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UCAL cagefest: Tadeo powers MCU anew in routing MGC
RJ Tadeo produced another solid all-around performance as newcomer Manila Central University scored its first back-to-back wins with a 76-60 drubbing of Guang Ming College of Tagaytay......»»
Beermen back in driver’s seat
No way was San Miguel Beer letting Magnolia get away with murder thrice in a row and get to the doorstep of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup throne......»»
Crunch time at big dome
Forget about San Miguel Beer’s swashbuckling 2-0 head start. Forget about Magnolia’s roaring strike-back in the next two games......»»
Hotshots eye equalizer
By going back to its roots as topnotch shot-stopper, Magnolia has made it a more manageable 2-1 affair against San Miguel Beer......»»
SMB zooms to 2-0 lead
San Miguel Beer handed Magnolia something it hasn’t experienced all tournament long – back-to-back losses......»»
Brownlee available anew for Gilas in FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers
Justin Noypi back......»»
China slams Germany for meddling in South China Sea row
Insisting anew on its claim of owning almost the entire South China Sea China has lashed back at other non-Association of Southeast Asian Nations countries allegedly meddling in the maritime disputes of the region......»»
Beermen gain q’finals advantage
Streaking San Miguel Beer primed up for the PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals by welcoming back June Mar Fajardo and snaring a sought-for win-once incentive......»»
Lady Bulldogs edge Tigresses to rule Shakey s Super League tilt anew
The National University Lady Bulldogs secured back-to-back titles in the Shakey's Super League (SSL) Collegiate Pre-season Championship after defeating the UST Golden Tigresses, 17-25, 25-15, 25-20, 25-20, Saturday evening at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila......»»
Dutchman aims to assert triathlon supremacy anew in IRONMAN 70.3 P Princesa
Five months after ruling the full IRONMAN Philippines in exacting conditions in Subic, Dutchman Eric van der Linden is back in pursuit of another triathlon glory – half the distance but full in challenges in the IRONMAN 70.3 Puerto Princesa blasting off on November 12 in Palawan......»»
Economists: 25-bps rate hike likely if inflation rises anew
Economists believe the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas might further raise its policy rate by 25 basis points to 6.75 percent next month if food supply issues and high global oil prices persist. Dan Roces, chief economist of Security Bank, said the BSP might make this decision at its meeting on 16 November to help temper inflation faster. “The higher policy interest rate is driven by mounting local inflation risks, attributed to supply chain disruptions and increasing global commodity prices, including the threat of crude price spikes brought about by tensions in the Middle East,” he told the Daily Tribune in a Viber message. Last Thursday, the central bank hiked its rate by 25 bps to 6.25 percent on an off-cycle period to arrest further inflation uptrend due to the aforementioned factors. Risks might linger Jun Neri, chief economist of Bank of the Philippine Islands, said these inflationary risks might linger until the government finds solutions to increase supply of rice, the main driver of re-accelerated inflation at 6.1 percent last month. While Neri said managing food supply is not the BSP’s responsibility, he agreed with the central bank that rate hikes can help slow inflation by restraining consumer spending. “The rate hike is a statement from the BSP that it is determined to bring inflation back to its target. Inflation expectations may shoot up further if the market doesn’t see any action from the BSP,” the economist said. Exacerbated by Israel-Hamas war “The risk of El Niño, as well as higher global crude oil prices recently among 11-month highs led to higher local fuel pump prices especially since July 2023. This could be exacerbated by the Israel-Hamas war that is still uncertain” Michael Ricafort, chief economist of Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., added. The post Economists: 25-bps rate hike likely if inflation rises anew appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Reps Duterte and Castro trade barbs anew
