Eala, Brazilian partner bow out
Alex Eala and Brazilian partner Laura Pigossi fell short against the home bet duo of Kaylah Mcphee and Astra Sharma, 7-6(1), 6-3, in the semifinals of the Workday Canberra International ahead of her Australian Open stint next week......»»
Alex Eala, Brazilian partner fall in WTA Canberra semis; Alcantara exits
Alex Eala and Laura Pigossi, an Olympic bronze medalist in the Tokyo Games women’s doubles, fail to sustain their strong start to miss out on a title berth in the WTA Canberra.....»»
Alcohol banned at Tokyo Halloween hotspot
A ban on alcohol came into force around Tokyo's tourist hotspot Shibuya on Friday in an attempt to discourage raucous Halloween gatherings a year after a deadly crowd crush in South Korea. Nearly 160 people were crushed to death in a narrow alleyway in Seoul on 29 October last year after tens of thousands of people poured into the Itaewon neighborhood to celebrate Halloween. In Tokyo, tens of thousands of people, Japanese and foreign alike, have thronged the narrow streets around Shibuya in past years, many dressed up in Instagram-ready zombie costumes. The crowds have slowed down emergency services attempting to reach people in need. "We're extremely concerned accidents similar to the fatal case in Itaewon in Seoul last October could happen anytime," the district's mayor Ken Hasebe said this month. Ahead of this weekend, a video released by authorities in Japanese and English focused also on the annoyances caused to locals such as vandalism, litter, and noise. "This Halloween night everyone should stay away from Shibuya. Some people live in Shibuya," the video message said. "Violence. Drinking on the street. Smoking on the street. Traffic violation. You can't choose how your actions will affect others." Billboards have been put up and a famous statue of Hachiko the faithful dog that is a popular meeting place outside Shibuya Station was also set to be covered up with a temporary enclosure. Some residents welcomed the restrictions. "I think it's a fair decision because I find that these celebrations have become more and more excessive in recent years," said Ryosuke Yamazaki, 35. "If this were to get even worse than before there could be a disaster or even something on the order of what happened in South Korea," he told AFP. Kosuke Kimura, 21, called the restrictions "entirely appropriate". But US tourist Laura Williamee, 35, said it was "very disappointing". "I booked this flight a while ago and I was looking forward to being in Shibuya for Halloween... (but) I understand it can get dangerous," she told AFP. "I think they do have the right idea and they want to protect the people and all the tourists and stuff, so I do understand. I'm not upset about it. It is just disappointing." The post Alcohol banned at Tokyo Halloween hotspot 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.....»»
Millions of children affected by climate disasters – UNICEF
The United Nations Children’s Fund warned on Thursday that weather disasters brought on by climate change caused 43.1 million child displacements between 2016 and 2021 and criticized the lack of attention given to the victims. Co-Author Laura Healy told American for Prosperity, or AFP, that the data only indicated the “tip of the iceberg,” with many more possibly affected, in comprehensive research on the subject that included the heartbreaking stories of some children affected. Khalid Abdul Azim, a child from Sudan, recalls his terrible experience in a flooded village that can only be reached by boat. "We moved our belongings to the highway, where we lived for weeks," he said. In 2017, sisters Mia and Maia Bravo watched flames engulf their trailer in California from the back of the family minivan. "I was afraid, in shock," Maia said. Statistics on internal displacements caused by climate disasters generally do not account for the victim’s age. The Internal Displacement Monitoring Center, a non-governmental organization, and UNICEF collaborated to analyze the data and uncover the hidden toll for children. Four types of climate disaster (floods, storms, droughts, and wildfire) has led to 43.1 million child displacements in 44 countries in which frequency of the said disasters has increased during global warming, the report says. Ninety-five percent of those displacements were caused by floods and storms. “It’s equivalent of about 20,000 child displacements every day,” Healy lamented on AFP highlighting how the afflicted children are then at risk of suffering other traumas, such as being torn away from their parents or being the prey of child traffickers. As one child may be uprooted more than once, the numbers reflect the number of displacements rather than the number of children affected. The number of displaced people as a result of drought is “radically underreported,” according to Healy because they are less abrupt and hence harder to measure. This is just the tip of the iceberg based on the available data that we have," she said. "The reality is with the impacts of climate change, or better tracking of displacement when it comes to slow onset events, that the number of children who are uprooted from their homes is going to be much greater." Healy added. UNICEF Report Reveals Alarming Predictions for Child Displacements Due to Climate Events In a recently released UNICEF