Masbate AFP-NPA clashes disrupt classes
The Department of Education condemned yesterday what it described as an “alarming rate of communist rebel activities” that have disrupted classes in some areas in Masbate......»»
Sara visits Masbate clash site
Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte on Monday distributed school supplies to Masbate students affected by clashes between communist rebels and security forces. Duterte said a total of 1,513 students from different schools in the province received the PagbaBAGo kits. The PagbaBAGo campaign is a program that aims to instill the importance of basic education and nurture the right attitude among young Filipinos to succeed in life. It was the same program Duterte implemented when she was still mayor of Davao City. It is now part of the Vice President’s activities during her visits to cities and towns across the country. Aside from distributing the bags, Duterte also talked to the children’s parents, convincing them to practice responsible parenthood and family planning. The Vice President visited seven different public schools in this province weeks after classes were disrupted by armed clashes following the reported presence of the New People’s Army in communities near a school. Duterte visited Palani Integrated School in Balud, Guindawahan Elementary School in Pio Corpuz, Locso-an Elementary School and Arriesgado Sevilleno High School in Placer, Villa Hermosa Elementary School and Villa Hermosa National High School in Cawayan, and Masbate National Comprehensive High School in Masbate City. Face-to-face classes were suspended for a week in six Masbate towns following the clashes — affecting over 55,000 learners and 2,815 school personnel. Duterte earlier condemned the NPA for causing learning disruption in Masbate. During the school visits, Duterte stressed to the learners the significance of education in ending the cycle of poverty. At the Locso-on Elementary School in Placer town, she reminded students to duck and seek cover when they hear gunfire. A day after the 22 March clash in Placer town, a video of Locso-on school children who were panicking and crying in fear while gunshots were being heard went viral online. The Vice President also held dialogues with school heads and teachers, listening to their concerns about the education sector, such as providing school buildings, lessening the paper works of teachers, and providing stress debriefing following the clashes. The post Sara visits Masbate clash site appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
60 Masbate schools resume in-person classes
Nearly half of the schools that suspended in-person classes in Masbate following clashes between communist rebels and government troopers last week have resumed face-to-face classes......»»
Masbate class suspensions: 140 schools affected
At least 55,100 students and 2,800 teachers in 140 public schools in six towns in Masbate have been affected as in-person classes were suspended due to clashes between government troopers and communist rebels, data from the Department of Education......»»
Bomb threats disrupt classes
Classes in four schools in Mulanay, Quezon were suspended yesterday due to bomb threats......»»
PNP seeks barangay noise ban during online classes
Barangays nationwide will be asked to pass local ordinances or resolutions banning activities that create unnecessary noise that could disrupt the online distance learning of millions of public school students who resumed classes yesterday......»»
Senegal government websites hit by cyberattack
A cyberattack purportedly claimed by the Anonymous hacking group took down dozens of government websites in Senegal, where tensions are simmering nine months before a presidential election, officials said on Saturday. The @MysteriousTeamO account, claiming to belong to the hacker group Anonymous, said on social media that it had targeted websites run by the presidency and those using the domain of the government, including the defense ministry and the health ministry. It also claimed to have affected the site of the national airline Air Senegal. Most of the affected sites were back online by mid-afternoon on Saturday, but access to some remained intermittent. Global internet monitor NetBlocks told AFP that the attack started at around midnight on Friday and had affected "dozens of government websites, networks, and online services". "There do appear to be intermittent restorations in service, however, these have not been sustained and the attack is ongoing," NetBlocks added. The @MysteriousTeamO account said the attack was in "solidarity" with Senegalese citizens and their right to freely choose their president. Government spokesman Abdou Karim Fofana acknowledged the attack, which he described as a distributed denial-of-service attack, designed to overwhelm the target with a flood of internet traffic, preventing the system from functioning normally. The relevant department said its teams were working to return to normal "as soon as possible," he said in a statement. The attack comes amid a tense political climate in the West African country. The opposition has denounced what it says is a growing crackdown by the government of President Macky Sall. Uncertainty over whether he will run for a controversial third term, as well as the rape trial of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, has fuelled tensions in the relatively stable nation. Sonko has refused to appear in court, claiming the authorities are plotting to keep him out of the presidential race. Having previously withdrawn to the south of the country during the trial, on Friday Sonko began a high-risk return to the capital Dakar, intending to draw out supporters along the way with a so-called "caravan of freedom". Local media reported clashes between Sonko's supporters and security forces on Friday surrounding his arrival at Kolda in the south -- still a long way from Dakar. Sonko's party said on Saturday that a 37-year-old father had died in the clashes, blaming the authorities. AFP was unable to confirm that the man died during the clashes. The post Senegal government websites hit by cyberattack appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Quakes jolt Batanes, Masbate
Quakes with magnitudes of 5.6 and 5.0 struck Batanes and Masbate, respectively, on Thursday night......»»
