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Condé Nast hails Phl islands as world’s top destinations
Readers of the world-renowned luxury and lifestyle travel magazine, Condé Nast, have personally picked the Philippines’ pristine islands of Boracay, Palawan and Siargao as their preferred islands among their choices. Based on the results of the survey, asking about half a million readers who registered to vote online, Boracay, Palawan, and Siargao placed third, sixth, and tenth, respectively. Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco elated the good news, affirming how the world-renowned islands continue to mesmerize global travelers. “We welcome the resounding message tourists from around the world say: They Love the Philippines! From the charm of our islands, pristine beaches, crystal-clear waters, vibrant marine life, lush landscapes, rich heritage and culture, and the excellent hospitality of the Filipino people, the Philippine experience is always one that is filled with love and happy travels,” she exclaimed. According to Condé Nast Travel, some 600,000 readers who registered to vote took part in the survey conducted online, making the Readers’ Choice Awards sought-after by the travel industry and often seen to forecast travel trends. Taking the third spot in Asia, Boracay garnered a total of 90.74 points, while Palawan got 89.71, and Siargao with 87.37 in readers’ votes. Frasco said: “This achievement reflects the hard work, dedication, and sustainable tourism efforts of our country, from our local communities, national and local government agencies, and stakeholders who have strived tirelessly to preserve and enhance the beauty of these islands.” Asked how this latest recognition will help position the country, Secretary Frasco said, “The awards inspire us to continue developing and promoting the Philippines as a premier travel destination in Asia and the world.” “Our commitment to sustainable tourism practices has not only captivated the hearts of travelers but has also contributed significantly to the growth of our nation’s tourism industry,” the Tourism chief concluded. It is said that Boracay and Palawan are no strangers on the said recognition, making an appearance in the list in the previous years. Last year, Boracay topped the list of islands in Asia, with Palawan ranking eight. The post Condé Nast hails Phl islands as world’s top destinations appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Cebu quarrying causes floods, says city council
The Cebu City Council has urged various City Hall departments to submit evaluation reports on areas affected by flooding, including infrastructure and drainage systems made as steps to mitigate the impact. This, as a council member disclosed that the alleged “unabated” quarrying in the upland barangays of the city is causing the flooding to low-lying areas in the city. North district City Councilor Mary Ann delos Santos in her resolution, stressed that while she is not against land development especially for the hinterlands, “the use and development of these particular areas should be made in such a manner that it does not adversely affect the natural flow of runoff water from the hinterland to the lowlands.” “Waters as high as five feet came rushing at the pressures that toppled retaining walls and similar structures,” she added. The resolution, which was adopted by the City Council directed the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, the Department of Engineering and Public Works, Office of the Building Official and Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office to provide evaluation reports. “The deluge not only caused hours of city-wide traffic, damage to property and injury to persons, but worse, it left an insurmountable fear and trauma upon the affected residents,” Delos Santos said. She also asked if developers of housing and quarrying projects in the mountain barangays submitted drainage impact assessment and strategies to the departments concerned, such as the DEPW, OBO and CCENRO. Delos Santos insisted that “an honest-to-goodness” study of the assessment results, as well as inspections were conducted before the projects started. The CCDRRMO had P450,331,161.40 budget allotment for 2023 for preparedness, prevention and mitigation infrastructure works. The post Cebu quarrying causes floods, says city council appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Major asteroid sample brought to Earth in NASA first
