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Trio wins physics Nobel for illuminating electrons
France's Pierre Agostini, Hungarian-Austrian Ferenc Krausz, and Franco-Swede Anne L'Huillier won the Nobel prize in physics on Tuesday for research using ultra-quick light flashes that enable the study of electrons inside atoms and molecules. Their technique employs pulses measured in attoseconds, a unit so short that there are as many in one second as there have been seconds since the universe's birth over 13 billion years ago, the jury said. The laureates' research has made it possible to examine moves or changes so rapidly that they were previously impossible to follow, with potential applications in both electronics and medical diagnostics. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences likened the process to how the flapping wings of a hummingbird turn into a blur for the human eye but can be slowed and examined using high-speed photography. "We can now open the door to the world of electrons. Attosecond physics gives us the opportunity to understand mechanisms that are governed by electrons," Eva Olsson, chair of the Nobel Committee for Physics, said in a statement. 'Not so many women' In 1987, L'Huillier "discovered that many different overtones of light arose when she transmitted infrared laser light through a noble gas," the Nobel Committee noted, adding that her exploration of the phenomenon laid "the ground for subsequent breakthroughs". In the early 2000s, Agostini and Krausz worked on how to isolate light pulses that lasted only a few hundred attoseconds. Agostini is a professor at Ohio State University in the United States, while Krausz is a director at the Max Planck Institute in Germany. "It was just atomic physics interacting with lasers," Agostini said of his early work, in an interview released by his university. "We were not really aware it would go that far, but a lot of people were interested both in the method and the result." L'Huillier, only the fifth woman to be awarded the Physics Prize since 1901, is a professor at Lund University in Sweden. She told reporters she was in the middle of teaching a class when she received the call from the Academy, making it "difficult" to finish the class, to whom she did not reveal the news. "I am very touched ... There are not so many women that get this prize so it's very, very special," she said. Before L'Huillier, Marie Curie (1903), Maria Goeppert Mayer (1963), Donna Strickland (2018), and Andrea Ghez (2020) were the only women to have won the award. Speaking later at a press conference, she encouraged young women interested in science to "go for it" and said it was possible to combine a research career with an "ordinary life, with a family and children." French President Emmanuel Macron congratulated the trio. "What a source of pride for our nation!" Macron said in a post to X, formerly known as Twitter. L'Huillier and Krausz had been seen as contenders for the honor, having been awarded the prestigious Wolf Prize last year together with Canadian physicist Paul Corkum. Fellow Hungarian However, Krausz said he had not been expecting a call. "I was not sure whether I was dreaming or whether it was reality," he told the Nobel Foundation in an interview. The physics award is the second Nobel of the season after the Medicine Prize on Monday, awarded to messenger RNA researchers Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman for their groundbreaking technology that paved the way for mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. Krausz said he had actually been listening to an interview with Kariko when he received the call, adding he was especially impressed with her determination as she toiled away at her research despite struggling to achieve recognition and secure funding for it. "That's what I would like to convey to future generations," Krausz said. The Physics Prize will be followed by the Chemistry Prize on Wednesday, with the highly watched Literature and Peace Prizes to be announced on Thursday and Friday. The Economics Prize -- created in 1968 and the only Nobel not included in the 1895 will of Swedish inventor and philanthropist Alfred Nobel, which founded the awards -- closes out the 2023 Nobel season on Monday. The post Trio wins physics Nobel for illuminating electrons appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Trio wins physics Nobel for illuminating electrons
France's Pierre Agostini, Hungarian-Austrian Ferenc Krausz and Franco-Swede Anne L'Huillier won the Nobel prize in physics on Tuesday for research using ultra quick light flashes that enable the study of electrons inside atoms and molecules. Their technique employs pulses measured in attoseconds, a unit so short that there are as many in one second as there have been seconds since the universe's birth over 13 billion years ago, the jury said. The laureates' research has made it possible to examine moves or changes so rapid that they were previously impossible to follow, with potential applications in both electronics and medical diagnostics. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences likened the process to how the flapping wings of a humming bird turn into a blur for the human eye, but can be slowed and examined using high-speed photography. "We can now open the door to the world of electrons. Attosecond physics gives us the opportunity to understand mechanisms that are governed by electrons," Eva Olsson, chair of the Nobel Committee for Physics, said in a statement. 