Squires begin 3-peat bid as NCAA juniors cage tourney fires off
Letran aims to replicate its magical championship run a year ago minus its former beacon of hope Andy Gemao as the NCAA Season 99 junior basketball unfurls Saturday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre......»»
Seasoned stars Murray, Wawrinka make early Australia Open exits
Andy Murray, 36, and Stan Wawrinka, 38, end their respective Australian Open campaigns in the opening round.....»»
SP’s Laban o Bawi
It seems that the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Provincial Board) played a role reminiscent of an Eat Bulaga segment when they withdrew the Mining Ordinance, causing a stir among the island residents. On Radyo Peryodiko, listeners heard perspectives from Mr. Jerry Beo and Mr. Andy Po of Kontra Mina, Vice Gov. Peter Cua of SP, former Congressman […].....»»
Shabu worth P10.2M seized from Lapu-Lapu City HVI
LAPU-LAPU CITY, Philippines — Shabu weighing about 1.5 kilograms with an estimated value of P10.2 million, were seized from a 46-year-old high-value individual (HVI) in Barangay Bankal, Lapu-Lapu City, during a buy-bust operation on Friday afternoon, November 24. The suspect, identified as alias “Andy Boy” (real name withheld pending filing of the case), a resident.....»»
Tech titan Amazon sees profit climb as cloud promises boon
Online retail colossus Amazon on Thursday said profit surged in the recently ended quarter on growing sales and more efficient deliveries, with its cloud business promising even better days ahead. The e-commerce colossus said it made a profit of $9.9 billion on sales that tallied $143.1 billion in the recently ended quarter, with more than half its operating income made from Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud unit. Google parent Alphabet and computing colossus Microsoft this week reported rising quarterly profits, playing up demand for cloud computing enhanced with artificial intelligence. Investors, though, had hoped for better performance from Google Cloud causing the company's shares to slip. While Amazon Web Services (AWS) grew 12 percent when compared to the same quarter a year earlier, the unit's growth lagged that of rival cloud businesses operated by Microsoft and Google. "I remain very optimistic about AWS," Amazon chief executive Andy Jassy said on an earnings call. "There's a lot more there for us; then you look at the very substantial, gigantic new generative AI opportunity, which I believe will be tens of billions of dollars in revenue for AWS over the next several years." Amazon just weeks ago said it would invest up to $4 billion in AI firm Anthropic. The success of OpenAI's ChatGPT, a chatbot released last year that can generate poems, essays, and other works with just a short prompt, has led to billions being invested in the field. Anthropic agreed to use Amazon's chips to develop its next models and to use AWS for "mission-critical workloads." Amazon has already announced it aimed to soup up its Alexa voice assistant with generative AI, which the firm said would allow users to have smoother conversations. Retail rebound Amazon earnings "soared past expectations" in the quarter, according to Insider Intelligence analyst Zak Stambor. "We had a strong third quarter as our cost to serve and speed of delivery in our stores business took another step forward," Jassy said, adding its ad business grew "robustly" and AWS cloud computing business "continued to stabilize." "The retail giant's slowdown last year appears to be in the rearview mirror as it has embarked on significant cost-cutting throughout this year and sharpened its focus on key growth areas, such as its high-margin online marketplace and advertising," Stambor said. A top US antitrust regulator sued Amazon in September, accusing the online retail behemoth of running an illegal monopoly by strong-arming sellers and stifling potential rivals. "Our complaint lays out how Amazon has used a set of punitive and coercive tactics to unlawfully maintain its monopolies," said Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan. Robots and drones Amazon said Thursday it will hire 250,000 full-time, part-time, and seasonal employees in the United States to handle shopping demand in the months ahead. Amazon said last week that it will expand drone delivery of certain purchases to a third US state as well as to Britain and Italy by the end of 2024. The US firm has installed a new robotics system in one of its Texas logistics centers, featuring technology like automated vehicles, mechanical arms, and computer vision technology. Amazon already uses 750,000 robots in its warehouses to speed up deliveries. "The better they get at delivery, the more it continues to grow the e-commerce market overall and Amazon's place within that market," said Insider Intelligence analyst Andrew Lipsman. But increased productivity via robots won't fix underlying Amazon worker issues, critics say. Amazon early this year eliminated some 27,000 jobs in a move it said at the time was necessary, after years of sustained hiring. Ads shine Advertising continues to be "a major bright spot" for Amazon and it has started using generative artificial intelligence to help sellers create "eye-catching" ads in its online marketplace, analyst Stambor said. Insider Intelligence expects Amazon's US advertising business to bring in nearly $34 billion this year a major leap from before the COVID-19 pandemic. The post Tech titan Amazon sees profit climb as cloud promises boon appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
WTA roundup: Top seeds fall in China, Romania
(Photo credit: Andy Abeyta/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK) Unseeded players had their day at the Jiangxi Open on Tuesday, with four of the top six seeds falling in the first round in Nanchang, China. Nao Hibino of Japan eliminated No. 1 seed Beatriz Haddad Maia of Brazil 7-6 (2), 6-3, while Valeria Savinykh of Russia topped No. 2 seed Magda Linette of Poland 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (3). German Laura Siegemund defeated home-cou.....»»