A seven-year space voyage came to its climactic end Sunday when a NASA capsule landed in the desert in the US state of Utah, carrying to Earth the largest asteroid samples ever collected. Scientists have high hopes for the sample, saying it will provide a better understanding of the formation of our solar system and how Earth became habitable. When they learned that the capsule's main parachute had deployed, "I literally broke into tears," the Osiris-Rex mission's principal investigator Dante Lauretta told a press conference. "That was the moment I knew we made it home... For me, the real science is just beginning." The 3.86-billion-mile (6.21-billion-kilometer) journey marked the United States' first sample return mission of its kind, the US space agency said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. NASA chief Bill Nelson hailed the mission and said the asteroid dust "will give scientists an extraordinary glimpse into the beginnings of our solar system." The Osiris-Rex probe's final, fiery descent through Earth's atmosphere was perilous, but NASA managed to engineer a soft landing at 8:52 am local time (1452 GMT), in the military's Utah Test and Training Range. Four years after its 2016 launch, the probe landed on the asteroid Bennu and collected what NASA estimated is roughly nine ounces (250 grams) of dust from its rocky surface. Even that small amount, NASA says, should "help us better understand the types of asteroids that could threaten Earth." The sample return "is really historic," NASA scientist Amy Simon told AFP. "This is going to be the biggest sample we've brought back since the Apollo moon rocks" were returned to Earth. Osiris-Rex released its capsule early Sunday from an altitude of more than 67,000 miles. The fiery passage through the atmosphere came only in the last 13 minutes, as the capsule hurtled downward at a speed of more than 27,000 miles per hour, with temperatures of up to 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit (2,760 degrees Celsius). NASA images showed the tire-sized capsule on the ground in a desert wash, with scientists approaching the device and taking readings. Eventually, they concluded the capsule was not breached, meaning its all-important air-tight seal remained intact, avoiding any contamination of the sample with desert sands. The team then lifted the capsule by helicopter to a nearby "clean room." Meanwhile, the probe that made the space journey fired its engines and shifted course away from Earth, NASA said, "on its way" for a date with another asteroid. Japanese samples On Monday, the sample heads to the Johnson Space Center in Houston for additional study, and NASA plans to announce its first results at a news conference 11 October. Roughly one-fourth of the sample will be immediately used in experiments, and a small amount will be sent to mission partners Japan and Canada. But most of it will be saved for future generations -- a "treasure for scientific analysis for years and years and years to come, to our kids and grandkids and people that haven't even been born yet," Lori Glaze, director of NASA's Planetary Sciences division, said. Japan had earlier given NASA a few grains from asteroid Ryugu, after bringing 0.2 ounces of dust to Earth in 2020 during the Hayabusa-2 mission. Ten years before, it had brought back a microscopic quantity from another asteroid. But the sample from Bennu is much larger, allowing for significantly more testing, Simon said. Earth's origin story Asteroids are composed of the original materials of the solar system, dating back some 4.5 billion years, and have remained relatively intact. They "can give us clues about how the solar system formed and evolved," said Osiris-Rex program executive Melissa Morris. "It's our own origin story." By striking Earth's surface, "we do believe asteroids and comets delivered organic material, potentially water, that helped life flourish here on Earth," Simon said. Scientists believe Bennu, about 500 meters (1,640 feet) in diameter, is rich in carbon -- a building block of life on Earth -- and contains water molecules locked in minerals. Bennu surprised scientists in 2020 when the probe, during its brief contact with the asteroid's surface, sank into the soil, revealing an unexpectedly low density, like a children's pool filled with plastic balls. Understanding its composition could come in handy, for there is a slight -- but non-zero -- chance (one in 2,700) that Bennu could collide catastrophically with Earth, though not until 2182. NASA last year successfully deviated the course of an asteroid by crashing a probe into it in a test, and it might at some point need to repeat that exercise -- but with much higher stakes. The post Major asteroid sample brought to Earth in NASA first appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
COVID’s back: Here’s what you need to know
