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Breathing osmosis of public service
Education and public service are deeply ingrained in his family heritage. His mother dedicated her career to educating students in public schools, while his father pursued a profession in government as a lawyer specializing in human rights. Dr. J. Prospero “Popoy” de Vera III, chairman of the Commission on Higher Education or CHEd, recalled that his mother, a teacher at the Esteban Abada High School in Manila, always brought him to school when he was still a young boy. His mother became the principal of Ramon Magsaysay High School, also in Manila, before her retirement. He said he and his siblings grew up breathing the osmosis of public service. “So, when I was growing up, the importance of education was drilled into us. Our mother always tells us to finish our education; nothing will happen in our lives if we don’t graduate from college,” De Vera said, adding that he and his siblings all graduated from public schools. “We are nine siblings, but my parents don’t have the money to send us to private schools. All of us graduated from the University of the Philippines. We are products of public schools; we were just the ‘iskolar ng bayan’ through and through.” Popoy, who finished a bachelor’s degree in History from UP, teaches political science and history at the De La Salle University and the University of the Philippines. He completed his master’s in social science at De La Salle University and doctoral studies in public administration at the University of the Philippines Diliman. He also has a master’s degree in higher education policy and higher education administration from the University of Southern California, one of the top schools in the United States of America, and later worked at the state legislature in California for three years. “In that sense, after I graduated from college, one of the options that I saw is either I take up law or teach, or to work in government, etc. There was an opportunity to teach, so I got into education.” In addition to his teaching responsibilities, De Vera also served as a consultant to several government agencies and provided his expertise to congressmen and senators. “Simultaneously, while I was teaching, I was also a consultant to the government. I worked as a consultant and then as chief of staff at the House and Senate.” His extensive academic background and government experience were benchmarks for his appointment as CHEd Commissioner in 2016, highlighting his qualifications for the position. “Since my background is in public administration and I also teach, I have a certain level of confidence that I really understand government, and I want to prove that I can do what I teach. I have a lot of involvement in the House and the Senate, from being an executive assistant until becoming chief of staff. I went through them one by one.” De Vera’s proficiency in legislative affairs from 1988 to 2010 (except for his three years abroad) encompasses a plethora of skills, including bill drafting, speech writing, and crafting amendments. Such expertise is a direct result of his extensive involvement and experience in the realm of legislation. Before his appointment to CHEd, he served as vice president for Public Affairs at UP in 2011. In 2004, he became part of the board of regents in some state universities and colleges. When he took the offer to head CHEd in 2018 after serving as commissioner for two years, he was confident because he survived UP. “I have a high level of confidence that I can do the job because they say that if you survived to govern UP, you can govern everything else because UP is the most ungovernable university in the country. So, if you survived there, you understand the public university system,” he admitted. He narrated to have experienced a sense of ease and familiarity when he joined CHEd. “It felt natural, perhaps because it aligns with my expertise. I might have had some reservations if it were a different department outside my field. However, since there was an opening at CHEd, I decided to offer my assistance, and that’s how I found myself here,” he shared. In running an agency with only 1,400 employees and serving more than 2,000 public and private higher education institutions across the country lies the challenge, De Vera said. With the scope of responsibilities, he gets to visit all state universities and colleges. Riding a bicycle, he witnessed first-hand the brilliance, resilience, and great potential of state universities and colleges. “I would be the first CHEd chair who visited all the state universities and colleges in this country. No one has done that yet,” he said, adding that he had already visited 100 of the 114 state-run universities. “I think in a year, I will finish all of them. The feeling is so different when you see what’s happening on the ground. So, from the start of my appointment, I started going around. I’ve gone to the farthest parts of the country.” As the chairperson, he said his firsthand experience in higher education enables him to speak with confidence and authority on the subject. “By engaging directly with students and faculty, attentively listening to their concerns, and providing meaningful responses, I believe I have made a significant impact. The presence of a secretary in these interactions creates a distinct atmosphere, instilling a sense of importance and value in education stakeholders. This ability to make those on the ground feel significant is