Higante maker looks forward to the day Sinulog parade will again bring back the fun, the crowd, and the giants
CEBU, Philippines — The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has changed the way people celebrate occasions and special events such as birthdays, holidays, festivals among others. Following the health protocols and risk against COVID-19, the government has to cancel physical performances and other events of the Sinulog Festival, one of the nation’s most awaited and […] The post Higante maker looks forward to the day Sinulog parade will again bring back the fun, the crowd, and the giants appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Phl economy still strongest this year — RCBC
The Philippine economy will remain among Asia’s strongest in the fourth quarter despite a possible higher interest rate because of strong consumer demand for certain products and services and more employed Filipinos, the chief economist of Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation said Saturday. “This growth forecast is still among the fastest in the region because our economy is doing well,” RCBC’s Michael Ricafort said. The World Bank recently downgraded this year’s Philippine economic growth to 5.6 percent from 6 percent due to inflation risks, apart from lower government spending and weaker demand for exports. However, it is still higher than China’s 5.1 percent, Indonesia’s 4.9 percent, and Malaysia’s 4.3 percent growth forecast. Ricafort said the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) might raise its policy rate this year to slow inflation to 4 percent by year-end after it accelerated again to 6.1 percent last month. “The BSP is working to bring down prices of goods and services. As an unintended consequence, the economy could slow down. Borrowing costs for business owners also increase and consumer demand weakens,” he said. Ricafort said global oil prices have started falling which could discourage the central bank from raising its rate drastically. “Global oil prices have declined to $82 to $83 per barrel from a peak of $95 per barrel last month or since the war between oil-rich countries Russia and Ukraine began,” the economist said. He also expected a downtrend in rice prices starting this month as he said local farmers have begun collecting fresh harvests. “Inflation quickened last month mainly from higher prices of rice which accounted for nearly 9 percent of the inflation basket and grew 17 percent year-on-year,” Ricafort said. While a higher interest rate aims to slow consumption, Ricafort said the continued flow of remittances from overseas Filipino workers, or at least 3 percent growth yearly will still support substantial levels of consumer spending, especially during the Christmas season. “That is more than $40 billion a year. That’s the fourth largest in the world after India, China and Mexico,” the economist said. He added more Filipinos or 800,000 could earn from business process outsourcing or BPO this year as the industry’s revenue could rise from $32.5 billion to $59 billion based on data from the Contact Center Association of the Philippines. Another growth area is tourism, which Ricafort said saw 4 million foreign visitors last month, nearing the 4.8 million full-year target of the government. He added higher productivity among Filipinos is also expected as the country’s unemployment rate declined to 4.4 percent in August from 4.8 percent in July, based on data from the Philippine Statistics Authority. Moving forward, Ricafort said the government must improve science and technology education for higher quality jobs and increase spending on infrastructure amid the full reopening of most economies. “We are now fully reopened. Students are also back in schools which encourages putting up food businesses. Labor market in the US also improved which will affect export trade,” he said. Ricafort added the government could continue distributing financial and other assistance to farmers to control inflation. He believed the inflation rate will approach 3 percent next year, close to the ideal 2 percent for healthier economic growth. The post Phl economy still strongest this year — RCBC appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
The delicate dance between head and heart
In two months alone, I have had the privilege to speak at major, well-attended business conferences offered to mostly HR people on employee engagement and the need to bring humanity back into human resources......»»
DepEd-7 to teachers: Look for strategies to draw back students’ attention
CEBU CITY, Philippines — A Department of Education in Central Visayas (DepEd-7) official urged teachers to look for alternative strategies to bring back their students’ attention instead of resorting to extreme disciplinary action during classes. Dr. Salustiano Jimenez, regional director of DepEd-7 made this comment on Tuesday, October 2, following the slapping incident in Antipolo,.....»»
‘Sinag’ and ‘Lupa’: Light that guides and land that nourishes
In late September 2019, the Cultural Center of the Philippines mounted the son et lumiere titled “Sinag: Festival of Radiance,” accompanied by a video projected on the façade of its iconic Brutalist Main Building, dancing fountain, performances and installations, as part of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of one of the Philippines’ revered cultural institutions. The light show was staged again in the following years with different themes even during the imposed lockdowns in the first years of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 and 2021, serving as beacon of hope during one of the most challenging times for the arts and culture sector. The “Sinag” light-and-sound show continued to be mounted this year, fast becoming a tradition for CCP, as it commemorated its 54th founding anniversary and signaled the sector’s embarking on the road to recovery. It also recognized the sector’s perseverance and determination to continue creating and healing with its theme, “Tuloy Ang Palabas”(The Show Continues).” This year, the Main Building has remained dark and silent as it closed down in January for a three-year rehabilitation and renovation, but it came alive again from 28 September to 1 October for “Sinag 2023: Tuloy Ang Palabas.” A short video was projected on the façade, showing snippets of productions, projects and performances in the past nine months, all held in different venues outside the Main Building. The main part was a spectacle of colors and moving patterns, conceptualized by CCP light designers Camille Balistoy, Danilo Villanueva, Louie Alcoran and Shantie De Roca. This was accompanied by music by Soundridemusic and Makai-symphony, spliced by Jerry Tria. Capping the show was a video showing CCP’s reach in the country, through a map created by Reily Villaruz, as well as glimpses of performances and projects in the planning, accompanied by Jed Balsamo’s “Rurok.” As the CCP Main Building highlighted art’s role as light giver, the park beside it, CCP Liwasang KaLIKHAsan, is venue for an exhibit of installations depicting popular creatures of Philippine folklore. [caption id="attachment_191675" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Kapre. | PhotoGRAPHS by Roel Hoang Manipon FOR THE DAILY TRIBUNE[/caption] The kapre, aswang and tikbalang often figure in horror stories told to children, but acclaimed artist Abdulmari “Toym” de Leon Imao, son of the late National Artist for visual arts Abdulmari Asia Imao, regarded them as nature guardians, thus the title “Tanod-Lupa.” “Tanod-Lupa” was first mounted in celebration of Earth Day on 22 April, but was brought back for the anniversary celebration, and it seems fitting for the Halloween and Christmas seasons. Imao was inspired by stories about these creatures, many of which most likely can be traced from pre-colonial times, during his childhood. “My mom is Kapampangan, and they have wonderful stories of mythology such as Apo Mallari god of Mount Pinatubo. My dad came from the South. He was a Tausug. Mindanao is also rich in stories. The Sarimanok itself is a mythical creature. My appreciation comes from a fascination from childhood and growing up with these stories and narratives from my parents,” he said. “I am very fascinated with tikbalang. There are some stories that tell that it is actually a friend. The tikbalang also has a masculine appearance, very heroic,” he added. Working together with lantern makers from San Fernando City, Pampanga, headed by Arvin Bondoc Quiwa, and using materials such welded steel, fiberglass, ropes and lanterns with LED lights, Imao reimagined the creatures to be cartoonish but still retaining some scary and mysterious qualities. [caption id="attachment_191676" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Manananggal.