As colder weather sets in, COVID rates are once more rising across the Northern Hemisphere, with several new variants on the scene. Here's what you need to know. Covid versus seasonal nasties? The COVID pandemic extracted a terrible toll, with nearly seven million deaths worldwide. But thanks to vaccines, prior immunity, and better treatments, the virus is now far more manageable. In the United States, excess deaths -- the total number of people dying for any given cause -- has been normal since spring. "If you asked me to choose between getting flu and COVID, I would pick COVID because each individual case of flu is more dangerous," said Ashish Jha, a former White House COVID coordinator and dean of public health at Brown University. But while COVID is now less deadly to individuals, "it also seems to have higher rates of long-term complications." COVID is also less seasonal than the flu, more contagious, and over the last three US winters peaked from December to January, while flu peaks later. Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease specialist at Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, placed COVID "on par" with flu and RSV, but stressed it was more severe than the common cold. To boost or not to boost? Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax have developed new vaccines that more closely target current variants, all offshoots of Omicron which became dominant in late 2021. There is broad consensus that annual boosters will benefit the most vulnerable. But whether they bring added value to everyone is debated. Nearly everyone has already been infected, studies show. And prior infections combined with vaccines have trained immune systems to stop severe outcomes even when they can't ward off infection. One-size-fits-all recommendations no longer make sense, and could decrease trust in public health, said Monica Gandhi, author of "Endemic: A Post-Pandemic Playbook." For example, the mRNA vaccines of Pfizer and Moderna carry small risks of heart inflammation in younger men. European nations advise annual shots only for higher-risk groups, but some experts don't see downsides in wider recommendations. "People at low risk still derive benefit from boosters," said Ziyad Al-Aly, an epidemiologist at Washington University in St. Louis. The United States recommends that nearly everyone get annual COVID shots. Are masks still useful? Experts diverge on this subject, one of the most controversial of the pandemic. A review of clinical trial data by the respected nonprofit Cochrane on whether promoting mask-wearing helped slow respiratory viruses found inconclusive results. Whether broad mandates have a significant effect, therefore, hasn't been proven. What researchers do know -- thanks to lab experiments -- is that well-fitted, high-caliber masks such as N-95s protect individuals. "Individuals can therefore choose to wear well-fitted and filtered masks indoors to provide personal protection from respiratory pathogens," said Gandhi, a professor at the University of California, San Francisco -- though she believes in vaccines to prevent severe disease, including among the high-risk. Test, or go to work? Experts agree that it makes sense for people at risk -- the elderly and those with conditions such as cancer, obesity, and diabetes -- to test when they have symptoms. That's because these groups "would benefit from antiviral therapy within the five-day window," said Adaja. The most prominent treatment is Paxlovid, which has been shown to reduce the risk of severe disease and death among high-risk people. Some health systems have decided testing at-risk people is all that's needed. "Most people no longer need to take a coronavirus test. To prevent the spread of infection, you should try to stay at home if you're unwell," says the UK's National Health System. What about long COVID? Research around long COVID -- symptoms that linger for weeks or months -- remains nebulous and hampered by a lack of standardized definitions for a condition that has multiple causes, said Adalja. Al-Aly estimates prevalence at between 4 to 7 percent, or 65 million people worldwide. "Unfortunately, we have not made progress on treating long Covid. This should be an urgent priority for research," he said. It does appear that prior vaccination reduces the risk of long COVID and that the condition is correlated with the severity of infection. The US government has funded several trials into the condition, with one recent study finding a diabetes drug called metformin reduced the risk of ongoing symptoms by 40 percent. Jha said he was hopeful of more data on treatments in the coming months. The post COVID’s back: Here’s what you need to know appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Japan says water radioactivity below limits near Fukushima
Japan's environment ministry will publish test results weekly at least for the next three months and will then review the timing of further disclosure.....»»
