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Marcos catches COVID-19 for 3rd time
President Marcos has caught COVID-19 for the third time, but remains healthy enough to carry out his duties, Malacañang said yesterday......»»
Southwoods catches Luisita
With Jun Plana leading the way, defending champion Manila Southwoods finished with 136 points to catch Luisita at the helm with identical 266 after two rounds in the centerpiece Fil-Championship of the 73rd Januarius Fil-Am Golf Invitational held at the Camp John Hay Golf Club......»»
Impeaching the VP
The tallest tree catches the most wind, a Chinese proverb goes......»»
Tanker catches fire off Batangas; 2 dead
Two persons died when a motor tanker caught fire while at anchorage in the waters off Batangas yesterday morning......»»
Baclaan catches fire as Bulldogs nip Falcons
The NU Bulldogs rode the hot hand of Kean Baclaan and dealt the Adamson Soaring Falcons their second straight loss, 69-66......»»
PAF plane catches fire, disrupts flights
A Philippine Air Force plane bound for the Visayas was forced to do an emergency landing at the Mactan Cebu International Airport after its engine caught fire early yesterday, blocking the runway for hours and disrupting both domestic and international flights......»»
Regional economies slowing down — WB
The World Bank expects East Asia and Pacific economies, excluding China, to grow by 4.6 percent this year as the Philippines catches up with digitalization. The WB prediction is slower than the previous 4.9 percent estimate announced by the multinational financial institution in April. If China is included, economic growth in the region is projected to settle at five percent, the World Bank’s report from Washington said last Sunday. “This is higher than average growth projected for all other emerging market and developing economies but lower than previously projected,” the World Bank said. “The East Asia and Pacific region remains one of the fastest growing and most dynamic regions in the world, even if growth is moderating,” World Bank East Asia and Pacific vice president Manuela Ferro said. The multinational financial institution said the region might continue to face challenges in supplies of goods as more typhoons hit the region in the fourth quarter this year and climate change persists. Geopolitical tensions The World Bank added geopolitical tensions aside from the Russia-Ukraine war threatens to further hamper trade. China, the world’s second largest economy, and the US have been exchanging export bans, especially on electronic and technology products. Meanwhile, the Philippines and other Southeast Asian states are protesting against China’s aggression in the West Philippine Sea. For these reasons, the World Bank said prices of goods and services might rise, forcing central banks in the region’s developing countries to raise interest rates to prevent inflation from accelerating further. However, this means consumers might cut back spending on certain goods and services, while businesses slow operations. Borrowing costs to remain high “Therefore, borrowing costs will likely remain high, constraining room for spending and raising the risk of debt distress in some countries. Furthermore, high indebtedness, combined with rising costs of servicing debt, will weigh on private investments,” the World Bank said. For its 2024 forecast, the bank is more optimistic that the region’s economy excluding China’s will expand from 4.6 percent to 4.7 percent. “Growth in the rest of the region is expected to edge up, as recovery in global growth and easing of financial conditions offsets the impact of slowing growth in China and trade policy measures in other countries,” the World Bank said. Philippine economic growth is seen to improve to 5.9 percent next year from a 5.6 percent forecast for this year. Meanwhile, China’s economy could shrink by 4.4 percent next year from a 4.8 percent estimate for 2023 due to persisting elevated debt, tamer demand for real estate, and aging population. Sustaining high growth to require reforms “Over the medium term, sustaining high growth will require reforms to maintain industrial competitiveness, diversify trading partners, and unleash the productivity-enhancing and job-creating potential of the services sector,” Ferro said. The World Bank reported digitalization and other reforms in government services in the Philippines increased productivity of firms by 1.5 percent from 2010 to 2019. Digital technologies, for example, can spread education and health services in the provinces to ensure a bigger pool of high-skilled and energetic workers. The post Regional economies slowing down — WB appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PCG condemns China-installed floating barrier in southeast part of Bajo de Masinloc
