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97th birthday for a beloved mother, Nenita Floirendo
Celebrating the 97th birthday of their beloved mother, Nenita del Rosario Floirendo, her children Linda F. Lagdameo, Maricris F. Brias and Marisa, with their brothers Tonyboy, Ricky and Vince, made sure to include not only their large family but also an intimate group of close friends......»»
TIMwork makes the dream work
Tim recently celebrated his birthday, and, as expected, was feted in a string of parties. But he spent his actual birthday detached from the social whirl — at the Bahay ni Maria with the elderly, and after that, with children/beneficiaries of Smile Train......»»
Sinulog 2024: National athletes, kids perform Philippine martial arts Eskrima
Award-winning national athletes, Southeast Asian Games champions and children joined hands as they performed a combination of martial arts and dance at the recently concluded Sinulog sa Sugbo 2024 in South Road Properties (SRP), Cebu City......»»
Miss Saigon opens audition for Tam role
GMG Productions is looking for a number of children to share the role of Tam, Kim's young son (between the ages of 4 to 8), for the upcoming Asian tour of "Miss Saigon" in Manila and other territories......»»
Conditional residents can petition children with their two-year green card
I married a US citizen after my child’s 18th birthday and am now a conditional resident. I know my husband and I need to file a joint petition to remove conditions within 90 days of the expiration of my two-year conditional green card......»»
Climate-related disasters displace 9.7 mln children in Philippines: UNICEF
MANILA, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- Climate-related disasters have displaced 9.7 million children in the Philippines from 2016 to 2021, making the Southeast Asian country the epicenter of the crisis, according to a new report released by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) on Friday. The Children Displaced in a Changing Climate report is the first global analysis of the number of children driven from their homes.....»»
Five dead after freight train slams into SUV
Five people were killed Saturday night after a freight train crashed into an SUV at a rail crossing in Florida, United States, police said. The SUV driver approached the Plant City crossing, which is controlled only by signage, and drove on without looking both ways, Sheriff Chad Chronister told a news conference, citing video footage and witness testimony. “The conductor of the train did everything he could to try to slow this train down,” and used horns and lights to warn the driver, he said. The car catapulted and flipped several times before landing a distance from the crossing, Chronister said. Five of the seven passengers, some of whom were children, were ejected from the car and died. Rescuers used the jaws of life to extract the driver and front passenger, who are in critical condition in hospital, Chronister said. The train was traveling at about 88 kilometers per hour upon impact, Chronister wrote earlier on social media. The sheriff said police were still working to identify the victims but that he believed they were a family on their way to a nearby quinceanera party — a Latin American celebration of a girl’s 15th birthday. WITH AFP The post Five dead after freight train slams into SUV appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Snow White’ like never before
Repertory Philippines’ Theater for Young Audiences opens its first production after the Covid-19 pandemic with a new version of a classic fairy tale. Snow White and the Prince is a love story between these two iconic characters. Written by Janet Yates Vogt and Mark Friedman, the same authors of RTYA’s very successful 2017 production Rapunzel, Rapunzel! A Very Hairy Fairy Tale, it is a musical comedy for the young and the young at heart and will be enjoyed by the whole family. On the eve of her birthday celebration, Snow White anticipates her first ball, and dreams of romance. She meets a charming prince at the ball but her dreams are shattered by her stepmother who is jealous of her beauty. For her protection, her loving nursemaid sends her to the forest to find the nurse’s seven (of course) friends. Also, in the picture are a magic mirror who can never lie and, the symbol of evil, an apple. The guiding principle behind all RTYA productions is that children deserve as good a theater as adults and this production strives to do just that. Joy Virata, director and RTYA’s creative director, has gathered a group of both veteran and young actors to tell the story through simple and humorous dialogue and delightfully tuneful songs. Leading the cast are REP and RTYA regulars Carla Gueverra Laforteza and Pinky Marquez as the Queen with newcomer Julia Serad alternating. Veterans Chino Veguillas and Franco Ramos play the all-important Mirror along with newbie Sebastian Katigbak. In the title roles are Kiara Dario, Pappel (Ashlee Factor), Jillian Ita-as and Anyah as Snow White and MC dela Cruz, Neo Rivera and Rapah Manalo as the Prince. Abi Sulit, Ring Antonio and Cara Barredo alternate as the Nurse. Fourteen (seven times two) actors of all heights, weights, genders and ages (and with varying theater backgrounds), play the friends. The post ‘Snow White’ like never before appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
How Hong Kong became a fencing powerhouse and cheered up a city