S. Korean migrant’s tale to open Asia’s biggest film festival
The world premiere of Jang Kun-jae's "Because I Hate Korea" will open Asia's largest film festival Wednesday night as it looks to rally from a year marked by scandal and budget cutbacks. The South Korean director's tale of a disillusioned young woman who relocates to New Zealand is among 209 official entries from 69 countries set to unspool at the Busan International Film Festival, which runs until 13 October. Eighty will be making their world premieres in the southern port city. This year's edition comes as organizers grapple with the fallout from former festival director Huh Moon-yung's resignation in May amid accusations of sexual misconduct. The scandal saw BIFF's 2023 budget reduced by about 10 percent as sponsors withdrew in the wake of the allegations, according to organizers. Kang Seung-ah, now serving as acting deputy director, acknowledged they had endured a "difficult phase" before assembling a lineup she said was "more substantial than ever before". Opening night director Jang, who noted he'd attended BIFF far more as an audience member than a filmmaker, told a late afternoon news conference he had sought to address serious questions with his film. "I believe it's necessary to pay attention to the fact that many young people are finding it difficult to navigate through Korean society. I started questioning whether our society is providing a fair and equitable foundation for young people to pursue their dreams," he told reporters after a preview screening. Based on the best-selling Chang Kang-myoung novel, "Because I Hate Korea" received support from BIFF's Asia Project Market back in 2016. South Korea has transformed itself into a cultural powerhouse since then thanks to the explosive success of the Oscar-winning "Parasite" and the Netflix series "Squid Game". "Many people are now showing great interest in Korean content such as K-pop, K-movies, and K-dramas. Living in such an era, they might develop a certain fantasy about South Korea, I think," Nam Dong-chul, the festival's acting interim director, told reporters. But "I thought it might be good to consider these views from the perspective of people living in Korea and especially the youth in South Korea", he said of the opening night choice. "They might have different thoughts and experiences." Frequent Bong Joon-ho collaborator Go Ah-sung, who delivered a memorable performance as the protagonist of "Because I Hate Korea", was unable to attend the festival due to a back injury. 'Dear Jinri' Despite Go's absence, the festival will still feature serious star power, with acclaimed Hong Kong actor Chow Yun Fat scheduled to receive the Asian Filmmaker of the Year award. Three of Chow's films -- "A Better Tomorrow" (1986), "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" (2000) and 2023's "One More Chance" -- will be screened in his honour. Other highly anticipated screenings include "Dear Jinri", a documentary that features late K-pop star Sulli's last and incomplete project. Sulli, born Choi Jin-ri, took her own life in 2019 after a long struggle with online bullying. The film includes her final media interview, which has not been disclosed previously. Korea's filmmaking diaspora will also be showcased with a special series of screenings that includes "Searching" (2018), starring John Cho, and director Celine Song's Sundance favorite "Past Lives". Netflix's highly anticipated "Yellow Door: 90s Lo-fi Film Club" will also have its world premiere at BIFF. The documentary spotlights South Korea's renowned cinephile generation of the 1990s, acclaimed "Parasite" director Bong among them. "The Movie Emperor", director Ning Hao's satirical take on the Chinese film industry starring Hong Kong actor Andy Lau, is set to close the festival. Ning's comedy "deftly captures the fine line between the film industries in Hong Kong and mainland China", as well as the "delicate relationship between Western film festivals and Asian filmmakers", according to the program notes. The post S. Korean migrant’s tale to open Asia’s biggest film festival appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘13 Going on 30’: From classic rom-com to 2024 London musical
