Fans show support for Red Velvet’s Irene as she apologizes anew for past behavior
Red Velvet’s Irene (Instagram) K-pop girl group Red Velvet’s leader Irene sent a letter to fans to apologize again for her past behavior and promised that she will “become a more mature person.” Irene was embroiled in a controversy last October when a stylist-editor Kang Kook-hwa exposed her for rude behavior towards her and said she had a recording of the incident as evidence. Kang compared Irene to “nut rage” Heather Cho, the Korean Air vice president who went berserk on a company-owned plane in 2014 after she was served nuts in original packaging by a crew member. “The 20 minutes in the unfamiliar room was like hell. No hellos exchanged, shouting in my face with [her] phone in hand pointing [her] fingers while I stood and [she] sat in a chair, blurting out the words. Tears flooded out of my eyes after listening to the venomous words spewed out by [her] tongue. I just couldn’t help, it just burst out. Why must I be humiliated? For whom? For what? For money?” wrote Kang on Instagram, Korea JoongAng Daily reported. After Kang made the post, Irene personally apologized to her and also issued an apology on Instagram. The incident prompted a Korean fan community of Red Velvet on DC Inside to demand that Irene should leave the group. In her new apology, which she posted on Jan. 15, Irene wrote, “First of all, I wanted to say that I apologize for causing so much pain and worry to many people because of inadequacy.” She said she started as a trainee at age 19 in 2009 and up to now, being Irene of Red Velvet “has been all of my life.” “I have lived while thinking that I was getting along with the people around me in my own way that I didn’t know that my communication method or expressions could be a problem, and I only thought that each has a different way of communication,” she said. She added, “I received a lot of concerns and reprimand not only from the public but also from people around me for the past event and this gave me time to quietly reflect on myself.” “As I cannot turn back time, I am making a lot of effort not to go back to the way I used to be. I realized the weight of words and actions, and I will try to become a more mature person,” Irene promised. Irene added that in the future, as leader and singer of Red Velvet, “I will not only show you a good image, but also as the person Bae Joo-hyun, I will try not to disappoint you.” “I hope that somebody will no longer be criticized for what happened because of my inadequacy,” she said. Last December, or two months after the incident, it was reported that Kang was still receiving hate for what happened. “Please stop bothering me. Don’t threaten me. It’s a crime and costs dearly. She doesn’t want it either. I’m doing silent for her sake. This is my last request. Please and please,” according to a post by Kang uploaded on an online community. Fans of Red Velvet welcomed Irene’s apology and expressed their support to her. “Irene you didn’t do anything wrong. It’s normal for people to have mood swings, the case here is because you’re a celebrity,” one fan wrote. Other messages are “Irene best leader,” “Irene we love you! Cheer up, we will always have your back,” and “Irene unnie you’re the greatest woman of this generation! We love you 3000!!!!”.....»»
Australia, Britain Criticize China for Actions in Hong Kong
SYDNEY - Australia and Britain on Friday criticized China for its actions in Hong Kong and the South China Sea and its support of Russia, after a meeting in which London and Canberra deepened their security ties.The two countries called out 'recent unsafe and destabilizing behavior by China's vessels against Philippine vessels and crew near Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea,' in a statement that contain.....»»
Abegail Rait donates Francis M photo memorabilia to Boss Toyo
After a few months of silence since revealing in the same online show that she has a child with the late Francis M, Abegail Rait has returned to Boss Toyo to give him six photos allegedly taken from her and Francis M's past trips. .....»»
DOT chief apologizes over attached agency exec’s behavior
Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco yesterday apologized to senators over the inappropriate behavior of an official who texted the senators to ask for VIP treatment for the Department of Tourism in the budget deliberations......»»