'WalayKlase: Class suspensions in Cebu as of May 26, 2023 due to Super Typhoon Mawar
CEBU, Philippines–Several local government units (LGUs) here decided to suspend classes on Friday, May 26, 2023, as the country expects bad weather due to the effects of Super Typhoon Mawar. In a Pagasa advisory, super typhoon Mawar, at 3 a.m. on Friday, was located 1,740 kilometers east of southeastern Luzon. It has maximum sustained winds […] The post #WalayKlase: Class suspensions in Cebu as of May 26, 2023 due to Super Typhoon Mawar appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
San Remigio mayor temporarily suspends classes, regular work in gov’t offices due to super typhoon Mawar
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Municipality of San Remigio in Cebu has temporarily suspended the classes and regular work in government offices due to the weather disturbances brought on by Super Typhoon “Mawar.” In his signed Executive Order No. 23, San Remigio Mayor and lawyer Alfonso Pestolante ordered the suspension of classes on Friday, May […] The post San Remigio mayor temporarily suspends classes, regular work in gov’t offices due to super typhoon Mawar appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Pasay counts on good, old `kulambo’ to fight dengue
When they start putting up the mosquito nets, it doesn’t mean it’s time to sleep but rather classes are about to begin. That’s how far the local government of Pasay City is willing to go to prevent dengue. On Thursday it announced that they have installed mosquito nets in 1,431 classrooms in the city as part of its campaign against dengue especially with the rainy season approaching by late May or early June. Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano visited classrooms in Timoteo Paez Elementary School in Malibay to personally see the installment of the mosquito nets which are called ‘Olyset Nets.’ The nets were made by Japan-based Sumitomo Chemical Asia which, according to their website, ‘uses hybrid polymer and controlled insecticide release technology to repel, kill and prevent mosquitoes.’ These nets are also ‘prequalified’ by the World Health Organization,’ which is said to be a status of trust and reputation in its safety, quality, and efficacy, according to the Food and Drug Administration. “We aim in Pasay LGU to install air conditioning in our classrooms. 1,000 classrooms have already been installed with air conditions, including kindergarten and senior high school classrooms,” Calixto-Rubiano said. She also ordered heads of schools and businesses and barangay chiefs to implement the “Four O’Clock Habit” campaign against dengue, which involves cleaning up areas where mosquitoes are likely to breed every day at 4 p.m. Last month, the Department of Health reported a 94-percent spike in dengue cases between the first quarters of 2022 and 2023. There are 27,670 cases for this year as compared to 14,278 last year. The post Pasay counts on good, old `kulambo’ to fight dengue appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
LGUs called off classes due to Typhoon Mawar
Several local government units (LGUs) announced the suspension of classes and all school-related activities for public and private schools on Friday, 26 May, in anticipation of Typhoon Mawar. According to PAGASA, Typhoon Mawar, which "further intensifies" into a super typhoon (category 5), is reportedly heading to the Philippines after battering Guam. Those LGUs which have called off classes, as of this writing, were Marikina and Sta. Ana, Cagayan (until 27 May); Echague and San Mariano, Isabela; Macabebe, Pampanga; Roxas, Palawan; and Minglanilla, Argao, San Fernando, Consolacion, Naga, Carcar, Alcoy, and Talisay in Cebu province. The post LGUs called off classes due to Typhoon Mawar appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Robots, we are not
A chicken and beer place somewhere in South Korea has an adorable robot going around serving orders. Perhaps it made some customers order more, so they could keep seeing this contraption approach, bearing food. It is still such a novelty and, right now, this robot looks exactly like a machine — just moving parts with no face and “personality.” What if, in this lifetime, robots such as these begin to take on more character? It may not be too far-fetched. Movies have given us previews of these already, making viewers laugh or cry for and with a robot character. The truth is, robotics has been around for a long time, and so has artificial intelligence. It’s just a matter of harnessing the technology for global advancement, and this requires planning and strategy. The need to be at par with our neighbors, for one, calls for the addition of such subjects in the school curricula. The Department of Information and Communications Technology is correct in raising the possibility of making robotics and computer programming a part of the elementary school curriculum. New technology classes are needed, said DICT Assistant Secretary Jeffrey Dy at the