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Ogie Diaz challenges Baron Geisler: ‘Patunayan niya na siya ay totoong nagbago na’
Is Baron Geisler back on the bottle again? That was purportedly the reason why, as relayed by a source to showbiz insider Ogie Diaz, the acclaimed actor might be on his way out from the youth-oriented TV series “Senior High,” because Geisler has been purportedly drinking again while on set. Geisler has had a long, controversial and public history with alcoholism, but lately he's announced he's been on the mend. He's also resumed a busy acting career, resulting in acclaim for projects such as Netflix's "Doll House" that has earned him acting honors, and roles in high-profile projects such as "Senior High." As if in response to Diaz's allegations, Geisler released a video showing him driving to work, saying he's excited to be back on set. A photo of him and younger co-star Elijah Canlas being coached on-set by the series director also surfaced, seemingly belying Diaz's claim that he was on being eased out. Diaz then responded with a challenge to Geisler on his latest "Showbiz Update" YouTube show: Prove me wrong. "Ito ang challenge ko kay Baron Geisler: na patunayan niya na siya ay totoong nagbago na," declared Diaz. "'Pag pinatunayan niya na tuloy-tuloy na ang kanyang pagbabago, e di sorry, mali ako, mali 'yung source ko," he added. Diaz stressed that he'd be the first to express happiness if Geisler had indeed changed his ways and the report wasn't true. Making public the source's claim about the actor, he said, was a means to prod Geisler to stay on the sober path, given the fresh breaks he's been getting. The post Ogie Diaz challenges Baron Geisler: ‘Patunayan niya na siya ay totoong nagbago na’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Why being slapped by Maricel Soriano is a dream for Pinoy actors
Maricel Soriano inevitably became the recipient of tribute-like statements from her costars at the recent media conference for the psychological drama series Linlang, which premiered last Thursday, 5 October, on Prime Video. [caption id="attachment_194585" align="aligncenter" width="788"] MARICEL Soriano[/caption] The 58-year-old actress, called the Diamond Star in recognition of her illustrious career in Philippine movies that began in her childhood, made lasting impressions on younger colleagues Kim Chiu, Paulo Avelino, JM de Guzman and Kaila Estrada, as well as on an older castmate, Ruby Ruiz, while shooting the series. “She’s the Diamond Star for a reason,” Estrada exclaimed. Nodding, De Guzman said, “Naging challenge sa ’kin pagka magka-eksena kami. Nanonood ako sa kanya kasi sobrang galing. Nadadala ako sa scene (It became a challenge to be in a scene with her. She’s so good. I get carried away).” Avelino summed up his feelings for his senior co-star with “napakaraming respeto at paghanga (So much respect and admiration).” Soriano, who’s also called Inay by people close to her, just played it cool, even cracking jokes. “Wala bang cash?’ Puro na lang salita ang natatanggap ko (No cash? I only get good words),” she quipped. Accolades But the accolades kept pouring in, this time about how she can make a slapping scene so realistic that a fellow award-winning actress once said she literally saw stars after being slapped by Soriano. Chiu revealed that she has at least one slapping scene with Soriano in Linlang, which tackles marital infidelity and other forms of deception. “Sobra po akong natigalgal. Siyempre, di ba, pangarap ’yun ng isang artista na masampal ni Inay. Bucket list naming lahat ’yun. Bucket list, check! Ang lala! Baseball! (I was stunned. It’s every actor’s dream to get slapped by Inay. It’s in our bucket list. Mine is so strong, like being hit by a baseball).” Soriano then explained, “Mahirap kasing i-fake ’yun. Kailangang maramdaman ’yung galit ng nanay (It’s difficult to fake the emotions. I have to let out a mother’s anger).” In the story, she’s the mother of both De Guzman and Avelino’s characters. Chiu, on the other hand, plays the woman who comes between the two brothers. Ruiz, who takes on the role of Chiu’s grandmother, noted that Soriano gave “sobrang totoo n’yang emosyon (all-too-real emotions) in that slapping scene. Napakahusay ng pag-arte. Parang hindi umaarte (excellent acting, like not acting at all).” She expressed her fervent wish to work with Soriano again. “Hindi lang sampal ang gusto ko sa kanya. Umaatikabong acting (It’s not just a slap I want to get from her, but also the highest level of acting). Kung meron akong hindi malilimutan, ’yung friendship na nabuo namin ni Miss Maricel Soriano (If there’s one thing I won’t forget, it’s the friendship I’ve made with Miss Maricel Soriano).” Beyond the Diamond Star tag and image, Soriano is loved for her maternally caring ways, hence the pet name Inay. As De Guzman put it, “Parang nanay s’ya po talaga sa set. Inaalagaan n’ya po kami (She’s really like a mom on the set. She takes care of us).” Soriano herself gave examples of how she takes care of her wards, such as putting on baby powder and towel on their backs to avoid getting soaked by sweat. “Masaya ako, kaya looking forward ako na pumunta sa set nang maaga. Inaantay ko sila, ‘Anong latest? Naghahanap ako ng latest (I’m happy, that’s why I look forward to coming to set early. I wait for them, and then ask, ‘What’s the latest news?’).” Generous According to Chiu, “Very generous si Inay. Ang dami n’yang binibigay sa ’min, lalo na ’ko kasi magka-paa kami. So ang dami-dami ko nang sapatos na mamahalin galing kay Inay (She gives us a lot of stuff. I now have so many expensive shoes that were given by Inay).” Also, “Ang dami n’ya parating pagkain sa kuwarto n’ya, so pupunta lang kami do’n, tapos magkukuwentuhan kami and chikahan, gano’n (She has so much food in her room. We just go there and chat).” “Ang galing lang na makatrabaho ang isang (It’s great to work with) Maricel Soriano na ang tagal-tagal na sa industriya pero (who’s been in the business for so long, yet is so) down-to-earth and very accommodating to help ’yung mga artista na katulad namin (other actors like us),” Chiu added. For his part, Avelino said he takes the initiative to remind new actors, when they get the chance to work with Soriano, to a least introduce themselves, say hi and show respect to a much-esteemed pillar of the industry. The post Why being slapped by Maricel Soriano is a dream for Pinoy actors appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Millions of children affected by climate disasters – UNICEF
