Covid-19 reinfection casts doubt on virus immunity
Covid-19 patients may experience more severe symptoms the second time they are infected, according to research released Tuesday confirming it is possible to catch the potentially deadly disease more than once. A study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal charts the first confirmed case of Covid-19 reinfection in the United States — the country […] The post Covid-19 reinfection casts doubt on virus immunity appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Serenade of the Seas’ arrival restarts Subic cruise tourism program
The arrival here of GTS Serenade of the Seas, a 12-decker cruise liner operated by Royal Caribbean International, is expected to resurrect Subic’s cruise tourism program, which had gained momentum before being halted by the COVID-19 pandemic three years ago......»»
Jodi Sta. Maria tinamaan ng COVID kaya hindi nakarating sa party ni Mr. M
MAY balidong rason pala si Jodi Sta. Maria kaya hindi nakadalo sa “Night of 100 Stars” tribute para kay Johnny Manahan na kilala bilang Mr. M. Hindi raw totoo na binawi ang imbitasyon kay Jodi dahil mas pinaboran daw si Claudine Barretto sa event. Tinamaan daw ng COVID-19 si Jodi. Nasulat namin dito sa BANDERA ang.....»»
Hong Kong, Philippines work to enhance relations
Filipinos are slowly beginning to travel back to Hong Kong following continued efforts by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office to woo tourists from the Philippines, as well as renew and improve trade and economic ties between the two nations following the COVID-19 pandemic......»»
Grey s Anatomy, Ally McBeal casts reunite at Emmys 2024
The 2024 Emmy Awards was highlighted not just by the domination of "Succession," "The Bear," and "Beef" but also the brief cast reunions of past beloved television shows like "The Sopranos" and "Ally McBeal.".....»»
Marrying a love for the Philippines with chocolate
This green-eyed, handsome man is a chocolatier. Christian Valdes magically conjures up chocolate creations, that casts a spell on our palates to want more. What’s interesting is that you can taste a bit of our history and our culture as well......»»
El Niño casts dark cloud over Philippines power situation
The specter of El Niño hangs heavily over the Philippines, casting an ominous shadow over the country’s power situation in 2024......»»
LIFE’S PASSING GRADE
As the sun slowly descends in the western sky, a man on the balcony of a Malate condominium is gazing at the undulating waters of Manila Bay as it mirrors the disappearing sun. While enjoying this scenic view, the man casts his eyes on the tinted window glass next to him and sees his “youthful” visage. Blessed with baby-faced features, round face and big doe eyes, he looks younger than 50. However, his silvery hair and crow’s feet tell a different story. The man suddenly wonders, “What does it feel like to be 75?” The awareness dawns that, at the age of 75, he will find himself at the twilight of his life, contemplating on the rich tapestry of experiences that have shaped his journey. As the question lingers in his mind, he finds solace in the belief that life, like the enduring waves of Manila Bay, will keep going, revealing its beauty in every rise and fall. [caption id="attachment_194598" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] The grade of 75 may not be a perfect score, yet it symbolizes the lessons learned along the way. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF unsplash/ nguyen-dang-hoang-nhu[/caption] Make the grade Like everyone else, the man had his fair share of ups and downs, successes and failures. As he pondered through the chapters of his life, he couldn’t help but compare life to an exam, with 75 as the passing grade. Life threw questions at him — some easy, others hard and challenging. Some were like multiple-choice quizzes, offering options that seemed equally plausible. Others resembled open-ended questions, requiring thoughtful reflection. Yet, there were times when the questions could be answered with a simple “yes” or “no.” It was very rare for him to encounter a question without a clear right or wrong answer. Regardless of the nature of the exam, the man faced each one head-on. While he stumbled along the way, as any person might, he always got up, learning from each test. Wisdom and experience played a significant role in overcoming obstacles. The grade of 75 may not be a perfect score, yet it symbolizes the lessons learned along the way. In his moments of introspection, he sees 75 not merely a passing grade but a mark of resilience, reflecting the valuable insights he gained from life’s diverse questions. Each failure, each wrong answer, had been a lesson woven into the fabric of his being, contributing to the mosaic of experience that defined him. With three-quarters of a century’s worth of experience, the man, upon reaching the age of 75, plans to continue relishing life every day until the sun goes down on him. Shoot a 75 A typical 18-hole golf course usually has a total par of around 72. If a course has a par of 72 and a golfer takes 