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PSA-7: Report to us if PhilSys ID not accepted
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Philippine Statistics Authority in Central Visayas (PSA-7) urged Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) ID holders to report to the agency if some entities do not accept their IDs. PSA-7 chief administrative officer of Edwina Carriaga told CDN Digital in a phone interview that the agency is urging PhilSys ID (National ID).....»»
DOT advises public to ‘travel wisely’ this Holy Week
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Tourism (DOT) is advising the public to “travel wisely” to ensure safety during the Holy Week celebrations. “Travelers needing accommodation, tours, transportation, and other tourism-related services are strongly advised to patronize DOT-accredited tourism enterprises. Accreditation by the DOT recognizes establishments as having complied with the department’s minimum standards set.....»»
5-day forecast: Fair weather expected in Cebu
CEBU CITY, Philippines – The weather in Metro Cebu and the rest of the province is forecast to be generally fair and pleasant over the next five days, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said. The Pagasa Visayas Regional Services Division has forecast that the Visayas, including the whole of Cebu, will.....»»
Pagasa declares start of summer
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration yesterday officially declared the start of summer in the Philippines with the end of the northeast monsoon......»»
Mega racket bared
The recruitment scam in Italy revealed in DAILY TRIBUNE’s digital show, Usapang OFW, has proven to be bigger than first thought as more victims surfaced yesterday. The victims recounted tales of deceit and a web of lies committed by the “CEO” of the agency. In an exclusive interview with Daily Tribune, 12 more victims agreed to recount their unpleasant experiences with Italy-based immigration consultancy firm Alpha Assistenza SRL, headed by Filipino co-CEOs Krizelle Respicio and Frederick Dutaro. They joined fellow victims Vanessa Antonio, Apple Cabasis, Enrique Catilo, and “victim-turned-runner” of Alpha Assistenza Socorro Velasquez, who had spoken of their experiences in the 21 September episode of Usapang OFW. The victims painted a picture of “serial scamming” that involved word-of-mouth testimonials, mostly from friends and even relatives that were too good to be true, about the agency’s social media savvy, its network of agents acting as “fixers” and collectors, and a heap of promises that turned into a mountain of excuses allegedly made by Respicio herself. (Daily Tribune is withholding the real names of all the victims at their request.) “One of Alpha Assistenza’s staff was able to get in touch with my in-laws, and they were told how the agency could bring Filipinos to Italy in as short as three months. We paid P150,000. We got a fake Nulla Osta (work permit),” Ramon said. Another victim, Janice, revealed that eight members of her family were recruited by Alpha Assistenza, and their agent was a relative. They paid a total of 21,000 euros. They all received fake work permits. Another requested a refund. The victim was issued a check, which was deposited in an ATM. The check bounced. Timeline of deception Each victim said they began their transactions with Alpha Assistenza last May. Several compartmentalized online chat groups, with members of at most 15, were set up by the agency for communications. The staff of Alpha Assistenza and Respicio herself were in each of the chat groups. “But almost none of us got to see Respicio personally,” said the victims. The agents of Alpha Assistenza acted as collectors for the agency, taking payments via online banking or accepting cash from the “clients.” One victim said she paid in cash at the agency’s office. She claimed it was Respicio who accepted the payment. The scam unraveled in July when a slew of Nulla Ostas “processed” by Alpha Assistenza was rejected at the local Piasi Via (immigration office). Several victims said they arrived as a group for their appearance, only to have their documents rejected because they were found fake. “After that, Respicio began to make all kinds of excuses. There was a glitch in the system. Or the rules at the Piasi had changed. Or there was a typo in the documents. She even gave the excuse that a popular show was having a tour in Milan so that the Piasi couldn’t process more papers,” several victims said. While they began to doubt Alpha Assitenza, they continued to hold on to the promises of Respicio, the victims said. Only when they connected with other victims did they realize the scam’s grand scale. The post Mega racket bared appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Tainted love: Misinformation drives ‘vaccine-free’ dating