Hong Kong is one of the smaller Asian Games teams by population, but when it comes to fencing the city is a regional heavyweight with ambitious medal hopes. Edgar Cheung won gold at the Covid-delayed Tokyo Games two years ago -- Hong Kong's first Olympic fencing title and first Olympic gold in any sport in a quarter of a century. It turned Cheung into a celebrity overnight and prompted parents across the Chinese territory of 7.5 million people to rush and sign their children up for fencing classes. Cheung's historic win in the foil competition was a much-needed dose of good news for a city mired in social unrest and pandemic gloom at the time. With more funding and public attention as a result, Cheung and his team-mates now hope to stamp their mark on the Asian Games in Hangzhou when they open on Saturday. Despite a strong record at recent editions, including eight medals in the sport in 2018, Hong Kong is yet to win fencing gold at the Asian Games. "No matter for individual or team events, I hope we can (win gold at last)," the softly spoken Cheung, 26, said. The city will have 24 fencers, 12 women and 12 men, at the Games. Another gold-medal contender is 29-year-old Vivian Kong, who is ranked number two in the world in women's epee. There is also Ryan Choi, who along with Cheung was part of the Hong Kong team that won bronze in the men's team foil at the world championships in July. Cheung said the Hong Kong team have "improved greatly" since the 2018 Games in Jakarta. The left-hander, who has recovered from a recent wrist injury, told AFP he wanted to "prove to our competitors they need to beware of us". - Pathway to success - Fencing in the city stretches back decades, to when Hong Kong was a British colony, with its amateur fencing association founded in 1949. The city had occasional success in the early 2000s, but it was the 2010 Asian Games, where Hong Kong fencers won seven medals, that first established them as a regional powerhouse. Local organisers made efforts to popularise the sport, bringing classes to schools and community hubs in the past two decades -– that is where Cheung had his first taste of fencing. Fencers also benefited from a reform to Hong Kong's pipeline for discovering and training talent which allowed Cheung to devote himself to the sport full-time when he was 17 with his parents' blessing. Cheung's final bout at the Tokyo Olympics drew hundreds of fans who crowded into a Hong Kong mall to watch the live broadcast, popping champagne corks after he emerged victorious. Days later, then-city leader Carrie Lam announced more funding for elite Hong Kong athletes, including an expansion to the fencing hall at the institute where Cheung trains. Fencing schools reported a spike in applications, although observers say interest has since tapered off somewhat. - Warning for star man - Gregory Koenig, who previously coached in his native France and also Taiwan, began working with Hong Kong's fencers five years ago and has developed a close relationship with Cheung. He had a warning for Hong Kong's star man, who has slipped to seventh in the men's foil world rankings. "When you're Olympic champion it's very hard because everybody has an eye on you and everybody's fighting hard against you," Koenig said. He said he told Cheung: "You have to understand that many people fight all their life to reach the goal you've already reached." "Okay, do you think you reached the maximum level and you want to stop here? Or are you still motivated for more?" Koenig says he told Cheung. "He told me, 'No, I really want to put my name in the history of fencing.'" hol/pst © Agence France-Presse The post How Hong Kong became a fencing powerhouse and cheered up a city appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Nina Lim-Yuson — A lifetime of girl scouting
The president of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines, Nina Lim-Yuson, grew up in a family and home of Girl Scouts. Her grandmother, Pilar Hidalgo-Lim, was one of the co-founders of the GSP. “It was actually my Lola Pilar who suggested to Josefa Llanes Escoda, the GSP founder, to go to America to learn about girl scouting.” This tidbit of history, Nina shared in an online interview with the DAILY TRIBUNE. Pilar Hidalgo-Lim became GSP president, and so did Nina’s mother, Estefania Aldaba-Lim, who served as secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. Nina’s sister too, the eminent broadcast journalist, Cheche Lazaro, was a Girl Scout. Coming from a lineage of women achievers, Nina could not have chosen a different path. It was scouting that formally introduced the family to social responsibility, skills development and citizenship. Her brothers were also Boy Scouts. “I started when I was six years old and it was my Lola Pilar who inducted me as a Brownie. It used to be called Brownie because we were still using the American pattern,” she related. She belonged to Troop Number One, the first to be organized by the GSP national headquarters. In high school at the Jose Abad Santos Memorial School of the Philippine Women’s University, she became a junior and later a senior Girl Scout. College would briefly end her Girl Scouting as she focused on her studies. Along the way, she also danced with the Bayanihan Folk Dance Company. It was not unexpected that she would return to scouting, her first love, and her first extra-curricular activity. For the last 36 years, she has been active in various organizations and volunteer work. She founded the Museong Pambata. She is a recipient of The Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service and is active in its various social development efforts. What Nina brings to her post is the legacy of leadership that had been passed on to her through generations of women leaders in the family. “My Lola Pilar was my idol. She was such a nice person and I never knew her totally as a president. I knew her more as a loving lola from all the stories she related when we rode up to Baguio. “My mother, on the other hand, was the opposite. She was very career-minded. I learned naman from her a lot of things, like being thrifty and having a list of things to do. In terms of organization, she was like that. Because she was in government. And, you know, when we started Museo, while it was actually my concept, I learned a lot from her. She would call me up at 5 o’clock in the morning and she would rattle off what needed to be done, like ‘number one, number two and so on.’ That was her. And I’m glad that I worked with her for six years in Museo. She was the president and I was the executive director for six years. I took over in 2000 as president and chief executive officer. And then, I stepped down in 2017.” Girl Scouts who read and tell stories Nina was elected president of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines for the term 2021-2024 during its 2021 national convention. From day one, she shared, “My purpose was to reach out to the community-based troops because we have always been school-based. Many young women now have social problems so we need to reach out to the communities through our community-based troops.” Also on top of her priorities is literacy development, a cause that she addressed even in the Museo Pambata. She explained, “My advocacy has always been education. So, I was very concerned because the Asian Development Bank reported in 2022 that the World Bank found out that our Filipino children at ages 9 and 10 cannot read. So, I felt that because girl scouting is all over the country, with 96 local councils, the organization could serve as a vehicle for improving literacy in our country. “We started the Girl Scout Storyteller project because storytelling affects the heart first before the mind. When young people start with storytelling, they will love the stories and then the written word. They would then want to read. “We now have storytelling in economically challenged communities and we have partners. We sent out 2,500 books throughout the country with the help of our partner couriers.” Initially, she sought the help of her family foundation “to give a donation. I also sought the help of Ging Montinola, who is into literacy development. Together, we founded the literacy program. We are building this fund to cover the cost of buying children’s books. We will have a storytelling contest next year.” Raising funds for Camp Escoda Nina then shifted the conversation to another major endeavor that she is spearheading as GSP president — fundraising for the 27-hectare Camp Josefa Llanes Escoda in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija, which was donated by the provincial government during the term of Governor Amado Aleta, the father of consul and civic leader Fortune Ledesma. “Palayan is beautiful because it has rolling hills, but it doesn’t have electrical and water facilities and roadworks. It doesn’t have a swimming pool, and it’s so hot in Nueva Ecija. It also does not have a conference hall. This is a big one-time fundraising project because it’s for the future of the girls who are going to the camp. Because as of now, if you go camping there, you have to walk up the hills to get your drinking water. You have to make buhos to take a bath.” She recalled, “In my time as a young Girl Scout, which was of another era, we had to walk in the dark to fetch water to fill up two drums. I was so scared because there were tuko in Los Baños. That taught me to be courageous. Camps really build up your lifetime skills and attitude. Camping is very integral in girl scouting and boy scouting. So, this camp will serve a purpose. It just needs various basic facilities to make it world-class and convenient with the proper amenities, but the girls will continue to learn all those survival techniques and appreciate nature right on the camp.” She praised architect Pippo Carunungan, “who is an environmental planner. He surveyed the site and drew up everything. It will be a beautiful camp, he said, because it’s a gift of nature.” First Lady as Chief Girl Scout Nina recently led the Girl Scouts in a fundraising ball attended by the “First Lady, Liza Araneta-Marcos, who is our Chief Girl Scout. It’s mandated in the GSP constitution that whoever is the female president of the country or the First Lady is the Chief Girl Scout. In the past, we had Imelda Marcos, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. All the first ladies were all Chief Girl Scouts. “Mrs. Liza Marcos spoke before us and she promised to help. She said, ‘We will make it the best campsite.’ Everyone was excited to see her and she obliged everyone who asked to have selfie with her. She is very friendly. She is really a Girl Scout.” Nina shared, “A generous couple is sponsoring the swimming pool at P6 million, while a gentleman entrepreneur is sponsoring the perimeter fence at P1.5 million. Many other businessmen and leaders have pledged to help build this dream GSP project. “We really need to raise about 50 million to have a very good camp. But when the First Lady heard about it, she said, ‘It has to be P250 million.’ But, really, when we have the funds, we can have deep toilets that have running water instead of tabo-tabo. Since we have a little Pampanga river that runs across the camp, we can build a bridge that crosses it and then the girls can have white-water rafting there in the Pampanga river. “Camp Escoda will be a very important and significant venue for our Girl Scouts to gather, bond, learn new skills and develop as morally upright citizens of the country and the world. It is especially so because camping is integral in any Girl Scout’s life. If you don’t have camping, it’s like half of your scouting life is missing. Every Girl Scout remembers that time of her youth. And being the national camp, it will welcome Girl Scouts representing the 96 councils from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao who will participate in various events and trainings.” Girl Scouts of all ages As GSP president, Nina travels to various parts of the country. “We have regional conferences aside from the meeting of the Central Board when regional heads and executives come to Manila. “I had just come from Baguio where I stayed for two-and-a-half days. I met our young Girl Scout representatives from ages 14 to 18. I enjoyed listening to them and exchanging ideas with them. I am so happy that we have a wealth of intelligent girls who want to serve the country. They are the ones who are going to take over. “It’s amazing that GSP is no longer limited to old people on the board. We finally have young ones on the board. Our Escoda committee is headed by Jade Delgado from Iloilo. Then we have Justine Bautista. She’s a psychometrician. She heads the Program Committee, which is a big committee because when we were in Baguio, we had 86 girls from all the councils throughout the country. Many of them are running for SK. “So, in my 70s now, which I don’t feel at all, I don’t take any medicines or something like that. Being with young people is what inspires me. Because at 15, 16 or 17, they already know that they have some kind of a mission.” Nina proudly shared that the venue of the Baguio conference, 'Ating Tahanan' on the South Drive was bought during the tenure of my Lola Pilar. We have four buildings there, including the houses of Senator and actor Rogelio de la Rosa and Carlos Valdes, the accountant. Lola Pilar, according to Carlos Valdes, twisted his arm to get a low price. I’m so thankful for all those who preceded