A new generation of viewers will experience the 2004 classic chick flick 13 Going on 30 in a different light — as a musical adaptation. According to Variety, Josh Goldsmith and Cathy Yuspa, the film’s original writers, will be in charge of the musical adaptation, while Andy Fickman will direct the show. “When we poured our middle school pain into the movie 13 Going on 30, we never quite imagined it would stick around to this day as a rom-com parents show their kids, a Halloween costume, a scene in an Ariana Grande music video and a teen sleepover staple. Now we’re thrilled to be bringing our pain across the pond with 13 Going on 30 The Musical,” said Goldsmith and Yuspa, who are thrilled to reinvent the story for the London stage. First announced in 2016, the show will premiere in the summer of 2024. The coming-of-age film revolves around the story of a 13-year-old girl named Jenna Rink, an average teenager who wishes to fit in with the popular crowd. After her 13th birthday party ends in a disaster, a disappointed Jenna prays to be a confident 30 years old, and her wish comes true. She wakes up 17 years into the future and discovers she is now a 30-year-old successful magazine editor with an expensive apartment and a fabulous life she didn’t see coming her way. Jennifer Garner played the iconic role of Jenna Rink. The 2004 romantic comedy film also starred Christa B. Allen, Mark Ruffalo, Brie Larson, Judy Green and more. The cast and details of the musical are yet to be announced, but with the source film’s cult classic status, it’s sure to generate major buzz among London theatergoers. The post ‘13 Going on 30’: From classic rom-com to 2024 London musical appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Amazon steps up AI race with $4-B Anthropic investment
Amazon said on Monday it would invest up to $4 billion in AI firm Anthropic, as the online retail giant steps into an AI race dominated by Microsoft, Google and OpenAI. The success of OpenAI's ChatGPT, a chatbot released last year that is able to generate poems, essays and other works with just a short prompt, has led to billions being invested in the field. Amazon had already announced it aimed to soup up its Alexa voice assistant with generative AI, which the firm said would allow users to have smoother conversations. San Francisco-based Anthropic is seen as a leader in the field and has its own chatbot, Claude, a competitor to ChatGPT. "We have tremendous respect for Anthropic's team and foundation models, and believe we can help improve many customer experiences, short and long-term, through our deeper collaboration," said Amazon CEO Andy Jassy. The giant firms and wealthy investors of Silicon Valley have poured money into artificial intelligence as they seek to find a killer application to justify the interest. ChatGPT's instant success threw much of the focus onto chatbots and sparked imitators and rivals, not least from Google with its Bard chatbot. Chinese titans Tencent and Baidu have also launched bots they claim can rival ChatGPT. 'Transformation' promise But Monday's deal between Anthropic and Amazon is potentially less significant in the chatbot world and more important in the race to develop chips to power AI. Anthropic agreed to use Amazon's chips to develop its next models and the two firms said they would collaborate on developing the next set of chips. All firms in the space are looking to wean themselves off the chips made by market leader NVIDIA, said Nick Patience, lead AI research analyst at S&P Global Market. "It'll be difficult for anyone to make a dent in the next 12 to 18 months," he told AFP, but tie-ups like Monday's Amazon deal could help change the picture over five years. Anthropic also agreed to use Amazon Web Services cloud infrastructure -- the data centers that store and process data on a vast scale -- for "mission critical workloads". Amazon said it would take a "minority ownership position" in the AI firm, which has already raised more than $1 billion since it was set up in 2021. The statement promises that "Claude", which is the name of Anthropic's chatbot and its model, will help AWS customers "of all sizes to develop new generative AI-powered applications to transform their organisations". The deal intensifies competition between Amazon and Google, which had earlier opened its cloud services to Anthropic and invested $300 million to acquire 10 percent of the company. AI models require huge computing power so AI firms rely on data centers provided by the likes of AWS, Google Cloud and Microsoft Azure. As tech giants push their own AI ambitions, they have been increasingly looking at tie-ins with smaller AI firms -- Microsoft leading the way with a multibillion-dollar investment in OpenAI. The post Amazon steps up AI race with $4-B Anthropic investment appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘HAMILTON’ MAKES ROUSING ASIAN PREMIERE IN MANILA