a legacy I take pride in,” he said. One of the legacies De Vera is proud of is the implementation of free higher education, which coincided with his tenure. “I consider myself privileged because my predecessors did not have the opportunity to enact such a policy. Despite the challenges encountered, I believe that the beneficiaries truly reaped the benefits of this initiative,” he said. In the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, the country was confronted with unprecedented difficulties and uncertainties. CHEd, however, managed to navigate these challenges and ensured that education persisted. “This, in itself, is an accomplishment. Despite various government interventions being affected, we remained steadfast in delivering education to the best of our abilities,” he said. De Vera actively advocates for an inclusive education system that provides equal opportunities for marginalized sectors to complete their tertiary education. He seeks to create “first-generation graduates” as a legacy of the current administration. This program aims to offer educational opportunities to young Filipinos from minority and indigenous groups, children of rebel returnees, and other marginalized communities, enabling them to complete their education successfully. “Why not consciously make our legacy about bringing these individuals into the mainstream and ensuring they have the opportunity to finish their education? This emerging phenomenon is something we can truly focus on.” He added: “If we can successfully accomplish this within the next three years while I am in office, I can confidently say that it will be a legacy achieved by the Marcos administration. While the Duterte administration initiated free higher education, the Marcos administration aims to make it more equitable and responsive to the needs of marginalized individuals.” The post Breathing osmosis of public service appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Biden widens web of US alliances faced with China, Russia, Trump
With a historic three-way summit with Japan and South Korea, President Joe Biden has further deepened the web of US partnerships in a determined signal to adversaries despite question marks on the political climate at home. Since Biden took office in 2021, NATO has expanded and mostly closed ranks over Russia's invasion of Ukraine -- and, in clear if unstated responses to an assertive China, the United States forged a new three-way defense pact with Australia and Britain and ramped up work through the four-way Quad involving Australia, India and Japan. The United States already has security alliances with Japan and South Korea, together the bases for some 84,500 troops, but will now also plan three-way, multi-year military exercises across all domains along with real-time information-sharing and a crisis hotline. Jon Alterman, a senior vice president at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said that alliances were "baked" into the mindset of Biden, who was a senator at the end of the Cold War. Partnerships can increase other countries' faith in the direction of the United States, Alterman added. "This administration believes deeply in the centrality -- not the importance, the centrality -- of partnerships," he said. "The challenge is, all of our partners remember the previous administration, they look at the polling numbers, and they have absolutely no confidence in where the US is going to be in two years' time, five years' time or 10 years' time," he said. Previous president Donald Trump loudly questioned the value of alliances, insisting that countries such as Germany and South Korea were not paying enough for the US troop presence and scoffing at NATO's commitments of mutual defense to all allies. Trump is again seeking the White House and recent opinion polls have also shown softening support for US military assistance to Ukraine, which has totaled $43 billion since Russia's attack. Asked about Trump at a news conference with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the Camp David presidential retreat, Biden said that his predecessor's "America First policy, walking away from the rest of the world, has made us weaker, not stronger." "America is strong with our allies and our alliances, and that's why we will endure," Biden said. Tougher task in Asia Whereas in Europe the United States has led a common defense for decades under NATO, in Asia -- seen by Biden as the critical region -- Washington has navigated individual alliances with Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Australia and Thailand. One reason for the hodgepodge has been historical animosity between Japan and South Korea, with the Camp David summit until recently unthinkable. Yoon has turned the page by resolving a dispute over Japan's wartime forced labor of Koreans. Yoon, Kishida and Biden said they shared the same vision of a "rules-based international order" -- a nod to China's muscle-flexing in Asia but also to Ukraine, of which Japan and South Korea have been prominent non-Western supporters. China denounced the Camp David initiative, with state media saying the United States was raising tensions by creating a "mini-NATO," although there was no three-way mutual defense promise. Shihoko Goto, acting director of the Asia program at the Wilson Center, doubted that the three countries were even aspiring to collective self-defense but said their new cooperation was part of an "interweaving" with existing alliance arrangements. "As a single