We are sorry, the requested page does not exist
Swiatek storms back in Aussie Open thriller
Iga Swiatek admitted she was mentally “at the airport” before staging an astonishing comeback against Danielle Collins to stay alive in the Australian Open on Thursday as Carlos Alcaraz returned to action......»»
UC Baby Webmasters eliminate CEC Dragons in a thriller, keeping final four hopes alive
CEBU CITY, Philippines— The University of Cebu (UC) Baby Webmasters survived a fourth quarter thriller against the Cebu Eastern College (CEC) Dragons, 85-84, to keep their final four hopes alive in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (Cesafi) high school hoop wars on Thursday, November 23, at the Cebu Coliseum. The win momentarily puts UC.....»»
An Evening with Club Bulakeño Royalty
I spent an evening in the presence of royalty. Club Bulakeño made a regal comeback with highly anticipated ball after three years of hiatus due to the pandemic! This year’s theme brought European Royalty to the Manila Hotel, dubbing the night as “A Royal Affair: A Night of Majestic Opulence.” [caption id="attachment_177753" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] Mario Katigbak, Baby Tan, Milo Bondoc, Ofelia Trinidad, Sonny Tanchanco, Nedy Tantoco and Patrick Jacinto.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_177763" align="aligncenter" width="1368"] Joel Cruz, Edgard Cabangon, Gerard Ramirez and Nini Licaros.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_177769" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] Malou Martinez, Ruby Chua, Angola Consul Helen Ong and Irene Montemayor.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_177765" align="aligncenter" width="1199"] Yoli Ayson and Beging Soriano.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_177764" align="aligncenter" width="1199"] Shirley Sobremonte and Roselle Rebano.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_177762" align="aligncenter" width="1199"] Shelly Lazaro and Florence Monzon.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_177761" align="aligncenter" width="1484"] Connie Garcia and Shilpa Tolani.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_177760" align="aligncenter" width="1199"] Becky Garcia, Cocoy Cordoba and Mayenne Carmona.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_177759" align="aligncenter" width="1445"] Atty. Sal Panelo and Connie Haw.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_177754" align="aligncenter" width="661"] Marissa Fenton, Bulakeño 'Empress of Austria.'[/caption] [caption id="attachment_177756" align="aligncenter" width="1199"] Nene Leonor and Tokie Tantoco.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_177757" align="aligncenter" width="1199"] Alice Samson and Bong Prada Lim.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_177758" align="aligncenter" width="1199"] Lydia Abastillas-Reyes, Bulakeño founder.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_177768" align="aligncenter" width="1077"] Angel Fenton, Club Bulakeño’s muse, and her escort Prince of Kuwait Abdulah Delah.[/caption] As we expected, we got nothing but grandeur all around. Kings and queens arrived in ornate attire at the Manila Hotel Ballroom, transformed into a rich, red Royal Court. The night started with a dance, followed by the entrance of the servers who were also dressed as courtiers. It was like being transported back to the Renaissance era. A feast fit for kings and queens satiated us for an eventful night ahead. The juicy steak was cooked to perfection, which we savored with the flawless sound of live opera serenading us. As for dessert? We got a feast for the eyes as the past Club Bulakeño queens descended the grand staircase. Not long after, this year’s crowned Club Bulakeño muse, Angel Fenton, walked in with Prince Abdullah Dellah of Kuwait. She was joined by her proud father, Ian Grant, for her first waltz, while her mother, Marissa Fenton, was glowing with pride as she sat regally on her chair, as though the queen mother’s throne. Sounds like modern royalty to me with a touch of history! Before being dismissed from the royal festivities, we were treated to a grand raffle, giving a lucky few something to remember the evening by. One last curtsy to the royal court and we were off on our own chariot rides home from one of the most exquisite evenings ever. Already, we are looking forward to the next Club Bulakeño Ball. You gotta believe me. Cheers! The post An Evening with Club Bulakeño Royalty appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Imee vs BBM? ‘Never ever’
Senator Imee Marcos has set the record straight regarding her relationship with her younger brother, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. At Thursday’s Kapihan sa Senado, Imee said despite her open criticism of the administration, she has rejected the invitation for her to join the opposition. “I am solid administration, there’s no ifs or buts. I’m only here to protect the President and the family name,” she said. She added: “We fought hard and long for this, and we’re deeply invested in making certain that the Marcos administration would work.” Earlier this week, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said he was willing to take Senator Marcos in should she decide to join the opposition. Pimentel, the other oppositionist in the Senate along with Sen. Risa Hontiveros, later clarified that his invitation was a “joke,” but that it