me because they bought these places. It’s on South Drive which is so valuable. We even have a reserved forest behind us.” As she looks forward to the next camping and gets even busier raising funds for Camp Escoda, Nina feels elated that “every one of us in the Girl Scouts has been together in our various undertakings. The nice thing is we are now intergenerational because we try to bring in the old with experience, institutional memory and their wisdom born of their long life, and the young who are full of enthusiasm, energy and new ideas.” A star scout for a granddaughter While Nina does her part for the bright future of girl scouting in the country, her personal family too has not stopped contributing to the roster of members to this worldwide organization. Today, a granddaughter of hers, seven-year-old Rocio Yuson de Guzman, is a Star Scout. She is the daughter of Nina’s daughter, Nicky. No grandmother could have been prouder. Nina said, “Rufio loves being a star scout. When I arrived from the recent world conference in Cyprus, I came back with some badges and I gave some to Rufio who is very proud of the little badges that I got for her.” For sure, Nina will pass on not just the badges to Rufio. More importantly, she will give her granddaughter the once-in-one’s-childhood experience of being a Girl Scout and learning “the values that are identified in the Girl Scout Promise and Laws. I think that while there is so much to enjoy and learn, it is the inculcation of these values that would mold her into a well-rounded human being. As we all know, a Girl Scout’s honor is to be trusted. A Girl Scout is loyal, thrifty, courteous… and so on. It’s like a mantra -- the values that one lives by. “I have reached that point when it is not about success or what one accumulates in life, whether awards or accomplishments or material things. It is more about what I can share and scouting gives me that honor and privilege — to do my part in helping mold our young girls and making them aware even at an early age that they have a mission and worthy purpose in life. It is not just about being good and outstanding on your own but it is also about helping others to become better in what they’re doing and live better lives. “And I need not look far. As a grandmother, I dote on my Star Scout granddaughter, Rufio. There’s a world out there for her to discover and in which she has a role to play and use the skills and values she will learn from scouting.” The post Nina Lim-Yuson — A lifetime of girl scouting appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Children send President Marcos birthday greetings
President Marcos took a break to read the greetings he received on his 66th birthday on Sept. 13, including those from children......»»
At UN, fading hopes for improving lives on planet
World leaders meeting in New York next week will try to revive key goals meant to improve the lot of humanity by 2030, plans that are in doubt today as hunger, poverty and other crises persist. Leave no one behind In 2015, UN member-states adopted 17 wide-ranging development goals to be met by 2030, which included eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, providing access to drinking water, ensuring gender equality and health care for all. "In thriving economically in the 21st century, you cannot any longer try to do so at the expense of nature, or at the expense of people who are left behind," the head of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Achim Steiner, told AFP. But the 2030 Agenda is in trouble, according to the UN. "The Sustainable Development goals are in peril," the UN said in a report published in July. In order to meet these goals, governments coming together at the UN General Assembly on Monday are slated to commit to "act with urgency... for people, planet, prosperity, peace and partnership, leaving no one behind," according to the draft declaration. Poverty and hunger Progress has been slow and, in some cases, things are even worse now than they were in 2015. The Covid-19 pandemic has halted progress in combating extreme poverty, defined as living on less than $2.15 per day. Far from the hoped-for eradication, at the current rate 575 million people will still be living in such conditions in 2030, most of them in sub-Saharan Africa. And the world has returned to levels of hunger not seen since 2005. Furthermore, 1.1 billion people live in urban areas in slum-like conditions, more than two billion still do not have access to drinking water, 38 out of 1,000 children die before their fifth birthday and the impacts of climate change are increasingly devastating. Debt burden Crippled by various world crises, from Covid-19 to the war in Ukraine, many countries are crumbling under the weight of their debt and do not have the means to change course. "Countries are not able to pursue the development they want right now, but they can only opt for a recovery, where they go for the growth they can get," Steiner said. That, however, is a risky path. "That growth takes us back to the fossil fuel dependency and to greater inequalities, precisely the things that have led to so many tensions, protests on our streets," he added. That is why the draft declaration that will be discussed on Monday talks about reforming international financial institutions, over which, however, the UN has no control. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has also called for investing an additional $500 billion per year by 2030 in order to meet the ambitious goals. His plan received support at the recent G20 summit. Vicious or virtuous circle? Getting out of poverty, having access to education, drinking water or clean energy, being in good health and living in peace -- all these development goals are largely interdependent. Global warming and the extreme weather events it causes undermine most of the development goals as they destroy crops, infrastructure and livelihoods. That is why change must be comprehensive, Steiner said.. "We can use $1 to deliver more than $1 of impact. If you address poverty, you can also address access to electricity or vice versa," he said. "If you address access to electricity and combine it with the objective of decarbonization, you can achieve both poverty reduction" and address climate change. Steiner has worked with 95 countries to identify priorities to modify the growth model, such as policies aimed at creating decent jobs and investing in sustainable cities that offer basic services and affordable housing and infrastructure. The post At UN, fading hopes for improving lives on planet appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PBBM’s ‘birthday wish’ is a stable agriculture sector