thread it may be weak, but because it is going to be part of that fabric and making it into a multi-layered approach, it would actually be really strong," she said. Risks await Biden has also moved bilaterally with countries concerned about Russia and China. He has said he plans to travel shortly to boost ties with Vietnam, whose tensions with Beijing run deep. But one of his big bets, India, has stood firm on its historic refusal to join alliances and is also taking part this week in a summit with Russia and China of the BRICS bloc of emerging economies. Trump is not the only wild card for the future. In South Korea, Yoon is only allowed a single term, which ends in 2027. "If an ultra-leftist South Korean president and an ultra-right wing Japanese leader are elected in their next cycles, or even if Trump or someone like him wins in the US, then any one of them could derail all the meaningful, hard work the three countries are putting in right now," said Duyeon Kim, an adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security. The post Biden widens web of US alliances faced with China, Russia, Trump appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Suspect in kid’s slay Dahmer ‘wannabe’
A startling development was unearthed by the Las Piñas Police on the case of the 4-year-old boy who was found dead inside a washing machine in Las Piñas City on Sunday as authorities said that the suspect was seemingly emulating an American serial killer. In an exclusive interview with Daily Tribune’s online morning program Gising Na!, Las Piñas police chief Col. Jaime Santos disclosed that the suspect — a 15-year-old male who was the child’s uncle — was idolizing Jeffrey Dahmer, a serial killer who killed 17 children from 1978 to 1991. Santos said that the post the suspect wrote on social media — which was already deleted — showed the same thing that his supposed “idol” has done during his criminal rampage. “There is a Facebook post which we retrieved as it was screenshot by his relatives and the pattern is there with the same words of Jeffrey Dahmer,” Santos said. Historical records showed that Dahmer — also known as the Milwaukee cannibal or the Milwaukee monster — was an American serial killer and sex offender who killed 17 children during his time before he was arrested on 22 July 1991. He was beaten to death by a fellow inmate on 28 November 1994 inside the Columbia Correctional Institution, Portage, Wisconsin, United States of America. Santos revealed that some excerpts of the suspect’s post were similar to that of Dahmer’s earlier statements after his arrest. The Las Piñas Police chief also revealed that in Dahmer’s fashion, the teener supposedly took 28 photographs of the victim when he was laughing, crying and when he was put inside the washing machine when he was already lifeless. The suspect also allegedly sent the photographs to 28 kids in a group chat. The evidence was submitted to the prosecutors’ office to augment the case against the suspect. To recall, the child was reported missing on 26 May and his remains was discovered at around 7 a.m. on Sunday inside the house of the suspect in Kalamansi Street, Barangay CAA, Las Piñas City. Santos said the suspect’s mother reported the discovery of the kid’s decomposing body inside the washing machine. The police chief added that the suspect was already brought to the fiscal’s office for inquest proceedings and after that he was brought to Bahay Pag-asa in the city for interview subject to evaluation and recommendation of psychiatrist to determine if the minor suspect acted with discernment or he knew what he was doing. “In discernment, it means the suspect knew what he was doing that what he had done was wrong and if that will be determined, criminal proceedings will commence immediately upon the age of majority and that is 18,” Santos said. He added that the suspect will be transferred from Bahay Pag-asa to the jail facility of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology. The post Suspect in kid’s slay Dahmer ‘wannabe’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Security Bank advances sustainability journey to deliver meaningful stakeholder impact
Security Bank made significant advancements in its sustainability journey last year, and has ambitious plans for 2024......»»
Bahay makes top spot his home for 2nd year
Bahay makes top spot his home for 2nd year.....»»
Security Bank advances sustainability journey to deliver meaningful stakeholder impact
Security Bank made significant advancements in its sustainability journey last year, and has ambitious plans for 2024......»»
Sayonara and Kon’nichiwa
“Most challenging, most wonderful, most exciting, most valuable, and most meaningful,” was how former Toyota Motor Philippines president Atsuhiro Okamoto described his four-year stint in the Philippines as he gave his farewell speech last Tuesday, Feb. 20, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel during the formal turnover of the TMP presidency to his successor, Masando Hashimoto......»»
Blue Eagles coaches Tab Baldwin, Arespacochaga excited to work with Jared Bahay
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Ateneo Blue Eagles head coach Tab Baldwin and deputy coach Sandy Arespacochaga expressed their excitement to work with the country’s top high school player Jared Bahay after the latter officially announced his commitment on Thursday, January 25. The 18-year-old Bahay made his formal announcement through a press conference attended by his.....»»
