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2 arrested drug pushers yield P102K worth of shabu, firearms
Quezon City police have arrested two drug pushers who yielded P102,000 worth of shabu and firearms in a buy-bust operation early morning yesterday. Quezon City Police District director, P/Brig.Gen. Redrico Maranan, said the suspects were collared by operatives of Novaliches Police Station (PS 4), led by P/Lt. Col. Jerry Castillo, who identified the suspects as Reymarc Calceta, 27 years old, and Maria Nicole Repollo, 24 years old, both residents of San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan. According to Castillo, the PS 4 operatives, in coordination with PDEA-QC, conducted a buy-bust operation at 5:00 a.m. and arrested the duo in front of Novavets Animal Clinic and Grooming Center along Susano Road in Brgy. San Agustin, Novaliches. The police officer said the arrest came after a concerned citizen reported the illegal drug activities of the suspects. A police officer acted as a poseur buyer and bought P7,500 worth of shabu from the suspects, and at the given pre-arranged signal, they were arrested. Seized from the suspects’ possessions were 15 grams of shabu worth P102,000; a black pouch; an identification card; a motorcycle; a cellular phone; and the buy-bust money. Likewise, one caliber .38 revolver and four pieces of .38 full metal ammunition were confiscated from suspect Calceta. The suspects will be charged with violation of Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. Additional charges for violation of RA 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, and violation of the Omnibus Election Code in relation to the COMELEC Gun Ban will be filed against suspect Calceta before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office. Maranan commended the operatives for their prompt action which resulted in the arrest of the suspects and the confiscation of the pieces of evidence. "I commend the PS-4 personnel, headed by P/Lt. Col.Jerry Castillo, for their dedication and commitment to rid the streets from these illegal drugs menace. Gusto ko ding pasalamatan ang mga kababayan natin sa patuloy na pagbibigay ng impormasyon at pakikipagtulungan sa kapulisan, malaking tulong po ito para sa tagumpay ng bawat operasyon at sa pagpapanatili ng kaayusan sa ating mga nasasakupan," Maranan said. The post 2 arrested drug pushers yield P102K worth of shabu, firearms appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DOH, SPMC raise colorectal cancer awareness
THE Department of Health (DOH) and the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) collaborated to raise awareness about colorectal cancer causes and symptoms during the Kapihan sa Dabaw at SM Ecoland on Monday morning, March 25, 2024......»»
CARD Inc. Medical Services opens in Tanauan, Leyte
CARD, Inc. - CARD MRI’s Microfinance and Health Protection (MaHP) opens a clinic and laboratory facility that offers medical services in Tanauan, Leyte on October 5, 2023......»»
BEST Center ’24 program up
Adult volleyball clinic will be added to the multi-awarded and pioneering Basketball Efficiency and Scientific Training Center (BEST Center) when it fires off the new year on Jan. 12 at the Ateneo College Covered Courts in Katipunan, Quezon City......»»
Young stars shine at SM Little Stars 2023 Grand Finals
Representatives from SM City San Pablo and SM City Dasmarinas were hailed as boy and girl Grand Prize winners of the recently concluded SM Little Stars 2023 Grand Finals held at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall on 14 October 2023. [caption id="attachment_202093" align="aligncenter" width="935"] Grand Prize winners Aljon Christoff Banaira from SM City San Pablo (2nd from left) and Jourdanne Baldonido from SM City Dasmarinas (center) with, from left to right, 1st runner-up Eduardo Joson II from SM Megacenter Cabanatuan, 3rd runner-up Joachim Gale Olpindo from SM Center Muntinlupa, and 2nd runner-up Mara Hestia Caballero from SM City Cebu. Back row, left to right: National University Senior Director for Admissions Dr. Christina Corpuz, Goldilocks Bakeshop Head of Corporate Communications Ley Laksamana, Goldilocks Bakeshop Public Relations and Partnerships Associate Kyleth Paralejas, GMA Consulting Head for Talent Imaging and Marketing Lawrence Tan, SM Supermalls’ Senior Vice President for Marketing Joaquin San Agustin, SM Supermalls’ Assistant Vice President for Marketing Hanna Carinna Sy, and SM Supermalls’ President Steven Tan[/caption] [caption id="attachment_202094" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Grand Prize winners Aljon Christoff Banaira from SM City San Pablo (2nd from left) and Jourdanne Baldonido from SM City Dasmarinas (center) with, from left to right, 1st runner-up Eduardo Joson II from SM Megacenter Cabanatuan, 3rd runner-up Joachim Gale Olpindo from SM Center Muntinlupa, and 2nd runner-up Mara Hestia Caballero from SM City Cebu. Back row, left to right: Hosts Xian Lim and 2017 Girl Grand Winner Gaea Mischa, judges Teacher Georcelle Dapat-Sy of G-Force, Direk Joey Reyes, Sam Concepcion, 2013 3rd runner-up Esang de Torres, and 2013 Boy Grand Winner Nhikzy Calma[/caption] It was a night to remember for seven-year-olds Aljon Christoff Banaira and Jourdanne Baldonido, who emerged as winners among the 28 grand finalists in the competition. It was a fierce battle of talent, confidence, and personality, with every participant showcasing their skills in dancing, singing, acting, declaiming and playing instruments. With over P9 Million worth of prizes up for grabs, the two Grand Winners went home with a brand-new Suzuki S-presso Special Edition MT MC worth over P600,000, a one-year talent contract at Sparkle GMA Artist Center, a full college scholarship at National University, and a five-day and four-night trip for two to Hong Kong. Additional prizes include a total of P100,000 in cash and SM gift certificates (P50,000 in cash and P50,000 worth of SM gift certificates), P30,000 worth of Toy Kingdom gift cards, an annual pass certificate for unlimited bowling and skating valid for one year, 30 regular ride tickets at SM by the Bay Amusement Park / Sky Ranch, and gift vouchers for a two-night stay with breakfast for two at Radisson Blu Cebu. Completing the list of winners were SM Megacenter Cabanatuan's Eduardo Joson II (1st runner-up), SM City Cebu's Mara Hestia Caballero (2nd runner-up), SM Center Muntinlupa's Joachim Gale Olpindo (3rd runner-up), SM City Clark's Hayley Cairee Miclat (Top 6), SM City Masinag's Jayson De Paz, Jr. (Top 7), SM City Bicutan's Graciella Zahzih Flojo (Top 8), SM City Cebu's Karlyle Miguel Corbeta (Top 9), and SM City Batangas' Marrem Angel Martinez (Top 10). [caption id="attachment_202095" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] 2013 Boy Grand Winner Nhikzy Calma[/caption] [caption id="attachment_202096" align="aligncenter" width="400"] 2013 3rd runner-up Esang de Torres[/caption] [caption id="attachment_202097" align="aligncenter" width="394"] SM City Clark’s Hayley Cairee Miclat[/caption] [caption id="attachment_202098" align="aligncenter" width="342"] SM City Masinag’s Jayson De Paz Jr.