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Data not compromised on PhilHealth cyberattack
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation or PhilHealth on Wednesday maintained its claim that its members’ data was not compromised by the recent cyberattack on its system. In an interview with the DAILY TRIBUNE, PhilHealth spokesperson and senior vice president for Health Finance Policy Israel Pargas reiterated that their database remained “intact.” He, however, admitted that hackers behind the cyberattack accessed the data that were stored in the servers affected by the hacking. “We cannot verify that. It can be a possibility because again, checking our database, it is still intact. If we check the database, it appears that no data was compromised or leaked,” he said. “However, since our employees are also working with regard to our members and all, it could be true that there may be data stolen by these hackers. It is uncertain whether any data was stolen or not,” he added. On Tuesday night, the Department of Information and Communications Technology confirmed that the hackers have already started publishing PhilHealth employees’ data on the dark web. DICT Undersecretary Jeffrey Dy said the stolen data includes details on employees’ identification cards, memorandum, directives and hospital bills. The development came a day after the self-imposed deadline of the hackers on the government to pay a $300,000 ransom for the data expired. Dy said the information posted on the dark web could just be a “teaser” of what the hackers have stolen from the state-run health insurer’s system. At the same time, in an advisory, PhilHealth confirmed that some members’ personal information including names, addresses, dates of birth, sex, phone numbers, and PhilHealth identification numbers were compromised. The corporation said it is “working to notify all affected individuals directly.” The state-run health insurer also urged its members to take precautionary measures in light of the cyberattack on its system. “Monitor your credit reports for any unauthorized activity,” it said. Members were also encouraged to place a fraud alert on their credit reports and change their passwords for their online accounts, especially their financial accounts. Members were also advised to be wary of phishing emails and smishing text messages. No numbers Asked how many members were affected by the incident, Pargas said PhilHealth has yet to know the quantity of the data stolen by the hackers. “There might have been data that were compromised but we don’t have any numbers yet,” he said. In case PhilHealth members receive suspicious calls about their data, they may report it through phic.actioncenter2023@gmail.com or phic.dpo@gmail.com, he said. Online Meanwhile, the state-run health insurer said its website, member portal, e-claims, HCI portal, Electronic Premium Remittance System, and electronic PhilHealth Acknowledgment Receipt can now be accessed by the public and their partners. On 22 September, PhilHealth temporarily shut down its website and membership portal due to an “information security incident.” The post Data not compromised on PhilHealth cyberattack appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PhilHealth insists ‘no data was compromised’ amid cyberattack
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation or PhilHealth on Wednesday maintained its claim that its members' data was not compromised by the recent cyberattack on its system. In an interview with Daily Tribune, PhilHealth spokesperson and Senior Vice President for Health Finance Policy Israel Pargas reiterated that their database remained “intact”. He, however, admitted that hackers behind the cyberattack accessed the data that were stored in the servers affected by the hacking. “We cannot verify that. It can be a possibility because again, checking our database, it is still intact. If we check the database, it appears that no data was compromised or leaked,” he said. “However, since our employees are also working with regard to our members and all, it could be true that there may be data stolen by these hackers. It is uncertain whether any data was stolen or not,” he added. On Tuesday night, the Department of Information and Technology confirmed that the hackers have already started publishing PhilHealth employees’ data on the dark web. DICT Undersecretary Jeffrey Dy said the stolen data includes details on employees' identification cards, memorandum, directives, and hospital bills. The development came a day after the self-imposed deadline of the hackers on the government to pay a $300,000 ransom for the data expired. Dy said the information posted on the dark web could just be a “teaser” of what the hackers have stolen from the state-run health insurer’s system. At the same time, in an advisory, PhilHealth confirmed that some members' personal information including names, addresses, dates of birth, sex, phone numbers, and PhilHealth identification numbers were compromised. The corporation said it is “working to notify all affected individuals directly.” The state-run health insurer also urged its members to take precautionary measures in light of the cyberattack on its system. “Monitor your credit reports for any unauthorized activity,” it said. Members were also encouraged to place a fraud alert on their credit reports and change their passwords for their online accounts, especially their financial accounts. Members were also advised to be wary of phishing emails and smishing text messages. No numbers Asked how many members were affected by the incident, Pargas said PhilHealth has yet to know the quantity of the data stolen by the hackers. “There might have been data that were compromised but we don’t have any numbers yet,” he said. In case PhilHealth members receive suspicious calls about their data, they may report it through phic.actioncenter2023@gmail.com or phic.dpo@gmail.com, he said. Online Meanwhile, the state-run health insurer said its website, member portal, e-claims, HCI portal, Electronic Premium Remittance System, and electronic PhilHealth Acknowledgment Receipt can now be accessed by the public and their partners. On September 22, PhilHealth temporarily shut down its website and membership portal due to an "information security incident." The post PhilHealth insists ‘no data was compromised’ amid cyberattack appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Ex-employee questions BI chief’s appointment
