Close to 2M students enrolled in CV public schools, set to start ‘classes from home’ on Oct. 5
CEBU CITY, Philippines – Close to two million students, who are enrolled in public schools in Central Visayas, are expected to go back to their classes tomorrow, Monday (October 5) as the first day for the school year 2020 to 2021 will begin. The Department of Education in Central Visayas (DepEd-7) reported that due to […] The post Close to 2M students enrolled in CV public schools, set to start ‘classes from home’ on Oct. 5 appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Scorching schools: How heat worsens conditions of poor students in PH
[This is the second and last part of a special report on how extreme heat in 2023 impacted the education sector in the Philippines. Click here for the first part.] CEBU CITY, Philippines – The same analysis by Cebu Daily News Digital (CDN Digital) showed that even private schools, which usually have better facilities and.....»»
BIR attempts ‘friendly’ tack
February is not just the love month, it also marks the start of a yearlong campaign for the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to encourage the public to pay their tax obligations. After all, collecting P3.05 trillion is no easy task......»»
Extreme Heat as a ‘New Pandemic’: Thousands in PH Cancel Classes During ‘Hottest Year’
(Part 1 of 2) CEBU CITY, Philippines — The decades-old Gabaldon building of Leyte National High School in Tacloban City has narrow hallways, high and dark ceilings, and overcrowded classrooms. On hot and humid days, the rooms can feel stuffy and suffocating, prompting students like Dwight Lebrea, a 17-year-old Grade 12 student, to find ways.....»»
2 Quran readers killed in Cotabato highway accident
Two male Islamic theology students on their way home from a Ramadhan Quran reading activity died instantly when their motorcycle hit the rear of an idle dump truck in Barangay Takepan in Pikit, Cotabato at almost midnight Thursday......»»
DBM releases P1.3 billion to light up public schools
The Department of Budget and Management has released nearly P1.3 billion for the electrification of public schools nationwide......»»
Mati City, 10 municipalities in Davao Oriental suspend classes, work
Following the impact of a Low-Pressure Area (LPA) affecting Northern and Southern Mindanao, local government units (LGUs) in Davao Oriental have collectively suspended classes and government and private offices. The City of Mati and 10 municipalities, including Baganga, Governor Generoso, Cateel, and others, have issued Executive Orders in line with Presidential Executive Order No. 66, series of 2012. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) has forecasted moderate to heavy rains in Davao Oriental due to the Northeast Monsoon (Amihan) and LPA, posing a risk of landslides and flash floods. The Provincial Local Government Unit of Davao Oriental and Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Councils have reported landslides in Lupon and Cateel, with ongoing clearing operations. The Bureau of Fire Protection and other government agencies have rescued families affected by flash floods in Cateel and Caraga. Franz Irag from the Office of Civil Defense-Davao Region confirmed that around 200 individuals or close to 500 families in Davao Region have been displaced and are now in evacuation centers. Additionally, five LGUs in the province of Davao de Oro have also declared the suspension of classes and work in both public and private offices......»»
Walang Pasok: Classes in tremor-stricken General Santos to resume Wednesday
Classes in all schools in tremor-stricken city General Santos shall resume on Wednesday, subject to close monitoring by the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office......»»