Jared Bahay chooses Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles
CEBU CITY, Philippines—(UPDATED, 10 p.m., January 25) Jared Bahay, Cebu’s top high school basketball player, has made his decision: He is going to the Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles in the UAAP. This development was confirmed by Popoy Navarro of the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu, who is one of the representatives of the 18-year-old.....»»
Bahay decides to attend Ateneo
Cebuano basketball prospect Jared Bahay has decided to attend the Ateneo de Manila University for college and will don the Blue Eagles jersey starting in the UAAP Season 87 this year......»»
Oppenheimer, Poor Things lead Oscar nominations
Barbie, last year's highest-grossing movie, landed eight nominations, including a supporting actress nod for America Ferrera, but voters passed over lead actress Margot Robbie and director Greta Gerwig.....»»
'SerbisyoBandera: 72-anyos ginawang ‘community library’ ang bahay sa Makati
ISA lang naman ang misyon sa buhay ng 72-year-old na si Mang Nanie mula sa Makati City. ‘Yan ay matulungan ang maraming mahihirap na kabataan sa pamamagitan ng libro! Yes, yes, yes mga ka-Bandera, hindi superpowers ang kailangan ni Mang Nanie upang matupad ang kanyang layunin – kundi napakaraming libro. Sa naging interview with INQUIRER.net,.....»»
Iza Calzado on family traditions she wants to pass on to daughter
Iza Calzado and her husband, Ben Wintle, had their first Christmas and New Year celebrations with their daughter, Deia Amihan. Iza hoped to impart to her firstborn the tradition of celebrating these occasions with lots of love, making them joyful, festive, and meaningful......»»
James Reid ibinandera ang bagong bahay sa pagsalubong ng 2024
SA gitna ng sunod-sunod na heartbreaks at breakups, ibinandera ng celebrity couple na sina James Reid at Issa Pressman ang naging pagsalubong nila sa Bagong Taon. Sa pamamagitan ng Instagram Reel noong December 2, makikitang ginanap ang intimate celebration ng dalawa sa bagong bahay ni James. “New year, new home,” caption ng singer-actor sa recent.....»»
Marcos urges Filipinos to help shape a meaningful transformation in 2024
“As we welcome 2024 with great optimism, I call upon every Filipino from every corner of the world to contribute to the future of our beloved motherland,” Marcos said in a message released on New Year’s Eve. .....»»
Lolo killed in Asturias road accident
CEBU CITY, Philippines – A senior citizen was killed in a vehicular accident that happened at 6:35 p.m. on Sunday, December 17, in Barangay Langub, Asturias, Cebu. The victim was identified as 77-year-old Gumora Villamor, a resident of Barangay Sambag in Danao City. In a report, Asturias police said that the vehicle that Villamor was.....»»
Belgian wealth fund managers to explore Phl investments
Belgium’s sovereign wealth fund managers are looking to visit the country to explore investments in Philippine firms engaged in a range of public services, the Department of Finance said Saturday. DoF Secretary Benjamin Diokno and officers of the Federal Holding and Investment Company or La Société Fédérale de Participations et d’Investissement discussed opportunities in public-private partnerships in finance, aeronautics and mobility, health, utilities and impact investing. “Koenraad Van Loo, CEO of SFPIM, shared that the company is keen to visit the Philippines to explore partnerships in its priority sectors,” a statement from the DoF said. “SFPIM preserves the long-term stability of the Belgian economy by contributing to the anchoring of strategic assets through smart capital solutions for both promising and established companies,” the DoF added. According to the 2023 World Competitiveness Ranking, Belgium is 13th out of 64 countries in economic performance. The country is also among the top in business efficiency at fifth place and tenth in infrastructure. The Philippines, on the other hand, ranks 40th in economic performance and business efficiency, and 58th in infrastructure. Long-term economic growth President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has vowed to boost infrastructure development for national long-term economic growth through proceeds from the Maharlika Investment Fund which his administration expects to be activated before the end of the year. The Philippine sovereign fund is open to local and foreign investors in the public and private sectors, and aims to support 197 flagship infrastructure projects worth a total of some $155 billion. Diokno said the DoF has met with foreign government and business leaders at the European Union’s first Global Gateway Forum last 25 to 26 October in Brussels, Belgium to also discuss the Philippine sovereign fund. The Finance Secretary said he talked to the Belgian Investment Company for Developing Countries or BIO led by its chief executive officer Luuk Zonneveld. “Discussed were opportunities to finance