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Aya Fernandez, Pat Tingjuy make debut in volleyball film ‘Rookie’
Rookie, an entry to the ongoing Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival, is not only the first Filipino volleyball movie but also the big screen debut of its lead actors Aya Fernandez and Pat Tingjuy. Aya plays Jana, the team captain of a high school volleyball team, and Pat takes on the part of awkward new player Ace who falls for Jana. aya and Pat went through several rounds of audition before they got their roles in this coming-of-age queer movie directed by Samantha Lee and written by Natts Jadaone under ANIMA Studios. “We were paired with different beautiful women,” recalled Aya at an after-party dinner celebrating ANIMA Studios’ seventh anniversary. They then emerged as the perfect pair. Having known each other for a long time surely helped the onscreen partners be at ease and connect well while working. “We went to the same grade school,” said Aya, now 25 years old, and gestured to Pat. “She was our star volleyball player.” Pat could only blush in shyness. Yes, Pat went on playing volleyball, like for the University of Santo Tomas’ College of Architecture’s team, but she’s now embarked on an acting career. “This is my first time ever to be exposed like this. Acting was harder for me than playing volleyball.” For Aya’s part, the Mutya ng Pilipinas 2018 winner admitted volleyball is not her main sport. “So I had to train for almost more than a month to really correct and master the form, as well as immerse with the volleyball players,” she explained. “I’m privileged to be friends with the volleyball players.” Aya, a contract artist of Star Magic talent agency, drew from her acting experience in past ABS-CBN teleseryes Ang Sa Iyo Ay Akin, Ang Probinsyano and A Family Affair, as well as in her current projects Stand-in Love and Nag-aapoy na Damdamin in playing her character. She then found acting while playing volleyball “a new form of art,” in which “you can never fake your reaction.” She then said of Rookie, “Through this film, we hope to show that to play like a girl means to compete like a champion.” Catch Rookie at Cinemalaya XIX: IlumiNasyon, which runs until 13 August at the Philippine International Convention Center and select cinemas of Ayala Malls Manila Bay, Glorietta, UP Town Center and Trinoma. The post Aya Fernandez, Pat Tingjuy make debut in volleyball film ‘Rookie’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Timberwolves hold off Nuggets to stay alive, Warriors edge Kings
Anthony Edwards scored 34 points, including a three-point dagger with 11.5 seconds left, as the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Denver Nuggets 114-108 in overtime Sunday to stay alive in the NBA playoffs. Western Conference top seeds Denver, led by 43 points from reigning two-time Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic, closed regulation on a 12-0 run to force overtime. But they were out-scored 18-12 in the extra session at the Target Center in Minneapolis as the Timberwolves pulled within 3-1 in the series. Minnesota still face a daunting task -- no NBA team has come back from 3-0 down to win a best-of-seven series. "See you in Denver, we're going back," said Edwards, whose 16 third-quarter points keyed a Timberwolves charge that carried them to a 12-point lead midway through the fourth. Mike Conley added 19 points for Minnesota. Karl-Anthony Towns scored 17 points with 11 rebounds and Rudy Gobert added 14 points and 15 rebounds as the Timberwolves withstood another big night from Jokic. The Serbian star matched his playoff scoring high and added 11 rebounds and six assists. The teams swapped the lead four times in overtime, but Nuggets coach Michael Malone said too many defensive lapses in the extra session doomed his team. "You hold them to 16 points in the fourth quarter, then (they have) 18 in five minutes," Malone said. "That's the hardest thing to stomach about this game is that when the game was on the line, we were unwilling and unable to get the necessary stops." 'Sloppy' Curry It was the second Western Conference thriller of the day, after the Golden State Warriors held off a ferocious fourth-quarter fightback from the Sacramento Kings to secure a 126-125 victory that leveled their series at two games apiece. Harrison Barnes almost snatched victory for Sacramento at the buzzer, but his long-range effort bounced off the rim to leave the NBA champions celebrating. Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 32 points -- and breathed a sigh of relief after two uncharacteristic blunders in a frenetic finale at the Chase Center. Curry missed a wide-open three-pointer with his team-leading 126-121 with less than a minute remaining. He then erroneously called a timeout when the Warriors had none left, earning a technical foul and allowing Sacramento's Malik Monk to make it a four-point game with a free throw. De'Aaron Fox's three-pointer pulled Sacramento within 126-125 and Curry missed another floater to give the Kings a final chance. "It was kind of sloppy not knowing how many timeouts we had left, and a couple of dagger shots didn't go in -- but we did what we needed to do defensively in those last 10 seconds," a relieved Curry said. Klay Thompson added 26 points and Jordan Poole had 22. Draymond Green, back from suspension, scored 12 points with 10 rebounds and seven assists off the bench to help the Warriors withstand a 38-point performance from Fox. Knicks, Celtics close in In the Eastern Conference, the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics moved within a victory of advancing, the Knicks beating the Cleveland Cavaliers 102-93 and the Celtics downing Atlanta 129-121 to each take 3-1 series leads. Jalen Brunson drained five three-pointers on the way to 29 points for the Knicks, who again electrified Madison Square Garden. With just one win from three more games the Knicks can advance past the first round for the first time since 2013. Darius Garland led Cleveland with 23 points but Donovan Mitchell scored just 11 -- only two in the second half. The Cavs will try to extend the series when they host game five on Wednesday. The Celtics can wrap up their series at home on Tuesday after bouncing back from a disappointing game-three defeat with a convincing victory in Atlanta. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown scored 31 points apiece for the Celtics, each delivering a dunk in the final minute as the Celtics thwarted the Hawks' final rally bid. Hawks star Trae Young finished with a game-high 35 points and handed out 14 assists. But Boston stepped up their defensive intensity and had an answer for every Atlanta run, never trailing after the first quarter. Brown got off to a slow start, making just one of his first seven shots. Then he got rid of the protective mask he's worn since suffering a facial fracture in February and made 11 of 15. "Maybe it was all in my head," Brown said. "I took it off and started to turn things around a little bit." The post Timberwolves hold off Nuggets to stay alive, Warriors edge Kings appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Warriors down Kings to level series; Knicks and Celtics on brink
Stephen Curry scored 32 points as the Golden State Warriors held off a ferocious fourth-quarter fightback from the Sacramento Kings to secure a series-leveling 126-125 victory in the NBA playoffs on Sunday. Harrison Barnes almost snatched victory for Sacramento on the buzzer, but his long-range effort bounced off the rim to leave the NBA champions celebrating a result that leaves them tied at 2-2 in the best-of-seven series after dropping games one and two. In the East, meanwhile, the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics moved within a victory of advancing, the Knicks beating the Cleveland Cavaliers 102-93 and the Celtics downing Atlanta 129-121 to each take 3-1 series leads. Curry breathed a sigh of relief after two uncharacteristic blunders in a frenetic finale at the Chase Center. The Warriors talisman missed a wide-open three-pointer with his team-leading 126-121 with less than a minute remaining. Curry compounded that rare miss by erroneously calling a time-out when the Warriors had none left, earning a technical foul and allowing Sacramento's Malik Monk to make it a four-point game with a free throw. A superb De’Aaron Fox three-pointer from 28 feet then left Sacramento within one at 126-125, and when Curry missed another floater, the Kings had a chance to win it only to see Barnes's late effort bounce out. "I ain't gonna lie, I thought it was the smartest play in the world," Curry said of his timeout call after a failed challenge had cost the Warriors their last time out. "I looked over at the bench and everybody was shaking their head. "But we did what we needed to do defensively in those last 10 seconds," a relieved Curry said. "We've protected home court, and now we move on." Barnes's late miss was the final act of a thrilling battle between the Western Conference rivals that saw the lead change hands no fewer than 19 times as momentum ebbed and flowed throughout. Golden State looked to have turned the screw decisively in the third quarter, outscoring the Kings 37-23 to start the fourth with a 10-point advantage. Sacramento, however, came surging back with a 7-0 run to start the final quarter and only a handful of points separated the two teams in the waning seconds. Curry led the Warriors' scoring with 32 points while Klay Thompson added 26, including four three-pointers, and Jordan Poole had 22. Andrew Wiggins added 18 points while Draymond Green, returning after suspension, had 12 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists off the bench. Fox produced a dazzling performance for Sacramento with 38 points while Keegan Murray added 23 and Monk 16. The Kings host game five on Wednesday. In New York, Jalen Brunson drained five three-pointers on the way to 29 points for the Knicks, who again electrified Madison Square Garden. With just one win from three more games the Knicks can advance past the first round for the first time since 2013. New York led by as many as 15 on the way to a nine-point halftime lead. A big third quarter saw the Cavs sneak into a narrow lead before a sustained Knicks rally in the fourth. Brunson was one of four players in double figures with R.J. Barrett providing offensive support with 26 points. Darius Garland led Cleveland 23 points but Donovan Mitchell had a game to forget after finishing with just 11 points -- only two in the second half. The Cavs will try to extend the series when they host game five on Wednesday. The Celtics can wrap up their series at home on Tuesday after bouncing back from a disappointing game-three defeat with a convincing victory in Atlanta. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown scored 31 points apiece for the Celtics, each delivering a dunk in the final minute as the Celtics thwarted the Hawks' final rally bid. Hawks star Trae Young finished with a game-high 35 points and handed out 14 assists. But Boston stepped up their defensive intensity and had an answer for every Atlanta run, never trailing after the first quarter. The post Warriors down Kings to level series; Knicks and Celtics on brink appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
MVP Giannis propels Bucks past Magic; Hornets win
Los Angeles---Milwaukee star Giannis Antetokounmpo shook off foul trouble to score 13 of his 22 points in the second half Monday as the Bucks pulled away for a 121-99 NBA victory over the Magic in Orlando......»»