'Not so many women' In 1987, L'Huillier "discovered that many different overtones of light arose when she transmitted infrared laser light through a noble gas," the Nobel Committee noted, adding that she has continued to explore this phenomenon, "laying the ground for subsequent breakthroughs". In the early 2000s, Agostini and Krausz worked on experiments that made it possible to isolate light pulses that lasted only a few hundred attoseconds. Agostini is a professor at Ohio State University in the United States, while Krausz is a director at the Max Planck Institute in Germany. L'Huillier, only the fifth woman to be awarded the Physics Prize since 1901, is a professor at Lund University in Sweden. L'Huillier told reporters she was in the middle of teaching a class when she received the call from the Academy, making it "difficult" to finish the class, to whom she told nothing. "I am very touched ... There are not so many women that get this prize so it's very, very special," she said. Before L'Huillier, Marie Curie (1903), Maria Goeppert Mayer (1963), Donna Strickland (2018) and Andrea Ghez (2020) are the only women to have won the award. Speaking later at a press conference, she encouraged young women interested in a career in science to "go for it". The laureate, who is married and has two sons, stressed it was possible to combine a research career with an "ordinary life, with a family and children." French President Emmanuel Macron congratulated the trio, noting that "two of our brilliant French researchers" had been honoured. "What a source of pride for our nation!" Macron said in a post to X, formerly known as Twitter. L'Huillier and Krausz had been seen as contenders for the honour, having been awarded the prestigious Wolf Prize last year together with Canadian physicist Paul Corkum. Fellow Hungarian However, Krausz said he had not been expecting a call. "I was not sure whether I was dreaming or whether it was reality," he told the Nobel Foundation in an interview. Speaking at a press conference a few hours later, he said: "There are signs that it could be reality". The physics award is the second Nobel of the season after the Medicine Prize on Monday, awarded to messenger RNA researchers Katalin Kariko, a Hungarian like Krausz, and Drew Weissman for their groundbreaking technology that paved the way for mRNA Covid-19 vaccines. Krausz said he had actually been listening to an interview with his compatriot when he received the call, adding he was especially impressed with Kariko's determination as she toiled away at her research despite struggling to achieve recognition and even secure funding for it. "That's the most important lesson for me, that's what I would like to convey to future generations, that if you believe in something and are convinced it's the right thing to do ... the important thing is to keep believing in it," Krausz said. The Physics Prize will be followed by the Chemistry Prize on Wednesday, with the highly watched Literature and Peace Prizes to be announced on Thursday and Friday. The Economics Prize -- created in 1968 and the only Nobel not included in the 1895 will of Swedish inventor and philanthropist Alfred Nobel, which founded the awards -- closes out the 2023 Nobel season on Monday. The post Trio wins physics Nobel for illuminating electrons appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PBBM appoints INC exec Eduardo Manalo as envoy for OF concerns
Malacañang on Saturday announced that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed Iglesia ni Cristo Executive Minister Eduardo Manalo as Special Envoy of the President for Overseas Filipino Concerns. According to Palace, the same position was given to the Manalo in 2018 under the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte from 30 January 2018 to 29 January 2019. The INC is known for its bloc voting system. To recall, INC backed Marcos’ presidential bid in the 2022 national elections, as well as his candidacy for vice president in 2016. Manalo is the grandson of the late INC founder Felix Manalo. He is the eldest son of the late Eraño Manalo, who was INC's executive minister for 46 years from 1963. Aside from Manalo, Marcos named W Group President Norman Vincent Wee as Special Envoy of the President to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for Trade and Investments. The post PBBM appoints INC exec Eduardo Manalo as envoy for OF concerns appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Free’ by any other name
Malaysia’s history is said to have started from the Sultanate of Malacca around 1400 AD. At the time of its glory, the sultanate territories covered most of the east coast of peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra. Malacca emerged as a glorious government because of its strategic location: the meeting point between East Asia and the Middle East. This situation allowed Malacca to emerge as a major trading center for spice trade, especially in Southeast Asia. Islam was the main religion that emerged and became the main religion of the residents because the ruler himself had professed it. In 1511, Malacca fell into the hands of the Portuguese — the beginning of the colonial era in Malaya. Malaya then fell into the hands of the Dutch in 1641 and British in 1824. The British had integrated all the Malayan administration, previously managed by the Malay rulers with the help of state dignitaries. The British intervention had aroused dissatisfaction among the local population. Some individuals rose against their conquerors, a resistance easily defeated by the British. Among the heroes that went against the colonialists were Dol Said, Tok Janggut, Datuk Bahaman, Rentap, Dato Maharajalela, Rosli Dobi. During the 1920s and 1930s, many residents of Malaya had started to receive education, either from the Middle East or local education. The educated group had appeared to fight in the name of