House lawmakers Paolo Duterte and France Castro continued to trade barbs, with the former accusing his peer of merely sensationalizing the issue with his father, former president Rodrigo Duterte. Duterte struck back anew at Castro—who filed a grave threat case against the former president—for her swift retaliation against his remark that "public servants should not be onion-skinned." "I just wish that your passion to sensationalize this further is the same as your passion to protect the farmers and innocent victims who were killed and victims of the NPAs," Duterte told Castro. The younger Duterte made the remark in response to Castro's latest tirades against his father, saying the erstwhile president's statement was far from a legitimate criticism but a threat. Recall that Castro sued the ex-president before the Quezon City Prosecutor's Office on Tuesday after threatening to kill her and "all you communists" on a television program. Castro, a member of the Makabayan bloc, stressed that "this is a crime against a person" and that "Duterte's threats should stop." "Death threats and red-tagging aired on television must be must be stopped because it endanger the lives of people. It is far different from criticisms and should not be tolerated because it fosters the state of impunity," Castro said. Congressman Duterte came to the defense of his father, accusing Castro of using her right to silence critics. "The former President has received much harsher and humiliating criticisms in the past but never filed a case against anyone. As public servants, we all are under scrutiny by the Filipino people," Duterte said. He added, "If the former President has said something that threatened her, then maybe she should come out clean. It's not that we hide behind this so-called 'right.'" Furthermore, Duterte stressed that Castro should do away from the drama and publicity. "You filed a case; let the court look at the merits. Simple as that. Like what I've said, it is your right. But I heard worse." Castro has been on the receiving end of the Dutertes tirades following the crusade of the Makabayan bloc to strip Vice President Sara Duterte's office and the Department of Education, which she concurrently heads, of P650 million in confidential funds from the proposed 2024 budget. Ex-president Duterte said Castro would have been the "first target" of his daughter's intelligence fund. The OVP and DepEd were among the five civilian agencies, namely the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Foreign Affairs, and the Department of Information And Communications Technology, awarded zero confidential funds for next year. The post Reps Duterte and Castro trade barbs anew appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Del Rosario closes in on Q-Series, regains Top 5 with 67
Back at the Panther course, Pauline del Rosario is back in her fierce form, shooting a five-under 67 to climb back to joint fifth and zero in on a Q-Series berth after 54 holes of the LPGA and Epson Tour Qualifying School Stage II......»»
USJ-R Jaguars bags three wins in Week 2 of the Cesafi Esports League
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars dominated week two of the Cesafi Esports League’s (CEL) Mobile Legends Bang Bang on Saturday, October 14, 2023, at the University of Southern Philippines-Foundation (USP-F) Lahug campus. The Jaguars clinched three wins and one draw in their four-scheduled matches. They started with a lackluster draw against the Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Wildcats, 1-1. Joseph “Wanji” Burgos paced the Jaguars with 10 kills, 3.5 assists, and 5.25 kill, death, and assist (KDA) average. After the draw, the Jaguars didn’t look back and won all their three remaining matches. They started off with a 2-0 win against the Southwestern University-Phinma Cobras with Steve Pritz “Stevensanity” Casas emerging as the top player with a KDA average of 1.67. They went on to beat the host team, the USP-F Panthers, 2-0, behind Edrian Vince “Sera” Arriesgado, who had averaged 15 KDA. Lastly, USJ-R capped off their fruitful day with another 2-0 win against the University of the Philippines (UP- Cebu), with Burgos leading them anew with his 5.58 KDA. On the other hand, CIT-U clinched two wins despite losing one of their matches to USJ-R. They beat UP Cebu, 2-0, and SWU-Phinma, 2-0. Also, UP Cebu snagged a victory over USP-F, 2-0, while SWU-Phinma prevented a winless day by beating USP-F, 2-0. RELATED STORIES Jaguars lead Cesafi Esports League pre-season tourney Mandaue City, USJ-R, UCLM, shine in two separate Esports events Cesafi: USJ-R Jaguars now 3-0.....»»
