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Cebu topnotcher shares secret to success: Strong support system of family, friends
CEBU CITY, Philippines — A good support system of family and friends is Elijah Cabase’s secret to his placing 5th in the March 2024 Medical Technologists Licensure Examinations (MTLE). This 23-year-old University of Cebu-Banilad alumnus said that he was not even expecting to pass because he described himself as a confessed procrastinator — or one.....»»
Gathering of champions
The stars descended on the Okada Grand Ballroom last Sunday as former world boxing champions gathered to celebrate the launch of the 1st Pacquiao-Elorde Awards Night with WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman as guest of honor and speaker......»»
PMI, ARQ, ZIP Sanman boxers feted in first Elorde-Pacquiao Boxing Awards
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Central Visayas was well-represented during the inaugural Elorde-Pacquiao Boxing Awards at Okada Manila last Sunday, March 24th. This was after 13 of Central Visayas’ best boxers from Cebu and Bohol were feted for their achievements in 2023. They were headed by none other than former World Boxing Organization (WBO) world minimumweight.....»»
Pacquiao, Sulaiman honor Filipino champs, eye PH-Mexico tiff
Invited by Manny Pacquiao to the Elorde-Pacquiao Boxing Awards, WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman announces that he will stage a dual meet involving the Philippines and Mexico.....»»
Blow-By-Blow Okada: Bacosa posts 3rd straight KO victory
Tall and rangy lightweight Eman Bacosa posted a third-round stoppage over Jan Clyde Langahin during a special presentation of Manny Pacquiao Presents: Blow-By-Blow Sunday at the Okada Manila......»»
Bacosa headlines Blow-By-Blow boxing card at Okada
Crowd favorite Eman Bacosa headlines a special presentation of Manny Pacquiao Presents: Blow-By-Blow on Sunday at the Okada Manila......»»
MIAA sees over 1 million arrivals this Holy Week
The Manila International Airport Authority is expecting an influx of over one million passengers this coming Holy Week......»»
Heat at COP28 Highlights Risks to Migrant Workers
Upon the opening of the 28th annual United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Thursday, delegates were immediately met with a suffocating heat lingering in the outdoor badge collection line snaking through Expo City Dubai.Event security handed out water to the mostly shaded attendees waiting to enter the air-conditioned "Blue Zone" area, where global climate negotiatio.....»»
EU: Reports Show Need to Fix GSP Trade Regulation
(Brussels) - The European Commission's assessment reports on the EU's Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) trade regulation expose serious abuses by many beneficiary governments, Human Rights Watch said today.The program grants developing countries tariff-free access to the EU market, conditioned o.....»»
EU: Reports Show Need to Fix GSP Trade Regulation
(Brussels) - The European Commission's assessment reports on the EU's Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) trade regulation expose serious abuses by many beneficiary governments, Human Rights Watch said today.The program grants developing countries tariff-free access to the EU market, conditioned o.....»»
POUND-FOR-POUND — Good guy Gibbons gives Filipino boxers the chance to shine
If you’re a talented fighter nursing dreams of becoming a world champion, there is one guy you need to get in touch with. If you’re a promoter who has got a bevy of promising fighters but with no strong connections to the guys who matter in the world of big-time boxing, you have to meet the fellow who makes things happen. That dude is no other than Sean Gibbons, who heads MP Promotions and a sprinkling of other influential outfits in the United States that gives boxers from all over the opportunity they deserve. Having trouble with your boxer’s stagnant world rating? Call Sean Gibbons. Can’t seem to get the big breaks? Call Sean Gibbons. Being given the run-around by a scammer, give Sean Gibbons a call. You see, Gibbons is a do-it-all boxing man who is a big daddy to just about any major Filipino fighter. He has got a deep knowledge of the fight game since he used to fight during his heyday. But before you start conjuring up images of Gibbons battling it out with boxing’s marquee names, pinch yourself first. Gibbons never achieved greatness as a boxer. He was more of a pretender than a contender, having racked up a 14-7-3 win-loss-draw record with seven knockouts before finally calling it a day in 1996. He never even fought in Las Vegas and instead showcased his wares in obscurity, hopping into one small town and city after another. After spending his first five pro bouts in Oklahoma City, Gibbons brought his act elsewhere and in places he never knew existed: Hugo, Purcell, Waubeek. A year before he retired in 1995, Gibbons, now 56, even traveled to Germany and fought and lost by knockout to local boy Ruediger May. Two more bouts on American soil — the first in Des Moines, Iowa, and the second in Miles City, Montana — paved