The job of Immigration Commissioner Norman Garcera Tansingco may be in limbo following the revelation by a former bureau employee that Tansingco has a pending case before the Office of the Ombudsman. Based on a document obtained by DAILY TRIBUNE, Tansingco is among the respondents in a human smuggling complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman by former Bureau of Immigration Intelligence Division employee Richard de Leon Cabochan Jr. on 21 April 2015. “One of the respondents in the complaint is Atty. Norman Garcera Tansingco. Based on my records, the last pleading I filed in the case was a supplemental affidavit dated 24 June 2015. In addition, I also filed two other cases with your honorable office docketed as OMB CASE NO. IC-OC-14-1351° and OMB CASE NO. IC-0C-14-4768,” Cabochan told DAILY TRIBUNE when sought for comment. Cabochan was prompted to question Tansingco’s appointment through a letter addressed to Ombudsman Samuel Martires dated 19 September 2022, after a clearance was released by Maria Agnes L. Forteza, Graft Investigation Officer I, dated 1 September 2022. An Ombudsman clearance is a requirement for a Presidential appointee. Cabochan, in his letter, said Tansingco is not fit to be installed as BI commissioner because of his pending case before the Ombudsman. “To my displeasure, I came to know that Atty. Tansingco, a respondent in the abovementioned case, was the newly appointed commissioner of the BI. The said event had me surprised because it is my understanding that to be a confirmed appointee of a head of a government agency, one must possess a clean record or background as evidenced by various clearances issued by concerned government offices of the Republic of the Philippines,” Cabochan’s letter to Martirez read. Cabochan said Tansingco was able to fool Malacañang’s steering committee — the Presidential Management Staff — by saying that he was not involved in any criminal or administrative cases. “An investigation of the matter showed that Atty. Tansingco obtained a ‘clearance’ stating that he had no pending criminal or administrative cases with your honorable office. To reiterate, the same was issued last 1 September 2022,” Cabochan said. “I was surprised about this development, considering that it is to my knowledge that the complaint for the alleged human smuggling that I had filed is still being heard by your honorable office and has yet to be resolved, considering that I have yet to receive any document of the results of the proceedings conducted,” Cabochan letter to Martirez read. “Despite such fact, it appears from the abovementioned document that the case I had filed was already resolved without me, the complainant, being duly informed of the same,” he added. Not notified He further asked Martirez why the Ombudsman did not notify him that Tansingco was given a clearance by the Ombudsman, a clear violation of his right to the due process of law. “It is my understanding that this runs counter to the established procedures in the resolution of filed complaints in your honorable office wherein the parties should be duly informed of the results of the proceedings. I further understand that this right to be informed of the results of the proceedings is part of the due process of law as it would allow the parties to seek relief from the decision by filing the appropriate action in case they disagree with the outcome of the proceedings,” the letter said. The post Ex-employee questions BI chief’s appointment appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Separation pay
Dear Atty. Kathy, I just won the illegal dismissal case I filed in 2013 against my employer, Company A. In my complaint, I asked for reinstatement to my former position. However, during the negotiations for settlement so that I will not appeal my case anymore, Company A said since it has been 10 years and my former position no longer exists, they will just give me separation pay equivalent to my latest 1-month salary for every year of service. Is this justified? Zeny *** Dear Zeny, The Supreme Court has ruled that where reinstatement is no longer an option, payment of separation pay is justified. The lapse of 8 years or more, from the filing of the complaint up to the resolution of the case, has been considered by the Court as “considerable time” to support the grant of separation pay in lieu of reinstatement. In your case, it appears that your reinstatement is an impractical option, considering that 10 years had passed from the time you filed your illegal dismissal complaint in 2013. In such a situation, instead of reinstatement, the Court grants separation pay of one month for every year of service, among other reliefs that a complainant may be entitled to. Separation pay in lieu of reinstatement would therefore be justified in your case. (Julieta B. Sta. Ana versus Manila Jockey Club, Inc., G.R. 208459, 15 February 2017). Atty. Kathy Larios The post Separation pay appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Dismissal in disguise