The United Nations Children’s Fund warned on Thursday that weather disasters brought on by climate change caused 43.1 million child displacements between 2016 and 2021 and criticized the lack of attention given to the victims. Co-Author Laura Healy told American for Prosperity, or AFP, that the data only indicated the “tip of the iceberg,” with many more possibly affected, in comprehensive research on the subject that included the heartbreaking stories of some children affected. Khalid Abdul Azim, a child from Sudan, recalls his terrible experience in a flooded village that can only be reached by boat. "We moved our belongings to the highway, where we lived for weeks," he said. In 2017, sisters Mia and Maia Bravo watched flames engulf their trailer in California from the back of the family minivan. "I was afraid, in shock," Maia said. Statistics on internal displacements caused by climate disasters generally do not account for the victim’s age. The Internal Displacement Monitoring Center, a non-governmental organization, and UNICEF collaborated to analyze the data and uncover the hidden toll for children. Four types of climate disaster (floods, storms, droughts, and wildfire) has led to 43.1 million child displacements in 44 countries in which frequency of the said disasters has increased during global warming, the report says. Ninety-five percent of those displacements were caused by floods and storms. “It’s equivalent of about 20,000 child displacements every day,” Healy lamented on AFP highlighting how the afflicted children are then at risk of suffering other traumas, such as being torn away from their parents or being the prey of child traffickers. As one child may be uprooted more than once, the numbers reflect the number of displacements rather than the number of children affected. The number of displaced people as a result of drought is “radically underreported,” according to Healy because they are less abrupt and hence harder to measure. This is just the tip of the iceberg based on the available data that we have," she said. "The reality is with the impacts of climate change, or better tracking of displacement when it comes to slow onset events, that the number of children who are uprooted from their homes is going to be much greater." Healy added. UNICEF Report Reveals Alarming Predictions for Child Displacements Due to Climate Events In a recently released UNICEF report, startling forecasts have been unveiled for specific climate-related events. According to the report, the next three decades could witness a staggering 96 million child displacements due to flooding caused by overflowing rivers. Additionally, cyclonic winds are projected to force 10.3 million child displacements, while storm surges may result in 7.2 million displacements. It's worth noting that these estimates do not factor in preventive evacuation measures, raising concerns about the potential scale of displacement. UNICEF's Executive Director, Catherine Russell, emphasized the profound impact on those compelled to flee, including the fear of an uncertain return, disruptions to education, and the possibility of further relocations. Russell stressed that while migration may save lives, it also brings significant upheaval and challenges. "As the impacts of climate change escalate, so too will climate-driven movement. We have the tools and knowledge to respond to this escalating challenge for children, but we are acting far too slowly." She added. At the COP28 climate summit in Dubai in November and December, UNICEF urged world leaders to take up the climate issue. According to Healy, children, particularly those who have already been compelled to move must be prepared “to live in a climate change world”. While the effects of climate change are spreading across large portions of the planet, the UNICEF report highlights some of the most susceptible nations. The biggest number of displaced people (almost 23 million in six years) occurred in China, India, and the Philippines because of their massive populations, strategic positions, and precautionary evacuation measures. However, in proportional terms, Africa and small island states are most at risk; in Dominica, 76 percent of all children were uprooted between 2016 and 2021. More than 30 percent of the said amount went to Saint Martin and Cuba. The post Millions of children affected by climate disasters – UNICEF appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Tens of millions of children uprooted by climate disasters — UNICEF
Weather disasters fueled by climate change -- from floods to droughts, storms to wildfires -- sparked 43.1 million child displacements from 2016 to 2021, the UN Children's Fund warned Thursday, slamming the lack of attention paid to victims. In a sweeping report on the issue, the United Nations agency detailed the heart-wrenching stories of some of the children affected, and co-author Laura Healy told AFP the data only revealed the "tip of the iceberg," with many more likely affected. "We moved our belongings to the highway, where we lived for weeks," recounts Sudanese child Khalid Abdul Azim, whose flooded village was only accessible by boat. In 2017, sisters Mia and Maia Bravo watched flames engulf their trailer in California from the back of the family minivan. "I was afraid, in shock," Maia says in the report. "I would stay up all night." Statistics on internal displacements caused by climate disasters generally do not account for the age of the victims. However, UNICEF worked with the non-governmental Internal Displacement Monitoring Center to unpick the data and reveal the hidden toll on children. From 2016 to 2021, four types of climate disasters (floods, storms, droughts, and wildfires) -- the frequency of which has increased due to global warming -- led to 43.1 million child displacements in 44 countries, the report says. Ninety-five percent of those displacements were caused by floods and storms. "It's the equivalent of about 20,000 child displacements every day," Healy told AFP, underscoring how the children affected are then at risk of suffering other traumas, such as being separated from their parents or falling victim to child traffickers. The data reflect the number of displacements and not the number of children affected, as the same child could be uprooted more than once. The figures do not allow for a distinction between those evacuated before a weather event, and those forced to leave in the wake of a disaster. And, according to Healy, the number of displacements due to drought is "radically underreported," because they are less sudden and thus more difficult to quantify. "This is just the tip of the iceberg based on the available data that we have," she said. "The reality is with the impacts of climate change, or better tracking of displacement when it comes to slow onset events, that the number of children who are uprooted from their homes is going to be much greater." 