remained on the table. ‘I love my brother’ Having differing opinions, according to Imee, is quite normal in their family, noting that their late father, former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., likewise was not averse to contrary positions. “In our family, we always have discussions. We have different opinions. When my father was still alive, he was happy if he was being opposed. He was annoyed, but he was happy,” she said. “I am not opposing anything. We’re trying to hammer out details. I love my brother and we will never ever separate because of one simple reason: we came from only one tree.” Imee said her role in her brother’s administration was more of a “shepherd,” stressing that role is important to “protect” their family name. “My brother in his SoNA gave all the directions. I agree with that. Now, what should we do, there should be the ones to provide details. My role now is to focus on agencies and secretaries to find the best ways,” she said. “I am protecting my brother and, most of all, our name from any failures and fiascos. We have waited for 36 years, we cannot afford to make any mistakes,” she said. The siblings’ relationship has always been the subject of grapevine talk, even before Marcos Jr. ascended to the presidency. Historian Ambeth Ocampo had noted that Marcos Sr., in a diary entry, confirmed having a “soft spot for his elder daughter, (as) the child most likely to succeed.” Ocampo claimed the Marcos patriarch even “wished” that Imee had been a boy. Despite Imee’s longer years in politics, her younger brother, their father’s namesake, has given them the biggest comeback to the political arena after they were forced out of Malacañang and into exile by the 1986 People Power Revolution. Logical Pimentel’s invitation for the elder Marcos sibling to join the opposition did not come out of nowhere. Senator Marcos, the eldest of the four children of Marcos Sr. and former First Lady Imelda Marcos, had publicly called out certain actions of the President. Last year, the President’s first act after assuming office was to veto House Bill 7575 or the proposed Bulacan Airport City Special Economic Zone and Freeport Act. Having sponsored the measure before the plenary, Senator Marcos expressed dismay over her brother’s action and even warned him that it could send a wrong message to foreign investors. Earlier this year, she found herself opposed to her brother’s take on the EDSA anniversary, the event that not only changed their lives but the course of the country. The President said he was “one with the nation” in “remembering those times of tribulation and how we came out of them united and stronger as a nation.” Likewise, he offered reconciliation to “those with different political persuasions.” In contrast, Imee shared her thoughts about what she called the “truth” of EDSA. “For beyond the lesson of people power, or even what others have called mere military adventurism, a power grab, or even the endless clash of elites, to me the truth of EDSA is that we owe millions of Filipinos still living in squalor and insecurity, ignorance and hunger the promise of change,” she said. “Together, as one nation, let us go forth to transform this poor and unjust country into a Philippines that is, truly and finally, for all Filipinos,” she added. Likewise, Senator Marcos did not vote on the controversial Maharlika Investment Fund bill, a priority measure of the President. Less than a month after the Senate approved the measure, the lawmaker admitted that she deliberately skipped voting on the measure as it was “hinog sa pilit” or forcibly ripened. “We don’t talk frequently. I only see him when we have family affairs or official functions,” she said. “Sometimes, Sandro would approach me. Sometimes, he would send Sandro to tell me something. It is like that. Sometimes, I also get annoyed.” “It is okay, we are a normal family, but we don’t have a kitchen table these days. We’re also busy. Otherwise, it would have been around my mother’s kitchen table where we argue and discuss and dispute. It’s fun.” The post Imee vs BBM? ‘Never ever’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Imee says she’s not joining opposition: ‘I love my brother’
Senator Imee Marcos has set the record straight on her relationship with her brother, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. During Thursday’s Kapihan sa Senado, Imee rejected the invitation offered to her by Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III for her to be part of the opposition given her criticisms of the administration's policies on several occasions. “I am a solid administration, there’s no ifs or buts. I’m only here to protect the president and the family name,” she stressed. “We fought hard and long for this, and we’re deeply invested in making certain that the Marcos administration should work,” she added. Earlier this week, Pimentel III said he is willing to adopt the older Marcos should she decide to join the opposition. Pimentel, the other half of the two-member minority bloc in the upper chamber, explained that his invitation, although it was only a “joke,” was still on the table. Presently, there are only two members of the minority in the Senate: Pimentel and Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros. Quite normal But having differing opinions, according to Imee, is quite normal in their family. She noted that their late father, former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., likewise