nationalism through media to spread their ideology. Some formed associations, such as the Kesatuan Melayu Muda and Kesatuan Melayu Singapura to drive away the invaders and form their own government. When the people were so eager to end the invasion, they were jolted by the Japanese landing at the end of 1941, which brought Malaya to another colonial era. Japan had occupied Malaya until 1945. Japanese resignation has given space to the Communist Party of Malaya to control the country. PKM waged violence, murdering three European rubber farm managers in Sungai Siput, Perak. Thus, in June 1948, Sir Edward Gent, the first appointed governor of the Malayan Gent concurrent with the formation of the Malayan Union, declared emergency over Malaya. PKM did not succeed to take over Malaya. The Malays resisted the establishment of the Malayan Union in 1946 as it abolished the royal institutions and several Malay privileges. The emergence of Tunku Abdul Rahman had given a silver lining to the struggle of the Malayan nationalists when he formed the Alliance Party, which opened the eyes of the British to allow the Malayans to govern their own country. The unity between the three major ethnic groups namely Malays, Chinese and Indians led to the London Agreement that was signed on 8 February 1956 and had given signs that Malaya will achieve independence in August 1957. Upon returning from London, Tunku Abdul Rahman Al-haj made a declaration of independence of Malaya in Melaka in February 1956. In May 1961, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Alhaj suggested the merger of five colonies namely the Malaya, Singapore, Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei to form a new country. On 3 July 1963, representatives of the British government, Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore (except Brunei) were unanimous that the matter cannot be avoided. The Federation of Malaya Agreement was signed by the representatives of the British government, the Federation of Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore to form Malaysia on the 31st of August. The desire to form a state called Malaysia is achieved on 16 September 1963. The post ‘Free’ by any other name appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
NDCP@60: Taking the lead in national security
This year, the National Defense College of the Philippines celebrates its Diamond Jubilee. Sixty years ago, on 12 August 1963, President Diosdado Macapagal signed EO No. 44, ordering the establishment of the National Defense College of the Armed Forces of the Philippines or the NDCAFP. Its mission was to prepare potential defense leaders to assume and discharge the responsibilities of high command, staff, and policy-formulating functions within the national government and the national and international security structure. The NDCAFP evolved when, on 11 May 1973, President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. issued PD No. 190 creating the National Defense College of the Philippines or NDCP and providing an Academic Board therefor. The college was given the power to confer the degree of Master in National Security Administration or MNSA on its students who would have satisfactorily completed the prescribed course of studies. The decree, and subsequently the Revised Administrative Code of 1987, likewise gave graduates of the regular course of the college the “authority to use with honor the abbreviations MNSA after their names.” On 29 February 2012, through Department of National Defense Circular No. 04, the MNSA, or its equivalent, was made a requisite for designation to O-7 (Brigadier General and Commodore) rank in the AFP. The NDCP is the highest national security policy and strategy school in the country. Its mission is to prepare and develop potential national security leaders for positions of responsibility and command and undertake research and special studies geared toward the enhancement of national defense and security policy formulation and decision-making at the strategic level. The MNSA program is the main educational program of NDCP. It is a one-year, full-time, and intensive master’s degree course earned through various forms of classroom work, case studies, regional security and development studies, and academic enhancement travels. Since the college opened its first Resident Course or RC in 1966, it has produced roughly 3,000 national security graduates who have occupied and continue to occupy top positions in government and the private sector. It has produced a President and a Vice President of the Republic. In the legislature, it has had at least five Senators and numerous members of the House of Representatives. Several of its graduates have occupied top positions in civilian government as Cabinet Secretaries, Undersecretaries, Assistant Secretaries, and Directors and their equivalents. In local government, several of its graduates have become Governors, Vice Governors, Board Members, Mayors, Councilors, and local government administrators and executives. It has several graduates in the judiciary and the foreign service. In the military, NDCP has produced AFP Chiefs of Staff, Major Service Commanders, and numerous Generals and Flag Officers. In the private sector, its graduates have occupied top positions in their respective companies. The basic principle that all MNSA graduates commit to live by is the strengthening of national security. The NDCP operational definition of national security is “the state or condition wherein the people’s way of life and institutions, their territorial integrity and sovereignty, including their well-being, are protected and enhanced.” Every MNSA graduate will not only look at national security from the