An exhilarated first audience welcomed the Tony, Grammy, Olivier and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical Hamilton at The Theatre at Solaire in Manila on Sunday, 17 September, ahead of the official opening night on Thursday, 21 September. “Good things come to those who wait, and I know Hamilton’s Filipino fans have been waiting patiently for this moment to arrive,” said Michael Cassel, producer of Hamilton’s international tour. “The Manila audiences responded with such warmth, enthusiasm and generosity — we couldn’t be more thrilled and we are ecstatic to bring the revolution to Asia for the very first time.” Hamilton’s first ever international tour continues at The Theatre at Solaire until November with no further extensions. It will then make its Middle East premiere at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi in January 2024. More cities are expected to be announced in coming months. [caption id="attachment_185938" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Jason Arrow as Alexander Hamilton in the Australian Production. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF DANIEL BUOD[/caption] Tickets to the Manila and Abu Dhabi seasons are available now at hamiltonmusical.com/international-tour. Hamilton premiered on Broadway in August 2015 to wide critical and audience acclaim. The show has won Tony, Grammy and Olivier Awards and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Featuring a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, R&B and Broadway, Hamilton has taken the story of American founding father Alexander Hamilton and created a revolutionary moment in theatre — a musical that has had a profound impact on culture, politics and education. With book, music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, direction by Thomas Kail, choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler and musical supervision and orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire, Hamilton is based on Ron Chernow’s acclaimed biography. [caption id="attachment_185941" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Benet Monteiro as Alexander Hamilton in the German production. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF HAMILTON[/caption] The Hamilton creative team previously collaborated on the 2008 Tony Award-winning Best Musical In the Heights. Scenic design is by David Korins, costume design by Paul Tazewell, lighting design by Howell Binkley, sound design by Nevin Steinberg and hair and wig design by Charles G. LaPointe. The international tour of Hamilton is produced by Jeffrey Seller, Sander Jacobs, Jill Furman, The Public Theater and Michael Cassel. The Manila season is presented by Michael Cassel Group and GMG Productions. For news and updates, fans can visit hamiltonmusical.com/international-tour, instagram.com/hamiltoninternationaltour or www.facebook.com/hamiltonintltour. The post ‘HAMILTON’ MAKES ROUSING ASIAN PREMIERE IN MANILA appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Hamilton’ ticket lottery confirmed for Phl
Producers Jeffrey Seller and Michael Cassel have confirmed the Hamilton digital ticket lottery for the Metro Manila season of the international tour playing at The Theatre at Solaire from 17 September. The digital ticket lottery, known in North America as Ham4Ham, is run exclusively through TicketWorld in the Philippines. The Hamilton Lottery will have a limited number of tickets available throughout the season at a special price. Winners will have the opportunity to purchase two orchestra tickets at P800 each. The lottery will be open from 10 a.m. on 11 September through 11:59 p.m. on 13 September for tickets to performances on the week of 17 to 24 September. Subsequent Hamilton lotteries will begin on each Monday and close the following Wednesday for the upcoming week’s performances. [caption id="attachment_178871" align="aligncenter" width="735"] THE Broadway cast of ‘Hamilton’ (from left) Daveed Diggs, Okieriete Onaodowan, Anthony Ramos and Lin-Manuel Miranda.[/caption] To enter the lottery, sign up at TicketWorld to receive Hamilton Lottery entry access. Those who sign up must use the email address associated with their active TicketWorld account. The lottery will open at 10 a.m. every Monday and will close for entry at 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday prior to the following week’s performances. Participants can enter to win the chance to purchase two tickets for the upcoming week’s performances at P800 per ticket. A one-entry-per-week limit will be applied. Winners will be notified every Thursday at 12 p.m. for the upcoming week’s performances via email from TicketWorld. The confirmation email will include a one-time-use promo code and a purchase link that will expire at 12 p.m. the following day of the receipt of the email. Winners may claim and pay for their tickets online or over the counter at TicketWorld outlets before the promo code expires. Additional rules and full terms and conditions can be found on TicketWorld site. “The digital ticket lottery, created for Hamilton fans on Broadway has been embraced with tremendous enthusiasm wherever the show has played all over the world and we know fans in Manila will be exactly the same,“ Cassel said. “It’s important that theatre is accessible for anyone who wants to see it and the digital ticket lottery allows us to introduce this transformative experience to people who may not have been able to see it otherwise.” Hamilton’s first ever international tour will premiere in Manila at The Theatre at Solaire on 17 September ahead of making its Middle East premiere at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi in January 2024. More cities are expected to be announced in coming months. Featuring a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, R&B and Broadway, Hamilton has taken the story of American founding father Alexander Hamilton and created a revolutionary moment in theatre — a musical that has had a profound impact on culture, politics and education. It premiered on Broadway in August 2015 to wide critical and audience acclaim. The show has won Tony, Grammy and Olivier awards and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. With book, music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, direction by Thomas Kail, choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler and musical supervision and orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire, Hamilton is based on Ron Chernow’s acclaimed biography. The Hamilton creative team previously collaborated on the 2008 Tony Award-winning Best Musical In the Heights. Scenic design is by David Korins, costume design by Paul Tazewell, lighting design by Howell Binkley, sound design by Nevin Steinberg, hair and wig design by Charles G. LaPointe. The international tour of Hamilton is produced by Seller, Sander Jacobs, Jill Furman, The Public Theater and Cassel. The Manila season is presented by Michael Cassel Group and GMG Productions. Tickets to the Manila and Abu Dhabi seasons are available now at hamiltonmusical.com/international-tour. To be notified when the Hamilton lottery opens and get more updates on the ticket promo news, sign up for the Hamilton Lottery Newsletter at TicketWorld. For more information on tickets and Hamilton Lottery details, visit gmg-productions.com/hamilton/lottery. For news and updates, fans can visit hamiltonmusical.com/international-tour, instagram.com/hamiltoninternationaltour or www.facebook.com/hamiltonintltour. The post ‘Hamilton’ ticket lottery confirmed for Phl appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
2 hold uppers, 2 carnappers busted in police ops
Two carnappers and two hold-up men were arrested by the Manila Police District in separate operations on the same Saturday, one in Lawton and the other in Paco, Manila. In Lawton, police arrested two cousins engaged in hold-up activity who victimized three passengers at McArthur Bridge on Saturday morning. Police identified the suspects as Andy Ayuso y Bassig, 35, and June Braga y Ayuso, 29, both residents of 1652 Saturno St., Paco, Manila (Zobel Roxas, Barangay 783, San Andres). According to the complainants, Mark John Olito, 26, a restaurant server; Jerwin Riños, 21, a working student; and Maxine Opalic,18, they were inside a passenger jeepney going to Monumento. Upon reaching McArthur Bridge, the two suspects suddenly declared "hold up" and took their mobile phones. After the incident, the victims went to Lawton PCP where the police immediately conducted a follow-up operation that resulted in the arrest of two cousins who robbed them of their belongings. The victims positively identified the two suspects whom they said held them up. Seized from the possession of the two suspects were two units of caliber .38 revolver and two cellular phones Charges for violation of Article 294 of the Revised Penal Code and Republic Act No. 10591 were filed against the suspects at the Manila City Prosecutors Office, Meanwhile, operatives of the Manila Police District - Anti-Carnapping Unit arrested two suspected motorcycle nappers Saturday night on Quirino Highway corner Anak Bayan Street in Paco, Manila. P/Maj. Alfredo Padilla, chief of the MPD Anti-Carnapping Unit identified the two suspects as Mac Is Acebes, alias Dagul, 27, resident of 1225 Trece De Agosto, Paco; and Richard Hizon, alias Putol, 52, residing at 1696 Angel Linao Street, Paco, Manila. Based on the complainant Miguel Joseph Darjuan, 22, store owner of 1268 Interior at 18 Burgos St., Paco, Manila, he parked his motorcycle Yamaha Mio with plate number 959 PSQ in front of his store at Afacible Street corner Paz Street, in Barangay 677, Paco, Manila. At 3:58 early dawn, he discovered that his vehicle had been missing so he went directly to MPD ACT to report the incident. Operatives of the MPD ACU immediately responded and conducted a follow-up operation that resulted in the arrest of the suspects and recovery of the stolen vehicle. Carnapping charges will be filed against the two at the office of the Manila prosecutors. The post 2 hold uppers, 2 carnappers busted in police ops appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Parents Protest Mandatory Medical Exam for CatSU Freshmen
Virac, Catanduanes – A parent has requested a temporary halt to the policy of Catanduanes State University (CatSU) regarding the mandatory medical examination, particularly drug testing, for all incoming freshmen. In an open letter sent by Mr. Andy T. Po II to CatSU President Dr. Patrick Alain Asanza on August 3, 2023, it was stated […].....»»