Constructive dismissal has been defined as a dismissal in disguise, or an act amounting to dismissal but is made to appear as if it was not. More specifically, it is when an employee quits work because continued employment is rendered impossible, unreasonable, or unlikely, or when there is a demotion in rank or a diminution in pay and other benefits. (Dimagan v. Dackworks United, Inc., G.R. 191053, 28 November 2011). The test of constructive dismissal is whether a reasonable person in the employee’s position would have felt compelled to give up his or her employment under the circumstances (St. Paul College, Pasig v. Mancol, G.R. No. 222317, 24 January 2018). Here are some examples of acts that constitute constructive dismissal: In one case, an employee who was hired as a bookkeeper in a company engaged in the real estate business was held to be constructively dismissed when she was deprived of office space, was not given further work assignments, and was not paid her salaries until she was left with no choice but to stop reporting for work (Tan Brothers Corp. of Basilan City v. Escudero, G.R. 188711, 3 July 2013). In another case, an employee who was hired as a waiter in a hotel company was held to be constructively dismissed when his regular work days were reduced from five days to two days. The change in his work schedule thus resulted in the diminution of his take-home salary. The fact that he may have continued to report for work does not rule out constructive dismissal, nor does it operate as a waiver. (Regala v. Manila Hotel Corp., G.R. 204684, 5 October 2020). The Supreme Court explained that “constructive dismissal occurs not when the employee ceases to report for work, but when the unwarranted acts of the employer are committed to the end that the employee’s continued employment shall become so intolerable. In these difficult times, an employee may be left with no choice but to continue with his employment despite abuses committed against him by the employer, and even during the pendency of a labor dispute between them.” (The Orchard Golf and Country Club v. Francisco, G.R. 178125, 18 March 2013). In another case, a managerial employee was instructed to perform functions that were below her position. When she assigned another person to do the said functions and suggested a different procedure to her boss, the latter reacted negatively and told her she was stupid and incompetent. She was also asked to resign on more than one occasion but was later told to stay. After she was assured that she could keep her job, she was treated indifferently by the management. The Supreme Court held that acts of disdain and hostile behavior such as demotion, uttering insulting words, asking for resignation, and apathetic conduct towards an employee are tantamount to constructive dismissal. (Bayview Management Consultants Inc. v. Pre, G.R. 220170, 19 August 2020). In another instance, an employee became the subject of constructive dismissal in the guise of a transfer. She was initially promoted to the position of Chief Operating Officer in one of the employer’s branches. However, two months after her promotion, she was appointed instead as Compliance Manager, and her position of COO was declared abolished when the management decided to undertake an “organizational restructuring.” It appears, however, that the said position was actually never abolished as another employee was appointed to take her place. The appointment was even publicly announced via an official communication disseminated company-wide. The Supreme Court held that when another employee is soon after appointed to a position that the employer claims to have been abolished, while the employee who had to vacate the same is transferred against her will to a position that does not exist in the corporate structure, there is evidently a case of illegal constructive dismissal. (Ico v. Systems Technology Institute, Inc., G.R. 185100, 9 July 2014). An employee who is constructively dismissed is entitled to two reliefs, namely, back wages and reinstatement. However, where reinstatement is no longer feasible, the employee shall be granted separation pay in lieu of reinstatement (Cornworld Breeding Systems Corp. v. Court of Appeals, G.R. 204075, 17 August 2022). For more of Dean Nilo Divina’s legal tidbits, please visit www.divinalaw.com. For comments and questions, please send an email to cabdo@divinalaw.com. The post Dismissal in disguise appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Clock ticking on Gilas
There’s only almost a month left before the FIBA Basketball World Cup but Gilas Pilipinas has yet to train with a complete roster. Various problems have hounded the national squad. In fact, barely a few days after the announcement of the 21-man pool, rising star Carl Tamayo pulled out, saying that he needed to rest following a grueling campaign in the Japan B League. Injuries further marred the formation of the squad with Roger Pogoy, Calvin Oftana, Ray Parks, and naturalized player Justin Brownlee begging off from the training camp at the Inspire Sports Academy in Laguna, while AJ Edu showed up hobbling with an ankle sprain that he sustained in a workout in Brisbane. Still, Gilas, with a depleted roster, left for Estonia and Lithuania. Their training went well where they faced top collegiate, national, and club teams from Ukraine, Latvia, Estonia, Finland and Lithuania. But shortly before flying back to Manila, Scottie Thompson, one the team’s most versatile players, crashed with yet another injury as he hurt his finger in the final stretch of the camp. The injury was so severe that it could take six to eight weeks for him to recover, practically reducing him to a mere spectator when the World Cup unwraps on 25 August. Then, shortly after their return from Europe, gunner Jordan Heading also withdrew due to a nagging back injury that needs therapy in the United States. But coach Chot Reyes never lost hope. After all, Kai Sotto had returned to the country following a