Michael Leyva’s ‘Isang Pilipinas’ weaves a Filipino story
The 8 August fashion spectacle that unfolded at the Goldenberg Mansion in Manila was a trip of the senses. Michael Leyva, a most prolific designer who dressed up over a hundred people in the last State of the Nation Address, showcased a moving story of the Filipino weaving traditions, first taking his audience to his travels around Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao to touch base with local textile makers. [caption id="attachment_169568" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Manila City Mayor Honey Lacuña, Cristalle Belo-Pitt, Angeline Tham and George Royeca.[/caption] As his 55-piece collection unfolded beginning with an opening segment featuring Heart Evangelista, the Goldenberg grounds was transformed into a magical space that took viewers into the glorious days of Philippine gentility. With live music from the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra and production by Robbie Carmona, the third Fashion at Goldenberg was another feather in First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos’ cap. [caption id="attachment_169567" align="aligncenter" width="2008"] First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos (fourth from left) with Senators Nancy Binay, Sonny Angara, Win Gatchalian, Chiz Escudero and Robinhood Padilla.[/caption] The post Michael Leyva’s ‘Isang Pilipinas’ weaves a Filipino story appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Michael Leyva to showcase the best of Philippine textiles at Goldenberg Mansion
The staidly grand Goldenberg Mansion, one of the three Malacanang heritage houses recently reopened to the public, once again comes alive tonight with “Isang Pilipinas,” a showcase of Philippine indigenous and traditional textiles as interpreted by fashion designer du jour Michael Leyva. The third in the "Fashion at Goldenberg" series, a project of the First Lady, Liza Marcos Araneta, tonight’s expectedly dazzling show is Michael’s tribute to Filipino ingenuity, where “I am highlighting the Philippines’ rich heritage, culture, and history, especially through its textiles,” he explained to the Daily Tribune when we recently visited him at his Manila Peninsula showroom where he receives his clients, mostly prominent ladies of the country's social, political and economic firmaments. [caption id="attachment_168345" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Michael with Daily Tribune Social Set editor Jojo G. Silvestre[/caption] For this event, he traveled to Davao, Sultan Kudarat, Cebu, Albay, and Sorsogon to document the lives of the weavers and craftsmen. Tonight’s audience can thus expect a delightful and informative visual spectacle as one of the highlights of the show, which, weather hopefully permitting, will be held in the front garden of the heritage mansion. With Roby Carmona directing, as he had done in initial Goldenberg presentations, the show will surely be another excellent tribute to Filipino talent and craftsmanship, which the First Lady has been promoting through her many cultural heritage development projects. The powerhouse audience can look forward to witnessing Michael’s muses show off his creations, among them, senatorial wives, mayors, legislators, businesswomen, and outstanding personalities in various spheres of Philippine society. The list, a veritable who’s who includes senatorial wives Audrey Zubiri, Tootsy Angara, Kath Pimentel and Gladys Villanueva; Senator Nancy Binay; and Mayors Lani Revilla, Honey Lacuna, Imelda Calixto, Wes Gatchalian, and Dale Malapitan. Of his clients who are modeling his designs, Michael claims, “I am fortunate it is not difficult to design for them. It’s always a pleasure for me to dress them up. I believe it is because of the trust they give me, and I am grateful to them. This much-awaited event marks the latest milestone in Michael’s 10-year old career, which has seen him present his creations in various parts of the world including Los Angeles, Dubai, and Moscow, while just as busily dressing up the country’s movers and achievers. (He is off to the Paris fashion week soon.) The recent State of the Nation Address red carpet might have been his show, having been responsible for the outfits of some 100 legislators and their ladies, among them, Senator Grace Poe, Senator Nancy Binay and family, Senator Allan Cayetano, Senator Koko Pimentel and his wife Kath, Senator Raffy Tulfo and Congresswoman Jocelyn Tulfo, and easily the day’s most photographed lady, actress and fashion icon Heart Evangelista. A first for the National Museum When Michael Leyva celebrated his tenth anniversary in the world of fashion as a designer, he presented a show at the National Museum, a first in the history of the venerable institution, the foremost repository of the nation’s cultural treasures. While he was celebrating a milestone, the "momentous event, to me, was also my way of commemorating the memory of my brother, Brian, my childhood roommate and playmate, who has remained to be my angel, my guide, my mentor and my teacher all throughout. "He’s always been my inspiration in everything that I do. I know he’s there, he’s always part of it. He’s always beside me. Front, back, and side by side." Michael was first enamored with the cavernous halls of the National Museum when he did a shoot in 2018. " I told myself that this is where I will celebrate my 10th year. If it wasn't going to be here, I would rather not celebrate na lang. I wanted to be the first to showcase my creations in this historically significant building." Earlier, restriction pertaining to Covid were lifted, paving the way for the October 10, 2022 spectacle. "I presented a 55-piece collection,” he proudly shared. His muses, Anne Curtis, Vice Ganda, Pia Wurtzbach, led the list of models. Regine Velasquez sang at the finale. Eric Santos performed as well. He was elated that Inno Sotto, the foremost designer of his generation and the leading heir to the masters of the postwar era, had given his imprimatur through his presence. "I felt that his coming to my milestone show proves that I had already made it." A different look for the First Lady But to Michael, the biggest honor and affirmation came from the First Lady of the Philippines, Liza Araneta Marcos. "I missed meeting her when a number of us designers were invited to Malacanang to discuss her Likha project. I happened to be in Paris for a wedding. But I really wanted to meet her." [caption id="attachment_168346" align="aligncenter" width="525"] First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos and designer Michael Leyva viewing a fashion exhibit.[/caption] Finally, in September 2022, he was introduced to the First Lady in her Presidential Management Staff office. He invited her to his National Museum show, and she came. She wore a Michael Leyva Filipiniana, his first-ever creation for her. In time, they would develop a friendly collaboration based on trust and respect, anchored on her admiration for his talent. The next few months saw him designing many of her outfits worn on special occasions. Just recently, she wore her Michael Leyva outfits in Cebu and in the presidential visits to Kualalmpur, Malaysia, and Bangkok, Thailand. For the First Lady’s get-ups, which he posted on his FB wall, he received a lot of praises, mostly commenting on how he had been able to zero in on what would look best on the First Lady. [caption id="attachment_168349" align="aligncenter" width="525"] The First Lady in a Michael Leyva creation at the Audrey Hepburn exhibit, with Tessie Sy Coson and SM officials.[/caption] From day one, he has wanted a different look on her. “Being a designer, I had to explore possibilities. What was basic in my mind was I wanted her to look differently, and that people would notice once she wore my first dress. I wanted them to say, “she had changed in her fashion and grooming preferences.” And Michael did achieve his intention. [caption id="attachment_168351" align="aligncenter" width="525"] President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and FL Liza Araneta Marcos, in a Michael Leyva modern terno, with the King and Queen of Thailand[/caption] [caption id="attachment_168352" align="aligncenter" width="525"] President Ferdinand Marcos Jr and First Lady Liza Marcos Araneta during the president's state visit to Malaysia. The First Lady is in a Michael Leyva creation.[/caption] When people found out he had been responsible for the First Lady’s new look, they told him, “No wonder she now looks different.” An obvious change was in the length of her dresses, which originally was above the knee. “I felt that it would be more becoming for her to wear below-the-knee dresses,” he pointed out. The First Lady, he said, “wants comfortability. She doesn’t like corsets. And then, as much as possible, she wants to make use of Philippine textiles that we have here like calado, piña, and abel. She is the number one promoter of Philippine textile.” Of course, the First Lady will be his guest of honor in tonight’s fashion show, once again proving Michael’s eminence and popularity in his field, and the First Lady’s commitment to the uplift of weavers and embroiders of this beautiful country, the Philippines. The post Michael Leyva to showcase the best of Philippine textiles at Goldenberg Mansion appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
ACCRALAW @ 50
Last year, the Angara Abello Concepcion Regala & Cruz Law Offices (ACCRALAW), the largest institutional law firm in the country, kicked off its 50th year of excellent legal service, which culminated just recently in an “Appreciation Dinner” at the Grand Ballroom of the Shangri-La at the Fort, Taguig City......»»