US police launch huge manhunt for shooter who killed at least 22
A massive manhunt was under way Thursday for a gunman who a local official said killed at least 22 people and wounded "many" more in mass shootings in the US state of Maine, the deadliest such incident this year. Police said Robert Card -- seen in surveillance footage pointing a semi-automatic weapon with an extended clip as he walked into a bowling alley in the town of Lewiston -- "should be considered armed and dangerous." Card is a certified firearms instructor and a member of the US Army Reserve, CNN reported, citing law enforcement sources. Lewiston city councilor Robert McCarthy told CNN that law enforcement had "confirmed 22 dead, many, many more injured", with local media reporting shootings had occurred at multiple locations. Swathes of Lewiston were locked down, with businesses urged to shutter and people ordered to shelter in place, as the scourge of horrifying gun violence once again ripped through an American community. Maine public safety official Mike Sauschuck said he was not prepared to give a death toll, calling it "a very fluid situation." He told reporters police were flooding the streets as they sought the gunman. "We have literally hundreds of police officers working around the state of Maine to investigate this case, to locate Mr. Card," he told reporters. Rescue vehicles rushed in from around central Maine to tend to the wounded, city councilor McCarthy said, and the two Lewiston hospitals "have called in every off-duty staff member that they could to deal with this." President Joe Biden made calls -- stepping away from a state dinner honoring Australia's prime minister -- to Maine's governor, its two senators and a local congressman to offer federal support, the White House said. Early on Thursday, armed police were seen guarding the Central Maine Medical Center, where some of the wounded were being treated. Several Maine school boards and educational institutions, including Bates College, said they would not be holding classes on Thursday, according to statements. Multiple locations Police and rescuers reportedly arrived at the Sparetime Recreation bowling alley at about 7:15 pm local time (00:15 Thursday GMT) in response to an active shooter, and then received reports of another shooting at the Schemengees Bar & Grille, according to the Sun Journal local newspaper. Police issued a number of photographs of 40-year-old Card at the bowling alley, where he appears calm and composed as he moves through the doorway with his rifle raised. "Please contact law enforcement if you are aware of his whereabouts," they said. Sauschuck said officers had located a "vehicle of interest" they had been looking for -- a white sport utility vehicle (SUV) -- in Lisbon, a town around eight miles (12 kilometers) from Lewiston, where residents had also been warned to stay off the streets. Card was not in the vehicle, reports said. Law enforcement "are investigating two active shooter events," the Androscoggin County Sheriff's Department said on social media. "We are encouraging all businesses to lock down and or close while we investigate. The suspect is still at large." Maine Governor Janet Mills said she was "aware of and have been briefed on the active shooter situation in Lewiston." CNN reported that at least 50 people were wounded in the incidents, citing multiple law enforcement sources, but said it was unclear how many of the injuries were the result of gunfire. It was unclear if initial reports of shots being fired at a third site, a Walmart distribution center, were accurate. My hometown Maine Congressman Jared Golden wrote on social media that "like all Mainers, I'm horrified by the events in Lewison tonight. This is my hometown." "Right now, all of us are looking to local law enforcement as they gain control of the situation and gather information. Our hearts break for those who are affected," he said. Distraught citizens flocked to local hospitals. "I'm just overwhelmed. I've been here trying to spread, you know, some kind of comfort, some kind of support," Cynthia Hunter, a local resident, told CBS affiliate WGME. The shooting is one of the deadliest since 2017, when a gunman opened fire on a crowded music festival in Las Vegas, killing about 60 people. Gun violence is alarmingly common in the United States, a country where there are more guns than people and where attempts to clamp down on their spread are always met with stiff resistance. The United States has recorded over 500 mass shootings this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive (GVA), a non-governmental organization that defines a mass shooting as four or more people wounded or killed. Wednesday's attack was the deadliest mass shooting in 2023 so far, according to the GVA's data. Efforts to tighten gun controls have for years run up against opposition from Republicans, staunch defenders of the constitutional right to bear arms. The political paralysis endures despite widespread outrage over recurring shootings. Lewiston is the second most populous city in Maine located some 30 miles north of the largest city, Portland. The post US police launch huge manhunt for shooter who killed at least 22 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
How Hong Kong became a fencing powerhouse and cheered up a city