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_202099" align="aligncenter" width="377"] SM City Bicutan’s Graciella Zahzih Flojo[/caption] [caption id="attachment_202100" align="aligncenter" width="367"] SM City Cebu's Karlyle Miguel Corbeta[/caption] [caption id="attachment_202101" align="aligncenter" width="633"] SM City Batangas’ Marrem Angel Martinez[/caption] Now on its 14th year, the SM Little Stars is a celebration of young talent and a testament to the outstanding platform that SM provides for these budding stars. This year alone, the competition saw over 33,000 young individuals who shared their talents from 70 SM malls nationwide. [caption id="attachment_202102" align="aligncenter" width="1430"] The 28 grand finalists showcase their skills and talents.[/caption] To know more about SM Little Stars 2023, visit www.smsupermalls.com or follow SM Supermalls on social media. .....»»
Iloilo celebrates LGBTQ+ Pride this October
This October, the Western Visayan city of Iloilo in Panay Island is celebrating LGBTQ+ Pride with an array of different events, called Pride Pyesta, led by the organization Iloilo Pride Team with support from the Iloilo City government, Iloilo LGBTQIA+ Network, Youth Voices Count Inc. and Megaworld Lifestyle Malls. With the theme “Iloilo Embraces Hue,” this year’s celebration kicked off with an opening ceremony at the Sunburst Park on 1 October. The program included messages; unveiling of Layag Up, an LGBTQ+ landmark; SOGIESC Cup oath of sportsmanship; presentation of the contestants of the Rajah at Diwata sang Iloilo; and the official sashing of the contestants of the Search for SOGIESC Ambassador. [caption id="attachment_191688" align="aligncenter" width="525"] A biker group joined the Ride for hue. | photograph courtesy of Marshal Bikers[/caption] This was followed by the Ride for Hue: Pride Pyesta Pamukaw and Pride Ride, involving bikers going around the city center and making it more colorful. Also, on the same day, Iloilo Pride Team’s project Art x Pride opened its exhibit, “Kinaiya: A Red Rag to a Bull” at Festive Mall Iloilo, which runs until 22 October. According to the organization, “Art X Pride, which started back in 2021, is an initiative aiming to highlight the talents of LGBTQIA+ artists in the fields of literary writing and visual arts focusing on finding out how art became a movement to achieve change, promote equality, and, most importantly, acquire freedom as it focuses on the theme, “Celebrating myself through art, by art, and with art.” It has always been one of the advocacies of the Iloilo Pride Team to support the community through their many talents as well as provide living and local artists a spotlight on all possible platforms.” “This year, Art X Pride dives deeper into the nuances and subversiveness of queer art, and how it should not be subdued to conform to the societally accepted themes of today. Similar to a red rag irritating the bull, art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable,” they added. Other cultural events in the Pride Pyesta calendar include “#HowInequalityLooksLike,” which has been touring the country and which will be mounted from 8 to 22 October at Festive Mall. The exhibit features portraits of LGBTQ+ persons and their experiences of marginalization, discrimination and inequality. The Dakila Iloilo Collective will hold a poster making activity on 17 October, also at Festive Walk Mall. From 19 to 21 October, the Cinemakulay film festival will be held at Cinematheque Center Iloilo, screening LGBTQ+ films. Iloilo Pride Pyesta is also an opportunity to learn more and to facilitate discussions with its lineup of talks. A popular one is the Kalipayan Talks, which deals with sex, an often taboo subject. This year, it will be held on 16 October at Festive Mall Iloilo and will be tackling polyamory, asexuality, BDSM (bondage, discipline or domination, sadism and masochism), consent and experiences of persons living with HIV or PLHIV. On the other hand, the Gender and Safe Spaces Forum will tackle intersexuality, sexual and reproductive health and rights and HIV/AIDS on 7 October at the San Agustin University Auditorium. The Family Planning Organization of the Philippines will present TransHealth Talk on 13 October at SM City Iloilo mall. [caption id="attachment_191687" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Drag queen Avria La Veen will conduct a drag workshop. | photograph courtesy of Avria La Veen[/caption] In recent years, with its rise in popularity, drag has been a vibrant part of the celebration. On 14 October, The Queen Inside of Hue: Drag Workshop will be held at the B Lifestyle Complex. Drag queen Avria La Veen will give pointers on makeup, hair styling, runway walking, performance and stage presence. Other events include the SOGIESC Volleyball Tournament from 9 to 20 October at the Zamora-Melliza Uswag Gym; the official sashing of Rajah at Diwata sang Iloilo at SM City Iloilo on 13 October; and Libreng Gupit: A Ginhawa 2.0 Mental Health Resilience and Well-being Program on 27 October at Sunburst Park. The celebration will culminate on 22 October with a Pride march with street dancing from Iloilo Esplanade to Festive Mall Iloilo, where a program will held together with the Search for SOGIESC Ambassador Pageant, Laban Mamsh: A Lipsync Battle and Drop the Ball: A Drag Competition. The post Iloilo celebrates LGBTQ+ Pride this October appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Morocco medics face flow of quake victims with limited resources