report, startling forecasts have been unveiled for specific climate-related events. According to the report, the next three decades could witness a staggering 96 million child displacements due to flooding caused by overflowing rivers. Additionally, cyclonic winds are projected to force 10.3 million child displacements, while storm surges may result in 7.2 million displacements. It's worth noting that these estimates do not factor in preventive evacuation measures, raising concerns about the potential scale of displacement. UNICEF's Executive Director, Catherine Russell, emphasized the profound impact on those compelled to flee, including the fear of an uncertain return, disruptions to education, and the possibility of further relocations. Russell stressed that while migration may save lives, it also brings significant upheaval and challenges. "As the impacts of climate change escalate, so too will climate-driven movement. We have the tools and knowledge to respond to this escalating challenge for children, but we are acting far too slowly." She added. At the COP28 climate summit in Dubai in November and December, UNICEF urged world leaders to take up the climate issue. According to Healy, children, particularly those who have already been compelled to move must be prepared “to live in a climate change world”. While the effects of climate change are spreading across large portions of the planet, the UNICEF report highlights some of the most susceptible nations. The biggest number of displaced people (almost 23 million in six years) occurred in China, India, and the Philippines because of their massive populations, strategic positions, and precautionary evacuation measures. However, in proportional terms, Africa and small island states are most at risk; in Dominica, 76 percent of all children were uprooted between 2016 and 2021. More than 30 percent of the said amount went to Saint Martin and Cuba. The post Millions of children affected by climate disasters – UNICEF appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Tens of millions of children uprooted by climate disasters — UNICEF
Weather disasters fueled by climate change -- from floods to droughts, storms to wildfires -- sparked 43.1 million child displacements from 2016 to 2021, the UN Children's Fund warned Thursday, slamming the lack of attention paid to victims. In a sweeping report on the issue, the United Nations agency detailed the heart-wrenching stories of some of the children affected, and co-author Laura Healy told AFP the data only revealed the "tip of the iceberg," with many more likely affected. "We moved our belongings to the highway, where we lived for weeks," recounts Sudanese child Khalid Abdul Azim, whose flooded village was only accessible by boat. In 2017, sisters Mia and Maia Bravo watched flames engulf their trailer in California from the back of the family minivan. "I was afraid, in shock," Maia says in the report. "I would stay up all night." Statistics on internal displacements caused by climate disasters generally do not account for the age of the victims. However, UNICEF worked with the non-governmental Internal Displacement Monitoring Center to unpick the data and reveal the hidden toll on children. From 2016 to 2021, four types of climate disasters (floods, storms, droughts, and wildfires) -- the frequency of which has increased due to global warming -- led to 43.1 million child displacements in 44 countries, the report says. Ninety-five percent of those displacements were caused by floods and storms. "It's the equivalent of about 20,000 child displacements every day," Healy told AFP, underscoring how the children affected are then at risk of suffering other traumas, such as being separated from their parents or falling victim to child traffickers. The data reflect the number of displacements and not the number of children affected, as the same child could be uprooted more than once. The figures do not allow for a distinction between those evacuated before a weather event, and those forced to leave in the wake of a disaster. And, according to Healy, the number of displacements due to drought is "radically underreported," because they are less sudden and thus more difficult to quantify. "This is just the tip of the iceberg based on the available data that we have," she said. "The reality is with the impacts of climate change, or better tracking of displacement when it comes to slow onset events, that the number of children who are uprooted from their homes is going to be much greater." 'Far too slowly' The UNICEF report offers some partial predictions, for specific events. Floods linked to overflowing rivers could spark 96 million child displacements in the next 30 years, while cyclonic winds could force 10.3 million displacements, it says. Storm surges could lead to 7.2 million displacements. None of those estimates include preventive evacuations. "For those who are forced to flee, the fear and impact can be especially devastating, with worry of whether they will return home, resume school, or be forced to move again," UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said in a statement. "Moving may have saved their lives, but it's also very disruptive," Russell said. "As the impacts of climate change escalate, so too will climate-driven movement. We have the tools and knowledge to