The Philippines has accused the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) of building a "floating barrier" that forbids Filipinos from fishing in the contested area of the West Philippine Sea. In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson Jay Tarriela said the barrier in part of the Scarborough Shoal prevents Filipino fishing boats from entering the shoal and depriving them of their fishing and livelihood activities. Images from the region, known as Bajo de Masinloc in the Philippines, showed Chinese boats set up and monitored several buoys and barriers arranged and protected by Chinese boats. Tarriela said the PCG and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) personnel found the Chinese boats setting up the 300-meter-long barrier on Friday while on a "routine maritime patrol." "Three CCG's Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIBs) and Chinese Maritime Militia's service boat installed the floating barrier upon arrival of the BFAR vessel in the vicinity of the shoal. The Filipino fishermen reported that the CCG vessels usually install floating barriers whenever they monitor many Filipino fishermen in the area," Tarriela said. He added that the BFAR vessel observed more than 50 FFBs engaged in fishing activities in the area during the routine maritime patrol. Recognizing the importance of supporting the artisanal or subsistence fishing of these fishermen, Tariella said the BFAR provided them with various grocery items and fuel subsidies to sustain their operations. However, a total of four CCG vessels, namely CCG-3065, CCG-3066, CCG-3105, and CCG-3301, initiated a series of 15 radio challenges in an attempt to drive away the BFAR vessel and FFBs. "The CCG crew alleged that the presence of the BFAR vessel and Filipino fishermen violated international law and the domestic laws of the People's Republic of China (PRC)," Tariella said. "The BFAR vessel responded to each and every radio calls and emphasized that they were carrying out a routine patrol within the territorial sea of BDM," he added. Tariella further mentioned that the CCG vessels maintained a safe distance and moved away upon realizing the presence of media personnel onboard the BFAR vessel. "The PCG will continue to work closely with all concerned government agencies to address these challenges, uphold our maritime rights and protect our maritime domains," Tarriela said. However, the Chinese embassy in Manila has yet to comment on the matter. China claims 90 percent of the South China Sea, which overlaps with the exclusive economic zones of the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia. Beijing annexed the Scarborough Shoal in 2012, forcing Filipino fishermen to travel farther in search of lesser catches. During the period when bilateral ties were significantly improving under then-President Rodrigo Duterte, Beijing allowed Filipino fishermen to return to the uninhabited shoal. However, since Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his successor, gained government last year, tensions have increased once more. The post PCG condemns China-installed floating barrier in southeast part of Bajo de Masinloc appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Huge’ overfishing problem shows need to ratify ocean treaty: Greenpeace
Overfishing in international waters has surged in the past five years and demonstrates the need to ratify a recent global treaty to protect the high seas, a Greenpeace report said Wednesday. The non-governmental network is calling on as many countries as possible to sign the treaty next week at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Finalized in June, the text was hailed as a "historic" accord with the potential to better safeguard the oceans. A key element in the treaty is the creation of a legal framework to protect high seas marine areas -- beyond 230 miles (370 kilometers) from coastlines -- whose good health is vital to humanity. But without enforcement of the accord, such protections are minimal, the report warned. "Reality at sea is moving in the opposite direction from the ambition laid out in the Treaty," it said. Governments must step up immediately, urged Greenpeace oceans campaigner Chris Thorne, aboard the group's ship Arctic Sunrise, which was docked Wednesday in Long Beach, California for an event marking the report's release. To protect 30 percent of Earth's land and oceans by 2030, the target adopted last year by the COP15 convention on biological diversity, "there is no time to waste," he told AFP. Fishing hours on the high seas increased by 8.5 percent between 2018 and 2022, according to the report, which compiles data from an organization capable of tracking boat movements via their transmitters. Such intensification is especially pronounced in the ecologically sensitive areas identified by the UN as potential future marine sanctuaries. Greenpeace reported fishing there has increased by 22.5 percent over the same period. "Overfishing is a huge problem," Thorne said. "That fishing pressure is just absolutely unsustainable, and it's pushing our oceans to the brink." Greenpeace's report notes that in the span of 30 years, stocks of Pacific bluefin tuna have collapsed by more than 90 percent. It also draws attention to the damage caused in open seas by longline fishing, which uses cords fitted with thousands of baited hooks dozens of miles long. The destructive method catches many sharks by mistake. 