two-game stint in the National Basketball Association Summer League, while Jordan Clarkson was scheduled to arrive based on his earlier commitment that he will join Gilas training six weeks before the World Cup fires off. But as of last Friday, both Sotto and Clarkson had yet to play a single minute with Gilas Pilipinas as it heads for a crucial four-nation pocket tournament in China next week. Their continuous absence is not only a major concern for Reyes, but also for their teammates, who are obviously getting impatient and demoralized for training with a crippled roster for over a month now. There is no doubt that Sotto and Clarkson are the best Filipino players in the world right now. But Sotto seems too busy chasing his dream of becoming the first Filipino to play in the NBA, while Clarkson just signed a new contract with the Utah Jazz that would make him richer by more than $50 million in the next four years. When Sotto showed up to Gilas training on Thursday, he just talked to Reyes and asked for a few more days of rest as he sustained a back injury in his final game in the Summer League. Meanwhile, Clarkson’s initial agreement with the federation appears to have fizzled out as Gilas Pilipinas team manager Butch Antonio admitted that they were still in the “middle of negotiations,” something that should have been done three or four months ago. Reyes has to make a decision quickly. The World Cup is coming up and time is no longer on his side. He has to devise a backup plan — a Plan B — before the support of this basketball-crazy country for this massive and very expensive mission completely erodes. If he has to drop Sotto and Clarkson from his plan, so be it. The important thing is that he comes up with a solid preparation and a game plan that is built around those who have been training regularly. At this point, what Reyes and Gilas Pilipinas need are not the best dribblers, the best passers, or the best defenders. They don’t even need the tallest or the quickest players. What they need are players who are committed. Players who are willing to play for the flag and put the country ahead of their personal goals and ambitions. Players who are armed with big fighting hearts. The clock is ticking on this Gilas squad. Reyes should grab the ball and deliver the dagger before the time expires. The post Clock ticking on Gilas appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Pretty in pink: ‘Barbie’ marketing blitz hits fever pitch
Hollywood A-listers have been walking red carpets in hot pink, glitter is back, and companies from The Gap to Burger King are doing rose-colored collaborations: "Barbie" mania is everywhere as the hotly anticipated film hits theaters worldwide. Toy maker Mattel, who first unveiled the iconic doll in 1959, has reached about 100 licensing agreements for everything from roller skates to toothbrushes in connection to director Greta Gerwig's summer flick. Of course, Barbie is big in the beauty world too -- lipsticks, blushes and mirrors all bear the famous logo. "In the 30 years that I have been tracking and analyzing box offices and trends, I've never quite seen anything like this before," said Paul Dergarabedian, a senior media analyst at Comscore. "Barbie is tailor-made for marketing," he said. "It's perfect because Barbie is a toy, it's already a product, and beyond that, it's a lifestyle and a color." The movie, which stars Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as boyfriend Ken, has been hyped as one of the biggest blockbusters of the season, with numerous premieres held around the globe ahead of Friday's debut in US theaters. Of course, that promotion blitz has been curtailed at the 11th hour, with Hollywood actors now on strike over pay and other conditions. But the list of corporate partners is sure to keep the buzz going. Microsoft, Forever 21, Ulta Beauty, Hot Wheels, Chevrolet and even Progressive insurance are among the companies looking to cash in on Barbie mania. The influential color company Pantone even has a shade to match the zeitgeist: 219C is officially Barbie Pink. Mattel has even reached a deal with rival toy giant Hasbro, which will release a Barbie version of the classic board game Monopoly in the fall. In exchange, Mattel will showcase "Transformers" on its Uno card game in connection with a Hasbro film release. 'Irresistible' Robbie has embraced Barbiecore fashion at premieres around the world, recreating some of the doll's most iconic looks, but the Barbie lifestyle trend is also full steam ahead Airbnb is offering up a stay at Barbie's "Malibu DreamHouse" for two nights in connection with the film's debut. "Placed perfectly above the beach with panoramic views, this life-size toy pink mansion is a dream come true!" reads the listing. Singer John Legend and his model wife Chrissy Teigen took the plunge, posting a series of pictures on Instagram of their stay at the hot pink property. The most ubiquitous shade of pink used on the Warner Bros film's set, a retro bubblegum hue made by Rosco, was used in such great quantities that the shoot has been blamed for a global shortage. "It's just become a very irresistible proposition," said Dergarabedian, crediting both Warner Bros and Mattel with ensuring the buzz had staying power. Dergarabedian expects a strong opening weekend for Barbie, with around $75 million in North American ticket sales. 