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Sandiganbayan dismisses cases vs Maguindanao provincial officers who passed away
Prior to the deaths of Datuali Abpi and Osmeña Bandila, three other defendants had also died between 2015 and 2016.....»»
Pilmico on World Bread Day: Bread’s transformative impact on communities
Every year on 16 October, the world celebrates “World Bread Day” to honor all kinds of bread around the world. A dietary staple in people’s lives for centuries, bread plays a much more significant role in the lives of those who bake bread as their primary source of livelihood. Pilmico has been a steadfast partner of bakers since 1962. It has given out 108 bakery kits nationwide since it started distributing livelihood kits in 2016. In honor of the “World Bread Day,” Pilmico reflects on how it has helped change the lives of several people through bread. Feeding the future Pilmico’s “Kutitap Feeding Program” was launched as a sustainable initiative to address malnutrition in public schools while at the same time supporting local bakeries. The program was made possible through the help of its partner bakeries, who went through technical training and received equipment from Pilmico. They provided bread to public schools within their communities. The Kutitap Feeding Program started in Iligan City in 2015 and in Tarlac in 2018. Since then, the program has progressively evolved through the years. Due to pandemic restrictions, it was turned into the “Kutitap Care Package,” where students received baked goods and eggs through its partner bakery, Aguila Bakeshop. Now, the program has also started incorporating meats in the meals served to the daycare students in Bamban, Tarlac. Aside from feeding students with nutritional bread, this initiative also contributed to the success of some partner bakeries such as C&G Bakery from Iligan City. Marlon C. Gecale, owner of C&G Bakery, has devoted his life to baking — from when he was a teen working as a baker to an adult owning his bakery. In between, he worked as an OFW and his passion for baking grew stronger, prompting him to have his own bakery. After buying an oven with his first salary, Gecale and his wife spent the next five years building their small bakery while he worked abroad. In 2017, they applied to become a bakery partner for Pilmico’s “Kutitap Feeding Program.” They were determined to prove that their small bakery could fulfill the demands of the program despite their new and small bakery. By partnering with Pilmico for the Kutitap Feeding Program, C&G Bakery, owned by Marlon Gecale, was able to expand to three more branches in Mindanao. Gecale underwent a month-long training with Pilmico where he earned new technical skills in baking and new recipes, which he still uses in his bakery. Since then, their bakery has grown and has been a reliable partner of Pilmico in various programs including the Iligan Community Pantry. Today, C&G Bakery has expanded to three branches in Iligan City, Misamis Oriental and Zamboanga del Sur. 'Tinapay Ti Uno' program Aside from Pilmico’s own initiatives, it has partnered with local government units such as the Department of Agrarian Reform Tarlac for the “Tinapay Ti Uno” program in partnership with Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Department of Trade and Industry and the Office of Congressman Jaime Cojuangco from the 1st District of Tarlac province. This program aims to create healthy buns using locally sourced ingredients from Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Organizations and provide them to public school students in the 1st district of Tarlac. A total of 11 ARBOs participated in a bun and special bread competition where the winners will be responsible for the distribution of buns to the students. In the competition held last 24 2023, three ARBOs were hailed as the grand winners: Cabayaoasan Farmer Agriculture Cooperative from Paniqui, Tarlac; Bacabac Farmers Producers Cooperative from Brgy. Bacabac, Camiling, Tarlac; and Sinulatan 1st Agriculture Cooperative from Brgy. Sinulatan 1st, Camiling, Tarlac. Each winner received a bakery livelihood package from Pilmico that included an oven, stainless steel table, bread rack, bread showcase, proofer with cover, spiral mixer and 10 Pilmico flour sacks. In addition to the equipment, the winners were to receive technical assistance and bakery management training from Pilmico as they set up their bakery business. During the winners’ onsite bakery training in Camiling, Tarlac last 3 October, it was revealed that two out of the three ARBOs have already opened their bakeries within their communities. In celebration of “World Bread Day,” Pilmico emphasizes its unwavering commitment to providing high-quality flour that helps create nutritional bread products. “We believe in the transformative power that a simple loaf of bread can bring to people’s lives, especially those who rely on it as their main source of livelihood. Pilmico is dedicated to delivering the finest flour for the community’s bread making needs,” said Ma. Katrina Bayog, Pilmico Corporate Social Responsibility manager. The post Pilmico on World Bread Day: Bread’s transformative impact on communities appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DMW to follow up on unpaid salaries of Saudi OFWs
Department of Migrant Workers Officer-in-Charge Hans Leo Cacdac said on Wednesday that they will continue following up on the settlement of the unpaid salaries of more than 10,000 overseas Filipino Workers in Saudi Arabia. In an interview, Cacdac said that the Ministry of Finance is on board to work on the financial concerns of the OFWs in Saudi Arabia. “From our talks with our own counterparts there…we were also informed that the Ministry of Finance is on board to take care of the financial matters because this would involve disbursement of funds,” Cacdac said. “It’s just hard to pin down a timeline at this point because the Saudi processes still continue. In principle, we respect the Saudi processes, and at the same time we’ll continue to persist in terms of coordination and follow-ups with the Saudi government,” he added. In November 2022, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman pledged to allocate about 2 billion riyals for the unpaid wages of 10,000 overseas Filipino workers employed by construction companies that filed for bankruptcy in 2015 and 2016. The DMW pledged in March to provide each worker with P10,000 in assistance while waiting for the Saudi Government to fulfill its promise. The DMW and the Department of Social Welfare and Development each contributed financial assistance for the OFWs. The post DMW to follow up on unpaid salaries of Saudi OFWs appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Record 9 vehicles, CoA orders PNR
The Commission on Audit has admonished the Philippine National Railways, or PNR, for omitting nine serviceable motor vehicles valued at P6.622 million from its books or financial records. According to state auditors, the issue was brought to the PNR’s attention as early as 2016, but the organization has taken no measures so far. The nine motor vehicles were from the completed projects of PNR from 2010 to 2015. The 2022 audit showed that the PNR failed to provide documentation to substantiate the transfer of ownership of the nine vehicles from the contractor despite the PNR making annual registration payments for the said vehicles. “Further investigation revealed that the certificate of registration of the said nine motor vehicles are registered under the name of the previous contractors,” the CoA report said. CoA Circular 2017-004 stipulates that as long as the agency controls the PPE, or property, plant and equipment, the same shall be recognized as part of the PPE of the agency. PPE is subject to agency control but not ownership. The agency under audit, CoA said, is still responsible for acknowledging the expenses and corresponding accumulated depreciation and impairment losses of existing PPE, which were not previously recognized due to lack of ownership or title based on contracts, memoranda of agreement, and other pertinent factors. Understatement “The non-recognition of the cost of motor vehicles and corresponding depreciation and accumulated depreciation understated the Transportation Equipment, Accumulated Depreciation, and Accumulated Deficit as of December 31, 2022,” CoA said. PNR in 2022 incurred an understatement of Depreciation Expenses and Accumulated Deficit, amounting to P50.546 million and P253.729 million, respectively. Moreover, audit findings revealed that several PNR offices assign and use the motor vehicles, necessitating their inclusion in the books or official records. Citing the reason of PNR, the CoA disclosed that the motor vehicles remained unrecorded due to a lack of proof of ownership. It then directed the PNR to mandate its Controllership Division to officially acknowledge the nine motor vehicles in their books. PNR said it would comply with the CoA order. The post Record 9 vehicles, CoA orders PNR appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Sara Duterte’s P2.7B confidential expenses as Davao mayor should be probed—Castro