'Let her heal' Given such dire situations, using the treaty to create high seas sanctuaries is crucial, said Samantha Murray, a marine biodiversity specialist at the University of California San Diego. "We have up to 670 percent greater biomass inside highly protected and fully protected reserves," she told reporters. "When we sort of leave the ocean alone and let it be who she is and let her heal, we get more complex ecosystems that can be more resilient." In order to come into force before the next UN Ocean Conference, in 2025, the treaty will need ratification from at least 60 nations. This would enable convening a conference of the parties, empowered to create the marine sanctuaries. Scientists and non-governmental organizations have already identified a dozen priority high seas zones needing protection. They include the Costa Rica Thermal Dome, a nutrient-rich marine biodiversity hotspot hospitable to blue whales; the Emperor seamount chain of underwater mountains near Hawaii; and the Atlantic's Sargasso Sea region. In addition, the Salas y Gomez and Nazca ridges off Chile's coast may be among the first sanctuaries to see the light of day. The post ‘Huge’ overfishing problem shows need to ratify ocean treaty: Greenpeace appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Net metering catches on among power users
The Manila Electric Co. or Meralco reported a spike in the number of customers joining the net-metering scheme, which empowers them to generate their electricity for consumption and export any excess generation to the distribution grid. In his speech on the second day of the three-day Giga Summit organized by Meralco Power Academy, Meralco senior vice president and chief revenue officer Ferdinand Geluz said the annual number of net-metering customers and its capacity are “increasing rapidly.” “To date, we have 8,544 net-metering customers with 50.3 megawatts of installed capacity. Year-on-year net-metering numbers and capacity are increasing rapidly,” Geluz said. “For the whole of 2022, these customers exported 20.3 GWh, while as of July this year, 16.2 gigawatt-hours in energy export was already generated and can be projected to exceed last year’s aggregate number,” he added. Energy-efficient practice Geluz also noted that the boost in net-metering initiatives complemented Republic Act 11285 or the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act, which institutionalizes energy efficiency and conservation, enhances the efficient use of energy, and grants incentives to energy efficiency and conservation projects. The net-metering program allows customers to export their excess electricity to the grid in exchange for electricity bill credits. To further encourage the use of cleaner and cheaper energy, the government previously said it will expand the program to more areas — especially in far-flung provinces that are not yet connected to the grid. Last Monday, Energy Secretary Raphael Perpetuo Lotilla said the adoption of modern technologies, smart grid systems, and demand-side management to bring down overall energy consumption and cut down greenhouse gas emissions will be included in the 2023-2050 Philippine Energy Plan or PEP supposed to be out this month. Lotilla disclosed that public consultations on the draft PEP are ongoing. The post Net metering catches on among power users appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Senate mulls on special law for road rage incidents
The Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs on Tuesday wrapped its investigation into the viral road rage in Quezon City involving a cyclist and a former police officer, seeking a special law that would immediately address similar events in the future. In a chance interview, Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, the panel chairperson, recognized the appearance of Wilfredo Gonzales, the driver who was seen pulling out a gun during an altercation after the cyclist, Allan Bandiola’s bicycle hit his car along the road in Quezon City on 8 August. Dela Rosa initially thought Gonzales would not attend the hearing because the latter initially presented a medical certificate with a doctor’s advice for a rest. The senator earlier warned that he would issue a subpoena should Gonzales won’t appear in the hearing. “At least, he came. Luckily he appeared today so no need to issue for subpoena,” Dela Rosa. During the hearing, Gonzales admitted that he assaulted and cocked a gun at cyclist Allan Bandiola during a road altercation in Quezon City. Their confrontation went viral after a concerned citizen took the video and uploaded it on social media. Gonzales said he regrets his action. He then apologized to Bandiola and to everybody. “I apologize for that part, for hitting him, for pulling out and pointing a gun. I apologize to everyone, not just to him (Allan Bandiola), but to all of you. It’s my fault, I was just shocked,” Gonzales said in Filipino. Gonzales narrated that Bandiola acted as if he would attack him prompting him to pull his gun out. He said he was defending himself because he was in recovery from an