respond to this escalating challenge for children, but we are acting far too slowly." UNICEF called on world leaders to take up the issue at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai in November and December. Healy says children, including those already forced to move, must be prepared "to live in a climate change world." Even if the intensifying effects of climate change are affecting wide swathes of the planet, the UNICEF report shines the light on particularly vulnerable countries. China, India, and the Philippines are the countries with the largest number of displacements (nearly 23 million in six years) because of their huge populations and geographic locations -- but also because of their preventive evacuation plans. But in proportional terms, Africa and small island nations are most at risk -- in Dominica, 76 percent of all children were displaced from 2016 to 2021. For Cuba and Saint-Martin, that figure was more than 30 percent. The post Tens of millions of children uprooted by climate disasters — UNICEF appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Florida man convicted of two murders executed by lethal injection
A Florida man convicted of murdering two women in 1996 was executed by lethal injection on Tuesday, local media said. Michael Zack, 54, was put to death at the Florida State Prison in the town of Raiford, the Pensacola News Journal reported. The newspaper said the lethal drug cocktail was administered at 6:02 p.m. and Zack was pronounced dead 12 minutes later. Zack was sentenced to death in 1997 for the June 1996 sexual assault, robbery, and murder of Ravonne Smith, a woman he met at a bar. He was also convicted of the murder of another woman, Laura Rosillo, who had befriended him at another bar. Zack's defense attorneys had sought to block his execution on the grounds that he suffered from fetal alcohol syndrome and was intellectually disabled. His appeals were denied by lower courts and eventually the Supreme Court. The group Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty released a final statement from Zack. "Twenty-seven years ago, I was an alcoholic and a drug addict," it said. "I did things that have hurt a lot of people -- not only the victims and their families and friends, but my own family and friends as well. "I have woken up every single day since then filled with remorse." There have been six executions in Florida this year and 19 in the United States. The post Florida man convicted of two murders executed by lethal injection appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
California Womans Tragic Ordeal: Losing All Limbs after Consuming Undercooked Tilapia
Title: California Woman Loses Limbs After Consuming Undercooked Tilapia San Jose, California: In a shocking incident, a California woman, Laura Barajas, has tragically lost all.....»»
Emma Stone stars in sex-mad Frankenstein-like tale at Venice
With Emma Stone as a sex-mad reanimated corpse in "Poor Things" and Wes Anderson presenting his take on Roald Dahl, the Venice Film Festival was taken on some wild rides on Friday. "Poor Things" was set to premiere on the Lido without its star to light up the red carpet, due to the ongoing Hollywood strike barring actors from publicity work. Rumors at the festival suggest the horror-comedy, in which Stone plays a woman brought back from the dead by a mad scientist, could be an early awards frontrunner. Its Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos has established himself as one of the most imaginative and daring filmmakers of his generation. His previous film "The Favourite", also starring Stone, won the Jury Prize in Venice in 2018 and best actress for Olivia Colman, paving the way to her Oscar triumph. "Poor Things" is among 23 movies competing for the top prize, the Golden Lion, to be awarded on September 9 by a jury including directors Damien Chazelle, Jane Campion and last year's winner Laura Poitras. Anderson's Dahl Meanwhile, another indie darling, Wes Anderson, was feted in Venice with a lifetime achievement award. He presented "The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar", a 40-minute film based on a short story by beloved children's author Roald Dahl. It is one of four Dahl adaptations the whimsical director has made for Netflix featuring Benedict Cumberbatch, Ben Kingsley, Dev Patel and Ralph Fiennes. As always, there is a meticulous, chocolate-box feel to Anderson's film. "It's more like a little theatrical presentation that we found a way to film," Anderson told reporters. The director, who previously adapted Dahl's "Fantastic Mr Fox", said he was strongly against moves to alter the author's books for "sensitivity" reasons. Asked about recent revisions to Dahl's books to remove character descriptions like "fat" and "crazy", Anderson said: "No one who is not an author should be modifying someone's book." He added: "I understand the motivation for it, but I'm in the school where, when the piece is finished... the audience participates in it, we know it, so when it's done, it's done." Strikes and waivers Also premiering on Friday was "The Promised Land" starring Mads Mikkelsen, described by The Hollywood Reporter as a "gripping historical epic" about a low-born soldier seeking to better himself. Mikkelsen was able to attend the festival for the Danish film, but Venice has lost