Hawaii fire death toll nears 100, and anger grows
The death toll in Hawaii from the deadliest US wildfire in more than a century ticked towards 100 Sunday, fueling criticism that government inaction contributed to the heavy loss of life. At least 96 people were confirmed to have died as of Sunday night, but officials warned the figure was likely to rise as recovery crews with cadaver dogs work their way through hundreds of homes and burned-out vehicles in Lahaina. The historic coastal town on the island of Maui was almost destroyed by the fast-moving inferno early Wednesday morning, with survivors saying there had been no warnings. When asked Sunday why none of the island's sirens had been activated, Hawaii Senator Mazie Hirono said she would wait for the results of an investigation announced by the state's attorney general. "I'm not going to make any excuses for this tragedy," Hirono, a Democrat, told CNN's "State of the Union." "We are really focused, as far as I'm concerned, on the need for rescue, and, sadly, the location of more bodies." More than 2,200 buildings were damaged or destroyed as the fire tore through Lahaina, according to official estimates, wreaking $5.5 billion in damage and leaving thousands homeless. "The remains we're finding are from a fire that melted metal," said Maui Police Chief John Pelletier. "When we pick up the remains... they fall apart." That was making identification difficult, he added, appealing for those with missing relatives to give DNA samples that might speed up the process. Pelletier said cadaver dogs still had a vast area to search in the hunt for what could still be hundreds of people who are unaccounted for. "We're going as fast as we can. But just so you know, three percent -- that's what's been searched with the dogs," he said. Questions over alert system The wildfire is the deadliest in the United States since 1918, when 453 people died in Minnesota and Wisconsin, according to nonprofit research group the National Fire Protection Association. The death toll surpassed 2018's Camp Fire in California, which virtually wiped the small town of Paradise off the map and killed 86 people. Questions are being asked about how prepared authorities were for the catastrophe, despite the islands' exposure to natural hazards such as tsunamis, earthquakes and violent storms. In its emergency management plan last year, the State of Hawaii described the risk wildfires posed to people as being "low." Yet the layers of warning that are intended to buffer a citizenry if disaster strikes appear not to have operated. Maui suffered numerous power outages during the crisis, preventing many residents from receiving emergency alerts on their cell phones. No emergency sirens sounded and many Lahaina residents spoke of learning about the blaze from neighbors running down the street or seeing it for themselves. "The mountain behind us caught on fire and nobody told us jack," resident Vilma Reed, 63, told AFP. "You know when we found that there was a fire? When it was across the street from us." Reed, whose house was destroyed by the blaze, said she was dependent on handouts and the kindness of strangers, and was sleeping in a car with her daughter, grandson and two cats. The New York Times reported Sunday that firefighters sent to tackle the flames found some hydrants had run dry. "There was just no water in the hydrants," the paper quoted firefighter Keahi Ho as saying. Roadblocks The congregation of Grace Baptist Church, which was leveled in the blaze, gathered Sunday in a coffee shop in Kahului for two hours of solace. Pastor Arza Brown led the service in his sandals, the only shoes that survived the blaze that destroyed his house. But the trappings of ministry were far from his mind as he comforted fellow evacuees. "That's one thing about getting together today -- just to be with each other and encourage each other," he said. For some survivors, the difficult days after the tragedy were being worsened by what they see as official intransigence, with roadblocks preventing them from getting back to their homes. Maui police said the public would not be allowed into Lahaina while safety assessments and searches were ongoing -- even some of those who could prove they lived there. Maui's fires follow other extreme weather events in North America this summer, with record-breaking wildfires still burning across Canada and a major heat wave baking the US southwest. Europe and parts of Asia have also endured soaring temperatures, with major fires and floods wreaking havoc. Scientists say human-caused global warming is exacerbating natural hazards, making them both more likely and more deadly. The post Hawaii fire death toll nears 100, and anger grows appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Dozens of swimmers fall ill after UK triathlon competition