operation. “Galing ako sa spine operation. So sa isip ko ay ‘yung, element na i-shock ko manlang siya [para hindi niya] ako masugod. Kasi kung madadakma niya ako baka mapatay niya ako, mahina ako. Bagong opera po ako (I came from a spine operation. So, I thought there should be an element that I should shock him so he can’t hurt me. Because if he catches me, he might kill me since I’m weak. I am still recovering from an operation),” he explained. In his defense, Bandiola said it was just his normal reaction because Gonzales hit his head. “Normal reaction ko lang po ‘yun kasi binatukan niya ako kaya bumaba ako ng bike (That was just my normal reaction because he hit me. That’s why I got off my bike,” he said. Bandiola said he had settled the issue with Gonzales at the police station. “Wala pong pumilit sa akin. Nakipag areglo po ako dahil ayaw ko ng gulo (No one forced me. I’ve compromised to settle things because I don’t want any trouble),” he said. But, lawyer Raymond Fortun, also a bike enthusiast, told the committee that Bandiola was forced into an agreement admitting that the incident was his fault. He was also told to pay P500 for the damage to Gonzales’ vehicle. Dela Rosa said the Philippine National Police can file a case against Gonzales which can be graver charges than the alarming scandal, such as grave threat and frustrated homicide. “Initially, we know that Bandiola won’t really want to file a case but then again it was cited during the hearing, particularly by Atty. Fortun and even the senate president discussed that the PNP can file a case even without a private complainant by the use of CCTVs and other witnesses,” he said. Meanwhile, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri suggested a special law on road rage shall be legislated to protect the public from erring motorists. “We can come up with a special law on road rage so that even if the victim is scared to file a case, it becomes the people of the Republic of the Philippines vs. so and so…Because of this, it will become the burden of the government to file the case against these individuals,” Zubiri said in a mix of English and Filipino. Senators Robinhood Padilla and Jinggoy Estrada noted that the culture of violence, particularly on public roads, is not accepted. Padilla rejected Gonzales' explanation that he pulled out his firearm because he felt threatened by Bandiola. The gun owners, he added, should always be responsible as to when should they purposively take out their firearms. The post Senate mulls on special law for road rage incidents appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Gun-toting ex-cop in viral road rage incident apologizes, claims self-defense
Wilfredo “Willie” Gonzales, the dismissed police officer in the viral road rage incident in Quezon City, has apologized for pulling out and cocking his gun at an unarmed cyclist. During Tuesday’s investigation of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs into the viral road rage incident, Gonzales admitted that he assaulted cyclist Allan Bandiola during their altercation near Welcome Rotonda in Quezon City last month. “I apologize for that part – for hitting him in his head and for pulling out and cocking my gun at him. I apologize to everyone, not just [to Bandiola], but to all of you. It was my fault. I was shocked,” Gonzales told lawmakers. The dismissed police officer, who has yet to return his separation pay despite being ordered to do so, claimed that he did such an act to defend himself from Bandiola. “In my mind, I must defend myself because I have yet to recover from my spine operation. He admitted that he attacked me. For me, it was solely to shock him so could not hit me,” he said. “If he catches me, he might kill me because I am still weak. I am yet to cover from my operation,” he added. For his part, Bandiola confirmed that he planned to retaliate after being hit by Gonzales. “It was my normal reaction because he hit me in the head. That is why I got off my bike,” he said. “He could have just talked to me.” ‘Gloves with hard knuckles’ Meanwhile, Senator Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito asked Gonzales about his claim that Bandiola was wearing gloves with hard knuckles during their altercation last month, which the latter allegedly used to cause a dent in his car. “Mr. Gonzales claimed that Mr. Bandiola was wearing gloves for motorcycles that had knuckles. Is that correct?” Ejercito asked. Gonzales replied, “Yes.” Ejercito then asked Bandiola whether he was wearing gloves, which the latter denied. Bandiola’s claim was validated by a screencap from the now-deleted viral incident, shown during the Senate panel’s investigation. This prompted Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who presides the hearing, to interrogate Gonzales. “Mr. Gonzales, this picture won’t lie. He was not wearing any gloves. Now, you are making stories that he was wearing gloves with hard knuckles. Look at it,” Dela Rosa said. Gonzales stood by his claim that Bandiola was wearing gloves, stressing that police who responded to the incident could prove his claim. “The