out on several star appearances due to the actor and writer strike in Hollywood, which is primarily over pay and the potential threat of AI. Some independent films have been given a waiver, including Michael Mann's "Ferrari" which premiered on Thursday, allowing lead actor Adam Driver to attend. But others such as Stone and Bradley Cooper (for his Leonard Bernstein biopic "Maestro") are not coming, costing the studios valuable PR shots of their stars arriving by gondola and working the red carpet. Still to come in Venice are new movies by Sofia Coppola ("Priscilla" about Elvis Presley's wife) and David Fincher ("The Killer" starring Michael Fassbender and Tilda Swinton). There are also out-of-competition premieres for controversial directors Woody Allen ("Coup de Chance") and Roman Polanski ("The Palace"). The post Emma Stone stars in sex-mad Frankenstein-like tale at Venice appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
QC police nab 16 druggies; net P595K worth of shabu
A total of 16 drug addicts were netted by operatives of the Quezon City Police District in separate sting operations over the weekend, in which they also seized P595,000 worth of shabu. P/Lt. Col. Ferdinand Casiano, Station Commander of Anonas Police Station (PS 9) reported the arrest of Teresita Bayle; Noemi Uy; Androl Makabenta; and Tess Bayle at 4:00 a.m., 12 August 2023, at Area Zigzag, Kaingin 2, Brgy. Pansol, Quezon City. Casiano said a concerned citizen tipped off the illegal activities of the suspects which resulted in their immediate arrest. Confiscated from their possessions were 70 grams of shabu valued at P476,000, a cellular phone, one unit of NMAX motorcycle, and the buy-bust money. Also, the Masambong Police Station (PS 2) under P/Lt.Col. Resty Damaso arrested Andrew Victa at 7:10 p.m. in front of No. 17 Ilagan St., Brgy. Paltok, Quezon City. Confiscated from his possession was one gram of shabu valued at P6,800. At 8:00 p.m. at Block 2, Lot 6, Grecio St., Francis Village, Brgy. San Bartolome, Novaliches, Quezon City, the Novaliches Police Station (PS 4) under P/Lt.Col.Jerry Castillo arrested Benjamin Bautista and Dennis Franco. Confiscated from their possessions were five grams of shabu valued at P34,000, a cellular phone, and the buy-bust money. Subsequently, the Fairview Police Station (PS 5) under P/Lt.Col. Elizabeth Jasmin arrested Joseph Antonio; Jerome Layson; and John Mark Arthur Mendoza at 11:40 p.m. along Commonwealth Ave., Brgy. Greater Fairview, Quezon City. Confiscated from their possessions were three grams of shabu valued at P20,400 and the buy-bust money. The Batasan Police Station (PS 6) under P/Lt.Col. Paterno Domondon Jr. arrested Joel Felix Gado; Jeralyn Hoyoa; Crisanti Oreto; and Marry Ann Barbacena at 4:00 PM at No. 45 Laura St., Brgy. Matandang Balara, Quezon City. Confiscated from their possessions were 3.5 grams of shabu valued at Php23,800.00, a cellular phone, and the buy-bust money. While the Payatas Bagong Silangan Police Station (PS 13) under P/Lt.Col. Leonie Ann Dela Cruz arrested Angelo Abellana and Arthuro Lobedese at 12:50 a.m. on 12 August 2023 inside the unnumbered house along Bicol St., Group 3, Lupang Pangako, Brgy. Payatas B, Quezon City. Confiscated from their possessions were five grams of shabu valued at P34,000, a cellular phone, and the buy-bust money. QCPD Director P/Brig. Gen. Nicolas D Torre III said the suspects will be charged for violation of Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office. “Asahan po ninyo na hindi kami magsasawa at mas lalo pa naming paiigtingin ang aming kampanya kontra iligal na droga at wanted persons,” Torre said while commending the men and women of QCPD. The post QC police nab 16 druggies; net P595K worth of shabu appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Telecommuters behind child abuse ring
Nineteen telecommuters have been arrested and 13 children were rescued in a child abuse ring bust by Australian police. Australian Federal Police Commander Helen Schneider said the syndicate shared encrypted child abuse material on the dark web. “The lengths this network went through to avoid detection are an indication of just how dangerous they were,” Schneider told reporters. A number of the Australian men were professionals who worked with computers for a living, police said. The ring was busted with the help of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which has already charged 79 alleged offenders in the United States. The FBI’s long-running investigation of the ring captured headlines in 2021, when its special agents Daniel Alfin and Laura Schwartzenberger were shot and killed while searching an apartment in Florida, US. WITH AFP The post Telecommuters behind child abuse ring appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Free divers find love and death in Netflix’s ‘Deepest Breath’