'Barbenheimer' The film is opening in parallel with another big Hollywood entry, the Christopher Nolan-directed "Oppenheimer," a biopic about the father of the atomic bomb. The unlikely face-off between the dark historical thriller and a fuchsia-tinted romp about a doll has created online buzz about a phenomenon dubbed "Barbenheimer." Dergarabedian said the coincidental timing of the openings had contributed to "unprecedented" fodder about the films on social media and beyond. Both movies are opening on the heels of another big-screen blockbuster, "Mission: Impossible -- Dead Reckoning Part One," which led the domestic box office last weekend. A starry soundtrack includes tracks from Dua Lipa (who also appears in the film), Lizzo, and Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice, who recorded a cover of "Barbie Girl," a 1997 hit by Danish-Norwegian band Aqua. The original recording actually prompted a lengthy but unsuccessful trademark lawsuit by Mattel. The company subsequently embraced the song. The movie's arrival has also not been without controversy. Barbie has been banned in Vietnam over a scene with a fictitious world map criticized for allegedly showing China's claims in the disputed South China Sea. The Philippines allowed the film to be shown -- but asked that the map be blurred. The post Pretty in pink: ‘Barbie’ marketing blitz hits fever pitch appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Divided breaks
Dear Atty. Kathy, Our regular work day is from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with only a 30-minute lunch break. We asked management for a longer lunch break since according to the Labor Code, the time-off for regular meals should not be less than 60 minutes. However, management said it cannot give a lunch break longer than 30 minutes due to operational requirements, and can give instead short snack breaks of 15 minutes each in the morning and in the afternoon, bringing the total break time to 60 minutes. What will be the effect if our break time is not continuous and is divided as such? Atlas Dear Atlas, According to Article 85 of the Labor Code and its implementing rules, it shall be the duty of every employer to give its employees not less than 60 minutes time-off for their regular meals. A shortened meal period of not less than 20 minutes may be given by the employer, however, such shorter meal period is credited as compensable hours worked of the employee. If a meal period is less than 20 minutes, this shall not be considered as meal time but merely as rest period or coffee breaks, and therefore, becomes compensable working time. Applying the above, since the lunch break is only 30 minutes, such would be considered as compensable hours worked. The morning snack break of 15 minutes and the 15-minute snack break in the afternoon shall also be considered as compensable working hours. Since the shortened meal breaks are considered as compensable working hours, then any hours in excess of the normal hours of work of 8 hours, including the paid break times, will be considered as overtime and should be paid as such, in accordance with Articles 83 and 87 of the Labor Code on Normal Hours of Work and Overtime Work. Thus, if your work day is from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. inclusive of the compensable shortened meal times, it appears that you have 9 hours of work in a day, where 1 hour is compensable as overtime. Atty. Kathy Larios The post Divided breaks appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Can you be in two places at the same time?
“Is it possible for a person to be in two places at the same time?” asked a teacher from Bulacan. “My two students (A and B) told me they met their classmate (C) at around 4:30 p.m. inside the campus and asked her casually what was inside the plastic bag she was carrying. C answered, “Sapatos.” After five minutes, they met C again near the gate going in the same direction, carrying the same bag. For fun, A and B asked C again what was inside the plastic bag, and the latter answered, “Sapatos.” A and B expected C to be irritated for being asked the same question twice, but C was not. A and B then realized that C had, in fact, just arrived and had just alighted from the jeep at the very moment. Therefore, it was not C whom they first met. Who could it be? How could she be in the campus earlier when she was still in the jeep at that time?” The phenomenon of being in two places at the same time is not really impossible or uncommon. The Catholic Church has numerous documented cases of bilocation by saints and religious people. One remarkable local case of bilocation happened in 1982 to a factory worker of a large rubber shoe manufacturing company in Quezon City, which was witnessed by no less than six other employees, including the worker’s supervisor. Vivian Torres (not her real name) was a young audit clerk in Plant IV of the factory. One Monday morning, the plant manager brought Vivian to my office, crying uncontrollably. Upon questioning, I learned that the previous Saturday, she was absent from work because she was not feeling well. She never left her house. But when she reported for work, no less than six employees, including her supervisor, saw her in the factory. Nobody noticed anything unusual about her behavior. Upon hearing the testimonies of her co-employees, Vivian began to panic because she heard it meant she was about to die. [caption id="attachment_144272" align="aligncenter" width="660"] PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF superpower-list.fandom.comThe phenomenon of being in two places at the same time is not really impossible or uncommon.[/caption] She stopped crying only after I explained to her the astral body and how the phenomenon of bilocation happens. I told her that what her co-employees saw was her astral body, while her physical body was at home. The astral body of an individual can detach itself from the physical body during sleep, in periods of stress or when the physical body is ill. The astral body is the counterpart of the physical body which is called a Doppelganger in German. The astral body will always return to its physical body, which is connected through an elastic astral cord (called the silvercord). Death occurs only when the astral cord is broken, and this cannot happen during an astral projection. Bilocation is often confused with teleportation. In teleportation, the physical body of the person located at point A disappears completely, and at the same time, appears at point B, which can be miles away from each other. Note: For inquiries about online seminars, available books, consultancy, and suggestions, text 0998-988-6292 or email jaimetlicauco@yahoo.com. The post Can you be in two places at the same time? appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Japan’s Koji Yakusho wins best actor at Cannes