Davao City’s confidential expenses that ballooned to P2.697 billion during Vice President Sara Duterte’s stint as mayor should be probed by the Commission on Audit, a lawmaker said Monday. The call for investigation was prompted by the 2022 report of the CoA, which found that Davao City spent P2.697 billion on confidential expenses between 2016 to 2022, or an average of PP385.3 million per year over the preceding six years. Duterte served as the Davao City mayor from 2016 to 2022 before she assumed the VP post in July of last year. Based on CoA findings, Davao City incurred P144 million of confidential expenses in 2016, which was more than doubled to P293 million in 2017 and further climbed to P420 million in 2018. The city’s confidential fund expenses further grew to P460 million in 2019 and were maintained consistently for the subsequent years of 2020, 2021, and 2022. In an interview on Monday, ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. France Castro, who sought the CoA probe, stressed that the P2.697 billion totality of confidential expenses of Davao City in the previous six years “could have been utilized more effectively to benefit the education sector, specifically by providing much-needed support to teachers.” “We were shocked also [by] the report of the CoA. With this controversy of confidential funds, we are thinking of asking the CoA to investigate,” she said. “The CoA should file an audit observation memo and then ask them to explain maybe the misuse of funds and then file necessary legal action.” She added, “Imagine more than a million a day spent for the confidential funds in a city. I just wonder how it was spent and where it was spent. So, we want the CoA to review if the city government of Davao City led by Vice President Sara Duterte by then really followed the guidelines or the joint circular 2015-01.” The said joint circular outlined by CoA with the Departments of Budget and Management, National Defense, and of the Interior and Local Government, and Governance Commission for GOCCs, contains guidelines on the entitlement, release, use, reporting, and audit of confidential and intelligence funds that are in the General Appropriations Act. Daily Tribune has been asking for Duterte’s comment, but she remained mum on the issue. While Castro admitted that the local government units are entitled to confidential funds for peace and order maintenance, it was “ironic” that Duterte sought allocation of such funds given that she claimed Davao City was “very peaceful, disciplined, and well” during her tenure. "So why is it necessary to have an increasingly confidential fund?" the lawmaker stressed, noting such a fund should be used for other fruitful endeavors. "I remember the time the teachers of Davao City were asking for city allowance, but she did not grant it. Instead, she refused and even got mad with ACT (Alliance of Concerned Teachers) during that time," Castro pointed out. While none in the law limits the amount of confidential funds, the militant lawmaker pointed out that it should be rationalized. A proposed law aimed at imposing a cap and limit on confidential funds, streamlining the allocation of such that would promote transparency and accountability, is currently being crafted, according to Castro. It will be filed in Congress when the session resumes in November. The post Sara Duterte’s P2.7B confidential expenses as Davao mayor should be probed—Castro appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Narcolepsy, cancer tipped as Medicine Prize opens Nobel week
Narcolepsy, cancer, or mRNA vaccine research could win the Nobel Medicine Prize on Monday when a week of announcements kicks off, but experts see no clear frontrunner for the Peace Prize. The awards, first handed out in 1901, were created by Swedish inventor and philanthropist Alfred Nobel in his 1895 will to celebrate those who have "conferred the greatest benefit on mankind." The Medicine Prize is first out and will be announced in Stockholm on Monday around 11:30 a.m. (0930 GMT), followed by the awards for physics on Tuesday, chemistry on Wednesday, and literature on Thursday. The Peace Prize, the most highly-anticipated Nobel and the only one announced in Oslo, will follow on Friday, before the Economics Prize rounds things off on October 9. The Medicine Prize has over the years crowned groundbreaking discoveries like the X-ray, penicillin, insulin, and DNA -- as well as now-disgraced awards for lobotomy and the insecticide DDT. Several Nobel watchers have suggested this year's prize could go to research into narcolepsy and the discovery of orexin, a neuropeptide that helps regulate sleep. It could also go to Hungarian-born Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman of the United States for research that led directly to the first mRNA vaccines to fight COVID-19, made by Pfizer and Moderna. Their discovery has already won a slew of major medicine prizes, but the Nobel committee nowadays often waits decades to bestow its laurels to ensure the research stands the test of time. "Maybe the Academy thinks it needs to look into it more, but someday they should win," predicted Annika Ostman, science reporter at Swedish public radio SR. Gene engineering and IceCube telescope But Ostman said her guess for this year was on Kevan Shokat, an American biologist who figured out how to block the KRAS cancer gene behind a third of cancers, including challenging-to-treat lung, colon, and pancreatic tumors. T-cell therapy for cancer treatment and work on the human microbiome could also be contenders, said David Pendlebury, head of the Clarivate Analytics group which identifies Nobel-worthy research. "There are more people deserving of a Nobel Prize than there are Nobels to go around," he told AFP. Lars Brostrom, Ostman's colleague at SR, singled out two American biologists, Stanislas Leibler, and Michael Elowitz, for their work on synthetic gene circuits which established the field of synthetic biology. It enables scientists to redesign organisms by engineering them to have new abilities. But Brostrom noted the field could be seen as controversial, raising "ethical questions about where to draw the line in creating life". For the Physics Prize, twisted graphene or the IceCube Neutrino Observatory in Antarctica were seen as possible winners, as well as the development of high-density data storage in the field of spintronics. Peace Prize to Iranian women? For Wednesday's Chemistry Prize, Pendlebury suggested next-generation DNA sequencing could get the nod, or research into how to target and deliver drugs to genes. Brostrom said he would love to see it go to US-based chemist Omar Yaghi for his work into porous materials known as MOFs, which can absorb poisonous gases or harvest water from desert air, and is an "important field for the future" with enormous potential for the environment. Criticism over a lack of gender and geographical diversity has plagued the Nobels over the years. US-based men have dominated the science fields, while women account for just six percent of overall laureates -- something the various award committees