Hong Kong is one of the smaller Asian Games teams by population, but when it comes to fencing the city is a regional heavyweight with ambitious medal hopes. Edgar Cheung won gold at the Covid-delayed Tokyo Games two years ago -- Hong Kong's first Olympic fencing title and first Olympic gold in any sport in a quarter of a century. It turned Cheung into a celebrity overnight and prompted parents across the Chinese territory of 7.5 million people to rush and sign their children up for fencing classes. Cheung's historic win in the foil competition was a much-needed dose of good news for a city mired in social unrest and pandemic gloom at the time. With more funding and public attention as a result, Cheung and his team-mates now hope to stamp their mark on the Asian Games in Hangzhou when they open on Saturday. Despite a strong record at recent editions, including eight medals in the sport in 2018, Hong Kong is yet to win fencing gold at the Asian Games. "No matter for individual or team events, I hope we can (win gold at last)," the softly spoken Cheung, 26, said. The city will have 24 fencers, 12 women and 12 men, at the Games. Another gold-medal contender is 29-year-old Vivian Kong, who is ranked number two in the world in women's epee. There is also Ryan Choi, who along with Cheung was part of the Hong Kong team that won bronze in the men's team foil at the world championships in July. Cheung said the Hong Kong team have "improved greatly" since the 2018 Games in Jakarta. The left-hander, who has recovered from a recent wrist injury, told AFP he wanted to "prove to our competitors they need to beware of us". - Pathway to success - Fencing in the city stretches back decades, to when Hong Kong was a British colony, with its amateur fencing association founded in 1949. The city had occasional success in the early 2000s, but it was the 2010 Asian Games, where Hong Kong fencers won seven medals, that first established them as a regional powerhouse. Local organisers made efforts to popularise the sport, bringing classes to schools and community hubs in the past two decades -– that is where Cheung had his first taste of fencing. Fencers also benefited from a reform to Hong Kong's pipeline for discovering and training talent which allowed Cheung to devote himself to the sport full-time when he was 17 with his parents' blessing. Cheung's final bout at the Tokyo Olympics drew hundreds of fans who crowded into a Hong Kong mall to watch the live broadcast, popping champagne corks after he emerged victorious. Days later, then-city leader Carrie Lam announced more funding for elite Hong Kong athletes, including an expansion to the fencing hall at the institute where Cheung trains. Fencing schools reported a spike in applications, although observers say interest has since tapered off somewhat. - Warning for star man - Gregory Koenig, who previously coached in his native France and also Taiwan, began working with Hong Kong's fencers five years ago and has developed a close relationship with Cheung. He had a warning for Hong Kong's star man, who has slipped to seventh in the men's foil world rankings. "When you're Olympic champion it's very hard because everybody has an eye on you and everybody's fighting hard against you," Koenig said. He said he told Cheung: "You have to understand that many people fight all their life to reach the goal you've already reached." "Okay, do you think you reached the maximum level and you want to stop here? Or are you still motivated for more?" Koenig says he told Cheung. "He told me, 'No, I really want to put my name in the history of fencing.'" hol/pst © Agence France-Presse The post How Hong Kong became a fencing powerhouse and cheered up a city appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DepEd kicks off enrollment
The Department of Education on Monday launched the enrollment for school year 2023-2024, expecting around 28.8 million students to be enrolled for the upcoming school year. However, DepEd spokesperson Undersecretary Michael Poa stressed that these figures are just based on assumption. To recall, a total of 28.4 million students enrolled in both public and private schools nationwide in the last school year. “This is an assumption, not a target, because our growth rate is around 1.7 percent per year, so that’s the additional enrollees we can get. So, if we look at that, at least our planning service is saying around 28.8 million learners are expected to be enrolled this year,” Poa said in a press briefing during the kick-off of this year’s Brigada Eskwela at Tarlac National High School in San Roque, Tarlac province on Monday. “So, we will see during the enrollment period if we could reach the 28.8 million enrollees,” he added. The DepEd scheduled the enrollment period for the upcoming school year from 7 to 26 August and Poa said that the Education department has recently issued an order reiterating and adopting last year’s enrollment guidelines. The DepEd has three modalities in enrolling school children — in-person, online and through drop boxes in barangay halls or schools. “We will just continue what we did last year,” Poa said. The DepEd earlier said that the opening of classes for the upcoming school year in all public schools nationwide will be on 29 August. Meantime, the Philippine National Police has expressed its readiness for the school opening on 29 August. PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said that all units were ordered to strengthen dialogues with school officials for security measures against crimes and acts of violence. She added the PNP has also released the operational guidelines of Oplan Back to School 2023 for the school year 2023-2024. “The operational guidelines have been sent to the line units and we have given directives to our line units that this early they should contact the schools that are close to them and within their respective jurisdiction to also get their suggestions and inputs to further improve our security measures at the opening of the class and of course for the whole duration of the school year,” Fajardo said. The post DepEd kicks off enrollment appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