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expressed his wish for a stable agriculture sector on the eve of his 66th birthday. In an ambush interview in Quezon City on Tuesday, 12 September, Marcos said he wants to see the agriculture sector become more stable so the government can better support the farmers. "That agriculture becomes stable, and we finally understand the true state of the weather. Is it the wet season or the dry season? So that we can help our farmers. That's still my prayer until now," Marcos said. Marcos also considered as the “best” birthday gift the issuance of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the New Agrarian Reform Emancipation Act or Republic Act 11953 “As we chart a path towards a more self-sufficient and equitable Philippines, this administration reaffirms its commitment to enrich the lives of our farmers, ensure the rapid industrialization of our farmlands, and promote sustainable and inclusive growth in the countryside,” he said. Marcos will travel to Singapore for his speaking engagement at the 10th Asian Conference on Wednesday. While in the Lion City, he plans to mark his birthday and attend the 2023 Formula One Singapore Grand Prix. The post PBBM’s ‘birthday wish’ is a stable agriculture sector appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Marcos to celebrate birthday in SG for F1 race, Asia Summit
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will present his administration's priorities to economic and business executives at the Milken Institute's 10th Asian Conference and attend the finals of the Formula One Singapore Grand Prix 2023 in Singapore this week. In a Malacañang statement late Monday, Marcos is expected to highlight his administration's in improving the life of the Filipinos on 13 September at the Milken Institute. "Marcos will headline the 30-minute talk, highlighting the government efforts in improving the lives of Filipinos amid challenges from significant global events. Marcos will be the first sitting Philippine President to address the Milken Institute's Asia Summit," Malacañang said. "Marcos will be the first sitting Philippine President to address the Milken Institute's Asia Summit," it added, noting that the event will also be live-streamed on the Milken Institute's website. Anwar Ibrahim, the Prime Minister of Malaysia, will also speak at the annual meeting. The Asia Summit 2023 will focus on peace and stability, inequality, cultural differences, and irreparable environmental damage. The Milken Institute hosts it and it has been going on for ten years. The Milken Institute is a non-profit think tank that focuses on accelerating progress toward giving everyone a meaningful life, Malacañang said. Malacañang added it brings together the best ideas and practices for how to hold a dialogue on critical global problems. Lee Hsien Loong, the prime minister of Singapore, has also invited Marcos Jr. to the finals of the Formula One Singapore Grand Prix in 2023. In September 2022, Marcos Jr. went to Singapore for a state visit. After a month, he came back for the F1 Grand Prix. The post Marcos to celebrate birthday in SG for F1 race, Asia Summit appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
So why did KC unfollow stepdad Kiko, stepsister Frankie on IG?
KC Concepcion has confirmed unfollowing her stepfather, former Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, and her half-sister Frankie Pangilinan on Instagram, saying she just wants “peace of mind.” The 38-year-old actress-entrepreneur’s mother, Megastar Sharon Cuneta, is married to Kiko. The couple have three children: Frankie, 22; Miel, 19; and Miguel, 13. KC, whose father is Sharon’s ex-husband and former love team partner Gabby Concepcion, made the confirmation in an interview with Cristy Fermin in the 29 August episode of the showbiz commentator’s program Cristy FerMinute on One PH teleradio news channel. [caption id="attachment_179510" align="aligncenter" width="730"] Kiko Pangilinan. | kikopangilinanofficial/fb[/caption] [caption id="attachment_179507" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Frankie Pangilinan. | gmanetwork.com[/caption] “Hindi naman po masama na magkaroon ng time na meron kayong ina-unfollow, or meron kayong ipa-follow,” said the female lead star of the Fil-Am movie Asian Persuasion. “Mahirap lang po talaga kapag showbiz po ’yung family. Talagang lahat po pinupuna.” (It’s not bad to unfollow someone. It just becomes a big deal when it’s a showbiz family and everything gets scrutinized.) “Ako kasi,” she added, “I think, ’yung sa akin is more of, like I said, may mga complicated po talaga pagdating sa blended family. Meron din po talagang mga times na hindi perfect. Hindi po kami perpekto. And hindi po lagi kailangang perfect. (There are complications when it comes to blended family. There are times when we aren’t perfect. And we don’t need to be perfect.) “So, wala naman po akong gustong ikuwento pa apart from the fact na, ako, I just want peace of mind. I want to be happy. I want my family to be happy. Ang gusto ko lang maging light, masaya. Ayoko ng maraming drama. (I don’t want to go into details except to say I just want peace of mind… I don’t like too much drama.) “’Yung forgiveness kasi sa family, important din ’yun siguro para maging okay ’yung takbo ng relationship ng lahat. And sometimes, mas gusto kong piliin ’yung peace of mind ko.” (Forgiveness should be important in a family for things to be smooth. Sometimes, I just choose what’s good for my peace of mind.) She added meaningfully, “Talaga pong ginagawa ko ang lahat para maging mabuting anak, mabuting ate” (I’m doing everything I can to be a good daughter and a good older sister). In addition to her three siblings from her mother’s side, KC has four sisters from her father’s side. The two are Garie Concepcion, likewise an actress whose mother is entrepreneur Grace Ibuna, and Cloie Syquia-Skarne, who’s