followed this approach. “In our family, we always have discussions. We have different opinions. When my father was still alive, he was happy if he was being opposed. He was annoyed, but he was happy,” she explained. “I am not opposing anything. We’re trying to hammer out details. I love my brother and we will never ever separate because of one simple reason: We came from only one tree,” she added. Imee also noted that her role in her brother’s administration is more of a “shepherd,” stressing that it was needed to “protect” their family name. “My brother in his SONA gave all the directions. I agree with that... My role now is to focus on agencies and secretaries to find the best ways,” she said. “I am protecting my brother and most of all our name from any failures and fiascos. We have waited for 36 years, we cannot afford to make any mistakes,” she added. Sibling relationship Imee and Bongbong’s relationship has always been the subject of speculation even before the latter ascended to the presidency. In the January 2022 column of historian Ambeth Ocampo, he noted that Marcos Sr., in his diaries, had “had a soft spot for his eldest daughter, the child most likely to succeed.” Ocampo said that the Marcos patriarch even “wished” Imee to be a boy. Despite Imee’s longer years in politics, her younger brother, who shared the name of their father, gave the Marcos family the biggest comeback in the country's political history by winning the 2022 presidential elections. Imee, the eldest among the four children of Marcos Sr. and former First Lady Imelda Marcos, had publicly called out certain actions of the president. Last year, the President’s first action after assuming office was vetoing House Bill No. 7575 or the proposed Bulacan Airport City Special Economic Zone and Freeport Act. Imee, who sponsored the measure before the plenary, expressed her dismay at her brother’s actions and even warned him that it could send a wrong message to foreign investors. Earlier this year, the lawmaker also figured in a tug-of-war with her brother on their family’s take on the anniversary of the EDSA People Power revolution, the event that sent them into political exile. The president said he was “one with the nation” in “remembering those times of tribulation and how we came out of them united and stronger as a nation." He offered the hand of reconciliation to “those with different political persuasions.” Imee had a different perspective about what she called the “truth” of EDSA. “For beyond the lesson of people power, or even what others have called mere military adventurism, a power grab, or even the endless clash of elites, to me the truth of EDSA is that we owe millions of Filipinos still living in squalor and insecurity, ignorance and hunger the promise of change,” she said. Imee also abstained from voting for the controversial Maharlika Investment Fund bill, the brainchild of the President, when the upper chamber was deciding whether to pass or reject the measure. Less than a month after the Senate approved the measure, the lawmaker admitted that she deliberately skipped voting on the measure as it was “hinog sa pilit” or forced to ripen. But Imee pointed out that their family is no different from any other household, saying she is sometimes “annoyed” by her brother’s actions. “We don’t talk frequently. I only see him when we have family affairs or official functions,” she said. “Sometimes, Sandro would approach me. Sometimes, he would send Sandro to tell me something. It is like that. Sometimes, I also get annoyed.” “It is okay, we are a normal family, but we don't have a kitchen table these days. We're also busy. Otherwise, it would have been around my mother's kitchen table where we [would] argue and discuss and dispute. It's fun.” The post Imee says she’s not joining opposition: ‘I love my brother’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Era of mass closures’: the Japan businesses without successors
Kiyoshi Hashimoto's machinery factory outside Tokyo should be buzzing with industry. Instead, it's so quiet you can hear him practicing the recorder. The 82-year-old entrepreneur founded his company nearly 40 years ago, but well past retirement age he has neither a successor nor a buyer for a business that retains loyal clients. It is a problem that Japan's government warns could affect up to a third of all small businesses in the country by 2025, as the country's population shrinks and ages. "All of this would go to waste if I were to close now," said Hashimoto, whose factory in Yachimata, east of Tokyo, is filled with workbenches, drill tables and parts cabinets. He once employed dozens of people, but now gets by with just two part-time workers after scaling back operations. The problem is so vast that Japan faces an "era of mass closures", said Shigenobu Abe of bankruptcy research firm Teikoku Databank. A 2019 government report estimated that about 1.27 million small business owners would be 70 or older by 2025 and have no successors. The trend could kill up to 6.5 million jobs and reduce the size of the Japanese economy by 22 trillion yen ($166 billion), the study warned. By 2029, the situation will worsen still, as baby boomers hit 81, the average life expectancy for Japanese men, who account for most of the presidents of these firms, according to Teikoku Databank. "We know for sure that many workers will lose their livelihoods because of this," Abe told AFP. 