16.8K individuals in 5 regions affected by ‘Egay’
At least 16,888 individuals or 4,554 families have already been affected by super typhoon "Egay" (international name: Doksuri) and the intensified southwest monsoon or "habagat" as of Tuesday, according to the latest report of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. NDRRMC said the affected families are residing in 11 towns and 28 villages within the Ilocos Region, Calabarzon, Bicol Region, Western Visayas and Northern Mindanao. It also reported that around 100 persons were displaced while 38 individuals or 16 families opted to evacuate from their residences to stay in three activated evacuation centers. NDRRMC reported 21 flooding and landslide incidents due to inclement weather. One town is currently experiencing power interruption while one town has no water supply. Some 128 classes were suspended and 87 towns opted to hold off work in the offices amid the bad weather. Classes at all levels in Bacolod were canceled, although those affected were mostly private elementary and high school students as some private tertiary schools shifted to remote learning instead. The Manila International Airport Authority has so far reported 20 canceled flights on Tuesday due to inclement weather and in anticipation of the severe effects of the super typhoon, while 70 seaports were affected by the weather disturbance. The state weather bureau Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration hoisted Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 4 in the northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan province including Babuyan Islands, Batanes, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Apayao and Abra as "Egay" continued to threaten the northern tip of the country. TCWS No. 5 is raised in the eastern portion of Babuyan Islands (Camiguin Island) with very strong winds of more than 185 km/h forecast. PAGASA said the center of the eye of "Egay" was last spotted 190 kilometers East of Aparri, Cagayan while moving northwestward at 20 km/hour. It packs maximum sustained winds of 185 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 230 km/h. The super typhoon is forecast to make landfall or pass very close to the Babuyan Islands-northeastern mainland Cagayan area between late Tuesday and Wednesday morning. The post 16.8K individuals in 5 regions affected by ‘Egay’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Pinoys torn between U.S., China in conflict
In an armed conflict between China and the United States, Filipinos would equally support and reject a government position of taking sides, based on the latest Pulse Asia survey commissioned by former presidential spokesman Harry Roque. An “Ulat ng Bayan” survey revealed that 45 percent of respondents said the Philippines should choose sides in the event of a war between the two superpowers. Another 45 percent believed that the country should not. Conducted from 19 to 23 June, the Pulse Asia survey had 1,200 respondents. In terms of geographical areas and socio-economic classes, the Visayas region (62 percent) and Class ABC (54 percent) registered the highest affirmative response. On the other hand, most respondents from Luzon (54 percent) and Class D (47 percent) answered in the negative. “Despite the strong pro-American sentiment in the Philippines, the survey results indicate that Filipinos are torn between China and the US in the context of an Indo-Pacific conflict because it would be catastrophic to our country,” Roque said. “Our economy has yet to fully recover from the inflationary effect of the Russia-Ukraine war, several miles away from the Philippines. We cannot afford to be embroiled in a war that is so close to our shores,” he said. Meanwhile, 78 percent of the respondents agreed with the constitutional provision of renouncing war and adhering to peace and freedom with all nations as a matter of national policy. The former party-list representative said it was the dominant opinion among the respondents regardless of geography and socio-economic status. Article 2, Section 2 of the 1987 Constitution states: “The Philippines renounces war as an instrument of national policy, adopts accepted principles in international law as part of the law of the land and adheres to the policy of peace, equality, justice, freedom, cooperation, and amity with all nations.” Roque said, “The country must never fall into a proxy war trap perpetrated by any war-mongering hegemon. Likewise, our government should never permit a foreign state to use our territory, either through a military agreement or an unholy alliance, in attacking another county.” “Even as a third-party participant in a war, the Philippines stands to risk the lives and well-being of countless Filipinos. It is also counterproductive to our socio-economic gains in recent years, including our march towards an upper middle-income nation status.” Roque noted that the Philippines is a peace-loving nation that should continue advancing regional peace and stability in accordance with international law. Under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement or EDCA, the Philippines currently hosts nine agreed locations aimed at strengthening the joint interoperability of the American and Filipino armed forces in the Indo-Pacific region. China has said America’s increased military deployment in the EDCA sites would jeopardize regional peace, security, and stability. The post Pinoys torn between U.S., China in conflict appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Philippine colleges partner with top Canadian unis for nursing
