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Kristel may ‘tumor’ sa binti, pero naoperahan na: ‘One of the scariest!’
NAUNA na naming ibinalita ang tungkol sa pagsailalim sa surgery ng actress-vlogger na si Kristel Fulgar sa South Korea. Pero at that time kasi, ang tanging sinabi lang niya sa YouTube vlog ay ooperahan siya sa binti at hindi na idinetalye kung ano ang nangyari sa kanya. At heto na nga, may bagong update si.....»»
Diffusing tension
In his 2024 State of the Union Address, President Joseph Biden doubled down on his rhetoric against China as he boasted revitalized partnerships in the Pacific. He rattled off India, Australia, Japan, South Korea and the Pacific Islands. He said the United States is standing up against China’s economic practices while standing up for peace across the Taiwan Strait......»»
Asian qualifying results for 2026 FIFA World Cup
BEIJING, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Following are Thursday's results in Asian qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico: Group A At Doha Qatar bt Kuwait 3-0 At Abha, Saudi Arabia Afghanistan tied India 0-0 Group B At Tokyo Japan bt DPR Korea 1-0 At Yangon Myanmar tied Syria 1-1 Group C At Seoul South Korea tied T.....»»
GCash sets sights on further international expansion
With GCash Overseas, Filipinos in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Germany, Qatar, Kuwait, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia can now download and use the GCash app, whether they have Philippine SIMs or local mobile phone numbers in the countries or territories where they live......»»
Bakbakan ng mga sikat na K-drama actors sa ‘The Wild’ pasabog ang aksyon
NAGSAMA-SAMA ang pinakamatatapang sa Korea para sa isang matindi at makapigil-hiningang aksyon! Game face on na at maghanda para sa isang ‘di malilimutang intense movie experience! Showing na ngayon ang “The Wild” sa mga sinehan nationwide. Ang mga A-List at beteranong aktor ng South Korea na sina Park Sung Woong, Oh Dae Hwan, Oh Dal-Su,.....»»
Blinken Arrives in South Korea to Attend Democracy Summit
Seoul, South Korea - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived Sunday in South Korea on the first stop of a brief Asia tour also including the Philippines, as Washington moves to reinforce ties with two key regional allies.Blinken landed Sunday afternoon ahead of the third Summit for Democracy on Monday, an initiative of U.S. President Joe Biden, which Seoul is hosting this week.Before arriving in Se.....»»
Biden to Host Japan PM Kishida, Philippines President Marcos
WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden will host Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for a White House summit next month amid growing concerns about North Korea's nuclear program, provocative Chinese action in the South China Sea and differences over a Japanese company's plan to buy an iconic American steel company.White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre in a sta.....»»
Solo parents to get P1K monthly subsidy
The Local Solo Parents' Ordinance, recently approved by the 20th City Council of Davao City, promises a monthly subsidy of approximately P1,000 for eligible beneficiaries. Councilor Tricia Ann Villafuerte highlighted the ordinance's significance in providing vital support to solo parents and their children, as there are approximately 6,000 solo parents in Davao City. This ordinance is an adaptation of the national law, Republic Act 8972, customized to address the unique needs of solo parents in the city. It aims to meet the essential needs of mothers and their children, including school supplies, consultation, laboratory diagnostics, and financial assistance, such as medical, death, and burial aid. Additionally, solo parents will receive a monthly monetary subsidy of P1,000 and are entitled to a 10 percent discount on select basic commodities, similar to senior citizens and Persons with Disability (PWD). To qualify for the benefits, applicants must submit necessary documents and meet specific criteria, while disqualification grounds include changes in civil status and provision of necessary assistance by the other biological parent as per the Family Code of the Philippines. It's important to note that individuals under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) are ineligible for the Local Solo Parents' Ordinance......»»
No court appearance needed for adoption
The adoption process in the Davao Region has become easier and more streamlined, as it is now solely administrative and no longer requires a court appearance. According to Sheena Lyka Dollolasa, a social welfare officer at the Regional Alternative Child Care Office-Davao Region (Racco-Davao), prospective adoptive parents only need to undergo administrative proceedings and coordinate with social workers to adopt a child. This change is due to the Republic Act (RA) 11642, which established the Domestic Administrative Adoption and Alternative Child Care Act. While the socialized fee for adoption has not been determined yet, Dollolasa assured that it would not be expensive, as the law states that adoption should not be costly. In addition to adoption, Racco-Davao also provides foster care for neglected, abandoned, foundling, and abused children. Foster parents must meet certain qualifications, including being of legal age, physically healthy, and financially stable. The government provides subsidies for the basic needs of children under foster care, with different amounts allocated depending on the child's age and special needs......»»