Maranan apologizes anew, explains side to viral traffic video
Quezon City Police District Director P/Brig.Gen. Red Maranan on Friday apologized anew over a viral video involving a traffic disruption along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City allegedly to give way for the convoy of Vice President Sara Duterte. "The QCPD would like to address recent developments concerning traffic management and its implications which have raised concerns and misconceptions among the public," Maranan in a statement sent to the media said. "Traffic management is an essential part of the security measures we provide for VIPs, including diplomats, elected government officials, state guests, and other personalities whose movements require the utmost security. It is crucial to emphasize that our approach to simple traffic management should remain free from political influence," Maranan explained. "The QCPD would like to clarify that the recent traffic management operation was not, in any manner, related to politics. However, we acknowledge that there may have been inconvenience and misunderstandings caused to the public during this incident. Your QCPD sincerely apologizes for any inconvenience and confusion brought on by the situation," he further explained. Aside from the motorists and commuters affected by the incident, Maranan also gave his apology to the Vice President. "In particular, we extend our apologies to the Office of the Vice President for any unintended association with this matter, as the VP was not the subject of the security measures taken during that time," he said. "We understand the importance of upholding the dignity and reputation of our public officials. Our commitment remains unwavering in ensuring the safety and security of all individuals under our protection, regardless of their status. We will continue to strive for transparency and professionalism in our operations," Maranan stressed. The viral video came out Thursday night shared by former Bayan Muna Partylist solon Teddy Casiño that made the rounds on social media. The Office of the Vice President said the viral video was a piece of injurious information purely grounded in falsity. “The Vice President did not ask the QCPD and will never ask government agencies, including law enforcement bodies, to carry out actions that would inconvenience the public or cause them harm,” the OVP, in a statement, said. The OVP earlier requested the QCPD to conduct an investigation and hold all those responsible accountable for their actions, including the liability of the person who took the video and maliciously appended the traffic stop to the Vice President. A check showed Duterte had no engagement in the area. She had been in Mindanao since Monday for the celebration of World Teachers Day and other activities. The policeman, identified as Sgt. Verdo Pantallano, was said to have mistakenly heard "VP"; hence, he decided to clear the traffic as a sign of courtesy and security. Pantallano too apologized for his mistake. “Please forgive me. I thought it was because of a VIP (very important person),” he was quoted as saying in Filipino. The post Maranan apologizes anew, explains side to viral traffic video appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
China’s 10-dash line flaunts ‘arbitrariness’, expert says
China is flaunting anew an “arbitrariness” by releasing its 2023 version of the map, which features a new 10-dash line that defines its purported boundaries in the South China Sea, according to Maritime law expert Professor Jay Batongbacal. “This is already the second time because the first time was in 2013. Based on some reports, it seems that they are introducing a new drawing. It may be small but other countries are already reacting like India and this time, Malaysia has already reacted,” Batongbacal said in a chance interview Thursday evening. China's Ministry of Natural Resources on 28 August issued the map, which covers a large part of the South China Sea, including the country’s exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea. “Una pinapakita nito yung arbitrariness nung kanilang claim kasi nga nagbabago. Pangalawa, pinapakita rin nito na talagang walang basehan ‘yung kanilang dinodrawing na iyan. Talagang yung mga ibang bansa talagang hindi yan tatanggapin (First, it shows the arbitrariness of their claim because it changes. Second, it also shows that what they are claiming is really baseless. The other countries really can’t accept that.)" Malaysia, Taiwan, and the Philippines have earlier rejected China’s claims under the new version of its SCS map, showing that Taiwan as well as India's northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin region are part of Beijing's domain. Batongbacal said there’s a lot of misinterpretation and manipulation of information regarding China’s claims in the SCS, which overlaps the claims of its neighboring countries. “The Chinese government keeps pushing these narratives that are not really true. The problem is that this information is being reported as if it's true,” he said. Thus, Batongbacal pressed the need for the media outlets, particularly those assigned in the Philippines, to better understand the issues on SCS/WPS. “It is also very important to us because we are a democratic nation and the media plays a very important role in the molding and expression of the public opinion so the media needs to be well-informed, especially in our advocacy in the WPS. This is about our nation,” he said. China’s uncertainties, lack of stability Batongbacal said the Philippines keeps insisting that China should follow the rules-based international order and an international law referred to as “The Law of the Sea Convention.” “China should follow the rules that when we all negotiated—the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea—and China itself supposedly ratified that agreement. It shows that even though China signed treaties, conventions, and agreements. yet anytime if it finds it inconvenient in its interest, it can ignore it,” he added. Batongbacal said such action from China shows a “lack of stability and uncertainties.” “And for countries like us, smaller, less powerful and can’t match—let’s say—large