point of view of territorial integrity and sovereignty but will consider all matters that affect the people’s way of life, institutions, and well-being. An MNSA graduate automatically looks at the politico-legal, economic, socio-cultural, techno-scientific, environmental, and military or PESTEM aspects of problems, situations, and issues, with the end view of protecting and enhancing national security. Today, 60 years after its establishment, NDCP continues its mission of producing national security leaders and experts who will face the current and future security challenges of the nation. In a constantly changing world and security environment, the Filipino people can be assured that NDCP and its alumni will be there for them. The post NDCP@60: Taking the lead in national security appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Unstoppable Taylor Swift becomes first woman with 4 albums on U.S. Top 10 at once
Taylor Swift has become the first woman and only the third artist ever to have four albums in the Top 10 of the US Album chart at once. Swift’s latest album, Speak Now (Taylor’s Version), debuted impressively at the top of the Billboard 200 chart, selling an outstanding 716,000 album-equivalent units in its first week. This achievement not only makes it the highest-selling album of the year thus far, surpassing all other releases in 2023 but also marks the best-selling week for any album since her previous release, Midnights, in October 2022. In a rare feat, the Grammy-winning artist has made history with a series of chart-topping albums. With Lover at number seven, Folklore at number ten, Midnights at number five, and now Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) at number one, she has achieved an unparalleled feat that establishes her as a powerhouse in the music industry. This remarkable achievement makes Swift the first woman in history to have four albums in the Top 10 since the charts’ inception in 1963. It also makes her the first living act in nearly six decades to accomplish this feat, a record previously held by Herb Alpert with his albums Going Places, Whipped Cream & Other Delights, South of the Border, and The Lonely Bull. After Alpert’s passing in 2016, Prince left an indelible mark with five albums in the top 10: The Very Best of Prince, Purple Rain, The Hits/The B-Sides, Ultimate, and 1999. Alongside this exceptional achievement, the singer-songwriter has also earned her 12th number-one album with Speak Now (Taylor’s Version). She now holds the distinction of having the most number-one albums by a female performer, surpassing the previous record set by Barbra Streisand, who has 11 chart-topping albums to her name. Swift’s albums dominate the list of the top five biggest debuts in the past five years, claiming four out of the five spots. Adele’s highly anticipated 2021 album 30 lands in the fourth position, narrowly ahead of Speak Now (Taylor’s Version). With its release, Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) has not only achieved the distinction of being the biggest debut among the three re-recordings Swift has released thus far, but also marks another milestone in her campaign to re-record all of her albums originally produced under her former label, Big Machine. She now holds the distinction of having the most number-one albums by a female performer, surpassing the previous record set by Barbra Streisand, who has 11 chart-topping albums to her name. Following its release in late 2021, Red (Taylor’s Version) took second place with a debut of 605,000 units. Meanwhile, the initial release in the series, Fearless (Taylor’s Version), had a more modest debut with 291,000 units in early 2021, partly due to the unavailability of the highly sought -after the vinyl version at the time of its general release. Nonetheless, like the rest, it secured the top spot on the charts effortlessly. On 7 July, the American singer-songwriter released the remake version of her third studio album titled Speak Now (Taylor’s Version), which includes popular hits such as “Mine,” “Dear John,” “Back to December” and “Ours.” This release consists of 22 songs, including six tracks “From the Vault,” adding to the excitement surrounding the new album. The post Unstoppable Taylor Swift becomes first woman with 4 albums on U.S. Top 10 at once appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘It takes a long time to be young’
The year 2023 marks the 60th diamond anniversary of our high school Class 1963. We’ve kept memories of those stellar days with warm affection, including those when we felt like we’d messed up......»»
The blue plaques of London: An overlooked embellishment
Ask any visitor to London or a resident of the United Kingdom, they all have their all-time treasured landmarks or favored activities. From the regal Buckingham Palace to the historic Tower of London, to the dramatic Changing of the Guard Ceremony and the revered British Museum with a collection of over 8 million works, they form a core part or a nucleus of London’s history and heritage. Not to mention the vibrant West End plays and musicals, the exhibits and concerts in opulent palaces and well-attended halls, or even the red double decker buses and the Hackney carriages, fondly known as the London black cabs, which spice up the truly UK experience. For foodies, they often bring up English Roast Beef, Shepherd’s Pie and Fish and Chips, which are go-to must-have dishes while in town. Despite these hallmarks of culture and tradition — either permanent, mobile or edible — somehow, I wonder why my thoughts keep on wondering and wandering back to the Blue Plaques of London! Each 20-inch round badge of recognition with blue background and white