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Home gardening thriving during pandemic& mdash;Villar
Even before the coronavirus pandemic, which has afforded people to spend more time in the comforts of their home, Senator Cynthia A. Villar has been leading the campaign on vegetable gardening while enticing people to grow their own food......»»
Shanghai’s five-star The Middle House
The location The Middle House is a five-star hotel in the heart of China’s bustling metropolis of Shanghai. It is the epicenter of the lively Jing’an District, yet it manages to strike the ideal balance between the contemporary and the traditional. The hotel is situated in a convenient location close to Nanjing Road, which is considered to be one of the best shopping avenues in Shanghai, as well as Jing’an Temple, which is a historical and cultural landmark. The aesthetic The Middle House, created by renowned Italian architect Piero Lissoni, exhibits a distinctive architectural style that effortlessly combines elegance and modern aesthetics. Lissoni incorporated various materials, such as bamboo, porcelain, ceramic and lacquered textures. The refined interiors skillfully blend Chinese history and craftsmanship with Italian ingenuity, resulting in a beautiful tribute to modern-day Shanghai. The hotel’s public spaces are filled with an abundance of natural light, which creates a warm and peaceful atmosphere that is welcoming to guests. The design of the hotel showcases a dedication to crafting a balanced atmosphere that incorporates the vibrant urban spirit of Shanghai and the peacefulness of a high-end getaway. [gallery size="full" columns="2" ids="190882,190878,190880,190881"] The room We stayed in a Studio 60 with floor-to-ceiling windows facing a bustling street. During the course of our stay, I would sit on the couch and watch people cross the street. I would sit outside the Starbucks Roastery at different times of the day. The view was exhilarating and relaxing at the same time. A similar design philosophy carries through to their luxurious dwellings and presents an amazing showcase of contemporary design and modern renditions of traditional Chinese elements. Guests staying in any room can enjoy features like a rain shower and free-standing bathtub, exclusive artisanal bath and body products, premium bathroom accessories, luxury down bedding, high-speed Wi-Fi, a state-of-the-art Bluetooth speaker and the use of Mr. Goodnight, the hotel’s signature blue tassel master light switch. A complimentary maxi bar and an espresso machine with a selection of beverages are also present for use. The breakfast As you step into Cafe Gray, you’ll be greeted by an elegant and modern interior, adorned with sleek furnishings and large windows that flood the space with natural light. The inviting atmosphere creates a sense of tranquility, making it an ideal spot to enjoy a leisurely morning meal. The breakfast menu at Cafe Gray is a culinary delight, boasting a wide array of options to suit both my palate and my husband’s. I went from Asian one day (Shanghai specialty xiao long bao and shen jian bao) to Western the next day (honey-glazed ham with hashbrown is a winner!), then back to Asian (the laksa is fantastic!). My husband Berg, on the other hand, indulged in fluffy pancakes drizzled with maple syrup one day and waffles the next day. [caption id="attachment_190883" align="aligncenter" width="525"] View from Studio 60. The Middle House is located in the lively Jing’an District and is connected to the Taikoo Hui mall.[/caption] The art collection Entering the hotel takes you to a place with a flair for the dramatic. The space was designed by Lissoni with a deliberate emphasis on contrast. This was achieved by employing dark colors and striking jewel tones for the walls and furnishings, which served to accentuate the carefully selected art works from the hotel’s art collection titled I Dream of China, by both local Chinese and international artists, serving as a representation of the artistic intersection that characterizes the city of Shanghai. The installation Vases in a Steel Cage by Shanghai artist Liu Dao of the neighborhood art group Island6 creates a thought-provoking contrast between delicate porcelain vases and a rigid metal enclosure in one area of the property. The service When it comes to service at the Middle House, one word immediately comes to mind: dedicated. From the moment we arrived and stepped onto the property to our experiences at the various outlets, even while waiting outside for our ride back to the hotel, and throughout our check-out process, the service we received at every step of the way was truly dedicated. It is a testament to the art of hospitality at the Middle House. The commitment of the Middle House team to ensuring a memorable and seamless experience for each guest is remarkable. Shanghai, although both familiar and unfamiliar to us, has undergone significant changes in the past three years since the pandemic began. It has become a new place for us. Are the places we used to frequent still there? Most of our friends in Shanghai have left, but staying at the Middle House and engaging in conversations with the team provided us with answers, insights and new recommendations. This helped us appreciate the city even more. The post Shanghai’s five-star The Middle House appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
CdO, my second home
Cagayan de Oro City is fast turning out to be no different from other fast developing metropolises. Quotidian concerns like horrendous traffic, crime, political maneuverings (with the Barangay/Sangguniang Kabataan Elections barely a month away), bickering in the Sangguniang Panlungsod, and similar problems of an urban area are common. A year has passed since the new leadership of the city took over, but we don’t see the problems abating. With a full plate before them, the administrators must work double time before their terms of office expire. When the pandemic struck, we sort of evacuated to and settled in the city. It is now a second home to us after our house in Marawi was bombed and ransacked during the 2017 siege (I still have to file my claim for compensation before the Marawi Compensation Board as provided by law). We were a constant visitor to the city and are familiar with its geography. It has always been a choice weekend hideaway of Maranaws of Marawi and as a law practitioner I have cases in courts in the city. But now, I need assistance in navigating its labyrinthine traffic. Thanks to modernity and the Waze app which maps our way to our destination. Still, I feel like a stranger adjusting to life in the city. The main attraction of the city for a golfer like me are the golf courses. Good thing they have courses like Pueblo de Oro which is a championship course, a second-rate military golf course in Patag, Camp Evangelista, and the Del Monte Golf Course — a 30-minute drive from the city, home of golf legends Celestino Tugot and Frankie Minoza. These golf courses were the overpowering magnet that pulled me to settle here, in addition to the fact that many members