the way for one final stop in Denmark against Peter Madsen. Gibbons would lose that by stoppage again and decided that enough was enough. Pretty soon, Gibbons got himself doing odd jobs in boxing through a relative — uncle Pat O’ Grady — father to former world lightweight champion Sean O’Grady. “I got the boxing bug from him. I would set up the ring, help sell tickets and train fighters… I started from the bottom,” Gibbons, born in Long Beach, California, said, noting that the first fighter he trained was heavyweight Wimpy Halstead. Oftentimes, Gibbons “would jump in as one of the fighters in the card and I was able to travel the world.” He also got aligned with Top Rank and credits Hall of Fame Bruce Trampler and fight coordinator Pete Susens as his mentors and takes great pride in his close association with eight-division legend Manny Pacquiao. Gibbons actually came to the Pacquiao show rather late. But his seven-year stint working for Pacquiao was the most memorable, saying it doesn’t compare with the 35 other years of involvement with boxing. “Seven years I spent with him were better than the other 35 years,” Gibbons, who graduated from Simi Valley High, said. Gibbons revealed that after Australian banger Jeff Horn elbowed and butted and wrestled his way in carving out a controversial points win in Brisbane in July 2018, “Pacquiao had pretty much been left for dead by some people.” It was right at this time when Gibbons entered the scene as Pacquiao’s go-to-guy for meaningful fights while also providing other Filipino boxers the break they need to become successful. Gibbons didn’t disappoint and was instrumental in striking a deal for fights involving Adrien Broner and Keith Thurman that resulted in a “tremendous run.” The victory over Thurman would go down as an epic as it made Pacquiao the oldest to win a world welterweight crown in July 2019 in Las Vegas. Now that Pacquiao has sailed into the sunset, Gibbons is dedicating his time and effort to the betterment of the other talents under MP Promotions, the Pacquiao-owned company that has majority of the country’s top ring talent under contract. And this is where Gibbons wields his expertise and proof of his savvy can be seen on Jerwin Ancajas, Pedro Taduran, Rene Cuarto, Mark Magsayo and current two-belt world super-bantamweight titleholder Marlon Tapales. Also under Gibbons’ care are Jonas Sultan, Vincent Astrolabio, Jade Bornea and Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist and Asian Games silver medalist Eumir Marcial. Though not every one of them managed to win a world title, Gibbons draws utmost satisfaction from the helping hand that he had extended to them. “The most satisfying thing is to change lives of the fighters and take fighters who wouldn’t normally get these opportunities.” Also, Gibbons points to Pacquiao as a reason why he was able to pull it off. “I had the name Manny Pacquiao promotions and Manny Pacquiao was behind me but the biggest, biggest key was Al Haymon and he took my word for guys like Jerwin Ancajas, Mark Magsayo, Jonas Sultan and many, many others.” And there is no stopping Gibbons from doing the same thing especially when his clients’ welfare is on the line. A few months ago, Gibbons earned the ire of a state commission and got slapped with a ban. Still, Gibbons swears it is his way of showing that he always got his clients’ back. So how does he want people to remember him? “I would like to be remembered as someone who gave his all, no regrets. Just you know, when I work with someone, I put all my heart and soul into it. I got suspended for five for screaming at referees but I would like to be remembered for a guy who always had his client, fighters and boxers’ back and that when we went at it, we gave it our all.” If you end up going to war, you’d certainly want somebody like Sean Gibbons right by your side. The post POUND-FOR-POUND — Good guy Gibbons gives Filipino boxers the chance to shine appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Biggest-ever Asian Games ready for liftoff in China after Covid delay
The biggest Asian Games in history, boasting about 12,000 competitors -- more than the Olympics -- will open on Saturday in the Chinese city of Hangzhou after a year's delay because of Covid. Athletes including world and Olympic champions will fight for medals in 40 sports from athletics, swimming and football to eSports and bridge. Nine sports, among them boxing, break dancing and tennis, will serve as qualifiers for next year's Paris Olympics. The Games were supposed to take place last September but were postponed because of China's strict zero-Covid rules, before China's ruling Communist Party abruptly abandoned the policy. The 19th edition of the Games, which were first held in New Delhi in 1951, throws together competitors from 45 countries and territories across Asia and the Middle East. For China, which hosted the 2022 Winter Olympics in a Covid-secure "bubble" in Beijing, it is a chance to show off its organizational, sporting and technological prowess after the pandemic years cut the country off from the sporting world. "We have overcome a lot of