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_191674" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Duwende.[/caption] The bright installations of kapre, duwende, manananggal, aswang, nuno sa punso and tikbalang are scattered around the park — under a balete, in between coconut trees, among overgrown weeds and unkempt bushes — and accompanied by eerie sounds designed by TJ Ramos. The most prominent among Imao’s works is his large installation in the shape of the panolong, a decorative detail of the traditional house of the Meranaw people, and the sarimanok, a popular design motif of several Moro ethnic groups, frequently used by his father in his works. [caption id="attachment_191677" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Nuno sa punso.[/caption] “Tanod-Lupa” is a work in progress, and more installations are being planned to be added to the collection. “With themes like climate change and cultural promotion, it’s perfect for us to bring these creatures from folklore and mythologies to the forefront. We are not the only inhabitants of our environment. We share it with other beings and creatures. Our ancestors remind us that we take good care of our environment lest these ‘tanod-lupa’ come out to remind us of our shortcomings,” Imao said. The post ‘Sinag’ and ‘Lupa’: Light that guides and land that nourishes appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Cato: Evidence vs Alpha ‘strong’
Krizelle Dianne Respicio yesterday snapped back at two people who had worked for her at Alpha Assistenza SRL, the company now at the center of a visa procurement scandal involving Filipinos seeking jobs in Italy. In an unsigned post that has since been deleted on Alpha Assistenza’s official Facebook account, the agency issued a statement denying Respicio had implicated her aunt, Arlyn Pangan, in any scam. Consul general speaks Pangan, along with Socorro Velasquez who is now cooperating with Philippine authorities investigating Alpha Assistenza, was tagged by some of the complainants as a “runner” for Respicio. Alpha Assistenza said “Ms. Pangan has denied making these statements written” by this reporter. Pangan, however, yesterday stood by her story that was based on her face-to-face interview with DAILY TRIBUNE and Usapang OFW last Friday. The consul general to Milan, Elmer Cato, had issued a statement in a report by TV Patrol on Sunday. “We have strong evidence to prosecute this case, through lawyers here (Italy) and in the Philippines,” Cato said, apparently referring to Respicio and her partner and co-CEO Frederick Dutaro. Cato has denied coddling Respicio and Dutaro and, in an earlier statement by the consulate, averred that they had been undertaking a “case build-up” against the couple’s company. DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega also met with the Filipino community in Milan to look into the cases of illegal recruitment there. To recall, Pangan said that she had agreed to help Respicio because she was family, adding that the Alpha Assistenza co-CEO also offered to help her facilitate her trip to Italy so she could get cancer treatment there. The second employee Alpha Assistenza also hit out at Jeffrey Villalon, the creator of its website who also approached DAILY TRIBUNE to “spill the beans” on the company which, he said, promised to bring him back to Italy at no cost to him. Alpha Assistenza claimed Villalon was never its “marketing manager” although he built the Alpha Assistenza website. “Our website had been under the control of Jeffrey Liwanag Villalon, who had been asking me for money and refused me access thereto,” the Alpha Assistenza post said. Respicio appeared on a news report by ANC’s TV Patrol on Sunday to deny all claims of illegal recruitment allegedly committed by Alpha Assistenza. “We vehemently deny that there were illegal activities perpetrated by Alpha Assitenza. I am not hiding. I am not escaping,” Respicio said. The post Cato: Evidence vs Alpha ‘strong’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Alpha 400
After months of getting the runaround from investigators, government agencies, and other media outlets that could not comprehend the gravity of the bog they had found themselves mired in, they flocked to DAILY TRIBUNE’s digital show Usapang OFW, mostly from the province of Batangas. They are the so-called Alpha 400, a group of about 200 job-seekers to Italy, and their counterpart Filipino sponsors in that country who claimed they were duped out of their money by the couple Krizelle Respicio and Frederick Dutaro, co-CEOs of an “immigration consultancy” firm. Some said they were forced to sell farmland and other properties to pay 3,000 to 5,000 euros in consultancy fees. That’s as heartless as it gets, taking money from people who have less in life and whose only fault, if it could be called that, was to dream of improving their standing in life, albeit without doing the necessary due diligence, which set them up as “victims” of the alleged scam. The “ties that bind,” to borrow TRIBUNE’s recent headline about the purported massive recruitment racket, were that the sponsors in Italy and the job-seekers, whose visa applications were denied by the Italian Embassy in Manila on account of the bogus “nulla osta” or work permits provided them by Alpha Assistenza, only wanted decent-paying jobs in Italy and to be together. Most of the sponsors and job-seekers were related or were friends, including nine from one clan alone who paid Alpha Assistenza 21,000 euros (roughly P1,259,434) in placement fees exacted by a company that had no business recruiting because it was registered neither in the Philippines nor Italy. Jeffrey Villalon, Alpha Assistenza’s marketing manager on paper who cobbled together its clickbait website that redirected visa queries to chat groups moderated by Respicio, came to TRIBUNE one night to disassociate himself from Respicio, saying he was a victim like the others. He said Respicio promised to bring him back to Italy at no cost so he could be with his two children. “There are two sets of victims here,” Villalon told this writer, “the sponsors and the job-seekers they endorsed to Alpha.” The sponsors, he said, may have jeopardized their own stay in Italy as the Italian police and prosecutors are now investigating the matter. He explained that the sponsors might be held liable for endorsing job-seekers who were, unknown to them, provided fake nulla osta by Alpha Assistenza. If his name “had not been dragged into the mud” for setting up the website and being given by Respicio that grand “marketing manager” title, Villalon said, he would find funny the ribbing he has gotten from friends who said he had worked in Italy in the past only to fall for this scam. Decades back, Villalon said he paid roughly P1 million to be able to work in Italy. Thus, he thought the fees being collected by Alpha Assistenza were reasonable if the firm successfully