NBA ROUNDUP: Celtics, Raptors, Clippers, Jazz win; Doncic hurt; Lillard to play in Game 4
The Boston Celtics moved a win away from the second round of the playoffs as it beat the Philadephia 76ers Friday and take a commanding 3-0 lead in their first round series. Kemba Walker, acquired from the Charlotte Hornets this season, scored 24 points to lead the Celtics over Philadelphia, 102-94. Walker took the cudgels […].....»»
Harris, Embiid lead 76ers past Magic 108-101
Harris, Embiid lead 76ers past Magic 108-101.....»»
Antetokounmpo, Bucks hold off Celtics in restart opener
By The Associated Press LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo converted a tiebreaking three-point play with 1:28 left on an overturned call that kept him in the game and helped the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Boston Celtics 119-112 on Friday night. Antetokounmpo had 36 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists in the Bucks’ first game in the restart. Milwaukee improved the NBA’s best record to 54-12 and moved within a victory of clinching the top seed in the Eastern Conference for the second straight year. Boston overcame a poor start to tie it at 107. Antetokounmpo was then called for a charging foul, appearing to negate his basket and giving him a sixth foul. The call was changed to a blocking foul on Boston’s Marcus Smart after review, and Antetokounmpo made the free throw to make it 110-107. Khris Middleton then knocked down a 3-pointer for a six-point advantage. Middleton added 18 points for the Bucks, who played without Eric Bledsoe and Pat Connaughton while they work on their conditioning after testing positive for the coronavirus. Marvin Williams sat out with a strained left groin. Smart scored 23 points for the Celtics and Jaylen Brown had 22, but star forward Jayson Tatum had a nightmarish restart. He had five points on 2-for-18 shooting — though he actually only made one basket. Kemba Walker scored 16 points but played just 19 minutes as the Celtics look to keep the All-Star guard healthy after he’s been battling a sore knee. TRAIL BLAZERS 140, GRIZZLIES 135, OT CJ McCollum scored 33 points, teaming with Damian Lillard for 11 of Portland’s 16 in overtime, and the Trail Blazers pulled out a desperately needed victory to resume their season by beating the Memphis Grizzlies 140-135 on Friday. Lillard finished with 29 points and nine assists to help the Trail Blazers boost their hopes for a seventh consecutive playoff appearance. Carmelo Anthony added 21 points as Portland moved within 2 1/2 games of the Grizzlies for the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference. McCollum started fast, scoring 19 points in the first half, and finished strong with two crucial 3-pointers in overtime. The first one to open the extra period gave Portland the lead for good, and he added six assists. Jaren Jackson Jr. had 33 points and rookie Ja Morant added 22 points and 11 assists for Memphis. Memphis rallied from a 13-point, third-quarter deficit to take an 11-point lead, then gave it away almost as quickly. When the Grizzlies recovered to take a 112-103 lead with 6:01 left in regulation, it appeared the Grizzlies might pad their lead in the standings. Instead, Anthony’s 3 with 37.5 seconds left tied it at 124 and Morant fell on a last-second fast break, sending the game to overtime. MAGIC 128, NETS 118 Evan Fournier scored 24 points, Nikola Vucevic had 22 and Orlando picked up where it left off before the NBA season was suspended, beating Brooklyn. Playing as the designated road team not far from their arena, the Magic looked right at home at Disney — whose name they wear as their jersey patch. They extended their winning streak to four and moved back ahead of the Nets into seventh place in the Eastern Conference. Brooklyn also won its last three before the stoppage, but the decimated team that returned is a shell of the one that beat the Lakers in Los Angeles in its final game. The Nets are missing Spencer Dinwiddie, DeAndre Jordan and Taurean Prince after they tested positive for the coronavirus. They are already playing without Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, who had season-ending surgery. Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot scored 24 points for the Nets. SPURS 129, KINGS 120 DeMar DeRozan scored 17 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter to help San Antonio beat Sacramento. Before the game, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich and assistant Becky Hammon stood for the national anthem while the remainder of the coaches and players for both teams knelt. DeRozan shot 10 of 13 and had 10 assists, and the Spurs shot 53.3% from the field. Derrick White matched a career high with 26 points in San Antonio’s first game of the restart. The Spurs needed to find offense because LaMarcus Aldridge, the team’s No. 2 scorer, had shoulder surgery in April and will not play in the restart. De’Aaron Fox scored a career-high 39 points for the Kings. SUNS 125, WIZARDS 112 Devin Booker scored 27 points, Deandre Ayton added 24 points and 12 rebounds and Phoenix beat Washington. Booker made all nine of his free throws and the Suns hit 30 of 32 from the line. They shot 52% from the field, with Ayton hitting two of three 3-pointers and going 11 of 14 overall. Rui Hachimura scored 21 points and Jerome Robinson added 20 for the Wizards on coach Scott Brooks’ 55th birthday......»»