Japan's Koji Yakusho won best actor at Cannes on Saturday for "Perfect Days" by German director Wim Wenders, a touching tale about a Tokyo toilet cleaner. "I want to specifically thank Wim Wenders... who truly created a magnificent character," he said as he received the award. Yakusho, 67, appears in most scenes of "Perfect Days" as a mysterious, bookish man without friends, content to spend his spare time reading, watering his plants, taking photos, and listening to songs on his car stereo. The versatile actor's roles in over four decades of movie-making have ranged from warlords and gangsters to killers and cops -- and now an everyman who keeps the public washrooms of Tokyo pristine. He also crossed over to Hollywood for "Memoirs of a Geisha" in 2005 and "Babel" a year later. "Wim had given me very little information... There was a lot of mystery. Even today, it's a character I know almost nothing about," he said of his role, which involved almost no dialogue. "It was the first time I shot like that, over a very short period, without rehearsal," he said about working with one of the giants of European cinema. Germany's Wenders, 77, won the top prize Palme d'Or at Cannes in 1984 for "Paris, Texas". Born in 1956 in Isahaya, Nagasaki prefecture, Yakusho first worked as a town hall employee before turning to acting in 1979, after following up on an ad in a newspaper. Out of 800 candidates he was one of four selected, "and today I am the only one to be an actor", he told French media in 2003. His first big role that helped propel his career was in the popular hit "Tampopo" (1985) about the hunt for a noodle soup recipe. Since then among his notable films have been "The Eel", winner of the Palme in 1997, and "The Third Murder" in 2017. In 2009 he made his first and only feature "Toad's Oil" in which he also played the lead role. Asked what keeps him going in the trade, he told The Hollywood Reporter in 2019: "I always think I haven't got it quite right, but in the next film I'll finally nail it. "I guess that's the drug of this business for me, which has kept me going for 40 years." The post Japan’s Koji Yakusho wins best actor at Cannes appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Group calls for review of ride-hailing companies’ tipping scheme
The Coalition for Filipino Commuters or CFC has asked the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to dig deeper into the alleged “tip requirements” of some ride-hailing firms, which the commuters’ group said may overcharge riders. In a letter of complaint addressed to LTFRB Chairman Teofilo Guadiz III, CFC lead convenor Ira Panganiban decried the “upfront tipping” feature in the JoyRide application for ride-hailing. Panganiban also pointed out that the feature, although it appears optional, is “not included nor allowed in the LTFRB's fare matrix for app-based ride-hailing services.” “It has come to our attention that the company has implemented an upfront tipping and gifting feature on their mobile app, which allows JoyRide drivers to select the highest bidder before they accept the booking. This is done in both car and motorcycle taxi services,” Panganiban's letter said. Such a practice poses a “severe impact on commuters, particularly those who cannot afford to pay high upfront tips, as they are less likely to book a ride,” it added. As such, the CFC urged the LTFRB and the technical working group on motorcycle taxis to “investigate this matter and put an end to this practice.” Daily Tribune has reached out to JoyRide for clarifications but it has yet to respond as of press time. Earlier this week, the LTFRB said it does not condone overcharging in the bike taxi industry. “We do not and we will not tolerate any violation such as overcharging of fares within the public transportation system. The fare matrix was crafted to ensure that the fares charged by all public transport operators from commuters regardless of vehicle type are fair and equitable,” Guadiz III said in a separate statement sent to the press. The LTFRB, however, did not name any particular company as the subject of such complaints. The post Group calls for review of ride-hailing companies’ tipping scheme appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
BI warns: Be wary of illegal recruiters
The Bureau of Immigration on Wednesday stressed that it will continue and intensify efforts in its campaign against human trafficking and unlawful recruiting despite the negative criticism the agency has gotten on social media. BI commissioner Norman Tansingco said that he instructed all BI officers to keep doing their duties with dignity and patriotism and stressed that social media ridicule will not deter them from performing their mandate to combat human trafficking in all international ports in the country. Tansingco promised that their campaign would not stop as long as these traffickers and unlawful recruiters preyed on those who were sent to work overseas without the required paperwork and government protection. The BI chief added that it appears that the syndicates themselves are behind a smear campaign against the Bureau, in the mistaken belief that it will prompt the bureau to relax and lie low in its campaign against trafficking. He also said that their