of my immediate family already lived here. From my vantage position, here are some of the problems I have observed that need attention. Traffic is getting worse. I experience regularly Edsa-like traffic from going my place, Xavier Estates, to the golf course, which I could navigate in two minutes. Unfortunately, there are schools along the road causing monstrous traffic. But we avoid that by teeing off at early dawn to escape the snarl of vehicles. The principal stretch they call Masterson has regular bumper-to-bumper traffic in the morning and late afternoon when office workers’ vehicles fill the street. Yes, I notice uniformed traffic aides managing the flow of vehicles, but they are not enough. A daylight robbery in the heart of the commercial hub of the city has residents worried about their security and peace. Robbers got away with about P9 million. Public and commercial establishment are on their toes because of what happened. The daring robbery has exposed the weak security infrastructure of the city. Residents are asking what happened to the much-publicized installation of 50 traffic lights and 80 closed-circuit television or CCTV cameras in strategic spots at a budget of about P93.5 million over a decade ago. It has been kaput since 2012 and has not been attended to nor repaired. The winning bidder for the project was nowhere to be found after completion of the traffic and security infrastructure. Now the city government is toying with the idea of requiring public establishments to install CCTV cameras within their premises before they are issued a permit to operate. In fact, the Department of the Interior and Local Government has issued a memorandum circular directing local governments “to pass ordinances mandating all business owners to install CCTVs.” The circular allows for the meting out of “penalties for non-compliant business establishments and grants local chief executives the authority to revoke, refuse to renew or grant permits to establishments for non-compliance.” Problems of this nature come with the march of Cagayan de Oro towards progress and development, being the corridor of northern Mindanao. And this column is optimistic that its new mayor is up to the challenges of his stewardship. *** amb_mac_lanto@yahoo.com The post CdO, my second home appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Hero within all of us doesn’t make the news
Often remembered only when their special day is marked, the nation's heroes deserve more than passing mention in a two to three-paragraph story either buried in the inside pages or turning up in a rehashed editorial or opinion piece. It's that time of the year again when many of us take a day – or a long weekend off – for beach bums or sun worshippers, or take the occasion to do our laundry, declutter closets, reunite with old friends or relatives, catch up with reading books you meant to curl up with on a rainy day, or the time when you give your pet dog a shampoo and a brisk rubdown. It is a day all wage-earners look forward to because it means extra holiday pay or a fatter paycheck. In short, except for their kin and descendants of their closest friends who attend obligatory rites at national shrines, we often take our heroes for granted, storing them temporarily in the dustbins of history, only to be resurrected at the next celebration of National Heroes Day or Araw ng Mga Bayani. Students recite their names by rote only to pass history or related subject tests, mouthing facts and figures without paying attention to their meaning or importance in the Philippine setting. Bonifacio, Rizal, Aguinaldo, Mabini, Antonio and Juan Luna, Gabriela and Diego Silang, Jose Abad Santos, Josefa Llanes-Escoda, Maria Orosa, Gen. Vicente Lim, and countless others. Youngsters often recall these personalities only because several streets, towns, and military camps have been named after them. When the award-winning film "Heneral Luna" was shown to capacity crowds with Apolinario Mabini, often called the "Brains of the Philippine Revolution" and the "Sublime Paralytic" playing a stellar role, many in the audience wondered aloud why he was always shown in a seating position. Parents who were fortunate enough to have been raised by families with more than textbook or quiz/trivia knowledge of the making of our history through the participation of these remarkable figures decry the fact that many of today's youth are more familiar with the eating or wardrobe preferences as well as the latest squeeze or amour of their favorite Korean or Hollywood idol than the roles played by Gabriela Silang, Antonio Luna, or Llanes-Escoda in the resistance against Spanish, American, and Japanese invaders. Some young people and even adults are known to sing all of their idols' top hits by heart at the drop of a hat. Still, they need to be made aware of the contributions of Nicanor Abelardo, Lucio San Pedro, and Sister Rosalina Abejo to the richness of Philippine music. Is this sad state of affairs a result of the failure of history and arts and culture classes in our school's curriculum, a lack of trained teachers to teach these courses, or simply growing disinterest in these subjects among our students? Have the heroes who are supposed to serve as role models or inspirations not only for the young but to the citizenry in general lost their luster or have faded glory? It would be a pity if such is the case, especially in these times when we need them most to rally behind a cause, symbolize or motivate advocacy, or provide us hope in a world tottering on the brink of war, facing disease, hunger, and the disastrous effects of climate change. While we should not forget those, who led us towards the path of independence from the harsh consequences of foreign rule that destroyed countless lives, bred insurrections, and almost obliterated our sense of pride and national identity, let us not forget those in our midst who continue to tread the less-traveled road and remain anonymous. In recent times, these are the modern-day heroes like the brave and persevering soldiers who man the worn out and ready-to-fall-apart BRP Sierra Madre entrenched on Philippine soil at Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, despite continuing threats and harassment from the Chinese Coast Guard whose government insists the Shoal is theirs. A July 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling under the United Nations said, "China's nine-dash line claim over the disputed waters is invalid." From the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, first responders or front liners like doctors, nurses, and others in allied professions were acknowledged as the heroes of the day, alongside countless supporters who donated medical equipment and facilities and organizers of community pantries that provided a seemingly endless supply of food to those in need. They are our firefighters, police and military forces (despite a rotten few), peacemakers, teachers, and rescuers in mercy missions to save lives in areas hit by floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and other violent forces of nature. They may even be a neighbor who helps the homeless or vagrant by giving him not only food but odd jobs to keep them off the streets and away from the wretchedness of begging, a friend who has opened up her home to stray cats and dogs, a plant nursery owner who donates saplings and seeds so others can learn – and profit – from the joys of gardening. These community leaders have made a difference by initiating livelihood projects in their respective neighborhoods. It could even be you. Leading by example, you can teach others that settling tax obligations, obeying traffic rules, and paying it forward is all about being a good citizen. According to one wise man: "Heroes prove to us that no matter how much suffering there is in the world, there are supremely good people around whom we can count on to do the right thing even when most people are not prone to do so." The post Hero within all of us doesn’t make the news appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