Budgetary leverage
By passing a financing bill at the last minute, the United States Congress avoided a federal government shutdown this week. However, the Biden administration’s top priorities, including defense financing for Ukraine, were left out of the final package. For countries like the Philippines, which has cozied up anew to Uncle Sam, this is cause for concern because America has practically left Ukraine high and dry without the full backing it needs to defend itself against Russia. Okay, so Biden said they “will not walk out of Ukraine.” Still, without funding, that’s just lip service. Having perfected the art of emotional suasion at one end of the pole and brinkmanship on the other, we would not be surprised if Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky would tell Biden: “Show us the money.” Sacrificing Ukraine casts doubt on America’s dependability as a coalition partner and ally, even as it stakes a claim to a long tradition of backing democracies in their fight for independence. The Philippines should take note. In the US, it’s clear that whatever the executive branch pledges, the US Congress can always override or, as made apparent again now, starve of funding. That’s the power of holding the purse string that could certainly affect America the mighty’s projection of power. From propping up South Vietnam with billions of dollars in war materiel only to leave Saigon in a huff — with choppers flying off the rooftop of the US Embassy in a hasty, humiliating retreat in 1975 — to giving substantial aid to Israel and Middle Eastern countries, the US has not stopped its posturing as the “policeman of the world.” As in Vietnam and Afghanistan, where in the latter it also abruptly pulled out its forces, thereby allowing the Taliban to retake the country in 2021, the US, for all its fire-and-brimstone statements at the start of the Ukraine-Russia war, may have turned its back on its legal and moral responsibility to aid Kyiv. As an adversarial state under madman Vladimir Putin, Russia has been destabilizing international norms, and Ukraine, by fighting back, has been sending the strong message that autocratic governments cannot make the globe their playground. By not including money for Ukraine’s defense in the 2024 spending bill, the US has lost the chance to demonstrate its dedication to the defense of democracy. But such are the vagaries of the budgeting process in the United States and, of course, the Philippines, with the latter’s form of government and jurisprudence loosely patterned after America’s. In the US, government shutdowns have happened before and will happen again when the legislature and the executive branches are unable to reach an agreement on priorities and lawmakers do not enact a budget in a timely manner. The budget can also be wielded as a political baton with which to make the executive branch more malleable. An example would be the 2013 shutdown in an attempt to defund the Affordable Care Act. Frequent disagreements on spending priorities between the two parties in the US Congress have led to stalemates, with neither side willing to pass the budget unless their demands were met. Budget delays had caused negative effects on the economy and public services. Some may argue that past shutdowns of the US federal government would show the Philippines has a more mature budgetary system in place, as a failure to pass the budget for a new fiscal year only results in a reenacted budget. But the problems associated with a reenacted budget abound. There’s the delayed implementation of new programs and projects. This, as a reenacted budget only allows for the funding of existing programs and projects. A reenacted budget also limits government flexibility to respond to changing needs. For example, if the economy experiences a downturn, the government may need to increase spending on social programs or infrastructure projects. However, this is not possible under a reenacted budget. But probably the biggest risk associated with a reenacted budget would be corruption, as it can give the executive branch more leeway or elbow room to fund projects while reallocating “savings” from projects that had been funded previously. In the shadow of budgetary bludgeoning and political brinkmanship, the recent passage of the US funding bill left Ukraine’s defense hanging by a thread, a stark reminder of the capriciousness of budgeting processes in both the United States and the Philippines, where legislative complexities often take precedence over strategic imperatives. The budget’s power to shape policy and dictate priorities, as seen in the Philippines with past reenacted budgets, illustrates the pitfalls of wielding fiscal levers as political weapons. In both nations, the budgeting process, while designed to reflect the will of the people, is susceptible to political posturing, causing disruptions and imperiling the very ideals of democracy it should be upholding. The post Budgetary leverage appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Invasive species on the menu at London restaurant