The hospital in Amizmiz caring for Moroccans injured in the earthquake is now a tent pitched on asphalt under a blazing sun, and it has only around a dozen beds. When one bed becomes free, it is immediately filled again as the flow of victims from the disaster keeps on coming from villages at the foot of the Atlas mountains. Three days after Friday night's quake, the strongest ever to hit the North African country, relief workers are battling to cope in the aftermath. Patients are now being cared for under the large grey tent because of fears that the hospital building itself may be vulnerable to aftershocks. An ambulance brings the latest victim, 81-year-old Lhoucein Barouj whose leg is fractured. The old man has a haggard look, his mouth open. Relatives said he was seen by a traditional osteopath, but this will be the first hospital treatment he has received in three days. He has not had any pain relief either. "We had to carry him out of the house ourselves in a blanket and carry him for kilometers (miles)," said his daughter Habiba. Then "we waited in a field" for helpers, who came eventually to their village, Ait Mbarek. As in other mountainside villages hit by the 6.8-magnitude quake, landslides have blocked access, and a shutdown in communications has also delayed treatment for many of those affected. Basic care The quake struck southwest of the tourist center of Marrakesh, killing more than 2,800 people and injuring a similar number, according to the latest official figures. Most of the victims were in Al-Haouz province, where the epicenter was. On Monday, some arrivals seeking medical help looked exhausted and disoriented, among them a little girl in a Bugs Bunny T-shirt, her head bandaged as she lay cradled in her father's arms. The hospital at Amizmiz is local, and can handle basic medical care. But "we can't treat everything here", said ophthalmologist Doha Hamidallah. "We handle primary treatment such as sutures and fractures. But more serious cases are sent to Marrakesh University Hospital" some 50 kilometers (30 miles) away, she said. Hamidallah, who is in her 30s, arrived from Casablanca on Sunday to help along with "dozens of other doctors of all kinds from all over the kingdom". They take it in turns to triage patients. Tired and overwhelmed nurses deal with the flow of new patients arriving in private, public or military ambulances amid the clatter of helicopters above. Others distribute medicine to those who need it, mostly people with diabetes. "We also have to treat patients who were not injured directly by the quake, but who've been unable to get their medicine," said Christophe, a carer with the Moroccan Red Crescent. The first hours after the quake were difficult in the small hospital. "In terms of coordination, we could only go with the flow," said Dr Hamidallah. Mobile teams A voice is raised behind her, adding to the hubbub. "We need someone local who knows the area. Anybody?" A team is being formed at short notice to head out to houses in Anougal which have been cut off. "We send out mobile teams with doctors to the isolated villages," explained Christophe. Soldiers have also set up a field hospital nearby, and some 35 kilometres further east the authorities are putting up a temporary clinic with prefabricated buildings. This is at the entrance to Ouirgane, parts of which have been badly affected. Another military hospital was deployed on Monday morning in Asni village. More than 300 patients have already been admitted, military doctor Colonel Youssef Qamouss told AFP. Organising care has been complicated, but vital to manage stocks of the medical equipment available. John Johnson of the French group Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders), awaiting a green light from the authorities to help, said the Moroccans are coping well. "They have everything they need for primary care, but some things are lacking for trauma patients" such as anti-tetanus shots and painkillers, he said. There will also be a need for mental care in the days and months to come, he added. A few streets away, life has come to a standstill. One man stands with his arms crossed, staring at what used to be his home. The post Morocco medics face flow of quake victims with limited resources appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
An old antibiotic may get new life as an STI prevention pill
The United States is set to roll out a powerful new weapon in the long fight against sexually transmitted infections: a decades-old antibiotic repurposed as a preventative pill. DoxyPEP, or doxycycline used as a post-exposure prophylaxis, has been found to significantly cut the risk of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis when used after condomless sex. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which is developing national guidance for clinicians, will need to weigh the need to contain record high rates of STIs impacting millions of Americans against potentially giving rise to more antibiotic-resistant strains. "Innovation and creativity matter in public health, and more tools are desperately needed," senior CDC official Jonathan Mermin told AFP. But the recommendations, set for publication this summer, will remain narrow in scope. They will likely target only the most at-risk groups of gay men and transgender women with histories of prior infection. As word spreads, some clinics are already prescribing DoxyPEP. Malik, a 37-year-old man in Washington, said his doctor recently told him he could start using doxycycline as a "morning-after pill" following risky sex, something he's had to do twice -- including after a partner did not warn him he had removed his condom. Two-thirds reduction Reported cases of the three bacterial infections grew to 2.5 million in the United States in 2021, following about a decade of growth. Several issues are behind the rise: fewer people are using condoms since the advent of PrEP -- daily pills that significantly reduce chances of contracting HIV. And people who are on PrEP are recommended to undergo screening every three months, likely increasing the identification of infections. Then there is the basic epidemiological fact that the greater the number of people infected, the more they can further infect. Researchers have found DoxyPEP efficacious in three of four trials. "What we found was there was about a two-thirds reduction in sexually transmitted infection every three months," Annie Luetkemeyer, who co-led a US trial, told AFP. The physician-scientist at the University of California, San Francisco recruited some 500 people in San Francisco