lettering, features the name, the year of birth and death, plus their relationship with the abode where it is erected. These are commemorations which invite the passersby to delve into the lives of its illustrious past inhabitants. Affixed to the facades of buildings, it whispers fascinating tales of extraordinary individuals who have shaped London’s identity over the centuries. Meticulously administered by the charity English Heritage, the plaques have since become synonymous with historical preservation. The origins of this iconic tradition can be traced back to 1866 when the Society of Arts, now known as the Royal Society of Arts, initiated the concept of memorial plaques. The idea fully took off in 1867, when the first Blue Plaque was installed at the birthplace of English Poet Lord Byron, at 24 Holles Street. This inaugural plaque set the stage for an enduring legacy of remembrance. These more-than-just-nameplates signify stories of exceptional individuals who have contributed to various fields of human endeavor. From renowned artists and writers to groundbreaking scientists and social reformers, the Blue Plaques celebrate the diverse accomplishments that have shaped London’s cultural, scientific, and intellectual landscapes. The process of awarding is rigorous and impartial. A committee of historians, experts, and representatives from English Heritage carefully considers nominations, ensuring that the candidates recognized have made a significant impact on society. The concerned individual must have been dead for 20 years or passed the centenary of their birth, be esteemed by peers of their field or have greatly aided humanity, plus have worked or lived in the pertinent building. Foreigners and overseas visitors are likewise included in the selection process. To be honored is akin to a major laurel, being immortalized in history. Though major names are always a standout, the council remembers lesser-known figures who have made a significant impact in their respective arenas, to include suffragettes and social reformers to musicians and architects. While residing in the city for more than a decade, I played a self-made game where I challenged myself to know more about the personalities whose plates I usually passed by. Walk with me through some notable figures who have been engraved on these memorial medallions: [caption id="attachment_155031" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Photograph courtesy of creative commons/Simon Harriyott (CC BY 2.0)Charles Babbage’s plaque.[/caption] Charles Babbage (1791 — 1871) A mathematician and astronomer, he is considered by some as the father of the computer. The plaque is located at Dorset Street, Corner of Larcom Street and Walworth Road. Harold Bride (1890 —1956) He was the wireless operator aboard the RMS Titanic during her ill-fated maiden voyage. He relayed messages to ships in the vicinity which allowed survivors to be rescued. He remained at his post until the vessel lost power. His is situated at 58 Ravensbourne Avenue, Shortlands, Bromley. Anne Brontë (1820 — 1849) She was an English novelist and poet and the youngest member of the Brontë literary family. She authored The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, considered one of the first feminist novels. Hers is positioned at Grand Hotel, Scarborough, North Yorkshire. Charlie Chaplin (1889 — 1977) A comic actor and filmmaker, he is one of the masters of silent film and is treated as one of the most important figures in the industry’s history. His medal is posted at 39 Methley Street, Kennington, London. Sir Henry Cooper OBE KSG (1934 — 2011) Undefeated in the British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles for three years, he is the only boxer to have been awarded a knighthood. Spot his at 4 Ealing Road, Wembley. [caption id="attachment_155033" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Photograph courtesy of creative commons/Simon Harriyott (CC BY 2.0)SIR Arthur Conan Doyle’s plaque.[/caption] Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859 — 1930) A writer and physician, he is more popularly known as the creator of the pop culture character Sherlock Holmes, who has impacted the crime fiction scene since his conception. Sir Doyle’s green plaque — an updated color scheme — is found at 2 Upper Wimpole Street. John F. Kennedy (1917 — 1963) Better known as JFK, he served as the 35th president of the United States from 1961 until his untimely assassination. His tribute is on 14 Princes Gate, London, where the family lived when the patriarch served as the American Ambassador to the Court of Saint James. Karl Marx (1818 — 1883) The German-born philosopher is behind the 1848 pamphlet The Communist Manifesto and Das Kapital, which are defining pieces in the school of socialism and communism. His recollection is on 101-8 Maitland Park Road. [caption id="attachment_155035" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Photograph courtesy of creative commons/JOHN YUGIN (CC BY 4.0)KARL Marx plaque.[/caption] Sir Joseph Paxton (1803–1865) He is the architect behind The Crystal Palace, which housed the Great Exhibition of 1851. He likewise cultivated the Cavendish banana, the most consumed banana in the Western world. His memento is on Chatsworth Estate, Derbyshire. J. R. R. Tolkien (1892–1973) The one and only man behind the wildly popular Lord of the Rings books, which revitalized the fantasy genre and inspired many a writer to pick up a pen. His one of four — that’s right, he has a total of five — souvenirs may be seen at Sarehole Mill, Hall Green, Birmingham. Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804–1864) An American novelist and short story writer, he is most known for the groundbreaking novel The Scarlet Letter. You can find him on 4 Pond Road, Blackheath. [caption id="attachment_155034" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Photograph courtesy of creative commons/Spudgun67 (CC BY SA-4.0)NATHANIEL Hawthorne plaque.[/caption] Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890) A Dutch Post-Impressionist painter who is respected as one of the most influential figures in the history of art. His token may be seen at 87 Hackford Road, South Lambeth. [caption id="attachment_155028" align="aligncenter" width="525"] PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS/Spudgun67 (CC BY-SA 4.0)Vincent Van Gogh’s plaque.[/caption] Jose Rizal (1861-1896) How could we ever forget the Philippine National Hero’s very own recognition? His acknowledgment may be explored at Chatsworth Estate, Derbyshire, 37 Chalcot Crescent, Belsize Park, London, where he lived as he fended off criticisms on his character and the revolutionary Noli Me Tangere. [caption id="attachment_155027" align="aligncenter" width="525"] PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS/Spudgun67 (CC BY-SA 4.0)Jose Rizal’s plaque.[/caption] The post The blue plaques of London: An overlooked embellishment appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Award-winning actor Alan Arkin dead at 89
American actor Alan Arkin, recipient of Oscar and Tony Awards, died at 89 on Thursday, 29 June, at his home in Carlsbad, California. Arkin won his Oscar for his supporting role in the indie comedy film, “Little Miss Sunshine”, in 2007. Prior to that, he won a Tony Award in the Broadway play "Enter Laughing" in 1963. The actor is survived by his three sons—Adam, Matthew, and Anthony—as well as his wife, Suzanne. “Our father was a uniquely talented force of nature, both as an artist and a man. A loving husband, father, grand and great grandfather, he was adored and will be deeply missed,” his children said in a joint statement. The post Award-winning actor Alan Arkin dead at 89 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Legacy of sacrifice, service
In the late 1960s, Calapan, the capital town of Oriental Mindoro, had only one bank – the Development Bank of the Philippines. The lack of formal credit institutions was a hindrance to the growth and development of the province. The difficulty of traveling by sea to Batangas and by road to Manila during this period, as the time it would take to process loans, likewise deterred people from going to the city to obtain credit. Atty. Arturo A. Ignacio, Sr., a four-time Governor of the then-undivided province of Mindoro, saw this problem. Though already 70 years old and residing in Manila, his desire to help the needy people of Mindoro obtain credit for business, agriculture, commercial and related purposes at an affordable rate and without encountering the difficulty that they would have if applying for a loan in big financial institutions, took him out of retirement. In 1963, he set up the Rural Bank of Calapan, Inc. to once more serve the people of Mindoro. It was the first private bank in Calapan City. His daughter, Atty. Erlinda A.I. Espiritu, the first woman graduate of Harvard Law School in the world, did not want her father to encounter the difficulty of traveling to and from the province at his age. She sacrificed and left her lucrative job in Manila and returned to Calapan to run the bank. Today, 60 years after its establishment, the bank, renamed Banco de Mindoro, Inc., has helped thousands of Mindoreños with their credit needs. I, belonging to the third generation of the family, and my son Benedict, belonging to the fourth generation, work in the bank to continue our legacy of sacrifice and service to the people of our province. The post Legacy of sacrifice, service appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Anatomy of a Fall’ wins top prize as women dominate Cannes
A tense courtroom drama about a writer accused of her husband's murder took the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival on Saturday, capping a strong year for women filmmakers. French director Justine Triet became only the third woman ever to win the festival's top prize with the icy tale "Anatomy of a Fall", led by a riveting performance from German actress Sandra Hueller. Triet used her acceptance speech to slam the government of President Emmanuel Macron for the "shocking" way it imposed a law increasing the retirement age in France. But she said she was "deeply touched." "I am very pleased to be the third woman who has gotten this prize -- things are truly changing and for the best," she told reporters. There were a record seven women among the 21 entries competing at Cannes this year, and many featured complex female characters. "Anatomy of a Fall" included a standout performance by "Messi" -- the border collie who plays a pivotal role in the film, and won the Palm Dog award a day earlier. Though Hueller did not win an award -- Cannes traditionally only gives one prize per film -- she was arguably the big winner on the night since she also starred in "The Zone of Interest" by Britain's Jonathan Glazer, which took the runner-up Grand Prix. The harrowing and unique look at the private life of a Nazi family at the Auschwitz concentration camp never shows the horrors of the camp directly, leaving them implied by disturbing background noises and small visual details. Hueller chillingly portrays the wife of the Nazi commandant, happily tending her garden and boasting she is "the queen of Auschwitz". 