Katya Angara – The journey of a woman and artist
The promising artist that Katya is today is the latest phase in a lifelong journey that began at an early age when she began drawing characters from cartoon comics. All the while she was growing up in a home that nurtured her interest in the arts, as much as it prepared her for rigorous academic training. She read early in life, in a house filled with books. In this second part of our interview, Katya shares with us how she made a number of choices that would lead to where she is today. But once upon a time, for all that had been given to her on a silver platter, she was in a quandary as to what to do with her life. But when she finally decided on what she wanted, there was no stopping the talented and smart girl who, it turned out, possessed an intellectual prowess not unlike those of her parents, the lawyer, and senator Edgardo Angara, whose affinity for the land had been impressed on his daughter, and the lady educator Gloria Manalang Angara, who opened up her daughter’s eyes and minds to the wonders of world literature and the other arts. And it was in art that the young girl did not only find solace but also healing. Here is the final part of our interview: DT: After high school, did you immediately leave for London? KA: To be honest, and I don’t want filters here, I had mental health issues at that time. I was severely depressed. Before I went to London, I went through a tumultuous period of deciding where to go with my education. So, after Poveda, I went to Woldingham (boarding school). then I did half of my BA Psychology degree at UP Diliman from late 2000 to 2002. I loved my time at Diliman but it was a tumultuous transitional period for me, so I decided to revisit pursuing university in London. Central Saint Martins, to be precise, is one of the most prestigious and distinguished art and design schools in the world DT: Around what time was this? KA: It was in 2002. I was bouncing around like I couldn’t anchor myself to one thing. Like, okay, I’m here in London already. And then, okay I’m going to study Psychology in UP. So, what’s with the leap, the sudden jump, the sudden shift? I couldn’t make up my mind. And I think that frustrated my parents for the longest time. I was also being hard on myself because I ended up causing a lot of frustration for myself. And I think that depressed me. So, you know, I’ve been diagnosed with different things. I’m bipolar. And then, I had the hallmarks of ADHD. Let’s just say that my brain works differently DT: Well, one can never be sure about oneself. KA: No, you can never be sure about yourself. And I was questioning myself. For the longest time, all those years I thought, what’s wrong with me? Why am I making all these strange decisions? Why am I behaving this way? Why do I react to people this way?”. You know, parang I shouldn’t be talking or reacting to people like this in this kind of situation. And I’m not just saying with family or what. But with my classmates in school. What drew me to art was it being a place that has its own language e. It’s a place where I can express myself. Art is also a way of healing your own wounds. It’s also a way of revealing those aspects of yourself that you wouldn’t be able to otherwise. It really was a way of healing for me. And I didn’t even know that I needed it. Because again, I was a very quiet and introverted kid. I don’t know why. I couldn’t rely on people, talk to people the way I thought, or maybe people thought I should. So, you know, I kept to myself. I’d hide away in the library every recess or lunch. I didn’t want to talk to anyone. So, that carried on until my university years. Daily Tribune (DT): What did you finally take up in college? Katya Angara: Well, first I just wanted to do a purely art course. So, my foundation course to get me a degree was an Art and Design course. My first choice for this was Central Saint Martins, which continues to be ranked as one of the best art and design schools in the world. I was over the moon when I made it in. DT: What did you have to show to qualify? KA: I needed to show my work. I had some already since I was drawing a lot in my childhood and teenage years. DT: Your works are not the usual ones that use oil, watercolor, acrylic, and all that. KA: I was drawing mostly. And for some reason, I have always been more of a draftsman eh. I’m always more into drawing. I have more illustrating tendencies. DT: Like pen and paper? KA: Yes, pen and paper. Pencil, charcoal. I’ve always had a thing for dry media and pen and ink. It’s more about the control and the precision. That’s my personality. DT: That’s not easy ah. KA: It’s not easy. But you have an affinity for it. And your hands have to be steady. Which is unlikely for someone with pasmado hands like me. But that’s where I find my control eh. That’s why I like it so much. DT: So, what was it like when you showed your drawings at Central Saint Martin? KA: So, I showed my drawings because that was required during the interview. And so I went through the ropes. They asked questions like, "why do you want to do this course here?" DT: Your work must have been good to get you accepted. KA: They were fine. I think it was good enough. But there was a lot I had to improve on. I only knew that once I got into the school. Then, you told yourself, Ah, oo nga pala. There was so much I had to learn. That I could be taught. DT: How was your learning experience? KA: From the beginning, as a child, I always copied from cartoons. And they didn’t like that. They didn’t want to see any cartoons or anything like that. They wanted to see me. They wanted to see my work. My drawing from life. DT: So, how did you do that? It must have been challenging KA: So, I gave them the best of my life drawings. But when I showed them my other works, they weren’t happy with them. So, I learned from that. Being young, you got a bit crushed. But then, you realize it’s a different way of thinking. It’s a different way of doing things. Okay, there’s still so much to learn in terms of art. And it’s not the be-all and end of it all. And then, they said, “This is where you should be learning from.” And they showed me art books. They said, “Go to this gallery or this museum.” DT: How was it like living abroad? Back home, you were the daughter of a senator. KA: Which means nothing when you’re abroad. It meant nothing. Which I actually loved. It was something that I was looking for. Because I lived in a bubble back home. To my parents’ credit naman there’s a reason for that. I was very protected. They wanted to keep me safe and secure given my father’s position. So, I’d always lived in a bubble. I’d always have bodyguards and drivers and all that. And it just felt at times a little restrictive. DT: So, it was a welcome thing? KA: It was a welcome thing. Really, I felt different. I felt normal na parang my family name didn’t mean a thing. And that was refreshing. I could be anything I wanted to be. I could experiment and nobody would judge. Because in schools like that and abroad, especially in Europe, they’re so open-minded. They’re so liberal. DT: How were the teachers? KA: Oh, wonderful. Of course, you always have your favorites, right? Very varied. Depending also on what course you were taking up, whether industrial design or sculpture which I was horrible at when I tried it. I didn’t really get close to my tutors until I moved on to my actual degree. Funny enough, instead of ending up in a practical course. Which would have been like Fine Arts, Graphic Design, or even Illustration because I love drawing. You would think that I would end up in a more practical course like Fine Arts, Graphic Design, or even Illustration, I did a complete shift and I did a theoretical course. I did Curation, Art Criticism, and Art History. So, my training is as a curator and an art critic. DT: Wow, that was very intellectual. It’s good that you always read a lot. KA: Yes, I think that helped because you have to read a lot. You have to love reading. You have to like doing the research. And that served me well. Who would have known, right? But if you think about it, as long as you follow what you want to do in life, it just opens up even if you don’t intentionally seek it. Somehow it just finds you It just fell into place for me in that sense. This is not what I initially set out to do. But I think you have to allow yourself to change your mind. Parang whatever happens at the time, you change with it. You adjust to it. And it worked out beautifully for me. DT: So, were the teachers terrors? KA: Mabait naman sila. But they have very different personalities. My course leader was a lovely older lady who was really into Victorian arts and culture. As in, Victoriana lahat. She would tell you everything about English Victorian history. And she was very passionate about it. And you know, it involved a lot of writing and research. But my favorite tutor was someone who was writing about comic books. Comic books and Pop culture. So, for me, that was a revelation because I didn’t think you could take comics books and put them in the academe. You know, academic level like intellectual. Pwede pala e. Because he showed me a way. He took me under his wing and he showed me his work and from there I learned to write. And because I love comic books. I’m actually a huge geek. I’m a nerd, I’m a dork. DT: What was your thesis? [caption id="attachment_165427" align="aligncenter" width="463"] Roger Sabin was Katya's pop culture mentor at Central Saint Martins in London.