At least 57 people suffered from diarrhea and vomiting after swimming in the sea during the UK leg of the World Triathlon Championship Series, health officials have said. Around 2,000 people took part in the events in Sunderland, northeast England, last weekend, which included swimming off the city's Roker beach. The UK Health Security Agency said this weekend it was investigating the possible cause of the outbreak and will be asking those affected to complete a questionnaire and provide a sample for testing. Routine tests carried out by the Environment Agency at Roker in late July, days before the competition, found high levels of E. coli bacteria in the water. But British Triathlon, a governing body for UK triathlons, said these tests were taken outside of the body of water used for the competition and the results were published after the weekend's events. It said its own tests met the required standard. One of the participants, Australian triathlete Jake Birtwhistle, said on Instagram that he had been "feeling pretty rubbish since the race". "The swim should have been canceled," he added, posting a picture of a graph with the results of the water tests from Roker. The competition was held in an area of the coastline that has been at the heart of a long-running dispute between campaigners and the government over sewage discharges, the Guardian newspaper reported. Local water company Northumbrian Water insisted there have been no discharges "that might negatively impact water quality" at Roker since 2021. The Environment Agency said "temporary dips" in water quality can be caused by various factors "including heavy rain". In Paris, a pre-Olympic open water swimming test event in the Seine was canceled this weekend due to pollution following recent heavy rainfall. The post Dozens of swimmers fall ill after UK triathlon competition appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Gun permit ‘forgers’ in hot water
The Philippine National Police on Tuesday revealed that five members of the PNP-Health Service were involved in alleged irregularities in the issuance of psychiatric and psychological examination results for applicants of license to own and possess firearms. PNP-Civil Security Group chief Brig. Gen. Benjamin Silo Jr. said that administrative and criminal charges are being prepared against a police major, three non-commissioned officers and a non-uniformed employee. They are set to be slapped with grave irregularity in the performance of duty, conduct unbecoming of a police officer and grave misconduct before the Internal Affairs Service for manipulating the results of the psychiatric and psychological examinations from August 2022 to February this year. “We already identified the persons responsible for these irregularities and right now we are filing admin and criminal cases against them before the Office of the Ombudsman. We recommended they should be placed on floating status and right now we already deactivated their accounts,” Silo said in a press briefing. He added they will also be charged for graft and corruption and violation of Republic Act 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business law before the Office of the Ombudsman. Reports indicated that at least 377 applicants who were supposed to get a failing grade “passed” the psychiatric and psychological examinations and Silo disclosed that the CSG has already revoked the licenses of the applicants. “Out of the 377, [a total of] 64 had a non-appearance while the remaining 313 actually failed but their test results were manipulated. This was found through an investigation of our computer system and the help of our IT (information technology) experts. We also secured the testimonies of clients being victimized by this group,” Silo said. Citing the affidavits of some applicants, Silo said some of them paid P30,000 to P35,000 for the falsified result. The processing fee for the LTOPF only costs around P2,180. “Let’s not look at the income of these crooks anymore. Let’s just look at the impact on the public. If the one who holds a gun is psychotic, imagine the danger it can give to the public. Imagine if the one holding firearms is an addict, you know how big the possible effect of this to the society,” Silo said. The post Gun permit ‘forgers’ in hot water appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Alfred Vargas reveals wife’s difficult 4th pregnancy, asks for prayers
Actor-politician Alfred Vargas revealed in a recent post that his wife Yasmine is pregnant with their fourth child. “With immense gratitude to God, the Vargas family is elated to share that my Amore, @yasmine_vargas2307 is now 13 weeks pregnant with our fourth child!," wrote Vargas on Instagram. “God has blessed me with a wonderful life. This is mainly because He has not only given me a beautiful wife, inside and out, but a brave one as well. Yasmine is truly a fighter," he added. Vargas then went on to reveal that Yasmine is suffering from a condition called hyperemesis gravidarum, along with generalized anxiety disorder. The illness causes "severe nausea and vomiting," said Vargas. “She can’t even drink water nang hindi nagsusuka after. She lost several kgs in the first 3 weeks." “This is her 2nd pregnancy with GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder). And she experiences relentless anxiety and panic attacks (without any triggers)," he added. Vargas asked for prayers from readers and fans for his wife and baby's "great perfect health and well-being." "We're also counting on your support and understanding on this journey of ours as we welcome the newest member of the family this coming January," he said. And to his wife Yasmine, he said: "I'm here for you always. Mahal na mahal kita." The post Alfred Vargas reveals wife’s difficult 4th pregnancy, asks for prayers appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Keeping Siargao’s waters clean and safe
