& lsquo;Catch Me Out Philippines& rsquo; returns with more thrilling performances, bigger surprises
GMA Network's reality game show 'Catch Me Out Philippines' makes a big comeback with even more spectacular performances from the amateurs and a stellar roster of celebrity guests beginning today......»»
Fish catch in West Philippine Sea grows despite tensions with China
Despite rising tensions with China, the Philippines expanded its fish catch in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) last year to a four-year high of over 200,000 metric tons on the back of higher state support to fishermen......»»
March Madness: 5 Key Insights from Day 2 of the Womens Tournament
The NCAA women’s basketball tournament continued with a bang on Day 2, as fans were treated to some thrilling matchups and standout performances from both.....»»
Villanueva returns to US for fight vs Pierce
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Veteran ring warrior Arthur Villanueva returned to the United States after eight years as he takes on Elijah Pierce on March 29 in Atlantic City, Georgia. Villanueva, an ex-ALA Boxing Gym stalwart, will return to the United States for the first time since 2016. The 35-year-old Villanueva of Bago City, Negros.....»»
Zambales gov eyes intensified dredging
Iba, Zambales — The provincial government on Tuesday has ordered the intensifying of dredging activities in the province as the heavily-silted river caused the recent flooding in coastal communities. In a meeting on Monday, Governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. cited the need to restore the capacity of water tributaries in Zambales to carry excess floodwater into the sea as he assessed the damages caused by the recent typhoons. He added that the floods have affected a total of 26,799 residents and caused damages worth P545.1 million in infrastructure and P24.3 million in agriculture. “Flooding was also observed to be worse in barangays near river mouths because sediments get deposited there naturally when the current slows down at the point where the river meets the sea,” said Ebdane. The official added that most flooding occurred in barangays when tributary rivers emanating from the Mt. Pinatubo area and bringing lahar sand overflowed or punched holes into dikes and protective embankments. “Thus, it is crucial that these areas which are natural catch-basins for sediments should be dredged immediately as more rains are expected, so that we can create bigger drainage areas that will convey river water to the sea more efficiently,” said the Zambales governor. In San Marcelino town which was placed under state of calamity after most barangays suffered heavy damages, the swollen river caused the breach and collapse of embankments protecting Barangay Sta. Fe, thus destroying various public infrastructure worth P515 million. The Zambales Provincial Disaster Risk-Reduction and Management Council reported that 8,421 families comprised of 26,799 individuals were adversely affected by the torrential rains last week. Most of these came from San Antonio town, with a total of 6,749 affected families and 20,602 affected individuals. In San Antonio’s village of San Miguel, which is located where the Pamatawan River empties into the sea, 42 families comprised of 357 persons had to evacuate to safety on 28 July, as floodwaters rose to waist-deep and chest-deep in some areas, the PDRRMC said. Residents said it was the first time they experienced serious flooding there. They said that strong current damaged the river embankment about a hundred meters from the river mouth, thus creating a gap where the swollen Pamatawan River spilled into the barangay. Incidentally, opposition by San Miguel residents to the government’s proposal to dredge Pamatawan for fear that the project would harm local fishing, prompted Ebdane to suspend dredging activities there. Still, residents elsewhere affirmed that heavily silted waterways perennially brought floods in their area. Ebdane said the river dredging program has been endorsed by local government units and national government agencies that consulted in 2014 to formulate solutions following flooding and landslides in the province during typhoon “Odette” in September 2013. The post Zambales gov eyes intensified dredging appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
A flying fiasco
Gokongwei-owned Cebu Pacific Air has proven time and again that it is more interested in counting its profits than upholding its duty to the public. As irate passengers lined up to air their grievances during congressional investigations, it has become evident that Cebu Pacific’s approach to customer service is nothing short of a disaster. The tales of woe begin with the grim reality of overbooking, a practice that seems to have become the signature move of the budget behemoth. Countless passengers have found themselves heartlessly cast aside, denied the right to board their flights, while Cebu Pacific’s rapacity for more revenue reached obscene heights. As these passengers shared their nightmarish experiences, Cebu Pacific’s customer service had been exposed as a mere façade, masking the truth of their disdain for the people they are meant to serve. “Everyone should fly,” Cebu Pacific says. Yes, everyone should fly away from an airline that is a veritable circus of excuses for delays and cancellations. The airline’s explanations for rebooked flights are nothing short of outrageous insults to the intelligence of their customers, each excuse more pathetic than the last. Lightning