No. 16 Alabama overcomes struggles, Arkansas in overtime
(Photo credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-USA TODAY Sports) Aaron Estrada struggled throughout but converted a tiebreaking layup with 2:03 remaining in overtime as No. 16 Alabama outlasted visiting Arkansas for a 92-88 victory Saturday afternoon in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The game was tied at 80 when Estrada got the ball on the left side. He drove past Arkansas defender Khalif Battle and scooped in a layup that gave Alabama the lead for go.....»»
Rudy Gobert, Michael Conley lead Timberwolves past Trail Blazers 119-114
Rudy Gobert, Michael Conley lead Timberwolves past Trail Blazers 119-114.....»»
‘He can be a diplomat’: Charismatic Naga priest is new bishop of Virac
Father Luisito Occiano, a longtime priest in Naga City, is set to lead the Diocese of Virac after its bishop for the past three decades retired.....»»
Stephen Curry carries reeling Warriors past Magic to help snap 3-game slide
Stephen Curry scores 36 for the Golden State Warriors, who end a three-game losing streak at the expense of the reeling Orlando Magic.....»»
Andre Drummond-led Bulls rout 76ers in battle of shorthanded teams
DeMar DeRozan scored 24 points to lead the host Chicago Bulls past the Philadelphia 76ers 105-92 on Saturday (Sunday, December.....»»
Broadcaster’s slay: P100,000 reward up for info
Malacañang’s media security task force is offering P100,000 as reward for information that will lead to the arrest of those behind the murder of Misamis Occidental radioman Juan “Johnny Walker” Jumalon, who was shot while hosting his radio program at his home in Calamba on Nov. 5......»»
1.4M vacationers flocking to ports
The Philippine Ports Authority said Wednesday that vacationers flocking to various ports in the country may surpass 1.4 million during the long weekend. Malacañang has recently declared 30 October 2023 as a regular national holiday through Presidential Proclamation No. 359 s.2023 for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections, while 1 and 2 November are regular holidays -- All Saints and All Souls Day, respectively. “This year’s forecast of 1,422,406 passenger traffic is 6 percent higher than the figure recorded in 2022 which was 1,337,396 mainly caused by the relaxing of travel requirements after the Covid-19 pandemic. It is likewise significantly higher than the 500,000 plus number of passengers recorded in 2020 covering the same dates,” PPA general manager Atty. Jay Santiago said in an interview. The influx of passengers is also expected to start on 28 October based on the data gathered by PPA over the past years, he added. Among the ports with the highest number of passengers recorded in 2022 were the ports in Iloilo, Batangas, Babak Port in Davao, Dumangas Port in Panay Island and the ports in Negros Occidental. “Plan your trips early and make sure you have all your bookings confirmed. Also, check with the shipping lines for any change in schedule and don’t bring unnecessary items, especially prohibited items, and check with local government units on prohibited agricultural and meat products,” Santiago reminded travelers. No leave policy To ensure full workforce complement and maintain strict security protocol at public ports, Santiago issued a “No Leave Policy” effective Wednesday, 25 October to 8 November 2023. In a memorandum issued on 23 October 2023, Santiago instructed all PPA personnel to refrain from availing leave of absence during this time when port services are mostly needed. “As the lead agency in the passenger operation of PPA-managed ports nationwide, we have a huge responsibility in ensuring that sea travel of the public, especially during this coming BSKE and Undas, remains convenient, safe, and responsive to their needs, thus, the implementation of this No Leave Policy,” Santiago said. PPA also heightened its security measures at 25 port management offices nationwide. The measures include strict security, 24/7 CCTV monitoring and K9 dogs roving in all port vicinity, passenger luggage passing through x-ray machines and passengers passing through body scanners. The PPA said the public can check its social media pages for hourly updates or inquire via the PPA hotline, which operates 24/7 for any port-related questions through landline number (02) 8711-2360. Marina’s effort Maritime Industry Authority Administrator Atty. Hernani Fabia said they have already coordinated with the domestic shipping lines to ensure that their online ticketing systems are up and running for the convenience of travelers. “It is one of my orders to Enforcement Service and MROs (Marina Regional Offices),” according to Fabia. The post 1.4M vacationers flocking to ports appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
UN report warns of catastrophic risks to Earth systems