'Far too slowly' The UNICEF report offers some partial predictions, for specific events. Floods linked to overflowing rivers could spark 96 million child displacements in the next 30 years, while cyclonic winds could force 10.3 million displacements, it says. Storm surges could lead to 7.2 million displacements. None of those estimates include preventive evacuations. "For those who are forced to flee, the fear and impact can be especially devastating, with worry of whether they will return home, resume school, or be forced to move again," UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said in a statement. "Moving may have saved their lives, but it's also very disruptive," Russell said. "As the impacts of climate change escalate, so too will climate-driven movement. We have the tools and knowledge to respond to this escalating challenge for children, but we are acting far too slowly." UNICEF called on world leaders to take up the issue at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai in November and December. Healy says children, including those already forced to move, must be prepared "to live in a climate change world." Even if the intensifying effects of climate change are affecting wide swathes of the planet, the UNICEF report shines the light on particularly vulnerable countries. China, India, and the Philippines are the countries with the largest number of displacements (nearly 23 million in six years) because of their huge populations and geographic locations -- but also because of their preventive evacuation plans. But in proportional terms, Africa and small island nations are most at risk -- in Dominica, 76 percent of all children were displaced from 2016 to 2021. For Cuba and Saint-Martin, that figure was more than 30 percent. The post Tens of millions of children uprooted by climate disasters — UNICEF appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DSWD hails winners of 2023 Natatanging Pamilyang Pilipino
The Department of Social Welfare and Development, together with partner agencies in the National Committee on the Filipino Family, recognized exemplary Filipino families during the awarding of the 2023 Natatanging Pamilyang Pilipino at SM City San Mateo over the weekend as part of the celebration of National Family Week. The NPP aims to recognize and award Filipino families who have significantly contributed towards nation-building and the development of the family as the foundation of Philippine society. In the message of Secretary Rex Gatchalian, which was delivered by DSWD Undersecretary for Policy and Plans Adonis Sulit, the DSWD chief highlighted the courage and strength demonstrated by Filipino families in overcoming life’s challenges as well as their contribution to nation-building. "You and the members of your family are not only exemplary in your love for each other but also in your significant contributions to your communities and society. Your stories of cooperation, care, and even the stories of overcoming life's challenges pave the way for a better future for all of us," Gatchalian said. "Today, I want to convey our heartfelt appreciation to Filipino families who continue to demonstrate the importance of unity, love for one another, and cooperation in our country. Your dedication to family and nation inspires us all," he added. From the regional winners, the NCFF chose the top five model families that will become a pool of ambassadors in promoting NCFF goals, promoting Filipino values, and acting as resource persons in Family Development Sessions, fora, and other family development-related initiatives. Natatanging Pamilyang Pilipino from Western Visayas The National Award Grand Winner was bagged by the Delgado family from the province of Antique in Western Visayas. Mr. Joaquin Delgado and Mrs. Benedicta Seguera Delgado were gifted with nine children. With their guidance, perseverance, and efforts, the Delgado couple now have two doctors, five teachers, one international nurse, and a merchant marine graduate. The Delgado family received different awards and recognitions for their invaluable contributions to their community such as in the Sta. Monica Parish; Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals; and the Boy Scouts of the Philippines. The Delgado family members also did their part during the COVID-19 vaccination in Antique, volunteering to provide food to students and their families in the aftermath of Typhoon Odette, and conducting feeding programs and reading sessions in their community, among others. “My children had their fair share as they struggled also to sell AVON [products], Sara Lee, butong-butong, coke products, and even did padyak para lang po matustusan ang pangangailangan sa med school at sa college (My children had their fair share as they struggled also to sell AVON, Sara Lee, butong-butong, and coke products, and even did padyak just to make ends meet for their medical school and college expenses.),” Mrs. Delgado said. “Again, I am proud of everyone and I gladly accept this award to challenge our family with shared decision-making despite differences and to inspire that despite how big our families are and how difficult life can be, we always be natatangi,” Mrs. Delgado added. The national winner received a plaque of recognition and a cash prize of P50,000 and another P50,000 from Secretary Gatchalian. The first runner-up was awarded to the Colmo family from Davao Oriental; the second runner-up to the Mandawe family from Cagayan de Oro; the third runner-up to the Bal-iang family from Baguio City; and the fourth runner-up went to the Manuel Family from Cagayan. As the chair of the NCFF, the DSWD vowed to continue to support policies and programs aimed at strengthening the foundation and protection of Filipino families. The post DSWD hails winners of 2023 Natatanging Pamilyang Pilipino appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Creative Industries Month to witness ‘the grandest battle of creativity’
The buzzwords this month and until November are "creativity" and "creative industries." September has been declared the "Creative Industries Month" by the Philippine government, and one reason for such declaration is the activation of the law known as Philippine Creative Industries Development Act, or Republic Act 11904. Pangasinan 4th District Representative Toff de Venecia is the principal author of the law, the chairman of the House Special Committee on Creative Industry and Performing Arts. De Venecia's clan on his mother's side used to be entrenched in film production. He is a son of Gina Vera-Perez De Venecia, daughter of Dr. Jose Vera Perez, the patriarch of pioneering film companies Sampaguita Pictures and Vera Perez Productions. Before he joined Pangasinan politics as son of former senator Jose De Venecia, Toff was active in theater, all the way back to his schooldays at the Ateneo de Manila. Sen. Loren Legarda, aside from being Senate President Pro-Tempore, is chair of the Senate committee on culture and the arts. For years a top broadcast journalist at ABS-CBN, Legarda is the principal author of Republic Act 11961, also known as the Cultural Mapping Law. [caption id="attachment_186378" align="aligncenter" width="511"] ODANG Putik Pottery held workshops on basic pottery. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF IG/ ODANGPUTIKPOTTERY[/caption] National competition DTI has announced that it will launch on 24 September a national competition, Young Creatives Challenge (YC2) "through the support of Sen. Imee Marcos." The competition -- described as "the grandest battle of creativity" in the country with a grand prize of P1 million per category -- "aspires to ignite, acknowledge, and spotlight the brilliance of creative minds... in the fields of Songwriting, Screenwriting, Playwriting, Graphic Novel, Animation, Game Development, and Online Content Creation." The semi-finals are set for October 2023, when the Top 30 creators and the Top 10 Grand Finalists will be revealed. At the grand finals on November 2023, cash prizes will be awarded along with millions’ worth of promotions, incentives, registration of intellectual property and possible production or commercialization of creative works. The competition has an Online Content Challenge with distinct mechanics and a separate prize pool. It offers a platform for content creators to showcase their talents and make a significant impact by raising awareness about the vibrant and dynamic Philippine creative industries. The special category will have TikTok as its main channel for entry submission. The DTI invites all natural-born Filipino citizens aged 18-35, regardless of their level of experience, to participate as either individuals or teams. Entrants are required to submit "entirely original creations." The competition theme is deliberately broad, embracing an "open" and "free subject" approach to allow the participants the creative freedom to delve into any topic or subject matter of their choosing. For more information about the competition, visit www.youngcreativeschallenge.com. Capsule workshops On 17 September, the NCCA launched the Creative Industries Month at the Rizal Park Open Air Auditorium in Manila with creative capsule workshops in the afternoon and a grand concert of songs, dances and puppetry in the evening. The festivities had the full support of the National Parks Development Committee and Concert at the Park. The workshops were anchored on various creative industries in the country. For instance, for the audiovisual media domain, the Knowledge Channel Foundation Inc. conducted an introductory workshop on Learning Filipino through Wikaharian. For the digital interactive media domain, Dr. Albert Mulles of METATOKYO tackled “How to Start Your Own Blockchain Game Project” while the Department of Science and Technology presented “Learning Through Minecraft Exhibit.” Under the Design domain, there were workshops on shoemaking, parol and jewelry-making and T-shirt printing Workshop. Under publishing and printed media, Rustico Limosinero offered a basic comics workshop, while the Barasoain Kalinangan Foundation, Inc. discussed book- selling and exhibits. Composer-singer Joey Ayala, meanwhile, held a Songwriting Workshop under the Performing Arts domain and later, at the concert, performed the finale solo vocal numbers. Nanding Josef, artistic director of the Cultural Center of the Philippines' Tanghalang Pilipino, conducted a capsule workshop on Theater Acting. Also within the Performing Arts domain were the dance and puppetry workshops facilitated by the Samahan ng mga Papetir ng Pilipinas. The other domains that presented workshops included the visual arts, traditional cultural expression and cultural sites. Aside from Ayala, the evening concert featured Noel Cabangon, the revived band Color It Red with Cookie Chua still its lead vocalist, Bayang Barrios and her band, the Sindaw Philippines dance troupe, Halili Cruz Dance Company, Teatro ni Juan and a puppetry group. [caption id="attachment_186377" align="aligncenter" width="1440"] HALILI Cruz Dance Company at the evening concert. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF FB.COM/ HALILI CRUZ DANCE COMPANY[/caption] In his remarks, De Venecia pointed out that there are more than 7 million people in the Philippines employed in the creative industries, and the industries' contribution to Gross Domestic Product in 2022 was 7.3 percent percent or P1. 6 trillion, representing an increase of 12.1 percent from P1. 43 trillion in 2021. "This is a sector that has managed to survive and even thrive on its own, but with institutionalized support from the state, it will really help the creative industry sector grow and accelerate to the point where we want it to be — which is by 2030, the Philippines will be the number one creative economy in all of Asia,” said De Venecia. May we be really number 1 just seven years from today! The post Creative Industries Month to witness ‘the grandest battle of creativity’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
On WPS conflict, ‘Trillanes cut deals’
Amid the guessing game started by China on who the unnamed President was who promised to remove the BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin Shoal, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile has pointed to a former senator as the culprit. “I haven’t heard from previous presidents that they promised to remove the Sierra Madre, but what I know is that the late President Benigno Aquino III did some backchanneling, and his backdoor agent was former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV,” Enrile said. He added: “Trillanes bypassed then Ambassador Sonia Brady in negotiating with China, and his only credential was he rode in a Philippine Navy boat when he was in the military service.” “The subject of the backchanneling was the Scarborough Shoal standoff, but Trillanes was deceived by the Chinese. The Philippine vessels withdrew from the area of the deadlock, but China stayed put,” he recalled. 2012 Senate skirmish Then-senator Enrile and Trillanes had a confrontation in September 2012 over the government’s covert negotiations with China that Aquino had assigned to Trillanes. In a face-off on the Senate floor, Enrile produced the so-called Brady notes, a report on the discussions between the ambassador and Trillanes on the backchanneling mission. During his several engagements with Chinese officials, Enrile quoted the Brady notes as saying that Trillanes indicated that Filipinos needed more interest in the conflicting claims in the region. Enrile said the Brady notes stated that Aquino was not made fully aware of the details of Trillanes’s actions, and there was a point when the President did not know the talks were suspended for two weeks and that Trillanes was acting on his own. “And for whom? Whose interest was he serving?” Enrile asked. While admitting that it was the prerogative of Aquino as Commander-in-Chief to resort to backchannel talks, designating Trillanes was a huge mistake, he said. “Trillanes should have been discreet, and he should have brought along an embassy representative to record the