based in Sweden with her mother, former actress Jenny Syquia. Then there are Samantha and Savannah, whose mother, Genevieve Yatco Gonzales is the current wife of Gabby Concepcion. Despite the seeming rift in the family, KC said she’s “very close” to her half-siblings. “I just think na may mga moments na wala na akong control… May mga panahon din po na parang isipin ko muna ’yung mental health ko, kung ano ’yung makakabuti sa peace of mind ko,” she reiterated. (I just think there are moments that are out of my control, and I have to think of my mental health first, what’s good for my peace of mind.) KC’s parents Sharon and Gabby, whose 1984 marriage was annulled in 1993, are reuniting onstage for Dear Heart, the Concert on 27 October at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. KC had said in a press interview that she’d feel left out if she didn’t have any participation in the much-awaited reunion, as she is the only offspring of the fabled ex-couple. The post So why did KC unfollow stepdad Kiko, stepsister Frankie on IG? appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Call for entries: The Asian International Children’s Film Festival 2023
The Japan Information and Culture Center of the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines, in cooperation with the National Youth Commission, announces that applications for the JENESYS 2023 ASEAN-Japan Art Exchange-16th Asian International Children’s Film Festival is still open. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs-Japan, through the National Youth Commission, will organize the JENESYS 2023 ASEAN-Japan Art Exchange: Attending the 16th Asian International Children’s Film Festival. Now on its 16th year, the Asian International Children’s Film Festival promotes friendship and goodwill among Asian youths through filmmaking. Young filmmakers from various parts of the Asia are invited to Japan for a competition and days of cultural exchange activities that culminate in an awarding ceremony for winning film entries. This year, the film festival is focusing on the theme “What I Want”. Filipino high school students grades 10 to 12 (ages 15-18 years old), except those who have already been to Japan as part of previous Asian International Children’s Film Festivals, are encouraged to join and submit their own three-minute videos under the theme. The deadline of submission of video entries and other requirements is extended on or before 15 September 2023, 11:59 PM. The top three teams (composed of nine Filipino Junior or Senior High School Youth delegates) from the Philippines will be sent to Japan to compete in the international leg of the contest. All expenses will be borne by the Government of Japan through the JENESYS2023 Programme. The program will be held on 10 October 2023 (online Pre-Exchange program) and 12-19 December 2023 in Tokyo and Hyogo, Japan. Please send all queries to internationalprograms@nyc.gov.ph with subject heading ”JENESYS 2023 ASEAN-Japan Art Exchange (Attending the 16th Asian International Children’s Festival)”. For more information, visit the National Youth Commission Website for the full guidelines and mechanics. The post Call for entries: The Asian International Children’s Film Festival 2023 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
R. Magsaysay Award: 65 years of excellence
Established shortly after the tragic death in March 1957 of Ramon Magsaysay Sr., the seventh President of the Philippines, the Ramon Magsaysay Award, considered the equivalent of the Nobel Prize in Asia, preserves the beloved leader’s legacy by honoring individuals who are exceptionally outstanding in their fields. To be named a Ramon Magsaysay Awardee is to receive Asia’s premier prize and highest honor, and this year, the Award was bestowed on four individuals, including Filipina peace negotiator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer who, in 2012, chaired the Philippine government’s Peace Panel tasked to negotiate peace with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front which led to the signing, in 2014, of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro by the Philippine government and the MILF. Coronel, who was recognized by the RMAF board of trustees for her “unwavering belief in the transformative power of non-violent strategies in peacebuilding and her devotion to the agenda of harnessing the power of women in creating a just and peaceful world,” is also co-founder of the Southeast Asian Women Peace mediators, the pioneering group of women engaged in convening safe spaces for dialogues and supporting mediation initiatives in countries like Myanmar and Afghanistan. Also named a recipient of the Award is Korvi Rakshand from Bangladesh who, in 2007, established the JAAGO (Bangladeshi for “wake up”) Foundation, a non-profit NGO aimed at addressing problems of access and quality of education for underprivileged children. From small beginnings, JAAGO has grown into one of the largest non-profit organizations in Bangladesh, providing free-of-cost government-recognized English language primary and secondary education to underprivileged children through 11 traditional and online schools in 10 districts in Bangladesh. Rakshand’s work with the underprivileged, his visionary leadership in democratizing education, and his inspiring thousands of young people to heed the call of social transformation have been recognized by the RMAF board of trustees and have bestowed on him the coveted Ramon Magsaysay Award. Agriculturist Eugenio Lemos, 51, was introduced to permaculture in 1999 and resolved that he would devote himself to promoting that kind of sustainable agriculture among his people. He established the Permakultura Timor-Lorosa’e, which includes a Youth Training Program that teaches youths water and natural resources management, farming, aquaculture, and agroforestry. Also a songwriter and a singer, Lemos communicates social issues through his songs. Recognizing Lemos’s vision and passion for integrating local and indigenous cultures in his advocacy for caring for the environment and the well-being of people, the RMAF has named him one of the four recipients of the Ramon Magsaysay Award this year. The fourth awardee is surgical oncologist, Dr. Ravi Kannan, who as director of the non-profit, philanthropy-funded Cachar