Melting glaciers, unbearable heat and space junk: a month before crunch climate talks in the United Arab Emirates, a UN report published Wednesday warns about irreversible impacts to the planet without drastic changes to connected social and physical systems. The Interconnected Disaster Risks Report identifies thresholds it calls "risk tipping points," defined as "the moment at which a given socioecological system is no longer able to buffer risks and provide its expected function" -- after which the risk of catastrophe increases significantly. It focuses on six areas that connect the physical and natural world with human society: accelerating extinctions, groundwater depletion, mountain glacial melt, space debris, unbearable heat and an "uninsurable" future. "As we indiscriminately extract our water resources, damage nature and biodiversity, and pollute both Earth and space, we are moving dangerously close to the brink of multiple risk tipping points that could destroy the very systems that our life depends on," said Zita Sebesvari, the report's lead author. For example: Underground water reservoirs represent an essential freshwater resource around the world and today mitigate half of the losses of agriculture caused by droughts, which are being exacerbated by climate change. But aquifers themselves are now depleting faster than they can be naturally replenished: Saudi Arabia has already crossed the groundwater risk tipping point while India isn't far behind. In the case of accelerating extinctions, the report highlights the cascading effects of extinctions throughout food chains. "The gopher tortoise, which is threatened with extinction, digs burrows that are used by more than 350 other species for breeding, feeding, protection from predators and avoiding extreme temperatures," the report said. If the gopher tortoise goes extinct, the gopher frog that helps control insect populations will likely follow, triggering effects throughout the entire forest ecosystem of the southeastern United States. Mountain glaciers that store vast amounts of freshwater meanwhile are melting twice as fast as they did in the past two decades. "Peak water" -- the point when a glacier produces its maximum amount of water runoff due to melting -- has been reached or is expected to be reached within the next ten years across small glaciers in Central Europe, Western Canada and South America. "The 90,000+ glaciers of the Himalayas, Karakoram and Hindu Kush mountains are at risk, and so are the nearly 870 million people that rely on them," the report said. In the case of space junk, the report warns Earth's orbit is in danger of becoming so full of debris that a collision triggers a chain reaction that threatens humanity's ability to operate satellites -- including those that provide vital early warning monitoring against disasters. The report finds most solutions currently being implemented focus on delaying problems rather than genuinely addressing the root causes. "We need to understand the difference between adapting to risk tipping points and avoiding them, and between actions that delay looming risks and those that move us towards transformation," it said. The post UN report warns of catastrophic risks to Earth systems appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar: Scaling the realms of social responsibility
There is something quite riveting about Ana Margarita “Ginggay” Hontiveros-Malvar. Her gaze direct, her rhetoric fluid, she shares stories of immersing in conflict areas, of being in Leyte post-“Yolanda” and in Marawi post-violence, and within the same conversation, of her corporate hat within the “power, banking, food, land and infrastructure sectors.” Not so much as a vein mars her refined features. If not for those eyes, which reveal a depth of thought and feeling, hers would likely be a face some might take as just another classic beauty. Then again, her relationship with similarly strong-minded women cannot be discounted. She says, from the get-go, that she would rather not talk about herself or her sisters (Risa, the senator, and Pia, the broadcast news personality). Unlike them, she took the private route, but now unwittingly finds herself in the limelight. The Aboitiz Group, for which she handles a vital role, has many exciting things to share, Ginggay says. Smiling, she proceeds to rattle off some of these pillars — in education (“to create future leaders” who are solutions-oriented), in climate action and in enterprise and jobs. “For over 35 years, we’ve delivered probably over 5,000 CSR (corporate social responsibility) projects, spread over all the business units all over the Philippines. We’ve partnered with something like 600,000 individuals and organizations and we’ve invested the amount of P5.1 billion in all these different programs. We’re trying now to reevaluate what it is that’s next for Aboitiz Foundation, and then how we can serve our stakeholders better, and what are some of the things that we want to scale. Maybe to create a bigger impact in the country, help the country more, I think is what we want to do.” In the pipeline toward this goal of creating a bigger impact on development, Aboitiz Foundation is seeking more collaboration — “more conversations between organizations that are doing a lot of work already here in the country, and probably having a stronger voice and then putting that voice out there,” she enthuses. Clearly, Ginggay is in her element in the world she inhabits — at the heart of an “old legacy conglomerate,” her words, that now sees the need to transform along with the climactic times. “I lead a department called Reputation Management. We cover brands, media, corporate communications, sustainability — the ESG (environmental, social and governance) journey for the Aboitiz Group. We provide strategy, direction, governance and then very recently, just this year, we have our CSR arm which is called Aboitiz Foundation. It was recently also placed