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Extreme Heat as a ‘New Pandemic’: Thousands in PH Cancel Classes During ‘Hottest Year’
(Part 1 of 2) CEBU CITY, Philippines — The decades-old Gabaldon building of Leyte National High School in Tacloban City has narrow hallways, high and dark ceilings, and overcrowded classrooms. On hot and humid days, the rooms can feel stuffy and suffocating, prompting students like Dwight Lebrea, a 17-year-old Grade 12 student, to find ways.....»»
Tech titan Amazon sees profit climb as cloud promises boon
Online retail colossus Amazon on Thursday said profit surged in the recently ended quarter on growing sales and more efficient deliveries, with its cloud business promising even better days ahead. The e-commerce colossus said it made a profit of $9.9 billion on sales that tallied $143.1 billion in the recently ended quarter, with more than half its operating income made from Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud unit. Google parent Alphabet and computing colossus Microsoft this week reported rising quarterly profits, playing up demand for cloud computing enhanced with artificial intelligence. Investors, though, had hoped for better performance from Google Cloud causing the company's shares to slip. While Amazon Web Services (AWS) grew 12 percent when compared to the same quarter a year earlier, the unit's growth lagged that of rival cloud businesses operated by Microsoft and Google. "I remain very optimistic about AWS," Amazon chief executive Andy Jassy said on an earnings call. "There's a lot more there for us; then you look at the very substantial, gigantic new generative AI opportunity, which I believe will be tens of billions of dollars in revenue for AWS over the next several years." Amazon just weeks ago said it would invest up to $4 billion in AI firm Anthropic. The success of OpenAI's ChatGPT, a chatbot released last year that can generate poems, essays, and other works with just a short prompt, has led to billions being invested in the field. Anthropic agreed to use Amazon's chips to develop its next models and to use AWS for "mission-critical workloads." Amazon has already announced it aimed to soup up its Alexa voice assistant with generative AI, which the firm said would allow users to have smoother conversations. Retail rebound Amazon earnings "soared past expectations" in the quarter, according to Insider Intelligence analyst Zak Stambor. "We had a strong third quarter as our cost to serve and speed of delivery in our stores business took another step forward," Jassy said, adding its ad business grew "robustly" and AWS cloud computing business "continued to stabilize." "The retail giant's slowdown last year appears to be in the rearview mirror as it has embarked on significant cost-cutting throughout this year and sharpened its focus on key growth areas, such as its high-margin online marketplace and advertising," Stambor said. A top US antitrust regulator sued Amazon in September, accusing the online retail behemoth of running an illegal monopoly by strong-arming sellers and stifling potential rivals. "Our complaint lays out how Amazon has used a set of punitive and coercive tactics to unlawfully maintain its monopolies," said Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan. Robots and drones Amazon said Thursday it will hire 250,000 full-time, part-time, and seasonal employees in the United States to handle shopping demand in the months ahead. Amazon said last week that it will expand drone delivery of certain purchases to a third US state as well as to Britain and Italy by the end of 2024. The US firm has installed a new robotics system in one of its Texas logistics centers, featuring technology like automated vehicles, mechanical arms, and computer vision technology. Amazon already uses 750,000 robots in its warehouses to speed up deliveries. "The better they get at delivery, the more it continues to grow the e-commerce market overall and Amazon's place within that market," said Insider Intelligence analyst Andrew Lipsman. But increased productivity via robots won't fix underlying Amazon worker issues, critics say. Amazon early this year eliminated some 27,000 jobs in a move it said at the time was necessary, after years of sustained hiring. Ads shine Advertising continues to be "a major bright spot" for Amazon and it has started using generative artificial intelligence to help sellers create "eye-catching" ads in its online marketplace, analyst Stambor said. Insider Intelligence expects Amazon's US advertising business to bring in nearly $34 billion this year a major leap from before the COVID-19 pandemic. The post Tech titan Amazon sees profit climb as cloud promises boon appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
ArenaPlus links partnership with MPBL to bring enjoyable, entertaining playoffs