‘Our lives stopped’: Relatives plead for Israel hostages
Moran Betzer Tayar, wracked by anguish about the kidnapping of her nephew and his wife by Hamas fighters on October 7, summed up her feelings during a press conference: "On Saturday morning, our lives stopped." The 54-year-old, speaking in Paris on Wednesday, is on a European tour with other relatives of hostages snatched by the Palestinian militant group during a raid that killed more than 1,400 people, most of them civilians. Israel's retaliation has so far killed more than 6,500 people, including 2,704 children, Hamas says. The Islamists are still believed to be holding more than 200 hostages. It is the plight of these people that Betzer Tayar -- who says she is "worried sick" and cannot eat -- and her compatriots are desperate to keep in the public eye. She told a press conference organized by the Council of Jewish Institutions in France how her relatives were snatched from Kibbutz Nirim, where community members were reportedly besieged for nine hours in one of dozens of attacks staged on 7 October. 'They got me' Two sisters -- Shani and May Yerushalmi -- joined Betzer Tayar to describe how their sister, Eden, was taken from the bar where she was working. "She called us, screaming, saying that terrorists were shooting at them," said Shani Yerushalmi, describing the attack at a rave party where 270 people were killed. Eden hid among bodies of her friends in a car, her sister said, before trying to use a bush as cover. "She told us she could hear the terrorists coming," Shani Yerushalmi said. "We knew it was the last moment with her. Her last sentence was: Shani, they got me." She played the screams of her sister, recorded on her phone, to the gathered journalists. Another of the women on stage, Ofir Weinberg, described how her cousin Itay Svirsky was taken from Kibbutz Beeri, where Hamas fighters killed at least 100 people, according to Israeli authorities. Messages began to pour into the family WhatsApp group on 7 October -- the calls for help and the progress of the attackers documented minute by minute. "I can't even begin to describe the feeling you have when you feel like you're losing your family one by one," said Weinberg. The families have had no news of their loved ones since the Hamas attack. The Israeli army has confirmed only that they are among the hostages taken to Gaza. They are asking for the Red Cross to be allowed to visit their relatives to answer the most basic questions -- whether they are still alive, where they are, and whether they are hurt. But political questions remain taboo. Those caught in the middle of the tragedy decline to speculate on the best course of action for their loved ones: a ground invasion of Gaza or a ceasefire and negotiations. "We're not representing the country... We don't tell Israel what to do," said Ofir Weinberg. "I don't have the answers. I'm just a citizen." The post ‘Our lives stopped’: Relatives plead for Israel hostages appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Message of PM Anwar Ibrahim
Crisis brings out the best and the worst in man. It reveals his true persona behind the façade of photo-shopped and public relations-created images. Amidst the Israel-Hamas war, former president Rodrigo Duterte outrageously advised Israel President Benjamin Netanyahu to make “Gaza the world’s biggest cemetery.” And just recently, our ambassador to the United Kingdom twitted on social media (taken down later) that “Palestinian children should be killed . . .” These comments went viral among Moro netizens who unleashed a barrage of angry libelous words against the source. Now, juxtapose this with the public statements by regional leaders about the crisis. And from the gallery of regional statesmen, I pick Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’Seri Anwar Ibrahim whose poignant messages earned the praise of not a few, including non-Muslims. The reaction of these leaders betrays the dichotomy of opinions along religious lines. The Muslim countries, true to their affiliation with the Muslim Palestinians, as members of the World Brotherhood of Muslims or “Ummah Islamiyyah” stood should-to-shoulder with the Palestinians. On the flip side are the non-Muslims led by the United States which condemned the 7 October surprise attack by Hamas on Israel. The world is now on edge because of the strong words of revenge of rightist President Benjamin Netanyahu using the world media stage for his threats of annihilation and cutting off of basic supplies of food, medicines, water, electricity, and fuel to the Palestinians of the Muslim City of Gaza. According to jurists, these are crimes against International Humanitarian Law and other UN covenants and Geneva Conventions. And they claim that while Israel has the right to defend itself, that is not a license to commit genocide. Prime Minister Ibrahim stood tall among Muslim leaders in expressing the sentiment of his government. He had been vocal at every turn of the crisis. He must have had a premonition of the impending catastrophe. His eloquent speech before the United Nations General Assembly on 22 September, which in my book is in the same league as the “What it means to be a Muslim” speech of King Abdullah of Jordan, has earned praise from many observers. He said, “In the Middle East, the politics of dispossession continues with a vengeance with more illegal settlements being built, stripping Palestinians of land that rightfully belongs to them. This constitutes a gross violation of international law. It also poses an insurmountable obstacle to a two-state solution, not to mention the continued killings. There is also flagrant hypocrisy in dealing with the issue of Palestine. The international community must speak up against the atrocities committed towards the Palestinians even as they so vehemently speak out against human rights violations, injustice, and abusive regimes.” When the war broke out on 7 October, one of the countries that reacted immediately was Malaysia. PM Ibrahim issued a statement expressing his country’s solidarity with the