Early in "The Deepest Breath," an underwater drone follows free diver Alessia Zecchini as she plunges 100 meters down into the ocean's dark depths, and back up, all on a single breath. The heart-pounding, claustrophobic three-and-a-half-minute sequence is as difficult to watch as it is mesmerizing. As she ascends to the shallows, Zecchini's body begins to twitch. Rescue divers seize her and drag her up to the surface, her unconscious eyes rolling grotesquely backward as she is resuscitated. It may seem shocking, but "blacking out" from lack of oxygen is a common occurrence in free diving, an extreme sport in which athletes compete to go as deep as they can without any breathing apparatus. "You can watch all the videos in the world. It doesn't really prepare you for seeing a human being just pass out like that," said director Laura McGann, director of the Netflix documentary, out Wednesday. "It's scary to see." Through archive footage, interviews and a handful of re-enactments, McGann's film explores what drives these men and women to repeatedly risk their lives and push the limits of human endurance in pursuit of new competitive records. "Seeing a human being behave more like a seal or a dolphin in the water, with no tanks, was kind of like learning that there was a group of people in part of the world that knew how to fly," she told AFP. 'In the moment' Specifically, the film focuses on the relationship between record-breaking diver Zecchini and Stephen Keenan, a nomadic young Irishman who becomes one of the sport's top safety experts. Free divers, if not actively courting death, do not appear to fear it. Indeed, Zecchini airily claims in the movie's opening scene that she does not even think about death. Yet it quickly becomes apparent that some sort of tragedy has occurred. Neither Zecchini nor Keenan appear among the film's present-day interviews, leaving the question of their fates hanging for much of the movie -- at least, for those able to resist a quick Google search. That structure was criticized as being somewhat manipulative in early reviews at January's Sundance Film Festival, where the movie premiered, having already been acquired by Netflix days earlier. But McGann decided "really early" that her film would remain "in the moment" with its characters throughout their journeys. Death "was always going to be towards the end of the film," she said. Love and death "The Deepest Breath" is the latest documentary to explore dangerous obsessions through the lens of a love story. Last year's Oscar-nominated "Fire of Love" followed a husband-and-wife scientist couple as they risked their lives to explore the craters of erupting volcanoes. In 2019, "Free Solo" profiled death-defying climber Alex Honnold, as he juggled his obsession with climbing a notorious rockface without ropes, and his relationship with his understandably terrified girlfriend. For McGann, the relationship between Zecchini and Keenan was "a yin and a yang," like "they were each other's missing piece," even before they connected as celebrities in the small free diving community. It emphasizes that free diving is as much a mental sport as it is a physical one, requiring very specific personality types that not only stay calm, but actively enjoy being 100 meters under water, beyond rescue. "What the free diver is feeling is definitely close to the complete opposite to what we the audience are feeling," explained McGann. While viewers might struggle for breath just watching, divers speak of a "serene, quiet, peaceful silence," as they quieten their minds and reduce their heart rates to "that of a Tibetan monk." "You're almost in a meditative state," said McGann. "But you need to keep a little bit of your subconscious aware of what you're doing -- so that you remember that you have to come back up." The post Free divers find love and death in Netflix’s ‘Deepest Breath’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Two UVA alumni, among the best university students in Spain
Two alumni of the University of Valladolid (UVA), Álvaro Elisis Acero and Laura Franco Henao, were honored on June 12 at the National Music Hall.....»»
‘Moment of legacy’:Pinoy producers making B’way history with ‘Here Lies Love’
[caption id="attachment_157582" align="aligncenter" width="546"] Don Michael Mendoza and Georgina Pazcoguin.GIRLIE Rodis[/caption] [caption id="attachment_157584" align="aligncenter" width="193"] Giselle Tongi[/caption] [caption id="attachment_157583" align="aligncenter" width="351"] Adam Handyman, Bobby Garcia,[/caption] Here Lies Love, the Broadway musical about former First Lady Imelda Marcos and the People Power Revolution, is not only the first Broadway production to have a cast composed entirely of Filipinos. It is also the first to have so many Filipinos on its producing team. The latest HLL Pinoy producers are Black Eyed Peas singer Apl.de.Ap and DJ CherishTheLuv. They are part of a distinguished group that includes celebrated performers, renowned artists and accomplished advocates who are of Filipino blood and are proud to be part of the innovative show. Named as producers are Hal Luftig, Patrick Catullo, Diana DiMenna and Plate Spinner Productions, Clint Ramos, and Jose Antonio Vargas, with Aaron Lustbader as executive producer. They are joined by Lea Salonga (who is in the cast), H.E.R., Jo Koy, Bobby Garcia, Giselle “G” Töngi, Celia Kaleialoha Kenney, Girlie Rodis, Miranda Gohh, Rob Laqui, Georgina Pazcoguin, Don Michael H. Mendoza, Adam Hyndman, Yasuhiro Kawana, Triptyk Studios, Shira Friedman, James L. Nederlander, Kevin Connor, Patrick Trettenero, Elizabeth Armstrong, Cathy Dantchik, Wendy Federman/Suzzane Niedland, Luke Katler/Ryan Solomon, Laura Ivey/Janet Brenner and Hunter Arnold/TBD Theatricals. David Byrne, co-founder of the ‘80s New Wave group Talking Heads and the brains behind