Cancer Hospital and Research Centre in Silchar, Barak Valley of Assam in India, expanded CCHRC into an innovative, widely admired full-service cancer care facility. From an institution with limited facilities, CCHRC, under Kannan’s leadership, is now a full-fledged comprehensive cancer hospital and research center. From a staff of 23 when he came on board, CCHRC now employs over 450 people. Kannan’s vision is CCHRC’s: “...to become a state-of-the-art cancer center that ensures no individual develops cancer that can be prevented; that no patient is denied appropriate cancer treatment for want of resources; that no patient dies in agony and indignity; and that no family suffers treatment-induced poverty and grief” — a bold statement that the hospital translates into actual practice. For his devotion to public service, commitment to pushing the boundaries of pro-poor health and cancer care, and for building — without expectation of any reward — a beacon of hope to millions in the Indian state of Assam, the RMAF board of trustees named Kannan one of this year’s recipients of the Ramon Magsaysay Award. This year’s awardees share qualities and “greatness of spirit” inherent in other such laureates as St. Teresa of Calcutta, the 14th Dalai Lama, Grameen Bank founder and Nobel Prize awardee Muhammad Yunnus, One Village One Product conceptualizer Morihiko Hiramatsu, and the rest of the over 300-plus recipients of the Award whose selfless devotion to public service and outstanding contributions to society have transformed Asia and serve as shining inspiration to the world. The post R. Magsaysay Award: 65 years of excellence appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Malays in technicolor
Malaysia is a merry mix of Muslims, Indians, Chinese and Christians whose vibrant culture and traditions vitalize its calendar with a variety of celebrations and festivals that, in themselves, give every reason to visit the country. In every celebration, the tradition of holding an “open house” or “welcome all” provides the opportunity for the various races to visit each other to enliven the celebration. Muslim For Muslims, the two major festivals are celebrated namely Hari Raya Puasa (Aidilfitri) and Hari Raya Haji (Aidiladha). Hari Raya Puasa marks the end of Ramadan, which requires Muslims to fast for a month. Hari Raya Haji is celebrated on the 10th day of Zulhijjah (the month of Islam) when Muslims perform the Haj in Mecca and are in the final stages of their worship. In conjunction with the festival, Muslims who are capable are encouraged to perform sacrificial worship (ibadah korban) and, due to this, it is also known as Hari Raya Korban. Other than the two major festivals, Muslims also celebrate Maal Hijrah (Awal Muharam), which is a celebration of the Islamic New Year; Maulidur Rasul to commemorate the birth of Prophet Muhammad SAW, and Nuzul Quran to commemorate the day of the revelation of the al-Quran among Muslims. Chinese Chinese Malaysian communities celebrate Chinese New Year on the first day of the Chinese calendar in January or February each year. The festival starts with the whole family gathering for dinner. The celebration lasts for 15 days to the day of “Chap Goh Meh”, which is celebrated on the night of the 15th day of the festival. The festival gesture or goodwill package “angpow” is a tradition that enlivens the atmosphere of Chinese New Year, especially for the children. For the majority of Chinese who are Buddhist, the month of May every year marks the arrival of Wesak Day to commemorate three important events in Buddha’s life: the day of birth, the day of the achievement of maturity of thoughts and the day of death. During the celebration, ceremonies and parades are normally held with prayers. In addition, there are other celebrations, such as the mid-autumn lantern celebration (Tanglung), Month of the Ghost Festival and Qing Ming. Indian For Hindu devotees, Deepavali, or the Festival of Lights, during the month of “Aippasi,” according to the Tamil calendar (October to November) is a time to rejoice. It marks the victory, brightness overcoming darkness, goodness overcoming evil, and wisdom over ignorance. The festival begins with prayers, followed by visiting of relatives and friends. In the evening, the house will be decorated with lights to enliven the festive atmosphere. Hindu devotees also celebrate Thaipusam in January as a sign of respect to the God Muruga. During the festival, Batu Caves in Selangor will be the focus of Hindu devotees carrying presentations above the “kavadi” to be presented to the gods. In addition, Hindus also celebrate Ponggal, Hindu New Year, Navarathiri and Kharthigai. Other festivals On 25 December each year, Christians celebrate Christmas, which marks the birth of Jesus with prayers in churches and visits to their relatives and friends. In Sabah and Sarawak, there are also the traditional ethnic festivals. In Sabah, in the month of May every year, the Kadazans will celebrate the Harvest Festival (Tadau Kaamatan), an important event to the farmer groups. Tamu Besar or Pasar Tahunan is a carnival created to organize traditional sports events. For the Dayaks, Ibans and Bidayuh in Sarawak, 1 June every year is a day to be awaited because, on that day, they will celebrate Hari Gawai. For the Dayaks, they will have specific celebrations consisting of Gawai Batu (beginning of the paddy planting season), Gawai Burung (celebration associated with a bad sign or nightmare), Gawai Bersimpan (thanksgiving upon completion of harvesting), Gawai Antu (celebration for the souls of the dead) and Gawai Kenyalang. Apart from the different races and festivals, Malaysians also celebrate Labor Day on 1 May, National Day or Independence Day on 31 August, Birthday of His Majesty Yang Di-Pertuan Agong on the Saturday of the first week of June, Birthday of the King/Sultan at state level and Good Friday for various states. The post Malays in technicolor appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Innovation, health top Asian concerns