'Intense' The jury of nine film professionals was led by last year's winner Ruben Ostlund ("Triangle of Sadness"), and included Hollywood stars Paul Dano and Brie Larson. "We had a lot of intense, fun discussions," Ostlund told reporters, adding that it was "a very strong line-up". Best director went to Vietnamese-born French filmmaker Tran Anh Hung for "The Pot-au-Feu", a lustrous homage to French cuisine that was loved by many international critics but seemed to leave most local pundits cold. He thanked his star Juliette Binoche, saying she was "quite extraordinary in the film". Best actor went to Japan's Koji Yakusho for "Perfect Days". He thanked German director Wim Wenders for creating "a magnificent character" in the touching tale about a Tokyo toilet cleaner with a complex backstory. There was a surprise choice for best actress in Turkey's Merve Dizdar for "About Dry Grasses", the latest from previous Palme-winner Nuri Bilge Ceylan. Presenting the Palme d'Or, Hollywood legend Jane Fonda recalled the first time she came to Cannes in 1963. "There were no women directors competing at that time and it never even occurred to us that there was something wrong with that," she said. "We have come a long way." 'Deeply honored' The third-place Jury Prize went to Aki Kaurismaki for his sweet, deadpan and very Finnish film "Fallen Leaves" that garnered huge cheers from festival-goers. The 76th edition of the world's leading film get-together was a particularly glitzy affair, with world premieres for the new Indiana Jones and Martin Scorsese films playing out of competition. Glazer received his award from Quentin Tarantino and 97-year-old cult director Roger Corman. The festival often felt like a dream retirement home populated by ageing male icons from Hollywood. Harrison Ford, 80, got weepy when he received an honorary Palme d'Or ahead of the premiere of "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny". Scorsese, also 80, said he was happy to stay out of the competition with his Native American epic "Killers of the Flower Moon", joking to AFP: "It's time for others. I got to go. There are kids around." European auteurs Ken Loach, 86, Marco Bellocchio, 83, and Victor Erice, 82, all brought new films to the festival. The post ‘Anatomy of a Fall’ wins top prize as women dominate Cannes appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
$6M raised to preserve Nina Simone’s childhood home
An art auction and New York gala have raised nearly $6 million to preserve and restore the childhood home of soul music legend and civil rights activist Nina Simone, organizers said Tuesday. The twin events brought in some $5.88 million -- far more than the original $2 million organizers hoped to raise to restore the rural North Carolina abode. "The new funding will meaningfully advance our project goals to complete the full restoration of the house and landscape," said Brent Leggs, executive director of the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund. "With this investment, we are well on our way to opening the doors to visitors in 2024." Four US artists -- Julie Mehretu, Ellen Gallagher, Rashid Johnson and Adam Pendleton -- bought the dilapidated rural home in 2017 for $95,000. They've since worked with Leggs' organization, as well as tennis star Venus Williams, to raise money to turn the house into a cultural and historic site. The online auction, with works donated by British painter Cecily Brown and American artist Sarah Sze, was organized by Pace and Sotheby's. Among the 11 works for sale, Mehretu's ink-and-acrylic "New Dawn, Sing (for Nina)" fetched $1.6 million. Simone, whose songs found renewed resonance during the Black Lives Matter protests of recent years, had a complex, often difficult relationship with the United States, where she was born in 1933, during the era of racial segregation. Born Eunice Waymon, she spent the first years of her life in the three-room house in Tryon, in the rural southeastern state of North Carolina, with her parents and siblings, and began playing the piano at age three. But her dream of becoming a classical concert performer was shattered when she was rejected by Philadelphia's prestigious Curtis Institute of Music, an ordeal she attributed to racism. In the 1960s, Simone was active in the civil rights movement, including through rousing speeches and song. Her "Mississippi Goddam," was a response to a 1963 fire in an Alabama church started by members of the Ku Klux Klan. Three days after the assassination of Martin Luther King in 1968, she performed "Why? (The king of love is dead)." Simone eventually left the United States and lived her last years in the south of France, where she died in 2003. The post $6M raised to preserve Nina Simone’s childhood home appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
67 million children missed out on vaccines because of Covid: UNICEF
Some 67 million children partially or fully missed routine vaccines globally between 2019 and 2021 because of lockdowns and health care disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the United Nations said Wednesday. "More than a decade of hard-earned gains in routine childhood immunization have been eroded," read a new report from the UN's children's agency, UNICEF, adding that getting back on track "will be challenging." Of the 67 million children whose vaccinations were "severely disrupted," 48 million missed out on routine vaccines entirely, UNICEF said, flagging concerns about potential polio and measles outbreaks. Vaccine coverage among children declined in 112 countries and the percent of children vaccinated worldwide slipped 5 points to 81 percent -- a low not seen since 2008. Africa and South Asia were particularly hard hit. "Worryingly, the backsliding during the pandemic came at the end of a decade when, in broad terms, growth in childhood immunization had stagnated," the report said. Vaccines save 