facilitated the entry and work in Italy of job-seekers. As it turned out, he said, the fees collected were at a price point within the financial reach of either the sponsors or the job-seekers. Alpha Assistenza went “cheap” because it wanted volume — better to have many applicants than a few who could pay the P1 million charged in the past. Maybe it was money for nothing for the consultants whom the Italian Embassy dubbed “predators,” but it was money from the blood, sweat, and tears of the victims. The Italian Embassy said the victims may not be totally faultless as it asked whether “all those who were allegedly defrauded had acted with integrity and in an unquestionable manner.” Further, it said, “Regrettably, the attempt to find an alternative route that would allow them to obtain what they wished for by circumventing the system bears the risk of being exposed to such scams.” It then pointed out that a quick internet search could have helped the victims see the many red flags apparent in Alpha Assistenza’s modus operandi. In a nutshell, the caveat here of the embassy is that those who choose to sup with the devil risk getting burned. The post Alpha 400 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Phl economy seen to grow 5.5% in 2023
The Philippine economy is expected to grow slower by 5.5 percent in 2023 from 7.6 percent in 2023 due to a global slowdown, First Metro Investment Corporation and the University of Asia and the Pacific Capital Markets Research said on Wednesday. In their September 2023 market call, the two firms said that elevated government spending in the third quarter of 2023, along with a strong rebound in employment and consumer spending starting September, should stimulate the economy. The industry sector expansion is seen to be broad-based, with manufacturing taking the lead. The services sector is also expected to see growth, driven by domestic and foreign tourism in trade, transportation, storage, and accommodations and food services starting in September. "We still see sufficient strength in the economy to get a 5.0 to 5.2 percent year-on-year third quarter GDP growth, while the acceleration of the above sectors plus consumer spending should bring back fourth-quarter growth above 6 percent," the market call said. The market call also noted that market uneasiness returned in August amid higher US Treasuries on the back of inflation woes, a hawkish Fed, and a stronger-than-expected US economy. Locally, the trepidation resulted in a decline in volume in both primary and secondary markets rather than in yields in August. Furthermore, local products initially jumped in September following the faster August inflation print at 5.3 percent. "We see the recent crude oil and rice price gains as transitory with inflation likely heading back to within target in Q4. Given the inflation outlook and pause in monetary tightening from the BSP and Fed, we expect sideways movements, with a slight northward bias, in the local 10-year yields, which should last until the end of 2023," the market call said. Equities Outlook The Philippine Stock Exchange index is seen to move sideways in September between 6,000 and 6,350, as investors scrounge for some excellent news. While price-to-earnings ratios reached lows last seen during the World Financial Crisis, local investors seem hindered by higher interest rates and margin calls. However, the market call kept a constructive outlook, especially concerning oversold issues and high dividend plays. "We believe that the market is now trading at a compelling valuation and that investors should start to nibble at oversold issues and high dividend plays. We expect the market to grind higher in the fourth quarter, with the PSEi breaching its 2022 high of 6,800 by year-end," the market call said. The post Phl economy seen to grow 5.5% in 2023 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Balmain races to recover from robbery at Paris Fashion Week
The fashion world loves drama but normally it does not involve violent robberies, so there is outsize attention on Wednesday's Balmain show after the French label had 50 outfits stolen just days earlier. Balmain's creative director Olivier Rousteing announced on September 17 that a driver had been "hijacked" on the way from a Paris airport to the house's headquarters by a gang of thieves who stole 50 outfits. He and his team have since been racing to put together a collection for the show on Wednesday night. There were no signs of panic from Rousteing on Tuesday when he posted a video from his workshop showing the finishing touches being put to a dress that looked like a pink garden trestle with blue flowers climbing over it. He added the apparently ironic comment: "Florals for spring? Groundbreaking..." Paris Fashion Week kicked off on Monday and runs to 3 October, with 107 brands presenting, of which 67 are giving runway shows. One of the first big names was Pierre Cardin, which has returned to the official Paris lineup this year for the first time in a quarter-century. Its show was full of retro space-age outfits that harked back to its glory days, but the relatives of Cardin, who died in 2020, are currently tearing each other apart in court over the inheritance. "My uncle gave me the mission to perpetuate the house and its style," Rodrigo Basilicati-Cardin, who is currently overseeing the label, said backstage. "If the brand is sold, it will be the end of the house. I am confident the court decisions will ensure continuity," he added. Among the other highlights so far was the latest collection from Dior on Tuesday, which saw the walls of the show plastered with mock sexist slogans from old adverts, such as "Save your marriage -- iron properly". The collection by Maria Grazia Chiuri, who recently dressed Queen Camilla for her state dinner at Versailles, was a largely monochrome affair with comfortable, breezy items alongside straight masculine jackets, pleated skirts, and plenty of knitwear. Coming later this week are the final shows for two big-name designers. Gabriela Hearst is leaving Chloe after fewer than three years. Her focus on sustainable fashion was critically acclaimed but did not bring a major boost to sales. It will also be the last show for Sarah Burton, who took over at Alexander McQueen following the founder's suicide in 2010. The post Balmain races to recover from robbery at Paris Fashion Week appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
JPMorgan Chase to pay $75 mn to settle Epstein-linked sex trafficking suit
JPMorgan Chase announced Tuesday that it will pay $75 million to settle a US Virgin Islands' (USVI) lawsuit that accused the bank of facilitating Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking ring. The big US bank, which previously reached a $290 million settlement with Epstein's victims, also announced an agreement with former JPMorgan executive Jes Staley for an undisclosed sum. These cases together resolve the bank's remaining litigation over its embarrassing long-running association with the late Epstein. The agreement with the USVI came a few weeks ahead of a scheduled trial in New York that likely would have bruised both sides. While the USVI accused JPMorgan of turning a "blind eye" to Epstein's conduct due to profit concerns, the bank levied essentially the same charge against USVI, saying the government helped Epstein obtain visas that allowed him to bring victims to the island. The settlement, which must be approved by a US court, includes $30 million to support USVI charitable organizations, $25 million to enhance USVI law enforcement to combat human trafficking and $20 million in attorneys' fees. JPMorgan did not admit liability as part of the settlement, but the "firm deeply regrets any association with this man, and would never have continued doing business with him if it believed he was using the