A London restaurant is exploring whether eating invasive species such as grey squirrel, American Signal crayfish and Japanese knotweed could help fight their spread, but scientists remain skeptical. The idea behind several "invasive species supper clubs", the last of which was served on Tuesday at "zero waste" Silo restaurant in east London, is to "creatively popularize species that are detrimental to the environment", chef Douglas McMaster, who runs the establishment, told AFP. The omnipresent grey squirrels, signal crayfish and Japanese knotweed are all "forces of destruction" that squeeze out local populations, but all are edible and "delicious", he added. The invaders are the subject of a recently published report under the aegis of the UN, which gave rise to calls from experts to "wake up" to the "scourge". McMaster would like a legitimate supply chain and for the species to become "an accessible resource" for chefs. But the idea "isn't to popularise these invasive species so there's so much of a demand that we allow them to become more invasive", he stressed. "That would be a terrible thing to occur." He hopes instead to "bring back balance within the ecosystem and then we stop eating them". - 'Out of control' - But experts fear that the remedy will simply aggravate the problem. "Consuming invasive non-native species isn't something that I would encourage," Karim Vahed, professor of entomology at the University of Derby, told AFP. For Signal crayfish, which were imported in the 1970s for human consumption before escaping to colonize waterways -- to the detriment of the native white-clawed crayfish -- "there's a potential that people will even introduce them themselves if they think that they can then be collected as food". The invasive specimens also transmit a fungal infection, "crayfish plague", to which the American species are immune. And their few predators -- otters and herons -- are too few to stem their spread. "At the moment, the Signal is just spreading out of control," warned Vahed. The smaller, native crayfish, which have seen an 80-90 percent decline, are now at risk of extinction. In a small stream flowing through a park in Derby, central England, visitors can easily see the swarms of American crayfish. One of Vahed's students found the first specimen there 16 years ago and within five years the invasive species had completely replaced the native one. Simply taking the largest ones does not help contain the spread. "You're just helping the young American Signal crayfish to survive," explained Vahed. "So removing them and eating them isn't a solution." - 'Very human response' - The picture is more nuanced for Japanese knotweed, an invasive plant which can be eaten or used to brew beer. "It could potentially be a good idea," said knotweed specialist Karen Bacon, who found humor in the "very human response" of thinking "this plant is causing a problem, it is edible... let's eat it!". "But on the other hand, there are risks," added the professor, who is based at the University of Galway, western Ireland. Disturbing the plant can actually enhance its growth, she told AFP, adding that any project would need to be undertaken with experts "who understand the plant". "There is some potential in there, but it needs to be done carefully," she said. spe/jwp/bp/leg The post Invasive species on the menu at London restaurant appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Worthy of national pride
Ending his birthday vacation cum official visit in Singapore, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. flew back to Manila at the crack of dawn last Monday. During his five-day stay there, he spoke at the Asia Summit and watched anew from the sidelines his favorite Formula One race......»»
Time to wear Filipino culture anew
One word is not enough to describe contemporary Filipino fashion. In its full glory, Filipino fashion encapsulates the country’s vibrant culture, from the Metro’s bustling street tempo to the quaint and traditional silhouettes of the provinces, as well as one’s modern-day experiences and emotions that one can wear. The PHx Fashion Group celebrated the return of the PHx Fashion Conference this year, along with PHx Station — a multi-brand fashion pop-up event that is slated to take place from October 2023 to January 2024. Led by Esme Palaganas and Seph Bagasao of the independent fashion brand BAGASÁO, with the support of Trickie Lopa, the co-founder of Art Fair Philippines, PHx Fashion Group is more than prepared and excited to help aspiring fashion designers introduce their brand to a broader audience. With two projects finally coming to fruition after years of online discourses and thorough research while the world was taking a pause during the pandemic, PHx Fashion Group is coming back to show that top-notch Filipino fashion is within reach. Theory to practice Taking the first step is always the hardest and most intimidating. For designers, the looming questions before taking the first step are: “What is your story?” and “How will you create and introduce your brand to a global audience?” PHx Fashion Conference, a three-day event, will serve as a point of