insist they are addressing. Among the names making the rounds for Thursday's Literature Prize are Russian author and outspoken Putin critic Lyudmila Ulitskaya, Chinese avant-garde writer Can Xue, British author Salman Rushdie, Caribbean-American writer Jamaica Kincaid and Norwegian playwright Jon Fosse. But for the Peace Prize, experts have been scratching their heads over possible winners, as conflicts rage around the globe. Some have pointed to the Iranian women protesting since the death in custody a year ago of Mahsa Amini, arrested for violating Iran's strict dress code imposed on women. Others suggest organizations documenting war crimes in Ukraine, or the International Criminal Court, which could one day be called upon to judge them. "I think that climate change is a really good focus for the Peace Prize this year," Dan Smith, the head of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, told AFP after a year of extreme weather around the world. For the Economics Prize, research on income and wealth inequality could be honored. Recent winners of the Nobel Medicine Prize Here is a list of the winners of the Nobel Medicine Prize in the past 10 years: 2022: Swedish paleogeneticist Svante Paabo for his discoveries on the genomes of extinct hominins and human evolution. 2021: US duo David Julius and Ardem Patapoutian for discoveries on human receptors responsible for our ability to sense temperature and touch. 2020: Americans Harvey Alter and Charles Rice, together with Briton Michael Houghton, for the discovery of the Hepatitis C virus, leading to the development of sensitive blood tests and antiviral drugs. 2019: William Kaelin and Gregg Semenza of the US and Britain's Peter Ratcliffe for establishing the basis of our understanding of how cells react and adapt to different oxygen levels. 2018: Immunologists James Allison of the US and Tasuku Honjo of Japan, for figuring out how to release the immune system's brakes to allow it to attack cancer cells more efficiently. 2017: US geneticists Jeffrey Hall, Michael Rosbash, and Michael Young for their discoveries on the internal biological clock that governs the wake-sleep cycles of most living things. 2016: Yoshinori Ohsumi of Japan for his work on autophagy -- a process whereby cells "eat themselves" -- which when disrupted can cause Parkinson's and diabetes. 2015: William Campbell, an Irish-US citizen, Satoshi Omura of Japan, and Tu Youyou of China for unlocking treatments for malaria and roundworm. 2014: American-born Briton John O'Keefe, May-Britt Moser, and Edvard I. Moser of Norway for discovering how the brain navigates with an "inner GPS". 2013: Thomas C. Sudhof, a US citizen born in Germany, and James E. Rothman and Randy W. Schekman of the US for work on how the cell organizes its transport system. The post Narcolepsy, cancer tipped as Medicine Prize opens Nobel week appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Scientists uncover a scaly surprise with new pangolin species
The small, scaly, and highly endangered pangolin has been keeping a secret: it comprises not eight species but nine, with a new one discovered through analysis of confiscated scales. Scientists previously believed there were four Asian and four African varieties of the shy, nocturnal creature, which is often described as the world's most trafficked mammal. However, even as the species was discovered, there are signs it may be disappearing, according to research published Tuesday in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Pangolin scales are coveted for use in traditional medicine, despite being made of keratin, just like fingernails, and the diminutive creature is also hunted for its meat. More than a million are believed to have been poached from the wild in the decade to 2014, according to conservationists, and all international trade has been banned since 2016. Despite its elusive nature, there have been suggestions before that the pangolin family might be bigger than believed. Analysis of 27 scales confiscated in Hong Kong in 2012 and 2013 suggested a lineage unrelated to the eight known species. But only limited gene fragments were available, and no definitive conclusion could be reached. Picking up that trail, researchers analyzed scales from two confiscations in China's Yunnan province in 2015 and 2019 and compared them against whole genome data from all previously known species. They found a lineage "distinct from all eight currently known pangolin species", with signs it belonged to the Asian or "Manis" branch of the pangolin family. They assigned the new species the tentative name "Manis mysteria" in a nod to its enigmatic nature and found it likely diverged from the Philippine and Malayan pangolin species about five million years ago. The newly described animal's existence only came to light through samples seized from traffickers, and the research suggests the new species is already under pressure. Analysis "showed genomic signatures of a declining population, including the relatively low genetic diversity when compared to other pangolins... (and) high levels of inbreeding and genetic load". Just where Manis mysteria roams remains... something of a mystery. Asian pangolins arriving in Hong Kong and Yunnan are believed to mostly originate in Southeast Asia. But because the new species does not look very different from its Asian cousins, it may well have been overlooked in the wild. It could also have escaped notice because it lives in an understudied region, or simply because pangolins tend to be hard to find. Regardless, the findings suggest the "urgent need" for more research, as well as "effective strategies for this mysterious species", the study said. The post Scientists uncover a scaly surprise with new pangolin species appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Biden’s son Hunter to plead not guilty to gun charges
US President Joe Biden's son Hunter will plead not guilty to charges of illegally buying a gun when he was using drugs, his lawyer said Tuesday. Hunter Biden, 53, was charged last week with two counts of making false statements when claiming on forms required for a 2018 gun purchase that he was not using drugs illegally at the time. On Tuesday, Hunter Biden's lawyer, Abbe David Lowell, asked the judge presiding over the case in the eastern state of Delaware to hold the first court appearance by video conference instead of requiring his client to attend in person. Hunter Biden currently lives in California. "Mr. Biden understands both the charges against him and his rights... and we believe the Court can be assured of that fact by conducting this initial appearance by video," Lowell said in the letter to US Magistrate Judge Christopher Burke. "Mr. Biden also will enter a plea of not guilty, and there is no reason why he cannot utter those two words by video conference," Lowell said. "Mr. Biden is not seeking any special treatment in making this request," he added. "He has attended and will attend any proceedings in which his physical appearance is required." Hunter Biden is also facing a third charge, based on the same statements, that he illegally possessed the gun during an 11-day period in October 2018. If convicted on all three felony charges, he could face 25 years in prison, though in practice the offenses are seldom punished by any jail time. The indictment came two days after Republicans in Congress opened an impeachment probe against Joe Biden, a Democrat, alleging that when the elder Biden was vice president he benefited financially from his son's foreign business dealings. They alleged, without offering hard evidence, that while vice president in 2015-2016, Biden intervened to protect an allegedly corrupt Ukrainian energy company, Burisma, where Hunter Biden sat on the board. The gun charges against Hunter Biden were filed by Justice Department special counsel David Weiss, who has been investigating him since 2018 over various allegations, mostly related to his overseas business deals. A plea deal between Hunter Biden and Weiss, covering the gun charge as well as alleged tax violations, collapsed two months ago. Hunter Biden is a Yale-trained lawyer and lobbyist-turned-artist, but his life has been marred by alcoholism and crack cocaine addiction and his indictment has cast a shadow over his father's campaign for reelection next year. The post Biden’s son Hunter to plead not guilty to gun charges appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