police who were there can prove that he was wearing gloves. I’m telling you the truth, I’m not lying,” he said. The dismissed police officer’s response angered Dela Rosa, who served as Philippine National Police chief during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte. “This picture can prove that he was not wearing gloves. Mr. Gonzales, whatever you say, people who watch us will say that you are a former cop,” he said. “It will be a shame that people will always call police liars. You’re a police, I am a police. We don’t want our organization to be branded as liars,” he said. Unfazed, Gonzales insisted that Bandiola was wearing gloves in his right hand, which Bandiola denied. Ejercito supported Bandiola’s claim by showing another screencap which proved that the cyclist was not wearing any gloves. Dela Rosa, who identified himself as a cyclist, echoed Ejercito’s observation. “I am also a biker, wearing gloves with hard knuckles would make you look like a fool.” He then urged Gonzales not to manufacture stories in the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, which he chairs. After the hearing, Bandiola maintained that he would not file cases against Gonzales. “People who know me know what kind of person I am. They know the truth. I will let God take care of him,” he said. The post Gun-toting ex-cop in viral road rage incident apologizes, claims self-defense appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Battle for the Arctic
The Arctic is a very sensitive environmental area. They say that if the Arctic sneezes, the whole world catches a cold. The Arctic also holds vast amounts of oil and gas. Energy is the arch-enemy of the Environment. The Arctic Council was established in 1996 in the Ottawa Declaration “as a high-level forum to provide a means for promoting cooperation, coordination and interaction among the (eight founding) Arctic States” (arctic-council.org). The eight Arctic States are Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the United States. For some reason, Greenland, the largest island, was not among the eight. The agreement stood until the war in Ukraine. The international spirit of cooperation suddenly vanished. The war in Ukraine made everyone edgy, with two factors as catalysts — energy and security. An intense energy crisis ensued. And security concerns triggered polarizations similar to the ones that preceded World Wars I and II, namely, between the East, led by Russia and China, and the West, led by US-NATO-EU. There was panic over getting new energy resources, and, in fear of wars, panic over procuring new sophisticated weapons, such as hypersonic missiles, killer drones, precision lasers that can take out satellites. Weapons makers like the US and Russia had a field day selling arms to allies. There is now a sudden focus on the vast energy resources of the Arctic, with its billions of dollars in untapped oil and gas — about 13 percent of the world’s oil and about 30 percent of the world’s gas — not to mention uranium, gold, and rare metals, all sitting there under the primordial ice. No wonder the environment is no longer a concern — it has been replaced by the lust for energy. The Arctic Circle The military map above gives an overview situationer on the Arctic Circle. (Source: International Institute for Strategic Studies — Arctic Portal.) There is UN-NATO in the west and Russia in the east. There are two existing shipping routes — the Northwest Passage and the Northeast Passage — which converge at the northern tip of the Arctic Circle. There is a third Future Trans Arctic Route in between west and east. There are 27 US-NATO bases in the west, in blue, and 28 Russian bases in the east, in black. The US-NATO bases are scattered over a wide area, while the Russian bases are concentrated along its northern shores. Note the concentration of both East and West bases in the Norway-Finland area where they face each other eyeball-to-eyeball. Many geopolitical and military analysts consider this the powder-keg for future confrontations. US-NATO cannot build bases near the Russian shorelines, so they concentrated their bases in the Norway–Finland chokepoint. Current energy extractions Russia leads the pack in energy extraction. Its turf covers about 40 percent of the Arctic Circle and 53 percent of coastal areas. There are about two million Russians living in the Arctic Circle in thriving mining communities servicing Liquid Natural Gas Projects 1 and 2. Project 1 is the Yamal LNG Plant. Project 2 is the newer $21-billion Arctic LNG2 Plan, whose goal is to extract 19.8 tons of LNG a year. Global warming has melted a considerable amount of Arctic ice in the last decade, which has triggered a more frenzied exploration and mining among the Arctic States. This is especially true for the ice corridor north of the Russian coastal area, which has triggered more daring Russian ships cutting through the melting ice. There is a 21,000-kilometer passage for Russian ships to bring their export gas to Asian markets through the Suez Canal, a long arduous route through the West, which makes the gas more expensive to