challenges but we are now fully conditioned to hold a successful Games," Chen Weiqiang, chief spokesperson for the Games, said on Wednesday. Sport meets politics The Games will be staged at 54 venues -- 14 newly constructed -- mostly in Hangzhou but also extending to cities as far afield as Wenzhou, 300 kilometres (180 miles) south. The centerpiece is the "Big Lotus" Olympic stadium with a capacity of up to 80,000 where athletics and the opening and closing ceremonies will be staged. President Xi Jinping will attend the opening ceremony and meet Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad there, along with other visiting leaders, Chinese state media says. Assad is making his first visit to ally China since the war erupted in Syria in 2011. Russian President Vladimir Putin likewise attended the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics, along with Xi, and weeks later launched the invasion of Ukraine. Hangzhou, a city of 12 million people an hour's bullet train from Shanghai, is famed in China for its ancient temples, gardens and its beloved West Lake. It is also the unofficial home of China's tech industry, notably the birth place of Jack Ma's Alibaba. The Games will showcase some of the latest tech to come out of the city, including driverless buses, robot dogs and facial recognition. China medal dash Hosts China have topped the medals table at every Asian Games since 1982 and are expected to do so again by the time the curtain comes down on October 8. They should reign in swimming, with Qin Haiyang fresh from his heroics at the world championships, where he announced himself as the new undisputed breaststroke king. The 24-year-old swept all three men's events and set a new world record in the 200m. In athletics, another of the most closely watched sports, India's Olympic and world champion Neeraj Chopra will defend his Asian Games javelin crown. His nearest competitor should be world silver medalist Arshad Nadeem from arch-rivals Pakistan and the countries are also on a collision course in cricket and hockey. ESports, in what is seen as a step toward Olympic inclusion one day, will make its full Asian Games debut having been a demonstration sport five years ago. Lee Sang-hyeok, better known as "Faker", has god-like status in League of Legends and will lead the South Korean charge at the futuristic-looking China Hangzhou Esports Centre. There is an added incentive which has caused controversy in South Korea -- winning gold will exempt them from having to do military service. A feature of the Asian Games is that it includes sports that are a little more quirky than the Olympics. Xiangqi -- also known as "Chinese chess" -- the card game bridge and the ancient wrestling discipline of kurash are all on the menu. Although the Games officially open on Saturday, the sporting action began on Tuesday, when North Korea returned to major international competition for the first time since the pandemic with a 2-0 win over Taiwan in men's football. The post Biggest-ever Asian Games ready for liftoff in China after Covid delay appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Egypt inflation hits record high of nearly 40%
Annual inflation in Egypt hit 39.7 percent in August, official figures showed Sunday, an all-time high for the country as it grapples with a punishing economic crisis. It comes immediately after the previous record of 38.2 percent was recorded in July, and over a year into an unrelenting economic crisis that has seen the currency shed half its value against the US dollar since early last year. Food and drink prices alone registered a 71.9 percent increase compared to August 2022, state statistics agency CAPMAS announced on Sunday, adding to the burden of families who have been struggling to make ends meet. The economic crisis in the import-dependent country was catalyzed by Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year, which destabilized crucial food supplies and unsettled global markets. Investors pulled billions out of Cairo's foreign reserves, which remain buoyed by deposits from wealthy Gulf allies whose promises to purchase Egyptian state assets have fallen short of government targets. Even before the current crisis, 30 percent of Egyptians were living below the poverty line, according to the World Bank, with another 30 percent vulnerable to falling into poverty. Egypt, the Arab world's most populous country, has been dependent on bailouts in recent years, from both Gulf allies and the International Monetary Fund. Last year, the IMF approved a $3 billion loan for Egypt conditioned on "a permanent shift to a flexible exchange rate regime". The country's external debt bill has tripled over the past decade, rising to a record high of $165.4 billion this year, according to Ministry of Planning figures. The post Egypt inflation hits record high of nearly 40% appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Essential Bangkok experience