event. Trillanes thought he was James Bond. That should not have been allowed,” Enrile said. “A person entrusted by the President with a mission must first exercise discretion. When you go to a country to deal with a foreign power, you must notify the embassy,” he said. “Trillanes should have notified the embassy to alert them that he was there on a mission, and he should have brought along at least one responsible official,” he added. He continued: “Everybody should have known that international law already provided the way to settle the dispute, which was the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, but which China did not respect.” “China based its claims not on international law but on its might. We should have a counter-balancing force,” according to Enrile. “We should not rely solely on the assistance of other nations; we should keep building up our military assets.” “We should also be prepared, and one way to do that is to require all young Filipinos to undergo training to defend the country.” “Only Filipinos can fight for their country; nobody else can do the fighting for you,” Enrile stressed. False narrative Meanwhile, China was accused of using deception in its sea maneuvers when it tried to block a resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal on 7 September. Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson, Col. Medel Aguilar, at the weekly Saturday News Forum in Quezon City, said the Philippine Navy offered to help a Chinese rubber boat in distress near Ayungin Shoal. “Our troops offered assistance, but the Chinese refused and another boat came to their rescue,” Aguilar said. He said one of the Chinese rigid hull inflatable boats had gotten entangled in a fishing line while it was tailing the Philippine vessels heading to Ayungin to resupply the troops there. Aguilar said that while the Chinese boat’s refusal to accept aid from Philippine forces was expected, what surprised the troops was Beijing’s radio call where they blamed the Filipinos for the incident. “They had the guts to challenge our radio message. ‘Philippine Coast Guard, because of your maneuvers, the Chinese Coast Guard vessel came into problem,’” he quoted the Chinese as saying. Aguilar said this was another narrative the Chinese would tell their people. “After this incident, they will come up with their narrative to tell their people about what happened,” Aguilar said. “We don’t want the truth to be drowned out by what really happened,” he added. Misplaced bullying Aguilar described the China Coast Guard’s behavior as “misplaced bullying” amid its continued aggression in Philippine territorial waters. “The CCG is a misplaced bully in the WPS,” Aguilar said. Meanwhile, Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson, said several CCG ships and maritime militia vessels tried to block the Philippine vessels and stop the resupply mission. “It is very important for the government, for us, to be more transparent about what is happening in the West Philippine Sea,” he said. “We face the media; we give them the true story. The media will play a very important role in curtailing this fake news that spreads every time the Chinese release their narratives.” He said China has been pushing the narrative that the Philippines is acting on behalf of the United States. Ayungin Shoal, which is part of the Kalayaan island group, is an integral part of the Philippines and is well within its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, over which the country has sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction. The BRP Sierra Madre has been grounded on Ayungin Shoal since 1999, where it stands as a symbol of Philippine sovereignty and on which a dozen Filipino Marines and sailors are holding the fort. The post On WPS conflict, ‘Trillanes cut deals’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
China using false narrative — AFP
The China Coast Guard is using a false narrative in its recent dangerous maneuvers in trying to block a resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal on 7 September, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said Saturday. At the weekly Saturday News Forum in Quezon City, AFP spokesperson Colonel Medel Aguilar said the Philippine Navy offered to help a Chinese rubber boat in distress in Ayungin Shoal only to be scorned and blamed for the incident. “Troops offered assistance to help China, but China refused.. and another boat came to their rescue,” Aguilar said. He narrated that one of China’s Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats was entangled in a fishing line while it was tailing Philippine vessels heading to Ayungin Shoal to resupply troops there. Aguilar said while the Chinese boat's refusal to accept aid from Philippine forces was expected, what surprised the troops was Beijing’s radio call that blamed Filipinos for the incident. “They still have the guts to challenge our radio message: ‘Philippine Coast Guard because of your maneuvers, the Chinese Coast Guard vessel came into problem,’” he said. Aguilar called these as “another narrative that they will tell their people." “After this incident, they will come up with their own narrative to tell their people about what happened,” Aguilar said. “We don’t want the truth to be drowned by what happened,” he said. Aguilar also described the CCG's behavior as "misplaced bullying" amid its continued aggression in the country’s territorial waters. “The CCG is a misplaced bully at the WPS,” Aguilar said. This is the third resupply mission after the 5 August incident when the CCG used water cannons against the PCG fleet conducting a similar mission. Another resupply mission was conducted and completed on 22 August. Despite the efforts of the Chinese vessels, the AFP said the resupply mission was successful. “As far as the AFP is concerned, we always refer to existing laws in defining what is our maritime zone right now,” Aguilar said. On the other end, Commodore Jay Tarriela, spokesperson of the PCG, said several CCG ships and maritime militia vessels tried to block the PCG ships to stop the resupply mission. “It is very important for the government… for us to be more transparent on what is happening in the West Philippine Sea,” he said. “We face the media, we give them the true story. The media will play a very important role in curtailing this fake news that spreads every time they release these narratives,” Tarriella said. He added that China, which has been illegally claiming almost the entire South China Sea, has been pushing the narrative that the Philippines is acting on behalf of the US when it comes to the West Philippine Sea issue. Ayungin Shoal is part of the Kalayaan Island Group and is an integral part of the Philippines, as well as the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, over which the country has sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction. The BRP Sierra Madre has been grounded at the Ayungin Shoal since 1999 where a dozen marines and sailors are aboard the ship, which has become a symbol of Philippine sovereignty in the offshore territory. The post China using false narrative — AFP appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Fassbender returns to movies as Fincher’s ‘Killer’
