the French Revolution. The post Volcano erupts near Icelandic capital appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
TI 10 in Sweden canceled
The International 10 is in danger of cancelation after the Sweden Sports Federation denied the entry of esports into the federation. TI, touted as the grandest stage of competitive esports, brandishes a record-breaking prize pool of over $40,000,000 and was scheduled to take place in Stockholm, Sweden from 5 to 15 August. “Over the course […] The post TI 10 in Sweden canceled appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Chinese Diplomat Liu Jianchao Meets With Singapore s Leaders
singapore - Liu Jianchao, the senior diplomat widely expected to become China's next foreign minister, said "the world needs connectivity, not decoupling," during a four-day visit to Singapore.Liu, who heads the international department of the Communist Party, was in the city-state to meet with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and the country's incoming leader, Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.During a s.....»»
Akbayan to Sara: You don’t have to be president to speak vs China
MANILA, Philippines — Party-list group Akbayan said on Thursday that Vice President Sara Duterte does not have to be a president of the country for her to call out China’s intrusive actions over the West Philippine Sea (WPS). Empathy and a moral backbone is just what it takes to stand up with fisherfolk and frontline.....»»
LIST: Saint movies to watch this Holy Week
YouTube offers free access to films on the lives of Catholic Saints in time for the Holy Week. .....»»
In Papa’s footsteps
The late Lope Sarreal Sr. is the only Filipino who wasn’t a fighter inducted in the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, New York......»»
S& P: Philippines may miss growth goal this year
S&P Global Ratings sees the Philippines again missing its growth targets this year as it kept its gross domestic product growth forecast at 5.9 percent. While the projection is better compared to other economies in the region, it is again below the government’s 6.5 to 7.5 percent growth target......»»
PRO-Davao no idea of Quiboloy’s whereabouts
THE Police Regional Office-Davao Region (PRO-Davao) has responded to the accusations of Makabayan ACT Teachers Party-List Rep. France Castro that they are “clueless about the whereabouts of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy”......»»