deliver. Because of the melting ice, Russia now has an alternative of 13,000 kilometers through the east, 40 percent shorter than the western route. The mining activities of the Western nations will be covered in the next article due to space limitations. Future conflicts The goal of the Arctic military bases is defensive, namely, to protect the mining activities. But an Arctic encounter can be catalyzed by trigger-happy generals, or even by accidental encounters, which have happened before. The first step towards the nuclearization of the Arctic is the introduction of small tactical nukes, similar to those in Belarus, facing Poland, which can be an option if one of two contending forces is “cornered.” Tactical nukes may draw an equal response from the other side in a rapid escalation. Once tactical nukes proliferate on both sides, and an incident occurs, the next steps are the big ICBMs and the war with no winners. The post Battle for the Arctic appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Boat catches fire off Zamboanga del Sur; 8 rescued
A crewmember of a motor boat suffered burns while seven others were rescued when the seacraft caught fire near a port in Zamboanga del Sur on Wednesday......»»
SSS catches 7 delinquent employers in Alabang, Muntinlupa
The Social Security System reported over the weekend that they have served notice of violations to seven establishments in Ayala Alabang and Muntinlupa City for being delinquent employers, under the agency's Run After Contribution Evaders campaign. In a statement sent to Daily Tribune, the SSS said that its Alabang-Zapote Branch conducted the RACE operations and found the seven firms incurring P4.32 million delinquencies consisting of P3.88 million unpaid contributions and over P442,000 penalties that affected the SSS coverage of 84 employees. The violators were involved in value-added resellers of outside plants, engineering services, restaurants, spa activities, petroleum products retailers, construction management, and consultancy activities. The nature of delinquency of the seven employers is the non-remittance of SSS monthly contributions. The highest of them was incurred by the restaurant establishment with P1.53 million in unpaid workers' contributions and more than P39,000 in penalties. Based on SSS Alabang-Zapote Branch records, the establishment failed to remit the social security contributions of its 33 employees from February 2014 to April 2022. The SSS RACE campaign is being conducted to ensure employers are complying with their obligation as stipulated in Republic Act No.11199 or the Social Security Act of 2018. The post SSS catches 7 delinquent employers in Alabang, Muntinlupa appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Speedboat catches fire off Zamboanga; 3 hurt
Three persons were injured when a speedboat caught fire during a test run in the waters off Zamboanga City on Thursday, according to the Philippine Coast Guard......»»
Treat yourself good in small and big ways
Celebrate your daily achievements, whether big or small, by indulging on simple yet enjoyable treats. Here are some activities you can do to reward yourself. Put on a facial mask for 15 minutes. The beauty of facial masks is that it can be applied easily and only takes about 15 minutes to use. This is a perfect reward to give yourself before going to bed after a long day. It can also be a good way to relax when you need a breather in between your tasks. Schedule a relaxing massage. Spending a good chunk of your time in the office and on the road can take a toll on your body. Try booking a massage session to help improve your physical well-being and to give your body a much-needed rest. Enjoy a yummy home-cooked meal. A delicious meal can help put you in a good mood, especially if it is a dish that you made for yourself. Treat yourself for a productive week by trying out a new recipe. Catch up on your favorite series. Sit back and chill at home with your go-to TV shows on your downtime. It can be a K-drama, reality show or any entertaining series that catches your eye. Go on a walk. On weekends, bask under the sun and enjoy nature. Visit a nearby park for a breath of fresh air and enjoy an overall relaxing morning. You can even bring your fur baby along for a bit of playtime, or go to the mall for a quick retail therapy. Enjoy a relaxing afternoon with a cozy cup of Swiss Miss. A great way to cap off your day is to whip up a warm, cozy cup of Swiss Miss. Made from premium ingredients, this powdered chocolate drink is a satisfying reward that you can enjoy daily. Choose from its various flavors (Milk Chocolate, Hazelnut and Dark Chocolate) to satisfy your sweet cravings after a stressful day. You can even spice things up by enjoying it over ice or with a dollop of whipped cream on top. No matter how busy you may be, remember to find time to treat yourself good in small and big ways. Swiss Miss is available in leading supermarkets and Universal Robina Corporation’s official stores online. The post Treat yourself good in small and big ways appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Guess who?