strikes and bird collisions may be acts of nature, but Cebu Pacific’s callous disregard for its passengers’ well-being is an act of corporate mischief. And the airline’s people at its check-in counters have apparently been coached to lie. A group of journalists hustling back to Manila from a provincial coverage to catch and cover President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s second State of the Nation Address discovered this for themselves. All were supposed to board a 5:30 p.m. flight, but one photographer was rebooked for the next day, while another was told to board the 10:30 p.m. flight. Explaining at the airline’s check-in counter that they could not afford to be offloaded, the journalists were told that a smaller plane than the one they were booked on was dispatched. Allegedly, the bigger plane encountered mechanical problems and did not leave Manila. Then the check-in staff started playing the guilt-laying game, saying: “We cannot sacrifice the safety of the other passengers by accommodating more people than the smaller plane’s carrying capacity.” “But who told you to sacrifice anyone?” one of the journalists retorted. “What we want to know is how on earth Cebu Pacific chose us to be the ones to be off-loaded. And why are we being told only now, just a couple of hours away from our scheduled flight?” Cebu Pacific’s check-in staffer then mouthed what we presume to be the routine argument-ender they’d been given as a tired script — that they could do nothing about the problem except to find other flights for the off-loaded who may then file a complaint with their customer care department. To the chagrin of the photographer and reporter, they were told by their colleagues who were lucky enough not to be taken off the 5:30 p.m. flight that, yes, the original plane that was supposed to fly them back to Manila was the very same plane they boarded. What happened to the smaller plane? Lies, lies, lies. The question that looms larger than an Airbus A380 is this: How can an airline that rakes in billions in revenue conveniently blame external factors for its failures? “Freak incidents” do not occur with such alarming regularity, and when they do, a responsible and reputable airline has contingencies in place to mitigate their impact on passengers. Cebu Pacific booked a net income of P1.08 billion in the first quarter of this year, tripling its revenue to P20.88 billion from P6.71 billion in the same period last year, during which it recorded a net loss of P7.6 billion. But the carrier’s return to profitability, alas, has been at the expense of customers forced to book hotel rooms at their own expense or sleep on airport floors. To add insult to injury, the Civil Aeronautics Board and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines have failed miserably in their oversight of Cebu Pacific and other erring airlines. Their inaction amounts to a dereliction of duty, leaving passengers vulnerable to the whims and caprices of a budget carrier that cares only for its bottom line. It is high time for Congress to wield its power and act decisively to protect the rights of the flying public. Rep. Rufus Rodriguez’s call for the suspension of Cebu Pacific’s legislative franchise echoes the sentiments of millions who have suffered at the hands of this budget airline. A suspension will send a clear message that reckless indifference and incompetence will not be tolerated, and the privilege of serving the public will be revoked if the airline fails to meet its obligations. We will not be saddled with Cebu Pacific’s flying fiasco. The post A flying fiasco appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
How disaster-resilient are we?
News stories with accompanying photographs again flood the usual outlets of radio, television, print, and now, even social media, showing school children busy with their lessons while gathered under the shade of towering trees, tents, gymnasiums or basketball courts, crowded corridors of government buildings, even chapels. In previous seasons, the students were displaced from their schools by earthquakes or typhoons. Today, they are refugees fleeing from the lava flow and deadly fumes from a volcano, acting up with signs of worsening disaster ahead. Their schoolrooms have been taken over by entire communities whose residents have left their homes along the fringes of Mayon, the country’s most active volcano, because there is nowhere else to park their hastily-packed belongings and no space to sleep, eat and get on with their lives. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who visited the evacuation sites in Albay province, agreed with local officials that the situation could last longer than expected or at least three months before they could return to their homes. A news report said more than 17,000 students in five Albay towns were affected by the transfer, and more evacuees were distributed to about 20 emergency shelters. “We have to find ways to ensure the learning continuity,” a teacher told a news reporter, adding that learning modules used at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic were again being used. Still, one problem was tracking down the dispersed students. Because of its geography, the Philippines is one of the world’s most vulnerable countries, hosting natural hazards like typhoons (20 to 21 hitting the country a year), floods, earthquakes, storm surges, landslides and volcanic eruptions. There are 24 active volcanoes in the Philippines and more than 1,500 on Earth, which are in Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Ecuador, Italy, El Salvador and Kenya, are at higher risk of volcanic eruptions. As of 15 June 2023, 24 active volcanos have been recorded as erupting worldwide. Considering the statistics in the Philippines, how disaster-resilient are we? Local government units or LGUs on the frontline of building resilient communities want financial aid and technical skills in dealing with disaster risk reduction and resilience-building measures. Several Internet apps on early warning systems can enable local officials to develop real-time analyses and adopt swift solutions as part of disaster preparedness and mitigation efforts. The LGUs’ crucial role in this effort should cascade to their respective communities through early warning systems. Also, due recognition should be given to their powers, authority, and corresponding responsibilities to lessen the adverse effects of calamities descending on their shoes, especially in places with no previous history of disasters. But then again, the question of financial capability comes into play because no local governments are equal in the budget, with bigger LGUs getting a bigger slice of the pie from local revenues than the smaller ones. Observers have cited areas of concern: insufficient data and contingency funds of LGUs, lack of adequate disaster risk reduction skills among political leaders, and not enough planning and contingency measures on the part of school authorities on how to deal with problems arising from the use of their grounds and facilities as evacuation sites. The Philippines, however, is not alone in this regard. In the highly-developed United States, for example, it has been observed that not all state officials “have a game plan for local emergency management that encompasses pre-disaster resilience and long-term rebuilding and recovery. Most solely have a short-term emergency response strategy.” Still, it is never too late to catch up, even if this will require spending more on preventive measures like investing in equipment warning residents of impending disasters, anticipating the problems of evacuees by building safer and more permanent shelters instead of displacing school children from their classrooms, extending safety zones and relocating homes away from risk areas, and planning recovery steps once the disaster blows over. We can no longer afford to sit back and wait for the point of no return, acting only when calamity strikes. Being prepared can save thousands of lives, homes and livelihoods. The post How disaster-resilient are we? appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
More thrills, bigger surprises
Jose Manalo is excited with the return of GMA Network’s reality game show “Catch Me Out Philippines.” This because he believes the show is going to be even better, with more thrills, surprises. “Marami po kayong dapat abangan dito sa bagong episodes ng ‘Catch Me Out Philippines.’ Ang mga guest spotters natin ay may ipapakitang […].....»»
& lsquo;Catch Me Out Philippines& rsquo; returns with more thrilling performances, bigger surprises
GMA Network's reality game show 'Catch Me Out Philippines' makes a big comeback with even more spectacular performances from the amateurs and a stellar roster of celebrity guests beginning today......»»
DoTA 2 star N0tail sees eSports thriving in new normal
With physical distancing being enforced and mass gatherings being prohibited during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, most, if not all major sports have taken big blows. While most professional sports are slowly getting back on their feet, it might take a while - if ever - for the live sports experience to return to normal. For eSports, an industry that really doesn’t require physical interaction or mass gatherings, surviving and thriving in the new normal should not be an issue, and DoTA star Johan “N0tail” Sundstien is confident that will be the case. Speaking to a handful of Filipino media before his 1 on 1 DoTA 2 battle with Filipino gamer Zedrik “Jeff” Dizon, N0tail spoke about how the eSports industry can survive, how it has grown since he began playing, and what Jeff’s 2020 Red Bull r1v1r Runes Championship can do for the Filipino eSports scene. For the 26-year old native of Denmark, eSports should have little to no problems getting back on track after the COVID-19 pandemic. “Yeah, I think eSports is in way better shape than other physical sports, for sure. Physical sports, sports in general, have probably made more of a business and they’ve been used to offline events and monetizing fans coming into stadiums, so obviously they’re having a much harder time than we would be,” N0tail explained. Prior to eSports exploding and becoming a live attraction, tournaments were done mainly online, and N0tail believes that this is one of the industry’s advantages especially in the ’new normal’. “We come from a place where we used to have online tournaments, we used to do these things online purely, and when [the COVID-19 virus pandemic] happened, I think all streaming and all online entertainment platforms had this opportunity to thrive and to exist. It’s a good time to be playing video games and not doing live music or something like that.” “The Coronavirus] hit a lot of people pretty hard, but we have a good chance,” he added. Speaking of the explosion of eSports, N0tail recalls the industry’s humble beginnings and how far it has come now. “When I started, it was nowhere near what it is today. Today, obviously, we travel the world, have all these tournaments, have so many