opening of the Singapore-based robotics learning center Nullspace in Taguig recently. Catching up or keeping up is one thing, but there is a whole other consideration we may have to take note of at the same time. It has to do with speed, and more so with capacity. Human versus machine? Fiction is no longer too far-fetched these days. AI, former Google chief Eric Schmidt told a magazine, represents an “existential risk” that could threaten humanity. The article said, “He doesn’t feel that threat is serious at the moment, but he sees a near future where AI could help find software security flaws or new biology types. It’s important to ensure these systems aren’t ‘misused by evil people.’” Meanwhile, machine learning tools present the threat of surpassing the human capacity to learn. It took ChatGPT two months to learn something that its developers expected it would in six years. ChatGPT is “an AI chatbot that uses natural language processing to create humanlike conversational dialogue.” Of course, “a natural language processing tool” may seem harmless, but it is the fact that AI technology can pretty much perform functions only humans could before, including “composing emails, essays, and (eventually write) code.” Robotics are mostly applied in the manufacturing sector, but combined with AI and machine learning, humans are in for some tough competition. A robot who can talk, reason, and make decisions? A robot that learns at the speed of light, and becomes self-aware? We, humans, have never learned from our mistakes and history. We refuse to see reason, make laws we break, and create machines that destroy. It’s even said that “super soldier” robots may be in the works at this point. How are we expected to be in control of AI and intelligent machines when we are not even in control of ourselves? The post Robots, we are not appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Beauty beyond the brush
Nix Soriano, a well-known makeup artist in the Philippines, described her amazing career transition from being a nursing graduate to pursuing her genuine passion for makeup artistry. The chief hair and makeup artist of Nix Institute of Beauty, in an interview with the Daily Tribune, disclosed that after finishing her nursing degree and passing the board examinations, she found herself at a crossroads. When the recession was at its worst in 2010, her grandma encouraged her to put off her travel plans to the United States and suggested that she stay in the Philippines until things got better economically. This is when Nix’s interest in makeup really began to blossom. As she and her business partners worked on commercials and other audiovisual projects, Soriano became interested in putting on makeup. She often found herself stepping in as a last-minute makeup artist when emergencies or cancellations occurred. Recognizing her talent and passion for the craft, she decided to pursue formal training in makeup artistry. “Sometimes I would step in at the last minute like your makeup artist or last-minute cancel makeup. So, from there I took up classes.” Nix went to classes to improve her abilities after realizing how much she loved beauty and makeup. She witnessed a growing demand for makeup services, not only among celebrities and beauty queens but also individuals attending parties and weddings. Observing the delight and confidence it gave, Soriano’s excitement for makeup artistry intensified. [caption id="attachment_136766" align="aligncenter" width="525"] NIX Soriano, chief hair and makeup artist of Nix Institute of Beauty.[/caption] She set out to provide budding beauty artists in the Philippines access to reasonable but thorough training after seeing the large expenses needed for cosmetics workshops overseas. Transitioning from nursing to makeup artistry wasn’t without its challenges. Initially, Nix faced skepticism from her loved ones, including her then-boyfriend, now husband. They questioned her decision, pointing out alternative companies that would have generated greater profits. But it was obvious that she had found her real purpose because of her consistent joy and enthusiasm for makeup artistry. “I can’t imagine myself doing something I’m not happy with. It’s not that I’m not happy with nursing but this makes me more happy,” she said. As her career was established, renowned pageants and productions were drawn to her talent and commitment. She rose to prominence as the preferred makeup artist for illustrious occasions like Miss Universe Philippines. Nix’s talent went beyond pageantry; in addition, she catered to weddings and worked on side jobs for advertising and commercial shoots. She founded the Nix Institute of Beauty to broaden the reach of her expertise and provide accessibility to cosmetics courses. She set out to provide budding beauty artists in the Philippines access to reasonable but thorough training after seeing the large expenses connected with cosmetics workshops overseas. Nix believes that creating a solid foundation for makeup