75 strokes to complete the course, the reported score is “three-over-par,” indicating that the golfer took three shots more than par to finish. Think of life like playing a round of golf. Reaching the age of 75 can be likened to completing an 18-hole golf course. In this analogy, the par 72 represents the average life expectancy. According to global data analyst, database.earth, the current average life expectancy for the Philippines in 2023 is 72.2951 years. If, at age 75, an individual encounters certain challenges or deviates from the conventional path, it can be compared to a golfer taking 75 strokes to finish a par 72 course. The reported score of “three-over-par” serves as a metaphor for the additional efforts or adjustments one might need to make in life at that age. The main difference, however, between life and golf lies in the fact that being “under par” is favorable in the sports, while being “over par” has a positive meaning in getting older. Near the twilight Sipping his coffee, the man now observes the sky shifting its colors from fiery orange to deep purple. While his outlook upon reaching 75 may appear positive, he wonders if he can still play golf or any of his favorite sports at that age. At 75, an individual is often considered to be in a phase of life where he encounters unique health challenges. This prompts contemplation about the quality of life, medical care and societal perspectives on aging. The post LIFE’S PASSING GRADE appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Pelikulang ‘Cobweb’ ni Kim Jee-won bigatin ang mga casts, paniguradong magugustuhan ng Pinoy K-drama lovers
PUNO ng sinehan sa ginanap na advance screening ng Korean dark comedy movie na”Cobweb” at dinaluhan din ito ng ilang local celebrities na ang nakita namin ay si Direk Ricky Davao na mahilig pala talaga siya sa Korean dramas at movies. Ang ganda ng twist ng “Cobweb” na sinulat at idinirek ni Kim Jee-won na.....»»
Budgetary leverage
By passing a financing bill at the last minute, the United States Congress avoided a federal government shutdown this week. However, the Biden administration’s top priorities, including defense financing for Ukraine, were left out of the final package. For countries like the Philippines, which has cozied up anew to Uncle Sam, this is cause for concern because America has practically left Ukraine high and dry without the full backing it needs to defend itself against Russia. Okay, so Biden said they “will not walk out of Ukraine.” Still, without funding, that’s just lip service. Having perfected the art of emotional suasion at one end of the pole and brinkmanship on the other, we would not be surprised if Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky would tell Biden: “Show us the money.” Sacrificing Ukraine casts doubt on America’s dependability as a coalition partner and ally, even as it stakes a claim to a long tradition of backing democracies in their fight for independence. The Philippines should take note. In the US, it’s clear that whatever the executive branch pledges, the US Congress can always override or, as made apparent again now, starve of funding. That’s the power of holding the purse string that could certainly affect America the mighty’s projection of power. From propping up South Vietnam with billions of dollars in war materiel only to leave Saigon in a huff — with choppers flying off the rooftop of the US Embassy in a hasty, humiliating retreat in 1975 — to giving substantial aid to Israel and Middle Eastern countries, the US has not stopped its posturing as the “policeman of the world.” As in Vietnam and Afghanistan, where in the latter it also abruptly pulled out its forces, thereby allowing the Taliban to retake the country in 2021, the US, for all its fire-and-brimstone statements at the start of the Ukraine-Russia war, may have turned its back on its legal and moral responsibility to aid Kyiv. As an adversarial state under madman Vladimir Putin, Russia has been destabilizing international norms, and Ukraine, by fighting back, has been sending the strong message that autocratic governments cannot make the globe their playground. By not including money for Ukraine’s defense in the 2024 spending bill, the US has lost the chance to demonstrate its dedication to the defense of democracy. But such are the vagaries of the budgeting process in the United States and, of course, the Philippines, with the latter’s form of government and jurisprudence loosely patterned after America’s. In the US, government shutdowns have happened before and will happen again when the legislature and the executive branches are unable to reach an agreement on priorities and lawmakers do not enact a budget in a timely manner. The budget can also be wielded as a political baton with which to make the executive branch more malleable. An example would be the 2013 shutdown in an attempt to defund the Affordable Care Act. Frequent disagreements on spending priorities between the two parties in the US Congress have led to stalemates, with neither side willing to pass the budget unless their demands were met. Budget delays