This writers’ workshop loves Filipino literature
The Palihang Rogelio Sicat discussion on 21 June held in UP Diliman looked and sounded like an art class session. Manolo Sicat, the well-known artist and sculptor, was delivering a demo-lecture on printmaking. He said figures and words can go together in a work of art. [gallery columns="2" size="full" ids="175634,175632"] He had a PowerPoint presentation of print images. A pair of prints of a couple of dancers were passed around. One was in black and white, the other in color. Texture and motion were their immediate charm. “But what has printmaking to do with us?,” said Christian Balagoza, a boyish writer. “We’ll know when we get the printmaking session,” said sir Reuel Aguila, director PRS 16 (2023). Art collab This is the latest PRS innovation. When the session was held a few days later, Sicat conducted an honest-to-goodness printmaking workshop at the UP College of Fine Arts. A colleague, Prof. Ambie Abano, welcomed the group and opened her atelier to show mural-sized prints made from wooden originals. It is the artist’s impressive collection of prints featuring landscapes of lush trees in dark, brooding background. Fellows from the previous online batch joined the art activity. During the three-hour session, everyone polished her rubber board, chiseled images and texts, and finally print the works on paper. They were amazed to pick up the skill fast and admire the results in no time. Thumbs and nails got smudged with sticky ink yet everyone was smiling at the wet and black artworks clipped on wires that crossed the studio. 16 years of PRS This is one of the activities that make PRS unique. Thanks to its founders -- dramatist Reuel Aguila, retired professor now a lecturer at the UP, and fictionist Jimmuel Naval, dean of the UP College of Arts and Letters. The partner is always on the lookout for ingenious ways to improve the workshop, all for the good of young writers. PRS began as an informal workshop of a number of young writers held in the mansion of Ligaya Tiamson Rubin in Angono, Rizal, in 2008. Today, fellows accepted in the workshop are pegged at 15. Fellows like the idea that they are the main commentators of the manuscripts. During workshops, they get to be the lead discussant. “They learn to be critical and not rely too much on the opinion of the panelists,” said Aguila. The PRS is the only writers’ workshop that aspires to be mobile, going around the country to make its appellation ‘national’ true. It literally brings the creative writing life closer to practitioners. PRS collaborates with local governments, and with their support the workshop had been to Palayan City, Nueva Ecija (2009); Baler, Aurora (2010); Alfonso, Cavite (2011); Sta. Cruz, Marinduque (2012); Angeles City, Pampanga (2014); and Makati City (2015). It also cooperates with the academe as in UP Visayas-Tacloban (2017), UP Baguio (2018) and UP Los Baños (2019). There were times PRS stayed at its home base UP Diliman like during the 50th anniversary of the UP Department of Filipino and Philippine Literature (UP-DFPL) in 2017. It went online as Zoom conference twice during the pandemic. With the renowned writer Rogelio Sicat as PRS idol, the workshop chooses Filipino language as its medium of writing literature. It also accepts works from the region’s translated into Filipino. Institutional support PRS is the official outreach program of the UP-DFPL whose incumbent chair Schedar DT Jocson said that from the beginning, it has supported PRS and its objectives. Many of its panelists are from the department, including alumna Dr. Lulu Torres-Reyes, the PRS 16 guest of honor. Other PRS supporters include the UP Sentro ng Wikang Filipino (UP-SWF). “We are honored to be part of a movement that brings Philippine literature closer to the common people. PRS writers enrich the catalog of our website,” said director Jayson Petras. Friends and business people also support PRS, like Palawan Pawnshop / Palawan Express Padala company. Lively discussion about literature An hour of PRS discussion on a story or poem does not exhaust its reading or interpretation. To address the gap, sessions are set beyond the allotted time and well into almost midnight. Fellows do not seem to mind as they are very eager to huddle with seniors who are just as willing to forego of an early bedtime. PRS goes one more step. In 2022, it created post-workshop online sessions. Here, senior and beginning writers discuss new works. Everyone is excited to have these disquisitions that aim to improve writing skills. Dedication is demanded from both sides. The recent PRS workshop had the Sicat siblings Luna and Manolo beaming with pride. They were quite surprised to know that almost 300 young writers had already experienced the workshop. PRS is also proud that esteemed writers served as its panelists, including Bienvenido Lumbera, Edgardo Reyes, Ricardo Lee, Rogelio Ordoñez, Lualhati Bautista, Rosario Lucero, Elmer Ordoñez, Jose Dalisay, Marne Kilates, Jess Santiago, Fidel Rillo, Edgardo Maranan, Lilia Quindoza Santiago, Delfin Tolentino, Bonifacio Ilagan, Frank Cimatu, Joi Barrios-Le Blanc, Chris Millado, Jerry Gracio, Richard Gappi, Eros Atalia, Joselito delos Reyes, Choi Pangilinan and Junley Lorenzana Lazaga. PRS connects the lives of senior and beginning writers. Rogelio Sicat would be proud of this long -running project named after him. The post This writers’ workshop loves Filipino literature appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Icon Grandmaster Flash leads the Bronx in 70s-style hip-hop jam