Take the Airport Rail Link and SkyTrain. If you don’t have too many pieces of luggage, says our tour guide Nattapong Jongboonsab, the Airport Rail Link is the quickest — and cheapest — way to get into the city. The SkyTrain is also the best way to get around Bangkok and beat the traffic jam. The trains run regularly and are often quite busy. Check out Siam Premium Outlet. The perfect starting point for most tourists — with shopping as the first order of the day — just 20 minutes away from the Suvarnabhumi Airport. It is where the world’s biggest fashion stores and high-end brands are located. Think Balenciaga, Chanel, Burberry, Versace, Ferragamo, Bally, Jimmy Choo, Karl Lagerfeld, Marc Jacobs etc., alongside a host of casual, sporting and accessories brands, including Adidas, Nike, Fred Perry, Onitsuka Tiger, Samsonite, Swarovski. The outdoor complex houses a number of air-conditioned restaurants — like the popular S&P Thai Restaurant (try their Chicken Green Curry and Seabass Yellow Curry on Rice — the best!) — and food stalls selling popular Thai street food dishes. Other high-end stores in the city you must visit: Central Village, Iconsiam and Siam Paragon. Explore Iconsiam — The most impressive shopping center in Bangkok with more than 7,000 shops, 100 restaurants and even a floating market. The ground floor is a bustling indoor night market filled with food stalls dishing out classic Bangkok street snacks, including oyster and crab omelet, spicy and pungent curries, grilled squids, prawns and eels, pad thai, rice bowls, noodles, deep-fried chicken and pork, pomelo salad and their ever-popular mango sticky rice — all at affordable price. Our guide says it is best visited on a rowdy weekend, with endless orders of beers to chase away the fiery flavors. Walk around Siam Square. It’s a unique hipster block with something for everyone, from boutique stores to cool cafes and patisseries. The area is so popular among the young generation who enjoys hanging out with friends over cups of iced coffee or milk tea, specially from the most-talked about and most Instagrammable dog-friendly restaurant, the Dosan Dalmatian by Mammia. It offers western and Korean dishes with indoor and outdoor sitting. It’s best to order a cappuccino or latte because there’s an adorable puppy face cream on top. Sooo cute. Shop till you drop at Jodd Fairs. Another open-air night market selling local and imported items from branded clothing to bric-a-brac. Pick up a plaid shirt, slap on some oversized sunglasses and pair it all with sandals and socks while you’re at it. After your retail therapy, stop by for a cold beer or mocktails and a snack of churros at one of its outdoor food stalls. Pamper yourself at Let’s Relax. After a long day of shopping and sightseeing, one of the best things you can do for your body and mental well-being is hit the spa. Some of the world’s best spas are in Bangkok, and Let’s Relax is one of them. It offers authentic, traditional Thai body massage. However, we just opted for the one-and-a-half-hour foot massage. Not bad at all. The post Essential Bangkok experience appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Makati subway facing delays due to SC ruling
The Makati City subway project, the first underground railway project undertaken by a local government unit, is facing another headwind after its alignment was adversely affected by the tug-of-war between the cities of Makati and Taguig over territorial disputes. In a stock report on Wednesday, private proponent Philippine Infradev Holdings, Inc. disclosed that the project alignment is no longer viable as the depot and a few stations, which were supposed to traverse through Makati City properties, were found to be within the jurisdiction of Taguig City instead as ruled by the Supreme Court or SC. "Under the Joint Venture Agreement executed between the Makati City Government and the Company, the depot and a few stations of the Makati City subway system will be in the affected areas. Also, the alignment of the subway will no longer be feasible," the company informed the stock exchange. Particularly, the SC decision affected the Makati City subway project's depot in Cembo as well as the planned stations in the University of Makati in West Rembo, and Ospital ng Makati in Pembo. Thus, Infradev said it has reached out to the Makati City government, through an Intent Notice, to discuss the next course of action that they should take following the SC order. In April 2022, the SC Third Division ruled with finality that the disputed areas, Bonifacio Global City and nearby Enlisted Men’s Barrio or EMBO barangays, were under Taguig City's jurisdictions. However, before Taguig City’s courts assume pending litigations over the said areas, which used to be part of Makati, it first needs to secure a writ of execution. A writ of execution is a legal order issued by a court that qualifies the enforcement of a judgment or court decision. In 2019, the Makati City Government signed the Joint Venture Agreement with Infradev and its partner after the company hurdled the competitive Swiss Challenge and obtained approval for the construction, operation, and management of the intra-city subway. Under the joint venture, Makati would only contribute land it currently owns for the project. The subway aims to connect key points in Makati like the current Central Business District at the corner of Ayala and Sen. Gil Puyat Avenues, Circuit City, Makati City Hall, University of Makati, Ospital ng Makati and other new growth areas within the city. The subway is planned to have up to 10 air-conditioned, underground island stations whose entrances will be linked to destinations across the city. The project can accommodate up to six-car trains, with room for over 200 persons per car, with more than 700,000 passengers per day to be accommodated and served by the proposed mass transport system. The post Makati subway facing delays due to SC ruling appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Teen-aged boy electrocuted in Tondo