Michael Fassbender returned to the big screen at the Venice Film Festival Sunday after years away as a racing driver, playing a cold-blooded assassin in David Fincher's Netflix film "The Killer". The German-Irish actor took up professional motor racing in 2017, joining the Ferrari Challenge and later the European Le Mans Series. He stepped away from an acting career that had seen him mix blockbusters like the "X-Men" franchise with hard-hitting roles in "12 Years a Slave" and "Hunger". "Had we not been able to fit into his window between racing seasons, we probably wouldn't have made the movie," said Fincher, adding they wanted someone menacing but not "too frightening". "I like very much the idea of someone seeing this film and getting nervous about the person behind them in line at Home Depot," Fincher joked. "The Killer" is a darkly comic but propulsive revenge film that sees Fassbender's gunman try to stay focused and professional but constantly forced to improvise as events get out of hand. It got a much warmer reception than "Fight Club", which was famously booed in Venice in 1999 before becoming a cult hit. The Guardian gave "The Killer" five stars, saying Fincher carries it off with "terrific flair and Fassbender's careworn, inscrutable face is just right for it". Some felt it lacked surprises, with Playlist calling it "entertaining but a little orthodox". - Strike hits red carpet - The ongoing Hollywood strike meant Fassbender and co-star Tilda Swinton were unable to attend the premiere of "The Killer" at the Venice Film Festival, where he won the acting award in 2011 for his role as a sex addict in "Shame". The strike by actors and writers, primarily over pay in the streaming era and the potential threat of AI, has robbed the Venice red carpet of several big stars this week, including Emma Stone and Bradley Cooper who won rave reviews for "Poor Things" and "Maestro", respectively. Lea Seydoux was also a no-show for Sunday's premiere of "The Beast", a well-received film about AI and era-hopping love in the style of David Lynch. The producers read out a message saying it was "difficult for Lea (and British co-star George MacKay) to come here and celebrate with the acute awareness that thousands of actors and writers are struggling to sustain their livelihoods." Fincher has been closely associated with Netflix, one of the main targets of the strike, as producer of its first major hit show "House of Cards", as well as "Mindhunter". "This movie was made through the pandemic. We just got done with three years of having to set our brushes down and walk away, and the idea of that continuing on is very sad to me," the director told reporters. "I can understand both sides. I think all we can do is encourage them to talk." "The Killer" sees Fincher reteam with Andrew Kevin Walker, writer of his breakout thriller "Seven". er/pvh © Agence France-Presse The post Fassbender returns to movies as Fincher’s ‘Killer’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Biden widens web of US alliances faced with China, Russia, Trump
With a historic three-way summit with Japan and South Korea, President Joe Biden has further deepened the web of US partnerships in a determined signal to adversaries despite question marks on the political climate at home. Since Biden took office in 2021, NATO has expanded and mostly closed ranks over Russia's invasion of Ukraine -- and, in clear if unstated responses to an assertive China, the United States forged a new three-way defense pact with Australia and Britain and ramped up work through the four-way Quad involving Australia, India and Japan. The United States already has security alliances with Japan and South Korea, together the bases for some 84,500 troops, but will now also plan three-way, multi-year military exercises across all domains along with real-time information-sharing and a crisis hotline. Jon Alterman, a senior vice president at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said that alliances were "baked" into the mindset of Biden, who was a senator at the end of the Cold War. Partnerships can increase other countries' faith in the direction of the United States, Alterman added. "This administration believes deeply in the centrality -- not the importance, the centrality -- of partnerships," he said. "The challenge is, all of our partners remember the previous administration, they look at the polling numbers, and they have absolutely no confidence in where the US is going to be in two years' time, five years' time or 10 years' time," he said. Previous president Donald Trump loudly questioned the value of alliances, insisting that countries such as Germany and South Korea were not paying enough for the US troop presence and scoffing at NATO's commitments of mutual defense to all allies. Trump is again seeking the White House and recent opinion polls have also shown softening support for US military assistance to Ukraine, which has totaled $43 billion since Russia's attack. Asked about Trump at a news conference with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the Camp David presidential retreat, Biden said that his predecessor's "America First policy, walking away from the rest of the world, has made us weaker, not stronger." "America is strong with our allies and our alliances, and that's why we will endure," Biden said. Tougher task in Asia Whereas in Europe the United States has led a common defense for decades under NATO, in Asia -- seen by Biden as the critical region -- Washington has navigated individual alliances with Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Australia and Thailand. One reason for the hodgepodge has been historical animosity between Japan and South Korea, with the Camp David summit until recently unthinkable. Yoon has turned the page by resolving a dispute over Japan's wartime forced labor of Koreans. Yoon, Kishida and Biden said they shared the same vision of a "rules-based international order" -- a nod to China's muscle-flexing in Asia but also to Ukraine, of which Japan and South Korea have been prominent non-Western supporters. China denounced the Camp David initiative, with state media saying the United States was raising tensions by creating a "mini-NATO," although there was no three-way mutual defense promise. Shihoko Goto, acting director of the Asia program at the Wilson Center, doubted that the three countries were even aspiring to collective self-defense but said their new cooperation was part of an "interweaving" with existing alliance arrangements. "As a