Ex-OPEC president Diezani Alison-Madueke charged with bribery
Former OPEC president Diezani Alison-Madueke has been charged with bribery offenses relating to her time as Nigeria's oil minister, the UK National Crime Agency said on Tuesday. Alison-Madueke, 63, has been on bail since first being arrested in London in October 2015. She will appear in court in the British capital on 2 October, the NCA said. Soon after her arrest, her family's lawyer told AFP she would strongly contest corruption allegations that have dogged her during and after her time in former president Goodluck Jonathan's government. Alison-Madueke, in office from 2010 to 2015, was the first woman to be oil minister in Nigeria and the first female president of the global oil cartel OPEC. The head of the NCA's international corruption unit, Andy Kelly, said in a statement: "We suspect Diezani Alison-Madueke abused her power in Nigeria and accepted financial rewards for awarding multi-million-pound contracts." The NCA said Alison-Madueke allegedly benefited from at least £100,000 ($127,000) in cash, chauffeur-driven cars, flights on private jets, luxury holidays for her family, and the use of multiple London properties. The charges also detail financial rewards including furniture, renovation work and staff for the properties, payment of private school fees, and gifts from top designer shops such as Cartier jewelry and Louis Vuitton goods. "Bribery is a pervasive form of corruption, which enables serious criminality and can have devastating consequences for developing countries," Kelly said. "These charges are a milestone in what has been a thorough and complex international investigation," he added. Alison-Madueke has been living in the upmarket St John's Wood area of north London since she was first arrested, and undergone chemotherapy for breast cancer, according to her family. At the time of her arrest, the NCA said only it had detained five people in London on suspicion of international corruption, without naming those held. The Nigerian government of Jonathan's successor Muhammadu Buhari later confirmed Alison-Madueke's arrest and said its law enforcement agencies were cooperating with their British counterparts. Former army general Buhari began an anti-corruption drive after taking office. The NCA said that assets worth millions of pounds in relation to the case have been frozen as part of the investigation. In March, the agency, which targets international and organized crime, provided evidence to the US Department of Justice allowing them to recover assets totaling $53.1 million linked to Alison-Madueke's alleged corruption. The post Ex-OPEC president Diezani Alison-Madueke charged with bribery appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
HONNE on fanbase in Southeast Asia: It still blows our minds
After touring Southeast Asia recently, including the Philippines where they did not just one but three shows, it appears that HONNE’s Andy Clutterbuck and James Hatcher’s ties to this side of the world have just gotten stronger......»»
An ‘artist’s’15 minutes of fame
A question of freedom of expression or outright blasphemy? Social media and its ardent followers recently engaged in animated commentary, some amusing, others vitriolic, when drag queen Pura Luka Vega, dressed up to imitate Jesus Christ, performed before a noisy and possibly inebriated audience that sang along with the “star,” a pop version of the church hymn “Ama Namin” in a crowded venue that appeared to be a bar. The engagement drew a flurry of protests, principally from the country’s Catholic faithful. But what did Vega expect? The Philippines is, after all, a country with about 78.8 percent of the population identifying themselves as Roman Catholics based on the 2020 census. While some sectors proclaiming themselves as vanguards of the arts expressed their support for Vega, a participant in a contest featuring drag queens, the majority of the comments, some of them from those who are not even Catholic or “religious,” condemned the act and demanded an apology from the person at the center of the controversy. Many said what he did was “blasphemous, offensive, disrespectful.” Several senators openly denounced his act, with one saying the performer could face criminal charges. Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri said Article 201 of the Revised Penal Code punishes “those who offend any race or religion in the performance of obscene or indecent plays, scenes, acts or shows in theaters, fairs, or any other place.” The law imposes a jail term and/or a fine on violators. “As a woman of faith, I admit I find this regrettable. However, I also caution against the use of this incident to deny rights and protections to a community that has long been marginalized and excluded,” Sen. Risa Hontiveros. said For his part, Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III said Vega “should think of some other way to make himself known and not resort to gimmickry.” On the other hand, Bataan Rep. Geraldine Roman, the first Filipino transgender lawmaker, warned Vega not to use the gender card in his defense. “Do we really need