A 14-year-old boy died after he was electrocuted by a live wire in an air-conditioned canopy of a house Saturday morning in Capulong Street, Barangay 104, Tondo, Manila. Police from MPD-PS 1 identified the victim as Jasper Castro, resident of Imelda Street corner Capulong Street Barangay 108, Tondo, Manila. The body of the victim was brought down by a passing Manila Bureau of Fire Protection truck coming from a fire at Sitio Damayan, Tondo when they were stopped by some residents in the place. Police described the dead body of the boy as shirtless and only wearing jersey shorts. The victim was electrocuted at around 10:20 a.m. in a house owned by Joey Lepiten, 44, at 26C-2 Capulong Street, Barangay 104, Tondo. Police are still investigating the circumstances of the case. The post Teen-aged boy electrocuted in Tondo appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Idolizing Danny Dolor (The man I might have been if I had at least P500 million)
Here’s sharing with you Cyber Proust’s (now Proust Redux) winning piece when he joined the 2010 Philippine Star Lifestyle Journalism Contest sponsored by Rustan Commercial Corporation and the Stores Specialists, Inc. The announcement called for feature articles, as many as one could submit, about heroes, dead or alive. Cyber Proust submitted three — one about his mother; another about a blogger who tells stories about his clan and people like them, making for a good read for people interested in Philippine upper class but not necessarily high society; and this one, about Danny Dolor, Cyber Proust’s patron and benefactor when Cyber Proust had not yet declared himself rich. Here goes: My hero, my icon, the man I’d rather be When people are asked who they want to be if they ever get the chance to live their lives all over again, they almost always say they want to be the same person. If you ask me the same question, I’d have the same answer, only because I want to keep the same set of parents. But if I could keep my Dad and Mom, and still be someone else, I’d look at you straight in the eye, and declare, I want to be Danny Dolor. I can think of a hackneyed thousand and one reasons why I prefer to breathe and eat and live like Sir Danny, but let me stick to the quintessential five. First, he is rich which we all want to be. He is an art lover which I profess to be. He is a trailblazer even if he is a Libran who prefers balance, while I am an Arian who always wants to be the first. He was a good son who took care of his mother in her old age, which every good son should do especially if he were single. I am single, but I was always away from home, too busy changing and finding writing jobs. The closest I got to emulating Sir Danny was spending endless nights conversing with my mother whenever I was home during Christmas breaks. Sir Danny, on the other hand, never travelled abroad because he wanted to be by his mother’s side every night of the year. When he visited Lipa, their hometown, he would pick up his mobile phone to check on his mother and sister Fe in their Makati home, rattling off his orders to their yaya — check their temperature, don’t forget the medicine after their merienda, and so on. Finally, Danny Dolor is a good Catholic who hears Sunday Mass, fingers his beads when in the car, and joins the procession on Good Friday beside his own Mater Dolorosa. How I wish I could give away lands on which to build churches, donate thousands of portfolio bags for priests attending their annual convention, and build a museum in honor of a townsman, Alfredo Maria Obviar, who may yet be the first Filipino bishop to be beatified and, in God’s time, canonized. First conversation I am lucky to have an icon whom I have seen up close. I have seen Danny Dolor when he goes into a trance as he describes his first conversation with National Artist Atang de la Rama, to whom he became a friend and confidante, or fits of laughter as he recalls the usually funny repartee between his friends Sylvia La Torre and Oscar Obligacion when the latter was still alive. For all the secrets and fun times we have shared, I stick to calling him Sir as I did the first time I interviewed him in his thickly-carpeted, air-conditioned and perfume-smelling den. I had known about the man before I ever met him. I knew about his Tribung Pinoy which concertized all over the country in the late 1970s all the way to the mid 1980’s. I never saw them perform