and Seattle among communities of men who have sex with men and transgender women. Efficacy was greatest for chlamydia and syphilis, both of which were reduced by about 80 percent, while for gonorrhea it was about 55 percent. There were few side effects. Antibiotic resistance Broadening access to doxycycline has prompted concerns about causing antibiotic resistance, particularly in gonorrhea, which is fast mutating. But early research hasn't shown cause for alarm. Connie Celum of the University of Washington, who co-led the US study, told AFP researchers tested gonorrhea samples from breakthrough infections in the DoxyPEP group and compared them to the group who didn't receive the pill. Though they found the rate of resistant gonorrhea slightly higher in the DoxyPEP group, she says the finding could simply mean the pill is less effective against already resistant strains, rather than causing that resistance. DoxyPEP could even boost responsible antibiotic stewardship -- cutting the incidence of infections, thus also cutting need for antibiotic treatment. If it slashed gonorrhea cases by some 50 percent, it could reduce the number of people requiring antibiotic treatment with the current frontline treatment drug, ceftriaxone, which doctors are eager to preserve. Longer term study is required, on both impacts on STIs but also "bystander" bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, which live inside people's noses but sometimes cause serious infections. 'Additional tool' Malik said that while he is glad he could use DoxyPEP as a last resort, he wishes more men were willing to use condoms. Since moving to America from South Asia, he gets relatively little interest on dating app Grindr when he says he's not willing to have condomless sex. But Stephen Abbott -- a doctor at Washington's Whitman-Walker clinic who prescribes and uses DoxyPEP -- said it's crucial to meet people where they are. "From speaking with patients, and being part of the community that's now on PrEP... I think the age of prevention through condoms is fading," he told AFP. A 42-year-old man in London who runs a cultural organization told AFP that word had spread about DoxyPEP through the international gay party circuit and he had procured a supply on the black market and through a partner who buys in bulk in Mexico. It had largely worked for him, though he did have one breakthrough infection of throat gonorrhea. He said he was looking forward to the United Kingdom adopting similar guidance so that people have the right information and aren't left to guess at the right dosage. For Luetkemeyer, DoxyPEP won't be "the answer" to the STI epidemic, and there is considerable interest in the development of a gonorrhea vaccine. "But I'm optimistic... I think this is an additional tool," she said. The post An old antibiotic may get new life as an STI prevention pill appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Gray zone heats up (1)
Security experts believe that what is playing out in the West Philippine Sea is the product of a well-laid-out program of China to challenge the United States’ Pacific presence under a gray zone scenario. Last 5 August, a China Coast Guard vessel blasted its water cannon at a Philippine resupply mission to the disputed Ayungin or Second Thomas Shoal. The Philippines sent a protest note but China merely reiterated its demand for the removal of the grounded warship BRP Sierra Madre which stands as a small marine base on the shoal. China knows the United States would not act immediately as it does not consider the water cannon incident or China’s gray zone tactics to be armed attacks against the Philippines. As a result, the incidents did not trigger the US defense commitment under the Mutual Defense Treaty. The gray zone tactics intensified after the expansion of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, or EDCA, with the US. Washington’s timid reaction to the incident could embolden China to conduct more assertive maritime action. On 6 February, the Chinese coast guard flashed a military-grade laser at a Philippine vessel, causing temporary blindness to its crew. Raymond Powell, a 35-year veteran of the US Air Force who retired in 2021, has proposed measures to counter Beijing’s “gray zone” tactics. Powell now runs Project Myoushu which is part of Stanford University’s Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation. “What makes the South China Sea a hotbed of gray zone activity is that most of what happens there happens outside the public eye,” Powell said. If China, for example, harasses a Filipino fisherman or points a laser at a Philippine Coast Guard ship, it can reason “That didn’t actually happen, you’re making that up; how do you know it was us?” Powell said the Philippines correctly countered such denials by releasing photos and videos of the incidents. He said China started to evolve its military strategy after the Scarborough Shoal incident in 2012, “where they essentially took the shoal from the Philippines and then started their island-building campaign, where we saw them turn reefs and rocks into islands and military bases and station Navy and Coast Guard militia ships at those places.” China began patrolling around those places in a way that expanded the assertion of their sovereignty. Now that China has these bases, Powell said the Asian giant can project power outward in a way that it is very much more about the water, and who has a presence there. It became a game of who has an actual military or paramilitary force that can push forward into the exclusive economic zones and take possession, either physically “by rafting a whole bunch of malicious ships together or just by patrolling.” Even patrolling is a gray zone activity since the presence of a China Coast Guard ship in Malaysia’s oil and gas activities is an assertion of jurisdiction. It is saying, “We have sovereign rights over your exclusive economic zone because it falls within our nine-dash line.” Its coast guard and the maritime militia have become China’s instruments of power projection. Its maritime militia’s activities are very much a gray zone because they’re very deniable. They can say, “Well, they’re fishing vessels.” But they don’t fish, Powell said. They exist to patrol or simply to lay claim by their sheer presence in an area. (To be continued) The post Gray zone heats up (1) 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......»»