4.4 million lives each year, a number the United Nations figures could jump to 5.8 million by 2030 if its ambitious targets to leave "no one behind" are met. "Vaccines have played a really important role in allowing more children to live healthy, long lives," Brian Keeley, the report's editor in chief, told AFP. "Any decline at all in vaccination rates is worrying." Before the introduction of a vaccine in 1963, measles killed approximately 2.6 million people each year, mostly children. By 2021, that number had fallen to 128,000. But between 2019 and 2021, the percentage of children vaccinated against measles fell from 86 percent to 81 percent, and the number of cases in 2022 doubled compared to 2021. Declining vaccine confidence The slide in vaccination rates could be compounded by other crises, Keeley warned, from climate change to food insecurity. "You've got increasing number of conflicts, economic stagnation in a lot of countries, climate emergencies, and so on," he said. "This all sort of makes it harder and harder for health systems and countries to meet vaccination needs." UNICEF called on governments "to double-down on their commitment to increase financing for immunization" with special attention on accelerating "catch-up" vaccination efforts for those who missed their shots. The report also raised concerns about a drop in people's confidence in vaccines, seen in 52 out of 55 countries surveyed. "We cannot allow confidence in routine immunizations to become another victim of the pandemic," Catherine Russell, UNICEF's executive director, said in a statement. "Otherwise, the next wave of deaths could be of more children with measles, diphtheria or other preventable diseases." Vaccine confidence can be "volatile and time specific," the report said, noting that "further analysis will be required to determine if the findings are indicative of a longer-term trend" beyond the pandemic. Overall, it said that support for vaccines "remains relatively strong." In about half of the 55 countries surveyed, more than 80 percent of respondents "perceived vaccines as important for children." "There is reason to be somewhat hopeful that services are recovering in quite a few countries," said Keeley, who added that preliminary vaccination data from 2022 showed encouraging signs. But even getting numbers back up to pre-pandemic levels will take years, he said, not including reaching "the children who were missing before the pandemic." "And they are not an insubstantial number." The post 67 million children missed out on vaccines because of Covid: UNICEF appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PMMA grad opposes rename
A graduate of the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy, the country’s only state-run nautical school, has expressed opposition to a House bill renaming it. Under House Bill 6503 filed by Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, PMMA will be renamed to Philippine National Maritime Academy to emphasize its naval defense and maritime law enforcement roles. The proposed PNMA will provide basic maritime training and theoretical requirements for naval and coast guard reservists. “The institution is not anymore responding to its merchant or commercial needs and having a limited merchant marine image due to its name from 1963 reduces its ability to get more funding from the national government for its requirement, resulting to depleting foreign flag employment of Filipinos,” Rodriguez explained. Capt. Reynaldo Casareo, president of Cargo Safeway Inc. and an alumni of PMMA, said the bill replaces the word “merchant” with “national” to justify the need to produce hands for the military. “But what really is the importance of our graduates in the Philippines? Isn’t it that we are the ones at the forefront of the industry now? The maritime industry is being led by mostly PMMA alumni, which means we are aiding to enrich the economy,” the member of the PMMA Class of 1967 said. “They can change the curriculum, change the charter, remove the academy from the reach of CHEd (Commission on Higher Education) but do not change the name. They could try but as we reiterate, never use the name of PMMA as a stepping stone just to gain their personal goal,” Casareo added. He warned that if the name PMMA will be changed for reasons that cannot be justified but only for the interest of politicians, many foreign shipowners may change their preference for Filipino seafarers “and the name PMMA being the only government academy may be relegated to the dustbin of history and forgotten.” The post PMMA grad opposes rename appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
George Nader in Zigzag
In 1963, George Nader came to the Philippines to shoot Zigzag, produced by Medallion Films, Inc. In Hollywood, it was billed The Hunter......»»
Hollywood and Filipino producers’ collaboration
In 1963, Hollywood and Filipino producers collaborated on the making of To Be a Man, shot in the Philippines and topbilled by American and Filipino actors......»»
Miriam Jurado’s visit to the US
In December 1963, Miriam Jurado spent several memorable weeks in the United States......»»
RIVERMAN’S VISTA: Fr. Bill, Mindanao, and the Jesuit volunteers
QUEZON CITY (MindaNews / 24 August) — Fr. William Kreutz SJ, Fr. Bill to all of us who love him and are grateful for his guidance and support all our lives, first came to the Philippines in 1963. He was still a scholastic then and took his theology courses here. He was ordained in 1969 […].....»»
Too late for reconciliation
NBA legend Dennis Rodman’s father Philander Jr. died of prostate cancer at 79 in Pampanga last Tuesday and was never reconciled with his superstar son whom he abandoned in 1963......»»