The government aims to spur innovation among industries and the health sector in the country to catch up with the projected economic boom of its Southeast Asian neighbors and achieve an upper middle-income society by 2040. Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan last Friday urged the faculty of the University of the Philippines Diliman to help the government raise technologically-skilled Filipinos toward more agile industries amid the information and digital age. “Our infrastructure sector and the emerging industries — agribusiness, mining, tourism, manufacturing, education, creatives, health and IT-BPM — will require a deep pool of skilled workers and professionals, which the university is in a position to contribute to,” he told the UPD alumni in their council meeting last Friday. As a planning and advisory agency, the National Economic and Development Authority, or NEDA, last month presented the National Innovation Agenda and Strategy Document 2023 to 2032 to other government agencies its strategies for better public-private partnerships, innovation research and development, commercialization of products and support for small businesses. “We must find ways to harness fast-evolving technologies as opportunities are waiting to be tapped by our young labor force. We must take two, even three steps forward, even as other forces — populism and political expediency — take us one step backward,” Balisacan told the university’s alumni during his speech entitled “If We’re So Smart, Why Aren’t We Rich?” Balisacan said government agencies will organize more in-person and online forums and surveys with academic institutions, businesses and marginalized groups and technical studies to achieve those goals. According to the United Nations, science researchers in the Philippines are much fewer with 174 per 1 million residents compared with Singapore’s 7,287 and Thailand’s 2,070. As the government capitalizes on human resources, Balisacan added the Marcos administration will be expanding nutrition programs and health facilities across the country. Lessons from Covid “The Covid-19 pandemic has demonstrated the need to sustainably secure and equitably distribute health infrastructure and human resources and promote health-seeking behavior and health literacy,” he said. According to World Development Indicators, vaccination rates in the Philippines range 57 percent to 92 percent, lower than the 95 percent and 99 percent of Singapore and Thailand, respectively. Malnutrition, however, has improved among Filipino children below five years old as stunting was found in 26.7 percent of households in 2021 from 33.4 percent in 2015, according to the Department of Science and Technology. Underweight children in this age group were also fewer at 5.5 percent from 7.1 percent during that period. Without improvements in the education and health sectors, Balisacan said Filipinos cannot secure quality jobs and help the country obtain higher GDP per capita or economic output per person. By 2050, the Philippines will see $22,700 GDP per capita, lower than Indonesia’s $37,400 and Vietnam’s $33,800, research from the Asian Development Bank showed. The post Innovation, health top Asian concerns appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Birthday Baby
A baby’s first birthday is one of the most meaningful milestones for parents, family members and friends who share a special bond with the toddler. [caption id="attachment_172947" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Raemy Marian Cortes with daughter Yzeia Raeven.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_172946" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Bianca Serafica with son Sancho, Rica Serafica Torres with her children Julia, Clara, Isabel and Julio. In the middle in black shirt is Niña Resabal and Jose Eleandre Muñoz.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_172945" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Andrea and Agustin Muñoz with sons EnricoTadeo and Jose Eleandre, and Catherine Larrazabal Tan, Bremeglida Yoo and Niña Restauro.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_172944" align="aligncenter" width="505"] Andone Tan with son Iñigo.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_172942" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Agustin and Andrea Muñoz with their two sons, Jose Eleandre and Enrico Tadeo. | Photographs courtesy of Honey jarque loop[/caption] [caption id="attachment_172940" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Jehs Banzon[/caption] Never mind if the youngster is still oblivious — it is about creating memories one can look back on in the years to come. Adorable baby Enrico Tadeo, second child of Agustin and Andrea Tan Muñoz, recently celebrated his first birthday party in Ormoc City’s finest hideaway, the laid-back beachfront Sabin Resort Hotel. His ever-talented mom, Andrea, considered one of the top event specialists in the city of the Queen Pineapple and owner and creator of Andrea’s Floral Basket, left nothing to chance and crafted a truly unique children’s party not seen before — all with imaginative creativity, pinpoint organization and discerning attention to detail. With the theme Wild One Safari, the spacious Rose Grand Ballroom was totally transformed with life-sized animal standees, plus dozens upon dozens of stuffed animals, such as giraffes, lions, tigers, monkeys and cheetahs scattered around the venue which completed the safari-inspired day. There were live animals as well, such as iguanas, Burmese pythons, baby crocodile, eagle and sulcata tortoise. And, of course, birthdays are only complete with hundreds of balloons in every imaginable color. Adhering to the motif, attendees were game and donned safari outfits. Among the special guests were Enrico’s godparents Celestino Larrazabal, Nikka Villegas, Raemy Marian Cortes and his titos and titas, Andrew, Andone and Endika Tan. Maternal grandma Catherine Larrazabal Tan, whose diverse talent is beyond question, lent a hand and took charge of the kiddie meals of chicken poppers, all-time favorite spaghetti and hotdogs, mini barbeques, chocolate crackles, popcorn and cupcakes, cotton candies and lots of soft and chewy candies. Cheers and laughter abounded as kids jumped for excitement and joy with the parlor games — they all took home coveted goodies! To top off the event, a mesmerizing magic show put the crowd in a trance, with sly tricks and sudden sleights of hand to amaze the kids into a loud applause. The post Birthday Baby appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»