[/caption] KA: Because I wanted Roger Sabin, my pop culture tutor, as my professor for my thesis, it was about a 1990s Japanese animated film called Ghost in the Shell 101. It was an animated film based on a very heavy graphic novel, a manga or Japanese comics, by Masamune Shirow. And for me, his work is revelatory. It wasn’t just the style of the Ghost in the Shell. And to think just one man could draw like this. I mean it was a very thick graphic novel. He could draw like that. And he wrote the story too. And to think you had the mental stamina to be able to write something like that and to draw. DT: You must enjoy doing comics. KA: Since I was a kid, I’ve made my own comic books. You know, I would sell my own comic books and people would actually buy them. I taught myself to draw in the comic book style. I learned them all. You know, there’s like Stan Lee of Marvel. DT: You really had it in you. KA: I had it in me. My love for comic books started by reading the ones my brother had collected over the years. He had a stash of them, so, I just devoured them. It was all very amazing to me. Kasi the drawings, the stories, these are worlds written by someone else. So, you have Marvel comics, DC comics, Dark Horse comics. [caption id="attachment_165417" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] With brother, Senator Sonny Angara, whose comic books she devoured for their cartoon figures.[/caption] Q: You didn’t idolize anybody? A: Well, I wasn’t particularly huge on the American comics. I think it was until I stumbled upon the Japanese comics or manga. That really piqued my interest to a degree I never felt before. Kasi it wasn’t just the style, which at first for me was very girly. I mean, I love the romantic comics. But I also felt myself leaning toward the darker stuff. DT: What did you like about Ghost in the Shell? KA: It’s a cyberpunk graphic novel. So, ang galing, ang ganda ng style. It was like, wow. You know, the sheer amount of detail that he puts into the drawings. I said I want to draw like this. I want to tell a story like this. But I don’t know if I was capable of telling if I had the stamina to tell something so intricate and complex. DT: When did you graduate? KA: In 2008. The BA in the UK is only three years. That’s why you take a foundation course. There’s a BA in Curation, and Communication, and criticism in Arts and Design. DT: I am told that you graduated at the top of your class. But you’re not telling me. KA: It sounds so funny kasi eh. Anyway, I graduated with first-class honors for my degree. So, basically, I was Suma Cum Laude in my batch in my year. So, that was what sealed the deal for me and my dad. Kasi for the longest time, I was kind of meandering. I was kind of flip-flopping. My mom knows this eh She goes, “You know Katya you have a tendency to be whimsical.” I am an artist eh, what can I do? Besides, I was young and I wasn’t sure. I knew what I wanted to do, which was to be in the arts but not where I wanted to go. I was asking myself if I had the stamina, the commitment, the fortitude to see it through. [caption id="attachment_165415" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Katya and mom Gloria Angara, who first ignited her interest in the arts.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_165419" align="aligncenter" width="854"] Katya with her dad, the late Senate President Edgardo Angara from whom she learned to apply the principles of nature to her art[/caption] DT: College made you really bloom. KA: Yes. It was the environment. it was the people I was with. Because I was able to go into something I really enjoyed. I wasn’t just doing homework because I was told to do homework. I loved what I was doing. I was invested in it. DT: What did you do after you graduated? KA: Apart from community work, I also worked for some small galleries. I did some work for the Victoria and Albert Museum. I tried to have experiences in bigger institutions, bigger museums, and small independent galleries. I thought that experience would hone me and make me well-rounded. With the smaller galleries, I was able to practice my curatorial background. I was able to help a lot of young artists. They don’t know how to talk about their work or they’re not confident enough to do so. So anyhow, apart from helping them put together shows, I help them speak about their work. Or offer them a perspective they have never seen or thought about. And I feel that that was helping them and I think that’s where I have been able to engage with them. It was fulfilling to help them find their voice as an artist. DT: All the while, you were all alone in London? KA: I was married actually. To a Filipino who was born in the UK, in London. He’s an Englishman, for all purposes. It didn’t work out. We have a daughter. I had a beautiful little girl with him. She lives in London with her father. She’s been here. She lived here in her early years. After she was born in 2010, I decided to move back here. Then, after four years, we went back to London because it was what my husband wanted. He and my dad had a falling out. DT: When was your first exhibit? KA: Last year. Earlier, I did a group show at the Lethaby Gallery at Central Saint Martins. So, I did it with other emerging artists. My next group show was at The Crucible. But it was for a book that Sari Ortiga had commissioned me to do. He wanted to do a series of children’s books about Philippine artists. I did mine. Mine was about Anita Magsaysay-Ho. I did the illustration. It wasn’t new to me because I had been making my own books. I would staple them myself. Although up until that point I didn’t know how to really do it professionally. I found out it could be lucrative and fulfilling. This was in 2008 when I didn’t have a daughter yet. DT: Tell me about your forthcoming show. (The current show had yet to be opened). What paintings are you showing? KA: They’re not paintings, they’re not just drawings. They’re an amalgamation. They’re what you call a compendium of everything I’ve ever done as an artist. The book illustration, and then I dabbled a bit in black-and-white photography. I like the look of black and white photography. So, I do it with my phone or a simple camera. It’s also good for taking reference photos for my work. Because if you can’t sit in the park drawing people or objects, or subjects, the next best thing is you take pictures. And you can draw from those pictures. Kaya maganda siya for reference. So, my work is that, actually. DT: So, what about your subjects? KA: Well, I’m a very central person. We live in a very conservative culture. And I have subjects that would make people say ay, you know, you shouldn’t talk about that. So, there’s no filter, it’s very raw, very natural. In London, I was able to talk to people about things like BDSM or Bondage Sado-Masochism. And you know, that can get a bad rap. Because if you do it wrong, it would look strange to anyone who is not familiar with it. Among the Japanese, there is a subculture that does that. DT: Do they consider BDSM an art form? KA: There’s a particular Japanese artist whose work I used to admire. He’s a photographer. And his subject is BDSM. There were pictures of women tied up and then there were flowers and reptiles. So it was very sexual. I found myself drawn to that because there’s the element of the dark side. Carl Jung, the psychoanalyst, talked about how we have to make our unconscious conscious. The darkness in us is unconscious. And if you don’t make your darkness conscious, it’s going to come out in other ways at some point. Meaning to say, you shouldn’t repress those sides of you. I think it is a side that’s intertwined with the creative side of me. I can’t be an artist without being sensual. Without that aspect, all that would be macabre. Which brings me to my mom again. She used to chide me for reading Stephen King when I was a kid. I’m a huge Stephen King fan. She was like, “It’s so macabre, so dark.” And I’m like, “I like it, I like his work.” He’s such a skilled writer. And I like how he could take something so mundane and make it terrifying and frightening on all levels. Stephen King said that he writes two thousand words every morning. I’m not sure if I can do that. I wanted to write na rin eh because the natural partner of my art is my writing. Because as a curator, I didn’t just read. I had to write a lot. And that’s where I honed my skills. Kasi siyempre, it’s a sword that you have to sharpen every now and then. So, for the show. I did a lot of writing. I did my own writing. DT: While we're on the talk of artists, what about the Filipino artists? Who among them do you admire? Do you have any mentors and idols? KA: Among Philippine artists, Junyee is my second father and my first artistic mentor. He is my OG sage and shaman of Philippine art, the Father of Philippine Installation Art. I'm actively lobbying for him to become National Artist soon, as no one deserves it more than he does, with his magnificent oeuvre. I'll always remember how, in a fleeing moment of impostor syndrome, he consoled me by saying that making art for myself always comes first. Love the process and the rest follows. The maverick attitude is very Junyee! And yet, he lives a modest life in the forest-like setting of his home in Los Banos, echoing the nature-loving ethos of our favorite Japanese animator, Hayao Miyazaki, creator of Toroto, Nausicaa, Spirited Away, among many other magical films. Since I was a child, Junyee saw my potential and continued to push me to have my own gallery shows, as did his longtime friend and one of my other mentors, Sari Ortiga. Sari's daughter Yasmin is a good friend and batchmate of mine from Poveda. Sari owns and runs the distinguished Crucible Gallery, and he hired me to illustrate one of the children's books for his series "Growing up with Philippine art" in 2009. It's thanks to Sari