In a private dating group on Facebook, Renee flaunts herself to like-minded singles as a fit, adventurous Kizomba dancer who at 35 exudes "inner child vibes." But her main draw? She is unvaccinated. The Covid-19 pandemic may have receded, but dating apps, websites and social media groups still offer to unite vaccine-hating singles who believe debunked falsehoods such as that coronavirus jabs alter DNA or cause infertility. The trend underscores how anti-vaccine sentiment has become an entrenched identity for many who willfully resist or ignore scientific assertions that inoculations saved tens of millions of lives globally when the pandemic was raging. A prospective match's vaccination status determines compatibility not just for Renee, a self-employed Australian, but for many posting in "unvaxed singles" groups that have cropped up on Facebook. Dating decisions there are driven by chemistry but not science. In one closed group breached by AFP, many listed "no jabbies" as their top dating criteria, while others cheered anti-vaccine advocates as "pure blood freedom fighters." One meme popular in the group described their ideal partner: "She's curvy, funny, intelligent, unvaccinated." It demonstrates how the pandemic turned rejecting vaccines from a personal health decision to the way "people express their personal brand," said Timothy Caulfield, a professor at the University of Alberta in Canada. "It shows how high the walls of their echo chambers are. Being anti-vaccine has become an ideological flag -- a way to demonstrate which team you belong to," Caulfield told AFP. "It is less and less about science and more and more about the values being antivax signal." 'Swipe left' According to a 2022 survey by the Pew Research Center, about half of US adults who used a dating site or app said it was important to see the vaccination status on profiles. "Why is your vaccination status such a big deal? I've even seen it listed as a 'dealbreaker' on some profiles," said a post in a dating discussion group on the online messaging board Reddit. "The profiles I see most state the following: 'if you're vaccinated then please swipe left.'" Some comments in the group referred to vaccinated singles as people carrying "biological weapons," an apparent reference to the debunked claim the vaccinated spread "super strain" variants. Vaccine falsehoods often overlap with other types of misinformation, introducing believers to those espousing the QAnon conspiracy theory and anti-LGBTQ narratives. "Studies have consistently shown that if a person is anti-vaccine – or unvaccinated – you can make a strong guess about that person's positions on a host of other issues," Caulfield said. Spreading falsehoods can also be profitable. The Florida-based Wellness Company sells a detoxification supplement that it claims counteracts the harmful effects of coronavirus jabs, destroying spike proteins to get back "that pre-Covid feeling." But experts and public health authorities told AFP's fact-checkers there is no evidence the nearly $65 supplement does that. The same company also backs a dating website for unvaccinated people called Unjected. Before being accepted, its members are required to have their "vaccination status certified by a medical professional," according to the website. In 2021, US media reported the Unjected app, dubbed as the "Tinder for anti-vaxers," was removed from Apple's App Store over Covid-19 misinformation. A slew of similar apps for unvaccinated singles are available on the Google Play Store. One such platform is called Unjabbed, whose user reviews expressed concern about bugs and phone hacking attempts after the app was downloaded. 'Tall, dark, handsome' At the height of the pandemic in 2021, conventional online dating platforms including Tinder, Hinge and OkCupid sought to boost vaccinations. As part of a White House-backed effort, many platforms allowed users to create badges displaying vaccination status, with OkCupid calling the inoculated the "new tall, dark and handsome." Users who were vaccinated or planned to be saw a spike in matches and engagement, OkCupid said in a blog, adding the "vaccine is really helping people find love." But any future inoculation drive could be jeopardized by anti-vaccine sentiment, which appears resilient even as the pandemic ebbs and travel restrictions are lifted around the world. The allure of finding an unvaccinated partner is reinforced by false social media posts sharing unfounded fears that vaccines can be "shed" or passed onto people through body fluids, threatening fertility. "The only real utility a dating platform like this could have is finding a partner that aligns with your 'medical freedom' views," Katrine Wallace, an epidemiologist and assistant professor at the University of Illinois Chicago, told AFP. "There is no clinical reason to do so." The post Tainted love: Misinformation drives ‘vaccine-free’ dating appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
US plans cyber safety certificate for connected devices