ArenaPlus, an online sports betting platform in the country, proudly announced its partnership this year with the men's professional basketball league in the country, the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League, as its official sportsbook partner. MPBL, founded by sports legend Manny Pacquiao in 2018, aims to provide opportunities for homegrown basketball players to represent their cities and/or provinces and to give rising talents an avenue to showcase their skills and abilities. This season is truly exceptional as the league continues to invite more cities and provinces to join the league and bring their basketball pride onto the court. Sixteen professional teams will compete in the 2023 MPBL Playoffs. Among these are the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards, Bacoor City Strikers, GenSan Warriors, and Pampanga Giant Lanterns. ArenaPlus, as the leading sports betting app in the country, is fully committed to making this holistic goal a reality, making sports truly entertaining for everyone. The brand believes that sports like basketball are a staple of entertainment for Filipinos across the Philippine cities and provinces, creating exceptional and remarkable basketball talents that bring a bright future for the professional basketball scene in the country. This partnership also testifies to the brand's expanding efforts to make sports enjoyable anytime and anywhere. The 2023 MPBL division quarterfinals will begin on October 06, 2023. You can watch the playoffs live on Cignal’s MPTV, OnePH, or on the ArenaPlus website and social media pages. To learn more about ArenaPlus, visit arenaplus.net and download the app from Google Play and the App Store. “ArenaPlus, Astig sa Sports'' The post ArenaPlus links partnership with MPBL to bring enjoyable, entertaining playoffs appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Sinag’ and ‘Lupa’: Light that guides and land that nourishes
In late September 2019, the Cultural Center of the Philippines mounted the son et lumiere titled “Sinag: Festival of Radiance,” accompanied by a video projected on the façade of its iconic Brutalist Main Building, dancing fountain, performances and installations, as part of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of one of the Philippines’ revered cultural institutions. The light show was staged again in the following years with different themes even during the imposed lockdowns in the first years of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 and 2021, serving as beacon of hope during one of the most challenging times for the arts and culture sector. The “Sinag” light-and-sound show continued to be mounted this year, fast becoming a tradition for CCP, as it commemorated its 54th founding anniversary and signaled the sector’s embarking on the road to recovery. It also recognized the sector’s perseverance and determination to continue creating and healing with its theme, “Tuloy Ang Palabas”(The Show Continues).” This year, the Main Building has remained dark and silent as it closed down in January for a three-year rehabilitation and renovation, but it came alive again from 28 September to 1 October for “Sinag 2023: Tuloy Ang Palabas.” A short video was projected on the façade, showing snippets of productions, projects and performances in the past nine months, all held in different venues outside the Main Building. The main part was a spectacle of colors and moving patterns, conceptualized by CCP light designers Camille Balistoy, Danilo Villanueva, Louie Alcoran and Shantie De Roca. This was accompanied by music by Soundridemusic and Makai-symphony, spliced by Jerry Tria. Capping the show was a video showing CCP’s reach in the country, through a map created by Reily Villaruz, as well as glimpses of performances and projects in the planning, accompanied by Jed Balsamo’s “Rurok.” As the CCP Main Building highlighted art’s role as light giver, the park beside it, CCP Liwasang KaLIKHAsan, is venue for an exhibit of installations depicting popular creatures of Philippine folklore. [caption id="attachment_191675" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Kapre. | PhotoGRAPHS by Roel Hoang Manipon FOR THE DAILY TRIBUNE[/caption] The kapre, aswang and tikbalang often figure in horror stories told to children, but acclaimed artist Abdulmari “Toym” de Leon Imao, son of the late National Artist for visual arts Abdulmari Asia Imao, regarded them as nature guardians, thus the title “Tanod-Lupa.” “Tanod-Lupa” was first mounted in celebration of Earth Day on 22 April, but was brought back for the anniversary celebration, and it seems fitting for the Halloween and Christmas seasons. Imao was inspired by stories about these creatures, many of which most likely can be traced from pre-colonial times, during his childhood. “My mom is Kapampangan, and they have wonderful stories of mythology such as Apo Mallari god of Mount Pinatubo. My dad came from the South. He was a Tausug. Mindanao is also rich in stories. The Sarimanok itself is a mythical creature. My appreciation comes from a fascination from childhood and growing up with these stories and narratives from my parents,” he said. “I am very fascinated with tikbalang. There are some stories that tell that it is actually a friend. The tikbalang also has a masculine appearance, very heroic,” he added. Working together with lantern makers from San Fernando City, Pampanga, headed by Arvin Bondoc Quiwa, and using materials such welded steel, fiberglass, ropes and lanterns with LED lights, Imao reimagined the creatures to be cartoonish but still retaining some scary and mysterious qualities. [caption id="attachment_191676" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Manananggal.