Indigents from San Fernando City, Pampanga given a boost by Bong Go
Senator Bong Go, who chairs the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, expressed his commitment to enhancing healthcare accessibility, particularly for impoverished and underprivileged patients who require government medical assistance. During a relief operation by his team in San Fernando City, Pampanga on Thursday, June 30, Go expressed in a video message that he introduced the Malasakit Centers program after observing the difficulties financially struggling Filipinos face in obtaining medical support. “Nagsimula ang Malasakit Center sa Cebu. Sinubukan namin ilagay ang apat na ahensya ng gobyerno — ang PCSO, DOH, DSWD, at PhilHealth — sa iisang kwarto sa ospital mismo para hindi na kailanganin pang pumila sa iba’t ibang opisina at masayang ang ilang araw ng ating mga kababayan na humingi ng tulong,” explained Go, who is the primary author and sponsor of the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019. “Pera naman ng taumbayan yan. Binabalik lang sa kanila sa pamamagitan ng mabilis at maayos na serbisyo. Kaya basta Pilipino ka, poor and indigent patient ka, qualified ka sa Malasakit Center. Lapitan niyo lang po ang Malasakit Center diyan po sa inyong lugar at tutulungan po kayo sa inyong billing,” he added. The 158 Malasakit Centers nationwide help ensure that particularly poor and indigent patients get convenient access to medical assistance programs offered by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. In Pampanga, Malasakit Centers are located at the Jose B. Lingad Memorial Regional Hospital and at the Overseas Filipino Workers Hospital and Diagnostic Center, both in San Fernando City; and at the Rafael Lazatin Memorial Medical Center in Angeles City. The 158th Malasakit Center also recently opened at the Diosdado P. Macapagal Memorial Hospital in Guagua. The relief activity was mounted at the Heroes Hall where the senator’s team provided snacks and shirts to 100 indigent residents. They also gave away shoes and balls for basketball and volleyball to select beneficiaries. Meanwhile, Go also mentioned that the government continues to bring health services closer to Filipino communities through the establishment of Super Health Centers nationwide. Through the collective efforts of fellow lawmakers, sufficient funds had been allocated under the Health Facilities Enhancement Program of the DOH for 307 Super Health Centers in 2022 and 322 SHCs in 2023. DOH, the lead implementing agency, identifies the strategic areas where SHCs will be constructed. Under the 2022 national budget, Super Health Centers in Pampanga were funded in San Fernando City and in the towns of Lubao, Macabebe, Magalang, Porac, and San Agustin. In 2023, more centers were identified to be established in the towns of Magalang, Minalin, Porac, Sta. Rita, and Arayat — the last one’s groundbreaking was attended by Go last month. Go, as Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, likewise supported the funding of new equipment for hospitals in San Fernando City and in the towns of Arayat, Bacolor, Floridablanca, Guagua, Lubao, Mabalacat, Porac, and San Luis; and construction of multipurpose buildings in Arayat, Floridablanca, Santa Monica, Magalang and Masantol, among others. He was also instrumental in the construction of slope protection along the Sapangbato River in Brgy. Margot in Angeles City. Last January 26, Go was honored by the provincial government of Pampanga for advancing the province’s well-being and interests through its Resolution No. 7643-A. On that same day, former president Rodrigo Duterte was declared the province’s “adopted son” by virtue of Resolution No. 7643 in recognition of his significant contributions to Pampanga’s growth and prosperity during his presidency from 2016 to 2022. The post Indigents from San Fernando City, Pampanga given a boost by Bong Go appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bong Go assists indigent residents in Davao del Norte
Senator Bong Go reaffirmed his commitment to enhancing economic opportunities for poor Filipinos as his team aided residents facing difficulties in the Island Garden City of Samal (IGACOS), Davao del Norte, on Wednesday, 28 June. Go’s team distributed vitamins and snacks to a total of 1,100 Samaleños at Brgy. Tagbaobo gymnasium. Additionally, they gave away bicycles, cellular phones, umbrellas, watches, shoes, as well as volleyballs and basketballs to select individuals. In a video message, Go acknowledged the persistent need for more accessible healthcare facilities and stressed the significance of Super Health Centers in meeting this demand. He emphasized that these centers, which he initiated during the time of former president Rodrigo Duterte, are designed to bridge the gap between the government's health services and the general population, ensuring that a larger number of Filipinos can benefit from affordable medical care. Super Health Centers are anticipated to complement existing healthcare facilities, helping to relieve the strain on overcrowded hospitals and clinics, particularly in rural areas. “Sa tulong ng mga kasamahan ko sa Kongreso, LGUs, at DOH, naisakatuparan po itong Super Health Center para ilapit po natin ang serbisyo medikal sa ating mga kababayan. Buntis, pwede na pong manganak dito. Hindi na po nila kailangang magbyahe pa sa napakalayong mga ospital,” explained Go. “Minsan, nanganganak na lang po sa tricycle, sa jeepney, ang mga buntis dahil malayo ang ospital. And it will help decongest the hospital po. Dahil ‘pag buntis, pwede na po dito, hindi na kailangang pumunta pa sa mga ospital,” he added. In Samal Island, Go personally attended the groundbreaking of its Super Health Center in December last year. Through the efforts of fellow lawmakers, 307 Super Health Centers were funded in 2022 and another 322 in 2023. Go then mentioned that there are Malasakit Centers at Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City and at Davao Regional Medical Center in Tagum City should the beneficiaries need medical assistance from the government. Malasakit Centers bring together representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Department of Health, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. These one-stop shops aim to support impoverished patients in reducing their hospital costs to the least possible amount. Go is the principal author and sponsor of Republic Act No. 11463 or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which institutionalized the Malasakit Centers program. To date, 158 operational centers have helped more than seven million Filipinos nationwide, according to the DOH. “Sa mga pasyente, lapitan niyo lang ang Malasakit Center dahil para ‘to sa inyo. Kung may hospital bill kayo, nandiyan ang mga ahensya ng gobyerno na tutulong para mabayaran ito,” said Go. As Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go also stressed the importance of continuing infrastructure development to uplift lives in communities given the critical role it plays in the local economy. It is for this reason that he has supported the construction of several roads, including the road from Crossing Toril, Babak to Brgy. Sto. Niño, Babak District; the road from San Agustin Elementary School to Maximo Arellano Elementary School, Brgy. Sto. Niño, Babak District; and the road at the Port of Brgy. Sta. Cruz to Brgy. Linosutan, Talicud Island, Kaputian District. The post Bong Go assists indigent residents in Davao del Norte appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Japan provides health clinic with birthing facility in Paracelis, Mountain Province