that I pushed myself to evolve as an artist, to grow outside of my comfort zone. The acclaimed visual artist and sculptor Jinggoy Buensuceso is something of a bad boy du jour of the Philippine art scene, and his dissident attitude is something I can identify with. I love the unorthodox, the sensual, the macabre, the dark stuff that delves deep into the psyche. I'm so bored of the "covers" or "riffs" of the countless Amorsolo, Basquiat, Picasso, or Rothko-type artworks that I see so much of in the local art scene. As wtih Junyee and Sari, Jinggoy has taught me how to navigate the perilous seas of art and life, echoing Junyee's advice to remain myself, in a world that often pushes us to be someone else. My three mentors, by example, taught me how to be original. DT: How many are you exhibiting? How many works? KA: Now, I have 9 complete pieces. I’d like to add another one. Honestly, medyo cramming ito because I only had two months to do the show. Normally for this kind of work - especially with the big piece I am doing - it’s a seven-foot piece. I would need, preferably to be comfortable, at least four to six months to do all this work. Kasi, there is so much nicer when you give it time to compost. To come together, to become fertile. DT: Is there enough time for one more work? A: Yes. I have one more work that I want. Because I feel that it rounds it up eh. If I do ten, I love the work that I’ve already done. Again, it’s not a painting, it’s a collage. So, I’d call it a photographic collage with paper cuttings on canvas. I wanted to treat canvas in a way that is not painting DT: Shouldn’t someone curate for you? KA: For now, I’m happy to have to do it myself. Because I feel that I’m the only one who can portray myself in a way that I feel I should be portrayed. Kasi it’s art eh. You’re trying not so much to explain yourself as you’re trying to convey who you are to somebody without being obvious. That’s art. DT: Where does Stephen, your partner, come in? [caption id="attachment_165418" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] With her partner and anchor, Stephen Lu.[/caption] KA: Stephen is somewhat of an anchor for me. So, I feel comfortable, I feel more confident when he’s around. But I guess I’m okay. DT: Now, as we wind up, let’s talk about how you are like your parents and not like them. You said that your interest in the arts came from the exposure that you received from your mother, and of course, the presence of books at home. Tell me more about your father’s role in your becoming the person that you are. KA: One of my fondest memories of my father was his love of nature, gardening, and farming, which I learned from him. He was at his best and calmest when he was at his farm in Nasugbu and Baler. Whilst my father was a “man of the soil”, I learned to be an “artist of the soil”, a gardener who applies the principles of nature to my art. Hence the overlying themes of nature in my oeuvre of artwork. And the most resonant themes of philosophy (which my father also studied and applied in his life) are the themes relating to lessons learned from nature: patience, fortitude, temperance. From this I’ve become more acutely aware of life’s transience, making our time all the more precious, being grateful for small and simple pleasures, and the opportunities that come my way. The naïveté of my younger years meant that I didn’t have a complete grasp of the opportunities presented to me by my father, I took much for granted. Now I see why he did what he did, he gave me the tools to be able to achieve my full potential. Only now that I’m embracing that fire and heading in a direction that makes the most of my talents. I had impostor syndrome for the longest time. Always questioning and doubting myself. Now I can fully embrace who I am and it is cathartic. DT: In what way are you like them? KA: I have the different strengths of my parents. I’ve inherited their academic minds and cultured tastes, with an eye for detail and beauty. I have many mannerisms and behavious in common with my mum, in terms of poise and self-possession. But, she is like Audrey Hepburn and I am infinitely more of a Marilyn Monroe. Marilyn was also a very private person and something of a poet and writer. I guess it’s no surprise that I am drawn to art and writing; I am highly introspective, painfully self-aware and attuned to my moods and to the moods of others; like my Dad, I’m intuitive and know how to read people. DT: My last question is, how has art influenced you in your direction in life? And where are you going from here? KA: Being an introvert, I don’t always translate into easy social interactions with most people. So I channel it all into my art. It’s a language that best expresses my psyche, thoughts, and emotions. Working with my hands is healing and consolation for the isolation, depression, and anxiety attacks that grip me on bad days. That’s why as an artist of the soil, gardening and art go hand in hand. In the future, I can see myself tending to the land and becoming a farmer as my father was. It’s like coming home. The post Katya Angara – The journey of a woman and artist appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
P6.99-B allocated for Zambales 2nd District dev’t
BOTOLAN, ZAMBALES — A total of P6.99-billion worth of funding was infused for the development of the Second Legislative District of Zambales. This was revealed by Representative Doris “Nanay Bing” Maniquiz during her "Ulat sa Pangalawang Distrito ng Zambales” last week, as the official sourced funds for crucial infrastructure projects like flood-control dikes and roads. The solon cited that the one-year budget has doubled the infrastructure allocation received by the Second District in the last eight years. She added that P4.46 billion of the budget will be used for the construction of 59 flood-control structures and road dikes designed to protect low-lying areas threatened by perennial flooding, as well as lahar surges during heavy rains. “These are not your ordinary kind of dikes that simply hold back water,” Maniquiz pointed out. “These are road dikes that residents will also use to access their farms and other remote areas, as well as to transport local products safely and efficiently.” The infrastructure allocations Maniquiz rolled out also included 37 new concrete road constructions; the improvement of 22 national road sections; 22 school buildings; 12 public buildings and facilities; 38 irrigation projects; three solar water systems; and other miscellaneous projects like bridge construction and installation of solar lights. Maniquiz pointed out that these projects, as well as similar initiatives in her I-HELP program for infrastructure, health, education, livelihood, and people’s welfare, became possible with the help of House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romuladez and other officials who provided development funds for the Second District. “I cannot thank the Speaker well enough for all his help, as well as his wife Congresswoman Yedda Romualdez of Tingog Partylist and Tingog 2nd nominee Congressman Jude Acidre, since the bulk of my funds for social services came from them,” she added. Other than these, the Zambales solon cited financial assistance from Cong. Jocelyn Tulfo of ACT-CIS Partylist; Rep. Sandro Marcos; Diwa Partylist; and Senators Imee Marcos, Sonny Angara, Nancy Binay, Bong Go, Raffy Tulfo, Jinggoy Estrada, Loren Legarda, Lito Lapid, and Koko Pimentel. She added that the Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and Department of Labor and Employment also provided funding under their respective financial assistance programs to add to the money she had sourced out after becoming Second District congresswoman last year. “The generous help from our friends in Congress and in the Senate is the only reason why we were successful with a lot of development projects and constituent service in the Zambales Second District,” Maniquiz said. The post P6.99-B allocated for Zambales 2nd District dev’t appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bong Go backs FOI bill; bats for gov’t transparency, accountability
In an interview on Tuesday, 11 July, after aiding poor residents in Trece Martires City, Cavite, Senator Christopher "Bong" Go expressed his strong support for the pending Freedom of Information (FOI) bill, affirming that it is high time the Philippine government fortified its commitment to transparency and accountability across the bureaucracy. "Alam n'yo, it's about time na magkaroon tayo ng Freedom of Information law mismo. Mayroon tayo ngayong Executive Order (EO) issued by former president Rodrigo Duterte, pero ang sakop po nito ay taga-Executive Branch lamang," Go said, referring to EO No. 2 issued by Duterte in 2016 but was limited to the executive branch only. Go further emphasized that the implementation of an FOI law would institutionalize transparency within all branches of the government. "Kung maisabatas po ito, mai-institutionalize natin ang transparency sa gobyerno. Mag-allocate din tayo ng pondo. Tatlong dekada na pong pending ito sa (lehislatibo)," he added. The senator underscored the crucial role of such a bill in curbing corruption and irregularities in government functions. "Kung mayroong transparency, mas maiiwasan natin ang korapsyon at katiwalian sa gobyerno," he said. "Wala naman tayong dapat ikatakot kung wala tayong itinatago,” Go stressed. Despite being a longstanding proposal, the FOI bill has faced opposition, particularly concerning potential infringements on personal privacy. Go acknowledged this concern and stressed the importance of striking a balance between government transparency and the right to privacy. "At I'm sure pinag-aaralan din po ito ng ating gobyerno, ang Executive Department, paano nila ito ipinapatupad dahil binabalanse nga po nila 'yung right to privacy," the senator said. Earlier, the Presidential Communications Office expressed unwavering support for the FOI bill's enactment into law. Senators Ramon Revilla Jr., Sonny Angara, Grace Poe, and Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva filed their own versions of the proposed legislation. While defending his stance on the FOI bill, Go also emphasized his belief that being in government necessitates the upholding of transparency. "At para sa akin, kapag nasa gobyerno tayo, dapat po ay mayroong transparency," he stated. However, he also highlighted the importance of ensuring that the bill does not infringe upon any right, particularly to privacy. The post Bong Go backs FOI bill; bats for gov’t transparency, accountability appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Frasco gets love amid video ad fiasco
Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco received a bunch of love and support from various government officials after her department got involved in the brouhaha surrounding the “Love the Philippines” campaign video that featured tourist scenes that turned out to have been shot in other countries. On Wednesday, former Tourism Secretary Mina Gabor sent a letter of support to Frasco, saying that she was backing the “Love the Philippines” rebrand and that she “genuinely believes it is authentic and has the legs to go global.” “Keep on moving forward! This is just a tiny bump on the road,” said Gabor, the chairperson and president of the International School of Sustainable Tourism. Meanwhile, Cebu 5th District Board Member Andrei Duterte signed a resolution expressing Cebu officials’ support for the DoT’s tourism campaign slogan “Love the Philippines” and for Frasco, “a true-blooded Cebuana and former mayor of Liloan, Cebu.” Lawmakers’ backing For Senator Christopher Lawrence Bong Go, a member of the Senate Committee on Tourism, what is important is not to lose sight of what the campaign is all about — which is to love the Philippines and share the love that Filipinos are known for. “Being a member of the Senate committee on tourism, we must work together to correct any mistakes, improve our efforts to promote our country, and give our support to the efforts of the present administration to uplift our economy and the lives of the poor,” Go said in a statement. He said what is important is the sincerity to perform the duty well and to serve the nation by ensuring that no public funds go to waste. “With this, I continue to support Secretary Frasco and the rest of the DoT for their efforts to further improve our country’s tourism sector. I laud their immediate action in addressing the issue that the promotional video has caused and in ensuring that public funds are not wasted. Instead of dwelling on the problem, let us work together to provide solutions,” he said. Senator Sonny Angara said the video mess “should not diminish” the accomplishments of Frasco in promoting the country to the world. Angara commended Frasco for swiftly terminating the DoT’s contract with advertising agency DDB Philippines. “Clearly there were issues with what was presented by the advertising agency but what is important is that Secretary Frasco acted immediately to address the issue and ensure that no public funds were wasted for this purpose,” he said. Angara said Frasco should be given a chance to redeem herself, citing the latter’s efforts to revive the country’s tourism industry hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic. “What the DoT has done over the past two years following the pandemic has been remarkable and with Secretary Frasco leading the charge in declaring the Philippines open for tourists, I am confident that Philippine tourism will be able to reach new heights and the world will see the many reasons to love the Philippines,” he said. Records show the DoT has logged 2.67 million international visitor arrivals as of 29 June this year, 2.44 million of them foreigners. The DoT is targeting a baseline of 4.8 million international tourist arrivals. In 2022, the industry contributed 6.2 percent to the country’s gross domestic product, churning P1.87 trillion in tourism revenues. Limbo Meanwhile, Senator Nancy Binay said the campaign for the country’s new tourism slogan is now in “marketing limbo.” Binay said the DoT should “accept” that the enhancement of the Philippine tourism brand is going through uncertainties following the video mess of its contracted advertising agency. The DoT said an “exhaustive” investigation into the use of non-original video footage by the agency, DDB Philippines, is ongoing. The probe follows the DoT’s termination of the contract with the ad agency for more promotional tourism videos. “We appreciate the actions taken by the DoT against the ad agency. But the big question right now is whether or not to continue with the ‘Love’ campaign,” Binay said. Ending deal with DDB On Monday, the DoT announced it was terminating its contract with DDB Philippines, stating that they are one with Filipinos in expressing outrage and extreme disappointment at the use of non-original/stock footage purporting to be scenes from the Philippines as a component of the launch of the enhanced tourism branding campaign, “Love the Philippines.” Under the terms of the DoT’s contract with DDB Philippines, “material/s produced by the winning bidder should be original and aligned with the DoT’s advocacies.” “The DoT reserves the right to change, suspend, or discontinue temporarily or permanently the contract at any time should the DoT deem the agency incapable of the project,” the statement read. @tribunephl_raf @tribunephl_Lade The post Frasco gets love amid video ad fiasco appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Angara says Frasco deserves a chance after ‘Love the Philippines’ fiasco
Senators have differing opinions on the controversies surrounding the newly launched “Love the Philippines’ campaign by the Department of Tourism. Senator Sonny Angara said the recent video mess “should not diminish” the accomplishments made by Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco in promoting the country to the world. Angara also commended Frasco for swiftly terminating the DoT's contract with advertising agency, DDB Philippines, for more promotional videos. "Clearly there were issues with what was presented by the advertising agency, but what is important is that Sec. Frasco acted immediately to address the issue and ensured that no public funds were wasted for this purpose," he said. Angara added that Frasco should be given a chance to redeem herself, citing the latter’s efforts to revive the country’s tourism industry hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic. "What the DOT has done over the past two years following the pandemic has been remarkable and with Sec. Frasco leading the charge in declaring the Philippines open for tourists, I am confident that Philippine tourism will be able to reach new heights and the world will see the many reasons to Love the Philippines,” he said. According to Angara, the DoT recorded over 2 million international visitor arrivals in the country from January to the middle of May this year,—which already breached the department’s 1.7 million visitor target for the year. For the period of January to April, the DOT recorded P168.2 billion in inbound visitor receipts, which represents a 782 percent increase from the P19.1 billion in tourism revenues generated over the same period last year. Under the leadership of Sec. Frasco, Angara noted that the Philippines has received six nominations in the World Travel Awards Asia namely: Asia's Leading Island Destination; Asia's Leading Beach Destination; Asia's Leading Dive Destination; Intramuros as Asia's Leading Tourist Attraction; Cebu as Asia's Leading Wedding Destination; and the DoT as Asia's Leading Tourist Board. Angara also cited the move of the DoT to develop the Philippines as a health and wellness tourism hub—an idea that he has been pushing for some time already. The Philippines was also recently elected as vice president of the 25th General Assembly of the United Nations World Tourism Organization and chairman of the Commission for East Asia and the Pacific. Meanwhile, Senator Jinggoy Estrada lauded the DoT’s move against the advertising agency saying that its prompt response and responsible handling of the situation deserves recognition. “Mistakes happen but it is how we respond and rectify them that truly matters…The DOT exemplified accountability and commitment to learning from this incident,” he said. Estrada believes that the DoT’s acknowledgment of the gaffe and taking immediate steps to rectify the situation “demonstrated” the government’s dedication to maintaining the integrity of our tourism industry. “Understandably, any campaign of this magnitude may face criticisms and differing opinions. Yet, how Sec. Frasco's handling of the issues confronting the DoT is both admirable and necessary,” said Estrada. “It is through proactive measures that we can continue to promote the Philippines as a premier tourist destination while ensuring accuracy and responsible marketing practices," he added. The post Angara says Frasco deserves a chance after ‘Love the Philippines’ fiasco appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Angara powers Senate Sentinels to UNTV Cup semis
The PNP Responders and the Senate Sentinels scored contrasting wins against their respective rivals to advance to the semis round of the UNTV Cup Executive Face-Off held over the weekend at the Paco Arena in Manila......»»