As a teenager Grandmaster Flash began pioneering the turntable-as-instrument, playing the now iconic Bronx block parties that gave birth to hip-hop and revolutionized music. On Friday, he was back home, commemorating 50 years of the genre with a performance that had New Yorkers born in the mid-20th century reliving their youth -- and hip-hop's. "This is not a concert -- this is a jam!" Flash, now in his 60s, shouted from the stage, as hundreds of fans roared in applause in the South Bronx's Crotona Park. The audience swayed with their hands in the air as Flash threw it back to the jams of the early 1970s, which ushered in the genre that's profoundly impacted music as well as fashion, dance and the culture at large. The community parties offered teens and families a lifeline in an era of financial crisis that left much of the borough in crippling poverty. "It was the music that really resonated at the time in New York," said Quentin Morgan, 54, who rolled into the park on his bike to catch the event that's part of a series of festivities commemorating hip-hop's birth. "It was gritty in New York -- barely any laws," he said with a chuckle. "It was a different era." Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five in 1982 released "The Message," delivering a raw portrait of urban life and bringing a socially conscious element to the genre on a grand scale. On Friday night, the air was electric as Flash brought MCs Melle Mel and Scorpio onstage where they delivered a rendition of the iconic hit. That preceded a fierce appearance from MC Sha-Rock, widely considered the first woman to MC during hip-hop's nascent years. And KRS-One, who also hails from the South Bronx, freestyled to a chorus of cheers as Flash scratched and transformed, manipulating the vinyl, using now-standard techniques he pioneered half a century ago. Earlier in the evening as opening acts warmed up the crowd, Coke La Rock -- who on 11 August 1973 joined DJ Kool Herc at the party many musicologists consider hip-hop's official conception -- told AFP that for him, hip-hop and the Bronx are one and the same. "I can't see no division of it," the 68-year-old said, calling offshoots of the genre across the United States and even the world "my kids." "They all my kids, if I'm the patent, they the product." 'Biggest music on earth' Speaking to AFP backstage, Flash said Friday's event was meant to emulate the jams of his youth. "It was recreation -- moms said go outside and play," he said. "Never... did I think it would become part of the biggest music on earth." Organizers also relayed a message from the mayor of New York, as the city officially declared August 4 "Grandmaster Flash Day." Keisha Harmon joined the event with her partner of 27 years -- "my Teenage Love," she said, quoting the rap classic by Slick Rick. She'll be 50 in October: she was born in the Bronx just months after the genre she grew up on. "I have chills, look, goosebumps," she told AFP. "All the songs that are playing -- I'm a mother of seven and I'm a grandmother of eight -- and they take me back to No Kids." She described how the hip-hop jams of her childhood spread by word of mouth: "Hey, DJ-such-and-such is in the park, and we would have parties and sing, and it was just fun." "And this reminds me of that," Harmon added, motioning to the park crowded with partygoers on a humid August evening. The celebration "shows our talent" as citizens of the Bronx, she added. "It shows what we contributed to the arts," Harmon said. "Hip-hop has a substance." "The artists were storytellers." "South South Bronx, South Bronx!" the audience shouted throughout the evening, singing the song by Boogie Down Productions produced by KRS-One and DJ Scott La Rock. According to city organizers, Friday night was Grandmaster Flash's first time playing the Bronx in two decades. Along with fellow hip-hop pioneers, he was joined by a troupe of breakdancers who wowed the audience with a throwdown. "Where's my old-schoolers at?" Flash asked the joyous crowd. "I wanna keep it in the 70s." "Somebody say Bronx!" The post Icon Grandmaster Flash leads the Bronx in 70s-style hip-hop jam appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DA, Nestlé intensify urban agri efforts
Nestle Philippines and the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Plant Industry on Tuesday announced the sealing of its partnership that will advance efforts to promote urban agriculture as an easy and practical way to help Filipino communities achieve food self-sufficiency while improving their access to and consumption of more plant-based food. Through a memorandum of agreement signed earlier this year, the three-year partnership will enable DA-BPI and Nestle’s brand MAGGI to jointly conduct skills-building activities that demonstrate sustainable ways of growing vegetables in the home, or under-utilized areas of communities, schools, and other urban spaces while enriching families’ abilities to create nutritious, delicious and balanced meals using their own homegrown produce. With the agreement, MAGGI will be responsible for creating programs to engage with communities, which include on-ground and online workshops featuring expert agriculturists from DA-BPI who will teach science-based methods of vegetable crop production in limited spaces. “Nestlé Philippines believes in a collaborative approach to building communities, and we are proud to stand alongside the Department of Agriculture in inspiring a farm-to-fork movement among Filipino families and communities. We believe that food security is key to the health of all and that there’s no better way to build a strong nation than by ensuring that healthy food is accessible to everyone,” said Joey Uy, Corporate Affairs head, Nestlé Philippines. Everyone has a role For his part, DA-BPI director Glenn Panganiban stressed that it is the government’s task alone but everyone has a role to play in food security, and the key to ensuring that Filipinos will always have FAITH — or Food Always in The Home — is to work together. “Through this partnership, we can teach more Filipinos to grow their own food by providing proper mentoring and assistance, as well as other forms of support from the government and private partners like MAGGI,” he said. Also under the agreement, MAGGI will produce and distribute learning materials on vegetable production and affordable plant-based recipes, as well as starter kits that contain planting essentials such as seed trays or basic implements; along with compost and various vegetable seeds produced by DA-BPI. Last July, the 2023 MAGGI Sarap Sustansya Advocacy kicked off as part of the brand’s celebration of Nutrition Month. The various initiatives under the advocacy during this month-long observance were anchored on the theme, “Healthy Diet Gawing Affordable for All.” Accessibility of good nutrition The advocacy emphasized the accessibility of good nutrition, beginning with the Nestlé Kasambuhay for Good Festival at the Quezon City Memorial Circle where DA-BPI conducted a urban gardening lecture and MAGGI held a live cooking demo. MAGGI is also committed to continued cooperation with the Food and Nutrition Research Institute, or FNRI, and the National Dieticians’ Association of the Philippines sharing data resources on the prevailing nutrient deficiencies in the Philippines and working closely with them to enhance fortification of MAGGI products. The post DA, Nestlé intensify urban agri efforts appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DA awaits food stamp scanners