in person, but I read about Danny Dolor and his gang of sopranos, tenors and baritones who rendered their harana, danza, balitaw and, of course, kundiman, in schools and churches, and quixotic venues like the Culion Leper Colony in Palawan, the mental hospital and the women’s correctional where the patients and inmates cried, sang, danced and thanked him because no one ever came to sing for them. The path-breaking Danny Dolor also produced the first ever concert at the Cultural Center of the Philippines featuring an all-Filipino-traditional-music repertoire. Danny Dolor’s house, at that time when I interviewed him, was along Tamarind corner Banaba in uppity Forbes Park. In the den, paintings, sculptures, plaques, and trophies vied for the attention of first-time guests. I immediately liked a Zalameda portrait of a basketball player, but what impressed me was a plaque with Latin inscriptions which, my host explained to me, was his papal award. He next brought me to the lanai, thrice as large as the den, where beside the lacquered opium bed stood a gigantic St. Joseph. He showed me a life-size oil portrait of Charito Solis, Ramon Valera ternos worn by Gloria Romero and his sister Fe, and original drawings of Darna by Mars Ravelo. The man, who knows his art, takes pride in his penchant for everything Filipino. It is an interest that goes a long way back to his childhood during the Japanese occupation. In the family hacienda where they evacuated, he listened to the farmers sing native songs. In grade one a year or two later, the young Danny sang Bayan Ko before his classmates, to the shock of the teacher who probably expected Jack and Jill. When Sir Danny was in grade school, he watched Filipino films in the movie houses along Rizal Avenue. As a high school student, he listened to the Mabuhay singers over the radio. In college, he watched Tawag ng Tanghalan on television. Is it any wonder that he should mount a best-selling exhibit of movie ads from the golden years of Philippine cinema? Or that he has maintained, for more than ten years, a column in the Philippine Star, “Remember When?” featuring the movie stars and great musical talents of yesteryears? Danny Dolor is unique in that he straddles the worlds of show business and high society, which many find incompatible. Not with him who has produced movies, including Indie films, and concert tributes honoring luminaries of the silver screen like Director Hermogenes Ilagan and movie queen Carmen Rosales. His involvement in the upper strata, on the other hand, is never without a good reason. For example, he collaborated with the socialite businesswoman Nedy Tantoco in organizing the best-selling Ramon Valera retrospective exhibit. If he is chummy with the grand dame Imelda Cojuangco that’s because he is a loyal and trusted officer the Cofradia de la Inmaculada Concepcion, of which she is the chair. Every year, come Feast of the Immaculate Conception, they gather hundreds of children from depressed areas to receive their first holy communion. Imagine the mix For all of these, he takes a break from his duties as chairman of various companies that include a hospital, hotel, educational institution, bank and subdivisions. Imagine the mix — movies, music, church, business and high society. And he dances the Rigodon too. How can one not desire such completeness? There’s something though he’d rather not be said about him. In my times of need, he does not hide under his canopied bed, and in the milestones of my life, he gives me a thick red envelope. Once I ran out of cash to pay my rent, I called him up and told him that if only I could touch the tip of his pants, I was sure to have what I needed. Scolding me first for being such a cheap copy of the woman in the bible, he said Yes to my pleadings, while reminding me to help him prepare another souvenir program for yet another concert tribute for another forgotten gem of Philippine music. The man does not believe in outright charity. Not to me, anyway. And while he is patient with me, he insists that I “fix” my life for “all these things you delight in will soon come to pass” and “if you do not take care of yourself, who will?” and so on. From his mother, he passes on a classic gem, “Never do anything that people will notice from afar,” a rough translation of “Huwag kang gagawa ng kahit anong matatanaw mula sa malayo.” In short, don’t be a show-off. My hero and icon, Danny Dolor, is not only a model for living the successful and well-lived life that I dream about. He is also a saviour, a mentor and an angel who, despite the “professional distance” we keep between us as a “client” and as a “talent,” if the relationship must breed results, has come closest to being my “Tito” and best friend. Sir Danny will not be pleased with this article. He will think that I need to borrow money from him again. The post Idolizing Danny Dolor (The man I might have been if I had at least P500 million) appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Mystery in Dubai as mega-wheel stops turning