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_191674" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Duwende.[/caption] The bright installations of kapre, duwende, manananggal, aswang, nuno sa punso and tikbalang are scattered around the park — under a balete, in between coconut trees, among overgrown weeds and unkempt bushes — and accompanied by eerie sounds designed by TJ Ramos. The most prominent among Imao’s works is his large installation in the shape of the panolong, a decorative detail of the traditional house of the Meranaw people, and the sarimanok, a popular design motif of several Moro ethnic groups, frequently used by his father in his works. [caption id="attachment_191677" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Nuno sa punso.[/caption] “Tanod-Lupa” is a work in progress, and more installations are being planned to be added to the collection. “With themes like climate change and cultural promotion, it’s perfect for us to bring these creatures from folklore and mythologies to the forefront. We are not the only inhabitants of our environment. We share it with other beings and creatures. Our ancestors remind us that we take good care of our environment lest these ‘tanod-lupa’ come out to remind us of our shortcomings,” Imao said. The post ‘Sinag’ and ‘Lupa’: Light that guides and land that nourishes 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......»»
P16.5-B investments secure PEZA nod
The Philippine Economic Zone Authority remains on track to make the Philippines a good investment destination and contribute to the overall goal of the country to graduate to the upper middle-income economy by 2025, as the Philippine Ports Authority , or PPA board, greenlighted a total of P16.578-billion investments as of 31 July 2023. The new investments are coming from 15 new and expansion projects and are expected to generate $419.5 million worth of exports and create 2,983 jobs. This brings PEZA’s total for the year to P97.163 billion, a 332.05 percent increase from the P22.489 billion investments approved in the same period in 2022. “We are more than encouraged to promote the Philippines to global investors, taking the cue from President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. that the best time to invest in the country is now and that the Philippines is the best investment destination in the region. Among the bright prospects for the Philippines and the ecozones include our 6-7 percent GDP growth target, our ascension to Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, or RCEP, and other free trade agreements, or FTAs, the 5 percent to 15 percent annual growth target by the industries, Marcos administration’s efforts to increase our credit rating, and our aggressive investment promotions,” according to PEZA director general Tereso Panga indicated. 3 new ecozones Panga lauded President Marcos’ pronouncement of three additional new ecozones, in line with the commitment of PEZA to its overarching goal of spurring countryside development through the creation of more ecozones seen to facilitate growth and development in the country’s regions, as well as attract new and strategic investments in the country. To recall, the Office of the President on 25 July 2023, released Proclamations 299, 300 and 303 which approved the creation of three economic zones in Naga City, Bacolod City and Dumaguete City. Proclamation 299 designated several parcels of land in Barangay Carolina, Naga City to be known as Naga City Industrial Park while Proclamation 300 and 303 designated buildings as IT Centers in Barangay Mandalangan, Bacolod City to be known as Lopue’s Mandalangan IT Center, and in Barangay Piapi, Dumaguete City to be known as Marina Town Dumaguete. The Marcos administration also approved two new economic zones in Batangas Province and Bacolod City last April 2023. These ecozones are expected to bring in about P1.641 billion in investments. To date, there are a total of six PEZA ecozones pending proclamation by the President, namely ecozones that will be developed in Parañaque City (IT Center), Pasig City (IT Center), Tanza, Cavite (Manufacturing), Ilocos Sur (Manufacturing), and Sarangani Province (Agro-industrial). The post P16.5-B investments secure PEZA nod appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Contagion brings public, private sector together — GoNegosyo