The Department of Agriculture said over the weekend that it is ready to help the Department of Social Welfare and Development carry out the government’s food stamp program. The DA said it is only awaiting the release of the cards and QR-code readers for the Kadiwa stores that will help implement the program. U-Nichols Manalo, DA director for field operation services, told Daily Tribune that the food items will be purchased through cash cards or QR codes. He added that the DSWD has yet to provide DA with the equipment for the point of sale or payment transactions. Likewise, the DSWD has yet to give the DA a specific date for the start of the six-month pilot for the program, which will benefit 3,000 households, Manalo averred. However, Manalo said the food stamp program should start soon or within this year, noting that the government already implemented a similar cash-card program for the victims of typhoon “Odette” in the Visayas and Mindanao in 2021. Aside from the payment devices, DA is also waiting for the list of beneficiaries from the DSWD to prevent redundant food provisions for the poor. “Farmers and fisherfolk are among the poorest of the poor, but we have to cross-check the list from DSWD with our own database to ensure only those who are not yet getting aid from any government agency will be included in the food stamps program,” Manalo said. For example, he said DA has been distributing financial aid to rice and corn farmers already, while another agency provides fuel subsidies to other less privileged groups to ensure they have some money left to spend on their other basic needs. Manalo said DA could also train the food stamp beneficiaries on growing their own food to help them develop life skills. “We can train them to do urban gardening using renewable materials. We can use 100-square-meter lots for the plants under our Urban and Periurban Agriculture Program. Kadiwa is just one of the outlets,” he explained. The DA reported that there are 627 Kadiwa stores nationwide offering cheaper agricultural products, and that it plans to build urban gardens in 42,022 barangays. The Social Weather Stations reported 2.7 million families experienced involuntary hunger in the first quarter of this year, more than the 2.1 million in 2019 or before the pandemic. The post DA awaits food stamp scanners appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
NLEX gears up to improve road infra, quality of service
Now that the pandemic is gone and the restrictions have been relaxed, most Filipinos are making up for lost time by traveling to various destinations, especially during long weekends. Most Filipinos opt to go on road trips to popular destinations in central and northern Luzon, such as beach resorts in Zambales and Pangasinan, surfing resorts in La Union, beautiful parks in Baguio, and historical sites in Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte. These destinations are usually accessible via the North Luzon Expressway or NLEX. Although maintaining the road infrastructure and quality of service remains a big challenge, the management of NLEX Corp. through Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. or MPTC continues to invest in various capital projects to continuously improve the road quality and motorist experience. Thus, the recent toll fee adjustment approved by the Toll Regulatory Board or TRB will be of great help to the management of NLEX in carrying out its planned projects, such as improving road conditions and modernizing its toll collection system. The TRB allowed NLEX to adjust its rates effective 15 June 2023. Under the new toll fee matrix, Class 1 vehicles will pay an additional P7, Class 2 vehicles P17, and Class 3 vehicles P19. The new rates are part of NLEX’s allowed period adjustments from 2012, 2014, half of 2018, and 2020, and now 2023 is the fourth and final tranche of adjustments. In an interview, Rogelio L. Singson, MPTC president and CEO, assured motorists they can expect improvements to NLEX’s road infrastructure and quality of service. MPTC will prioritize plans and projects to decongest chokepoints or areas of heavy traffic flow. It plans to build and implement multi-lane barrier-less systems throughout its expressway network to improve traffic flow by 30 percent. The plan includes expanding the roadway at entry and exit points, which are occasionally filled with vehicles. Right-of-way acquisition remains a challenge to the road expansion at several entry and exit points. Hence, NLEX has been coordinating with the local government units and has suggested letting the national government take over these road-widening projects. This way, the Department of Public Works and Highways will manage the budget and maintenance of these roads. “Admittedly, the improvements at NLEX will not be immediate. There is still much to fix on the roads and our toll collection system. Nonetheless, our chairman, Mr. Manny V. Pangilinan, has instructed us to implement these improvements as soon as possible,” Singson said. What is surprising is that critics are actively opposing the latest toll fee adjustment, even though these were pre-programmed and agreed upon by NLEX and the government. Under its agreement with the government, NLEX can file a petition for a rate adjustment with the TRB every two years. The actual increase is manageable to motorists, as NLEX and TRB have staggered the collection, which should have taken place in 2012. Hence, the recent adjustment is a win-win for all stakeholders, such as the TRB, NLEX, and the motorists. The improvements at NLEX since MPTC took over its operations have helped greatly develop the central and northern Luzon regions. The road infrastructure and service quality improvements have moved goods and people much faster and more cost-efficiently, thus spurring the growth of businesses and industries in the regions. The difference between NLEX today and back in the day is also undeniable. Traveling is much faster and more comfortable, particularly with the opening of various establishments along the expressway where motorists can eat and rest before proceeding to their destinations. In the end, motorists also stand to benefit from the latest toll adjustment, as it would allow MPTC to continue investing in capital projects to maintain NLEX’s road infrastructure, decongest traffic and reduce queues, improve its facilities and services, and ensure the safety of motorists. The post NLEX gears up to improve road infra, quality of service appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Regional Specialty Centers eyed
Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, author and principal sponsor of the Regional Specialty Center bill, recently stressed the significance of these facilities in providing accessible and specialized healthcare services to Filipinos across the country. In an ambush interview after attending the groundbreaking for the Super Health Center in Digos City, the lawmaker explained that the primary objective of these specialty centers is to bridge the gap between the people and essential specialized healthcare services. To recall, Congress on 31 May ratified the Bicameral Conference Report on the Regional Specialty Centers Act and the measure will soon be transmitted to the Office of the President for the approval of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. By establishing these specialty centers in various regional hospitals, Go believes that it will alleviate the burden faced by patients who have to travel to Manila and other urban areas for specialized treatments. He also said that the Department of Health will identify the regional hospitals capable of housing the specialty centers. The senator stressed the importance of bringing medical services closer to Filipinos who may face challenges in accessing healthcare in Metro Manila. Many citizens lack the means to travel to the capital, have no relatives there, and face additional expenses such as transportation, accommodation and food. With the establishment of the Regional Specialty Center, patients will have the opportunity to receive top-notch medical care from government health facilities in their own regions, saving them time, money and effort. Go also revealed plans to expand specialized medical services at the Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City to include renal care, brain and spine treatment, and orthopedic services, eliminating the need for patients to travel to the Philippine Orthopedic Center in Quezon City, for example. According to the DoH’s timeline, the establishment of specialty centers in National Capital Region will take place in Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center, Quirino Memorial Medical Center, East Avenue Medical Center, Tondo Medical Center, Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center, Valenzuela Medical Center, Las Piñas General Hospital and Satellite Trauma Center, Rizal Medical Center, and Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital and Sanitarium. He also said that the Department of Health will identify the regional hospitals capable of housing the specialty centers. In Luzon, specialty centers will be established in Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center, Region I Medical Center, Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center, Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center, Cagayan Valley Medical Center, Region II Trauma and Medical Center, Southern Isabela Medical Center, Dr. Paulino J. Garcia Memorial Research and Medical Center, Bataan General Hospital and Medical Center, Mariveles Mental Wellness and General Hospital, Batangas Medical Center, Ospital ng Palawan, Culion Sanitarium and General Hospital, Bicol Medical Center, Bicol Region General Hospital, Geriatric Medical Center, Bicol Medical Center, and Bicol Regional Hospital and Medical Center. The Visayas region will witness the creation of specialty centers in Western Visayas Medical Center, Western Visayas Sanitarium and General Hospital, Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital, Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, Governor Celestino Gallares Memorial Medical Center and Eastern Visayas Medical Center. In Mindanao, specialty centers will be established in Zamboanga City Medical Center, Northern Mindanao Medical Center, Mayor Hilarion A. Ramiro Sr. Medical Center, Southern Philippines Medical Center, Davao Regional Medical Center, Cotabato Regional and Medical Center, Caraga Regional Hospital, Adela Serra Ty Memorial Medical Center, and Amai Pakpak Medical Center. The post Regional Specialty Centers eyed appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
E-gov’t and all that jazz
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is receiving praise for his recent directive to the Department of Information and Communications Technology to enable local government units to “adapt to an e-government system as part of efforts to modernize government services and promote efficient governance.” Either those singing alleluia were not aware that the technology has been there for quite a while or they were aware but stonewalled the fact that information technology can dramatically alter the delivery of government services and effectively curb corruption. It’s simply incredible that it seems some people in government learned about the Internet of Things just yesterday. Anyway, as they say, better late than never. Information technology has been with us for some time now. Private firms have explored and have made use of IT and its limitless applications to improve their efficiency and productivity. At the height of the pandemic, some insurance firms intensively used digital technology instead of face-to-face encounters with their prospects. The insurance agencies that adapted quickly to the system were the real winners. It is different with the government bureaucracy though. Digital technology undoubtedly limits or can completely do away with person-to-person contacts. It allows for extremely transparent transactions with government functionaries and therefore is an effective tool to eradicate corruption. And therein lies the problem. The Bureau of Customs, for example, has established valuations of import and export products where assessments are based on the imposition of tariffs, among other things. Migrating the manual processes to technology-driven systems would totally remove the propensity of corrupt customs officials to haggle, threaten and demand illegal fees and commissions. The agency has yet to implement digital technology since this would do away with under-the-table transactions. In my personal experience, I wondered why it took the Bureau of Lands in Davao City almost a year to approve the surveyor’s plan to split my 300 square meter-property in two. The data were all in the mother title and the lot was in the heart of the city not in the boondocks. In the same manner, the Register of Deeds of Davao City took its own sweet time processing the titling of the two properties I described above when all the data were readily available. The RoD of Davao, by the way, had digitized its system so what the hell were they waiting for before having the titles processed and released? True, the directive issued by President Marcos reflects his commitment to improving public service delivery and advancing the nation’s digital landscape, but there ought to be timelines and penalty clauses to eradicate corruption and shady deals altogether. Digitization is here but those in the government bureaucracy are among the biggest impediments to the LGUs and government agencies adapting to the system. They are scared as the system would identify the crooks in government. Then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo wanted to establish a national broadband backbone in preparation for the establishment of a network precisely for e-governance. Sadly for her, those tasked to procure and implement the program had other plans in mind and could not “moderate their greed.” Since then, the plan was not revisited. In the meantime, the Internet of Things had evolved dramatically. PBBM need not procure those facilities, unlike PGMA before him. If the new guys at the Department of Information and Communications Technology know their job, they can