arrival and take-off for young and emerging Filipino designers where they learn from experienced and renowned creatives, showcase what they have learned and absorbed, and finally take off and turn theory into practice. The conference will be a valuable learning experience, giving designers the first step to operate their businesses while adhering to the global standard and having the platform to share their stories through fashion. Philippe Terrien and Giselle Go of TFC Press and Norman René De Vera, design and image director of AZ Factory, will be the key speakers of the conference, providing insightful commentary after years of being in the industry as they have worked with multiple global and luxury brands. There will also be a series of mentorship sessions, varying from quality control to pricing, that will prepare designers to put their designs on the market. Celebration of Filipino fashion Meanwhile, PHx Fashion, the three-month-long pop-up market event, will be an avenue that connects designers and the public to the world of Filipino fashion in a more accessible, interactive and immersive way. Without sticking to a specific theme or catering to a select audience this year, the market event will amplify Filipino voices in the fashion world while also allowing customers to access exquisite, world-class Filipino fashion and statement pieces. The brands that will participate in the much-awaited pop-up event include Aire, Apara, BAGASÁO, Idyllic Summers, Le Ngok and NOVEL, among many more. Carla Zhang, the founder of fashion label Le Ngok, told the DAILY TRIBUNE that her brand›s story would revolve around being a “ready-to-wear clothing that is stretchable, experimental and leaning towards sustainability.” PHx Fashion Conference will take place from 17 to 19 November, while PHx Station will kick off in Greenbelt 5 starting 20 October until 15 January 2024. The post Time to wear Filipino culture anew appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Sketches of pain
Juan Luna is in the news again following the aborted auction of a bust depicting him as a lad, a work of art in bronze that supposedly survived a fire decades after the same had been donated to the Philippine government. The auction house said the sale was held in abeyance by the present “owners” of the bust that looks nothing like the Luna in the photos that showed him with Jose Rizal and other Filipinos who made Europe their playground (girl-watching and chasing) and propaganda battleground against clerical and civil excesses back in Manila. Rizal’s life had been intertwined with those of the Luna siblings, with one account saying that the boy wonder from Calamba, Laguna, had adjudged Manuel an even better painter than his brother Juan. That’s quite a statement, considering JL’s masterpieces. There’s the Spoliarium, depicting fallen gladiators being dragged off the battlefield in the center of the coliseum, awe-inspiring in size and how it captured the form of warriors in poignant strokes. Gazing at the mural in the National Museum, one can imagine the fallen swordsmen, gasping for their last breaths, just moments after mouthing the ultimate ironic tribute: “We, who are about to die, salute you.” Salute whom? The bloodthirsty royalty and the throng of citizen spectators on whose thumbs up or down rested the decision whether to finish or spare the life of the defeated? To art and music lovers, there may not be a more fitting classical soundtrack while examining the Spoliarium than Concierto de Aranjuez. Make mine Miles Davis’ jazz rendition from his iconic album, Sketches of Spain. Rizal also had his moment with another Luna, Antonio, yes, the assassinated general with whom, fighting for the affection of a woman, he nearly engaged in a duel after having one drink too many. But back to JL, it may be said that this Luna, in winning a gold medal at the Madrid Exposition of Fine Arts in, if my memory serves me right, 1884, put Rizal on the radar of the Spanish authorities even before the publication of his incendiary novels, Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. With Felix Resurrecion Hidalgo’s painting, Christian Virgins Exposed to the Populace, winning the silver in the same art competition, Rizal was invited to give a speech in honor of JL and FRH. That speech was so bombastic that Rizal returned later to the Philippines, already a marked man. Heroes have always been people with feet of clay, and Rizal and the Lunas were no exception. Antonio would die, assassinated by his fellow Filipinos, while JL would fade away in Hong Kong after being exonerated in the killing of his wife and the latter’s mother. There’s no doubt that JL killed the De Taveras, but it was adjudged a crime of passion that somehow allowed him some compassion from those who set him free. The National Museum naturally wants to recover the Luna bust and, in its communication with the auction house and the “owners,” seems to be leaning toward arriving at an amicable settlement or a win-win solution for all parties concerned. We’re all for that, for the National Museum to get back what the Filipino people should be enjoying, instead of having the bust hidden anew from public view for decades as part of a private collection. The post Sketches of pain appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