had caused negative effects on the economy and public services. Some may argue that past shutdowns of the US federal government would show the Philippines has a more mature budgetary system in place, as a failure to pass the budget for a new fiscal year only results in a reenacted budget. But the problems associated with a reenacted budget abound. There’s the delayed implementation of new programs and projects. This, as a reenacted budget only allows for the funding of existing programs and projects. A reenacted budget also limits government flexibility to respond to changing needs. For example, if the economy experiences a downturn, the government may need to increase spending on social programs or infrastructure projects. However, this is not possible under a reenacted budget. But probably the biggest risk associated with a reenacted budget would be corruption, as it can give the executive branch more leeway or elbow room to fund projects while reallocating “savings” from projects that had been funded previously. In the shadow of budgetary bludgeoning and political brinkmanship, the recent passage of the US funding bill left Ukraine’s defense hanging by a thread, a stark reminder of the capriciousness of budgeting processes in both the United States and the Philippines, where legislative complexities often take precedence over strategic imperatives. The budget’s power to shape policy and dictate priorities, as seen in the Philippines with past reenacted budgets, illustrates the pitfalls of wielding fiscal levers as political weapons. In both nations, the budgeting process, while designed to reflect the will of the people, is susceptible to political posturing, causing disruptions and imperiling the very ideals of democracy it should be upholding. The post Budgetary leverage appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
REVIEW: ‘HAMILTON’ — Astonishing stagecraft
“Hamilton,” Lin-Manuel Miranda’s rap musical about the eponymous Founding Father, has finally landed in Manila — the first stop of a new international tour that replicates the exact production currently running on Broadway and London’s West End. This is, in other words, essentially the same production that’s won every major theater award conceivable in the West, and whose live stage recording released on Disney+ three years ago was a global success among Covid-captive home viewers. You wouldn’t immediately know all that, however, just from watching this production: Even as it brims with dazzling theatricality and refreshing erudition, it also feels surprisingly small, rid of its status as a phenomenon, pared down to human size. It’s a show that’s almost oblivious to its own celebrity, even as entrance applause (erupting to diminishing returns) dotted the first 15 minutes of its 21 September gala performance at The Theatre at Solaire. Instead, it knows when to build up to the big musical moments, which are few and far between, and does so organically and therefore quite satisfyingly. The logical progression of the narrative and individual character drama — the musical’s unassailable structural precision — are rendered very clear; put bluntly, it is a storytelling apologist’s wettest dream. Never mind that the musical itself — evidently a product of modern-day liberalism, the politics of the American Dream made manifest through the eyes of 21st-century immigrants — is by now indivisible from the very valid criticisms it has received from many corners of American scholarly thought. For the uninitiated, Hamilton tells through rap the rise of the Founding Fathers, including George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, as they built America in the latter half of the 18th century. Admittedly, given what we know now and what we’ve been through since the musical premiered in New York in 2015, it feels weird, to say the least, to be watching a show that hero-worships to varying degrees the likes of Washington, Jefferson and Hamilton — all products of and complicit to the sins of their time. Moreover, the way the musical intentionally casts non-white actors to play these historically white figures (and slavers) can, depending on how one looks at it, come across as a stroke of meta subversion or “revisionist and insulting nonsense,” to quote one critic. Unique brilliance Again — all valid criticisms, which some have suggested are actually part of the musical’s unique brilliance. Watching the musical (through this particular production) in Manila, however, you entertain those thoughts mainly in retrospect. Inside the theater, it’s all those aforementioned merits — and more! — that surround you: a show that’s so technically precise in ways that highlight the material’s inventiveness, a feast of astonishing stagecraft, a display of just how good musical theater can get when given vast resources. [caption id="attachment_187901" align="aligncenter" width="1148"] DeAundre’ Woods as Aaron Burr. | photograph courtesy of IG/dre_woods[/caption] Despite the title, the crux of this production is DeAundre’ Woods’ Aaron Burr (Hamilton’s archrival, if you will). It’s a performance for