Two years ago, Dubai's skyscraper-studded skyline welcomed a Ferris wheel touted as the world's largest, but it mysteriously stopped turning just months after opening. The much-touted Ain Dubai (Dubai Eye) was designed as a tourist-luring landmark in the United Arab Emirates' glam hub, which is home to the world's tallest building. But now it stands idle for undisclosed reasons, its extravagant light fixtures the only parts seemingly still working. "Ain Dubai remains closed until further notice," says an official website for the attraction. "We continue to rigorously work on completing the enhancement works that have been taking place over the past months." The wheel was supposed to close for just a month but its reopening has since been postponed indefinitely. Those behind the project inaugurated in 2021 have failed to reply to inquiries. At restaurants, shops, and cafes built around the attraction, employees remain skeptical that the structure, which took around six years to build, will ever turn again. "Last year they promised us that in winter it will be open, even now, they are saying that in (the coming) winter it will be open again," said one employee at a nearby shop. "But we're not sure... it will," said the man who asked to remain anonymous due to fear of reprisal. 'Too slow' The Dubai Eye, built by a consortium of international companies, is located in Bluewaters -- a man-made island designed as a retail, residential, and entertainment hub. For more than a year, the main entrance to the attraction has remained closed and ticket booths abandoned. Only a slow trickle of tourists visit the site, snapping pictures of LED lights mounted on its exterior. "I asked a security guard here about it and he told me that it doesn't work," said Marwan Mohammad, an Egyptian tourist. "I asked him for the reason but he did not give me an answer," said the 33-year-old business consultant. In a city filled with record-breaking landmarks, the Dubai Eye stands at a height of 250 meters (825 feet), each of its legs the length of 15 London buses, according to Dubai's tourism department. Nearly twice as tall as the London Eye, it is the largest of its kind in the world. Its 48-passenger cabins, all of them air-conditioned, can carry around 1,750 passengers on a single ride. Ticket prices range between 100 dirhams (about $27) and 4,700 dirhams (about $1,280), with luxury passes and private cabins on offer. "The view was very beautiful from above," said Mohammad who experienced the 38-minute ride before it closed, adding however, that it moved "too slowly". 'Heavier than island' With no official explanation, rumors are rife about the Ferris wheel's apparent technical issues, especially among employees at Bluewaters. They all spoke on condition of anonymity, fearing repercussions from authorities or their employers. "This is a man-made island. I heard that (the wheel) is heavier than the island itself, that's why it is very dangerous," said a waiter at a nearby restaurant, adding that it had been noisy during its few months of operation. "Now... it's only for show, just for the lighting and that's it". The giant wheel, made of more steel than the Eiffel Tower, features prominently on the list of Dubai's top tourist attractions. They include the Dubai Frame monument and Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building. Patrick Clawson, research director at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said official silence on the Ferris wheel suggested a complicated problem. UAE authorities are generally "quick to provide information if they" have a solution, he said. But with the Dubai Eye, "whatever the problem, the authorities are not confident they have a solution," he told AFP. The post Mystery in Dubai as mega-wheel stops turning appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Viable aggie solution needed
It was a soporific SoNAta from the halls of Congress. But there were sudden drumbeats that perked up his audience. President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. surely knows how to spice up his speeches. “The campaign against illegal drugs shall continue,” “bilang na ang araw ng mga smuggler,” amnesty to rebels, national integration of the power grid, digitalization of the government bureaucracy, continuation and expansion of infrastructure projects of the PRRD administration, and the creation of a Department of Water Resource Management, among others. But how can we reconcile the good news about the economic growth PBBM has boasted about against the backdrop of inflation? Dispersing Kadiwa rolling stores all over the country will not provide relief from the high cost of consumer commodities. It is a Band-aid solution at best. It is a consolation, however, that President Marcos cited agriculture as the backbone of the Philippine economy and that increasing agricultural productivity must be addressed. His approach, however, is not too comforting as it looks like it was discussed in an air-conditioned room rather than proven in the field by actual practice. He wants farmers to use biofertilizer which, according to him, is cheaper. The fact is, it is not. Biofertilizer as the name suggests is made up of micro-organisms that increase the