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‘Trade with China should continue’
The Philippines should continue to pursue stronger trade ties with China despite rising tensions in the West Philippine Sea, according to the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. and the Department of Trade and Industry......»»
US, UK accuse China of cyberespionage that hit millions of people
The aim of the global hacking operation was to 'repress critics of the Chinese regime, compromise government institutions, and steal trade secrets,' Deputy US Attorney General Lisa Monaco says.....»»
Resumption of FTA talks seen to spur higher EU investments
The Philippine Economic Zone Authority expects investments from European companies to increase with the resumption of the Philippines – European Union free trade agreement negotiations......»»
Philippine food firms’ sales hit $133 million in Dubai fair
Philippine food companies generated $133 million worth of export sales from a food trade show held in Dubai last month, according to the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions......»»
EcoWaste Coalition: True Radiance Comes from Within, Not from Skin Lightening Products with Mercury
23 March 2024, Quezon City. The toxics watchdog group EcoWaste Coalition, which has been tracking mercury in skin-lightening cosmetics in the Philippines since 2011, reiterated its support for the global effort to put an end to the persistent production, trade, and consumption of racist beauty products with mercury content that claim to whiten the skin and deal with other.....»»
NZ-EU FTA gains Royal Assent for 1 May entry to force
The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand's ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union. "I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union of our ratification of the New Zealand European Union Free Trade Agreement (NZ-EUFTA)......»»
DA, DTI urged to enforce stricter price monitoring during Holy Week
A lawmaker has called on the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Trade and Industry to keep an eye on possible price surges during the Holy Week and set suggested retail price on basic commodities......»»
Philippines-European Union FTA talks resume in H2
The Philippines and the European Union (EU) are looking to resume formal negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) in the early part of the second half of the year, according to the Department of Trade and Industry......»»
DTI, Go Negosyo strengthen MSME Development program
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Go Negosyo agreed to strengthen their collaboration to further develop the country’s MSMEs......»»
EcoWaste Coalition: True Radiance Comes from Within, Not from Skin Lightening Products with Mercury
23 March 2024, Quezon City. The toxics watchdog group EcoWaste Coalition, which has been tracking mercury in skin-lightening cosmetics in the Philippines since 2011, reiterated its support for the global effort to put an end to the persistent production, trade, and consumption of racist beauty products with mercury content that claim to whiten the skin and deal with other.....»»
‘Government should help exporters hurdle EU barriers’
The government must seek the removal of some trade barriers imposed by the European states to allow exporters to maximize the opportunities of the country’s prospective free trade agreement with Europe, an industry group said......»»
Hong Kong, Philippines work to enhance relations
Filipinos are slowly beginning to travel back to Hong Kong following continued efforts by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office to woo tourists from the Philippines, as well as renew and improve trade and economic ties between the two nations following the COVID-19 pandemic......»»
Philippines, EU resume free trade agreement talks
MANILA, March 19 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines and the European Union (EU) resumed negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) on Monday, the Philippines' Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) announced Tuesday. "Strengthening economic engagement with the EU remains a priority for the Philippines," said Philippine Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo Pascual, adding that the Philippines aims for an ambitious, b.....»»
Delightful discovery: Wilbert Rossas a sensitive singer-songwriter
If you need (or want) to balance off JK Labajo’s roaring, moaning, shrieking, cussing singing in his latest blockbuster single “Ere”, go for Wilbert Ross’ EP album Lampara, recently released by Viva Music on major music platforms. An actor just like Labajo, Ross emotes pain, loss and acceptance of one’s dire straits with restrained anger and without cursing. Ross wrote four of the six songs in the album — none of which, by the way, is titled Lampara. The album’s title is really an announcement of Ross’ intention for his music and lyrics to be a guiding light for the multitude, so to speak. The album’s lead song is “Handa Ako,” which he performs serenely with indie singer Mika Salamanca. “Byahe Ng Buhay”, meanwhile, takes listeners on a lyrical journey through life’s ups and downs. “Dramatic Actor” combines melodious vocals with a touch of drama. “Benteng Ukit” could have been rendered in a frenetic, howling style, but, sorry, that’s not Ross’ style of singing. The song is about self-inflicted wounds, and Ross wrote it during a bout with clinical depression at the height of the pandemic. The two other cuts in the album are “Nakangiti” and “Andito Lang Ako.” It was as a contestant at ABS-CBN’s singing contests Tawag ng