Breaking barriers
I dreamed it and, attempted it, but failed. Our clique of supporters employed all possible strategies and resources, but no dice. I came close though. The enemy was not outside but within our group. Disunity ate up whatever dream we had. I refer, dear readers, to my 1990 bid for the presidency of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, the most coveted plum among lawyers. My motive? While personal advancement played a role, the overwhelming consideration was to break the barriers of inequality and bias. No Moro, nay, Muslim lawyer had ever led the organization. But we wholeheartedly accepted kismet without rancor. Now, after three decades we are seeing the fruition of our dream. Looking back, it was not a lack of qualifications and leadership qualities, nor a deficit of resources, that plagued our campaign. It was more of an oversight and lack of coordination among our group. Ego got the better part of everybody. As a result, a fraternity brother and I competed against each other and we both lost. Back then, campaigning at the IBP was not unlike other political campaigning. Intense campaigning and the use of propaganda schemes and other strategic hallmarks of traditional politicians, or “tradpols,” were employed, including horse trading, promises of favors, wining and dining of convention delegates, and paying for plane tickets and other expenses. That style of campaigning shut out less known and less financially prepared candidates. Marginalized “small” chapters hardly had a chance of getting their member candidates elected to the presidency of the IBP. With the anomalies happening in an institution under the wing of the Supreme Court, the latter had to intervene. Drastic reforms were instituted to free the IBP from the morass of moral and institutional decadence. After an investigation conducted by a panel of retired Supreme Court justices, it was recommended that the leadership of the IBP is rotated among the chapters to give a chance to the less-known chapters, like Lanao del Sur, to have a shot at the presidency. It was suggested that the Executive Vice President elected by the Board of Governors would automatically assume as President after two years. And this year, the IBP-Lanao del Sur chapter got a break. Its president and governor for Western Mindanao, Allan Panolong, was elected executive vice president by the Board of Governors, to take over as President after two years. Muslims rejoiced. For me, it was the realization of a dream hatched more than three decades ago. This development was greeted with much jubilation not only by the Lanao del Sur chapter but other chapters, especially those in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, which posthaste sent congratulatory messages to Governor Panolong. This is the first time that a member of the chapter and a Muslim at that will assume National President — a position that opens doors to bigger challenges and that had churned out prominent national leaders like former Senators Celing Fernan, Edgardo Angara and Raul Roco. A Proposed Resolution (No. 273) was sponsored by lawyer-Minister Rasol Mitmug Jr. before the BARMM interim parliament commending the rare feat of Atty. Panolong. The Provincial Legal Services expressed jubilation. The local chapter’s Past President, Dagoroan Adom Macarambon, described Atty. Lanz, as Panolong is fondly called by his peers, is a “man with a mission” and his feat is “historic” with his accession not attributed to luck but to his “unwavering conviction and commitment in bringing about reforms…” Local legal luminaries, Bayan Balt, Pangnal Datu-Ramos, and many others echoed similar praise and prayers for his success (sorry guys for lack of space). I recall Uncle Ben, a character in the movie series Spiderman, saying: “They must consider that great responsibility follows inseparably from great power.” Stated otherwise, with great power comes great responsibility. Atty. Panolong is presented with this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to prove to all and sundry that Muslims have what it takes to lead a national organization of lawyers — a great influencer in shaping the destiny of the nation. Meanwhile, a grand shindig awaits friends of Atty. Lanz tomorrow, 4 June, to coincide with the induction of officers and to welcome the new batch of lawyers. Way to go, panyero. Allah hafiz! amb_mac_lanto@yahoo.com The post Breaking barriers appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Waltzes and performances galore
A Blooming Ball with JSSP Spring has finally sprung after a three-year hiatus! The Johann Strauss Society of the Philippines recently celebrated its 25th anniversary with its comeback gala concert, “Springtime in Vienna” — the first since the pandemic. For starters, it was an elegant evening to look forward to at one of the best places: The Grand Ballroom of Shangri-La, The Fort. It was a garden of color with gorgeous and dapper looks left and right. Everyone looked so fresh and camera-ready — as our photos on this page show. [caption id="attachment_139310" align="aligncenter" width="664"] Ambassador of Austria, Johann Brieger and his wife, Roswitha[/caption] [caption id="attachment_139311" align="aligncenter" width="525"] JSSP Officers, Marissa Fenton, Virginia Lane and JSSP President, Olga Martel.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_139312" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Italy Consul, Antonio Gallo with his wife Michelle[/caption] [caption id="attachment_139326" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Ambassador of Japan, Kazuhiko Koshikawa with wife Mme Yuko Koshikawa[/caption] [caption id="attachment_139327" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Sonny Tanchanco, USA Ambassador, MaryKay Carlson and John Gaddi[/caption] [caption id="attachment_139346" align="aligncenter" width="401"] ANGOLA Consul to the Philippines Helen Ong and the columnist.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_139313" align="aligncenter" width="314"] Agnes Ventura and Tootsy Angara[/caption] [caption id="attachment_139314" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Cocoy Cordoba and Jojo Silvestre[/caption] [caption id="attachment_139315" align="aligncenter" width="525"] David Lim and Margie Moran Floreindo[/caption] [caption id="attachment_139316" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Betty Chua and Consul Agnes Huibonhoa[/caption] [caption id="attachment_139317" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Amazing 5 group, Tiffany Cuña, Brenda Ngo, Georgette Wilson and Ruby Chua[/caption] [caption id="attachment_139318" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Joy Melendres and Nikki Tang[/caption] [caption id="attachment_139319" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Atty. Salvador Panelo and Jean Saburit[/caption] As for the highlights of the night? Waltzes and performances galore! The ambiance was in full bloom with the floral-filled decor and magical melodies, thanks to the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra. A highlight of this gorgeous event was our beloved JSSP members stepping onto the dance floor to enchant us with a graceful Grand Waltz. All their hard work and practice definitely paid off. Through the years, JSSP has kept the love and development of music and dance alive, while supporting the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Philippine National Red Cross, Gawad Kalinga and so much more. Everyone’s looking forward to spring again next year and to more JSSP affairs to keep supporting these worthy causes. Long live JSSP! [caption id="attachment_139320" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Joy Rustia and Eni Alba[/caption] [caption id="attachment_139321" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Mario Katigbak and Nedy Tantoco[/caption] [caption id="attachment_139322" align="aligncenter" width="520"] Grace Gobing and Bong Prada Lim[/caption] [caption id="attachment_139323" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Marc Piton, Ambassador of Vietnam, Hoang Huy Ching, AJ Violago, Rosalind Wee, Ambassador of Singapore, Gerard Ho.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_139324" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Ambassador of EU, Luc Veron and Ambassador, Jana Sediva-Treybalova of (Czech Republic)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_139325" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Ping Valencia[/caption] The post Waltzes and performances galore appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Go: RSC passage signifies commitment to strong healthcare