readily set up the digital backbone to link the LGUs and the national government agencies. The LGUs, on the other hand, can set up their own local area networks with the barangays which in turn would be capacitated to access or be accessed by agencies linked to the government network. The technical knowledge required for this is no longer the exclusive franchise of a few. As I said, information technology has evolved. Even the remotest barangays and schools are now within finger-tip reach, thus closing the digital divide not only in availing of government services but for students in far-flung schools who can access updated data and information, putting them at par with their urban counterparts and better preparing them for this competitive world. To the credit of PBBM, while he is focused on enhancing the delivery of basic government services, he is too is on the way to solving the problem of isolation of schools that has been a blight on our educational system for decades. The post E-gov’t and all that jazz appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Megaworld beats pre-Covid income
Property developer Megaworld Corp., led by businessman Andrew Tan, exceeded its pre-pandemic performance after net income reached P4.6 billion during the first quarter of the year. The figure is 30 percent higher than the reported P3.5 billion profit a year ago. In a stock report on Wednesday, the company said the improvement of profit was buoyed by the topline growth of all of the company’s core businesses. Consolidated revenues grew by 24 percent to P16.2 billion. “We start the year strong as we continue sustaining the recovery momentum of our businesses and finally grow past our pre-pandemic performance for the first time since the pandemic began in 2020,” Megaworld chief strategy officer Kevin L. Tan said. Adapting to new environment “This affirms our position in the industry and ability to quickly adapt to this new environment and capture opportunities,” he added. Consolidated revenues and net income from January to March are already nine percent and 11 percent higher, respectively, compared to the first quarter of 2019. Likewise, net income attributable to the parent company’s shareholders stood at P4.1-billion and grew by 33 percent compared to the same period last year. Real estate sales Real estate sales for the quarter also grew by 17 percent year-on-year to P9.4 billion due to the higher completion rate of its projects. Also, residential pre-sales surged by 71 percent to P39.6 billion during the quarter and already accounts for 30 percent of the company’s year-end pre-sales target of P130 billion. In its report, Megaworld pointed out that there was “renewed demand” in Metro Manila during the quarter, especially for its projects in McKinley West and Uptown Bonifacio in Taguig City. Leasing revenues, meanwhile, grew by 18 percent to P4.4 billion with the growth led by the performance of the mall segment. To date, Megaworld has 30 master planned integrated urban townships, integrated lifestyle communities, and lifestyle estates across the country. The post Megaworld beats pre-Covid income appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Baguio economy back on track
BAGUIO CITY — The Philippine Statistics Authority in Cordillera region announced on Wednesday that this city’s economy is already back on its feet as it rebounded from a negative 17.1 percent contraction in 2020 to a 9.9 percent growth in 2021. PSA Cordillera chief statistical analyst Aldrien Federico Bahit said that the local economy was estimated to be at P146.9 billion in 2018 that increased to 152.9 billion in 2019 before declining to P126.7 billion in 2020 and rebounded to P139.2 billion in 2021. However, the city’s economy valued at P139.2 billion in 2021 was still much lower compared to the 2018 and 2019 levels and thus, the local economy has to gain at least 9.8 percent in 2022 to be able to match the 2018 and 2019 levels. Bahit said that all the major industries contributed to the growth of the city’s economy in 2021 with industry contributing the highest with 5.1 percentage points followed by services with 4.7 percentage points and agriculture, forestry and fishery with 0.3 percentage points. In 2020, all the major industries also contributed to the decline in the city’s economy with services being the hardest hit by the pandemic registering negative 11.5 percentage points, followed by industry with negative 5.6 percentage points and agriculture, forestry and fishery with 0.003 percentage points. Except for industry that reportedly pulled down the economy by negative 0.9 percentage points, services and agriculture, forestry and fishery contributed positively to the 4 percent growth in 2019. Services had 4.9 percent contribution while agriculture, forestry and fishery contributed 0.003 percent. Based on the annual growth contribution of the highlighted industries in 2021, the growth of the city’s economy was triggered by manufacturing with 4.4 percent; financial and insurance activities — 1.5 percent; and accommodation and food services — 1.1 percent. The rest of the industries similarly grew during the said year, except for transportation and storage which pulled the growth by 0.3 percent. Bahit added that the city’s per capita domestic product in 2021 was estimated at P379,712.00 which is still lower than the pre-pandemic levels in 2019 and 2018. The government’s statistics agency is now preparing for the 2022 gross city domestic product that is why it is soliciting the support of the local government unit for the data gathering to be able to complete the same right on time. The post Baguio economy back on track appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PH Red Cross reports over 2K health caravan beneficiaries since start of October
Over 2,000 individuals from Baguio City, Bataan, Batangas City, Bulacan, Ilocos Norte, and Pangasinan benefited from Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Health Caravan from Oct. 1 to 22, the organization said. Philippine Red Cross The Health Caravan is the PRC’s way of bringing medical and health services to the most vulnerable communities, it added. This project is also an opportunity for nurses and doctors to do volunteer activities through PRC. “Laging nandyan ang Red Cross para magbigay ng essential health and medical services sa ating mga kababayan, lalo na ngayong panahon ng pandemya (Red Cross is always ready to provide essential heath and medical services for our countrymen epecially during this time of pandemic),” said PRC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Richard Gordon. Among the programs that PRC Health Caravan offers are free health consultation, health and hygiene promotion, first aid lecture demonstration, Covid-19 vaccination, and bloodletting and blood typing services. PRC said that it conducts its health services through a partnership with the local government units and the PRC National Headquarters. Since March 2022, PRC noted that a total of 10,000 Filipinos across the country were already given medical services through the caravan......»»