If there was anything good that the COVID-19 pandemic brought, it was the coming together of the public and private sectors, according to Go Negosyo founder and chairperson Joey Concepcion following the lifting of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of the State of Public Health Emergency on Saturday. “The pandemic brought public and private sector together. It showed that government and industry coming together can make a strong team against any adversity,” said Concepcion. “It’s the best time as the President delivers his State of the Nation address,” he said. Concepcion, who served as Presidential Adviser on Entrepreneurship under the Duterte administration, became one of the most visible public figures during the pandemic. Together with members of the private sector, he led the Project Ark initiative to make mass testing accessible and spearheaded "A Dose of Hope," a world’s-first tripartite agreement that made vaccines available despite bureaucratic hurdles. Concepcion also organized town hall meetings and supported the participation of doctors and scientists in forming policy regarding the pandemic. “Credit should go to the leadership of people like Sec. Ted Herbosa, Sec Francisco Duque, Sec. Charlie Galvez, Sec. Delfin Lorenzana, Sec. Eduardo Ano, Sec. Dominguez, Sec. Nograles, Sec. Vince Dizon, Usec. Rosette, the doctors and scientists who were all ready to work with one another,” he said. He also cited the efforts of the private sector. “The first vaccine the private sector brought in was AstraZeneca. With the help of the government, it was granted an EUA (emergency use of authority) which allowed us to bring it in at a special price and donate half to the government. That is one great effort that showed teamwork was key,” he said. “The pandemic destroyed lives and livelihoods, but on the bright side brought us all together to survive and win this war. It also pushed many Filipinos to digitalize starting with E-wallets for contactless transactions. Today, digitalization is bringing about greater inclusivity with almost all Filipinos using e-wallets. This is one reason why economic recovery bounced back strongly,” he added. Concepcion warned, however, that COVID still remains, and that people should continue to be vigilant. “We should focus on producing more nurses and health care professionals. The Philippines is now at the center of this huge opportunity; we need to upskill those who want to be in this field as the world needs our nurses. Now we need to grow our economy and create more jobs and livelihoods,” he said. The post Contagion brings public, private sector together — GoNegosyo appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Tales of migrant workers
Phan Thi Van, a Vietnamese working in Taiwan since 2009, was overjoyed hearing the news. Her son, 17-year-old Nguyen Viet Quang, received the second-highest score in the science track of this year’s university entrance exam in Vietnam. She was emotional, sobbing throughout the two-minute video call with her boy, Nguyen Viet Quang, saying: “I miss you very much. I just tell myself that I need to work hard to have enough money for your education.” Nguyen Viet Quang told the media that their family struggled to make ends meet when he was little, that’s why his mother went to Taiwan to work right after he turned three years old: “I was really little when my mom went to Taiwan, and it has been 14 years. I have only seen her in person a couple of times since then. We just talk on the phone most of the time.” “It’s been my dream to be an outstanding engineer to thank my mom for her devotion and sacrifice,” Nguyen Viet Quang said. Phan Thi Van, on her part, said all her pressure goes away upon seeing her son’s bright smile whenever she feels tired. In other news, an Indonesian overseas worker brought her employer’s son with Down syndrome back to Indonesia and has been taking care of him for years. The Indonesian worker, Siti Aisyah, told the media that 24-year-old Huang has Down syndrome and needs to be looked after. Huang’s father was a guard and he agreed to let Siti Aisyah bring Huang back to Indonesia so he could be taken care of. According to the media, Huang’s father was initially paying 3 million Indonesian Rupiah per month (P11,000), to the caretaker, but after the father passed away, Siti Aisyah has been looking after Huang until now without pay. These touching stories demonstrate that, as the population in Taiwan keeps aging, the demand for overseas workers is growing. Meanwhile, we are seeing more new immigrants in Taiwan who are married to Taiwanese. One of the most prominent Filipina new immigrants in Taiwan is Genevive Pajo Paliota, aka Chini Huang, who married a Taiwanese and has moved to Taiwan for 16 years. Genevive came from Cebu. She was an English teacher when she met her now-husband. Mrs. Huang created a fan page (Hello PhilTai Gen) on Facebook, which attracts more than 7,000 followers, many of whom are fellow Filipinas married to Taiwanese. Genevive shoots videos by herself on topics, such as the presidential election in the Philippines, interviewing Taiwanese and Filipinos asking if they believe in “eternal love.” She also answers new immigrants’ questions regarding their marriage, how to get along with their mothers-in-law and how to make themselves look more attractive. Mrs. Huang said she is not making money out of what she’s doing but she will keep doing it anyway because she wants to help new immigrants to blend into the Taiwanese society and let more Taiwanese know about their roots. The post Tales of migrant workers appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
VP Sara tells students: Value your dreams