struggles of the Palestinians and reiterated his indictment of the international community for its “one-sided actions regarding . . . cruelty and oppression against the Palestinians. The confiscation of land and property belonging to the Palestinian people . . . done relentlessly by the Zionists.” After the bombing of the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza, which killed more than 500 innocent civilians, PM Ibrahim described it as being “on an insane and inhumane level. What is most regrettable is that Western countries, which speak about human rights, seem to differentiate between peoples, with some considered first-class and others as subordinates.” PM Ibrahim knows how geopolitics works. There will be consequences for standing up against the position of the world powers, the US and Europe, which had expressed total support for Israel. There might be a price to pay. Economic, trade, and political relationships might be put in jeopardy. But the Islam in him outweighed other interests. And for that, Muslims salute him. We are proud to belong to the Malay race. amb_mac_lanto@yahoo.com The post Message of PM Anwar Ibrahim appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
High expectations from winners (4)
Vice President and DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte-Carpio took very seriously the job given to her by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to prepare a curriculum relevant to producing competent, job-ready, active, and responsible citizens. In her report on basic education in the Philippines, she revealed in detail the problems confronting it, the teachers, and learners; and crafted means to overcome them, guided by the Constitution and the convention on the rights of the child, reaffirming our country’s commitment to improving the quality of basic education in the Philippines. “The four learners at home — one in kindergarten, one in Grade 4, one in Grade 7, and one in Grade 9 — enable me to see different kinds of problems being experienced by learners every day.” “In my work as Secretary of Education, I am in the company of 28 million Filipino learners throughout the country. I can see numerous problems faced by them every day.” “Four learners at home, plus 28 million more throughout the land, these, my countrymen, make my interest in the future of Philippine education a very personal matter.” “Filipino learners are not academically proficient. In time, Filipino learners experience emotional abuse and exhaustion. Some of them suffer from psychological fatigue. And being academically insecure, many of them may fail to meet the standards of a demanding and competitive world. These are caused and triggered by conditions present at home, in our communities, and even in our schools as a result of problems ingrained in our system. This is the truth. This is our future. But this is a future that we can change. That is why we are here.” “We have to take good care of our teachers. They are the lifeblood of the Department of Education. Without our teachers, our mission to carve a better future for our children will fail.” “And to empower our learners with the relevant skills and knowledge, we shall focus on upscaling their knowledge and capacities as public servants. The assessment of the K-12 curriculum revealed the weak teaching methods of our teachers in addressing 21st-century skills. Studies done by the Research Center of Teacher Quality, the World Bank, and UNICEF showed that our teachers need further support, particularly in explicitly and strategically teaching critical thinking and problem-solving skills.” “While critical thinking was the most evident in the curriculum, it was also the least taught to students by the teachers. Instead, lessons leaned towards conceptual or content-based teaching. And lessons lacked in-depth processing to cultivate critical thinking and problem-solving. Finally, there appears to be insufficient knowledge on developing 21st-century skills, including higher-order thinking skills among learners. This is not the fault of our teachers—whose dedication, integrity, and commitment to serving Filipino children and the country strengthen our collective effort to achieve our shared dreams for our learners. The sad reality is that the system has failed them.” “This is the system that burdens them with backbreaking and time-consuming administrative tasks, a system that provides no adequate support and robs them of the opportunity to professionally grow and professionally teach, assist and guide our learners.” “Our teachers must return to our classrooms and they must teach.” Studies and tests were conducted to measure the literacy of the learners. It was discovered that the issue of literacy is alarming in our basic education. We must address it appropriately and effectively. The 2018 study results showed that 81 percent of Filipino learners could not deal with basic math problems, 81 percent had trouble understanding texts of moderate length, and 78 percent could not recognize correct explanations for scientific phenomena or draw valid conclusions from given data. “We can do better than this,” Sara said. “We are better than this. Studies like these are opportunities for us to thoroughly examine our system and defects that hurt our children’s abilities.” (To be continued) The post High expectations from winners (4) appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Scores killed in Gaza strikes as new aid convoy arrives