more viewers than we’ve ever had,” N0tail said. “Humanity really likes games, obviously, chess, sports, any kind of game for entertainment, and we’ve come a very long way. We’re way more professional, and financially, way more stable.” The prizes now have also come a long, long way from what they used to be, N0tail shared. “Ten years ago, we were playing for headsets and a couple hundred dollars, and now it’s way, way bigger, for millions. It keeps going up, it keeps getting more traction and attention, and I like to see that trend, I hope it keeps going.” The Philippines has slowly emerged as a hotbed for eSports talent, and Ateneo’s Zedrik “Jeff” Dizon could be on his way to becoming a top star following his 2020 Red Bull R1v1r Runes Championship victory. Apart from the win, Jeff also had the opportunity to go one-on-one with N0tail, Team Captain of the 2-time The Internationals champions Team OG. For an established name and veteran like N0tail, being able to compete against people from all over the world is always a sign of progress for eSports. “DoTA connects people, and whenever somebody from one region that might be weaker plays against another region that might be stronger, or even if they’re both strong or equally [matched], DoTA is a game of ideas and experience, so whenever there’s this cross-country or cross-region game happening, I think there’s always progress. It’s the same when we shape a metagame, when those events were happening, all these teams came together, you quickly saw ideas transfer and a meta being formed between regions and, SC might be doing something one way and it might take something that Europe or NA might be doing, so everytime that it happens, I think it’s a postive thing.” “It makes the ideas evolve and they evolve into something better,” he added. Jeff came up big against N0tail in their one-on-one match, winning 2-1. Catch the replay HERE.....»»
Virus-proofing sports facilities presents a big challenge
By DAVE CAMPBELL AP Sports Writer MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The jersey-wearing camaraderie. The scent of sizzling sausages. The buzz before a big game. The distinctive atmosphere of live sports, that feeling in the air, will return in time as pandemic restrictions are eased. But will that very air be safe in a closed arena with other fans in attendance? The billions of dollars spent on state-of-the-art sports facilities over the last quarter-century have made high-efficiency air filtration systems more common, thanks in part to the pursuit of green and healthy building certifications. Upgrades will likely increase in the post-coronavirus era, too. The problem is that even the cleanest of air can’t keep this particular virus from spreading; if someone coughs or sneezes, those droplets are in the air. That means outdoor ballparks have high contaminant potential, too. “Most of the real risk is going to be short-distance transmission, people sitting within two, three or four seats of each other,” said Ryan Demmer, an epidemiologist at the University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health. “It’s not really about the virus spreading up, getting into the ventilation system and then getting blown out to the entire stadium because this virus doesn’t seem to transmit that way. It doesn’t aerosolize that well.” The three hours spent in proximity to thousands of others is part of the fan experience. It's also why major sports leagues have been discussing plans to reopen in empty venues, for now. High-touch areas with the potential to spread the virus — called fomite transmission — are plentiful at the ballgame, of course. Door handles. Stair rails. Restroom fixtures. Concession stands. Hand washing by now has become a societal norm, but disinfectant arsenals need to be brought up to speed, too. “I can’t really find good hand sanitizer easily in stores. So think about trying to scale that up, so everybody who comes into U.S. Bank Stadium gets a little bottle of Purel. Things like that can be modestly helpful,” Demmer said. There is much work to be done. Vigilant sanitizing of the frequent-touch surfaces will be a must. Ramped-up rapid testing capability during pre-entry screening could become common for fans. Minimizing concourse and entry bottlenecks, and maintaining space between non-familial attendees, could be mandatory. Mask-wearing requirements? Maybe. Most experts, including those at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, believe the primary mode of transmission for COVID-19 is close person-to-person contact through breathing, coughing or sneezing but there's no consensus on some of the details. “There’s still widespread disagreement between experts on which mode of transmission dominates for influenza. So the likelihood of us figuring this out soon for this virus is low,” said Joe Allen, director of the Healthy Buildings Program and an assistant professor at Harvard’s School of Public Health. “We may never figure it out, but I also think it’s irrelevant because it’s a pandemic and we should be guarding against all of them.” Including, of course, the air. The American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers designed the Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) scale to measure a filtration system's effectiveness (from 1-16) at capturing microscopic airborne particles that can make people sick. Not just viruses, but dust, pollen, mold and bacteria. Most experts recommend a MERV rating of 13 or higher, the minimum standard for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. An