It is amusing, if not vexing, to see some high officials and members of the deliberative body competing with each other to call attention to themselves. They blabber inane remarks to the exasperation and vexation of the public. A few of them boxed in into any controversy that catches national intention and inflicts us with what obviously appears to be nonsensical, unthinking, and intelligent narratives, forgetting that they look ridiculous and comical in the process. A few others sponsor resolutions on matters not within their turf and expertise. They express their opinions without studying the subject matter and foist theories and ideas exposing their intellectual barrenness. They inject their unstudied take on foreign policy. They try very hard to upstage the Chief Executive in matters of foreign policy, particularly on the issue of our foreign relations with China and the United States. They also have the gumption to teach the President what to do about the enforcement of the arbitral ruling in favor of the Philippines rendered by the Permanent Arbitration Court vis-a-vis the conflicting claims in the West Philippine Sea, by giving him options on what to undertake either to enforce the favorable ruling or to rally the other countries to support the Philippines in putting to a halt the Chinese unlawful incursions to the former’s territory. They also input their pretended nationalism on the issue of human rights violations and the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court. At least two of them contradict the President on many occasions in the matter of the ICC jurisdiction. Despite being called out on the nitwittery of their action they foolishly cling to it. Others initiate and pursue investigations on almost anything that fancies them or that will give them the opportunity to put them in the limelight for a free media mileage. A few numbers eyeing re-election in 2025 have started campaigning by advertising themselves in media outlets under the guise of asking the public to support a particular government program, introducing themselves completely with an accompanying campaign jingle heralding their names. Others use different tact, they shamelessly use their offices and positions and travel around the country using taxpayers’ money under the guise of official work but actually have slowly established a network of local government officials, for a shot at high national positions. Still others, do it brazenly, committing treasonous acts by plunging the dagger at the backs of their unsuspecting potential rivals for power. There are those, of course, who always make it a point to be on the side of the President in every official and social event that the latter attends, to make it appear they are close to him. They are always in praise of the principal in whatever he does, making themselves more popish than the Pope. Those whose exposure to the fourth estate brought them to where they are now, bring their pomposity and grandstanding in their official activities, acting as if they are still in their talk and public service shows. They browbeat and insult invited guests during inquiries believing their antics appeal to the peanut galleries. They strain themselves showing that they are smart and even scold cerebral academicians only to retreat and hide behind a growl while shifting to another topic in an attempt to camouflage their ignorance. There are also former government men who, in their desire to return to power and influence, the source of their ill-gotten wealth, ingratiate themselves to the present dispensation by publicly siding with the official pronouncements coming from the side of the Pasig River, always praising their bogus credentials. Finally, those who have managed to shockingly get appointments, delude themselves into believing that they were placed there because they deserved to be there, when in reality, it’s a political accommodation to pay off for their asinine pretended loyalty, using gutter language and indecency to get the support of the political followers of the presidential candidate. They have been unmasked as undeserving of the professions they used to belong to. Yes, you guess it right, they are the people being referred to in this article. The post Guess who? appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Janella Salvador catches ABS-CBN’s attention
After making abuzz for being missing from the Star Magic 30 Catalogue, Janella Salvador once again caught the attention of many, including ABS-CBN's, after dressing up as Barbie. On ABS-CBN's Instagram, the Kapamilya actress's photo was posted with the caption, "This Barbie caught our eyes! ”. After playing the role of Valentina in the Kapamilya series "Darna", Janella will star in the upcoming film "Under Parallel Skies" with Thai actor Win Metawin. The post Janella Salvador catches ABS-CBN’s attention appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Love heals