'A serious blow' As elsewhere, small businesses in Japan are often passed down to family or trusted employees. But the country's prolonged economic stagnation has made small businesses unattractive to young people. Firms in rural areas struggle further because of a preference for city life and a growing trend of rural depopulation. Compounding the problem is a feeling among some older Japanese that selling a family business to outsiders is shameful. Some liquidate their firms rather than seeking buyers. Japan's government has offered generous incentives to encourage sales, and the private sector has also jumped in to match investors with businesses for sale. Company BATONZ now makes more than 1,000 matches a year, up from just 80 when it opened in 2018. Still, it reaches a fraction of the people who need it, said BATONZ president Yuichi Kamise. Waves of closures will mean the loss of specialized craftsmanship, unique services and original restaurant recipes that make up Japan's social and cultural fabric, he said. "Over time, what makes Japan unique could disappear due to a lack of successors," he said. "I think it will deal a serious blow to Japanese culture and Japan's attractiveness as a tourism destination." Some feel though that the trend offers a chance to fix inefficiencies and consolidate small businesses that are barely scraping by or survive on subsidies. Hiroshi Miyaji, 50, owns Yashio Group, a logistics giant started by his grandfather, and has snapped up various businesses. "There will always be buyers for firms, with or without successors, that have unique strengths, special know-how and human resources," said Miyaji, a third-generation president. Helped by BATONZ, he recently purchased a small trucking company from 61-year-old Ayako Suzuki. 'Waiting for someone' Suzuki gave up her corporate career to help her father with the business he had started in 1975. None of the firm's three drivers wanted to take over and she was asked to join and help her father, then in his late eighties. But problems quickly piled up: the coronavirus pandemic hit, a driver left, trucks needed maintenance, and before long she was dipping into savings to stay afloat. "I wanted to keep the business going, at least while my father was alive," she told AFP. BATONZ connected her with Miyaji, who pledged to keep the firm's employees, clients and trucks. "I'm more relieved than sad," she said. "I didn't think our company had any value." The glut of affordable small businesses can be a boon for young people looking to break into a sector. Among them is 28-year-old chef Rikuo Morimoto. When the pandemic prevented him from studying in Italy, he used his savings to buy a four-decade-old diner in Tokyo and start a restaurant at a fraction of the normal cost. He kept the decor, furniture and many longstanding customers of "Andante", a beloved neighborhood restaurant in the Suginami district, while offering his own menu. "I thought I could only afford to have a food truck or a small bar," he said. Not everyone is so fortunate, and the future of Hashimoto's machinery factory remains uncertain, despite his attempts to groom three successors. "I'm just waiting for someone to come along and make use of this," he said. The post ‘Era of mass closures’: the Japan businesses without successors appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Rescue dog that helped find lost kids in Amazon is now missing
Six-year-old tracker dog Wilson, who went missing during the ultimately successful, weeks-long search for four missing Indigenous children in the Colombian Amazon, is now the target of a rescue mission himself. Dozens of soldiers are scouring the jungle for the canine hero that disappeared on duty two weeks ago, with the military having vowed not to "abandon a fallen comrade" who may have found the children long before the rescue team arrived. As relief settled in following a happy ending to the 40-day odyssey of Lesly (13), Soleiny, (9) Tien Noriel (5) and one-year-old Cristin, Colombians have been clamoring on social media for the safe return of Wilson as well. #Let'sGoForWilson, #OneIsMissing and #WilsonNationalHero are some of the tags doing the rounds. Colombians have also taken to placing posters in their windows to insist: "Missing Wilson," while others are posting photos of their cats and other pets carrying signs pleading for the dog's safe return. "The search is not over," the army insisted in a statement issued after the children were located last Friday, adding more than 70 soldiers remain deployed in the dense jungle to find the Belgian Shepherd. They include Cristian David Lara, Wilson's handler since he was a puppy in training. Lara, a colleague told the El Espectador newspaper, "does not want to leave until he finds his dog." Added General Pedro Sanchez, who headed the search for the children: "We're going for Wilson, we’re going to bring him back." 