British nurse jailed for killing seven babies lodges appeal
A British nurse jailed for life for murdering seven newborn babies and attempting to kill six others has lodged a legal bid to appeal her conviction, court officials said Friday. Staff at the Court of Appeal of England and Wales, confirmed an application had been received from Lucy Letby for permission to appeal against all her convictions. Applications for permission to appeal against a lower crown court decision are typically considered by a judge without a hearing. If this is refused, permission can still be sought at a full court hearing before two or three judges. Letby, 33, was convicted last month of killing five baby boys and two baby girls, making her the UK's most prolific child serial killer in modern history. She was arrested following a string of deaths at the neonatal unit of the Countess of Chester Hospital in northwest England between June 2015 and June 2016. She consistently denied all the charges. The jury in Letby's months-long trial cleared her of two counts of attempted murder and were unable to reach decisions on six other counts. Prosecutors are expected to confirm whether or not they will seek a re-trial on those charges next week. The government has announced an independent inquiry into her shocking case to examine how the concerns of clinicians were dealt with by the Chester hospital managers. The post British nurse jailed for killing seven babies lodges appeal appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Biden’s son Hunter indicted on gun charges
US President Joe Biden's son Hunter was indicted Thursday for illegally buying a gun when he was using drugs, casting a new shadow over his father's campaign for reelection next year. Hunter Biden, 53, was charged with two counts of making false statements when claiming on forms required for the 2018 gun purchase that he was not using drugs illegally at the time. A third charge said that, based on the false statements, he illegally possessed the gun during an 11-day period in October that year. If convicted on all three felony charges, Biden could in theory face 25 years in prison, though in practice they are seldom punished by any jail time. In attesting that he was not an unlawful user of drugs when he bought the Colt Cobra revolver, Biden "knew that statement was false," the Justice Department said. The indictment came two days after Republicans in Congress opened an impeachment probe against Democrat Joe Biden, alleging that when he was vice president he benefitted financially from his son's foreign business dealings. The legal troubles of Hunter Biden present a target for political rivals of his father, who is bidding for a second term in the White House. Hunter is a Yale-trained lawyer and lobbyist-turned-artist, but his life has been marred by alcoholism and crack cocaine addiction. Without offering any evidence, Republicans have accused Biden's Justice Department of protecting his son and have accused Weiss, a Republican appointee, of going easy on Hunter. Representative James Comer, a Republican from Kentucky who will be leading the impeachment inquiry, welcomed the filing of the gun charges, calling it a "very small start." "Mountains of evidence reveals that Hunter Biden likely committed several felonies and Americans expect the Justice Department to apply the law equally," Comer said. Twice-impeached former president Donald Trump reacted on his Truth Social platform. "This, the gun charge, is the only crime that Hunter Biden committed that does not implicate Crooked Joe Biden," he said. - Plea deal collapsed - But a leading Democrat, Keisha Lance Bottoms, ex-mayor of Atlanta and a former senior adviser to Joe Biden, questioned why Hunter had been charged. "Can anyone tell me how many people have been federally indicted for purchasing a gun while dealing with substance abuse issues?" Bottoms said on X, formerly known as Twitter. "I don't know the answer, but in my over 29 years as an attorney, I have never heard of it." The gun charges were filed by Justice Department special counsel David Weiss, who has been investigating Hunter Biden since 2018 over various allegations, mostly related to his overseas business deals. Two months ago a plea deal between Biden and Weiss, covering the gun charge as well as alleged tax violations, went sour. Biden agreed to plead guilty in federal court in Delaware to two minor tax charges. In exchange he was offered probation, as he had already paid what he owed the government along with penalties. Weiss agreed to suspend the felony gun charge if Biden completed "pretrial diversion," which often involves counseling or rehabilitation. But in a dramatic July 26 hearing, the deal collapsed over whether Biden would have been immune from any other charges also investigated by Weiss, including possible crimes related to his business dealings in Ukraine, China and elsewhere. The judge mentioned the possibility that Biden could be charged as having acted as a lobbyist for foreign governments without registering with the Justice Department. Three weeks later, after the deal collapsed, Weiss dropped the tax charges and said an indictment on the gun charge would come by the end of September. As the 2024 election race swings into gear, Republicans in the House of Representatives on Tuesday formally opened an impeachment inquiry against President Biden. They alleged, without offering hard evidence, that while vice president in 2015-2016, Biden intervened to protect an allegedly corrupt Ukrainian energy company, Burisma, where Hunter Biden sat on the board. Republicans allege Joe Biden and his family reaped large sums for helping Burisma. The post Biden’s son Hunter indicted on gun charges appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
A journey of legislative leadership
Following an overwhelming mandate of 31 million votes, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. returned to Malacañang last year. However, before assuming the presidency, he had an extensive career in public service, particularly as a legislator. Marcos dedicated more than 25 years to public service, with a significant portion spent as a legislator. He served as the Ilocos Norte 2nd District representative from 1992 to 1995 and from 2007 to 2010. Additionally, he held a senatorial position from 2010 to 2016. During his initial term in the House of Representatives, Marcos demonstrated his commitment to legislative work by authoring 29 bills and co-authoring 90 others. His contributions played a vital role in establishing the Department of Energy and the National Youth Commission. Furthermore, Marcos’ notable achievements include the authorship of Republic Act 9522, also known as the Philippine Archipelagic Baselines Law, during his final term as the Ilocos Norte 2nd District representative. This legislation holds great significance in shaping the country’s maritime boundaries. According to his biography on the Senate website, Marcos also prioritized the advancement of his province by allocating a substantial portion of his Countryside Development Fund to the establishment and organization of cooperatives for teachers and farmers. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. possesses a wealth of legislative experience and a significant track record of accomplishments, both within the halls of Congress and in his dedication to the development of his province. During his single six-year term in the Senate, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. demonstrated his legislative prowess by authoring and co-authoring 122 bills, with 15 successfully enacted into law. According to information from Marcos’ official website, a report by spot. stated that most of the measures championed by Marcos during his time as a senator focused on local issues and concerns. The report highlighted that the local measures authored by Marcos aimed to establish cityhood for certain towns, facilitate the reapportioning of legislative districts, declare local holidays, and rename roads after historical figures. Furthermore, Marcos’ legislative contributions extended to national matters as well. Notable among the measures he authored were Republic Act 10586, also known as the Anti-drunk and Drugged Driving Act of 2012; RA 10176, the Arbor Day Act; RA 10606, the National Health Insurance Act; RA 10175, the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2011; RA 10530, the Red Cross and Other Emblems Act of 2012; and RA 10364, the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2010. In addition to these significant pieces of legislation, Marcos also advocated for the passage of RA 10821, the Children’s Protection in Motor Vehicles Act of 2016, and RA 10687, the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education Act. His tenure as a senator was marked by his commitment to addressing local and national issues, as evidenced by the broad range of bills he authored and co-authored during his six-year term. Among the various impactful measures that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. championed during his tenure as a senator, several noteworthy ones stand out. These include: RA 10821, the Children’s Emergency Relief and Protection Act, aimed to provide essential support and safeguard children’s welfare during emergencies. RA 10692, the PAGASA Modernization Act of 2015, focused on enhancing and modernizing the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration capabilities to improve weather forecasting and disaster response. RA 10755, granting the Punong Barangay the authority to administer the oath of office, streamlining administrative processes at the local level, and promoting efficiency in governance. RA 10742, the Youth Development and Empowerment Act of 2014, aimed to promote Filipino youth’s holistic development by providing opportunities for education, skills training, employment, and civic engagement. RA 10632, the Postponement of the Sangguniang Kabataan Elections, which sought to defer the elections for the Sangguniang Kabataan (Youth Council) to allow for reforms and youth participation enhancement in the local government. Additionally, President Marcos authored several other significant acts during his tenure, including: RA 10676, the Student-Athletes Protection Act of 2014, aimed to ensure student-athletes welfare and rights, particularly in balancing their academic and athletic commitments. RA 10645, the Expanded Senior Citizens Act, expanded the benefits and privileges of senior citizens in the Philippines, recognizing their valuable contributions to society. RA 10752, the Right of Way for National Government Infrastructure Projects, aimed to facilitate acquiring necessary rights-of-way for national government infrastructure projects, promoting efficient development and progress. Marcos Jr.’s legislative initiatives encompassed a diverse range of issues, from safeguarding the welfare of children and the youth and protecting the rights of various groups to promoting infrastructure development for the betterment of the nation. The post A journey of legislative leadership appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Mindanao flamboyance
Besides being a beacon of camaraderie among the native creative talents, the Mindanao Fashion Summit is also a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community. It can’t be denied that members of this dynamic community comprise the dominant force in fashion and pageantry. So, it was quite fitting that a special segment dedicated to the flamboyant LGBTQ+ members continued at the 12th MFS. The Oro Fashion Designers Guild, headed by its president, Mark Christopher Yaranon, and MFS chairman, Dr. Mavy de Leon Ladlad, are grateful for the multi-sectoral support that they received. “Our special thanks go to the marketing team of Ayala Malls Centrio, our venue, and to MFS co-chairman, Atty. Jose Pepe ‘Joey’ Abbu Jr.; to the LGU of Cagayan de Oro headed by Mayor Rolando A. Uy and Vice Mayor Jocelyn Rodriguez, the City Tourism Office, and the Department of Tourism-Northern Mindanao Office headed by regional director May Salvaña-Unchuan,” Yaranon said. The show, held on 24 August, was directed by Robbie Fortich Pamisa, an HIV screening motivator at Oro Pia Community Center, which is named after and heavily supported by homegrown beauty, Miss Universe 2015 Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach. Pamisa is also the executive director at Kagay-an PLUS — Preserving Life, Uniting Society Inc. Here, the designers shed light on their ostentatious creations: [caption id="attachment_182184" align="aligncenter" width="1587"] MARK CHRISTOPHER YARANON (Photo by Roger Nazar Lactao Jr.)[/caption] MARK CHRISTOPHER YARANON “For the third time, Christer Kim is my muse. She’s the most competent and articulate host in our city, and I’ve been her designer since she started her hosting gigs. She’s known as the ‘Carry On Queen’ for her ‘the show must go on’ stance. She is also this year’s backstage correspondent for the MFS. “Christer is wearing a long and slinky drop neckline, long-sleeved evening gown in gold lace embedded with crystals and beads with a front high slit.” [caption id="attachment_182186" align="aligncenter" width="1705"] SHINE J CASINO (Photo by Roger Nazar Lactao Jr.)[/caption] SHINE J CASIÑO “My creation for the MFS LGBT segment is inspired by the Parisian male workers during the 1960s. The Mikado silk jumpsuit, instead of using solid colors, I chose pastel to highlight the lives of LGBTQ+ men. “My model is Peter Leary Brown, known as Pedro or Sycris Brown. Half-Spanish and half-Bisaya, he was a Mr. Gay World Philippines 2016 finalist who represented General Santos City. He also placed third in the grand finals of It’s Showtime’s “I Am Pogay” contest.” [caption id="attachment_182185" align="aligncenter" width="1743"] RUVIL NERI (Photo by Roger Nazar Lactao Jr.)[/caption] RUVIL NERI “My model is Marvie Salvania, a bisexual student. I chose her because she is one of my models at Models & Queens, which I manage. I also love her confidence, X Factor and character onstage. “Marvie is wearing a purple coatdress that resembles an overcoat with collar, lapels and front ribbon made of honeycomb silk. It is matched with a spaghetti-strapped, dope-dyed chiffon, straight-cut knee-level dress. I picked the color purple for the cocktail dress for it represents the LGBTQ+ [people] being creative, original and passionate.” [caption id="attachment_182181" align="aligncenter" width="1705"] BOOGIE MUSNI RIVERA (Photo by Roger Nazar Lactao Jr.)[/caption] BOOGIE MUSNI RIVERA “My muse Steffy Marie Sy epitomizes two of my most wonderful childhood experiences — playing with Barbie dolls while watching beauty pageants. These are memories that I would always stamp on my heart and mind. “Steffy was a runner-up at Queen of CDO 2022. She is wearing a fully beaded and sequined gown with one-shoulder oyster neckline. The silhouette is A line cut with a slit at the left side. The color is hot pink, which is inspired by Barbie.” [caption id="attachment_182182" align="aligncenter" width="1705"] KIKO DOMO (Photo by Roger Nazar Lactao Jr.)