officers are reminded to conduct their work professionally, and they also request that the traveling public return respect to their uniformed personnel. All BI officers had already been urged to continue performing their responsibilities despite the various difficulties they had faced in recent weeks. “I have asked them to stay focused on their jobs, because what we are doing is protecting our countrymen from being subjected to abuse and maltreatment in foreign lands,” Tansingco said. Recently, the BI reported intercepting three Filipino passengers suspected of being illegally recruited to Dubai via Hong Kong, thwarting another effort at human trafficking. The victims, whose names have been withheld for safety, attempted to depart the nation on 11 April using a Cathay Pacific flight at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3. The passengers pretended to be tourists traveling to Hong Kong but eventually admitted that they had been hired as household service workers in Dubai. “The passengers presented certificates of local employment at a law firm, so as to intimidate and trick the immigration officials into thinking that they would be traveling for tourism purposes,” Tansingco said. “They later confessed that a certain Helen had promised them jobs as HSWs in Dubai and a salary of AED 1600,” he added. In addition, the victims revealed that they were intended to remain in Hong Kong while they awaited their visas for the United Arab Emirates. Following that, Tansingco reiterated earlier warnings not to fall for shady recruiters and human traffickers. The post BI warns: Be wary of illegal recruiters appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Imee questions DFA, DND officials on ‘obsession’ with Taiwan Strait
Senator Imee Marcos on Wednesday grilled officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Department of National Defense for their “obsession” with the Taiwan Strait. In an inquiry, Marcos, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee questioned the locations of the four additional Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement sites in the country. “So, we have given up all claims on the east sector and West sector in the Philippine Seas, is that correct? We are now obsessed with the Taiwan Strait?” she asked. Two of the four new EDCA sites will be established in Cagayan province, one in Camilo Osias Naval Base in Sta. Ana and Lal-lo Airport in Lal-lo. The two remaining EDCA sites will be in Camp Melchor dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela province; and Balabac, the southernmost island in Palawan province. Of the four additional EDCA sites, three are situated in the northern part of the country, with the naval base at Cagayan's Santa Ana being about 400 kilometers (250 miles) from Taiwan. Taiwan, an ally of the United States, is considered by China as part of its territory to be retaken one day -- by force, if necessary. Responding to Marcos’ question, Defense Officer-in-Charge Carlito Galvez Jr. rejected the senator’s assumption, stressing that the West Philippine Sea remains a government priority. “No, Madam. We are still that concentrated on the West Philippine Sea because…” Galvez said. Unsatisfied, Marcos interjected Galvez from answering the question: “These are very contradictory statements, Usec. Galvez but I will await your submission and perhaps we can now move to other topics as you suggested earlier.” Prior to this, Marcos stressed that EDCA’s primary objective is to support the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. “With regards to the purpose of EDCA and modernization, it appears to us, to reiterate, that in fact modernization no longer appears to be the primary of EDCA but disaster preparedness, maritime security, and counterterrorism,” Marcos said. “Why does it look like we are relying on foreigners to defend us while our armed forces remain rotten, old, under-armed, and completely abject in the face of external threats?” she added. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s eldest sister also questioned the motive behind two EDCA sites in the province of Cagayan. In response, Galvez noted that Cagayan province was chosen for being a “disaster risk or vulnerability.” “If disaster and maritime security are the reasons, then why don’t we have a base on the eastern side of the Philippines?” she asked. Galvez responded that it is already included in the four additional EDCA sites. Unsatisfied, Marcos questioned which of the five existing EDCA sites and four additional EDCA sites are facing the Pacific Ocean. The Defense chief noted that while there are no existing EDCA sites on the eastern side of the country, the national government is planning to erect a military base in Camarines Sur. This, however, was not a priority, according to Marcos. “This is not part of the nine [EDCA sites]. It is almost ten yet we do not have one in Region 5 or 8.” Galvez clarified that it is for “future consideration.” EDCA in BARMM Marcos also questioned the lack of EDCA sites in the southern part of the country, particularly in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. “You said EDCA is for disaster, maritime, and counterterrorism. If it’s for counterterrorism – you are a veteran – you would know that the BARMM needs it the most,” she said. “I'm very interested about this because the choice seems to be random and no longer purposeful with regard to the modernization of the AFP which at the end of the day is what we are all here for,” she continued. Responding to the lawmaker’s question, Galvez said that they are only following the instruction of the president. “The instruction of the president is for us to prepare for external defense and with that we are trying to really allocate some resources and our modernization program on the northern side,” he