'Disoriented' Wilson was the one to find Cristin's discarded baby bottle in the thick vegetation some four kilometers (2.5 miles) from the wreckage several days after the May 1 small aircraft crash that claimed the lives of all three adults on board, including the siblings' mother. As the weeks passed, a team of nearly 200 soldiers and Indigenous jungle experts accompanied by several dogs kept finding signs that the kids were alive: half-eaten fruit, discarded diapers, makeshift shelters and footprints. Then, two weeks ago, "due to the complexity of the terrain, humidity and adverse weather conditions" Wilson must have become "disoriented" and disappeared, the military said in a statement. After his human comrades lost sight of Wilson, however, evidence emerged that he may have been the first to find the children: a dog's footprints were spotted near those of the children shortly before the rescue team got to them. The two older children, Lesly and Soleiny, have since made a drawing of a dog next to a river and amidst trees. Astrid Caceres, director of the Colombian Family Welfare Institute overseeing the children's convalescence, said they keep talking about a dog. Lesly "told us... of a dog that they had lost, that they didn't know where it went, that it had accompanied them for a while," she recounted. 'Fallen comrade' The Colombian army has trained more than 17,000 dogs during decades of internal conflict in specializations including explosives detection, demining and search and rescue. Apart from wild animals, insects and continuous rain in the Amazon, Wilson also risks encountering members of armed groups who remain active in the jungle, fighting over drug and other illegal commerce. Sanchez said Wilson had not been equipped with a GPS tracker to prevent "the enemy" from locating him and his human comrades. In Bogota, homemaker Nora Villa, 55, was one of those closely following the fate of the dog. "Please, may they do everything possible to find Wilson the doggie!" she told AFP on a city street. On the day of Wilson's disappearance, the military had vowed on Twitter to "never abandon a fallen comrade on the battlefield." The search for the children, dubbed Operation Hope, would continue "in the search for our canine Wilson, who... in his eagerness to find the children, got separated from the troops," it said. The post Rescue dog that helped find lost kids in Amazon is now missing appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Waltzes and performances galore
A Blooming Ball with JSSP Spring has finally sprung after a three-year hiatus! The Johann Strauss Society of the Philippines recently celebrated its 25th anniversary with its comeback gala concert, “Springtime in Vienna” — the first since the pandemic. For starters, it was an elegant evening to look forward to at one of the best places: The Grand Ballroom of Shangri-La, The Fort. It was a garden of color with gorgeous and dapper looks left and right. Everyone looked so fresh and camera-ready — as our photos on this page show. [caption id="attachment_139310" align="aligncenter" width="664"] Ambassador of Austria, Johann Brieger and his wife, Roswitha[/caption] [caption id="attachment_139311" align="aligncenter" width="525"] JSSP Officers, Marissa Fenton, Virginia Lane and JSSP President, Olga Martel.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_139312" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Italy Consul, Antonio Gallo with his wife Michelle[/caption] [caption id="attachment_139326" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Ambassador of Japan, Kazuhiko Koshikawa with wife Mme Yuko Koshikawa[/caption] [caption id="attachment_139327" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Sonny Tanchanco, USA Ambassador, MaryKay Carlson and John Gaddi[/caption] [caption id="attachment_139346" align="aligncenter" width="401"] ANGOLA Consul to the Philippines Helen Ong and the columnist.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_139313" align="aligncenter" width="314"] Agnes Ventura and Tootsy Angara[/caption] [caption id="attachment_139314" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Cocoy Cordoba and Jojo Silvestre[/caption] [caption id="attachment_139315" align="aligncenter" width="525"] David Lim and Margie Moran Floreindo[/caption] [caption id="attachment_139316" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Betty Chua and Consul Agnes Huibonhoa[/caption] [caption id="attachment_139317" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Amazing 5 group, Tiffany Cuña, Brenda Ngo, Georgette Wilson and Ruby Chua[/caption] [caption id="attachment_139318" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Joy Melendres and Nikki Tang[/caption] [caption id="attachment_139319" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Atty. Salvador Panelo and Jean Saburit[/caption] As for the highlights of the night? Waltzes and performances galore! The ambiance was in full bloom with the floral-filled decor and magical melodies, thanks to the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra. A highlight of this gorgeous event was our beloved JSSP members stepping onto the dance floor to enchant us with a graceful Grand Waltz. All their hard work and practice definitely paid off. Through the years, JSSP has kept the love and development of music and dance alive, while supporting the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Philippine National Red Cross, Gawad Kalinga and so much more. Everyone’s looking forward to spring again next year and to more JSSP affairs to keep supporting these worthy causes. Long live JSSP! [caption id="attachment_139320" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Joy Rustia and Eni Alba[/caption] [caption id="attachment_139321" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Mario Katigbak and Nedy Tantoco[/caption] [caption id="attachment_139322" align="aligncenter" width="520"] Grace Gobing and Bong Prada Lim[/caption] [caption id="attachment_139323" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Marc Piton, Ambassador of Vietnam, Hoang Huy Ching, AJ Violago, Rosalind Wee, Ambassador of Singapore, Gerard Ho.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_139324" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Ambassador of EU, Luc Veron and Ambassador, Jana Sediva-Treybalova of (Czech Republic)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_139325" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Ping Valencia[/caption] The post Waltzes and performances galore appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Rescuers ‘very close’ to kids missing for weeks in Colombian Amazon