ALLEN, Northern Samar — Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte has extended a message to the youth to hold on to their dreams and finish their studies to bring a bright future for their families. During the commencement exercises for the senior high students of Allen National High School, the Vice President stressed that the youth should work hard to achieve their dreams. “We should never diminish the value of dreams,” she said. “I encourage our graduates to pursue their dreams in life — and they will only happen through hard work, dedication, and determination to complete their studies,” Duterte said to the 591 graduating senior high students. The Vice President also paid tribute to the parents for the love and support for their children and extolled the teachers for their important role of teachers in shaping the minds of the students. “This milestone attests to the hard work and perseverance you have exemplified as you embark on another journey leading you to the realization of your aspirations of a better life and a better future,” Duterte said. “May the knowledge and skills you have gained serve as your springboard for greater success and inspire you to become catalysts of transformative social growth within your respective communities,” she added. Meantime, Duterte — who co-chairs the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict — also paid a visit to Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Battalion (3IB) where she had a brief reunion with the soldiers. The 3IB was formerly based in Davao City when she was the City Mayor before they were deployed to Northern Samar to beef up the government forces against remaining guerilla front of the communist New People’s Army. She said the 3IB was instrumental to the defeat of CPP-NPA in Davao City which was once a hotbed of insurgency in the 80s and 90s. She said Davao City has already been declared insurgency-free. The post VP Sara tells students: Value your dreams appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Sustainability also means financial security for Filipinos
Sun Life of Canada (Philippines) Inc.’s sustainability agenda is in line with its commitment to help Filipinos achieve the freedom to live better lives. “Serving Filipinos for 128 years now, Sun Life has always prioritized sustainability — not just in its Philippine office but also in the global organization where it belongs to,” Sun Life Philippines CEO and country head Benedict Sison said. “As a life insurance and asset management business, we are naturally aligned with the sustainability goals, apart from pursuing philanthropic and environmental projects.” Sun Life’s commitment is expressed through initiatives that support the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals and are anchored on focus areas where it can have the most positive social and environmental impact, including increasing financial security, fostering healthier lives, advancing sustainable investing, operating as a trusted and responsible business and uplifting communities. “We aspire for our people and our solutions to make a difference in Filipino lives, empowering them to achieve financial security and healthier living for generations to come,” Sison said. In line with its goal to increase financial security among Filipinos, Sun Life once again marked June as Financial Independence Month. “We introduced Financial Independence Month in 2015, and we aim to keep the conversation going,” Sun Life chief client experience and marketing officer Carla Gonzalez-Chong said. “Our rallying cry for this year shows our confidence in the Filipinos’ power to bring their goals to life. And as they make the choice to pursue financial freedom, Sun Life will be here to walk the journey with them, with the vision of helping Filipinos achieve lifetime financial security.” Serving as inspiration are four short films created by Sun Life’s in-house team of young creatives. These feature heartwarming stories of Filipinos who made the choice to own their future and bring their goals to life. “Sinag” by Mei Solis tells the story of a daughter who is struggling to connect with her Overseas Filipino mom, until they discover a shared goal of finally being together for good. “Kulay” by Casey Borja explores the world of a child on the autism spectrum who brings hope to his business-owner father amid a crucial time. “Ngayon at Bukas” by JC Manzano depicts the struggle of a son struggling to find his path and finds it in an unlikely place: His father’s humble barber shop. “Para Sa Akin” by Bea Aguilera is a funny take on how a storm of bad luck can ironically lead one to finding a bright partner. All these films are available on www.sunlife.co/KayaMoYan. Complementing the films are free learning modules designed for those who wish to build their financial portfolio. The post Sustainability also means financial security for Filipinos appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Swiss welcome offers sweet respite
