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China blocks use of Intel and AMD chips in government computers – report
The procurement guidance also seeks to sideline Microsoft Windows and foreign-made database software in favor of domestic options, a Financial Times report says.....»»
Bill seeks review of rules on reckless imprudence
The country’s road safety laws must be reviewed to address the liability of drivers in cases of traffic violations and accidents, a lawmaker from Bukidnon said yesterday, citing the high number of vehicular crashes in Metro Manila......»»
DOT seeks inclusion in protected areas board amid Chocolate Hills issue
Department of Tourism Sec. Christina Frasco —INQUIRER.net file photo / Ryan Leagogo After the recent controversy surrounding a resort development near Chocolate Hills in Sagbayan town, Bohol, the Department of Tourism (DOT) announced plans to advocate for its inclusion in the national government’s Protected Area Management Board (PAMB). Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco stated during a.....»»
Last Dance for Squires, Junior Altas
Letran seeks to bury the ghost of Game Two while University of Perpetual Help hopes to relive its glory in today’s rubber match for the NCAA Season 99 junior basketball trophy at the Filoil EcoOil Arena......»»
Mike files case vs. Gwen, seeks her suspension
Mike files case vs. Gwen, seeks her suspension.....»»
Squires, Junior Altas play for all the marbles
Letran seeks to bury the ghost of Game 2 while University of Perpetual Help hopes to relive its glory as the two battle each other in Saturday’s rubber match at the Filoil EcoOil Arena that will determine who brings home the NCAA Season 99 junior basketball trophy......»»
China visit
There has been a torrent of wild speculations about the recent visit of former President Rodrigo R. Duterte to China and it focused mainly on the meeting between him and China’s President Xi Jinping. Actually, what brought Duterte to China was an invitation from Fuzhou City, the strategic capital of Fujian Province in southeastern China. The city inaugurated a school building and named it after Soledad Roa Duterte, the venerable late mother of the former president. Unknown to many but not forgotten by the early Chinese migrants in Davao who came from Fujian province, our Nanay Soleng, who was an educator, was among the pioneer teachers of the Davao City Chinese School in the 1950s. Given the rise in prominence of the former president’s mother, who on her own carved an important role as a teacher, wife of Governor Vicente Duterte of then undivided Davao province, civic leader, political activist, and mother of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte who became president of the Philippines, and grandmother of incumbent Vice President Inday Sara Z. Duterte, it comes as no surprise why the grand matriarch of Davao City occupies a special affinity and pride among the Fujian Chinese. Former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, who accompanied private citizen Duterte, said the visit to China was personal. He intimated that since they were already in China and not far from Beijing, his former boss and friend suggested they visit President Xi Jinping. Duterte, he said, wanted to personally thank the Chinese leader for helping the Philippines with the millions of vaccine doses, hundreds of thousands of which were donated, and personal protective equipment at the time when the United States and Europe imposed an embargo on the Covid-19 vaccines they produced. Duterte, too, was grateful to China for helping him with much-needed logistics to fight the Maute ISIS terrorists who laid siege to Marawi and attempted to convert the once pristine city into an ISIS caliphate. It can be recalled that the US refused to sell arms to the Philippines on the stupid claim by some American senators that the Duterte government would use firearms against its own people. Then, of course, there were the multi-billion-peso bridges that now span the Pasig River and help ease the traffic in the metropolis, not to mention the grants and cheap loans with incredibly long grace periods that funded some of the government’s big-ticket projects. Truly, former President Duterte still has an avuncular space in the heart of the Chinese leader. His Beijing visit was personal but it rekindled the spark of friendship between China and the Philippines that was being snuffed out by the gale spawned by the much-ballyhooed Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement bases. Duterte, now using a cane to keep his balance, demonstrated what it is to be strong and independent even now that he is a private citizen of a sovereign state. President Bongbong Marcos, in an ambush interview, said he was aware of the visit of his predecessor to China and that Duterte needed no permission to travel. But, of course. He also hoped that the visit would enhance the relationship between China and the Philippines. He better watch, listen and learn how diplomacy and sovereignty work. The post China visit appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Reviewing Ramadan
By the time this piece sees print today, either Eid el Fitr which marks the end of the fasting month of Holy Ramadan was celebrated yesterday or the celebration is today. It is a guessing game. Even with the advances in modern science and technology — which predetermine like clockwork the setting and rising of the new moon, believers are still bound to follow the Islamic injunction to be guided by the personal sighting of the moon, with two witnesses attesting. True, the National Commission for Muslim Filipinos had recommended, and this was adopted by Malacañang, the declaration of 21 April as the Eid el Fitr national holiday. Still, many ulamas and Muslim scholars were asking for a fatwa or religious declaration to back the position of the NCMF. An archaic practice? No way, claim the ultra-conservative Muslims. They have to follow to the letter the religious ritual. As a consequence, there appears to be a dichotomy in Islam — a continuing tug of war between uncompromising stern fundamentalists and those who want to break away from past tradition towards forward-looking progressive ideas without desecrating the basic principles of Islam. In fact, this defines the great divide between the adherents of fundamentalist Islamic States of Abobakar Al-Bagdadhi advocating violence to establish a Caliphate in the mold of prophet Muhammad’s PBUH of yore, and moderate Islam. That is a contentious issue better left to Muslim theologians. But this piece is written to review international and local events that happened during the observance of the just-concluded Ramadan that impacted Muslims. These were mostly discussed in my recent columns. The historic breakthrough in the sour relationship between the two leading countries of Muslims — Sunni Saudi Arabia and Shiite Iran — was a welcome development. After a long period of backdoor negotiations, unlikely peacemaker China brokered the restoration of diplomatic and political ties between the erstwhile contenders for political dominance in the Middle East, to the embarrassment of the superpower United States which was sidelined. This is good for Islam. A fly in the ointment, however, in the solemn observance of Ramadan was the willful desecration of Islam’s third Holiest Mosque, the Al Aqsa. Devotees in the middle of their prayer rituals were attacked and dispersed with stun grenades and rubber bullets by Israeli armed forces — a serious affront to the solemnity of the Holy Month. In the dying days of Ramadan, another blow was dealt to Islam. As we go to press, fighting rages in Sudan whose populace are devout practicing Muslims. The protagonists are two generals vying for power during the transition from the dictatorial regime of President Omar al-Bashir to civil government. Muslims are the victims in the armed intramural. Locally, tragedy struck with the fire that hit a vessel in the sea off Basilan where most of the victims were Muslims. A Congressional inquiry was called to determine the cause. This was sad for Islam. In the newly created provinces of Maguindanao del Sur and Maguindanao del Norte, the political and legal imbroglio in the latter has simmered down a bit. But while the political and administrative conundrum was addressed with the appointment of a senior minister of the BARMM as officer-in-charge governor, it has created a new problem for Maguindanao del Sur. The re-elected governor was fuming with contempt and indignation after being designated merely as OIC, a move that many observers saw as a gaffe by the Office of the President. This column empathizes with the governor. She was the governor of the mother Maguindanao province and was elected governor of the new Maguindanao del Sur. Why in hell should she be treated the same as the OIC governor of Maguindanao del Norte? This column suggests that the good governor file a special court action for Declaratory Relief to rectify the error. Meantime, the successful hurdling of the recent Bar exam by Muslim takers was welcomed by the Muslim minority. Muslims pray that the teachings of Ramadan for piety, rectitude, self-discipline, forgiveness, and altruism observed by devotees will outlast the end of Ramadan. To my readers: Eid Mubarak! amb_mac_lanto@yahoo.com The post Reviewing Ramadan appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»