countries like China, if that’s our system in the world, then we will not have our independence or sovereignty—if like that. We will just fall into whatever other countries want of us whenever they want, right?,” he said. In the case of the WPS, Batongbacal further explained that China seems pushing for its own “wants and composition” despite signing agreements and international laws. “It keeps ignoring it and insists itself with the other countries. We really need to push back on it and we should stand international law. We should insist that China should follow the agreement and the international law,” he said. He, meanwhile, noted that the legal position of the Philippines was put on record through a series of diplomatic protests. “With it, no one can tell that we are accepting China's claims. It is very clear that we always oppose China that their activities are wrong and it will never be that such behavior would be acceptable in the international law,” he said. Batongbacal underscored the Philippines' need to stand up for legal rights and entitlement in the international community. Senator Risa Hontiveros earlier described China as “delusional and desperate” after issuing the new 2023 version of its 10-dash line map, claiming part of the WPS as theirs. “China is delusional. Wala na sa huwisyo itong Tsina. Kung ano-ano nalang ang ginagawa para mang-angkin ng mga teritoryong hindi naman sa kanya (China is our of its mind. It keeps on inventing to grab what is not theirs) This map is Beijing’s desperate attempt to assert its lies and propaganda,” she said. Hontiveros added that the Department of Foreign Affairs should also coordinate with the National Resource and Mapping Authority) to update a map that clearly shows the country’s exclusive economic zone, continental shelves, and territorial seas in the WPS. The post China’s 10-dash line flaunts ‘arbitrariness’, expert says appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Why we need to save our coral reefs
“Coral damage feared as vessel grounded,” said the headline of a recent issue of Daily Tribune. “Extensive damage to the coral reefs that serve as a marine habitat is feared with the incident raising concerns anew about the environmental impact of mining in the country,” the news report stated. Three days after the sinking of the MT Princess Empress tanker off Naujan, Occidental Mindoro in February this year, the resulting oil slick reached the shores of the coastal towns of Naujan, Pola and Pinamalayan. “Among the coastal sites that may be at risk are several marine protected areas, including but not limited to the reefs in Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro, amounting to some 1,100 hectares of coral reefs,” said the bulletin issued by the University of the Philippines-Diliman College of Science Marine Science Institute. According to the United Nations Environment Program, oil, a complex mixture of many chemicals, can kill corals, depending on species and exposure. Once soil comes into contact with corals, it can kill them or impede their reproduction, growth, behavior and development. Various threats Oil spills are not the only incidents that threaten the country’s coral reefs. Most of these threats are caused by human activities. As marine scientist Don McAllister, who once studied the cost of coral reef destruction in the country, lamented: “Nowhere else in the world are coral reefs abused as much as the reefs in the Philippines.” Sedimentation — the process of soils settling to the bottom of the sea — is said to be the most important single cause of reef degradation. Sediments that wash over reefs have a number of negative effects on corals, marine scientists claim. Deforestation is the most common source of sediments. “When trees are cut down and the underbrush burned, the mountainsides become bare and the soil are defenseless against strong wind and rain,” said the Coral Research Project of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. “During rains, runoff carries eroded soil down to the rivers that deposit it in the sea.” On its website, the BFAR singled out destructive fishing techniques as among the largest contributors to reef degradation. “Muro-ami, a technique that involved sending a line of divers to depths of 10-30 meters with metal weights to knock on corals in order to drive fish out and into waiting nets, was extremely damaging to reefs, leading to its ban in 1986,” the BFAR reported. But that’s just one. “Rampant blast fishing and sedimentation from land-based sources have destroyed 70 percent of fisheries within 15 square kilometers of the shore in the Philippines, which were some of the most productive habitats in the world,” the BFAR said. Cyanide fishing, employed since 1962 to collect aquarium fish, is another destructive fishing method, while coastal development, farming, aquaculture and land-cover change have also threatened the country’s coral reef ecosystem. Aside from human activities, natural causes of destruction among coral reefs also occur. These include extremely low tide, high temperature of surface water, predation and the mechanical action of currents and waves. Climate change is increasing the ocean’s temperature. The result: Coral bleaching. Explains John Ryan of the Washington-based Worldwatch Institute: “When subjected to extreme stress, they jettison the colorful algae they live in symbiosis with, exposing the white skeleton of dead coral beneath a single layer of clear living tissue. If the stress persists, the coral dies.” Marine rainforests Coral reefs are the marine equivalent of rainforests and considered one of the planet’s essential life-support systems. These “biological wonders,” as American environmental author Don Hinrichsen called them, are among the largest and oldest living communities of plants and animals on earth, having evolved between 200 and 450 million years ago. The Philippines holds one of the most extensive coral reefs in the world with a sprawling area of 27,000 square kilometers strategically located in Palawan (37.8 percent), Sulu (27.8 percent), Visayas (21.7 percent), Northern Luzon (7.6 percent), Central and Southern Mindanao (3.2 percent) and the Turtle Islands (1.7 