Lopez lauds DA’s move waiving fees for fruit, veggie exports
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary and Export Development Council Chairman Ramon Lopez on Wednesday lauded the recent move of the Department of Agriculture (DA) waiving the Pesticide Residue Analysis (PRA) test on fresh and processed fruits and vegetables, seen to be beneficial for fruit and vegetable exporters during this time of pandemic. In […] The post Lopez lauds DA’s move waiving fees for fruit, veggie exports appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Screen time use during pandemic: Doctors share tips
Our gadgets have undoubtedly served as our lifeline during this pandemic......»»
Tondo soccer field turns into vegetable farm
The Department of Agrarian Reform has launched an urban garden project in Tondo, Manila to help residents of 17 barangays harvest vegetables which they could sell at affordable prices and cope with the pandemic......»»
DTI CAR reports continuing support to Cordillera MSMEs
BAGUIO CITY, Nov. 23 (PIA) - - The Department of Trade and Industry affirms continuing support to Cordillera Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in this time of Coronavirus pandemic and cal.....»»
How Baguio public hospital reinvented itself in time for a COVID-19 response
Baguio City was among the LGUs whose COVID-19 policy was considered effective during the monthslong lockdown. At the heart of its pandemic response was a hospital that was quick to adjust to the crisis—the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center......»»
Cooperation, not competition
SPEAKING OUT Ignacio R. Bunye The Ayala Group is widely recognized in the Philippines and in Asia as a pioneer in ESG (Environment, Social, and Governance) with its formal adoption of the Ayala Sustainability Framework. In a recent webcast conversation with ATR Asset Management’s Julian Tarrobago, Jr., Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala (JAZA), Chairman and CEO of Ayala, explained the genesis of this corporate philosophy. In a nutshell, this is about using the economic engine and for-profit discipline of enterprises to address social issues – not as a philanthropy but as an integral part of doing business. This is a new philosophy designed to foster an environment where there is inclusive growth. This is achieved by engaging disenfranchised sectors and going beyond just the financials. This is reflected in how Ayala purposively evolved over the years and how it has operated during the crisis. This explains how and why Ayala Land continues to make urban centers more livable and more friendly, why Ayala Land projects aim to become carbon-neutral a few years down the road, why AC Energy continues to improve its mix of energy sources, consistently increasing reliance on renewables, why Ayala has ventured into health and into education, and why BPI has dramatically upsized its microfinance. This explains why during the crisis, Ayala’s first concern was to ensure both the physical and financial well-being of its stakeholders. This includes Ayala’s employees and those of the various eco-systems (read that as 250,000 SMEs) which support Ayala. This meant P10 billion, to date, of foregone revenue, to help in their recovery and fostering sustainable growth beyond the crisis. Finally, JAZA explains why “this is a time for us to learn to cooperate rather than be at odds with each other. Our modern capitalist system is massively integrated in a way that it wasn’t in the past. And because we have an integrated system, we are tied to each other in ways that we either all succeed together, or not. If one component of that system is allowed to fail, then you start to break up what makes modern capitalism so strong. The supply chain, the integration, the way we work off each other, each person providing their own component of the system. If we don’t help each other, particularly in the public-private sector to reenergize and restart that great engine, then we will fail. Perhaps, this is a period in time where cooperation is being demanded more from all of us both in the private sector alone and in the private-public interaction, to see how we can all work together to address the many pain points that we will face as a nation if we are to get out of this pandemic.” Change your passwords often Even prior to the pandemic, incidents of unauthorized ATM withdrawals by third parties have been reported on the rise. It is perhaps opportune to issue this reminder. Essentially, it is about keeping our User IDs and passwords safe. One normally reads this reminder on our bank’s website. This is what the bank usually tells us. The bank will never ask you to provide your User IDs or Passwords through e-mail or SMS so don’t fall for unsolicited messages that your account has been temporarily disconnected and that you have to change your password. Never click on links from suspicious e-mails and SMS. Hackers can gain access to your account, plant malware, and steal your identity. Monitor your accounts regularly and immediately report any discrepancies. If I may just add, don’t ask anybody to withdraw money from the ATM for you. For added protection, you may want to use Code Red, an RFID and NFC Anti-Scanning Card. It is a smart card that provides protection from identity theft by manipulating the radio signals using E-field technology. Simply put it inside your wallet and it will make your personal data invisible to electronic thieves and hackers. (Thanks BPI EVP Mon Jocson for this last tip.) Note: You may wish to share the foregoing article via Facebook, Twitter and/or Linked-In......»»