this kind of provocation? What is the contribution of this to LGBT rights?” Roman said. She added that invoking the performance as a constitutionally guaranteed freedom of expression is not absolute. She even dared the artist to do what he did to other religions with less tolerant views to see how far he could go. Pope Francis, the first pope, has criticized laws that criminalize homosexuality as “unjust” and advised Catholic priests to welcome LGBTQ people into the Church. My take on the gender issue is probably not as magnanimous as that of the pope. I am a conservative Catholic, meaning I am quite rigid in interpreting/differentiating the male from the female. For me, there are no “in-betweens.” But it does not mean that I do not respect our fellowmen who identify themselves with a gender that is not what they were born with. I respect them so much and would protect them as I would protect my children. But mind you, respect is a two-way street, so let us leave it at that. Meanwhile, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines said it was not inclined to press charges against the artist, adding that it was enough that he got the message that what he did was wrong. Although Vega said he apologized “to those who were offended by his performance,” it didn’t sound like he meant it because he added that he would not stop expressing his art, and it was his way of practicing his faith as a Catholic, and it was a form of worship anyway. In a bar before people obviously having a good time? At the same time, he said it was some healing process for him for having experienced exclusion from the Church because he is gay. Huh? The logic escapes me. Vega’s imitation of Christ also drew the ire of local government officials in Gen. Santos City, who recently declared him “persona non grata,” meaning there’s no welcome mat waiting for him in the city. Plucked from obscurity, Vega has become an instant celebrity of sorts and apparently basks in the spotlight. A concept introduced by the late American visual artist Andy Warhol who said, “Everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes,” it implied the fleeting nature of being a “celebrity.” We see this phenomenon now with the surge of bloggers and vloggers flooding all social media platforms, from taho vendors to movie stars to various hangers-on, retired police officers, etc. All one needs is a cellphone with a decent camera. Soon enough, your video becomes viral. Meanwhile, let Vega enjoy his 15 minutes of fame while he can. The post An ‘artist’s’15 minutes of fame appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Murray in charge vs Tsitsipas
Andy Murray was within touching distance of the Wimbledon third round on Thursday when he opened up a two sets to one lead over world No. 5 Stefanos Tsitsipas while Stan Wawrinka set up a tasty clash with Novak Djokovic......»»
MPD probes Tondo shooting incident
The Manila Police District is investigating the shooting death of a man in Tondo on Tuesday afternoon. The victim, identified as Rodbeth Peralta alias “Dandan,” was walking on Paraiso Street when he was shot by two unidentified men riding a black motorcycle. Peralta was hit in the head and body and died at the scene. Police recovered two empty shells of a pistol and two plastic sachets of shabu from the scene of the crime. A witness, identified only as Andy, told police that he saw the two suspects arrive on the motorcycle and then shot Peralta repeatedly. The suspects then fled the scene. Police are investigating the possibility that the shooting was drug-related. They are also looking at other possible motives, such as a personal grudge or a robbery gone wrong. Police are reviewing CCTV footage from the area and are hoping to identify the suspects. The victim’s body has been brought to a funeral home for autopsy and processing. The post MPD probes Tondo shooting incident appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Djokovic wants ‘integrity, tradition’ protected in Saudi tennis deal
Novak Djokovic warned Saturday that the "integrity and tradition" of tennis must be preserved should the sport strike a tournament deal with Saudi Arabia. Both the ATP and WTA, which run the money-spinning men's and women's tours, have been targeted by the Saudis despite accusations that the Gulf kingdom is attempting to "sportswash" their human rights record. The country has been signing up veteran football stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema to play in their domestic league and are bankrolling English club Newcastle. Saudi Arabia also caused shockwaves in golf with its financing of the rebel LIV series and already hosts a Formula One Grand Prix. "I think that we as individual sport on a global level are probably closest to golf in terms of how we see sports," 23-time major winner Djokovic said at Wimbledon. "I think from that example we can probably learn a lot, some positives, some negatives, and try to structure a deal -- if it's going in that direction -- that it is going to protect the integrity and tradition and history of this sport, but still be able to grow it in such way that it will be appropriate." WTA chief executive Steve Simon said Friday that his organization is evaluating the "challenging topic" of taking the sport to Saudi Arabia. The country has been linked with hosting the flagship end-of-season WTA Championships. "It's a very difficult and challenging topic that is being measured by many groups right now," Simon said. "In February I went to Saudi Arabia to see it for myself. We took a couple of players and some reps as well. We wanted to see what the change was." ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi has said the men's tour has had "positive" discussions with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund about a potential deal. That announcement drew criticism from tennis legends John McEnroe and Chris Evert. Former world number one Andy Murray, who has refused to play exhibitions in Saudi Arabia despite the offer of mind-boggling sums of money, said that it would be a "different, difficult question" if the tournaments were official tour events. "When you start missing them, you obviously get penalized for that. It's definitely something I would have to think about. Unfortunately it's the way that a lot of sports seem to be going now," said the British star. - 'Play wherever WTA decides' - Women's world number one Iga Swiatek said she was still waiting to see if a WTA deal with the Saudis is finalized. "It's hard to know what is the rumor and what's not," said Swiatek but added "I'll be ready to play wherever the WTA decides we're going to play." Swiatek, the reigning US Open and French Open champion, has been a vocal supporter of Ukraine in its war against Russia. Although the 22-year-old Pole admitted she hasn't thought about the potential pitfalls of Saudi Arabia, she believes she and her peers can have an influence on any decision. "I was more thinking what I can do as an individual player. For sure we as a community, I feel like we have some power, we could use that," she said. dj/ea © Agence France-Presse The post Djokovic wants ‘integrity, tradition’ protected in Saudi tennis deal appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Skies clear as New York’s Gov Ball music fest kicks off
New York's Governors Ball kicked off Friday under clearer skies after days of wildfire-induced noxious smog blanketed the city and threatened to derail the annual music festival. As of Wednesday afternoon air quality in New York was clocking in as the worst in the world, according to an international monitor, as levels of pollution hung at hazardous levels well into the night. Even as the apocalyptic skies gave residents the illusion of living in a sepia filter, festival organizers took a wait-and-see approach in consultation with local officials. "We are a go," they announced by Thursday evening, as the smoke began to dissipate due to the shifting direction of the winds over the Canadian province of Quebec, where the fires are raging. It was welcome news for thousands of revelers planning to attend the festival in New York's Queens borough, among them Simrya Anand who traveled from Boston to see artists including headliners Lizzo, Odesza, and Kendrick Lamar. "I was really worried about the weather," the 20-year-old told AFP. "I was thinking about, like, wearing a mask here but thankfully it looks like things have cleared up." "But I wasn't considering not coming," she added with a smile. Hamza Hussein, 25, just wrapped a graduate degree at New York University and was looking forward to attending his first Gov Ball ever, in particular the set of famed rapper Pusha T. He and his friend were concerned about the potentially "poisonous" air -- but "we predicted it was going to go on because it's really hard to rebook all these artists." Breathing easy By Friday evening as Diplo took the stage, the air quality level had dropped to a refreshing 38 on the 500-point scale -- earlier in the week it had jumped past a dangerous 400 -- and festival-goers along with artists were able to breathe easy once more. It was a relief for New Yorkers Andy and Bonnie Goolcharan, both in their early 50s, who said they had been ready to skip. "We weren't going to come," Andy Goolcharan told AFP. "We thought it would be canceled... but it worked out." And unlike many of their fellow attendees in their 20s, the couple said if both the smog and the festival had persisted, they would have stayed home. More than 111 million people in the United States had been under air quality alerts as of Thursday due to the fires. The wildfire smoke from Canada was also detected several thousand miles away in Norway. The mayors of New York, Montreal, Toronto, Washington, and Philadelphia issued a joint statement Friday saying "This alarming episode serves as a stark reminder of the harmful impacts that the climate crisis is having on cities around the world. The three-day Governors Ball music festival is set to continue through Sunday, and along with the headliners will feature Lil Nas X, Haim, Lil Uzi Vert, Rina Sawayama, Omar Apollo, and Ice Spice. The post Skies clear as New York’s Gov Ball music fest kicks off appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»