which the phrase “no notes” seems to have been coined. Whenever Woods disappears from the stage, you look for him. But, more importantly, the genius of Woods’ performance is in how it becomes the anchor through which the musical itself can be better understood: as a story of wanting and longing, a warning against the folly of ambition, a morality tale run parallel to the uncertainty and messiness of nation-building. When Woods sings (and brings down the house with) Burr’s first big solo “Wait for It,” you instantly comprehend the song — and, for that matter, the musical. Arguably, Burr is the central and meatiest role here. Next to Woods’ interpretation, however, the smallness and silliness inherent to the story Hamilton tells become all the more coherent. You grasp how Hamilton and his posse were essentially just kids bumbling their way through a revolution. It’s all very grand on paper, but it’s also a journey chockfull of pettiness and foolishness — and on that stage, a history lesson that revels in its occasionally juvenile, highly accessible nature. [caption id="attachment_187903" align="aligncenter" width="1432"] JASON Arrow as Alexander Hamilton. | photograph courtesy of ig/jason arrow[/caption] Three other male performances stand out in the process: Jason Arrow’s Hamilton, who convincingly pulls off the title character’s transformation from “young, scrappy, and hungry” to world-weary; Darnell Abraham’s Washington giving gospel-preacher-showdown realness; and Brent Hill’s King George literally putting the “mad” to delectably comic effect in his interpretation of the famed mad king. [caption id="attachment_187906" align="aligncenter" width="1512"] DARNELL Abraham as George Washington. | photographs courtesy of ig/darnell abraham[/caption] [caption id="attachment_187900" align="aligncenter" width="1348"] BRENT Hill as King George. | photographs courtesy of ig/darnell abraham[/caption] Dreamcasting Elsewhere, this is a production that’s supplied with all the right parts — but, on a local stage as technologically impressive as the Theatre at Solaire (the best acoustics in Metro Manila, hands down), it also invites “dreamcasting” — permitting you to imagine in real time how certain Filipino theater performers cast in certain roles would, without a doubt, totally slay those parts. No matter: As it is, this Hamilton is one that lives up to the hype surrounding its supposed brilliance — while simultaneously earning that reputation before a live audience night after night. Among others spots of pure artistry, it has a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it onstage costume change involving the terrific ensemble early in Act I, a historical battle conjured through frenzied dance, and entire scene changes and moments evoked simply through the deliberate arrangement of performers’ bodies (that climactic bullet scene, anyone?). In lieu of an arduous and expensive trip to New York or London, this production more than does the job. Hamilton runs at the Theatre at Solaire, Pasay City, until 26 November. The post REVIEW: ‘HAMILTON’ — Astonishing stagecraft appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DA-Davao officials off the hook
The Sandiganbayan on Monday revealed that it has acquitted five former officials of the Department of Agriculture in Davao Region in relation to the alleged anomalous P4.92-million payments to private suppliers in 2004. In its 44-page decision signed 28 July 2023, the anti-graft court junked the graft cases against regional technical director Romulo Palcon, OIC/administrative officer III Godofredo Ramos, budget officer II Gilda Cordero-Panal, regional accountant Mariflor Garcia, and regional cashiers Rita Retino and Corazon Ebero for the prosecution’s failure to prove their guilt beyond reasonable doubt. To recall, the five DA-Davao region officials were accused of allowing private suppliers Everland Agri Corporation, Mintal Fruit Nursery and Asian Hybrid Technology Inc., to take the payments despite the lack of documentation, among others, in violation of the Government Procurement Reform Act or RA 9184. They allegedly conspired with one another and gave unwarranted benefits to the suppliers by signing Bids and Awards Committee resolutions for the disbursement amounting to P4,916,906 in public funds. However, according to the court’s current decision, the prosecution failed to prove that there was indeed a conspiracy. “On the issue of conspiracy, it is the prosecution that carries this burden of proving its existence... This Court finds that the prosecution failed to fulfill this burden,” said the Sandiganbayan. The anti-graft court also ruled that there was “no showing that the winning bidders conspired or connived with any member of the BAC or any of the accused or whether the accused themselves conspired between and among themselves.” “This alone casts doubt on the culpability of the accused for the crime charged,” it added. The Sandiganbayan also emphasized that it has been consistently demanded that the prosecution bear the burden of proving every element of the offense charged beyond a reasonable doubt, such that a verdict of conviction cannot merely rely on the weakness of the defense but instead on the strength of the prosecution’s evidence. The post DA-Davao officials off the hook appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Taylor Swift casts ex-BF Taylor Lautner in ‘I Can See You’ music video, meets his wife while filming