projects in the Philippines that drive sustainable development, particularly gender equality, climate action, and decent work,” he said. BIO uses private funds to support small and medium businesses, and financial institutions also in Africa and Latin America. Confident in the administration Meanwhile, Professor Dindo Manhit of business consultancy outfit, Stratbase ADR Institute said he is confident the Marcos administration can attract more foreign investments in agro-industrial and digitalization through its participation in global economic meetings abroad. “By establishing strong links in the economic space, the Philippines can further solidify its role in the global supply chain,” Manhit said. “We are confident that this administration will continue to advocate for reforms that will ensure our economic growth to make the country a premiere investment destination,” he added. The post Belgian wealth fund managers to explore Phl investments appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Beauty philosophy that surpasses time
Beauty, as it has evolved, goes beyond looks -- it discerns and does good. And for practicing such a philosophy, the Filipino brand Human Nature proves both timeliness and timelessness as it marks 15 years in the industry. Through a stylized gallery at Odd Cafe in Makati, the homegrown brand showcased its flagship beauty innovations, its newest limited-edition line and its recently launched breakthrough face care products. A new generation of influencers who embody the brand’s vision and are passionate about collaborating with authentic and purpose-driven brands graced the event. “Fifteen years ago, we started with a dream of introducing the promise of beauty that is kind to the skin, local communities and planet. Today, we are the pioneer local brand in the country to come up with a full range of natural and clean beauty and personal care innovations made by Filipinos for Filipinos. We are where we are today because of our fellow Filipinos who believe in us. So, in this milestone event, it’s you whom we celebrate!” Human Nature founder and president Anna Meloto-Wilk said. In celebration of its 15th-year milestone, Human Nature launched its thoughtfully made, limited edition design that embodies everything we believe in — the depth and diversity of the Filipina’s beauty that glows from within. Its design takes inspiration from the art style of Cubism, expressing women’s beauty in a multi-dimensional way through a play of elements. The brand also introduced its newest face care innovations for day-to-night natural glow. Start with the power hydrator Hyaluronic Acid Gel Day Moisturizer (P249.75) then give skin instant hydration on the go with the Hyaluronic Face Mist (P250). Lock in with Ceramide Skin-Renewing Night Cream (P299.75) moisture as you sleep and wake up with your dream skin. The Sunflower Beauty Oil with Bakuchiol (P299.75) will surely give that youthful glow from an expertly crafted concoction of new skincare superstar Bakuchiol. The well-loved Sunflower Beauty Oil is known to bring 25 beauty miracles. Get radiance beyond compare with Vitamin C + Hya Calamansi Radiance Serum (P495), which boasts of plant-based vitamin C and locally sourced calamansi. “Human Nature takes pride in crafting world-class local products that are all at least 95 percent natural, effective and free from harmful chemicals – allowing you to enjoy nurturing glow from head to toe. But there’s more to this glow than what meets the eye, just as how we believe that beauty is more than skin-deep,” Human Nature co-founder Camille Meloto-Rodriguez noted. Core advocacies Each product is expertly formulated by Filipino scientists and are 100 percent manufactured locally. Whenever possible, the brand uses locally grown ingredients no matter the cost to help homeland and local farmers thrive (Pro-Philippines). Going beyond profit, the brand dreams for the working poor to rise out of poverty and help create a new middle class. From day one, rank-and-file employees receive a living wage and stable employment through a no-firing policy. Putting people first is a sound business policy because not only does it increase productivity through trained and loyal employees, but it also creates a culture of empowerment and excellence (Pro-poor). The brand also takes care of the planet by creating natural, biodegradable product innovations that encourage users to #SwitchToGoodness for good. This commitment makes Human Nature the first brand in the Philippines with the widest range of plastic bottle-free formulations. As of September 2023, with the sustainability initiatives, Human Nature saved 37.2 tons of plastic waste from oceans and landfills. With every product, Human Nature seeks to advocate beauty that discards toxic trends; beauty that makes more meaningful, more compassionate and more sustainable choices; and beauty that inspires others to do the same. (Pro-environment). Human Nature stays committed to coming up with clean beauty innovations suitable for every Filipino’s needs. All in the hope of sustainably building a global company that will showcase the best of the Philippines and uplift people, especially the poor. As it moves forward, Human Nature will continue to advocate one goal: to be more than just beautiful, but kind. The post Beauty philosophy that surpasses time appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