Seventy-eight-year-old Pete has stage 4 emphysema, the clogging of the lungs due to chain smoking for 20 years. He is short of breath just walking across the room. His lungs are able to absorb only 20 percent of the oxygen he breathes in. The doctor did not tell him how long he had, but when Pete screamed at him to tell him the truth, he finally said he had six to eight months to live. Pete: Nurse, I can’t even get up from bed. Joanne: Let me give you some oxygen. Pete: I want to die. (Arthur arrives) Joanne: You have a visitor. Sir, can you please tell Pete here to stop thinking of dying? (She leaves) Arthur and Pete have been the best of friends since childhood. Arthur: Hey, Pete, you look terrible. Pete: I know. I want to die. Arthur (changing the subject): You remember the time you stole my girlfriend Nancy back in high school? Then, I punched you on the nose. You got her pregnant and you brought her to the abortion clinic? Then her dad mauled you. Boy, was I glad it wasn’t me? (laughter) Pete: You remember the time you were copying from my philosophy exam paper? The teacher noticed our answers were exactly the same, word for word, and he blamed me for copying from you. I punched you in the nose and he sent me out of the room. In the end, you failed the subject. That’s bad karma. Haha. Arthur: But when I took the subject in the summer, I met Louise. That’s good karma. Pete: How many kids did you have with Louise? Six? You worked your ass off to get them through college, but what happened? Two got pregnant at 14 and 15, two were drug addicts. That’s bad karma. Arthur: Shut your dirty mouth. (they laugh) For two hours, they reminisce about the madness of their youth, laughing aloud until they were in tears. Joanne comes in and tells them to zip it because the other patients are complaining. The next day, it is the same. Arthur brings a bottle of red wine, and they become even more boisterous. Joanne: Sir, if you don’t tone it down, I’m calling security. Pete: You treat your patients about to die in six months this way? Arthur: Don’t worry about him, nurse. We’re just having the time of our lives. Perhaps, I can extend it to 12 months, if I come every day with a bottle of red. (all three laugh) Nurse: Actually, it’s not allowed to drink here. Just tone it down and close the door. Hide the bottle so when the doctor comes in he won’t see it. If he catches you, just tell him it’s prune juice for your kidneys. I will deny everything. Better to get drunk than to die, right? Pete: Don’t be so kind, Joanne. I may fall in love with you. Nurse: It’s your funeral. I have five kids and three times divorced. Pete: Love is blind. (all three laugh) The next day, Arthur brings Joanna a gift. Joanna (after opening the gift and seeing an expensive watch): I can’t take this. Pete: Don’t worry about it. He’s filthy rich. He owns two hotels downtown. Joanna: I don’t believe you. (Arthur whips out a business card from his wallet) Okay, I believe you. Arthur visits Pete every day, except on weekends, for 10 whole months, way past the time he was supposed to die. Pete’s depression vanishes completely. Joanna (entering): You know what? Ever since your visits, Pete can now walk to the bathroom without gasping for breath. Arthur: That’s because love heals. Suddenly, Arthur disappears — no more visits. Pete: I miss Arthur. I wonder what happened to him. Joanna: I might as well tell you. He is in the other room. Cancer of the pancreas. He told me not to tell you. He has two months to live. He said he had cancer long before you did and had been doing chemo for three years now. Pete: The bastard, holding out on me. Do me a favor, Joanna, here’s some money. Buy me three bottles of Sauvignon, please. Joanna: He can’t take red wine. Pete: It’s for me, not for him. It was the same as before. Boisterous visits. Red wine. Frenzied talk. Arthur: There is no cure for pancreatic cancer. I can do chemo three times a week, but it is only to delay the end. Pete: Wine is bad for you. Arthur: I know, but what the heck. Die happy. (laughter) Arthur was on chemo for two years before he passed away, despite the red wine. Pete visited him every day. Joanna joined the red wine caper Mondays and Thursdays. The three would laugh to the high heavens. When he was dying, Arthur and Joanna had silent tears, but Pete was all smiles. *** eastwindreplyctr@gmail.com The post Love heals appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»