emerging technology in this area is called bipolar ionization. Connecticut-based AtmosAir has a bipolar ionization air treatment system in about 40 sports venues. Staples Center in Los Angeles was one of the first major sports customers. TD Garden in Boston and Bridgestone Arena in Nashville are among the others who’ve signed on. The Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority approved last year a 10-year contract for a little more than $1 million with AtmosAir to install its system in U.S. Bank Stadium, home of the Vikings and the first indoor NFL stadium to use it. The building, which measures 1.8 million square feet, has 53 air handling units with AtmosAir tubes installed, including 30 in the seating bowl. The ions act like fresh air, reducing the amount of outside air needed to be introduced for the cleansing process. The protein spikes in the coronavirus particles make them easier to catch and kill, said Philip Tierno, a New York University School of Medicine professor of microbiology and pathology. Said AtmosAir founder and CEO Steve Levine: “We’re never going to create a mountaintop, but we’re going to put in maybe three to four times the ions over the ambient air and then let those ions attack different pollutants in the air. The ions grab onto particles and spores and make them bigger and heavier, so they’re much easier to filter out of the air." The next time fans do pass through the turnstiles, in a few weeks or a few months, in most cases they will probably encounter an unprecedented level of cleanliness. “There will be some controls that are visible, extra cleaning and disinfection, but some of it will be invisible, like for what’s happening in the air handling system,” said Allen, the Harvard professor. “The consumers will decide when they feel comfortable going back, and that’s going to depend on what strategies are put in place in these venues and stadiums and arenas and, most importantly, how well these organizations communicate that to the paying public.”.....»»
Pentagon chief reaffirms support after latest China aggression in WPS
Austin emphasized US support for the Philippines in defending its sovereign rights and jurisdiction in a phone call with Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro on Wednesday. .....»»
Philippines logs 40 pertussis deaths this year
MANILA, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Forty children have died of whopping cough, a respiratory infection also called pertussis, since this year, the Philippines' Department of Health (DOH) has reported. The DOH said in a statement on Wednesday that cases have continued to increase since the start of this year, recording 568 cases from Jan. 1 to March 16. "The total number of cases for the same period in 2023 was.....»»
All Hail the Camera King! HONOR Magic6 Pro Ranks Number 1 in Camera Global Rankings
The leading global provider of smart devices, HONOR, claimed the top spot as the best camera smartphone in the recent DxOMark ranking test, dethroning its competitors with a high-ranking score of 158. DxOMark, an independent camera testing organization that provides comprehensive evaluations of camera performances, has awarded HONOR Magic6 Pro as the top contender in […].....»»
PNVF forms coaching sataff for world meet
Seasoned coach Dante Alinsunurin will make a comeback as one of the deputies for the national men’s team as host Philippines pulls out all the stops to parade a competitive squad against the best of the best in the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championships 2025......»»
Iraqis display full might vs Philippines XI
Iraq rained goals on host Philippines in a 5-0 shutout that pushed the Filipinos to the brink in the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers Tuesday at the packed Rizal Memorial Stadium......»»
ANZ raises Philippine inflation forecast to 3.8% this year
ANZ Research hiked its inflation forecast for the Philippines to 3.8 percent this year, from 3.5 percent previously, as risks may drive inflation up to above the central bank’s two to four percent target in the coming months......»»
Unlock business success at Franchise Asia Philippines Expo
The Franchise Asia Philippines Expo 2024 is set to hold a series of dynamic seminars designed to empower entrepreneurs, investors and business enthusiasts with the knowledge and tools needed to thrive in the ever-evolving world of franchising. Slated from April 12 to 14 at the SMX Convention Center Manila, these seminars offer invaluable insights into key aspects of franchising and business growth......»»
Infrastructure projects get better loan terms from Japan
The Philippines has secured better financing terms for two big-ticket infrastructure projects funded by the Japanese government aimed at improving public transport and road connectivity......»»
S& P: Philippines may miss growth goal this year
S&P Global Ratings sees the Philippines again missing its growth targets this year as it kept its gross domestic product growth forecast at 5.9 percent. While the projection is better compared to other economies in the region, it is again below the government’s 6.5 to 7.5 percent growth target......»»
Catch-up Fridays eased for teachers
JENIELITO "Dodong" Atillo, spokesperson of the Department of Education (DepEd-Davao), clarified during the AFP-PNP press conference held on Wednesday morning, March 27, 2024, at the Royal Mandaya Hotel, that the implementation of “Catch-up Fridays” has been streamlined to alleviate any perceived burden on teachers......»»