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources is helping Siargao Island protect its water resources by helping local residents follow proper waste disposal protocols. Siargao is a declared protected area pursuant to Republic Act 7586 or the National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 1992 as amended by Republic Act 11038 or the Expanded NIPAS Act of 2018. But it is prone to generating a high volume of waste from its tourism activities. Educating residents and visitors on proper waste disposal will prevent the contamination of the island’s waters with the E. coli bacteria that had blighted Boracay in 2018. Unlike Boracay which consist only of three barangays, Siargao Island is composed of nine municipalities. Gina Barquilla, Del Carmen Municipal Environment and Natural Resources officer, said the DENR helped them put up a two-hectare land to serve as the materials recovery facility for the municipality, funded by an Asian Development Bank grant. "We are now able to segregate our solid waste, which are then recycled and pulverized for other uses. Glass bottles may be used as bricks while plastic can be made as “sagwan” (banca paddle)," Barquilla said. Mayor Alfredo Corro II, she added, has also entered into a public-private partnership with the JCA 1221 Group of Companies, whose subsidiary FLOV2VS (Faith Lived Out Vision to Ventures), has put up a septage treatment plant that converts waste water into recyclable water. Inaugurated in 31 May this year, the treatment plant can clean up waste water from septic tanks, kitchen sinks and showers and distribute the recycled water for firefighters' water tanks and other uses. DENR Protected Area Superintendent Sam Malayao said they have teamed up with the island's municipalities to implement environmental laws, teaching commercial establishments how to dispose of waste property as well as manage their sewage system. All tourism-related establishments are encouraged to avail themselves of Del Carmen's waste water treatment under the Siargao Sewage Program, added Malayao. So far, of the more or less 2,000 commercial establishments around Siargao Island, 30 already make use of the service, with more expected to join by the end of the year. "STP is an ecology-driven investment. It's just one modality for our waste management. Pag sinabi kasing septic, parang ayaw pag-usapan, pero kailangan natin gawin (Nobody wants to talk about septic needs, but we need to act on it)," Del Carmen Municipal Mayor Alfredo Corro II told the Daily Tribune. The post Keeping Siargao’s waters clean and safe appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Cabugao setting up Sabang boardwalk
CABUGAO, Ilocos Sur — A uniquely-designed and one of its kind Boardwalk will soon be set up in the coastal barangay Sabang, this town, Congressman Ronald V. Singson revealed yesterday. Singson (1st district) said that the project will start this year, making this town more attractive to tourists. “In fact, there is already an initial fund for the project,” Singson told this writer. With its sandy beaches and crystal clear water, Cabugao town is now fast emerging as tourism site in Northern Ilocos Sur. Only recently, a luxury cruise ship docked at the Salomague Port in Cabugao, with about 500 passengers from the United States and Europe. The Silversea Cruises's Silver Spirit, was the first international cruise ship to dock at the Salomague port in three years since the pandemic began. Governor Jeremias “Jerry" Singson said that Ilocos Sur is a safe destination for tourists. Newsmen learned that the Salomague port has been upgraded in 2021 with a reinforced concrete Platform Back-Up Area and RC Pier Extension to attract cruise calls in this northern Luzon island, which is strategically located near the popular beaches and heritage sites of Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur. Meanwhile, Mayor Michael Miranda of Santiago town revealed that he had already asked funds for the beautification of the Santiago Cove, called “Little Boracay of the North.” With its Mini Santorini-like hotel called Vitalis, Santiago Cove hotel and others, Santiago is now the fast emerging tourism site in the province. The post Cabugao setting up Sabang boardwalk appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
You ask, I answer
Here we go. It’s time to have that one-on-one with you. This is a personal sharing based on my knowledge and experience on topics covering beauty and wellness. Question (Q): Why did I suddenly gain weight? I am 50 years old and feeling bloated. Answer (A): It might have everything to do with your hormones. As one approaches perimenopausal and/or menopausal age, the usual tendency is to feel the following symptoms: Weight Gain [caption id="attachment_134189" align="aligncenter" width="525"] photograph courtesy of unsplash/siora photography | WOMEN approaching menopausal age tend to feel they gain weight.[/caption] Mood Swings Headaches Hot Flashes Trouble Sleeping Changes in Sexual Drive Vaginal Dryness Erratic Menstrual Flow This Period May Last Two To 10 Years Due to The Changing Levels of Your Hormones Like Estrogen Testosterone Progesterone Thyroid Cortisol May I suggest you see your obstetrician/gynecologist who will recommend an endocrinologist. Based on the results of your blood test, you will be given the option to undergo hormone replacement such as HRT (hormone replacement therapy) or BHRT (bioidentical hormone replacement therapy/plant-based) Q: What is the easiest way to achieve good complexion at any age? A: Great skin is founded on good health. You have everything to gain from eating right and following the basic tenets of wellness which bear repeating. Whole foods and produce, especially leafy greens Vegetable juicing daily [caption id="attachment_134190" align="aligncenter" width="525"] photograph courtesy of unsplash/maddi bazzocco | DRINK vegetable juice for glowing skin.