Welcome to “The Suite Life,” which explores the world of hotels in and out of the Philippines. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or a curious novice, I hope this column helps guide you to what hotels in the Philippines and beyond have to offer. From the bustling cityscape of Manila to the tranquil beaches of Boracay, it’s a journey through the best hotels, resorts and villas in the country and beyond to discover the most exciting and exotic hotels in the world. Pack your bags and join me on this exciting adventure as I share the hidden gems and ultimate destinations for your next getaway. Our first hotel for this month is the Swissötel Clark in Pampanga. [caption id="attachment_148661" align="aligncenter" width="525"] PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF Swissötel Clark | Swissötel Clark Pampanga.[/caption] Cheese and chocolate, watches and private banks — if there’s any country defined by these words, it’s Switzerland. Renowned for its punctuality and precision, the country is very well-known for its high-end horology. If you want to know how deep this characteristic runs within the country, Switzerland’s national hero, William Tell, is more famous for shooting an apple off his son’s head than his defense of Switzerland from many a tyrant. Such precision is what Tell and Switzerland are known for, and it’s this exact value that the Swiss carry into hospitality. [caption id="attachment_148662" align="aligncenter" width="525"] THE atrium.[/caption] Apart from what the history books will say about Switzerland, it’s also a place I’ve gotten to know up close. I lived in Neuchatel when my husband was taking his post-grad degree and got to imbibe in its culture and way of life, day in and out. It’s always in the details. These may seem minute or effortless, but they always add a thoughtful layer to the whole experience. Such touches abound at Swissötel Clark, and it definitely reminded me of the Swiss approach to doing things. The welcome: Located in the Clark Freeport Zone, I was surprised to find the hotel packed and buzzing. The lobby café was full, leaving no seats available, and the bright, bustling lobby was filled with people waiting — either for loved ones or colleagues — to be taken in by Swiss hospitality or having just finished a relaxing stay. The lobby was a walk away from the casino, leaving the vibrant lobby to shine all on its own. The room: Rooms and suites at Swissötel Clark welcome you with floor-to-ceiling views of the city or the mountains, flooding the room with natural light. A medley of creams, grays and browns, coupled with a king-size bed and Posturepedic mattress, high-speed Wi-Fi, cable and satellite TV channels, and USB charging stations provide a great sense of comfort for anyone looking to relax. The bathroom continues this philosophy with marble furnishings, a rain shower, and a soaking tub. Anyone looking for a more luxurious experience can upgrade to a Swiss Executive Lounge access suite with complimentary breakfast and refreshments. [caption id="attachment_148664" align="aligncenter" width="525"] PREMIUM room with king size bed.[/caption] The restaurants: I wasn’t able to try the breakfast because my alarm didn’t go off that morning, but I was able to try meals at Swissötel Clark’s two restaurants. Markt is their all-day dining buffet with incredible food. Initially conceived as an a la carte offering for diners to choose from, every station offers the full package with mains at every section, making them all stars in their own right. The hotel also has a permanent place on the menu for classic Swiss dishes like älplermagronen (Swiss macaroni and cheese with applesauce) and Zurich-style veal with mushrooms. [caption id="attachment_148663" align="aligncenter" width="525"] NASI, a contemporary restaurant that specializes in Filipino cuisine.[/caption] Ristorante Di Verona, on the other hand, is easily one of the best places to try modern and authentic Italian cuisine without leaving the country. With large, luxurious windows and al fresco seating, their spacious halls are filled with soothing Italian music and the noise of happy diners. They offer a fine selection of aperitifs, over 300 wines sourced from various regions of Europe, digestivos, and other Italian favorites, as well as their famous balsamico de Modena 25 anni 550, delightfully paired with Italian bread. Unique touches to the hotel: Details like the collar brooch and the shoe buckle of the doorman did not go unnoticed. The doorman is the first to greet visitors and serve as the best representation of the Swiss tradition of service. Their gear resembles the Appenzell costume designed by Ida Gout and the delicate brooch designed by goldsmith Sebastian Fassler shows a lot of care and thought for the kind of service they want to bring. The hotel itself also makes use of Appenzell design, the town famous for its mountain range. One must also have the Swissötel traditional cake with its notable ingredient of ground hazelnuts. Experiential for all senses that pull focus on their attention to what matters. The Spa: Swissötel Clark will launch their spa and Vitality suites soon. Every one of their six private suites will have its own gym equipment for guests to enjoy their fitness regimens in private. Swiss mindfulness podcasts, the Vitality kit, wellness treatments, and menus round out the entire