Scores of Palestinians were killed in central Gaza on Sunday after Israel stepped up its strikes on the war-torn enclave and another convoy of 17 aid trucks arrived as the Hamas-run territory faces "catastrophic" shortages. With the violence raging unchecked, Iran said the region could spiral "out of control". Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a stark warning to Lebanon's Hezbollah, saying getting involved would be "the mistake of its life". Washington warned any actors looking to inflame the conflict that it would not hesitate to act in the event of any "escalation". Hamas militants in Gaza stormed across the border into Israel on 7 October, launching a raid that killed at least 1,400 people, mostly civilians who were shot, mutilated, or burnt to death on the first day, according to Israeli officials. They also seized more than 200 hostages in the worst-ever attack in Israel's history. Israel has hit back with a relentless bombing campaign that has so far killed more than 4,600 Palestinians, mainly civilians, according to Gaza's health ministry. Officials said the central town of Deir al-Balah had been particularly badly hit overnight from Saturday to Sunday. The ministry said at least 80 people had been killed in the overnight raids on central Gaza, which destroyed more than 30 homes. At the hospital morgue, an AFP journalist saw the bodies of many children on the bloodied floor, where distraught families wept as they identified the victims. Among them was a man clutching his dead toddler and a young boy who pulled back a blanket over his little sister's body. "My cousin was sleeping in his house with his daughter in his arms. He was a man with no record, nothing to do with the resistance," said Wael Wafi, gazing at the body of his cousin, his arm still wrapped around his three-year-old daughter Misk. Also Sunday, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) said that 29 of its staff had been killed since the start of the war in a statement on X, formerly Twitter, saying half of them were teachers. On Saturday it had given a toll of 17. The scale of the bombing has left basic systems unable to function. The UN said dozens of unidentified bodies had been buried in a mass grave in Gaza City because cold storage had run out. Meanwhile, an Israeli soldier was killed near the Gaza border by an anti-tank missile fired by militants inside the enclave, the army said. 'Accident' as Israel hits Egypt post Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant warned the war with Hamas could take months. "It will take one month, two months, three months, and at the end, there will be no more Hamas," Gallant said. A second convoy of 17 trucks of aid entered Gaza from Egypt on Sunday following an initial delivery of 20 trucks on Saturday after intensive negotiations and US pressure. Separately, an AFP journalist saw six trucks leaving Rafah after filling up from dwindling fuel stocks held at the crossing as the enclave faces catastrophic shortages after Israel cut off supplies of food, water, fuel, and electricity. It later resumed water supplies to the south on 15 October. Although Egyptian media said another 40 trucks would enter Gaza on Monday, the UN says the enclave needs 100 trucks per day to meet the needs of Gaza's 2.4 million residents. And so far, there have been no deliveries of fuel, with UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini warning Sunday that supplies would run out "in three days". "Without fuel, there will be no water, no functioning hospitals, and... aid will not reach many civilians in desperate need," he said. The Hamas government said 165,000 housing units -- half of those in the entire Gaza Strip -- had been destroyed in the raids. With fears growing that the conflict could spread, Israel on Sunday admitted accidentally hitting an Egyptian border post, apologizing for the incident which Cairo said had left an unspecified number of border guards with "minor injuries". Risk of regional escalation There were fresh exchanges of fire over Israel's northern border with Lebanon as fears grew that Hezbollah, a close ally of Hamas and Iran, could enter the conflict, prompting Israel's Netanyahu to warn it would be "the mistake of its life". "We will strike it with a force it cannot even imagine, and the significance for it and the state of Lebanon will be devastating," he said. Iran also warned about the conflict spreading on Sunday, with top diplomat Hossein Amir-Abdollahian cautioning that if Washington and Israel did not "immediately stop the crime against humanity and genocide in Gaza.. the region will go out of control". But Washington said it wouldn't hesitate to act in the event of any "escalation", just hours after the Pentagon moved to step up military readiness in the region. "If any group or any country is looking to widen this conflict and take advantage of this very unfortunate situation that we see, our advice is: don't," US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said on ABC News. On Sunday, Pope Francis used his weekly Angelus prayer in Rome to plead for an end to the bloodshed. "War is always a defeat, it is a destruction of human fraternity. Brothers, stop!" he said. He later held a 20-minute conversation with US President Joe Biden about "conflict situations in the world and the need to identify paths to peace", the Vatican said. Biden later discussed with war with the leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, and Italy, the White House said. The US president also held talks with Netanyahu, said the White House, adding: "The leaders affirmed that there will now be continued flow of this critical assistance into Gaza." In Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron's office announced he would be traveling to Israel on Tuesday for talks with Netanyahu. Protesters marched in several European capitals on Sunday. At least 10,000 people rallied in support of Israel in Berlin as Chancellor Olaf Scholz vowed to stamp out a resurgence of anti-Semitic incidents linked to the Israel-Hamas conflict. Thousands gathered in Paris to demand an end to Israel's operation in Gaza, the first pro-Palestinian rally in the French capital that wasn't banned on security grounds. The post Scores killed in Gaza strikes as new aid convoy arrives appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘We love singing’: Filipinos find joy in karaoke