the concept and music of HLL, said to The Washington Post’s Gina Apostol that this was what he intended. The Grammy- and Oscar-winning musician explained, “I wanted producers who understand what it means, not just to them personally but to the Filipino community.” ‘Phenomenal musical’ Getting the producers on board was not difficult because of HLL’s history. In 2013, HLL premiered off-Broadway at New York City’s The Public Theater where it played until 2015. It also had runs at London’s National Royal Theatre from 2014 to 2015, and at the Seattle Repertory Theater in 2017. Tony Award-winning producer Adam Hyndman was among the audience of HLL’s off-Broadway debut. “I was so impacted that I saw it three times and brought everyone I knew!” he recalled. When he was invited to bring the project to the world’s most famous theater circuit — Adam had produced the Broadway musicals Aladdin, Once On This Island, Hadestown and The Inheritance — his response was immediate: “I jumped on board because I knew HLL would be more than just another show, but rather a moment of legacy.” G Töngi, who had made a name for herself as an actress/host/VJ in the Philippines in the 1990s, was likewise fired up when she witnessed HLL at Seattle Repertory. “I walked away from that experience feeling so seen,” she said. The musical brought her back to 1986 when she, as a child, marched in the streets outside Malacañang with her mother. Atlantis Productions founder Bobby Garcia, who mounted the Philippine productions of Rent and Angels in America, has been involved with HLL since 2014, when it premiered at London’s National Theater. Bobby said, “(Director) Alex Timbers kept me in the loop of potential productions. Patrick Catullo and Clint Ramos approached me about joining the team as co-producer and talked to me about how the show would have a revolving door of Filipino artists from Manila to play Aurora Aquino (the mother of Ninoy Aquino).” The opportunity was simply too good to pass up, said Garcia. “As an advocate of Filipino talent, I wanted to be part of bringing this phenomenal musical to the Broadway stage and opening the door for talent from the Philippines to cross the ocean and make their Broadway debuts.” Breaking ground Garcia’s friend, veteran talent manager and stage and film producer Girlie Rodis, certainly understands what he meant. “Whether you’re someone on stage or someone working behind the scenes, the big break doesn’t come often,” said Rodis. “So when Bobby talked to me in 2021 about joining him as co-producer, no questions asked. More than the prospect of giving breaks to our talented Filipino artists, it’s the chance to carve a legacy that made me tell Bobby, ‘Count me in!’ Who would have thought that a Broadway musical production would have an all-Filipino cast and depict the history of the Philippines? Now it’s finally happening.” HLL’s Broadway debut is set to break ground in American media and performing arts. “This visibility of Filipino performers in leading roles on Broadway just fills my heart,” said Georgina Pazcoguin, New York City Ballet’s first Asian-American female soloist and co-founder of the diversity initiative Final Bow for Yellowface. For actor and stage/TV/new media producer Don Michael H. Mendoza, the impact will definitely be long-term. “Like Hamilton does for actors of color, Here Lies Love will provide employment to countless Filipino performers, musicians and production staff for many years to come. Moreover, it will teach the audience about a people that was always in front of them for decades, but playing other ethnicities. Now it’s our turn to be seen and loved by the audiences for who we are as Filipinos. Not as anyone else.” Bayanihan spirit The bayanihan spirit, or cooperative spirit that Pinoys are known for, is very present among the HLL producers. A number of them are based outside of New York and a few — like Rodis — are outside the US. But thanks to technology and fueled by a united passion, they have formed a strong bond and have achieved their tasks outstandingly. “Being a Here Lies Love co-producer has, at long last, connected me with my culture in a way I’ve been craving. For the first time ever I’m surrounded by co-workers who share a part of my identity,“ said Pazcoguin. Rodis added, “Collaborating with this incredible group of Filipino co-producers has already given me so much. Tony award-winning designer Clint Ramos and producer Jose Antonio Vargas, a Pulitzer-prize winning journalist, have been supportive and generous. It’s a blessing to be in this company.” A few days before Here Lies Love opens on Broadway, the producers already feel ecstatic. “We are excited that there is so much enthusiasm both in the Broadway and Filipino and Fil-Am communities to see HLL,” said New York-based creative producer Rob Laqui. “One of our jobs as producers is to translate this buzz to getting people to the theater so HLL will have a long and successful run… We are confident and have faith in our process, and in the incredible team assembled, that HLL will be the gold standard for what Broadway can be.” The post ‘Moment of legacy’:Pinoy producers making B’way history with ‘Here Lies Love’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Four dead after latest New York e-bike fire