On 27 June 2023, Nishimura Tokiko, Second Secretary, represented the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines in the ceremonial turnover of a barangay health station under “The Project for the Construction of Health Station with Birthing Facility in Paracelis, Mountain Province.” The event was also attended by Paracelis Mayor Marcos G. Ayangwa and other key local government officials. Approved in 2019, the project is part of Japan’s Official Development Assistance through the Grant Assistance for Grass-roots Human Security Projects. The Municipality of Paracelis has a mountainous landscape, and only the district hospital in the Poblacion had a DOH-registered birthing facility. As a result, pregnant women who lived far from the town center had to travel the mountainous terrain for a few hours and pay costly transportation charges in order to access needed healthcare services. Many women opted out of long distance travel and instead gave birth at home without appropriate care. To address the situation, the Embassy of Japan provided a grant amount of $80,927 or approximately P4.15 million to the municipal government of Paracelis. The grant covered the construction of a health station with a birthing facility to decrease the travel time and expenses of pregnant women, as well as to lessen home births. In her message, Nishimura conveyed her heartfelt joy that pregnant women residing in Barangay Palitud and those from neighboring barangays in Bantay, Anonat and Butique now have easier access to needed care and safe delivery at the health station. She cited the priceless long-term impacts of this project and expressed hope that the new facility would help the more than 12,000 residents from these barangays to better manage their health. As the top ODA donor for the Philippines, the Government of Japan launched the GGP scheme in the Philippines in 1989 to reduce poverty and help various communities engage in grassroots activities. At present, 557 grassroots projects have been implemented by the GGP. Japan believes these projects will strengthen the friendship between Japan and the Philippines and contribute to sustaining strategic partnerships between the two countries. The post Japan provides health clinic with birthing facility in Paracelis, Mountain Province appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Beauty clinic sets expansion this year
Estetika Wellness & Beauty Clinic in Alabang expects to open a new branch of its wellness center this year. During the company’s first anniversary celebration this month, founder Rachel Villanueva said the company is doing good and is on track for expansion. “Customers are going back, and we're even stronger now. Estetika is the authority when it comes to eyebrows and lashes. For this year we will expand, maybe two branches more," she said. “We will continue to expand and improve our partnership with local government units for our corporate social responsibility, offering our services to those who can’t afford them. We already provided free eyebrow sessions and other services in a barangay in Quezon City where I used to live. As they say, 'kilay is life' so it gives confidence to customers if their eyebrow is defined. That’s our edge compared to competitors,” she added. Villanueva's partner Dexter Co, the president of Automotive Icon and Estetika’s subsidiary AutoFlare, said the economy is now perking up from the adverse effects of the pandemic. Villanueva first put up AutoFlare, a company that sells pre-owned luxury vehicles such as BMW, Mercedes Benz, Porsche and Audi. Co, through the years, has held the dealership of prestigious car brands such as Chrysler, Mazda, MG, Chevrolet, Nissan and Foton. The post Beauty clinic sets expansion this year appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Prioritize the poor, bring gov’t services closer to needy
For many of our fellow Filipinos who can barely afford their daily expenses, getting treated in a hospital is oftentimes a burdensome choice that they resort to only if it is a matter of life and death. Usually, our struggling kababayans choose to endure their illness for fear of falling deeper into debt due to huge hospital bills, medicines and other expenses. And by this time, an ordinary disease has already become a serious medical condition. Their plight is what inspired us to initiate the Malasakit Centers program in 2018 which provides one-stop shops where our indigent patients may more conveniently access medical assistance from the government. By bringing together programs of various government agencies under one roof, such as the Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, the centers streamline the process of availing medical assistance. I have been appealing to officials and workers in the health sector to prioritize the needs of the poor, especially in public health facilities since these patients have nowhere else to turn to but to seek the help of their government. I also appeal to all hospital staff to be patient and compassionate in guiding Filipinos, particularly the poor, so that they can properly have access to the services offered by our public hospitals and from the medical assistance programs available in any of our 158 Malasakit Centers nationwide. That is why as Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and as the principal author and sponsor of the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, I make time to personally check on the operations of our Malasakit Centers across the country, in addition to attending the groundbreaking of Super Health Centers and leading our usual relief distributions for Filipinos in need. On 16 June, I conducted a monitoring visit to two Malasakit Centers in Leyte, where I was honored to be declared as an adopted son of the province through Resolution 2020-337 passed on 24 April 2020 and formally granted on 16 June by the provincial government. During the visit, I recognized the efforts of Governor Carlos Jericho “Icot” Petilla, Baybay City Mayor Jose Carlos “Boying” Cari and Vice Mayor Ernesto Butawan, Vice Governor Sandy Javier, Cong. Carl Cari, Cong. Karen Javier, Board Member Carlo Loreto, and other officials for their commitment to bringing government services closer to their constituents. I also visited the Malasakit Center at Baybay City Immaculate Conception Hospital where we assisted 30 out-patients, 140 in-patients, and 192 front liners, while the DSWD extended financial aid to qualified in-patients. We likewise inspected the Super Health Center and the new boardwalk in the city which I supported to help the community. I then checked on the operations of the Malasakit Center at Ormoc District Hospital in Ormoc City. We also assisted 283 patients and 211 front liners in the hospital, while 133 qualified inpatients received additional assistance from the DSWD. Following this, I led a relief operation for 1,065 struggling residents in the city and attended the ribbon-cutting of the newly constructed pentathlon facility with a dedicated fencing hall, among others — a project I supported as Vice Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance and as Chair of the Senate Committee on Sports, together with the local government led by Cong. Richard Gomez and Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez. Earlier that week, I was in Davao del Norte to participate in the celebration of the first