At a busy tricycle terminal in Manila, driver Edgar Soriano slips a coin into a karaoke machine and belts out his favorite song while waiting for passengers. Karaoke is wildly popular in the archipelago nation where it's never too early -- or too late -- to grab a microphone and sing a tune. Machines can be found everywhere from cheap bars in far-flung villages to modern KTV joints in the cities, and many families have their own or rent one for parties. For as little as five pesos (nine US cents) a song, many in the poverty-afflicted country can experience a few minutes of joy in the day. Soriano, 53, smiles as he stands in a tiny eatery on a hot weekday afternoon singing the lyrics of British musician Albert Hammond's "When I'm Gone", which he seems to know by heart. The karaoke machine is one of six at the terminal, but drivers and passengers waiting for a ride appear unbothered by the competing songs reverberating through speakers. "I always sing that song, it's my favorite," said Soriano, wearing a long-sleeved Jordan top and tracksuit pants. After consulting a well-thumbed plastic folder of songs, street sweeper Bernardo Aguire, 67, settles on Frank Sinatra's "My Way", and pops a coin into the slot. It is a bold choice in a country where the song has reportedly gotten people killed -- allegedly because they sang it poorly. Aguire, unfazed by the stories that have become an urban legend, finishes his rendition unscathed. Felomina Hernane, 52, owns the eatery where the karaoke machine cranks up at 8:00 a.m. and doesn't stop until 10:00 p.m. or later, seven days a week. She bought the machine to attract customers and it's been a boon to earnings, bringing in as much as 18,000 pesos a month. "It's a huge help for my business," Hernane told AFP. Hernane said singing makes the drivers happy. "It entertains them," she said. "It's a way to relax after driving." 'It takes away my stress' In a crowded neighborhood in Manila, tricycles deliver karaoke machine casings to stores where they are fitted with speakers, amplifiers, and televisions. Their prices depend on the quality of the electronics inside them, with a basic machine starting at around 19,000 pesos and a premium version topping 46,000 pesos. Alfred Condez works at a store overflowing with machines in various stages of assembly. It takes several hours for employees to finish wiring one, and customers are often happy to wait. "We love singing," said Condez, 40. As if to prove his point, he picks up a microphone and stands on the footpath to test an assembled machine's sound quality, his deep voice echoing into the noisy street. The busiest period for the karaoke assembly business is November and December when Filipinos hold Christmas and New Year parties, said Condez. His shop sells as many as 10 machines a day in those months. Karaoke took off in the Philippines in the 1980s, said Krina Cayabyab, a vocal instructor and associate professor in the University of the Philippines' music department. But she said the country's love of singing was deeply rooted in its colonial past, starting with the Spanish and then the Americans, whose music was absorbed by Filipinos. "It's really tied into that reproducing and borrowing of stuff that Filipinos would hear," Cayabyab said. Singing is one of the few affordable entertainment options for many Filipinos. In a hardscrabble district of Manila, children and young adults gather outside a small store where the karaoke machine is in high demand. "My friends and I are just hanging out because it's boring at home," said Honey Servito, 24. "I'm not really a singer, it's just that when we have nothing better to do at home, my friends and I go here and sing," she said. "It takes away my stress and boredom." The post ‘We love singing’: Filipinos find joy in karaoke appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Shop more to give more
Buy your groceries at Puregold and win exciting promos while raising funds for chosen communities. This concept pushed Puregold’s Panalo Cup for Back to School promo, enticing customers to buy limited edition cups, the designs of which featured Puregold endorsers Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey de Leon. Held from 9 to 10 September and 16 to 17 of the same month, the Puregold Panalo Cup campaign mustered considerable consumer support. It generated funds, some of which were donated to the Hospicio de San Jose. The decades-old Hospicio is a haven for orphans, abandoned and neglected children, and the elderly who, as wards of the welfare institution, are provided with a nurturing and protective environment, health care, and rehabilitative treatment. Puregold Panalo Cup’s cash donation went towards the purchase of basic needs and learning essentials for the children housed at the Hospicio. It was a feel-good “panalo” story that touched the hearts of Puregold customers and made a substantial difference in the kids’ lives. Vincent Co, President of Puregold Price Club Inc., spoke on the significance of this initiative. “Puregold, through the years, has consistently given its shoppers the most value for their money. To mark this year’s anniversary, however, we went over and beyond by sharing our generosity with the community,” he said. Apart from the Panalo Cup initiative, other community-driven promos are being held as part of Puregold’s anniversary celebration. In collaboration with Visar Society, Puregold has crafted a series of anniversary-themed, custom art tote bags, the sale of which will help raise money for the La Mesa watershed. Puregold brand ambassador and SB19 member Justin de Dios designed the tote bags. The artwork, given the theme “People of Puregold,” depicts the multitudes that comprise the Puregold community — from average shoppers to office employees to neighborhood resellers. The post Shop more to give more appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Kaspersky: Filipino Educators, Students Need Basic Cybersecurity Hygiene to Increase Resilience Online
Cyber-resiliency is the ability to recognize, behave, and bounce back from a cyber threat or cyber incident. The initiative is part of Kaspersky’s commitment to create a cyber-immune community by extending the company’s expertise in educating and training the public. From a Kaspersky research, here’s what’s going on with children these days: 73% of teenagers […].....»»