The discovery of a rudimentary shelter, some half-eaten fruit and a fresh footprint led the Colombian military to announce Tuesday it was getting "very close" to the four Indigenous children roaming the Amazon since a plane they were on crashed a month ago. The children -- aged 13, nine, four and one -- have been lost in the jungle since the light aircraft crash in Colombia's southeast on 1 May claimed the lives of the three adults on board: their mother Magdalena Mucutui Valencia, the pilot, and an Indigenous leader. The bodies of the adults were found with the plane wreck, but a massive search by 160 soldiers and 70 Indigenous people with intimate knowledge of the jungle has been underway ever since for the youngsters -- Lesly (13), Soleiny (9), Tien Noriel (4) and baby Cristin. On Sunday, rescuers found the latest traces, which "confirm two things: the first that they are alive, and the second that we are very close," team leader General Pedro Sanchez told Blu Radio. The search area has been narrowed to about 20 square kilometers (7.7 square miles), said Sanchez, from an initial 320 square kilometers -- about double the size of Washington, DC. Judging by its size, the footprint found may belong to Lesly, whom relatives have said knows the jungle well. Unlike a sandal print found previously, the new trail indicates at least one of the children is now barefoot. Last week, the team had found a pair of shoes and a diaper in the dense jungle. Near the fresh print, the team on Sunday also found "a kind of resting place" or shelter. "The children probably used it for a night or two," said Sanchez. "At some point we crossed paths (with the children)," he added. Search team member Colonel Fausto Avellaneda said the latest finds "gives us new motivation and excitement." "This is a fresh footprint found approximately two kilometers from the last footprint we had found, and it gives us a sign that the children are still alive," he said in a video distributed by the military. No adult prints On the morning of 1 May, a Cessna 206 airplane left a jungle area known as Araracuara heading for the town of San Jose del Guaviare in the Colombian Amazon. Minutes after starting the 350-kilometer (217-mile) journey, the pilot reported problems with the engine and the plane disappeared from the radars. Between May 15 and 16, soldiers found the bodies of the three adults and the debris of the plane stuck vertically in the thick vegetation, its nose destroyed. The air force has since dumped 10,000 flyers into the forest with instructions in Spanish and the children's own Indigenous language, telling them to stay put. The leaflets also included survival tips, and the military has dropped food parcels and bottled water for the children who are of the Huitoto community, known for living in harmony with the jungle. Huitoto children learn hunting, fishing and gathering and the kids' grandfather, Fidencio Valencia, has told AFP the children are well acquainted with the jungle. Rescuers have been broadcasting a message recorded by the children's grandmother, urging them not to move so the soldiers can find them. Air Force helicopters and satellite images are being used in the search in an area home to jaguars, pumas, snakes and other predators, as well as armed groups that smuggle drugs and terrorize local populations. According to Sanchez, the minors and their mother had boarded the plane to escape guerrilla activity near their community. But he said it was "unlikely" the kids had fallen into the hands of any armed group. "We have not found any adult prints." Sanchez said the search was complicated by "a totally jungle terrain where you can see nothing 20 meters ahead, trees 40-50 meters (tall)... where the rays of the Sun enter with great difficulty." It rained about 16 hours per day, erasing any tracks and muffling the sound of movement, he added. The post Rescuers ‘very close’ to kids missing for weeks in Colombian Amazon appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Syria newborn pulled alive from quake rubble
JINDAYRIS, Syria — Extended family members pulled a newborn baby alive from the rubble of a home in northern Syria, after finding her still tied by her umbilical cord to her mother, who died in Monday’s massive quake, a relative said. The infant is the sole survivor of her immediate family, the rest of whom […] The post Syria newborn pulled alive from quake rubble appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
The Philippines biggest multi-arts festival Pasinaya is back with a vengeance
After three years of having no physical celebration, relying instead on online editions to keep the tradition alive, Cultural Center of the Philippines' Pasinaya Open House Festival stages a grand comeback this year......»»