Four people have died after lithium batteries for e-bikes sparked a fire in a New York building, officials said Tuesday, sounding the alarm over the skyrocketing number of such incidents. The fire broke out overnight in a maintenance shop for electric bicycles and scooters, on the ground floor of a building in Chinatown. A large pile of blackened two-wheelers was seen strewn outside the charred facility on Tuesday, in a photo posted by New York Fire Department on their official Twitter account. During a press briefing at the scene, the city's fire commissioner, Laura Kavanagh, said four people had died and two were seriously injured. "It is very clear that this was caused by lithium ion batteries and e-bikes," she said, adding that the store had previously been cited for safety violations. It is the 108th such fire so far this year in New York, with a total toll of 66 injured and 13 dead, including Tuesday's victims, according to the fire department. In April, a 19-year-old woman and her seven-year-old brother were killed in a similar fire in the borough of Queens. Fires related to e-bikes and scooters in New York have grown exponentially in recent years, from 44 in 2020 to 220 last year, as residents buy more of the electric devices -- especially for the city's highly popular meal delivery services. Batteries are more likely to combust if they are of poor quality or older age, or if they are packed together during charging. When they ignite, "there is so much fire created that it can often be too late as soon as the fire has begun," Kavanaugh said. The post Four dead after latest New York e-bike fire appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
JC de Vera ‘excited’ na ipinakilala ang 2nd baby sa socmed: ‘Welcome to this world, Laura!’
PROUD na ipinakilala ng aktor na si JC de Vera ang second baby nila ng non-showbiz wife na si Rikkah Cruz. Sa pamamagitan ng Instagram, ibinandera ng aktor ang isang black-and-white photo na makikitang karga ang bagong silang na anak na si Baby Laura. Kasabay niyan ay excited siyang nagpahayag ng mensahe para sa anak. […] The post JC de Vera ‘excited’ na ipinakilala ang 2nd baby sa socmed: ‘Welcome to this world, Laura!’ appeared first on Bandera......»»
JC founders Jonathan So at Carl Macadangdang, GMA artists sumuporta sa Gawad Kalinga
NAGING mas makabuluhan ang birthday ngayong taon ni JC House of Franchise founder Jonathan So. Nagbahagi ng mga biyaya at nagbigay kasiyahan si So sa mga pamilyang benepisaryo ng Laura Drive Gawad Kalinga kasama ang kanyang business partner na si Carlito Macadangdang. Namigay din ang dalawang matagumpay na negosyante ng 100 lootbags sa mga pamilya. […] The post JC founders Jonathan So at Carl Macadangdang, GMA artists sumuporta sa Gawad Kalinga appeared first on Bandera......»»
Argentinian firms eye selling meat, spices
Argentinian firms are looking to export more meat and spices to the Philippines. Dayanara Lausa, officer for The Americas of the International Cooperation Division at the Department of Agriculture, told the Daily Tribune on Wednesday that they are exploring Philippine markets for poultry, pork, onions and garlic. “Argentina wants to expand their market access for beef, poultry and pork. Currently, they can only export beef to us, along with minimal volumes of onions,” Lausa said. This was discussed in a meeting last Tuesday by DA Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban with La Rioja’s Provincial Secretary of Agriculture Ernesto Perez, Ambassador of Argentina to the Philippines Ricardo Luis Bocalandro and several businesspeople of the South American country. Argentinian beef For now, she said there are seven Argentinian companies exporting beef to the Philippines. Lausa shared that the Argentinian firms presented to Panganiban agricultural products from the province of La Rioja which also included olives, apples and wine varieties. “We are coordinating with the Department of Trade and Industry on how we can maximize our relations with Argentina,” she said. On the part of the Philippines, Lausa said the government is working with Argentina on how to grow genetically modified soybeans to be used as animal feed. “They contain more protein and can be grown in the Philippines because Argentina has a similar climate to ours.” Biotechnologies Due to complex logistical operations and the long distance between the two countries, Laura said the Philippine government is focusing on adopting efficient agricultural practices from Argentina, including biotechnologies. “We are talking with Argentina more for learning. They can provide South-to-South cooperation which means exchange of best practices between developing countries.” Lausa said biotechnologies allow plants to survive pests, diseases and effects of climate change. Coconut exports For physical products, she said the Philippines mostly export coconut products to Argentina. Argentina and the Philippines signed a memorandum of understanding in June last year to explore collaborations in agriculture and fisheries. In 2021, Argentina shipped agricultural goods worth $174 million to the Philippines, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed. The post Argentinian firms eye selling meat, spices appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Slovenia celebrates UNESCO recognition for renowned Lipizzan horses