The White House on Tuesday announced a proposed "Cyber Trust Mark" intended to show that connected devices meet US security standards. An ever-increasing number of technologies -- from baby monitors, to fitness trackers and home security cameras -- make up the so-called "internet of things," which US officials warn can pose increased cybersecurity threats. Under the new program, companies will be able to qualify to display labels on their products signifying they meet certain cybersecurity standards, such as requiring strict passwords and frequently updating software, US officials announced in a briefing. "We now routinely rely on internet and Bluetooth enabled devices for task as basic as adjusting our thermostat and as complex as securing our homes while we're away," said Anne Neuberger, White House deputy national security advisor for cyber and emerging technology. "Poorly secured products can enable attackers to gain footholds in American homes and offices and steal data or cause disruption," she warned. The program, under the Federal Communications Commission, is hoped to be up and running by next year after a public comment period. Amazon, Google, LG Electronics and Samsung are among the companies participating in the program, US officials said in a briefing, notably omitting Apple. The amount of malicious software aimed at devices in the internet-of-things "jumped dramatically" in 2022, with many of the attacks centered in North America, according to cybersecurity firm SonicWall. "Consumers can have peace of mind that the products that they're bringing into their homes adhere to widely accepted security and privacy standards," FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel said of US-endorsed cyber trust labels. Meanwhile, product makers will be able to use the marks to differentiate offerings in the marketplace when they meet the standards, Rosenworcel added. The post US plans cyber safety certificate for connected devices appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Philippines beats India for back-to-back wins in women’s Asia ice hockey tiff
The Philippine women’s ice hockey team picked up where they left off after their opening win in the 2024 IIHF Women’s Asia and Oceania Cup with a 7-0 shutout of India at the Bishkek Arena in Kyrgyzstan on Wednesday......»»
BARMM launches social services programs online portal
BARMM launches social services programs online portal.....»»
Marcos: Philippines won’t be ‘cowed into silence, submission’ by China
“We seek no conflict with any nation, more so nations that purport and claim to be our friends but we will not be cowed into silence, submission, or subservience. Filipinos do not yield,” Marcos said. .....»»
Philippines sees increase in hotel bookings from overseas in 2023 — report
Hotel bookings from overseas rose in the Philippines in 2023, a report on hotel booking trends by hotel channel manager SiteMinder found......»»
Pentagon chief reaffirms support after latest China aggression in WPS
Austin emphasized US support for the Philippines in defending its sovereign rights and jurisdiction in a phone call with Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro on Wednesday. .....»»
Philippines logs 40 pertussis deaths this year
MANILA, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Forty children have died of whopping cough, a respiratory infection also called pertussis, since this year, the Philippines' Department of Health (DOH) has reported. The DOH said in a statement on Wednesday that cases have continued to increase since the start of this year, recording 568 cases from Jan. 1 to March 16. "The total number of cases for the same period in 2023 was.....»»
PNVF forms coaching sataff for world meet
Seasoned coach Dante Alinsunurin will make a comeback as one of the deputies for the national men’s team as host Philippines pulls out all the stops to parade a competitive squad against the best of the best in the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championships 2025......»»
Iraqis display full might vs Philippines XI
Iraq rained goals on host Philippines in a 5-0 shutout that pushed the Filipinos to the brink in the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers Tuesday at the packed Rizal Memorial Stadium......»»
ANZ raises Philippine inflation forecast to 3.8% this year
ANZ Research hiked its inflation forecast for the Philippines to 3.8 percent this year, from 3.5 percent previously, as risks may drive inflation up to above the central bank’s two to four percent target in the coming months......»»
Unlock business success at Franchise Asia Philippines Expo
The Franchise Asia Philippines Expo 2024 is set to hold a series of dynamic seminars designed to empower entrepreneurs, investors and business enthusiasts with the knowledge and tools needed to thrive in the ever-evolving world of franchising. Slated from April 12 to 14 at the SMX Convention Center Manila, these seminars offer invaluable insights into key aspects of franchising and business growth......»»
Infrastructure projects get better loan terms from Japan
The Philippines has secured better financing terms for two big-ticket infrastructure projects funded by the Japanese government aimed at improving public transport and road connectivity......»»
S& P: Philippines may miss growth goal this year
S&P Global Ratings sees the Philippines again missing its growth targets this year as it kept its gross domestic product growth forecast at 5.9 percent. While the projection is better compared to other economies in the region, it is again below the government’s 6.5 to 7.5 percent growth target......»»
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.....»»