bank in any way to commit his heinous crimes," the bank said in a statement. "JPMorgan believes this settlement is in the best interest of all parties," the bank said. The USVI had originally sought $190 million in damages for the bank's role in enabling Epstein's sex crimes, including in the Virgin Islands, where he had a residence. The USVI said JPMorgan "knowingly, negligently, and unlawfully provided and pulled the levers through which recruiters and victims were paid and was indispensable to the operation and concealment of the Epstein trafficking enterprise," according the original complaint. Bank hits back The bank hit back forcefully, saying in a May legal filing that the USVI government was "complicit in the crimes of Jeffrey Epstein." Under a "quid pro quo" relationship with top USVI officials, Epstein "gave them advice, influence, and favors," JPMorgan said in the filing. "In exchange, they shielded and even rewarded him... looking the other way when he walked through USVI airports accompanied by girls and young women." US Virgin Islands Attorney General Ariel Smith said Tuesday the agreement would prevent human trafficking in the future. "This settlement is an historic victory for survivors and for state enforcement, and it should sound the alarm on Wall Street about banks' responsibilities under the law to detect and prevent human trafficking," Smith said. "We are proud to have stood alongside the survivors throughout this litigation, and this settlement reflects our continued commitment to them," Smith said. The USVI press release listed a number of "substantial commitments" by JPMorgan to combat human trafficking, including informing law enforcement of perpetrators and terminating customers' accounts if there is credible evidence of wrongdoing. But a JPMorgan spokesperson said the bank has not changed or fortified its policies due to the accord. "There are no new commitments. Our controls, compliance, risk, and other functions are always improving, and we are continually investing to become even better," said JPMorgan's Trish Wexler. "We have always worked closely with law enforcement to help combat human trafficking, and we will continue to look for ways to invest in advancing this important mission." The post JPMorgan Chase to pay $75 mn to settle Epstein-linked sex trafficking suit appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Kashieca by Lucy Torres-Gomez & Urban Revivo x Caroline Hu bring back romantic elegance
So you have meetings during the day but you have a date after 5 or dinner at the newest hotspot with your friends. It’s the “-ber” months, after all, and with the uncooperative weather and traffic jams, the comeback of the “going-out top,” a 2010 standby (millennials know), returns to take you through your back-to-back commitments — with the added mood boost of wearing something so flattering......»»
Paris Fashion Week opens with drama and dashes of humor
Paris is the last of the big four fashion weeks in the busy September calendar that sees back-to-back events in London, New York, and Milan. The biggest story this season has been a new creative director at Gucci. The debut by Sabato de Sarno in Milan on Friday was a relatively low-key affair but gave a boost to the share price of French parent company Kering, which has been struggling lately to keep up with its major rival, LVMH. The first day of Paris Fashion Week always focuses on emerging designers and there was excitement this year about avant-garde newcomer Marie Adam-Leenaerdt from Belgium, who brought a dash of much-needed humor to the opening show. It opened with a chorus singing "Let's go to the beach!" only to follow it with a series of decidedly un-beachy gray, formal, and structured outfits before introducing some more summery Barbie pink and sky-blue dresses. "There's something very Belgian about it," the 27-year-old designer told AFP backstage. "It's important for me to play with the codes and have some paradoxes." Also showing on Monday was Victor Weinsanto, a former classical dancer who trained in fashion with Jean Paul Gaultier and loves to bring cabaret to the catwalk. There were doses of humor -- opening with an extravagant wedding gown that he said was designed for "a woman who gets married entirely in Swarovski". But he also showed a more serious side, with structured and chic pieces alongside more offbeat items like hooded suit jackets. Far from a newcomer, but long absent from the official line-up in Paris, is Pierre Cardin, which returned to the catwalk for the first time in 25 years last season and was back with a glamorous show on Monday night. The label's founder died in 2020 and his nephew Rodrigo Basilicati-Cardin is currently in charge but is embroiled in a bitter succession dispute with family members who have accused each other of fraud and other crimes. The post Paris Fashion Week opens with drama and dashes of humor appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Globe bankrolls P15-B expansion
Ayala-backed Globe Telecom Inc. has secured P15 billion in additional funding from Metropolitan Bank & Trust Company, a move that will strengthen the company’s financial capabilities to bankroll network improvements and expansion. In a report to the Philippine Stock Exchange, the company said it signed the term loan facilities on Monday. According to Globe, the proceeds will particularly finance Globe’s capital expenditures, debt refinancing, and/or general corporate requirements. Responding to the growing need to ramp up mobile data services amid a digital-savvy landscape, Globe has been also boosting its services to offer seamless and efficient services to users. Proceeds mostly for data network In the first half, the company invested P37.7 billion in capital expenditure, which was 25 percent lower than the similar period last year. It was also consistent with the company’s efforts to bring free cash flow back to more sustainable levels. The majority or about 90 percent of the capex spending was allocated to data network builds to meet the consumer’s escalating demand for data. As of June, Globe built 542 new cell sites and upgraded 5,087 mobile sites to LTE to meet the rising data demands of its customers. The company also deployed around 148,000 fiber-to-the-home lines, significantly lower than last year’s rollout to maximize the utilization of its existing fiber inventory. Relatedly, Globe continues to deploy 5G wireless technology nationwide, firing up 356 new 5G sites across the Philippines, increasing its 5G outdoor coverage to 97.44 percent of the National Capital Region and 91 percent of key cities in Visayas and Mindanao. The post Globe bankrolls P15-B expansion appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Review: ‘Video City: Be Kind, Please Rewind’, too reel to be real