[/caption] Good sleep Hydration [caption id="attachment_134191" align="aligncenter" width="525"] photograph courtesy of pexels/arnie Watkins | KEEP your body hydrated.[/caption] Exercise Stress Management No junk food Vitamin/mineral supplementation Q: How can I have a smaller waistline? A: Eat less carbohydrates. Limit your sugar intake. Eat more veggies. Eat less animal meat (especially beef and pork). Cut down on fast-food. Choose water over carbonated drinks. Exercise. Burn those calories. Have your meals at regular hours. Erratic eating habits can cause weight gain. Do not go on a starvation diet. It can lead to future health problems. Q: I crave different kinds of food at different times. For example, one day it’s peanuts; the next day, it’s ice cream. Why is that? A: Cravings they say is an indication that your body “needs” a certain vitamin or mineral. This is partly true. But did you know that cravings can be emotionally triggered? Your state of mind plays a very important part in all of this. So does your diet and emotional state. There is a need for some self-observation and examination. It’s okay to give in to a craving but don’t go overboard. Remember, moderation is key. This topic deserves more discussion, so we will go back to this more extensively in the near future. The important thing to remember is that having a craving is not such a bad thing. You may give in to it in moderation. Q: I am too lazy to exercise but I know it is necessary. Any suggestions on how to begin? A: Thank you for your honesty. Yes, admittedly we all fall into that lazy phase. That’s okay. But don’t let it become a habit. The best way to get started is to have an exercise buddy. This will give you the motivation to stick to it. Start small. Perhaps you can join a walking group. Walking is one of the most effective forms of exercise. And it is the cheapest. Walk 30 to 45 minutes each day. Joining a gym is lots of fun. The group energy of your class can be contagious. Besides, this gives you the opportunity to make new friends and expand your circle. Be with like-minded individuals. Obviously, you cannot seriously focus on your health goals if you are constantly with the party crowd. Affirmation: “Success is my middle name.” Love and light. The post You ask, I answer appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
The Tiamzons, dead or alive? (1)
A puzzling statement was issued that couple Benito and Wilma Tiamzon were dead. It was not an assumption but a confirmation made by the faceless spokesperson of the Communist Party of the Philippines, Marco Valbuena, on Thursday that their top-ranking leaders did not die from a sea encounter in Catbalogan, Samar but were tortured and killed by the military. Ahead of DNA test results on human remains believed to be the Tiamzons, Valbuena made a premature claim. Philippine National Police chief, Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr., said the PNP Forensic Group has yet to release its official DNA report which is also being awaited by the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The Tiamzons were traveling with eight members of a guerilla group on a boat off Catbalogan City when they figured in a firefight with Joint Special Operations Task Force Trident and the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines on 22 August 2022. The military believed the group perished after their boat exploded. Human remains were found in the water in the succeeding days but were not identified. Who really are the Tiamzons? Benito, 71, National Democratic Front consultant, was the vice chairman, executive committee member, and political bureau member of the CPP–New People’s Army-NDF. Wilma, 70, was CPP secretary general and, like her husband, was a member of the executive committee and political bureau of the CPP-NPA-NDF. She was also NDFP negotiating panel national consultant and the National Finance Commission secretary. The couple were arrested on 22 March 2014 and detained at the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Camp Crame, Quezon City. Two years after, they were granted bail when the peace talks with the government resumed under the Duterte administration in August 2016. When the peace talks collapsed in 2017, the couple refused to surrender and went into hiding until a Quezon City court ordered their re-arrest in 2018. On 27 November 2020, Benito and Wilma were sentenced to up to 40 years in prison after being convicted of the kidnapping and serious illegal detention of Lt. Abraham Claro Casis and three other Army officers in Quezon in 1988. They were also ordered arrested for 15 counts of murder, issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 32 in Manila on 17 September 2017, in connection with the alleged 1985 purge in Leyte of communist rebels accused of being military informants, known as the “Inopacan massacre.” After running around headless since the death of its ideological founder in December 2022, timing is everything for the orphaned communist groups. Yes, everything happens at the perfect time. And, yes, the NDF’s 50th anniversary on Monday, 24 April is the perfect time. According to security forces, on occasions like this, CPP-affiliated organizations are expected to continue propagating issues and propaganda to portray them as still winning against the government and to expedite their recruitment of new revolutionaries. This is their strategy to portray the AFP as the primary violator of human rights in the country; and that the Philippine and American governments are conspiring to execute the apprehended terrorists. True enough, their digital spokesperson, whose face is always left to everyone’s imagination, announced that at the break of dawn on 24 April, all NPA units have been ordered to stand in formation and silently perform a 21-gun salute to pay respects and give the highest salute to the Tiamzon couple — their heroes for a day. (To be continued) The post The Tiamzons, dead or alive? (1) appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Probe export of lead scraps from used car batteries — FPI