Use of father’s surname, the child’s decision
The misdeeds or oversights of parents cannot and should not disgrace their children. It is for this basic precept that Philippine laws have granted non-marital children (formerly called “illegitimate” children) a myriad of rights akin to — if not totally similar — those of marital children (formerly called “legitimate” children). Notably, their appellation has been changed to a more appropriate description of their parents’ civil status at the time of their birth rather than the birth’s supposed “legitimacy.” Non-marital children are now permitted to carry their father’s surname upon compliance with requirements set by law and related regulations. While Article 176 of the Family Code of the Philippines provides non-marital children’s successional rights, Republic Act 9255, which took effect in 2004, boosted these rights by allowing them to use their father’s surname if their filiation has been recognized by the latter in accordance with some preconditions. The Philippine Statistics Authority or PSA, consequently, revised the implementing rules of RA 9255 in 2016 to better effectuate the wisdom of the law, especially considering the ruling of the Supreme Court in the case of Grace M. Grande v Patricio T. Antonio (G.R. No. 206248, 18 February 2014), which states that neither the father nor the mother is granted the right to dictate the surname of their non-marital children. Instead, the law gives non-marital children the right to decide whether or not they will use their father’s surname. Just recently, PSA issued Memorandum Circular No. 2023-14, which further revised the implementing rules, providing that prevailing rules shall have retroactive effect for all births occurring within or outside the Philippines where a Filipino is concerned. The Office of the Civil Registrar General also amended the same implementing rules through Administrative Order No. 1, series of 2023, so that existing laws and regulations about the use of non-marital children of the surname of their father shall apply to those born during the effectivity of the Family Code of the Philippines or from 3 August 1988 with (a) unregistered births and (b) registered births, where non-marital children use the surname of their mother. Considering these changes, should non-marital children prefer to use the surname of their father, there must exist an express acknowledgment by the latter of the former through any of the following: (a) affidavit of admission of paternity found at the back of the child’s certificate of live birth; (b) affidavit of acknowledgment; or (c) private handwritten instrument signed by the father with his express recognition of the child as his for the rest of his life. These documents shall be filed before the local civil registry where the birth is registered or, in case of unregistered births, where the child is born. Absent the express acknowledgment from the father, the non-martial child cannot use the father’s surname. How, then, is an admission of paternity filed? The father, mother, or non-marital child of legal age may file the affidavit of admission of paternity or affidavit of acknowledgement. In the case of a private handwritten instrument, the same should be personally filed by the father. If the father is deceased, the private handwritten instrument may be filed by the non-marital child, who is of legal age, or the non-marital child’s mother. Should the local civil registry find the requirements complete and without issue after review, the non-marital child’s new surname shall be annotated on the existing certificate of live birth; it shall not be supplied on the portion intended for the last name. The above rules do not include the assignment of a middle name for a non-marital child. An additional Supplemental Report should be filed to supply the child’s middle name on the certificate of live birth. It must be remembered, however, that the non-marital children’s use of the surname of their father does not necessarily make them marital children in legal contemplation — it plainly permits them to publicly use such surname, e.g., in their identity documents like passport, school and employment records, and other documents. There is a separate process for the conversion of a child’s status from non-marital to marital called legitimation. *** For more of Dean Nilo Divina’s legal tidbits, please visit www.divinalaw.com. For comments and questions, please send an email to cabdo@divinalaw.com. The post Use of father’s surname, the child’s decision appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
NAPC finalizing poverty reduction plan
The National Anti-Poverty Commission is finalizing the National Anti-Poverty Action Agenda and the National Poverty Reduction Plan. In a public briefing on Monday, NAPC Lead Convenor Secretary Lopez Santos III said they came up with several more programs for poor Filipinos after holding regional sectoral assemblies this month. He added that the regional sectoral assemblies consist of 14 sectors, including farmers, fisherfolk, indigenous peoples, and children. “We ask them about the programs and policies they want to promote to expedite our poverty reduction program,” Santos said. “Our goal is to promote cooperation, harmonization, and convergence between national government agencies and local government units,” he added. Santos also emphasized the importance of the participation of basic sectors in poverty reduction programs. “We’re emphasizing the active participation, full representation, and involvement of basic sectors at all levels of governance, from the national level down to the local government units,” he said. Santos also explained the institutional mechanism for implementing programs for the poor. “We have an established institutional mechanism, and the National Anti-Poverty Commission serves as that mechanism,” he said. Santos said that the NAPC has 25 national government agencies responsible for implementing government programs, as well as four leagues of LGUs and 14 basic sectors. “Each specific program has its own institutional mechanism within each government agency,” he said. “But what we’re emphasizing is the active participation, full representation, and involvement of basic sectors at all levels of governance, from the national level down to the local government units.” Santos also said that the NAPC has raised with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples the concerns raised by some Manobo women from the Caraga Region regarding mining in their area. The issue involves the protection of their ancestral domain and the release of royalties from mining operations in their ancestral domain. “We have already had discussions with the NCIP chairperson, some commissioners, and regional directors, and they have thoroughly discussed this matter,” Santos said. The post NAPC finalizing poverty reduction plan appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Keeping it together