anniversary of an insurgency-free Davao del Norte led by Gov. Edwin Jubahib, held in Tagum City on 13 June. I also personally spearheaded a relief operation for 1,500 struggling residents in the city. Simultaneously, we provided more support to the community in partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment which held an orientation for temporary employment to 721 individuals. Following this, I visited the town of Carmen with Mayor Leony Bahague to witness the groundbreaking of its Super Health Center and provide aid to 1,666 more indigents. On 15 June, I was in Quezon City with my team to witness the inauguration of two multipurpose buildings in Barangays Commonwealth and Payatas which I also supported for funding together with Councilor Mikey Belmonte. We likewise aided a thousand indigents in the city with Mayor Joy Belmonte. We then headed to Marikina City to assist 3,000 more struggling residents from Marikina City and the towns of San Mateo and Rodriguez, Rizal, together with Congresswoman Maan Teodoro and Mayor Marcy Teodoro; as well as the local officials from both towns in Rizal, such as Rodriguez Mayor Ronnie Evangelista and San Mateo Mayor Bartolome “Omie” Rivera Jr., among others. We also visited North Cotabato on 17 June, where we celebrated the 54th Araw ng Alamada led by Mayor Jesus Sacdalan and Cong. Joel Sacdalan and helped 840 farmers and 1,500 struggling residents in the town before going to Matalam to witness aspiring athletes in the Serbisyong Totoo Basketball Sports Clinic and to lead another distribution activity for 1,318 more residents from various sectors together with Gov. Lala Taliño-Mendoza. Across the country, my team aided indigent families and various sectors, including 136 in Samal, 33 in Balanga, and 82 in Limay, Bataan; 990 in Tagudin, Ilocos Sur; 150 in Damulog, Bukidnon; 350 in Iligan City; 100 in Tubod, Lanao del Norte; 550 in Malinao and Sto. Domingo, Albay; and two fire-hit households in Carcar City, Cebu. My team also attended the groundbreaking of the Super Health Center in Tiguma, Pagadian City. It is the fundamental right of every Filipino to receive proper medical care and social assistance from our government. I hope that with compassion for our struggling kababayans and the persistence to help uplift their lives, we can collectively ensure that the poor and most needy are not neglected as we continue our pursuit for progress and development. The post Prioritize the poor, bring gov’t services closer to needy appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
The truth about high blood pressure
Based on recent data, high blood pressure is living up to its reputation as a silent killer. The fifth leading cause of death among Filipinos, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority’s June 2022 report, hypertension among Pinoys rose by 37 percent in 2021. That’s the highest since 1992, said a study on hypertension in the Philippines by the Philippine Heart Association. Though regarded as an old person’s disease, high blood pressure has now been diagnosed in at least five percent of Filipino youth between the ages of 12 and 18. Here’s the more startling fact: Regardless of age, hypertensive adults and adolescents shared the same profile -- a higher body mass index, waist measurement and central obesity rate. Why is hypertension so difficult to control? Makati Medical Center points to the lack of warning signs or symptoms. “Usual symptoms like headaches, dizziness or shortness of breath are not specific to high blood pressure,” says Dr. Saturnino P. Javier, chief of Cardiology section. “And they usually present themselves when one’s blood pressure has surged to life-threatening levels. More alarmingly, someone may have high blood pressure and not feel anything at all. Measuring the blood pressure with a sphygmomanometer is a very reliable method that a doctor can perform in the clinic to know what your blood pressure is and whether you’re hypertensive or not.” Dr. Javier cites the need to note these two numbers each time your blood pressure is taken on a sphygmomanometer. The first or upper number is called systolic blood pressure, the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats. The second or lower number is the diastolic blood pressure; that’s the pressure in your arteries when your heart rests between beats. “When you have high blood pressure, the force of blood pushing against your artery walls is very high. This can damage the arteries and set up a series of events which can lead to catastrophic outcomes — like heart attack and stroke,” explains Dr. Javier. Local BP guidelines have been created, which adopt many recommendations from American and European colleagues. These have provided blood pressure thresholds for medical professionals to follow. In general, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers a blood pressure of less than 120/80 mm Hg normal. A BP that is consistently 130/80 mm Hg is viewed as high normal and already warrants dietary and lifestyle recommendations. Striving for the ideal BP seems like a tall order, but it’s a necessary one as Dr. Javier underlines. Uncontrolled high blood pressure makes you vulnerable to stroke, heart attack and other conditions. These important lifestyle tweaks will make a huge difference: When you exercise regularly, you strengthen your heart, which then pumps more blood with less effort. This decreases the force of blood on the artery walls and lowers blood pressure. You should target the ideal body weight, Dr. Javier emphasizes. Aim for 30 minutes of moderate exercise five days a week. Smoking cessation is a very vital component of lifestyle intervention among hypertensive individuals. Nicotine serves absolutely no useful purpose in one’s overall health, adds Dr. Javier. It’s also best to focus on lean protein and fruits and vegetables representing the colors of the rainbow and to cut back on sodium or salt. Managing stress is a must in dealing with hypertension. “When you’re stressed, the body releases hormones that elevate your heart rate and constrict blood vessels, causing your blood pressure to spike,” explains Dr. Javier. Go for a walk, meditate, spend time with family and friends. These have a way of calming you and lifting your spirits. If you think you have high blood pressure, MakatiMed encourages you to see your cardiologist who can make a proper diagnosis and come up with the best ways to lower your blood pressure and prevent the condition from escalating. For more information, contact MakatiMed On-Call at 8888-8999, email mmc@makatimed.net.ph or visit www.makatimed.net.ph. The post The truth about high blood pressure appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Cebu City Sports Center closes temporarily for renovation
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Cebu City government announced on Thursday, May 18, 2023, the temporary closure of the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC) beginning Thursday for renovation. In a social media post, the city’s Public Information Office (PIO) said CCSC will be closed for about four months. Should Cebu City’s quest to host the […] The post Cebu City Sports Center closes temporarily for renovation appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Free quality healthcare for Naga City