[/caption] KIKO DOMO “Channeling the mythical power of the Oro Fish and the strength of a Japanese warrior, my creation embodies the fusion of art and inspiration. Crafted from 3/4 inch-squared synthetic gold tiles, it forms a captivating silhouette representing, charisma and power. Just like my LGBT muse Frank Tongco, a renowned makeup artist, my design celebrates the beauty of diversity and the resonance of mythical legends.” JOSHUA N. GUIBONE “My fully sequined creation, called ‘Strong in Gold,’ is a mesmerizing piece that exudes glamour and sophistication. Its exquisite design combines a thigh-high slit and a daring deep neckline, making it the perfect choice for those who want to make a bold fashion statement. The waist is artfully slimmed using a darker shade of gold, creating a visually striking contrast that accentuates the wearer’s curves. The show, held on 24 August, was directed by Robbie Fortich Pamisa, an HIV screening motivator at Oro Pia Community Center, which is named after and heavily supported by homegrown beauty, Miss Universe 2015 Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach. “This thoughtful design element not only adds depth to the gown but also highlights the wearer’s natural beauty. With its luxurious sequined fabric and impeccable tailoring, it’s the embodiment of elegance and allure. Whether you’re attending a glamorous event or simply looking to make a stunning entrance, this fully sequined gold gown is sure to leave a lasting impression. “My muse is one of my great friends and a batchmate at Xavier University High School, Barbie Lindelle Neri. She is the current president of the LGBTQ Federation of CDO and the chairman of the Queen of CDO pageant. “She dons a resplendent gold gown symbolizing her role as a warrior queen. Leading the LGBTQIA community in Cagayan de Oro, she stands at the forefront of the battle for our rights, amplifying our voices to reach higher officials. Her ability to exude beauty, power and glamour while advocating for our marginalized community sets an inspiring example.” The post Mindanao flamboyance appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Cacdac to continue Ople’s projects
Newly appointed officer-in-charge of the Department of Migrant Workers, Hans Leo J. Cacdac, on Saturday said he will continue the programs that the late secretary Susan “Toots” Ople spearheaded in their department, and make sure that her vision for the DMW would be achieved. “Malaking gap… big shoes to fill ang kanyang iniwan,” Cacdac said in a radio interview. "She (Ople) set the direction that we will stand by and strengthen," Cacdac added. Cacdac was the department’s undersecretary for welfare and foreign employment before he was appointed DMW OIC. He also served as administrator of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administrator (OWWA) and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA). Cacdac said the first task at hand is to defend the DMW’s proposed P15-billion budget at the Senate next week. He also plans to strengthen the P1.2-billion action fund for legal assistance to OFWs. “One of her (Ople) last public statements was that OFWs whose rights are violated will now be able to file cases and get justice," Cacdac said. Secretary Susan “Toots” Ople who died on 22 August 2023 also wanted a cancer fund established for migrant workers and for the digitalization within the agency to continue. In July, the DMW launched an app for OFW meant to streamline the processing of labor and overseas documents. Cacdac said the Saudi government has already formed a technical committee that would implement Saudi King Salman’s orders regarding OFWs with unpaid wages. The DMW has said that at least 10,000 OFWs who had worked for nine Saudi companies that declared bankruptcy following the economic crisis in 2015 would receive “full payment” of their pending wages. So far, Cacdac said, the Saudi government has assured them there is funding and resources for the payout. He added, though, that processing is still ongoing and that the Saudi government has not given a definite timeline on when the money will be released. “There is a challenge in determining who the claimants are and how the distribution will be done in coordination with the Philippine side,” he said. "Ople said last November that the Saudi government would “set aside two billion Riyals (or) about more than P30.2 billion to help our displaced workers,” Cacdac recalled. The funds will cover workers from Saudi OGer, MMG, the Bin Laden group, and other construction companies that declared bankruptcy in 2015 and in 2016, she said then. Ople, Cacdac said, wanted the DMW to feel like the home of overseas Filipino workers. The post Cacdac to continue Ople’s projects appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Jury finds ‘baby serial killer’ guilty
A jury’s guilty verdict on a British nurse accused of murdering seven newborn babies at a hospital where she worked was released on Friday. The verdict reached by the jury on 8 August after 22 days of deliveration, but embargoed by a court order, also found Lucy Letby, 33, guilty of attempted murder of six other babies at the Countess of Chester Hospital in northwest England. Letby had been on trial since October last year, accused of either injecting her sick or premature young victims with air, overfeeding them with milk or poisoning them with insulin. Letby fought back tears in the dock after the initial verdicts were read out. She was not in court Friday to hear the jurors’ final determinations. They eventually acquitted her of two counts, and could not reach decisions on six others. Prosecutors have asked for 28 days to consider whether to seek a retrial on those charges. The victims’ families said in a joint statement read outside Manchester Crown Court in northern England said: “Justice has been served.” Letby will be sentenced on Monday and has reportedly told her lawyers she will not attend court to hear her fate but she faces the prospect of never being released from prison. The nurse was arrested following a string of deaths at the neonatal unit of the Countess of Chester Hospital between June 2015 and June 2016. The court was told that colleagues raised concerns after noticing that Letby was on shift when each of the babies collapsed, with some of the newborns attacked just as their parents left their cots. The prosecution said Letby “gaslighted” her colleagues into believing the string of deaths were “just a run of bad luck.” Letby’s final victims were two triplet boys, referred to in court as babies O and P. Child O died shortly after Letby returned from a holiday in Ibiza in June 2016, while child P died a day after their sibling. Letby was also said to have attacked another baby boy, child Q, shortly after but the jury was unable to reach a verdict on the charge. WITH AFP The post Jury finds ‘baby serial killer’ guilty appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Court jury finds British nurse guilty of murdering 7 babies
A British nurse was on Friday found guilty of murdering seven newborn babies and trying to murder six others at the hospital neonatal unit where she worked with sick and premature infants. Lucy Letby, 33, who has been on trial since last October, was accused of injecting her young victims with air, overfeeding them with milk, and poisoning them with insulin. The jury at Manchester Crown Court in northern England reached its verdict after deliberating for 22 days. Letby was arrested following a string of baby deaths at the neonatal unit of the Countess of Chester Hospital in northwest England between June 2015 and June 2016. Described by the prosecution as a "calculating" woman who used methods of killing that "didn't leave much of a trace", Letby had repeatedly denied harming the children. The court heard that colleagues raised concerns after noticing that Letby was on shift when each of the babies collapsed, with some of the newborns attacked just as their parents left their cot sides. Prosecutor Nick Johnson said Letby "gaslighted" her colleagues into believing the string of deaths was "just a run of bad luck". Letby's final victims were two triplet boys, referred to in court as babies O and P. Child O died after Letby's return from a holiday in Ibiza in June 2016 while child P died a day after their sibling. Letby was also said to have attempted to kill the third triplet, child Q, but the jury was unable to reach a verdict on the charge. The post Court jury finds British nurse guilty of murdering 7 babies appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Of China’s ‘One Belt One Road’