under us. Because at the end of the day, Aboitiz Foundation is like the big ‘S’ in our ESG — it’s really all about the social impact, the social good that we want to continue,” Ginggay tells the DAILY TRIBUNE in an interview on Pairfect. Ginggay is currently vice president for Reputation Management and Sustainability at Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc., a holding company of the Aboitiz Group. For the Aboitiz Foundation, meanwhile, she works to help “scale its impactful programs for systemic change.” The mother of two is also communications lead for the Philippines’ Private Sector Advisory Council and team leader for APEC Business Advisory Council, which are areas where the visionary leader, Aboitiz Group chief executive officer Sabin Aboitiz, holds key roles. Grateful her children are adults now, Ginggay keeps her nurturing side on overdrive with her current responsibilities. “Aboitiz is a group,” she emphasizes. “And as a family of organizations, our priority has always been about people. That’s always been our passion, whether it’s the well-being of our own employees or the well-being of communities where we have our businesses. It’s really always been about people. “We don’t feel it’s right that a business does well and then the community that it’s in doesn’t. It cannot be like that — it has to go hand in hand. So, we’ve always been like that. Very people-centric. I think what we’re trying to change now in our transformation or evolution is to see how can we use more of technology and innovation and balance it with our people-centric approach. So maybe we can be a little bit faster, be better, be more data-driven in the kinds of things that we’re doing,” she says. And has her heart always been in this kind of work — one she freely admits is demanding and sometimes even emotion-driven? “My dad was pretty laidback. And he usually let us do what we want to do as long as you know, like, please do well in school, and things like that,” Ginggay recalls. “My mom was very attentive to us and she just wanted to make sure that aside from doing well in studies, you also had to do well in something else. And then, very ingrained, I think, in our DNA, I think as a family also, is that aspect of service, whether it’s public service, or you know, just service in general — whether it’s to your community or to your family, or your immediate set of, I suppose, stakeholders. So, it’s almost been like part of my DNA or something like that, or probably my character as well.” With so much on her plate, and a daily grind that consists of steering various teams to ensure the conglomerate is moving toward its goals smoothly, Ginggay makes sure she takes time — even just 30 minutes a day, she says — disconnecting from it all and connecting with herself. “Our days are very fast — they are jam-packed with schedules, meetings, a lot of stakeholder engagement activities,” she says. “There’s a lot of collaboration also that goes on between our team and the rest of the business units in the Aboitiz Group, and then a lot of meetings as well with the board just to check in on directions and things like that. It’s very fast-paced. It’s very demanding. It takes a lot of time and I think a lot of commitment… and this is what I see from all our team leaders and team members — people are really passionate about what they do. I think that’s important.” For Ginggay, certainly, such passion is necessary to lead the company toward its goals including “delivering on communications and brand that are integral to the transformation of the group into the Philippines’ first techglomerate.” Techglomerate, she explains, “is a dream in Aboitiz Group, something that we have really been working hard on for the past few years. We kind of coined the term from ‘technology’ and ‘conglomerate,’ putting it together — and it is really about trying to be more technologically advanced but we also want to incubate exciting businesses which are more in the techspace or, say, data science. To incubate all these new companies and hopefully lead in certain industries… and I think at the end of the day we realized we have a much greater responsibility to the country.” And what’s next? “We realized that to stay ahead, we also need to transform… and I suppose that transformation should happen first and foremost at the level of the person. We’re also really focused on building a new kind of culture for the Aboitiz Group, still very much rooted in our core values of responsibility, innovation, teamwork, integrity. But now, probably trying to imbibe more of the behaviors like being more entrepreneurial, trying to be more articulate, being better storytellers, being more open to new things, being more data-driven in our decisions, you know, and a lot of other things that we’re trying to do in terms of helping to develop this new culture.” In her capacity as first vice president at Aboitiz, as well as in her other roles — senior adviser for Agripreneurship at Go Negosyo, for example — Ginggay keeps her “eye on the prize” no matter what challenges come along. This “multi-disciplined, results-oriented and multi-awarded leader,” as she is described in the Women of the Future, may prefer to keep herself below the radar, but Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar will certainly not stay unnoticed. The post Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar: Scaling the realms of social responsibility appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