single thread it may be weak, but because it is going to be part of that fabric and making it into a multi-layered approach, it would actually be really strong," she said. Risks await Biden has also moved bilaterally with countries concerned about Russia and China. He has said he plans to travel shortly to boost ties with Vietnam, whose tensions with Beijing run deep. But one of his big bets, India, has stood firm on its historic refusal to join alliances and is also taking part this week in a summit with Russia and China of the BRICS bloc of emerging economies. Trump is not the only wild card for the future. In South Korea, Yoon is only allowed a single term, which ends in 2027. "If an ultra-leftist South Korean president and an ultra-right wing Japanese leader are elected in their next cycles, or even if Trump or someone like him wins in the US, then any one of them could derail all the meaningful, hard work the three countries are putting in right now," said Duyeon Kim, an adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security. The post Biden widens web of US alliances faced with China, Russia, Trump appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
SB19 ‘embraces imperfections’ with ‘Pagtatag’
Contrary to what they see and what many believe, it has not always been good times and successes for Pablo, Josh, Justin, Ken and Stell. The group called SB19 went through many trials and challenges. Still, some people believe and consider them to be their role models. This fuels their credo and reminds them that they are not just SB19, but rather a movement. This era holds them responsible for what is to come — decisions, directions and distinctions to drive them to own the pedestal. This is what their latest album Pagtatag is about. SB19 invites everyone to experience the Japanese art kintsugi with Pagtatag. Kintsugi is about repairing broken pottery pieces with tree sap, the cracks and crevices adorned with “gold seams.” The art is about making something new by embracing imperfections and finding beauty in the process of refinement. “As an artist, our frustration became our motivation,” songwriter and group’s leader Pablo said. “To be honest, this is not an easy path. It’s a big risk that we’re taking right now,” Josh added. He hopes their newly owned entertainment company IZ Entertainment will inspire those who want to challenge the market and want growth in the industry. “Aside from music, we’re hoping that there are other fields we can try. We want to experience acting, hosting, even theater, and apply that experience to improve IZ,” Justin shared. Songs included in Pagtatag EP are “Ilaw,” “Liham,” “Freedom,” “Crimzone,” “Gento” and “I Want You” which both the lyric video and music video were launched on Friday afternoon, 9 June at Brooklyn Warehouse. A two-night show at the SMART Araneta Coliseum on 24 and 25 June will signal the start of Pagtatag World Tour. It will be followed by a show in Davao on 5 July and in Bacolod on 9 July. From 21 July to 6 August, the group will perform in six cities: Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco. From 11 to 20 August, SB19 will hold shows for the first time in four Canadian cities: Edmonton, Toronto, Vancouver and Winnipeg. Stell was chosen as one of the judges for the upcoming singing reality competition The Voice Generations. He will share the coaching duties with Billy Crawford, Julie Anne San Jose and Chito Miranda, which will be aired on GMA 7 soon. The post SB19 ‘embraces imperfections’ with ‘Pagtatag’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Pang-Pilipino talaga ako’: Ryan Bang turns down work offer in S. Korea
Korean television host-comedian Ryan Bang recently revealed that one of the top talent agencies in South Korea, SM Entertainment, had offered him the opportunity to pursue acting and hosting jobs in South Korea. The revelation came out in an episode of Star Magic Celebrity Conversations that was released on YouTube on 28 April, featuring an interview with Laurenti Dyogi, the head of TV production at ABS-CBN. “Bakit hindi ka bumalik (Why didn't you go back)? Like Sandara Park, you could have opted to go back to South Korea,” Dyogi said. Bang disclosed that Lee Soo-man, the music producer who founded SM Entertainment before parting ways with the label in October 2022, offered him a work contract consisting of a five-year training program in South Korea, and Bang even had a personal interview with Lee. "Noong close pa kami ni Ate Dara (Sandara Park), pinakausap sa akin dati ‘yung company niya. Tapos may kumukuha sa akin para mag-five years training (When Ate Dara and I were still close, she asked me to talk to her company then, which was getting me for five years' training)," said Bang. "Na-meet ko ‘yung Lee Soo-man. Gusto talaga nila ako 100 percent doon. Nagpunta pa ako sa SM Town, nag one-on-one interview pa kami. Interested talaga sila na pang-TV, pang-komedyante at pang-host (I met Lee Soo-man. They really wanted me 100 percent there. I went to SM Town and had a one-on-one interview with them. They were interested to get me for TV, as a comedian and host)," he added. The comedian did not specify when he was approached by the music producer. Despite this big opportunity, Bang said he decided to turn it down since he believed he wouldn't meet the standards and strict working conditions of South Korean entertainment. Although his parents had no objections to his working as an entertainer in his own nation, the conditions attached to the offer — including being unable to travel freely and being subject to mobility restrictions — made him rethink the proposal. “Wala pa sa puso ko na i-grab ko ang chance ng SM. Sabi ng mga magulang ko naman noong nasa Korea pa ako, bahala ka. Desisyon mo yan. So, nag-dalawang isip ako (It wasn't in my heart to grab the chance offered by SM. My parents said it was my call, and I had second thoughts),” he recalled. "'Yun ang offer naman kasi nila, bawal ako pumunta ng Philippines (Their offer restricted me from traveling to the Philippines)," he elaborated. "Kailangan bawat galaw ko bawal, kaso sobrang makulit talaga ako (There were a lot of restrictions, but I'm basically a restless guy)." Bang stressed once more that it was his personality that led him to want to stay in the Philippines: "Sa Korea kasi grabe, mahigpit, parang walang freedom. Eh grabe ang ugali ko, ang personality ko ay pang-Pilipino talaga ako, so nag-decide na ako na mag-stay dito (It's quite strict in Korea. My personality is more like a Filipino, so I decided to stay here)." 