Sometime in August 2016, I attended the formal media launch of One Belt One Road, or OBOR, in Beijing, China. I thought then that OBOR, also referred to later as Belt and Road Initiative, must be one of the most, if not the most, significant programs of President Xi Jinping, as it was attended by hundreds of print and broadcast journalists from around the world, the Philippines included. OBOR was to revive the “Silk Road” economic belt of ancient China, a land trade route carrying its finest silk and other goods to its neighboring Central Asian countries and later to as far as Europe; whereas today’s Road refers to the 21st Century land and maritime silk route to Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa. The land route was launched, I think in 2013, while the maritime route was given a big push in 2017. Early on, China set up the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank as part of the OBOR mechanism. China sank in the initial capital and was joined later by other member countries. The Philippines was the last country to join AIIB when the late President Noynoy Aquino signed its Charter in the last few minutes of 31 December 2015, and this was ratified a year later during Duterte’s term. In sum, AIIB had 106 members to start. The Philippines, if we look at the records, derived from loans and infrastructure projects, was quite slow in availing of cheap money from this BRI initiative. Indonesia, Singapore, and other ASEAN and African countries had done so for various infra projects, among these railways, dams, and ports. The small loan amount we obtained was later topped up by China in terms of gifts which came in the form of bridges, schools, medical supplies, and vaccines when the Covid-19 pandemic broke out. Add to that are the much-needed arms for our armed forces to get rid of the marauding Maute ISIS terrorist group in Marawi City and additional help to rehabilitate it later. Alarmed by the inroads China was making with the BRI through the land and marine infrastructure built with the billions of dollars it loaned to countries along the silk routes, the West was quick to make a big issue of it when Sri Lanka defaulted, calling China’s loans a “debt trap.” Of course, not a few of those struggling economies defaulted as the impact of the new infrastructure on their development had yet to gain traction. However, President Xi Jinping waived the interest dues. How is it for China midway to the Road’s target completion date of 2049? The BRI has covered more than 68 countries with an estimated 65 percent of the world’s population. All told, the largesse from China resulted in the reduction of dependency on the US and it created new markets for Chinese products. The US of A is fast losing its dominance. China, once wallowing in the quagmire of poverty, is now the second-largest economy in the world and growing. Will China then go beyond firing water cannons at Philippine Coast Guard vessels? This could only be answered by another set of questions. Is China willing to cut the marine silk route that passes through or close to the West Philippine Sea? Will its land route suffice to bring its products to its export markets in the event the sea lane is altogether cut off? Will the Chinese people relish going back to poverty and isolation? The answers are a big NO. So why EDCA? Why not pursue the Philippines-China joint oil exploration in the WPS as the offer stands at a 60/40 sharing agreement in favor of the Philippines? Why build more military bases when these are veritable beckons to war which we as a policy abhor? Why not take advantage of the short maritime link between China and the Philippines to enhance our economy? The price of fuel is skyrocketing. Our peso is depreciating as in a free fall. We have solutions and yet these, too have become problems. The post Of China’s ‘One Belt One Road’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
First country workshop for local insurance industry stakeholders
The Insurance Development Forum and its partner Microinsurance Network recently organized the first country workshop for local insurance industry stakeholders to advance an inclusive insurance-focused strategy in the Philippines. IDF Inclusive Insurance Working Group coordinator Pedro Pinheiro said that the objective of the country workshop was to close the protection gap of the low-income population through accessible and affordable insurance. “We want to increase the uptake of insurance among the low-income population who can benefit from affordable and accessible insurance products developed by local insurers,” Pinheiro said. MiN Chairman and Pioneer Group head Lorenzo Chan said that IDF partnered with MiN as a natural step to implement its inclusive insurance strategy. “The partnership allows the IDF to capitalize on the grassroots reach and wealth of resources the MiN has accumulated in the last 20 years,” Chan said. Chan said the workshop marked the kick-off engagement of the IDF in the Philippines and the establishment of a country task force. “The country task force in the Philippines will effectively allocate financial resources and technical assistance from the IDF membership to local inclusive insurance programs. Together, we will seek to address the gaps that were identified in the workshop,” Chan said. Pinheiro said that the Philippines has been selected as one of the priority countries by the inclusive insurance working group of the IDF. “The Philippines is identified as a crucial market because it is very vulnerable to climate risks and has a real need for insurance solutions. The Philippines is also advanced in the development of a regulatory framework for inclusive insurance with a thriving private sector and a very engaged government body,” Pinheiro said. Insurance Commissioner Reynaldo Regalado expressed his full support for the 1st IDF-MiN Country Workshop for Inclusive Insurance in the Philippines. “The Insurance Commission will continue to work collaboratively with microinsurance providers, non-government organizations and other stakeholders to develop innovative and sustainable solutions that will further cater to the needs of the low-income sector of the society. We commit to crafting policies that will further enhance financial inclusion in the country,” Regalado said in a statement. “IC recognizes the significance of inclusive insurance in fostering resilience and promoting economic stability in the Philippines. Inclusive insurance empowers individuals and communities by providing the same protection needed against unexpected shocks and calamities,” he added. The IDF is a public-private partnership supporting the growth and development of insurance-related resources and capabilities to help achieve the objectives of the Sustainable Development Goals and the UN Global 2030 Agenda. It was first announced at the United Nations Conference of the Parties Paris Climate Summit in 2015 and then formally launched by leaders of the insurance industry, the United Nations and the World Bank in 2016. The MiN, based in Luxembourg, is the only non-profit global multi-stakeholder platform dedicated to promoting inclusive insurance to low-income people and households worldwide. Chan is the first Asian and insurance practitioner elected as MiN Chairman in 2021. The workshop was attended by insurance industry stakeholders representing the Philippine Insurers and Reinsurers Association, Philippine Life Insurance Association, Microinsurance Intermediaries and Practitioners Association of the Philippines, Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation, GIZ Philippines and several other organizations in the inclusivity ecosystem. ### The post First country workshop for local insurance industry stakeholders appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Former DILG Usec Diño, 66