SRI Forum highlights ways for sustainable farming
A one-day forum on the System of Rice Intensification attended by several foreign SRI practitioners highlighted the importance of weaning farmers away from the destructive traditional planting, including the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, weedicides, and herbicides that harm not just the farmer but also the environment. Held at the Apacible Hall of the Department of Agriculture, the SRI Global Forum– the first one, held in the country– saw the participation of Nigeria, Iraq, India, Australia, and other ASEAN member countries with speakers explaining their difficult climb to scaling the SRI program in their respective countries. Agriculture Undersecretary Leocadio S. Sebastian for Rice Industry Development narrated that the SRI program in the Philippines often referred to as unidentified field observation several decades ago continues to be struggling because farmers stuck to conventional ways of planting with the use of chemical fertilizers. He said Congress has just granted the SRI program a budget of P250 million for 2024. The keynote was delivered by Prof. Norman Uphoff of Cornell University and lead convenor of SRI International. Dr. Khidir Hameed of Iraq, a country with a severe lack of water for farming explained how SRI worked in their fields despite less water. He said, that with El Nino, SRI becomes more urgent to ensure the country’s rice production even at a much-reduced water level would not suffer so it won’t import all of its rice requirements. SRI is now being scaled in most of the 50 countries that adopted it as a way of addressing rising production inputs costs, and water insufficiency (because of past and coming El Nino) and to help stop soil degradation from years of chemical fertilizer application. Since agriculture contributes to climate change, it is also the sector most vulnerable to climate change impacts. Part of the critical adaptation to climate change is the capacitation of farmers on resiliency strategies. Through the Climate-resiliency Field School, farmers’ education and technology sharing and experiential practice of technologies are propagated, particularly in water-deficient and rainfed areas. CrFS is flexible and experimental and promotes learning across sustainability principles, economically rewarding, low-carbon agriculture, and climate-informed farming practices. The learning farm included a study on adapting local varieties through participatory varietal selection, a comparison of organic farming and farmers’ practices in the area, and the SRI farming methods. The SRI way calls for direct seeding and, depending on the farmers’ beliefs, organic farming or when feasible, a mix of application of organic and chemical fertilizers. However, the SRI practitioners present at the forum were staunch advocates of purely organic farming. Observations raised by the forum delegates were: The utilization of SRI is expanding in various Asian and other countries but it is still a work in progress. SRI provides an opportunity for farmers to learn continuously about a more efficient and effective system of rice production. Successful utilization of SRI for other crops has been documented in several countries as shared by several country representatives. There should be more promotion of SRI through the provision of government and institutional support as well as regional cooperation (for example sharing of best practices) to expand its application. The evaluation and updating of SRI principles is a continuous process. There are a variety of adaptations of SRI. It should be noted that what is important is the use of the SRI principle rather than the technology itself. The ultimate goal is the attainment of a productive, sustainable, and environment-friendly production practice that recognizes the importance of proper ecological management. The forum, according to Sebastian is in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s marching order for the Department of Agriculture to enhance the production of rice for the country's food security and rice sufficiency. The post SRI Forum highlights ways for sustainable farming appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bangsamoro Municipality Passes A Landmark Ordinance On LGBTQIA+ Community
Panglima Sugala, Tawi-Tawi, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao - In a significant stride towards ensuring equal rights and protection for the LGBTQIA+ community, the Municipal Council of Panglima Sugala has passed a comprehensive anti-discrimination ordinance, No. 001. This landmark decision comes after a series of campaigns, highlighting the pressing need for safeguarding the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community in the Bangsamoro region, amidst increasing acts of violence and discrimination. HUMAN RIGHTS Caravan headed by the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in the Philippines, along with Google, Commission on Human Rights and implemented by Mujer LGBT+ Organisation. The urgency to address the plight of the LGBTQIA+ community was also recognized by the Bangsamoro Parliament through resolutions 524 and 526 in 2021, which called for a thorough investigation into instances of violence against individuals