It’s no longer unusual, nowadays, for a family to have one or both parents working in another country, or for grown children to relocate abroad for work or start their own family. Single parenting is also quite common, right along there with blended families and LGBTQ unions with kids. Yet even when families are together in one place — one home, compound, neighborhood or city — it takes a lot to stay “together,” literally and figuratively. Perhaps sensing the threats to what is recognized as society’s basic foundation, our government in 1992 decided to declare the last week of September as Family Week, as mandated by Proclamation 60 signed by then President Fidel V. Ramos. Ramos wanted the week to emphasize the importance of the family as “the foundation of the nation” and “as a basic autonomous social institution,” as well as recognize “the sanctity of family life,” as stated in the Constitution of the Philippines. The world may transform in many ways, but the need for family will never change. “No matter how much life changes and the concept of family evolves, it may continue to benefit human health and wellness by offering a sense of belonging and support,” it aptly states in an article on Better Help, which also enumerates the factors affecting family life as “advancements in technology, changing cultural norms, new priorities and advanced forms of communication fueled by the internet.” The sense of belonging one gains from being part of a family — whether it is in a traditional setup, adoptive or “chosen,” a new kind of family defined in these modern times — has a profound impact on one’s well-being. With government providing the impetus for today’s families to connect or reconnect during the annual Family Week, it is up to each one of us to take steps to keep ours together in these fast-paced, nomadic, dysfunctional times. In the local setting, we already see so many signs of the changing dynamics among families. We could wade through studies to figure out all the issues affecting our core foundation, but we believe one may truly gain more understanding by examining our own experiences. Here, we share the views of people in our sphere, in answer to our query: What do you consider as the biggest challenge for your family in these trying times? Gigie Arcilla, Editor-in-chief Dealing with young adult children presents the challenge of establishing boundaries as they seek independence and transition into adulthood. Striking a balance between support and autonomy, as well as providing guidance while allowing room for growth, can be difficult, especially for a single parent. [caption id="attachment_187927" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] STEPHANIE Mayo (fifth, clockwise) with her family. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF Stephanie Mayo[/caption] Stephanie Mayo, Film critic and writer I have senior-citizen parents, and my siblings and I are now at the age when our health naturally starts to decline. Even if someone has health insurance, no one can deny how debilitating and expensive getting sick is. Without health, quality of life is decreased. You also cannot work (no work, no pay for freelancers such as myself) if you are sick. Gratefully, none of us in the family are currently seriously ill. It’s just that given that these trying times are also marked by corruption, medical gaslighting, new diseases and viruses and climate change, health problems have become even more threatening. [caption id="attachment_187926" align="aligncenter" width="993"] PAULINE Songco (fifth from left) and dad Arnold, mom Dhen, grandmother Linda and sister Patricia. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF Pauline Songco[/caption] Pauline Songco, Editor and writer I would say our biggest challenge is finding time to be together. I am always never at home. If I am, I would just be there for a few hours to sleep. I would get up, then go to work again. I find myself having less and less free time than before. My sister is busy with work, and so is my father. My mom is left alone at home with my cats. But, she goes to the gym to occupy herself and to see her friends. Yet, I’m thankful for what we have right now for these are the same things that we used to pray for before. [caption id="attachment_187924" align="aligncenter" width="641"] PAULINE Pascual (first from left) and dad Roy, mom Jocelyn and sister Prizcia. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF Pauline Pascual[/caption] Pauline Joyce Pascual, Lifestyle writer Our family became even closer during the pandemic, and now that things are almost back to normal, it is the family bonding that we used to that we find the most challenging. My sister is studying and getting ready for her time at college while my parents are back in business and I am now working outside of our province. I miss the good old days even though we still saw each other every week. [caption id="attachment_187925" align="aligncenter" width="638"] RAPHAEL, Rachael, Joylen and Ruben Ramos. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF Raphael Ramos[/caption] Raphael Ramos, STEM student at De La Salle Araneta The desire to act in spite of the potential consequences for everyone else. The family members’ immaturity leads to a more serious issue and may stunt each person’s development. [caption id="attachment_187922" align="aligncenter" width="2246"] GEL, Dino, Tei and Maui Datu. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF Dino Datu[/caption] Dino Datu, Chef, journalist and entrepreneur The biggest challenge in families today is creating quality family time. Everyone is so busy and there are so many distractions. While working and school work are necessities, we need to create time to just sit together for regular meals and chat without our electronic devices. Even on rare occasions that everyone is together, dining out, for example, people look at their phones every few seconds. That’s what I think is a big difference between today’s families and those from a few decades back. We often see “perfect” families on social media. Sadly, it seems like that’s the only place it exists. Teresa Laurente, Business Consultant For me, it has to be family, healthcare, children’s education and social media effect on young people. Pamela Palacio, Statistician III, Provincial Government of Bataan Disrespect to God and parents. Negative effect of social media. [caption id="attachment_187920" align="aligncenter" width="1080"] YVETTE Chua-Carrion (fourth from left) beside her husband, businessman Melon. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESYOF Yvette Chua-Carrion[/caption] Yvette Chua-Carrion, Educator and breakthrough life coach In these financially trying times — the budget for groceries, how to have savings for emergencies (which we hope won’t happen), and high gas prices. [caption id="attachment_187919" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] (FROM left) Riley, husband Noel, Tiffany and Ashley. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF Tiffany Cuna[/caption] Tiffany Sison Cuna, Former beauty queen turned entrepreneur Disciplining and inculcating values in our children knowing how the Internet plays a vital role in their lives — it could either influence them positively or negatively. [caption id="attachment_187923" align="aligncenter" width="1170"] JIA Bote and dad Milton. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF Jia Bote[/caption] Jia Bote, Student at the University of Santo Tomas With my father working away from home, the biggest challenge is having more time together as a family. When I was younger, I thought I had all the time in the world to spend time with my family. However, as I grow older, my responsibilities increase, and I have less free time than I used to. I remember spending the peak of the pandemic away from our father, and we could only talk through the phone for months. It was challenging for me not to see my father physically, especially when I go through difficult moments because I believe that we need more of our parents’ wisdom and guidance as we grow older. With the pandemic and the natural course of life, it feels like I have less time and opportunity to be with my father who is also growing old day by day. [caption id="attachment_187921" align="aligncenter" width="1242"] ALEX and Jet Capina (fourth and fifth from left) with their children. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY of Jet Capina[/caption] Jet Capina, retired bank vice president Our challenge is how to make the family complete on weekends. My children have their own gimmicks. Before every Sunday we were together attending church service but after the pandemic each of them esp Paolo is out of the house to be with his gf. I don’t think it’s good to write about it. Our challenge is how to make the family complete on weekends. My children are all good and well behaved but having grown up, the elder ones now and then have their own gimmicks. I am happy that my husband, who often plays golf, is with me always. The post Keeping it together appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
BARMM needs to increase enrollment in basic education
The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao should work on increasing the number of enrollees in the basic education system. In a recent Senate hearing on the preparedness of basic education schools, Gatchalian lamented that BARMM has the lowest student participation rates nationwide. During the School Year 2020-2021, the BARMM’s participation rate in Kindergarten stood at 53 percent, notably lower than the nationwide average of 66 percent. Similarly, in elementary education, the BARMM’s regional participation rate was 69 percent as opposed to 89 percent nationwide. The region's participation rates in junior and senior high school further plummeted to 37 percent and 13 percent, respectively. In contrast, the nationwide participation rates for junior and senior high schools during SY 2020-2021 were considerably higher at 81 percent and 49 percent, respectively. Based on the average low cohort survival rate in BARMM, Gatchalian cited that for every 100 learners in the region who enter Grade 1, only 17 graduate from Grade 12. While only 51 graduate from senior high school for every 100 learners nationwide who enter Grade 1. "I believe that the first order of business in BARMM is to promote schooling and the second order is to retain learners in school,” he said, urging the officials: “Bring the kids to school and retain them.” Citing his recent discussions with BARMM governors, Gatchalian said it became apparent that many children in the region drop out of school to help out in their families' work on the farms. “They're forced to work at an early age because of poverty. But, of course, in the long run, the situation may not be conducive to their long-term well-being," said Gatchalian, who chairs the Senate Committee on Basic Education. Gatchalian previously pushed for an enhanced back-to-school program to increase enrollment in the Bangsamoro region. He also sought to strengthen the implementation of the Alternative Learning System in the area “to enhance the skills and abilities of the current working population” as well as out-of-school children and youth. The post BARMM needs to increase enrollment in basic education appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»