Newborn baby girl abandoned, found alive inside eco bag in Bohol
TAGBILARAN CITY — A newborn girl placed inside an eco bag was found alive in Dauis town, Bohol province on Monday morning. Police Staff Sergeant Ritchel Pabalan, head of the Women And Children Protection Desk at Dauis Police Station, said the police station was informed that a baby girl was left outside a convenience store […] The post Newborn baby girl abandoned, found alive inside eco bag in Bohol appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Barriga hindi papatalo vs Gonzalez
MANILA, Philippines Kumpiyansa si Mark “Baby Boy” Barriga na kakayanin niyang ma-upset ang mas may karanasang si WBO junior flyweight king Jonathan “Bomba” Gonzalez ng Puerto Rico sa paghaharap nila sa Hunyo 24. Ang dating Olympian ay nasa isang comeback trail pagkatapos ng 2 taong pahinga sa boxing. Ito ang magiging pangalawang laban niya sa […] The post Barriga hindi papatalo vs Gonzalez appeared first on REMATE ONLINE......»»
Magnolia weathers off Rain or Shine’s comeback for 4th win in row
By JONAS TERRADO Magnolia thwarted Rain or Shine’s second half rally with big shots late to secure a 70-62 victory and keep its streak alive Saturday in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Angeles University Foundation Sports and Cultural Center. Paul Lee hit back-to-back fadeaway jumpers in the final minute […].....»»
Halloween fans go online to keep tradition alive
Dressing up as a character different from yourself attracts the Halloween fans to keep the party going online.It takes a group of performers five hours to put on that Halloween look for the online stage.Malls have also taken the Halloween celebration online. Filipinos who celebrate Halloween are not going to let the COVID-19 pandemic take away the fun of something different, one of them dressing up costume parties. (UNSPLASH / MANILA BULLETIN) From the horror theme to the various characters in video games and movies, dressing up as someone so different from yourself has definitely charmed people of all ages and professions. But with the health and safety protocols prohibiting large gatherings, Halloween fans are taking the parties to another address — online! And the creativity to spark the party mood is amazing! John Paolo Mandac, a Human Resource professional who refuses to let go of years of dressing up for Halloween, has made a Maleficent costume out of recyclable materials. He said that “growing up gay and closeted” required him to dress up as he was told. But on Halloween, he has a chance to dress up the way he likes without displeasing anyone. John Paolo Mandac (Photo courtesy of John Paolo Mandac / MANILA BULLETN) “In the gay world, we call [Halloween] ‘Gay Christmas’,” Mandac said. He said there’s no skipping Halloween this year despite the COVID-19 pandemic, because it’s a holiday that “speaks volumes” to him. What Mandac likes the most about Halloween is being able to dress up. He said he has always liked Halloween since he was a kid but started really preparing to dress up for it in 2015. “Most of my childhood, I remember going to SM Megamall with my mom and sister to Trick-or- Treat. That went on for several years,” he said. “My mom would ask us to think of a character we would like to be that evening. And we had to be creative in making our costumes. It became a yearly bonding experience for us three,” he said. From trick-or-treating in malls, Mandac turned to Halloween parties. This year, he joined several virtual Halloween parties, including one prepared by his office colleagues. Mandac said that although the parties are “less grand” and all virtual, those were still Halloween parties. “No brushing elbows with strangers definitely. No physical interaction, no getting drunk, no appreciating a stranger’s costume. Everything is virtual,” he said, adding that he’ll likely throw in a horror movie marathon on Netflix after the online parties. The show must go on A group of gay performers whose busiest time in a nightclub is Halloween, has prepared their “look” for the new online stage. Since clubs have yet to open, Drag Queens Shewarma, Minty Fresh, Odasha — collectively known as Shemod — have taken their Halloween Drag show online. “Pag Halloween nag re-ready talaga kami or may mga naka resereve na kaming looks (We really prepare for Halloween, our ‘look’ has already been planned),” Odasha told Manila Bulletin. “Halloween is one of the most awaited events of the year in the nightclub,” Odasha said in Pilipino. This year, the challenge of performing for a show online requires more effort to create a look, Minty Fresh said. “Umaabot ng five hours yung preparation, kasi naayos kami, then mag seset up pa ng lighting (It takes us about five hours just to prepare, because we need to put on make-up, and then set up the stage and the lighting),” Minty Fresh said. Friendly Halloween party Meanwhile a group of high school friends have prepared to hold their yearly party online. Lace Azores, 25, a medical intern, said that for the first time in the seven years that they have been holding Halloween parties, this time he has prepared a program. “Every year we would have a Halloween party where we dress up, wear costumes, celebrate, and we also have an award ceremony,” Azores said. (Photo courtesy of Lace Azores / MANILA BULLETIN) But since quarantine restrictions prevent a party, they prepared