Writer-director Raynier Brizuela’s time-travel whirlwind romance Video City: Be Kind, Please Rewind (a collaboration between Viva Films and GMA Pictures) is an ambitious project tragically forced within an obviously limited budget, resources and creative restrictions. Brizuela, setting his film mainly in the year 1995, uses tight framing and a shaky cam technique, but not so much as to direct our focus on Ruru Madrid’s frequently teary eyes, but to avoid the movie’s lack of era-specific looks. Knowing that it’s a copyright nightmare for a low-budget movie such as Video City to recreate 1995, we are severely deprived of nostalgia. Then there’s the restriction issue: the 1990s are marked by the Eraserheads, the launch of the Windows 95 operating system, the O.J. Simpson trial, Tiger Woods, Michael Jackson, Jolina Magdangal, Smokey Mountain and some major Philippine news and current events. But the production obviously cannot and will not show anything outside of Viva Entertainment’s world. Hence, the concept itself — a period piece — is already a failure. The inability of the film to recreate the ‘90s in the Philippines is the least of the movie’s problems. The film’s wobbly script from an unfocused story reduces the experience to something of an endurance test. Video City traps the audience within the suffocating four walls of Video City, a popular VHS rental shop in the ‘90s owned by Viva Entertainment, Inc. We watch a love story develop between Han (Ruru Madrid), a student from 2023, and Ningning (Yassi Pressman), a Video City worker from 1995. Suffocating, because of the tight framing combined with hackneyed, cringy dialogue and the severe lack of chemistry between the two leads. Independently, both actors give their best to bring life to their thinly written characters from a largely unremarkable, bizarre storytelling. Yet together, they cannot even produce a mild spark. Pressman’s Ningning, with her permed wig colored with blondie highlights (definitely not a Pinoy ‘90s look), is an energetic actress-wannabe, while Madrid’s Han is a depressive filmmaker-wannabe. Movies are the duo’s mutual passion, yet the script does not allow this passion to take root, further weighed down by the need to promote Viva’s past products, such as the movie Maging Sino Ka Man. There is no build-up in the romance. Ningning, upon realizing that Han comes from the future, is just very surprised for mere minutes. This rip in the space-time continuum does not inspire shock from Ningning, and she bizarrely does not ask questions about this supernatural occurrence. Even Han is just mildly surprised by his ability to time-travel via — get this — a VHS tape rewinder. Han is also inexplicably hired by the Video City branch, clearly the script’s excuse to “build” the bond between him and Ningning. But he never gets a Video City uniform. He is always in civilian clothes. Why? [caption id="attachment_187907" align="aligncenter" width="1356"] RURU Madrid delivers an effortless performance (please give this guy more nuanced roles!) but his talent is wasted here. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF GMA pictures[/caption] In order to provide conflict and threat to the love story, Brizuela set a “limited time” — Han’s daily visit in 1995 gets shortened every day. With this restriction, Han also has to understand the “purpose” of his time travel really fast. But then the movie suddenly loses interest in Han’s initial angst: His uninspired thesis, the pressure to be as creative as his retired filmmaker mother (Suzette Ranillo), whose paralyzing health issues (we never know what her actual health issue is) is also affecting his mental health. Sure, these are mildly tackled and Han gets an “instant cure” for himself and his mother after attending a 1995 movie presscon (was it really open to the public back in the day?). But all of these issues are sidestepped to give way for the unengaging love story. Brizuela, the creative director of the social-media humor page PGAG, also utilizes the tiresome rain effect to “enhance” the romantic thrills. But with the way the rain suddenly appears (alongside Wency Cornejo’s song “Tag-ulan”), you find yourself recoiling instead of falling in love. The old Filipino nursery song “One Day, Isang Araw, I Saw, Nakakita” is also given an unusual prominence in the paper-thin script, making you wince even more. Madrid delivers an effortless performance (please give this guy more nuanced roles!) but his talent is wasted here. Not even his commendable performance can save this movie. Video City is difficult to sit through. The entire time, I was placed in an existential dread — I could neither forward the time to speed up the movie nor rewind back in time and avoid this altogether. 0 out of 5 stars Now showing in cinemas The post Review: ‘Video City: Be Kind, Please Rewind’, too reel to be real appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Too reel to be real
Writer-director Raynier Brizuela’s time-travel whirlwind romance Video City: Be Kind, Please Rewind (a collaboration between Viva Films and GMA Pictures) is an ambitious project tragically forced within an obviously limited budget, resources and creative restrictions. Brizuela, setting his film mainly in the year 1995, uses tight framing and a shaky cam technique, but not so much as to direct our focus on Ruru Madrid’s frequently teary eyes, but to avoid the movie’s lack of era-specific looks. Knowing that it’s a copyright nightmare for a low-budget movie such as Video City to recreate 1995, we are severely deprived of nostalgia. Then there’s the restriction issue: the 1990s are marked by the Eraserheads, the launch of the Windows 95 operating system, the O.J. Simpson trial, Tiger Woods, Michael Jackson, Jolina Magdangal, Smokey Mountain and some major Philippine news and current events. But the production obviously cannot and will not show anything outside of Viva Entertainment’s world. Hence, the concept itself — a period piece — is already a failure. The inability of the film to recreate the ‘90s in the Philippines is the least of the movie’s problems. The film’s wobbly script from an unfocused story reduces the experience to something of an endurance test. Video City traps the audience within the suffocating four walls of Video City, a popular VHS rental shop in the ‘90s owned by Viva Entertainment, Inc. We watch a love story develop between Han (Ruru Madrid), a student from 2023, and Ningning (Yassi Pressman), a Video City worker from 1995. Suffocating, because of the tight framing combined with hackneyed, cringy dialogue and the severe lack of chemistry between the two leads. Independently, both actors give their best to bring life to their thinly written characters from a largely unremarkable, bizarre storytelling. Yet together, they cannot even produce a mild spark. Pressman’s Ningning, with her permed wig colored with blondie highlights (definitely not a Pinoy ‘90s look), is an energetic actress-wannabe, while Madrid’s Han is a depressive filmmaker-wannabe. Movies are the duo’s mutual passion, yet the script does not allow this passion to take root, further weighed down by the need to promote Viva’s past products, such as the movie Maging Sino Ka Man. There is no build-up in the romance. Ningning, upon realizing that Han comes from the future, is just very surprised for mere minutes. This rip in the space-time continuum does not inspire shock from Ningning, and she bizarrely does not ask questions about this supernatural occurrence. Even Han is just mildly surprised by his ability to time-travel via — get this — a VHS tape rewinder. Han is also inexplicably hired by the Video City branch, clearly the script’s excuse to “build” the bond between him and Ningning. But he never gets a Video City uniform. He is always in civilian clothes. Why? [caption id="attachment_187907" align="aligncenter" width="1356"] RURU Madrid delivers an effortless performance (please give this guy more nuanced roles!) but his talent is wasted here. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF GMA pictures[/caption] In order to provide conflict and threat to the love story, Brizuela set a “limited time” — Han’s daily visit in 1995 gets shortened every day. With this restriction, Han also has to understand the “purpose” of his time travel really fast. But then the movie suddenly loses interest in Han’s initial angst: His uninspired thesis, the pressure to be as creative as his retired filmmaker mother (Suzette Ranillo), whose paralyzing health issues (we never know what her actual health issue is) is also affecting his mental health. Sure, these are mildly tackled and Han gets an “instant cure” for himself and his mother after attending a 1995 movie presscon (was it really open to the public back in the day?). But all of these issues are sidestepped to give way for the unengaging love story. Brizuela, the creative director of the social-media humor page PGAG, also utilizes the tiresome rain effect to “enhance” the romantic thrills. But with the way the rain suddenly appears (alongside Wency Cornejo’s song “Tag-ulan”), you find yourself recoiling instead of falling in love. The old Filipino nursery song “One Day, Isang Araw, I Saw, Nakakita” is also given an unusual prominence in the paper-thin script, making you wince even more. Madrid delivers an effortless performance (please give this guy more nuanced roles!) but his talent is wasted here. Not even his commendable performance can save this movie. Video City is difficult to sit through. The entire time, I was placed in an existential dread — I could neither forward the time to speed up the movie nor rewind back in time and avoid this altogether. 0 out of 5 stars Now showing in cinemas The post Too reel to be real appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Azerbaijan claims victory after Karabakh separatists surrender