The Federation of Philippine Industries has exposed the illegal export of lead scraps from used car batteries and called for its investigation by the government. “As a matter of policy, export of hazardous wastes like lead scrap and ULAB (used lead-acid batteries) is not allowed when the country of origin has the capability to recycle them. In the case of lead scrap and ULAB, we have Evergreen Environmental Resources Inc., which operates state-of-the-art recycling facilities for ULABs in Bulacan,” FPI chairperson Dr. Jesus Arranza said. Arranza added that Republic Act 6969 or the “Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act of 1990” and its implementing rules outlined in Department Administrative Order 2013-22 of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources prohibit such export. He added that the export of scrap lead, a hazardous waste, goes against the 1989 Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal which the country has ratified. Citing data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, the FPI chair said the Philippines exported around 8,500 tons of lead waste and scrap from January to August 2022. However, there are no record of whether these exported lead scraps are in the form of ULABs or were merely separated from used auto batteries. Since scrap lead is mostly obtained from ULABs, Arranza said illegal exporters managed to get their hands on a big volume of old car batteries. Using the PSA data as a basis, these illegal exporters are probably collecting around 500,000 pieces of ULAB at an average weight of 15 kilograms per unit, he said. “We don’t know how these exporters are handling and dismantling their ULABs, which are hazardous wastes. What have they done to the plastic components and the acid, did they just throw them into the trash or bodies of water?” Arranza asked. Also, local recyclers like EERI and their customers are being deprived of materials to make their operations more viable. Arranza said he finds it alarming that the PSA has actual data on lead scrap exports when the DENR has not issued export clearance to any company for lead scrap. The DENR stressed that there is no way the agency would approve any application for lead scrap export clearance. “If there is no clearance from the DENR, how did these shipments manage to slip through the Bureau of Customs and even get reflected in the PSA export data? Also, how come there is no record from the DENR and Department of Trade Industry of who these exporters are?” Arranza asked. With this, Arranza said this illegal practice should be jointly investigated by the BoC, DENR, DTI and other concerned agencies. He said the FPI and its members are ready to contribute their resources and inputs to the investigation. The post Probe export of lead scraps from used car batteries — FPI appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
4 Boracay tourists held for tampered RT-PCR tests
Four tourists from Metro Manila were barred from entering Boracay on Tuesday night after they presented tampered reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction test results......»»
7 Boracay tourists nabbed over fake swab test results
Seven tourists from Luzon have been arrested for allegedly presenting fake reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction test results upon entering Boracay Island in Malay, Aklan......»»
Bees in the Netherlands trained to detect COVID-19 infections
AMSTERDAM — Dutch researchers have trained bees, which have an unusually keen sense of smell, to identify samples infected with COVID-19, a finding they said could cut waiting times for test results to just seconds. To train the bees, scientists in the bio-veterinary research laboratory at Wageningen University gave them sugary water as a reward after showing […] The post Bees in the Netherlands trained to detect COVID-19 infections appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
8 Boracay tourists held for faking COVID-19 test results
Another group of tourists in Boracay were found to have presented fake reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test results......»»
Real raps for Boracay tourists over fake COVID-19 test results
The Department of Tourism on Monday said it has filed complaints against the six tourists from Manila who falsified their RT-PCR (Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) test results......»»
Charges eyed vs tourists over fake swab test results
The Department of Tourism is looking at the possibility of filing charges against Boracay tourists who were found with fake RT-PCR or reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction test results......»»