to meet for an online party. “Usually kasi nag uusap usap lang kami pag mag kakasama kami physically. This time, may program akong prinepare, with games and awards, ‘Best in Costume’ ganyan (Usually, we would just talk to each other and share stories with each other during our physical parties. This time, I prepared a program, with games and awards like Best in Costume,” she said. Although they will not be physically together, Azores said that she and her friends will still have fun. The only thing she will miss though will be the dancing. And how will she dress up this year, we asked. Her reply: “As the coronavirus. Kasi ‘yan ang pinaka nakakatakot na nangyari this year (Because it’s the scariest thing that happened this year).” Annual Halloween fest goes online Meanwhile up north, the biggest Halloween bash in Ilocos Norte has also gone virtual. “Semana Ti Ar-Aria” is a week-long festival in Ilocos Norte which highlights the distinct traditions and superstitions of Ilocanos in remembering their departed loved ones. The festival which started in 2010 was started by former governor and now Senator Imee Marcos. The activities will mostly be online. Among them are the +Halloween TikTok Transformation challenge and a blog-making contest called “Kaba-vloghan,” Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte Information Officer II Rhona Ysabel Daoang said Other events are the “Lilia Cuntapay Short Horror Film Festival,” a film festival in honor of the Ilocana actress dubbed the “Queen of Philippine Horror Movies.” Absent this year will be the Zombie Night Run and the ghost parade. Mall activities go online Shopping malls have also brought the Halloween tradition online. Ayala Malls will host a virtual mall show Oct. 31 featuring characters such as Pinkfong and Baby Shark. The mall also made an online challenge where participants have to dress up in a Halloween costume and record themselves doing the Baby Shark Hand Wash Challenge. (Ayala Malls / MANILA BULLETIN) The challenge winner will get a Prepaid WiFi modem. The challenge promo will run until Oct. 31 and the winner will be announced on the mall’s Facebook page on Nov. 6. Events coordinator Katrina Loreto said most malls went for online promotions instead of staging an event. “Before there were many events, every mall had a Halloween event. Now, it’s mostly online promotions,” Loreto told Manila Bulletin......»»
Wright dedicates performance to baby boy, OFWs
Matthew Wright (PBA Images) ANGELES CITY–Phoenix guard Matthew Wright dedicated his fiery performance against Magnolia on Friday to his son Sonny who just celebrated his first birthday. Wright waxed hot with 23 points, pouring eight of those in the Fuel Masters’ blistering 22-0 run in the fourth quarter that kindled their 91-84 comeback win over the Hotshots at the Smart 5G-powered AUF Sports Arena. The Gilas Pilipinas stalwart also collected seven rebounds, four assists and two steals in almost 46 minutes of play without a single turnover as Phoenix arrested a two-game skid to improve to 3-2. “The first birthday is always very special and I hate to see that I cried just thinking about it. The only way I can make this better was to dedicate my performance to him,” said Wright, whose family resides in the United States. “I’m sure he’s watching but I don’t know if he understood what I was saying (in the TV interview). But when he gets older, hopefully he’ll look back and he’ll forgive me for not being in his pictures on his first birthday,” he added. The Fil-Canadian sniper said that missing special family occasions is part of the sacrifice that the 350-man delegation has to make in order to ensure the success of the Philippine Cup bubble. “Everybody’s going through it so you just have to suck it up.” The 6-foot-3 cager said he was even reminded of the bigger undertaking that the overseas Filipino workers have to do for their families. “It’s an amazing sacrifice and it’s so hard to be away from your family. And we’re only doing it for a couple of months so we got to man up.” “I was just thinking about them today.” .....»»
BREAKING NEWS | 2 climate activists found
Rights group Karapatan and other groups confirm that environmental activists Eco Dangla and Jak Tiong are "no longer in the hands of their abductors, bruised but alive." The post BREAKING NEWS | 2 climate activists found appeared first on Bulatlat......»»
PNVF forms coaching staff for world meet
Seasoned coach Dante Alinsunurin will make a comeback as one of the deputies for the national men’s team as host Philippines pulls out all the stops to parade a competitive squad against the best of the best in the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championships 2025......»»
China urges ROK to stay prudent on South China Sea issue: Chinese FM
BEIJING, March 28 (Xinhua) -- China urges the Republic of Korea (ROK) to stay prudent when it comes to the South China Sea issue, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Thursday. Lin made the remarks at a regular press briefing when responding to a media query about ROK Foreign Ministry Spokesperson's biased and unfactual comments on the South China Sea issue over the past few days. "China.....»»
Parents of baby in JK Labajo s concert speak up
The parents of an infant in a Juan Karlos gig in Tarlac broke their silence, explaining why they brought the baby in a concert. .....»»