Taylor Swift surprised fans after she reunited with her ex-boyfriend, American actor Taylor Lautner, and re-created the “Spider-Man” meme with his wife, Taylor Dome, during the filming of “I Can See You” music video. “I Can See You” is one of the “From the Vault” tracks in the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter’s “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)” album, […] The post Taylor Swift casts ex-BF Taylor Lautner in ‘I Can See You’ music video, meets his wife while filming appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Dayan camp seeks judge’s inhibition on last drug case
Three of former Senator Leila de Lima’s co-accused in the drug case filed against them appealed for the inhibition of Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 256 Presiding Judge Romeo Buenaventura following the denial of their plea to be temporarily released from jail by virtue of bail last 7 June. The former lawmaker’s former bodyguard and co-accused Ronnie Dayan, former Bureau of Corrections chief Franklin Jesus Bucayu and Joenel Sanchez filed their motions for inhibition separately questioning the judge’s impartiality and neutrality in handling the case following his failure to disclose his relationship to Atty. Emmanuel S. Buenaventura. According to their motions, Emmanuel was the lawyer who assisted Dayan in the execution of his affidavit, which he claimed was given under duress. Dayan later on recanted his statements in the affidavit when he testified on the drug cases filed against him along with De Lima and several other individuals. The three accused also cited reports stating that the Emmanuel is the brother of Judge Buenaventura. They stressed that “there is clear case of conflict of interest” on the part of Judge Buenvantura in hearing the case. “Henceforth, the Presiding Judge committed gross negligence, if not gross misconduct, in not declaring that fact that he is the brother of Atty. Emmanuel S. Buenaventura,” the motions read. They added that the personal relationship of the judge to Emmanuel casts doubt on his duty to uphold the stringent standard of the ‘cold neutrality of an impartial judge’ in trying and deciding the case. The post Dayan camp seeks judge’s inhibition on last drug case appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bea Alonzo tampok sa report ng ‘TV Patrol’, pambawi nga ba sa hindi pagbanggit sa unang ulat?
TILA bumawi ang “TV Patrol” sa Kapuso actress na si Bea Alonzo matapos itong hindi mabanggit sa “Ang Larawan” report noong April 18. Matatandaang maraming kumuwestiyon sa news program ng ABS-CBN matapos diumano’y “isantabi” ang dalaga na isa sa mga casts sa naturang musical play. Hindi rin nabanggit maski sa opening spiels ni Gretchen Fullido […] The post Bea Alonzo tampok sa report ng ‘TV Patrol’, pambawi nga ba sa hindi pagbanggit sa unang ulat? appeared first on Bandera......»»
Putin casts war as a battle for Russia’s survival
MOSCOW — President Vladimir Putin cast the confrontation with the West over the Ukraine war as an existential battle for the survival of Russia and the Russian people – and said he was forced to take into account Nato’s nuclear capabilities. A year since ordering the invasion of Ukraine, Putin is increasingly presenting the war […] The post Putin casts war as a battle for Russia’s survival appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Strong field vies in PGT Q-School
A mix of aces, including a comebacking former Order of Merit champion and former leg winners, makes up one of the strongest casts ever to vie in the Philippine Golf Tour Qualifying School, which begins tomorrow at Splendido Taal Golf Club in Tagaytay City......»»
Fire casts seaside residents’ hope adrift in Punta Dumalag
A week after a fire gutted a community in Punta Dumalag, Matina Aplaya, last August 3, about 200 affected families not only feel crammed in modular tents, but also feel options are narrow for their future......»»
Party Gate casts a shadow over Boris Johnson, who will lose his seat if elections are held tomorrow
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. EFE British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will lose his seat if elections are held in the country tomorrow, after revealing.....»»
Federer to undergo more knee surgery, will be out for many months & nbsp;
Roger Federer said on Sunday he will undergo further knee surgery and admitted he "will be out for many months", a decision which casts further doubt on his future in tennis at the age of 40......»»
Murray casts doubt on Olympic future after doubles exit
Andy Murray said he was unsure if he would play at another Olympics after his bid for a third gold medal ended with a quarterfinal defeat in the men's doubles on Wednesday......»»