U.S. mass shooter still at large
An urgent police dragnet entered its second day late Thursday for a man accused of gunning down 18 people at a bowling alley and a bar in Maine, United States. Dozens of law enforcement agents surrounded the family home of 40-year-old suspect Robert Card, but by mid-evening agents left the property in Bowdoin, near Lewiston, to hunt for him elsewhere. A wide area around Lewiston remained locked down more than 24 hours after Card allegedly went on a rampage, culminating in the deadliest mass shooting this year in America. Thirteen people were also wounded. Authorities erected roadblocks, ordered schools and businesses closed, and told residents to stay indoors. Governor Janet Mills said the suspect was “considered armed and dangerous, and police advised that Maine people should not approach him under any circumstances.” Card was seen in surveillance footage pointing a semi-automatic rifle as he walked into the Just-in-Time bowling alley on Wednesday. News outlets broadcast footage of people fleeing in terror from the bowling alley after the shooting started Wednesday evening. Card is a member of the US Army Reserve. US media reported that he had recently been sent for psychiatric treatment after he said he was hearing voices. Hundreds of police in military-style camouflage gear and Federal Bureau of Investigation agents flooded the search zone in what Lewiston police chief David St. Pierre called “an all-hands-on-deck approach.” Biden called Maine’s governor to offer federal support, and ordered flags to be lowered to half-staff at the White House and all government buildings. The post U.S. mass shooter still at large appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Blessed widows on All Saints Day
Around the year 1995, 28 years ago, I wrote my first book, titled Wives Are Lovers Too, which became an instant bestseller. It must be because of the catchy title but I believe it was the inspiring narratives of the wonderful women and men who gladly shared with me their authentic and loving stories of their married lives. Today, however, I would like to share with my numerous readers who constantly message me to inquire about the nature of my next column -- the powerful, emotion- filled stories of the strong-hearted widows who survived the grief of losing their beloved husbands. This is the topic I write today on the occasion of the forthcoming celebration of All Souls Day. While interviewing the amazing widows who appeared in my bestseller, I was bombarded with the haunting images of my own childhood at the young age of six. While barging into my mother’s bedroom one early morning, I found her sobbing in front of her altar. She was grieving for my dead father, Ramon, who had just passed on. Among the most profound memories which flooded into my consciousness, I vividly recall hugging my mother tight, clasping her hands in mine as I felt the rising and falling of her chest as she sobbed and cried out the name of my father Ramon. I felt so helpless then as the warm, stinging liquid dropped tear by salty tear into my young bewildered face. THE columnist’s parents. In childlike fashion, I tried to comfort her by asking her why she was so sad. Her short gentle reply will forever be etched into my memory: “Maria Rosa, I feel so alone and lonely without Ramon by my side.” As she said this response, I caught the emotion of the moment and the deep sense of loss conveyed through the anguish in her beautiful face and the tremor in her soft voice. The unforgettable memories and lessons I learned from my encounter with my beloved mother Rosario and those courageous widows I interviewed who survived the death of their beloved partners, I have come to empathize with their strong feelings of loss which reflect those misty, tear-filled memories of long ago. Today as we honor the beloved members of our families who have gone ahead to the great beyond, we can only offer them our sincere prayers as we continue living our lives with the wonderful and joyous times we shared with them. The valuable lessons and values they imparted to us which continue to guide us in our day-to-day existence marks the deep joy we hold in our hearts for the love we have for them. We honor all those who are left behind as we successfully regenerate our meaningful lives through loving and being loved by our families and close friends. The post Blessed widows on All Saints Day appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»