Tanghalan of It’s Showtime and Pinoy Boyband Superstar that Ross took his first steps into showbiz. He was in his teens, fresh from Davao, and still using the surname “Rosalyn,” which seems to be the surname of his stepfather. Ups and downs At the recent media launch for Lampara, Ross shared that his Chinese biological dad left the family during Ross’ childhood. His mom is Indonesian. His biological dad passed on two years ago, but Ross got to meet him as a grown-up once or twice. The tall, soft-spoken, very articulate (in Tagalog) Wilbert began to use “Ross” as a showbiz surname when he was recruited to join the second batch of the singing and dancing boy group Hashtags for It’s Showtime. Ross said he has been writing songs for years now and recording them as a soundtrack for some of his acting assignments, such as the Puregold supermarket chain’s web series Ang Lalake sa Likod ng Profile which ended last July. He has no love life at this point, he said, which seems to be a requirement in Pinoy showbiz to sustain interest in an actor’s career. And the stars have to write about the ups and downs of their romances on their social media accounts. Labajo’s shrieking songs of pain would have sounded senseless if he and ex-girlfriend beauty queen Maureen Wroblewitz did not publicly hint about the agonies wrought by their soured relationship on their social media accounts. Ross the actor also wants to be known as a singer-songwriter. He has a marked supporting role in Viva Films’ Nokturno, topbilled by Nadine Lustre. Viva submitted the movie for this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival but it failed to make the cut. There’s another singer-songwriter who roars and howls about her angst: Cool Cat Ash, whose real name is Ashley Aunor. She’s the daughter of Lala Aunor, a member of the “Apat na Sikat” group of teen idols in the ‘70s. Perfect timing It’s perfect timing that the QCinema International Film Festival is being held in November. The festival screens a good number of foreign films that were released to critical acclaim sometime this year or last year. The next big showbiz event that comes after it is the Metro Manila Film Festival, during which only Filipino movies are shown all over the country. The MMFF usually presents only eight films, but this year there are 10 official entries. Those who love foreign films can have their fill of world cinema (60 films this year!) before the MMFF fills the theaters with all-Filipino fare for 10 days during the holiday season. The QCinema International Film Festival, now on its 11th year, runs 17-29 November. The opening film is the Golden Lion winner in this year’s Venice Film Festival, Poor Things. The post Delightful discovery: Wilbert Rossas a sensitive singer-songwriter appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
As Hollywood strike hits 100 days, hope mixes with financial angst
Striking actors on the picket line express a mix of worry over financial difficulties and hopes of getting a good deal out of studios after talks broke down.....»»
Review: ‘Video City: Be Kind, Please Rewind’, too reel to be real
Writer-director Raynier Brizuela’s time-travel whirlwind romance Video City: Be Kind, Please Rewind (a collaboration between Viva Films and GMA Pictures) is an ambitious project tragically forced within an obviously limited budget, resources and creative restrictions. Brizuela, setting his film mainly in the year 1995, uses tight framing and a shaky cam technique, but not so much as to direct our focus on Ruru Madrid’s frequently teary eyes, but to avoid the movie’s lack of era-specific looks. Knowing that it’s a copyright nightmare for a low-budget movie such as Video City to recreate 1995, we are severely deprived of nostalgia. Then there’s the restriction issue: the 1990s are marked by the Eraserheads, the launch of the Windows 95 operating system, the O.J. Simpson trial, Tiger Woods, Michael Jackson, Jolina Magdangal, Smokey Mountain and some major Philippine news and current events. But the production obviously cannot and will not show anything outside of Viva Entertainment’s world. Hence, the concept itself — a period piece — is already a failure. The inability of the film to recreate the ‘90s in the Philippines is the least of the movie’s problems. The film’s wobbly script from an unfocused story reduces the experience to something of an endurance test. Video City traps the audience within the suffocating four walls of Video City, a popular VHS rental shop in the ‘90s owned by Viva Entertainment, Inc. We watch a love story develop between Han (Ruru Madrid), a student from 2023, and Ningning (Yassi Pressman), a Video City worker from 1995. Suffocating, because of the tight framing combined with hackneyed, cringy dialogue and the severe lack of chemistry between the two leads. Independently, both actors give their best to bring life to their thinly written characters from a largely unremarkable, bizarre storytelling. Yet together, they cannot even produce a mild spark. Pressman’s Ningning, with her permed wig colored with blondie highlights (definitely not a Pinoy ‘90s look), is an energetic actress-wannabe, while Madrid’s Han is a depressive filmmaker-wannabe. Movies are the duo’s mutual passion, yet the script does not allow this passion to take root, further weighed down by the need to promote Viva’s past products, such as the movie Maging Sino Ka Man. There is no build-up in the romance. Ningning, upon realizing that Han comes from the future, is just very surprised for mere minutes. This rip in the space-time continuum does not inspire shock from Ningning, and she bizarrely does not ask questions about this supernatural occurrence. Even Han is just mildly surprised by his ability to time-travel via — get this — a VHS tape rewinder. Han is also inexplicably hired by the Video City branch, clearly the script’s excuse to “build” the bond between him and Ningning. But he never gets a Video City uniform. He is always in civilian clothes. Why? [caption id="attachment_187907" align="aligncenter" width="1356"] RURU Madrid delivers an effortless performance (please give this guy more nuanced roles!) but his talent is wasted here. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF GMA pictures[/caption] In order to provide conflict and threat to the love story, Brizuela set a “limited time” — Han’s daily visit in 1995 gets shortened every day. With this restriction, Han also has to understand the “purpose” of his time travel really fast. But then the movie suddenly loses interest in Han’s initial angst: His uninspired thesis, the pressure to be as creative as his retired filmmaker mother (Suzette Ranillo), whose paralyzing health issues (we never know what her actual health issue is) is also affecting his mental health. Sure, these are mildly tackled and Han gets an “instant cure” for himself and his mother after attending a 1995 movie presscon (was it really open to the public back in the day?). But all of these issues are sidestepped to give way for the unengaging love story. Brizuela, the creative director of the social-media humor page PGAG, also utilizes the tiresome rain effect to “enhance” the romantic thrills. But with the way the rain suddenly appears (alongside Wency Cornejo’s song “Tag-ulan”), you find yourself recoiling instead of falling in love. The old Filipino nursery song “One Day, Isang Araw, I Saw, Nakakita” is also given an unusual prominence in the paper-thin script, making you wince even more. Madrid delivers an effortless performance (please give this guy more nuanced roles!) but his talent is wasted here. Not even his commendable performance can save this movie. Video City is difficult to sit through. The entire time, I was placed in an existential dread — I could neither forward the time to speed up the movie nor rewind back in time and avoid this altogether. 0 out of 5 stars Now showing in cinemas The post Review: ‘Video City: Be Kind, Please Rewind’, too reel to be real appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Too reel to be real
Writer-director Raynier Brizuela’s time-travel whirlwind romance Video City: Be Kind, Please Rewind (a collaboration between Viva Films and GMA Pictures) is an ambitious project tragically forced within an obviously limited budget, resources and creative restrictions. Brizuela, setting his film mainly in the year 1995, uses tight framing and a shaky cam technique, but not so much as to direct our focus on Ruru Madrid’s frequently teary eyes, but to avoid the movie’s lack of era-specific looks. Knowing that it’s a copyright nightmare for a low-budget movie such as Video City to recreate 1995, we are severely deprived of nostalgia. Then there’s the restriction issue: the 1990s are marked by the Eraserheads, the launch of the Windows 95 operating system, the O.J. Simpson trial, Tiger Woods, Michael Jackson, Jolina Magdangal, Smokey Mountain and some major Philippine news and current events. But the production obviously cannot and will not show anything outside of Viva Entertainment’s world. Hence, the concept itself — a period piece — is already a failure. The inability of the film to recreate the ‘90s in the Philippines is the least of the movie’s problems. The film’s wobbly script from an unfocused story reduces the experience to something of an endurance test. Video City traps the audience within the suffocating four walls of Video City, a popular VHS rental shop in the ‘90s owned by Viva Entertainment, Inc. We watch a love story develop between Han (Ruru Madrid), a student from 2023, and Ningning (Yassi Pressman), a Video City worker from 1995. Suffocating, because of the tight framing combined with hackneyed, cringy dialogue and the severe lack of chemistry between the two leads. Independently, both actors give their best to bring life to their thinly written characters from a largely unremarkable, bizarre storytelling. Yet together, they cannot even produce a mild spark. Pressman’s Ningning, with her permed wig colored with blondie highlights (definitely not a Pinoy ‘90s look), is an energetic actress-wannabe, while Madrid’s Han is a depressive filmmaker-wannabe. Movies are the duo’s mutual passion, yet the script does not allow this passion to take root, further weighed down by the need to promote Viva’s past products, such as the movie Maging Sino Ka Man. There is no build-up in the romance. Ningning, upon realizing that Han comes from the future, is just very surprised for mere minutes. This rip in the space-time continuum does not inspire shock from Ningning, and she bizarrely does not ask questions about this supernatural occurrence. Even Han is just mildly surprised by his ability to time-travel via — get this — a VHS tape rewinder. Han is also inexplicably hired by the Video City branch, clearly the script’s excuse to “build” the bond between him and Ningning. But he never gets a Video City uniform. He is always in civilian clothes. Why? [caption id="attachment_187907" align="aligncenter" width="1356"] RURU Madrid delivers an effortless performance (please give this guy more nuanced roles!) but his talent is wasted here. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF GMA pictures[/caption] In order to provide conflict and threat to the love story, Brizuela set a “limited time” — Han’s daily visit in 1995 gets shortened every day. With this restriction, Han also has to understand the “purpose” of his time travel really fast. But then the movie suddenly loses interest in Han’s initial angst: His uninspired thesis, the pressure to be as creative as his retired filmmaker mother (Suzette Ranillo), whose paralyzing health issues (we never know what her actual health issue is) is also affecting his mental health. Sure, these are mildly tackled and Han gets an “instant cure” for himself and his mother after attending a 1995 movie presscon (was it really open to the public back in the day?). But all of these issues are sidestepped to give way for the unengaging love story. Brizuela, the creative director of the social-media humor page PGAG, also utilizes the tiresome rain effect to “enhance” the romantic thrills. But with the way the rain suddenly appears (alongside Wency Cornejo’s song “Tag-ulan”), you find yourself recoiling instead of falling in love. The old Filipino nursery song “One Day, Isang Araw, I Saw, Nakakita” is also given an unusual prominence in the paper-thin script, making you wince even more. Madrid delivers an effortless performance (please give this guy more nuanced roles!) but his talent is wasted here. Not even his commendable performance can save this movie. Video City is difficult to sit through. The entire time, I was placed in an existential dread — I could neither forward the time to speed up the movie nor rewind back in time and avoid this altogether. 0 out of 5 stars Now showing in cinemas The post Too reel to be real appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
SOS embraces intimacy in new single ‘Roses’
SOS continues to explore new directions and expand their repertoire with the second single, “Roses,” from their forthcoming EP. “Roses” is the follow-up to last year’s “Seryoso,” the band’s first Filipino-language track which starred award-winning actor Jericho Rosales in the accompanying visual. Both will be part of the upcoming EP, which marks SOS’s first release under local label Careless Music. SOS’s renewed approach to songwriting and music production comes after they announced the band’s name change from She’s Only Sixteen last year. “‘Roses’ is a little more intimate than most of our songs,” said vocalist Roberto Seña. “It has a feeling of lushness that I always aim for when producing songs lately. It’s rare that we write a love song that is free from the angst and jadedness that I think we have become known for.” The production, Seña added, was inspired from the 1980s, incorporating synths and guitar work from the pop-dominated decade, but still grounded on the familiar sound fans have enjoyed from SOS over the years. The five-track EP, titled It Was A Moment, is due on 29 September 2023. Also following last year’s major change to the Manila-based band’s decade-long career is the addition of Ram Alonzo on keys. He has been a session player for SOS since their time in college and has long been considered an unofficial member. “Seña asked if I was game to join the band. I only had one answer in mind: ‘Hell yeah.’ And then we all drank to it. I’ve been playing with SOS since 2014 and joining the band felt right,” said Alonzo. SOS is on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @sosbandforever. The post SOS embraces intimacy in new single ‘Roses’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Washington sweats over high-stakes vote to stave off default
Congressional leaders were racing to secure backing for a cross-party deal to raise the US debt limit and avert a first-ever default as they faced a growing backlash from conservatives ahead of a crucial Wednesday evening vote. Congress has just five days to green-light an agreement between Republicans and Democrats to allow more borrowing and ensure the country doesn't miss loan repayments -- sending the economy into a potentially ruinous nose dive. The "Fiscal Responsibility Act" -- hammered out between Republican Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Democratic President Joe Biden over the weekend -- needs a simple majority to clear the 435-member House and head to the Senate. But multiple Republicans have already announced their opposition -- angry that proposed spending cuts accompanying a two-year suspension of the debt ceiling fall far short of what they agreed in a bill passed by the House last month. While McCarthy has described the deal as "transformational," Chip Roy, a leading figure in the hard-right Freedom Caucus, called it a "turd sandwich." "Not one Republican should vote for this deal. It is a bad deal. No one sent us here to borrow an additional $4 trillion to get absolutely nothing in return," Roy said at a Freedom Caucus news conference Tuesday. Avoiding another crisis The floor vote is planned for around 8:30 pm (0030 GMT Thursday), according to a provisional House schedule. The agreement would hold spending flat for 2024 while boosting cash for defense and veterans and clawing back $28 billion in unspent Covid aid money. Crucially, it will then cap increases at one percent until the year after the presidential election, a win for Biden who would not have to go through a repeat of the crisis at the height of his reelection campaign. It would increase work requirements on federal food stamp recipients and welfare safety net programs, but does not make the sweeping reforms to government health insurance that Republicans had pushed for. Party strategists were bullish that the grousing from the right did not represent a consensus within the broader party. "Members from all across the conference shared their support for this important bill" during a party meeting late Tuesday, Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik told reporters after a key panel, the House Rules Committee, advanced the bill to a floor vote. "This is a win for the American people and future generations," she said, calling it "a historic step to restoring fiscal sanity and holding Washington accountable." But a bloc of at least 20 conservative Republicans have announced they will oppose the compromise, accusing McCarthy of caving to the White House and ensuring he will need to rely on Democratic votes to get the deal over the line. Freedom Caucus chair Scott Perry told reporters the bill "fails completely", while fellow House Republican Nancy Mace said she was voting no because "playing the DC game isn't worth selling out our kids and grandkids." 