China’s 10-dash line flaunts ‘arbitrariness’, expert says
China is flaunting anew an “arbitrariness” by releasing its 2023 version of the map, which features a new 10-dash line that defines its purported boundaries in the South China Sea, according to Maritime law expert Professor Jay Batongbacal. “This is already the second time because the first time was in 2013. Based on some reports, it seems that they are introducing a new drawing. It may be small but other countries are already reacting like India and this time, Malaysia has already reacted,” Batongbacal said in a chance interview Thursday evening. China's Ministry of Natural Resources on 28 August issued the map, which covers a large part of the South China Sea, including the country’s exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea. “Una pinapakita nito yung arbitrariness nung kanilang claim kasi nga nagbabago. Pangalawa, pinapakita rin nito na talagang walang basehan ‘yung kanilang dinodrawing na iyan. Talagang yung mga ibang bansa talagang hindi yan tatanggapin (First, it shows the arbitrariness of their claim because it changes. Second, it also shows that what they are claiming is really baseless. The other countries really can’t accept that.)" Malaysia, Taiwan, and the Philippines have earlier rejected China’s claims under the new version of its SCS map, showing that Taiwan as well as India's northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin region are part of Beijing's domain. Batongbacal said there’s a lot of misinterpretation and manipulation of information regarding China’s claims in the SCS, which overlaps the claims of its neighboring countries. “The Chinese government keeps pushing these narratives that are not really true. The problem is that this information is being reported as if it's true,” he said. Thus, Batongbacal pressed the need for the media outlets, particularly those assigned in the Philippines, to better understand the issues on SCS/WPS. “It is also very important to us because we are a democratic nation and the media plays a very important role in the molding and expression of the public opinion so the media needs to be well-informed, especially in our advocacy in the WPS. This is about our nation,” he said. China’s uncertainties, lack of stability Batongbacal said the Philippines keeps insisting that China should follow the rules-based international order and an international law referred to as “The Law of the Sea Convention.” “China should follow the rules that when we all negotiated—the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea—and China itself supposedly ratified that agreement. It shows that even though China signed treaties, conventions, and agreements. yet anytime if it finds it inconvenient in its interest, it can ignore it,” he added. Batongbacal said such action from China shows a “lack of stability and uncertainties.” “And for countries like us, smaller, less powerful and can’t match—let’s say—large countries like China, if that’s our system in the world, then we will not have our independence or sovereignty—if like that. We will just fall into whatever other countries want of us whenever they want, right?,” he said. In the case of the WPS, Batongbacal further explained that China seems pushing for its own “wants and composition” despite signing agreements and international laws. “It keeps ignoring it and insists itself with the other countries. We really need to push back on it and we should stand international law. We should insist that China should follow the agreement and the international law,” he said. He, meanwhile, noted that the legal position of the Philippines was put on record through a series of diplomatic protests. “With it, no one can tell that we are accepting China's claims. It is very clear that we always oppose China that their activities are wrong and it will never be that such behavior would be acceptable in the international law,” he said. Batongbacal underscored the Philippines' need to stand up for legal rights and entitlement in the international community. Senator Risa Hontiveros earlier described China as “delusional and desperate” after issuing the new 2023 version of its 10-dash line map, claiming part of the WPS as theirs. “China is delusional. Wala na sa huwisyo itong Tsina. Kung ano-ano nalang ang ginagawa para mang-angkin ng mga teritoryong hindi naman sa kanya (China is our of its mind. It keeps on inventing to grab what is not theirs) This map is Beijing’s desperate attempt to assert its lies and propaganda,” she said. Hontiveros added that the Department of Foreign Affairs should also coordinate with the National Resource and Mapping Authority) to update a map that clearly shows the country’s exclusive economic zone, continental shelves, and territorial seas in the WPS. The post China’s 10-dash line flaunts ‘arbitrariness’, expert says appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»