'Na-meet ko ‘yung Lee Soo-man. Gusto talaga nila ako 100 percent doon. Nagpunta pa ako sa SM Town, nag one-on-one interview pa kami.' Despite declining the invitation, Bang has guested on several Korean programs such as travel, documentary and variety shows. On Infinity Challenge, dubbed the first "real-variety" program in Korean television history, he was allowed to take on the role of Senator Manny Pacquiao's translator. He also said he had received acting offers from South Korean entertainment productions and is willing to accept them in the future. “Ngayon, merong nago-offer sa akin ng mga teleserye na parang sidekick. Hindi nga ako nag-paalam sa iyo n’un, Direk Lauren, kaya ako nag-braces. Kasi gusto ng mga director doon ay perfect ang ngipin bago ako isalang sa mga movie nila. May kumukuha sa akin na movie, teleserye, eh nag-pandemic bigla. So, ‘yung mga ganoon, tatanggapin (I've received offers to be a sidekick in Korean TV series. I didn't even ask your permission then, Direk Lauren, when I got braces, because directors there want me to have perfect teeth before putting me in shows. I was being asked to do movies, TV shows, but the pandemic happened. But I'm open to accepting such offers).” Ryan began his career in the Philippines as a contestant on Pinoy Big Brother in 2010, when he ended in second place. He currently serves as one of the regular hosts of the noontime program It's Showtime. By performing in “Magpasikat” in November 2022, the Korean- yet Filipino-at-heart performer showcased his love for both countries. The show featured Team Jhong-Ryan, which won "Magpasikat" with a celebratory performance that honored the strong relationship and diverse cultures of the Philippines and Korea. Along with Kring Kim, Bang also co-hosted the event Running Man: A Decade of Laughter on 1 April at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. He then appeared in Running Man's episode 651, which aired on 23 April. Boa, Girls' Generation, SHINee, Super Junior, Red Velvet, EXO, NCT and aespa are just a few of the widely recognized K-pop groups that are under the management of SM Entertainment. The post ‘Pang-Pilipino talaga ako’: Ryan Bang turns down work offer in S. Korea appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
New Postmaster General sworn inducted
Former Assistant Postmaster General for Marketing and Management Support Services Luis D. Carlos of the Philippine Postal Corporation was sworn in before Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo and assumed office as the new Postmaster General and CEO on 3 April. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. named Luis D. Carlos as Acting Postmaster General and member of the PHLPost Board of Directors last 28 March. During the flag-raising ceremony, the new Postmaster General urged his fellow postal workers to show the highest level of service. “Ibalik natin ang karangalan na maging isang kawani ng PHLPost,” (Let us bring back the pride of being a postal worker at PHLPost) he said. “We still have a lot of opportunities we can work on, which can challenge the traditional, so as we can be more competitive and that is to modernize the postal operations,” he added. “Hindi natin kailangan baguhin ang buong sistema, ang kailangan ngayon ay pagandahin ang serbisyo natin” (It is not necessary to change the system, all it needs now is to improve the service), Carlos stressed. To spur economic growth, particularly in agri-business, PMG Carlos believes that PHLPost as an institution can be a major logistics provider of farmers and the agricultural sector by entering a Memorandum of Agreement with the Department of Agriculture. With this, the delivery of agricultural products such as seedlings, fertilizers, and crops to far-flung areas without access to major cities in the provinces will be much easier and faster for our farmers. In the coming months, he promises to push for the needed reforms in the operations, identify the post office’s strengths and weaknesses and swiftly, work on them over time for the post office to survive. The post New Postmaster General sworn inducted appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Maricel sumabak sa pa-acting challenge ni Vice, gayang-gaya sina Nora, Vilma at Dolphy; winner sa ‘Banayad Whiskey’
KUMASA sa bonggang acting challenge ang nag-iisang Diamond Star na si Maricel Soriano na pakana ni Vice Ganda. Game na game na ginawa ng award-winning veteran actress ang mga napiling eksena ng kanyang anak-anakan mula sa mga classic Pinoy movies. Sa kanyang YouTube vlog, hinamon ng Phenomenal Box-office Star si Maricel na gayahin at iarte […] The post Maricel sumabak sa pa-acting challenge ni Vice, gayang-gaya sina Nora, Vilma at Dolphy; winner sa ‘Banayad Whiskey’ appeared first on Bandera......»»
Christine Bermas mas na-challenge sa ‘Lampas Langit’ kesa sa ‘Scorpio Nights 3’: It’s more of an acting piece
KAHIT na tumodo na sa paghuhubad at pakikipag-sex scene ang Vivamax bombshell na si Christine Bermas sa “Scorpio Nights 3” may bago pa rin siyang ipakikita sa latest movie niyang “Lampas Langit.” Sa “Scorpio Nights 3” kasi ay talagang nag-frontal nudity ang dalaga na isang certified NBSB o no boyfriend since birth. Walang keber-keber na […] The post Christine Bermas mas na-challenge sa ‘Lampas Langit’ kesa sa ‘Scorpio Nights 3’: It’s more of an acting piece appeared first on Bandera......»»
Sandara Park di nakakalimot sa Pinas, nag-Tagalog sa Korean talk show
“Ano po sinasabi ninyo, hindi ko kayo maintindihan? Galing po ako sa Pilipinas.” Ito ang seryosong sabi ni Sandara Park sa acting challenge kasama si Su-Rin Choi kilalang Korean actress at model na nakilala sa mga nilabasan niyang K-Drama na “Hi! School: Love On”, “Who Are You: School, 2015”, “Bad Thief, Good Thief” at iba […] The post Sandara Park di nakakalimot sa Pinas, nag-Tagalog sa Korean talk show appeared first on Bandera......»»
New Kapuso Jose Sarasola
BY RAMPADOR ALINDOG * FIL-SPANISH chef and actor Jose Sarasola is now officially a Kapuso as he signed an exclusive contract with GMA Artist Center. According to him, transferring to the network is an exciting time for both his cooking and acting careers. “I’m very happy and excited for another challenge, since […].....»»
US police in hot seat after years of near impunity
Calls for police reform have spread across the United States, but after years of acting with relative impunity---supported by powerful unions and protective laws---changing the worst habits of the US men in blue will be a steep challenge......»»
LCPO gets an acting city director
LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu — The Lapu-Lapu City Police Office (LCPO) has a new acting city director following the promotion and transfer of Police Colonel Elmer Lim to another region. This was confirmed by Police Lieutenant Colonel Christian Torres, spokesperson for the LCPO. Torres stated that Police Colonel Noel Flores, the current Deputy Regional Director for.....»»
Phl booters eye revenge vs Iraqis
After a close loss to Iraq in Basra, embattled Philippines aims to see its upset plans through on familiar grounds when it faces the Asian power again tonight in the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers at the Rizal Memorial Stadium......»»