'Keep moving forward' Congressman Dan Bishop told reporters he had "zero" confidence in McCarthy and threatened to push for his ouster, accusing the party leader of "lying" over the contents of the deal. Any single lawmaker can introduce a "motion to vacate the chair" -- a concession McCarthy offered the Republican hard right in return for their support for his speakership election in January. Assuming it gets to the House floor, the bill needs 218 votes, with Republican leadership bracing for somewhere between 40 and 60 of their 222 members defecting. On the left, lawmakers have voiced frustration over the new work requirements that would kick into federal aid programs while corporations and the rich are being asked to pay no more in taxes. The left-leaning Center on Budget and Policy Priorities said in a statement the agreement was a "significant improvement" over the House-passed bill but complained it would leave older, low-income Americans hungry and "should be rejected." Democrats appear to have enough support however to bail out McCarthy if he faces a sizable rebellion. Among the conservative advocacy groups, the Heritage Foundation urged House Republicans to "go back to the negotiating table" while the Club for Growth suggested it would single out Republicans supporting the bill for poor marks in its "congressional scorecard." Biden, who has tried to counter progressive angst over the deal by emphasizing that "not everyone gets what they want," urged Congress Tuesday to "keep moving forward on meeting our obligations and building the strongest economy in the history of the world." The post Washington sweats over high-stakes vote to stave off default appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards: Why it’s significant
Last 28 March I was invited by the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards chairman Jayr Villaruel of District 3850 to be the opening plenary speaker of RYLA, which was held on Boracay Island from 28-39 March at the Pinnacle Hotel. Upon receiving the invitation, I immediately confirmed my attendance as I am a great supporter and mentor of the Rotaractors. When I arrived in Boracay, Jayr met me at the airport and we rode a tricycle to the wharf to reach the mainland. We proceeded to the Pinnacle Hotel, where we were served with a glass of cool fruit juice — a perfect foil to the relentless summer heat. During this convention, I was able to interact, discuss and observe the many Rotaractors from three Districts, namely 3850, 3810 and 3820. I was impressed by their commitment, dedication and dreams for their Rotaract Clubs that create and transform the communities they live in and work with in their various activities. These youth, with ages ranging from 14-30, prepared a challenging program of leadership training, forums and social interaction. The program was designed to enhance their personal development, leadership skills, communication and good citizenship. [caption id="attachment_137039" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Photograph Courtesy of BING CARRION | These young people, aged 14-30, prepared a challenging program of leadership training, forums and social interaction.[/caption] The RYLA program started in Australia in 1959 when young people throughout the state of Queensland were selected to meet with Princess Alexandra, the young cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II. The Brisbane Rotarians who hosted the participants were so impressed with the young people and decided to bring youth leaders together each year for a week of social, cultural and educational activities. In 1971, the Rotary International Board adopted RYLA to be part of the official Rotary program during the Rotary International Convention — their program scheduled a day before the official opening. What is particularly significant about my interaction with the Rotaractors in Boracay were their honest sharings of their dreams, aspirations and angst with me. One particular Rotaractor from Kalibo, named Mark Anthony Dolinog from the indigenous tribe of Libacao, strongly expressed his appreciation and thanks for the speech I delivered because he said it inspired him to do even more than what he has achieved so far in his life. My challenge of “Yes we can change the world” resonated with him and all the Rotaractors in the ballroom as they broke into thunderous applause to my great joy. What a most uplifting weekend it was. My interaction with the young Rotaractors validates my belief that there is HOPE in the world because the youth affirm “yes they can” change their mindsets and their willingness to serve the marginalized — thus creating a kinder, peaceful, safe, loving, happy and better world for us all. The post Rotary Youth Leadership Awards: Why it’s significant appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»