said. “If you look at you know the configuration of the armed forces strategy, our vulnerability is in the north,” he added. Rejecting Galvez’s claim, Imee averred that she doesn’t feel vulnerable, citing that her family is hailed from the northern part of the Philippines. “In the north? I’m from the north sir, I don't feel very vulnerable. Our fishermen in Cagayan and the Ilocos seas are not being harassed but anyone,” she stressed Galvez stood by his claim that the northern part of the country is the “weakest” in terms of maritime security. Terms of Reference The committee hearing also revealed that there is no still written agreement between the Philippines and the United States regarding the four new EDCA sites. This was unveiled after Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo admitted that the two countries have yet to complete the terms of reference for the additional EDCA sites. “Once the exchange of notes is made then it would be reflected in the annex but until those exchanges of notes have not yet been completed it will not be reflected in the existing annex,” Manalo told the panel. While the Philippines and the United States are still discussing the terms of reference, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III reminded the DFA that it should not allow any changes in the terms of EDCA. “We have to remember that when we are discussing now with our counterparts, the end product is an annex to EDCA. So, do not even attempt to change the terms of EDCA. We're not changing the terms of EDCA, it should be clear,” Pimentel said. “We're making that commitment no matter how extensive the discussions are on the four sites there will be no attempt or desire or intention to change any word in EDCA -- the agreement,” he added. The post Imee questions DFA, DND officials on ‘obsession’ with Taiwan Strait appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Floyd Mayweather Jr. says Manny Pacquiao continues to fight because he has to
A little over five years after the Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather Jr. bout, people still wonder if there's ever going to be a sequel. Since that highly-anticipated 2015 bout between arguably two of boxing's biggest stars, Pacquiao and Mayweather's careers have gone in vastly different directions. Following his 12-round loss to Mayweather Jr., Pacquiao beat Timothy Bradley in a trilogy bout, retired for half a year, and then came back to beat Jessie Vargas and capture the WBO Welterweight World Championship. Pacquiao would lose that title to Jeff Horn in a controversial decision in Australia, before bouncing back by beating Lucas Matthysse to become a world champion once again. Just last year, Pacquiao put on two impressive performances in his title defense over Adrien Broner and his WBO (Super) Welterweight World Championship-clinching win over Keith Thurman. Now, at 41 years old, Pacquiao is still in the conversation of top opponents for welterweight stars like Terence Crawford and Errol Spence Jr. After beating Pacquiao, Mayweather Jr. wrapped his career up with a win over Andre Berto to retire undefeated in 2015. Two years later however, Mayweather Jr. came back and claimed his 50th professional boxing win after defeating UFC star Conor McGregor by tenth-round TKO in a big-money superfight. Save for a three-round exhibition bout against Japanese kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa in Japan on New Year's Eve of 2018, Mayweather has remained retired. So whenever Pacquiao earns a big win or whenever Mayweather does anything remotely related to a boxing ring, rumbles of a rematch always begin to appear. Asked if he was interested in a rematch however, Mayweather sort of shot the idea down. Asked if a rematch against McGregor was on his radar, Mayweather told rapper Fat Joe that he was more interested in fighting guys who has whole countries behind him. "I’m a businessman now. I already proved, years and years ago, that I was the best, period. I’m talking pound-for-pound, I already proved all of that," Mayweather Jr. said. "At my age now, I’m a businessman, so I’m not gonna be out there competing and fighting guys that only got a small city behind them. You got a lot of American fighters that are good, but they got little cities behind them. I’mma fight guys that got a whole country behind them. So, I know I can demand and get what I want to get." "So that's Pacquiao?" Fat Joe responded, looking for clarification. Mayweather Jr. responded by saying that he made more in the McGregor fight. (READ: Pac-Mac at super middleweight? Conor McGregor has interesting response to Manny Pacquiao's birthday greeting) "Listen, I made more with McGregor," Mayweather Jr. said. "My faculties and everything that I got comes first. We just talked about “Your health is your wealth”, and that’s why I got this towel on, I was working out today." "Money" followed up by saying that the difference between himself and Pacquiao is that Pacquiao needs to keep fighting. "Pacquiao fight because he have to. Once again, I fight if I want to, so there’s a difference." Was that a no? Was it a maybe? What did Mayweather Jr.'s statements mean? Mayweather Jr. also hit back at those saying that Pacquiao wasn't in his prime when they met back in 2015. "We keep on saying ‘at our prime’, I’m older than Pacquiao by two years. We keep on saying ‘in your prime’. When I beat Pacquiao, they say he wasn’t in his prime. I’m older than [him]. When I fought Oscar de la Hoya, me and Oscar, we both was in our thirties. They keep on…no matter what happens, it’s never good enough for anyone." Right now, it appears that the 50-0 fighter is happy staying retired, but he did share that he has something cooking alongside Japanese promotion Rizin for this year. .....»»
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