Former Department of the Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Martin Diño passed away on Tuesday morning due to a lingering illness. He was 66. The information was relayed by her daughter former chair of the Film Development Council of the Philippines, Liza Diño-Seguerra through social media. According to Seguerra, her dad “peacefully died at 2:15 a.m. on August 8, 2023, surrounded by his family.” She added that her father had been battling stage 4 cancer for a year. “He suffered from acute respiratory failure and has been battling with stage IV lung cancer for more than a year,” Seguerra said in a statement posted on her social media account. “His contributions to our nation’s progress, particularly on local governance and barangay development, will forever stand as a testament to his commitment to a better society,” she added. To recall, Diño in 2015 filed his candidacy for the presidency for the 2016 national elections but later withdrew before he was declared a nuisance candidate by the Commission on Elections, allowing the PDP Laban Party to have then Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte to substitute him as the party standard-bearer. Diño first became popular for being the barangay captain of Barangay San Antonio of Quezon City’s First District who took care of Leo Echagaray’s rape victim. Echagaray was the first convict who died of lethal injection. The former DILG undersecretary became an active member of the advocacy group Violence Against Crime and Corruption and later on served as its chairman. Diño also became chairman of Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority and during his stint in the agency, he filed a complaint before the office of the Ombudsman against 13 SBMA officials for alleged malversation, grave misconduct, serious dishonesty and grave abuse of authority over unaccounted assets. The post Former DILG Usec Diño, 66 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Former DILG Usec. Martin Diño dies at 66
Martin Diño, former Interior and Local Government Undersecretary, who paved the way for then-Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte to become a candidate for president as his substitute, died early morning, Tuesday, 8 August 2023, due to a lingering illness. He was 66. In a social media post, his daughter Liza Diño, former chair of the Film Development Council of the Philippines, wrote: [He} peacefully died at 2:15 am on August 8, 2023, surrounded by his family. Lisa Diño said her father, fondly called "Bobot", had been battling lung cancer for over a year. “He suffered from acute respiratory failure and has been battling with stage IV lung cancer for more than a year,” Liza wrote in a statement. “It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Martin Diño, former undersecretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)," she added. In 2015 Diño filed his candidacy for the 2016 presidential elections but later withdrew before he was declared a nuisance candidate by the Commission on Elections, allowing PDP-Laban to substitute Duterte in his place. Diño was the barangay captain of Barangay San Antonio, Quezon City's First District, and gained some fame when he took up the cause of the victim (then a minor) of Leo Echagaray, the first convict to be executed (vial lethal injection) after the death penalty had been reinstated in 1993. Diño became an active member of the advocacy group Violence Against Crime and Corruption, and later on served as its chairman. He became chairman of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, a reward for Diño’s last-minute withdrawal from the 2016 elections by President Duterte, who appointed him to the position. During that stint, Diño filed a complaint before the office of the Ombudsman against 13 SBMA officials for alleged malversation, grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, and grave abuse of authority over unaccounted assets. Because of his anti-drugs and anti-corruption crusade at SBMA, Duterte appointed him as undersecretary for barangay affairs of the Department of the Interior and Local Government. "Only God knows why, despite all the outpour of love and support, things have to come to an end—but for now, at least no more pain na papa ko (there is no more pain my papa),” his daughter Liza said. The post Former DILG Usec. Martin Diño dies at 66 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
William Friedkin, incendiary director of ‘The Exorcist’
US director William Friedkin, who died Monday, will forever be remembered for his Oscar-winning "The Exorcist" in 1973, one of the most controversial horror films of all time that still chills new generations of moviegoers. The taboo-breaking scene of a 12-year-old girl believed to be possessed by the devil, foul-mouthed and feverishly masturbating with a crucifix on her bed, provoked frenzy in audiences and sparked a global debate about the occult in the Catholic Church. "It was shocking," wrote Rolling Stone in 2018, recalling the first reactions. It "had people lining up at the entrances of movie theatres while the exits were soppy with puke from the previous showing." Remarkably for a horror film, it was nominated for 10 Oscars and took home two. Pact with the devil Friedkin, who passed away in Los Angeles on Monday at the aged of 87, after suffering health issues in recent years, first hit the pinnacle in Hollywood a few years before "The Exorcist" -- with his stomping, stylish 1971 thriller "The French Connection." Starring Gene Hackman as a cop in gritty, corrupt New York City, the film won five Oscars including Best Director and Best Picture. It was a pearl of the "New Hollywood" wave of socially and politically charged filmmaking associated with emerging directors such as Robert Altman, Francis Ford Coppola, and Martin Scorsese. Friedkin was asked to direct "The Exorcist" -- based on a novel inspired by a reported case of possession of a 14-year-old boy -- after other star directors including Stanley Kubrick had turned it down. "I thought it was a film about the mystery of faith... but I didn't set out to make a horror film," Friedkin was quoted saying in The Hollywood Reporter in 2015. "But by now, I have accepted that it is." His film was followed by four sequels, based on the same novel but without Friedkin's participation, together grossing more than $600 million worldwide. A television series began in 2016. Real power Friedkin was born in Chicago in 1935. His mother was a nurse and his father held several jobs, from merchant seaman and semi-professional softball player to discount-clothes salesman. He singled out viewing in his twenties of Orson Welles' "Citizen Kane" (1941) as having a radical impact. "It changed my life," he said in a 2014 interview published on the website of respected US critic, Roger Ebert. "It made me understand that film was an art form and a unique way of storytelling that I had never considered". Friedkin started working in television as a runner and then directed TV shows before making his own documentary in 1962, "The People vs Paul Crimp", about a real-life death row prisoner. The film would contribute to Crimp's death sentence being commuted, convincing Friedkin of "the power of cinema", he told AFP in an interview in 2017. In 1967 he made his first feature, "Good Times", a musical starring the popular pop duo Sonny and Cher. Eclipse from the A-List After his heyday in the 1970s, came a spectacular fall from the Hollywood A-List. It was his ambitious "Sorcerer" (1977), that would prove Friedkin's undoing. After a difficult shoot that went wildly over budget to cost $22 million, the film bombed at the US box office, grossing just under $6 million. It was also eclipsed by the first installment of George Lucas's "Star Wars", released at the same time. Amongst his other flops from a total of about 20 features was "Cruising" (1980) with Al Pacino as an undercover cop hunting down a serial killer in New York's S&M scene. But "Killer Joe" in 2011, starring Matthew McConaughey as a man plotting to kill his own mother, brought renewed critical praise. In 2018, decades after his most famous hit, Friedkin revisited the themes of "The Exorcist" with the documentary "The Devil and Father Amorth", about a priest performing an exorcism in Italy. "The life of a filmmaker is one film to another," Friedkin told the LA Times in 1989 about how he picked himself up after his career had taken a tumble. "There's a great reward when you connect with the public and people are lining up around the block to see your film. But the real joy is making the film." Friedkin was married four times, the first time to one of France's top actresses, Jeanne Moreau. The post William Friedkin, incendiary director of ‘The Exorcist’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»