Azerbaijan said Wednesday it had regained control over breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh for the first time in decades after separatist Armenian fighters agreed to lay down their arms in the face of a military operation. The stunning collapse of separatist resistance represents a major victory for Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev in his quest to bring the Armenian-majority Nagorno-Karabakh back under Baku's control. Armenia and Azerbaijan have fought two wars over the mountainous region since the collapse of the Soviet Union. The years of conflict have been marked by abuses on both sides, and there are concerns of a fresh refugee crisis as Karabakh's Armenian population fears being forced out. A day after Azerbaijan launched its military operation in the region, Baku and the ethnic Armenian authorities in Karabakh announced a ceasefire deal had been brokered by Russian peacekeepers to stop the fighting. "Azerbaijan restored its sovereignty as a result of successful anti-terrorist measures in Karabakh," Aliyev said in a televised address. Aliyev claimed that most of the Armenian forces in the region had been destroyed and said the withdrawal of separatist troops had already begun. The attack left "at least 200 killed and more than 400 wounded," Nagorno-Karabakh separatist official Gegham Stepanyan said. Late on Wednesday, Armenia's defence ministry said that Azerbaijan had fired on its positions along the border between the arch-foes. Such skirmishes are frequent along the border. Truce deal Under the truce deal, the separatists said they had agreed to fully dismantle their army and that Armenia would pull out any forces it had in the region. Azerbaijan's defence ministry said that "all weapons and heavy armaments are to be surrendered" under the supervision of Russia's 2,000-strong peacekeeping force on the ground. Both sides said talks on reintegrating the breakaway territory into the rest of Azerbaijan would be held on Thursday in the city of Yevlakh. President Vladimir Putin said Russian peacekeepers would mediate the talks. Moscow has said several of members of its force in Karabakh were killed when the car they were travelling in came under fire. Latest violence Baku's operation marked the latest violence over the rugged territory. After the Soviet Union fell apart, Armenian separatists seized the region -- internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan -- in the early 1990s. The war left 30,000 people dead and forced hundreds of thousands from their homes. In a six-week war in 2020, Azerbaijan recaptured swathes of territory in and around the region. President Aliyev on Wednesday praised the "political competence" of his country's historic rival. "The developments that took place yesterday and today will have a positive impact on the peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia," he said. Azerbaijani presidential foreign policy advisor Hikmet Hajiyev promised safe passage for the separatists who surrendered and said Baku sought the "peaceful reintegration" of Karabakh Armenians. A separatist official said over 10,000 people have been evacuated from Armenian communities in Nagorno-Karabakh and "forced to find a shelter" elsewhere in the territory. Russia's President Putin said he hoped for a "peaceful" resolution, adding that Moscow has been in contact with all sides in the conflict. Putin held talks with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan Wednesday evening, but the Kremlin insisted the crisis was "Azerbaijan's internal affair". 'War is over' Jubilant residents in Azerbaijan's capital expressed hope the deal heralded a definitive victory and the end of the decades-long conflict. "I was very happy with this news. Finally, the war is over," 67-year-old pensioner Rana Ahmedova told AFP. In Armenia, there was fury at a second defeat in Karabakh in three years. Clashes broke out in Armenia's capital Yerevan, where thousands of protesters waving the separatist region's flag blocked a main road and riot police guarded official buildings. Demonstrators threw bottles and stones at police as they slammed the government's handling of the crisis, while officers used stun grenades and made arrests. The loss in Karabakh ratchets up domestic pressure on Pashinyan, who has faced stinging criticism at home for making concessions to Azerbaijan since the 2020 defeat. "We are losing our homeland, we are losing our people," said Sargis Hayats, a 20-year-old musician. Pashinyan "must leave, time has shown that he cannot rule. No one gave him a mandate for Karabakh to capitulate," he said. The Armenian leader has insisted that his government had not been involved in drafting the latest ceasefire deal. Again denying his country's army was in the enclave, he said he expected Russia's peacekeepers to ensure Karabakh's ethnic-Armenian residents could stay "in their homes, on their land". International pressure Azerbaijan's assault came as Moscow, the traditional power broker in the region is bogged down and distracted by its war on Ukraine, which has left it isolated in the West. But its peacekeepers there appeared to have played a key role in helping to negotiate the ceasefire and will now oversee its implementation. Turkey, a historic ally of predominantly Muslim Azerbaijan that views mostly Christian Armenia as one of its main regional rivals, had called the operation "justified". The EU and United States have been mediating talks between Baku and Yerevan in recent months aimed at securing a lasting peace deal between the two foes. The White House said Wednesday it was concerned by the humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh. "We're obviously still watching very, very closely the worsening humanitarian situation inside Nagorno-Karabakh," US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters. He added the situation "has been exacerbated by the hostilities perpetrated by Azerbaijan" in Karabakh, where there are now fears of a refugee crisis. The post Azerbaijan claims victory after Karabakh separatists surrender appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Debunking Misconceptions: Sustainable living doesn’t have to be expensive