Medical missions have evolved through time. Alongside improving access to healthcare services for underserved communities, it has become an avenue for spreading awareness about preventive healthcare and promoting healthy lifestyles. Watsons and SM Foundation have long strived to encourage health literacy and bring free quality healthcare closer to Filipinos throughout the country. The two once again joined hands for a medical mission at the PAGCOR Evacuation Center in Naga City on 26-27 April 2023. This event followed the first medical mission of the Watsons and SM Foundation held in Laoag City early this year. The two-day event brought medical care to over 1,200 patients and over 4,000 services to beneficiaries, including medical consultations, sugar tests, cholesterol tests, uric acid tests, bone scanning, hair analysis, skin analysis and free medicines. The SM Foundation Mobile Clinic also provided X-rays and ECG tests to the residents of Naga City. Meanwhile, an audiometry examination was added to the diagnostic tests on the second day of the medical mission. Joining Watsons and SM Foundation in mounting the initiative were the DMIRIE Foundation, University of Nueva Caceres-College of Nursing, Dermplus Trading Incorporated, Bewell Corporation, Association of Bicol Business Students-Ateneo de Naga University, the local government unit of Naga City and the Metro Naga Development Council. The post Free quality healthcare for Naga City appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bong Go assists indigent families in Minalin, Pampanga
Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, has reaffirmed his commitment to improving healthcare accessibility, especially for impoverished and underprivileged patients in need of government medical assistance. During the relief operations conducted by his team in Minalin, Pampanga on 11 and 12 May, Go shared how witnessing the challenges faced by financially struggling Filipinos in accessing medical support compelled him to spearhead the Malasakit Centers program in 2018. “Nagsimula ang Malasakit Center sa Cebu. Sinubukan namin ilagay ang apat na ahensya ng gobyerno sa iisang opisina para hindi na kailanganin pang pumila sa iba’t ibang opisina at masayang ang ilang araw ng ating mga kababayan na humingi ng tulong,” explained Go, who is the primary author and sponsor of the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019. “Pera naman ng taumbayan yan. Binabalik lang sa kanila sa pamamagitan ng mabilis at maayos na serbisyo. Kaya basta Pilipino ka, lalo na mga poor and indigent patients, qualified ka sa Malasakit Center. Lapitan niyo lang po ang Malasakit Center diyan po sa inyong lugar at tutulungan po kayo sa inyong billing,” he added. Across the country, there are currently 157 Malasakit Centers in operation, strategically established to facilitate more convenient access to medical assistance programs for the most financially vulnerable and indigent patients. They have now assisted over seven million Filipinos, according to the Department of Health. These centers serve as one-stop shops where individuals can easily avail of the various medical and financial assistance provided by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, DOH, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. In Pampanga, Malasakit Centers are located at the Jose B. Lingad Memorial Regional Hospital and at the Overseas Filipino Workers Hospital and Diagnostic Center, both in San Fernando City; and at the Rafael Lazatin Memorial Medical Center in Angeles City. The relief activities were mounted at the Sta. Rita covered court where the senator's team provided snacks and shirts to 166 indigent residents. They also gave away shoes and balls for basketball and volleyball to select beneficiaries. A team from the DSWD also extended financial assistance. Meanwhile, Go mentioned that the government continues to bring health services closer to Filipino communities through the establishment of Super Health Centers nationwide. Through the collective efforts of fellow lawmakers, sufficient funds had been allocated for 307 Super Health Centers in 2022 and 322 in 2023. DOH, the lead implementing agency, identifies the strategic areas where they will be constructed. Under the 2022 national budget, Super Health Centers in Pampanga were funded in San Fernando City and in the towns of Lubao, Macabebe, Magalang, Porac, and San Agustin. In 2023, more centers were identified to be established in the towns of Magalang, Minalin, Porac, Sta. Rita, and Arayat. Go, as Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, likewise supported the funding of new equipment for hospitals in San Fernando City and in the towns of Arayat, Bacolor, Floridablanca, Guagua, Lubao, Mabalacat, Porac, and San Luis; and construction of multipurpose buildings in Arayat, Floridablanca, Santa Monica, Magalang and Masantol, among others. He was also instrumental in the construction of slope protection along Sapangbato River in Brgy. Margot in Angeles City. Last January 26, Go was honored by the provincial government of Pampanga for advancing the province's well-being and interests through its Resolution No. 7643-A. On that same day, former president Rodrigo Duterte was declared the province's "adopted son" by virtue of Resolution No. 7643 in recognition of his significant contributions to Pampanga's growth and prosperity during his presidency from 2016 to 2022. The post Bong Go assists indigent families in Minalin, Pampanga appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Go: Senate may probe power outages
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go has expressed concern over the reported power outages occurring in Luzon and other parts of the country. In an interview after aiding patients and front liners at the Talavera General Hospital in Nueva Ecija, Go said that the Senate may conduct an inquiry on the power outages. “We need to take immediate action to address this problem,” Go said. “A reliable and stable energy supply is essential for the Filipino people.” He also stressed the importance of protecting the health of the public, especially during the summer months when temperatures can reach up to 40 degrees Celsius. “The current extreme temperatures pose a significant health risk,” Go said. “We need to make sure that everyone has access to electricity, especially during these hot days.” The senator called on the Department of Energy, or DoE, to take steps to prevent future power outages. “The DoE has a responsibility to ensure that the country has a reliable and stable energy supply,” Go said. “I urge the DoE to work with the private sector to address this problem.” The DoE has warned that there could be yellow alerts during the upcoming weeks due to limited power supply. A red alert signifies a complete lack of ancillary service or a generation deficiency, while a yellow alert indicates low reserves on the grid. Meanwhile, Go inaugurated the new Super Health Center in Llanera, a two-story building with a total floor area of 2,000 square meters. It is equipped with modern medical facilities, including an X-ray machine, ultrasound machine, and laboratory equipment. It also has a pharmacy, a dental clinic, and a delivery room. The SHC is expected to serve over 100,000 residents of Llanera and neighboring towns. It will provide free basic health services, such as consultation, laboratory tests, and medicines. “This is a big help to our constituents, especially those who cannot afford to go to private hospitals,” Go said. “I am confident that this SHC will provide quality and affordable healthcare to the people of Llanera.” The post Go: Senate may probe power outages appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»