Senator Christopher "Bong" Go emphasized the significance of Senate Bill No. 2212, also known as the Regional Specialty Centers Act, in improving the healthcare system and providing specialized healthcare to every Filipino following its approval in the Senate on its third and final reading on Monday, 29 May. Go, chair of the Senate Committee on Health and sponsor of the measure, said that its passage signifies a strong commitment and a collective vision toward enhancing the healthcare landscape in the country. The senator believes that this legislation reflects the dedication of the government to deliver compassionate and accessible healthcare services that cater to the specific needs of every Filipino. “Gusto ko rin pong ibahagi sa ating mga kababayan na para sa kanila po ang panukalang batas na ito,” said Go. “It is your experiences and stories that have driven us to create a healthcare system that is compassionate, accessible, and designed to meet the needs of every Filipino,” he added. With the passage of the measure, Go said that the voices of the people have been heard, and it serves as a reminder that their concerns and welfare are of utmost importance. “Ito pong regional specialty centers ay isang paraan para mailapit natin ang serbisyo medikal sa ating mga kababayan lalung-lalo na po yung mga mahihirap,” said Go. The proposed Regional Specialty Centers Act aims to bring medical services closer to the people, particularly those who are less fortunate. It seeks to bridge the gap in healthcare accessibility by establishing specialized centers that cater to specific medical needs in different regions. If the bill is enacted, the Department of Health shall be mandated to establish specialty centers within designated DOH-hospitals in every region within a span of five years. The primary emphasis will be placed on establishing centers dedicated to heart, lung, and kidney conditions, aiming to replicate the capabilities found in the National Specialty Centers located in Metro Manila. The factors to be considered when determining the establishment of these specialty centers will involve evaluating the health requirements and demands of the population, ensuring convenient geographical accessibility to the hospital, assessing the hospital's role as a referral center, ascertaining the availability of specialized healthcare professionals, and evaluating the hospital's operational and financial performance. The measure was also authored by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, Senate Majority Floor Leader Joel Villanueva, Senators Sonny Angara, JV Ejercito, Pia Cayetano, Jinggoy Estrada, Imee Marcos, Robin Padilla, Win Gatchalian, Francis Escudero, Ronald dela Rosa, Ramon Revilla Jr., Cynthia Villar, and Loren Legarda. It was also co-authored by Senators Francis Tolentino, Raffy Tulfo, Risa Hontiveros, Lito Lapid, Grace Poe, Mark Villar, Alan Cayetano, Nancy Binay, and Koko Pimentel. Go, an advocate for improved healthcare access in the country, is also the principal author and sponsor of Republic Act No. 11463 or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which institutionalized the Malasakit Centers program. To date, 157 operational centers have helped more than seven million Filipinos nationwide, according to the DOH. Go has also consistently expressed his dedication to supporting the establishment of Super Health Centers throughout the country, acknowledging their potential to substantially alleviate hospital congestion and enhance accessibility to government healthcare services at the community level. Through the collective efforts of fellow lawmakers, sufficient funds had been allocated for 307 Super Health Centers in 2022 and 322 in 2023. DOH, the lead implementing agency, identifies the strategic areas where they will be constructed. Services offered in Super Health Centers include database management, out-patient, birthing, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: x-ray and ultrasound), pharmacy and ambulatory surgical unit. Other available services are eye, ear, nose, and throat (EENT) service, oncology centers, physical therapy and rehabilitation center and telemedicine, where remote diagnosis and treatment of patients will be done. The post Go: RSC passage signifies commitment to strong healthcare appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Go-sponsored regional center bill to bring gov’t closer to people
In a significant step toward enhancing the healthcare system in the country, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go expressed his gratitude to his fellow lawmakers as his proposed Senate Bill No. 2212, also known as the Regional Specialty Centers Act, passed the third and final reading in the Senate. In a manifestation on Monday, 29 May, Go, as sponsor of the measure, placed significant emphasis on the invaluable role of the Filipino people in shaping public policies especially on the healthcare system, stating, "It is your experiences and stories that have driven us to create a healthcare system that is compassionate, accessible, and designed to meet the needs of every Filipino." He further emphasized the impact of the people's voices, affirming, "Today, your voices have been heard. Let us continue to work hand in hand, united in our commitment for the well-being of our community." "Ito pong regional specialty centers ay isang paraan para mailapit natin ang serbisyo medikal sa ating mga kababayan lalung-lalo na po yung mga mahihirap," he added. The proposed bill mandates the Department of Health to establish specialty centers in DOH hospitals in every region within five years. This approach leverages the expertise and availability of healthcare professionals already working in these regional hospitals. The proposal also aligns with the Philippine Development Plan 2023 to 2028, signed by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., which includes the establishment of specialty centers as part of the health-related legislative agenda. Particular emphasis will be placed on establishing heart, lung, and kidney centers that replicate the capabilities of the National Specialty Centers in Metro Manila. To ensure the effectiveness of the specialty centers, the DOH will collaborate with the National Specialty Centers to provide expert personnel, specialized training, and necessary equipment. The bill also outlines the authorization for specialty centers to contract medical specialists and experts to provide training and technical assistance. Moreover, if enacted into law, the DOH will be required to allocate capital outlay investments through the Health Facilities Enhancement Program and work closely with the Department of Budget and Management to develop staffing patterns and standards for the specialty centers, securing positions for healthcare workers serving in these facilities. In his speech, Go also acknowledged and thanked his colleagues for their unwavering support and dedicated efforts in bringing the bill to fruition. “This measure is a steadfast commitment, and a collective vision to improve our healthcare system. It demonstrates our dedication to delivering efficient specialized health care to every Filipino,” said Go. The senator likewise extended his appreciation to the DOH for their support and collaboration in ensuring the passage of this proposed legislation. “(Salamat) sa kanilang suporta at pakikiisa upang maipasa ang panukalang ito sa Senado,” said Go. “Sana po magtulungan din po tayo na mapondohan ang specialty centers na ito, Mr. President, para masiguro natin na maging maayos po ang implementasyon nito,” he added. The measure was also authored by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, Senate Majority Floor Leader Joel Villanueva, Senators Sonny Angara, JV Ejercito, Pia Cayetano, Jinggoy Estrada, Imee Marcos, Robin Padilla, Win Gatchalian, Francis Escudero, Ronald dela Rosa, Ramon Revilla Jr., Cynthia Villar and Loren Legarda. It was also co-authored by Senators Francis Tolentino, Raffy Tulfo and all other members of the Senate. Go highlighted that the Regional Specialty Centers Act is a fulfillment of a campaign promise made by Senate President Zubiri, saying, “Congratulations din po at sana madagdagan ang pondo nito para maparami pa ang specialty centers sa lahat ng rehiyon. Nakasalalay sayo, Mr. President, ang mga karagdagan para dumami pa ang specialty centers sa buong Pilipinas.” The senator also expressed his gratitude to the senators who supported the bill, including Senators Grace Poe, Alan Peter Cayetano, Nancy Binay, Mark Villar, and Lito Lapid. He also acknowledged the invaluable inputs shared by Senate Minority Floor Leader Senator Aquilino Pimentel III and Senator Risa Hontiveros, emphasizing the collaborative efforts of the Senate in making healthcare services accessible to all Filipinos. The post Go-sponsored regional center bill to bring gov’t closer to people appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Canadian vlogger Kulas now a brand-new Filipino citizen