Miriam College and World Citi Colleges are partnering with top Canadian universities to produce world-class nurses, said Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairperson Prospero De Vera III during the Laging Handa public briefing. "If Miriam College and Camosun College in Canada signed a memorandum of agreement to have international programs including health sciences; WCC [World Citi Colleges] has also signed up with various universities there—University of Manitoba and the rest in nursing. So we have many Philippine universities now that have already signed agreements or starting to sit down together with the top Canadian universities to produce world-class nurses," De Vera said. According to him, some of the Philippine universities that offer nursing programs have aligned their curriculum with the nursing curriculum in Canada. "What they did is that they created a common curriculum that is patterned to the nursing curriculum in Canada so that Filipino students will have credentials that are recognized in Canada," De Vera said. He said World Citi Colleges has signed an agreement with the network of hospitals in Ontario, wherein the hospital training of their students will be done in Canada. "So, we focus on that [nursing] because, you know, we are famous for our nursing graduates, and foreign universities recognize that we have good products when it comes to health care," De Vera said. "So, those agreements, the other agreements, were already signed before I came to Canada. Other Philippine universities have already signed the agreements in the past two to three months, and some more will be signed in the coming months until November because there is a big international conference in Canada in November—several Philippine schools are going there to launch their partnership agreements in November on nursing program, health sciences. Those are the programs they focus on. All of that is in response to the instruction or to the call of the President that we focus on degree programs in STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics] and degree programs that have connections with industry," the CHED chair added. De Vera said the Department of Health, the private hospitals and CHED will work together to fund the partnership with foreign universities to produce additional nurses. "We should help nursing graduates to pass a licensure test, and that's what we're doing right now actually. Other universities have already started giving free review classes for their graduating students and their alumni who have not passed the licensure exam," he said. "So, that's what we have presented to the President—long-term, medium-term and immediate steps that can be undertaken. The President ordered CHED to continue what he's been doing to address the nursing crisis," the CHED chair added. Just recently, the Philippine State College of Aeronautics (PhilSCA) and the World Citi Colleges (WCC) also signed a memorandum of agreement with the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) to produce world-class Filipino aircraft maintenance specialists and avionics technicians for the domestic and international aviation industry. This agreement is a result of the CHED-initiated project entitled “Twinning and Training Program for a ladderized Diploma Program in Aircraft Maintenance Technology”, that leads to a Bachelor’s Degree in Aircraft Technology between PhilSCA, WCC and BCIT. This initiative is a response to the call of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for educational institutions to focus on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics programs. “This MOA signing is timely as we celebrate the first year of the Marcos administration and a response to his call to produce world-class graduates that can practice their profession all over the world,” De Vera said. “CHED’s presence here today is the manifestation of our deep interest in further strengthening our close bilateral relationship with Canada in promoting the internationalization of HEIs and a signal that the Philippines is open for business for universities that are interested in transnational education,” he added. The post Philippine colleges partner with top Canadian unis for nursing appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Close to 2M students enrolled in CV public schools, set to start ‘classes from home’ on Oct. 5
CEBU CITY, Philippines – Close to two million students, who are enrolled in public schools in Central Visayas, are expected to go back to their classes tomorrow, Monday (October 5) as the first day for the school year 2020 to 2021 will begin. The Department of Education in Central Visayas (DepEd-7) reported that due to […] The post Close to 2M students enrolled in CV public schools, set to start ‘classes from home’ on Oct. 5 appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