based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. Emphasizing the significance of these resolutions, they are expected to contribute towards protecting LGBTQIA+ individuals from illegal acts, while preventing discrimination, harassment, and inhumane treatment. Human Rights Training/Workshop lead by Mujer LGBT+ Organisation. Bangsamoro Region has been marked by a series of reported cases of LGBTQIA+ members being subjected to harassment, physical attacks, and even murder in recent years. The passage of this ordinance is seen as a crucial step towards curbing these acts of violence and promoting tolerance, acceptance, and equality within the community.The passage of the ordinance was spearheaded by Panglima Sugala Vice Mayor Dayang Iman Sahali, with support from the Mujer LGBT+ Organization, the Commission on Human Rights, and the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany through their Human Rights Caravan program. The collaborative efforts of these organizations and individuals have been instrumental in ensuring the successful enactment of this legislation along with the members of the Municipal legislative council. This landmark passage was welcomed by the Executive Director of Mujer LGBT+ Organisation Alvin ''Toni Gee'' Fernandez, saying "Our organization is overwhelmed with emotion upon hearing the news of the passage of the landmark law. For years, we have dedicated ourselves tirelessly to create a safe and inclusive space for the Moro LGBTQIA+ community in Bangsamoro. The importance of anti-discrimination ordinances has never been more crucial than now. We firmly believe that these measures serve as a beacon of hope, guiding us towards a future where every Moro individual is valued, respected, and given the opportunity to thrive. This achievement is a testament to the resilience and determination of our community, and we will continue our unwavering commitment to championing equality and justice for all in Bangsamoro." Panglima Sugala Municipal Government Officials with Mujer LGBT+ Organisation What makes this achievement particularly noteworthy is the lack of a national anti-discrimination law in the Philippines, which has remained unresolved in the Congress for the past 24 years. This void has left LGBTQIA+ communities reliant on local legislation for protection and deprived them of their basic human rights for decades. The passage of this ordinance is a strong message that local communities are determined to initiate change and create an inclusive and safe environment for all. Panglima Sugala Municipality - Comprehensive Anti-Discrimination Ordinance No. 001 Under the newly enacted anti-discrimination ordinance, the LGBTQIA+ community in Panglima Sugala will be afforded vital protection against all forms of discrimination, including denial of access to public services, education, employment, and healthcare due to their sexual orientation or gender identity. The ordinance also empowers victims of discrimination to seek legal redress by providing a clear avenue to file complaints and ensuring the enforcement of penalties against offenders. ''Whether people agree with it or not, it is a fact that people with different SOGIEs are humans as well. They deserve protection along with every Filipino in the Philippines. The passage of this ordinance is sending a message of inclusivity and acceptance to my colleagues in the Bangsamoro region. It shows that Panglima Sugala local government recognizes the rights and needs of all sectors of society, including those with varying SOGIEs and those living with HIV. By enacting this ordinance, we hope to set a precedent and inspire other municipalities in the Bangsamoro region to follow suit and implement similar measures to protect the rights of marginalized groups.'' - Vice Mayor Sahali strongly affirmed. Panglima Sugala Vice Mayor Dayang Iman Sahali This historic passage of comprehensive anti-discrimination ordinance No. 001 adds momentum to the ongoing struggle for equal rights in the Bangsamoro region. It is seen as a beacon of hope for the LGBTQIA+ community, setting a precedent for other municipalities and cities in the region to address their own local legislation and embrace inclusivity.While this ordinance is a positive step forward, advocates and allies of the LGBTQIA+ community continue to push for the timely passage of the national anti-discrimination bill in the Philippines Congress. The hope is that such a law will provide comprehensive protection and recognition of the rights of LGBTQIA+ individuals in the country.As society progresses towards acknowledging and respecting the diversity of its citizens, the passage of this anti-discrimination ordinance in Panglima Sugala is a commendable milestone in the long journey towards equal rights and acceptance for all, irrespective of sexual orientation and gender identity. The post Bangsamoro Municipality Passes A Landmark Ordinance On LGBTQIA+ Community appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bullpups nip Baby Falcons for solo PG Flex lead
National University seized the lone spot atop the PG Flex Inter Secondary tournament standings after squeaking past Adamson University, 74-71 last Sunday at the Veacon Hope Center in Caloocan City......»»
Ejay Falcon walks solo at ABS-CBN Ball, recalls ditching moment with Ellen Adarna
Actor Ejay Falcon recalled that moment he was ditched by Ellen Adarna in a past Star Magic Ball. .....»»