People watched in awe as the world-renowned Lipizzan horses put on a dazzling show this month in the village of Lipica in the small Alpine state of Slovenia. The home of one of the world's most distinguished horse breeds -- and seven countries in the region that once were part of the Habsburg Empire -- have reason to celebrate. Their shared tradition of Lipizzan breeding recently made UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list. The noble Lipizzans, also known as Lipizzaners, are descendants of long stallion lines crossing Spanish, Arabic and Berber horses and were first bred by the Habsburg court in the 16th century. They are famous for their "airs above the ground" classical dressage jumps -- a series of difficult movements requiring strength and precision, in which the horse's feet leave the ground. This rare breed -- featuring white hair but grey skin -- is also famed as a carriage horse. The name derives from tiny Lipica, nestled among Slovenia's verdant hills and lush forests. The picturesque village is home to one of the world's oldest stud farms, which dates back to 1580 and currently stables more than 400 blue-blooded horses. "This is the Lipizzan's home," said Slovenian culture minister Asta Vrecko, ahead of the UNESCO ceremony last weekend. The event was attended by the eight countries that jointly applied for recognition of their shared breeding heritage -- Austria, Bosnia, Croatia, Hungary, Italy, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. For a moment, time stood still as horses and riders from the eight nations performed their dressage and driving exhibition. "They are phenomenal animals. The way that they've been trained and the level of skill of the riders is incredible," said 42-year-old horse farm owner Laura Highlander, who travelled all the way from the United States to see the horses. "I was super excited to be able to come... and see them in their training," she added after visiting the Lipica stud farm. Equine ballet Dark at birth, the Lipizzan horses' coat turns white by the time they are about four years old, which is also when their demanding training starts and the most promising stallions are selected. "Lipizzans can have a strong temperament. They are usually serene, sometimes shy. They are kind and it is up to us to recognize the quality of each horse," Miro Dragic, head of the Lipica stud farm riders' team, told AFP. If health permits, these athletic equine stars, can be worth up to several hundred thousand euros (dollars) each, and can remain active well into their mid-20s. Only the best stallions will be trained in the elitist "haute ecole" of classical dressage to eventually master an equine ballet of cantering, caprioles and pirouettes. The riders, who sport tailcoats and Napoleonic bicorne hats, must also be at the top of their game to get the best from their sensitive partners. "With horses it's like with people. There are many external elements -- weather included -- that can affect them," stableman Amadej Cej told AFP while grooming one of his elegant stallions. It's stablemen like Cej who spend quality time with these beautiful creatures, attending to their every need "from birth until their end". The post Slovenia celebrates UNESCO recognition for renowned Lipizzan horses appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Don’t pee or poop here’
No orinar ni defacar aqui por favor!! The Spanish message on a sign in an alleyway of downtown El Paso, Texas, United States, which translates to “don’t pee or poop here, please,” is just one indication of the migrants crisis confounding US southern border cities. Migrants waiting for the processing of their asylum application in the US have been camping on sidestreets of El Paso and their number is expected to increase with the expiration on 11 May of Title 42, a US pandemic regulation restricting entry of asylum seekers as a precaution against the spread of Covid-19. The campers are posing sanitation and health problem aside from being exposed to danger like the running over of eight migrants by an SUV in Brownsville, Texas on Sunday. The fatalities were waiting at a bus stop outside a migrant aid center when they were hit. Aside from the signage, an alleyway dumpster in El Paso was seen overflowing and people were cutting hair next to it despite the smell of feces, KTSM reported. Laura Cruz Acosta, a spokesperson for the City of El Paso, said restrooms have been closed and the number of portable toilets and washing stations have been increased to address the sanitation problem, according to KTSM. The Texan cities of El Paso, Brownsville and Laredo have declared a state of emergency, as they struggle to cope with hundreds of people — most from Latin America, some from China, Russia and Turkey — who are already there. In El Paso, people sleep on the streets, cowering from the sun under sheets, or sleeping on cardboard. Grubby children beg for change. The city’s mayor, Oscar Leeser, said his officials were readying for many more on Friday, judging by a recent tour of the neighboring Mexican city of Cuidad Jaurez. “On the street we estimated somewhere between eight to 10,000 people,” he said. “There is a caravan... that will be here probably close to 11 May, so I say the real number that we’ll be dealing with is between 12 to 15,000 people.” WITH AFP The post ‘Don’t pee or poop here’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»