A sustainable lifestyle is often associated with exclusivity, as many say it comes with great expense. Yet Pacita “Chit” Juan, founder of the Echostore, a social enterprise and retail store carrying green, fair trade products, begs to differ. The Echostore was first conceptualized back in 2008, a time when sustainable living was not as widely known and given great importance as much as it is now, making Chit Juan, along with two other women who also founded the enterprise, pioneers to the green living trending the country — a fact she claims to be her biggest achievement in all 15 years of the Echostore. “Kailangan may mag-umpisa eh (There has to be someone who starts),” Chit says. Adopting a sustainable lifestyle requires choice and dedication as it does not happen overnight, much as Chit and her co-founders’ decision to launch their business at a time when consumers were still somewhat unfamiliar with the idea of sustainable living. It took them many years before the Echostore really took off, according to Chit. She even recalls how many detractors they had during the first few years of the enterprise, saying the Echostore would shut down immediately. Yet, she proudly declares that she is pleased that they were still successful in launching the business despite negativity. In fact, this month of September marks its 15th year. [caption id="attachment_186641" align="aligncenter" width="458"] Photograph courtesy of ECHOSTORE CULINARY Virgin Coconut Oil.[/caption] She really believed that when something is dedicated to a purpose, it will succeed. “‘Pag mission-driven kasi, it will always succeed (When something is mission driven, it will always succeed),” she says. Even the pandemic did not put the store into a halt. Chit in fact says that it paved a way to further boost their online sales. “Priorities lang talaga (It’s all a matter of priorities),” Chits ays. She argues that the notion of sustainable living being expensive is merely relative and a matter of whether the person is fully ready to shift and commit to that lifestyle.“Bakit ‘pag bumili ka ng large drink sa Starbucks, hindi mahal? (How come a large Starbucks drink doesn’t seem so expensive to you?)” she quips. However, Chit does not deny the fact that sustainable products are indeed significantly more expensive than ordinary ones, as she says that a big contributing element to this is the fact that sustainable products have not yet achieved a significant market scale. Yet, she contends that sustainable living does not necessarily have to be absolute. “You don’t have to be vegetarian all the way. Gusto mo Monday ka lang meatless, o kaya Friday (You don’t have to be vegetarian all the way. If you want, you can just skip meat on Mondays and Fridays).”Those two days spent not eating meat is already a big step in integrating a sustainable lifestyle. So is using a water bottle or a metal straw, adds Chit. “Baby steps,” she says. “Baby steps, and before you know it, it becomes part of your lifestyle.” It is all about knowing your options in the things you do every day, according to Chit. Whether it is what you eat for breakfast or how you get to work every day. Being a responsible consumer is, after all, what sustainable living is truly about, adds Chit. This is why she expresses her joy that the Echostore was able to be exposed to the Gen Z‘s, as she says they are the ones especially mindful of the environment and the importance of sustainable living. “I have great faith in Gen Z, kasi pinanganak sila sa challenges ng climatechange.It’s your generation now who will bring this to the mainstream (I have great faith in Gen Z because they were born into the challenges of climate change.It’s your generation now who will bring this to mainstream),” Chit says. The post Debunking Misconceptions: Sustainable living doesn’t have to be expensive appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Toast to the return of Grand Wine Experience
In wine pairing, the generally accepted rule is that reds are to be paired with “dark” food like red meat, while whites are ideal with light fares like fish and salads. “It’s still a good rule – white with white, red with red,” said Ronald Lim Joseph, director of Finance and Operations of Ralph’s Wines and Spirits and a veritable encyclopedia of wine varieties. “But the rule now is to pair bodies with bodies – so, white wine with delicate flavors, medium-bodied with medium flavors and so on.” The Joseph brothers and some of their children, with supportive spouses, of course, once again hosted a lively lunch to launch the 20th Grand Wine Experience at the newest and biggest brand of Ralph’s, located at Mitsukoshi Mall in BGC. This outlet serves Italian and Japanese fare that one may pair with any of the wines from Ralph’s. “Has it been 20 years?,” I asked a similarly awestruck Melissa de Leon-Joseph, Ron’s wife. “We started out with just maybe a few hundred varieties of wines,” she mused. Today, one of the grandest of Food and Beverage events in the country has evolved into “more than just a wine and spirits event. It is a celebration of life, a toast to the future and a tribute to the past. It is a symbol of resilience, of how we can overcome adversity and emerge stronger and better,” the event originators declare in a statement. On its 20th year, the event will, indeed, be “more special,” Ron says. “Every year, we try to introduce new wines from new regions, from the regions that we bring in. This year, expect new wines from Portugal, Israel and new regions from Italy. We want our friends to discover new places and new flavors.” The last Grand Wine Experience was held in 2019, but the pandemic prevented them from holding it in the succeeding three years. The theme then was “Generations,” a nod to winemaking as among the oldest trades in the world. “It’s passed on from generation to generation. This year, we want the new generations to join.” This year’s theme is “Bud Break, which captures the essence of renewal and optimism,” adds information from Philippine Wine Merchants. Bud break, PWM adds, “is the first stage of the grapevine’s annual cycle, when the dormant buds burst into life and produce new shoots. It is a critical time for the vineyard, as it determines the potential yield and quality of the grapes. It is also a beautiful sight, as the green leaves contrast with the brown branches and create a stunning landscape.” Just like this blossoming season, Grand Wine Experience returns to bring back a sense of appreciation for all the good things in life that people missed over the course of the pandemic. [caption id="attachment_186637" align="aligncenter" width="2008"] PHOTOGRAPH BY DINAH VENTURA FOR THE DAILY TRIBUNEthe Philippine Wine Merchants leaders (from left): Robert Ian Joseph, director for Sales and Marketing; Raymond Joseph, president and CEO;Ralph Joseph, Rea Joseph- Gonzales, Rafael Joseph, director of Finance and Operations Ronnie Joseph and Sales executive Redmond Joseph.[/caption] Drink to be merry The Grand Wine Experience promises more of what regulars have come to expect of the event. On its much-awaited return, “the largest and most prestigious event of its kind in Southeast Asia, featuring over 1,000 wines, spirits, sakes and beers from around the world, curated by experts and presented by renowned winemakers and distillers” will no doubt welcome more of the new generation of Filipino wine and spirits market. More to watch out for are the “exquisite dishes prepared by top chefs to complement the libations,” surely a sensory delight from the chefs of Marriott Manila. The 20th Grand Wine Experience will take place on 17 November at the Marriott Grand Ballroom. The doors will open at 5 p.m. and the event will last until midnight. Tickets are limited and have always sold out fast, so don’t miss this chance to experience some of the finer things in life. “We drink to be merry, not to get drunk,” quips the Josephs, once again reiterating that the best part of celebration is enjoying the food and drink, but more so the company and conversation. The post Toast to the return of Grand Wine Experience appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Invasive species on the menu at London restaurant