experience for a great session. Outside, on the other hand, lets guests exercise with fresh air on bike and jogging paths as part of the hotel’s promotion of a healthy environment. I’m hearing that one of the managers hails from a 5-star hotel in Mandaluyong with a very good spa, who is also a professional therapist with a good grasp of wellness and treatments — a lot of which they can do themselves, so consider my expectations high. [caption id="attachment_148665" align="aligncenter" width="525"] VITALITY suite[/caption] Great food, comfortable rooms and fresh air for all — they did not miss a beat when it came to bringing Swiss hospitality to the country, even down to the finest details. Taking a trip up north to Pampanga is a great way to retreat from the city for a bit, made even better if you’re staying at Swissötel Clark. The post Swiss welcome offers sweet respite appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PN, Miss WBO ink a ‘beautiful partnership’ on humanity, environment
Miss World Beauty Organization Top Model Philippines (Miss WBO TMP), the country's top Model search and fashion event, is strengthening its commitment to fulfilling a list of advocacies by partnering with the Philippine Navy. The Philippine Navy and the Maharlika Productions, Inc (MPI), the organizer of Miss WBO Top Model Philippines, signed a memorandum of agreement, which is aimed at supporting each other's cause in promoting poverty reduction, medical and dental health, women empowerment, the arts and culture, and environmental awareness, especially in protecting the country's marine resources. Phil. Navy Flag Officer in Command VADM Toribio Adaci Jr. and MPI CEO Faith C. Recto signed the MOA before senior officers and members of the Phil. Navy yesterday in their headquarters in Roxas Blvd., Manila. According to Recto. A Navy Reservist herself that there is more beauty in the Philippine Navy since it has been doing a great job fulfilling its duties to protect and serve the country. Knowing the commitment of the PN to promoting women's empowerment since the organization has also been actively recruiting women to join the PN, improving the lives of the indigenous people, the arts and culture, and other environmental activities and livelihood projects, Recto said that MPI is committed to being a very active partner of PN. "There is beauty in the Navy, not just because of the growing numbers of women joining the organization but the Phil. The Navy has several advocacies which help people to live beautiful lives. And we are one with the Phil. Navy to further its cause, "sama-sama nating mahalin ang Pilipinas," Recto stressed during her speech. VADM Adaci, on the other hand, lauded the initiative of Recto in choosing them as a partner, saying that this pageantry will help encourage young women to enlist and realize the beauty of serving the nation. He added that through their partnership, they could further strengthen and promote the different advocacies of the Philippine Navy is focused on various community services that can help change people's lives. More so, Recto said that as part of MPI's commitment to the partnership, she would donate a portion of the proceeds of the pageant to the chosen beneficiary of the Phil. Navy. She also stressed that aside from this partnership, the Miss WBO opens a door of opportunities anew to aspiring talents who want to become the country's ambassadors at international modeling and beauty pageant events. It is cementing its commitment to providing the best training and coaching for those who will win the competition. "We envisioned beauty queens to also thrive in the high fashion world, and what we will do is to provide the winners of the MWTMP 2023 not only opportunities but a bright future, which can bring them to the runways of Paris, Milan, New York, London, Dubai, just to name a few," Recto explains. "The industry is evolving for the better, and that is what we want the public to see. Our talents are just like everybody else who needs support, respect, and love, and for as long as the Ms. WBO is here, we will make sure they are all taken care of the best way possible," exclaims Recto. "The MWTMP is set to present its more than 60 stunning candidates from all over the country who will vie for the Miss WBO Top Model Philippines 2023 title. The post PN, Miss WBO ink a ‘beautiful partnership’ on humanity, environment appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Mott 32 Hong Kong gets a facelift