For Mike Nieto, all roads lead to leading
Mike Nieto's leadership is not just for the basketball court. Apparently, his voice carries just as much weight inside the Nieto household in Cainta. "Hanggang bahay, umaabot yung pagli-lead ko," he shared with a laugh. "Rinig na rinig palagi boses ko sa bahay. Since I've proven to them na I can be a leader sa court, siyempre, I can also be a leader dito sa bahay." What does that mean exactly? Well, let's just say that whenever the Nieto family decides they want and need some quality time together, it's the 23-year-old who sets the time and the place where it would happen. "I think nasanay na rin kasi sila na ako ang palaging nagsasalita kahit sa ganyang bagay so most of the time, ako na talaga nagsasabi saan at anong oras kami pupunta," he said. This is not at all that surprising as when you talk about Mike Nieto, you talk about leadership. That has long been the calling card of the 6-foot-2 swingman - from his days as a Blue Eaglet to his time as a Blue Eagle and from his stint in Batang Gilas to his current run in the Gilas Pilipinas pool. But… Why do people say that in the first place? What is it with Mike Nieto that just speaks, leader? FTW: For The tWin To get the answer, we need to go back to the start. As in, the very, very start. Technically, Mike is the leader of the four Nieto siblings as he is the firstborn of Ateneo de Manila legend Jett and super mom and dentist Girlie. Matt is his brother, but is younger by two minutes. Make no mistake, though, the twins have always gotten along. "Kami ni Matt, ever since, close na talaga kami. We started playing basketball at the age of six and from then on, naging magkasama na kami sa lahat ng bagay," Mike said. He then continued, "Even course namin sa college, pareho kaya almost lahat ng classes namin, classmates kami. Ever since talaga, unusual na hindi kami magkasama." Indeed, the Nieto twins have always been some sort of a package deal. Hence, the reports of their commitment to Ateneo for college had headlines such as "Ateneo scores 'twin kill' as Nieto brothers commit to play for Blue Eagles." Through and through, however, Mike was thought to be the leader - even though Matt is the point guard. The reason for that? Because "Big Mike" is more vocal. And why is he more vocal" Well, because he had a two minute headstart on "Matty Ice" at letting his voice be heard. Seriously, though, Mike said it was just because he doesn't waste any time at all in being vocal - and that's why he's being heard first and more often. "Siguro, mas maingay lang kasi ako kay Matt. Ako kasi, kapag may nakita akong mali sa ginagawa ng teammates ko, siguradong makakarinig agad sila sa akin," he shared. He then continued, "Hindi ako papayag na lilipas ang isang bagay na alam kong makakasama sa team. Talagang maglalabas at maglalabas ako ng mga salita hanggang ma-solve ang problema." That doesn't mean that Matt doesn't lead, though. As his twin put it, "Matt is the leader on the court. That's the assignment Coach Tab [Baldwin] gave him and I think he has done well with that." Well, yeah, Matt has three rings as court general of the Blue Eagles' dynasty to show for that. LOL: Lead out Loud It was another court general altogether, however, who had made the biggest mark on Mike Nieto. While he never was a point guard due to his wide frame, he was always trying to emulate one of the best ball-handlers in the history of Philippine basketball. "Jimmy Alapag is my role model when it comes to leadership," he said. "I'm just very lucky that for a long time now, he would talk to me on how I can affect the team positively on and off the court." When Alapag was in his prime as captain of Gilas Pilipinas, Nieto was put on the pedestal as skipper of Batang Gilas. While he knew full well that was a tall task, he was also eager to prove himself worthy. "Sa Batang Gilas under coach Jamike [Jarin], he made me team captain kahit second year high school pa lang ako. But that made me realize na I have the capabilities of being a leader," he said. With that, Mike had the responsibility of making sure the likes of Paul Desiderio, Richard Escoto, Jollo Go, Jolo Mendoza, and Renzo Navarro were kept in line. And from then on, he just did not stop keeping at it. Whether it be as the Jrs. MVP as a Blue Eaglet or a rotation regular as a Blue Eagle, Nieto's biggest contribution has always been his leadership. "Being a leader is never easy. At the end of the day, you have to gain the trust of your teammates and your coaches - that's the hardest part," he said. Ask his teammates from high school, many of whom were still his teammates come college, and they would say they always have his back. "Buti na lang nakuha ko ang tiwala ng lahat ng tao na nakapaligid sa akin. Kaya rin ako nag-succeed being the team captain ng every team na nagiging part ako," he said. While he has always had the full faith of longtime teammates and good friends Thirdy Ravena, Gian Mamuyac, Mendoza, and of course, twin Matt, Mike could only acknowledge that it was another challenge altogether being the voice of the team that swept the season. "Ang malaking naging difference ngayong college from high school, kinailangan kong magsalita ng English mas madalas," he said, through