Senators on Monday unanimously granted Canadian vlogger Kyle Douglas “Kulas” Jennerman Filipino citizenship. During a plenary session, the Senate approved on third and final reading House Bill 7185, which seek the naturalization of Jennerman, with 24 affirmative votes, zero negative votes and no abstentions. Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa lauded Jennerman, saying the latter's wholehearted embrace of the Philippines was "clear from the beginning" by naming his social page "Becoming Filipino." “Perhaps, this is a pivotal moment in globalization, wherein we learn to love our identity even more as Filipinos, but we learn it also from the eyes of someone we would at first consider a foreigner,” Dela Rosa said. Dela Rosa thanked Jennerman for featuring the Filipino culture and traditions in his vlogs, and especially for bringing pride to “Bisayang Dako” or the native Visayan people. “Many of us have learned to love our country even more because of your example. Thank you for learning, thank you for staying,” the senator told Jennerman. Senator Joel Villanueva described Jennerman as an exceptional“, while Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri congratulated Jennerman for his successful application to become a Filipino citizen. “I trust that you will live up to this great gift given to you by the Filipino people. You have already done so much to promote our country, to Filipinos and nationals alike, and we look forward to your future contributions as you champion the country that you call now your home. Maybe you can change the name of your vlog from ‘Becoming a Filipino’ to ‘I am a Filipino.' Congratulations, my dear friend,” said Zubiri. Jennerman has been staying in the country for 10 years. Zubiri, Villanueva and Senator Sonny Angara had earlier filed bills for the naturalization of Jennerman. The post Canadian vlogger Kulas now a brand-new Filipino citizen appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
School-based mental health bill gains backing
Senate Bill 2200 or the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act seeking to institutionalize a school-based mental health program in public and private basic education institutions nationwide reached the Senate plenary. “You are not weak for struggling with mental health issues,” Senator Win Gatchalian said. He stressed that every youth silently bearing the weight of their mental health struggles will benefit from the proposed measure he sponsored before the other senators on Wednesday. Gatchalian, who chairs the committee on basic education, said it will define the role of every stakeholder in the school community to appropriately respond to mental health concerns through prevention, intervention, postvention and recovery. Meantime, Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, the co-author of the bill, said the well-being of students shouldn’t be overlooked as it is also among the prerequisite to children’s academic excellence. “We must acknowledge the inseparable connection between education and mental health, as a child cannot thrive academically if his or her mental well-being is compromised,” said Go, who also chairs the committee on health and demography. Go also stressed the need to establish available mental health care services not only in basic education but also within higher education, thus, filing Senate Bill 1786 which mandates Public Higher Education Institutions to also establish their own mental health offices. If passed into law, students can sufficiently acquire essential school-based mental health services, including screening, evaluation, assessment, and monitoring, mental health first aid, crisis response and referral system, mental health awareness and literacy, emotional, developmental, and preventive programs, and other support services such as strengthening the learners’ family bonds. Under the bill, the Department of Education shall implement complementary measures to eliminate the stigma of mental health counseling. This will be backed by mental health awareness programs and literacy and appropriate mental health-related referrals to teaching and non-teaching personnel. “The cornerstone of this legislation is the establishment of a Care Center in every public basic education school in the country, and ensuring their establishment and maintenance in private schools,” Gatchalian said. The lawmaker explained that the Center will be equipped with functional physical facilities, located within an adequate space -- where confidentiality is maintained and accessible to the learners, teachers, and non-teaching personnel. The law also urges DepEd to “hire and capacitate competent personnel” whose duties and responsibilities shall be geared towards promoting and ensuring the mental health and well-being of all learners. Senator Ronald dela Rosa, on the other hand, said the increasing number of mental health victims in basic education should gain attention. “We must take action. I am moved by this measure, and I support such a wonderful bill, as it aims to equip our children with the needed tools both to believe in themselves and to believe that their lives are worth living,” said Dela Rosa. Other co-authors of the bill are Senators Joel Villanueva, Nancy Binay, Ramon Revilla Jr., and Lito Lapid. Senators Risa Hontiveros, Dela Rosa, Sonny Angara, and Loren Legarda as well as Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri co-sponsored the measure during the plenary. The post School-based mental health bill gains backing appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
UNTV Cup: Judiciary enters finals; Go, Angara anchor Senate
Two-time champion Judiciary booked the first finals berth in the 9th UNTV Cup with an easy 76-61 victory over the PNP Responders while the NHA Home Masters kept their titles hopes alive......»»
PPP vital cog on Phl economy
A lawmaker on Wednesday is pushing for the approval of measures that promote the public-private partnership scheme which makes infrastructure projects for the Philippines become more possible, even if it is “too ambitious.” During a public inquiry by the Senate Committee on Public Works, Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. urged the swift passage of several bills seeking to boost PPP and amendments or the Build-Operate-Transfer Law. These are Senate Bill 765 introduced by Senator Sonny Angara; SB 1022 authored by Senator Jinggoy Estrada; SB 1251 filed by Senator Imee Marcos; SB 1344 authored by Senator Loren Legarda; SB 1613 filed by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and Majority Leader Senator Joel Villanueva; SB 1974 authored by Senator JV Ejercito; and House Bill 6527 introduced by several House of Representative members. Revilla stressed that the measures are supporting the government’s flagship “Build Better More” program. “The measure is also included in the priority legislation of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. after being mentioned during the President’s first State of the Nation Address and formalized in the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council meeting last 10 October 2022,” Revilla said. He also reiterated the President’s rationale behind the legislation such as addressing ambiguities in the existing BOT Law; resolving the bottlenecks and challenges affecting the implementation of the PPP program; and to foster a more competitive and enabling environment for PPPs. He said pushing for amendments to the BOT Law targets to strengthen and prosper the country’s benefits from the existing mechanism. “PPPs are said to be schemes that offer more benefits than risk to our development. With PPPs, projects may be completed sooner. It turns what seems to be too ambitious into reality. In fact, it is a promising route as we pursue the massive infrastructure development in the country under the Build Better More banner,” Revilla said. The post PPP vital cog on Phl economy appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Solons: Vulnerable sectors must have alternative modes of voting
MANILA-Senators are urging for the swift passage of a measure filed by Senator Sonny Angara seeking to enhance the accessibility of senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) when voting during elections.Senator Christopher Lawrence Go assured on Tuesday that he will support Angara.....»»
Angara wants Lunar New Year declared special holiday
Sen. Sonny Angara is pushing for a measure seeking to declare the Lunar New Year a special non-working holiday in the Philippines in recognition of the contributions of the Chinese people to the country’s development as a nation......»»
Use of intel funds to be scrutinized – Angara
Disbursements of confidential and intelligence funds granted to a number of government agencies and offices will be closely examined by Congress and the Commission on Audit, Sen. Sonny Angara said yesterday......»»