supply of essential nutrients in plants. Whether this type of fertilizer is available in the country is a big question and if it is, will the volumes suffice? Biofertilizer collects nutrients around the root system of plants. In the process, which could take long, the basic elements needed by the plant, among these, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium or NPK, are fed to the plants although the levels of each are not ascertained. With chemical fertilizer, NPK levels are set and are immediately available to the plants. Furthermore, in preparing fields for planting, either by direct seeding or transplanting seedlings, farmers actually spray biocides first to eliminate the pesky snails that eat the growing seedlings. Biocides will effectively kill microorganisms as well so there goes your expense on biofertilizer. Furthermore, in the stages of palay growth, various infestations happen, among them, stem borers and black bugs, which prompt farmers to spray insecticide. Admittedly, biofertilizer is an excellent soil conditioner. Moreover, not all biofertilizers are created equal. Some producers cook their raw materials, like chicken dung and animal manure, killing all the microorganisms and still calling it biofertilizer. In Davao City, the Davao Thermo Biotech Corporation, a pioneering firm engaged in the processing of biodegradable garbage waste into fertilizer, is currently producing biofertilizer through a special process by composting hyperthermophilic bacteria that drive the temperature up to over 100 degrees C naturally. The hyperthermophilic microbes heat that high in the second week and fix the basic nutrients, the NPK, on the finished product. The product has proven excellent to apply to cacao trees. It has also given dramatic results in experimental Cavendish banana plantations. But we are in a crucial stage. Rice-producing countries, among them, Vietnam, Thailand, and India, are not in the mode of exporting rice. What we need is an immediate solution to address the impending rice shortage. Marcos should jettison the “Tontos” who told him that biofertilizer was cheaper than chemical fertilizer. He should move fast and strike a government-to-government deal with China, the biggest fertilizer producer in the world. This would bring down the cost of fertilizer by more than 50 percent. Fertilizer should be available by mid-September in time for the next planting season. Toward the end of the year, we will see bumper rice harvests and stave off a rice shortage. In the meantime, let us see smugglers and hoarders of agricultural products going to jail. We are tired of the empty rhetoric. The post Viable aggie solution needed appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Nova transport Co-ops shrug strike
Two transport cooperatives in Metro Manila have declared that they will not be joining the proposed transport strike from 24 to 26 July 2023 and vowed that they will continue to operate on their designated routes. The transport cooperatives are the Novaliches-Malinta Jeepney Transport Service Cooperative and the Novaliches Development Cooperative Inc. They have a combined fleet of 84 modern jeepneys, which are fully air-conditioned and compliant with the government’s Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program. NMJTSC general manager Helen Reponia has assured Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board chair Teofilo Guadiz III that their cooperative is fully supportive of the government’s Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program. NOVADECI Transport Service Cooperative general manager Mark Anthony Quiñon, on the other hand, echoed Reponia’s statement, saying that they will not participate in the transport protest set to start on the day President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. delivers his second State of the Nation Address. The PUVMP is a partnership among the Office of the President-Cooperatives Development Authority, Development Bank of the Philippines, Land Bank of the Philippines, LTFRB, Department of Transportation, and Office of Transport Cooperatives. The program aims to modernize the country’s public transportation system by replacing old and dilapidated vehicles with new, fuel-efficient, and environmentally friendly ones. Earlier, Guadiz stressed that drivers who will violate the law by joining the transport strike could face penalties, including revocation of their franchise. He added that commuters need not worry about the impact of the transport holiday as the seven other transport groups will not participate and reminded drivers who are planning to join the strike of their obligations being franchise holders. He said their actions should not jeopardize public transportation. He said the LTFRB is trying to address the complaints raised by MANIBELA on the jeepney routes. Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista will lead a meeting next week with concerned agencies and transport groups to discuss how to deal with the possible impact of the strike. The post Nova transport Co-ops shrug strike appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»