chuckles. With foreigners such as Ange Kouame and Filipino-foreigners like Raffy Verano, Nieto, indeed, did have to make sure his communication lines were crystal clear. The thing about leaders, though, is that they give their all in anything and everything - whether that be giving a pep talk or passing the message to somebody like Kouame who only started learning English in 2017. IMO: In My Opinion And the thing about leaders? They do not necessarily care about themselves. Imagine Mike Nieto, a Jrs. MVP, a team captain for Batang Gilas, a literal blue-blood in Katipunan. Do you know his averages through their three-peat? In 47 games total, he saw 14.2 minutes of action and had 5.2 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. Still, that did not matter at all. All that mattered for Mike are all those Ws. "To be a leader, you have to prove palagi that you can lead on and off the court," he said. "I think yun ang napatunayan ko kay coach Tab - na handa akong i-sacrifice ang personal goals ko para sa ikabubuti ng team. Wala akong pakialam sa sarili ko since ang nasa utak ko lang is kung ano ang makabubuti para sa team namin." But did he? Did Nieto prove himself to Coach Tab - a coach who has gone around the world and seen it all? The talented tactician's statement right after Ateneo completed its perfect run through UAAP 82 speaks volumes. “Look at all of us and think about where we’re gonna be in 10 or 15 years, you’ll forget most of us,” he said in the post-game conference where he sat alongside the Nieto twins, Ravena, Isaac Go, and Adrian Wong. “But you won’t forget Mike Nieto.” Coach Tab then went on to explain why he said so. As he put it, "Mike is a natural leader. Mike is a communicator. Mike is a thinker. In terms of touching people, making lives better, and making sure that everybody around him has a better chance than what he has, that’s our captain." High praise coming from the very mentor who has been getting nothing but high praise. Safe to say, though, Mike has proven himself to coach Tab. TBC: To Be Continued In doing so, Mike Nieto has also made it possible for the two of them to continue working together. Mike, twin Matt, fellow Blue Eagle Go, University of the East's Rey Suerte, and San Sebastian College-Recoletos' Allyn Bulanadi were the first five names listed for the Gilas pool. The likes of Ravena, Dwight Ramos of Ateneo, Justine Baltazar of De La Salle University, Dave Ildefonso then of National University, and the University of the Philippines foursome of Javi and Juan Gomez de Liano, Kobe Paras, and Jaydee Tungcab also made the list not long after. But the fact remains that "Big Mike" - he of zero starts, but three titles in a row in his last three years in blue and white - was one of the first names there. With that, he is now one of the few Batang Gilas players who have successfully gotten promoted to the Men's team. "Of course, sino bang ayaw i-represent ang bansa natin, 'di ba? That's why I'm very grateful for this opportunity to be part of the Gilas pool," he said. He then continued, "That's why I've been working on my game even harder so that I can provide whatever Gilas needs from me." Of course, what Gilas would need from Nieto is, first and foremost, his leadership. After all, that is still and would always be his greatest strength. To do so, though, the youngster would have to prove himself yet again - not only to Filipinos who are forever invested in their national team, but more importantly, his teammates, many of whom are already superstars in the PBA. For Mike, however, this is nothing new - nothing new at all. "Ever since I was in grade school, people have been doubting that I can progress my game to the next level. What we can't forget is that at the end of the day, it's in your hands if you want to prove them wrong or prove them right," he said. He then continued, "I actually enjoy these kinds of moments since dito talaga lalabas ang totoong pagkatao mo. Ang sigurado ko lang, I will fight for my spot in Gilas." And so, from a successful high school career and then an even more successful college career, Nieto is now seeking success as part of the Gilas pool. Does he deserve to be there? That's for the haters to hate, the doubters to doubt, and the bashers to bash. And that's for Mike Nieto to lead them out of the darkness. --- Follow this writer on Twitter, @riegogogo......»»
Julia, Carlo kumasa na sa taping sa Japan, magtatambal sa ‘Hold Me Close’
MULING magpapakilig sina Julia Barretto at Carlo Aquino sa kanilang fans! Magkakaroon kasi sila ng reunion movie na “Hold Me Close” mula sa direksyon ni Jason Paul Laxamana. Sa kasalukuyan, sila ay nasa bansang Japan upang umpisahan na ang paggawa ng pelikula. Sa isang Instagram post, ibinandera ng Viva Films ang ilang posters at isang.....»»
Church visits are allowed only until 10 p.m. – Police chief
CEBU CITY, Philippines – Church visits on Maundy Thursday will only be allowed until 10 p.m. the chief of the Cebu City police announced on Thursday, March 28. Police Colonel Ireneo B. Dalogdog, City Director of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) said that the public is not allowed inside religious places past 10:00 p.m......»»
CV wage board sets public hearing for kasambahay pay
CV wage board sets public hearing for kasambahay pay.....»»
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.....»»
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......»»