percent). There are about 400 species of reef-forming corals in the country, comparable with those found in the Great Barrier Reef of Australia. Coral reefs provide habitat for a large variety of marine life, including various sponges, oysters, clams, crabs, sea stars, sea urchins and many species of fish. They are also linked ecologically to nearby seagrass, mangrove and mudflat communities. Coral reefs are so valued because they serve as a center of activity for marine life. The World Atlas of Coral Reefs, compiled by the United Nations Environment Program, reported that 97 percent of reefs in the Philippines are under threat. And Reef Check, an international organization assessing the health of reefs in 82 countries, stated that only five percent of the country’s coral reefs are in “excellent condition.” These are the Tubbataha Reef Marine Park in Palawan, Apo Island in Negros Oriental, Apo Reef in Puerto Galera, Mindoro and Verde Island Passage off Batangas. “Despite its high biodiversity, the Philippines’ reefs are very badly damaged. It’s one of the worst-damaged in the world, on average,” said George Hodgson, founder of the California-based organization. The Philippine government has introduced many laws in an attempt to protect and save coral reefs from annihilation. But the government cannot do it alone; help from individuals is also needed to save the coral reefs. “We are the stewards of our nation’s resources,” Guerrero said. “We should take care of our national heritage so that future generations can enjoy them. Let’s do our best to save our coral reefs. Our children’s children will thank us for the effort.” The post Why we need to save our coral reefs appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Group caught destroying Christmas decors in Cordova apologizes
LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu—A group of youngsters who were caught on camera destroying Christmas decorations in Barangay Cogon apologized for their wrongdoings on Wednesday, November 16, 2022. Police Major Michael Gingoyon, chief of Cordova Police Station, confirmed this as a video from Cordova PIO also showed the group apologizing for their behavior. Gingoyon said that the […] The post Group caught destroying Christmas decors in Cordova apologizes appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Skewered by Britney fans, Justin Timberlake apologizes
Pop star Justin Timberlake on Friday apologized for moments he "fell short" and condoned misogyny, one week after the release of a blockbuster documentary on Britney Spears saw the behavior of the former boy band star come under sharp criticism......»»
Belmonte, Binay call for climate action funding from development banks
The C40 coalition of cities, a network of nearly 100 mayors, asked MDBs to increase urban climate investment, integrate urban climate action into their strategies, and implement tailored programs to support city projects. .....»»
Pentagon chief reaffirms support after latest China aggression in WPS
Austin emphasized US support for the Philippines in defending its sovereign rights and jurisdiction in a phone call with Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro on Wednesday. .....»»
Antipolo City throws support on Ajido
The Antipolo City government led by Mayor Casimiro “Jun” Ynares III will provide support to Antipolo-born swimmer Jamesray Mishael Ajido, who won the country’s lone gold medal in record-breaking fashion at the recent 11th Asian Age-Group Swimming Championships......»»
Jollibee invests $28 million in beverage tech firm
Filipino-owned Asian food conglomerate Jollibee Foods Corp. is investing $28 million for a 10 percent stake in beverage technology company Botrista Inc. to support the growth of its coffee and tea business......»»
Cebu topnotcher shares secret to success: Strong support system of family, friends
CEBU CITY, Philippines — A good support system of family and friends is Elijah Cabase’s secret to his placing 5th in the March 2024 Medical Technologists Licensure Examinations (MTLE). This 23-year-old University of Cebu-Banilad alumnus said that he was not even expecting to pass because he described himself as a confessed procrastinator — or one.....»»
Marian Rivera takes on projects that her children can watch
With her upcoming primetime show, “My Guardian Alien,” Marian Rivera has added sci-fi to the growing array of genres — from drama, fantasy, romance, and action to historical and comedy — that the Kapuso actress has successfully ventured into thus far......»»
Why Jake Cuenca pursued anew ‘TOTGA’ Chie Filomeno
Jake Cuenca previously described Chie Filomeno in interviews as The One That Got Away, but now it seems she’s the one that got back. While he said he’s not putting any label yet on his relationship with the actress-dancer, the two have happily rekindled their aborted romance......»»
Trending tickers: Trump Media, Tesla, Bitcoin and DS Smith
Former US president Donald Trump’s media firm, Trump Media & Technology Group, had a successful stock market debut in New York, with shares soaring past.....»»
India backs Philippines in dispute with China
New Delhi has drawn a strong response from Beijing after reiterating its support for Manila in a territorial dispute India has "firmly reiterated" its support for the Philippines and its "national sovereignty," as Manila remains locked in a territorial dispute with Beijing in the South China Sea. Ten.....»»
India backs Philippines in sea dispute with China
New Delhi has drawn a strong response from Beijing after reiterating its support for Manila in a territorial dispute India has "firmly reiterated" its support for the Philippines and its "national sovereignty," as Manila remains locked in a territorial dispute with Beijing in the South China Sea. Ten.....»»
Paolo Contis happy for It s Showtime, open to guest in new GMA noontime show
Kapuso actor Paolo Contis is glad that ABS-CBN noontime show "It's Showtime" found a new home in GMA. .....»»
K-pop group Unis releases debut mini-album, Superwoman MV
After surviving the reality show "Universe Ticket," the eight-member K-pop group Unis, with Filipino members Gehlee and Elisia and Filipino-Korean Jin Hyeonju, launched its mini-album......»»