A London restaurant is exploring whether eating invasive species such as grey squirrel, American Signal crayfish and Japanese knotweed could help fight their spread, but scientists remain skeptical. The idea behind several "invasive species supper clubs", the last of which was served on Tuesday at "zero waste" Silo restaurant in east London, is to "creatively popularize species that are detrimental to the environment", chef Douglas McMaster, who runs the establishment, told AFP. The omnipresent grey squirrels, signal crayfish and Japanese knotweed are all "forces of destruction" that squeeze out local populations, but all are edible and "delicious", he added. The invaders are the subject of a recently published report under the aegis of the UN, which gave rise to calls from experts to "wake up" to the "scourge". McMaster would like a legitimate supply chain and for the species to become "an accessible resource" for chefs. But the idea "isn't to popularise these invasive species so there's so much of a demand that we allow them to become more invasive", he stressed. "That would be a terrible thing to occur." He hopes instead to "bring back balance within the ecosystem and then we stop eating them". - 'Out of control' - But experts fear that the remedy will simply aggravate the problem. "Consuming invasive non-native species isn't something that I would encourage," Karim Vahed, professor of entomology at the University of Derby, told AFP. For Signal crayfish, which were imported in the 1970s for human consumption before escaping to colonize waterways -- to the detriment of the native white-clawed crayfish -- "there's a potential that people will even introduce them themselves if they think that they can then be collected as food". The invasive specimens also transmit a fungal infection, "crayfish plague", to which the American species are immune. And their few predators -- otters and herons -- are too few to stem their spread. "At the moment, the Signal is just spreading out of control," warned Vahed. The smaller, native crayfish, which have seen an 80-90 percent decline, are now at risk of extinction. In a small stream flowing through a park in Derby, central England, visitors can easily see the swarms of American crayfish. One of Vahed's students found the first specimen there 16 years ago and within five years the invasive species had completely replaced the native one. Simply taking the largest ones does not help contain the spread. "You're just helping the young American Signal crayfish to survive," explained Vahed. "So removing them and eating them isn't a solution." - 'Very human response' - The picture is more nuanced for Japanese knotweed, an invasive plant which can be eaten or used to brew beer. "It could potentially be a good idea," said knotweed specialist Karen Bacon, who found humor in the "very human response" of thinking "this plant is causing a problem, it is edible... let's eat it!". "But on the other hand, there are risks," added the professor, who is based at the University of Galway, western Ireland. Disturbing the plant can actually enhance its growth, she told AFP, adding that any project would need to be undertaken with experts "who understand the plant". "There is some potential in there, but it needs to be done carefully," she said. spe/jwp/bp/leg The post Invasive species on the menu at London restaurant appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘The Super Models’, the original influencers, come to Apple TV
Naomi, Christy, Linda and Cindy are back, recounting how they revolutionized fashion as the first supermodels in the 1990s in a new series for Apple TV. "The Super Models", which launches on the streaming platform on Wednesday, looks back on the four women who created a template for today's uber-influencers by injecting an element of personality into the job of modelling. Britain's Naomi Campbell, 53, Canada's Linda Evangelista, 58 and the two Americans, Cindy Crawford, 57, and Christy Turlington, 54, dominated the fashion scene during one of its most explosive periods. They worked with the top designers and photographers, though it was a music video, George Michael's "Freedom", which helped cement their status in the public consciousness as the first "supermodels". "(The 1990s) was a very unique time historically, where everything was converging -- fashion, music, you had MTV just starting -- ...right before the brink of the internet," said co-director Larissa Bills. "These women were like the original influencers. Prior to the internet, prior to social media, they were able to bring a whole world to the public in a way that hadn't been done before." It is the first time they have shared their story together. "The fact that they're all in their 50s now... it was the right time. They're in a more reflective space in their lives," said Bills. All from modest backgrounds, the foursome made millions of dollars and reveled in their stardom. But they also faced many of the horrific aspects of the fashion industry -- addiction, eating disorders, sexual harassment. Evangelista faced perhaps the most challenging moments, with a husband accused of rape by other women (the case was finally dropped in early 2023), breast cancer and a botched cosmetic surgery which she says left her "disfigured". Age is an under-current of their discussions, and was underlined again in recent days after the foursome featured on the cover of Vogue in the United States and Britain. The distinct lack of wrinkles led many to accuse the magazine of doctoring the images. For Bills, though, the series is a celebration. "They shouldered such a giant responsibility -- to be 16 years old and the face of a brand. The industry was not regulated at the time and they really did it on their own. Well done to them," she said. adm/er/gil © Agence France-Presse The post ‘The Super Models’, the original influencers, come to Apple TV appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
BARMM needs to increase enrollment in basic education
The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao should work on increasing the number of enrollees in the basic education system. In a recent Senate hearing on the preparedness of basic education schools, Gatchalian lamented that BARMM has the lowest student participation rates nationwide. During the School Year 2020-2021, the BARMM’s participation rate in Kindergarten stood at 53 percent, notably lower than the nationwide average of 66 percent. Similarly, in elementary education, the BARMM’s regional participation rate was 69 percent as opposed to 89 percent nationwide. The region's participation rates in junior and senior high school further plummeted to 37 percent and 13 percent, respectively. In contrast, the nationwide participation rates for junior and senior high schools during SY 2020-2021 were considerably higher at 81 percent and 49 percent, respectively. Based on the average low cohort survival rate in BARMM, Gatchalian cited that for every 100 learners in the region who enter Grade 1, only 17 graduate from Grade 12. While only 51 graduate from senior high school for every 100 learners nationwide who enter Grade 1. "I believe that the first order of business in BARMM is to promote schooling and the second order is to retain learners in school,” he said, urging the officials: “Bring the kids to school and retain them.” Citing his recent discussions with BARMM governors, Gatchalian said it became apparent that many children in the region drop out of school to help out in their families' work on the farms. “They're forced to work at an early age because of poverty. But, of course, in the long run, the situation may not be conducive to their long-term well-being," said Gatchalian, who chairs the Senate Committee on Basic Education. Gatchalian previously pushed for an enhanced back-to-school program to increase enrollment in the Bangsamoro region. He also sought to strengthen the implementation of the Alternative Learning System in the area “to enhance the skills and abilities of the current working population” as well as out-of-school children and youth. The post BARMM needs to increase enrollment in basic education appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»