Mott 32 Hong Kong’s first facelift, nine years since its launch, introduces new design elements that harmonize with the city’s evolving taste and strengthen the relationship between Maximal Concepts and the original award-winning interior designer, Joyce Wang Studio. The refreshed main dining area and bar exude elegance. In contrast, five enhanced private dining rooms offer distinct themes and narratives, showcasing a blend of Chinese authenticity and Western flair, the signature of Mott 32. Xuan Mu, co-founder and group managing director at Maximal Concepts, said: “The new elements at Mott 32 Hong Kong showcase our commitment to the original location after a demanding few years. Our design ethos of blending a lofty New York industrial style with Hong Kong luxury remains the same and continues to be seen across our new openings worldwide. As a destination for locals to bring their guests or business partners to enjoy a unique, contemporary-style Chinese meal, we owe it to our customers to ensure the restaurant evolves with the times and continues to deliver innovative yet mesmerizing experiences, from ambiance to flavor.” The signature staircase, which used to be a storage unit for wealthy Chinese families, leads to the main dining room, adorned with antique chandeliers, new lanterns, and unique seating experiences, creating intimate moments. The upgraded bar features new latticework and a stone veneer to brighten the space — the perfect spot for innovative cocktails and catch-ups. The five private and semi-private dining rooms offer intimate gatherings, each with a different theme and narrative, such as the Calligraphy room decorated with over 2,000 wall-mounted Chinese calligraphy brushes and bright orange hues as a celebration of the ancient Chinese art form. “As the design of Mott 32 has grown and evolved across the various new restaurants in Vancouver, Las Vegas, Singapore, Cebu and most recently Dubai, it was a great opportunity to revisit the original Mott 32 design and reinject another layer through bold colors and materials, such as stone veneer, embroidered fabric lanterns, more hand-painted wallcoverings and cane weavings,” stated Joyce Wang Studio Mott 32 is the first luxury Chinese brand created in Hong Kong that has expanded to seven international locations, including Bangkok, Cebu, Dubai, Las Vegas, Seoul, Singapore and Vancouver. Each space has been carefully selected to be a part of monumental and iconic buildings demonstrating its commitment to heritage and prestige. As the mastermind behind Mott 32 Hong Kong›s design, Joyce Wang personally composed the interiors for five of Mott 32›s international locations — Cebu, Dubai, Las Vegas, Singapore and Vancouver. Blending the luxury, style, and splendor of a modern Chinese city with local elements and design nuances unique to each destination is what Mott 32 is becoming renowned for. Mott 32 has partnered with independent designers in all locations to weave the essence of the destination›s history with Chinese culture into each space. The post Mott 32 Hong Kong gets a facelift appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Give kids a mood-boost from Robinsons!
To bring back the joy of summer, try adding a pop of color to your days! Here are some wardrobe and playtime picks in bright and happy hues to help lift their spirits!.....»»
LeBron debuts new 'Titan' sneaker in Lakers-Raptors game
LeBron's new Nike signature shoe in official collaboration with Manila sneaker retailer Titan is out now. Naturally, the King himself wasn't late to the party. James rocked the Nike LeBron 17 low "Titan" inside the NBA bubble as his Lakers took on the NBA Champion Toronto Raptors Saturday (Sunday in Manila). The pair was hard to miss as the bright red sneakers stood even even as the Lakers suited up in their home uniforms. View this post on Instagram Dime on the way. A post shared by Lakers Scene (@lakersscene) on Aug 1, 2020 at 7:15pm PDT Unfortunately, the all-red kicks didn't bring LeBron any luck. The Lakers lost for an 11th straight time to the Raptors, 107-92. James finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds but the Lakers struggled shooting from the field and suffered a meltdown in the fourth as the champs broke an 83-all tie to put the game away. The Nike LeBron 17 Low "Titan" is priced at PHP 8,095 and will be available at all Titan doors, the Titan App, and Titan22.com on August 1. It will also be available at Nike Park Fort beginning August 8. — Follow this writer on Twitter, @paullintag8.....»»
Reflecting on Your Business Setbacks
Challenges are an inevitable part of any endeavor, especially a business one. From unforeseen economic shifts to internal operational hurdles, every business owner will inevitably face obstacles that test their resolve. As we live in a fast-paced world, we sometimes forget about looking back, and what better time to do it than the Holy Week? […].....»»
Marvin hell-bent on punching way to Paris Olympics
Not to take part, but to take over......»»
RCBC to surrender trust license
Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) is looking to surrender its license to engage in trust and other fiduciary business as part of its efforts to make RCBC Trust Corp. a stand-alone trust entity......»»
Fisherfolk raise alarm over demolition of Navotas City fishing structures
“Affected fisherfolk and other residents ‘highly believe’ that the dismantling order is part of the 650-hectare reclamation project in the area.” The post Fisherfolk raise alarm over demolition of Navotas City fishing structures appeared first on Bulatlat......»»
‘Oplan Harabas’ starts
THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Davao Region (PDEA-Davao) has started its surprise drug test on bus and van drivers under “Oplan Harabas”, part of Oplan Biyaheng Ayos, on Tuesday morning, March 26, 2024......»»