artistry requires starting with the fundamentals. “We start with the fundamentals of makeup because I’m a firm believer that if you know the fundamentals, if you know the basics kahit paikot-ikutin ka, kaya mo ayusin (even if you get turned around and around, you can handle it),” she explained. The Nix Institute of Beauty has seen a diverse range of students, including both females and males. Even photographers enroll to enhance their skills in makeup for editorial shoots. It takes pride in fostering a supportive learning environment that encourages creativity and helps students understand the theory behind their art. Even though Soriano’s path has had its fair share of lessons learned and minor setbacks, she is still passionate about what she does. She wants to continuously grow and deliver outstanding results while acknowledging that mistakes do occur as a real professional. She reflected on how it all began with Global Asian Models, and shared her journey, starting as the makeup team for Rabiya Mateo, Beatrice Gomez, Celeste Cortesi, and finally the newly-minted Miss Universe Philippines Michelle Dee. “It’s a rollercoaster talaga, but it’s a proud moment for me.” The Nix Institute of Beauty is a team of skilled hair and makeup professionals who are dedicated to empowering individuals to embrace their individuality and their own sense of beauty. They provide lessons and hair and makeup services all around the Philippines. The team’s mission is to give clients treasured experiences and memories while also acting as mentors for rising business professionals. The post Beauty beyond the brush appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Way klase: Cebu localities suspend classes as Mawar looms
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Several local government units (LGUs) in Cebu decided to suspend classes for tomorrow, Friday (May 26) as the country expects bad weather due to the effects of Typhoon Mawar. As of 4 p.m. on Thursday, May 25, five LGUs declared suspension of physical classes in all levels. These are Talisay City, […] The post Way klase: Cebu localities suspend classes as Mawar looms appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
US, Microsoft warn cyber actor attacking ‘critical’ infrastructure
The United States, its Western allies and Microsoft said Wednesday that a state-sponsored Chinese cyber actor had infiltrated critical US infrastructure networks, and warned similar activities could be occurring globally. "The United States and international cybersecurity authorities are issuing this joint Cybersecurity Advisory (CSA) to highlight a recently discovered cluster of activity of interest associated with a People's Republic of China (PRC) state-sponsored cyber actor, also known as Volt Typhoon," said a statement released by US, Australian, Canadian, New Zealand and UK authorities. In a separate statement, Microsoft said Volt Typhoon had been active since mid-2021 and had targeted critical infrastructure in Guam, a crucial US military outpost in the Pacific Ocean. "Microsoft assesses with moderate confidence that this Volt Typhoon campaign is pursuing development of capabilities that could disrupt critical communications infrastructure between the United States and Asia region during future crises," the statement said. "In this campaign, the affected organizations span the communications, manufacturing, utility, transportation, construction, maritime, government, information technology, and education sectors. "Observed behavior suggests that the threat actor intends to perform espionage and maintain access without being detected for as long as possible." The US and Western security agencies warned in their advisory that the activities involved "living off the land" tactics, which takes advantage of built-in network tools to blend in with normal Windows systems. It warned that the hacking could then incorporate legitimate system administration commands that appear "benign". Microsoft said Volt Typhoon tried to blend into normal network activity by routing traffic through compromised small office and home office network equipment, including routers, firewalls and VPN hardware. "They have also been observed using custom versions of open-source tools," Microsoft said. The director of the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Jen Easterly, also released a warning related to Volt Typhoon. "For years, China has conducted operations worldwide to steal intellectual property and sensitive data from critical infrastructure organizations around the globe," Easterly said. "Today's advisory, put out in conjunction with our US and international partners, reflects how China is using highly sophisticated means to target our nation's critical infrastructure. "This joint advisory will give network defenders more insights into how to detect and mitigate this malicious activity." China offered no immediate response to the allegations. But it routinely denies carrying out state-sponsored cyber attacks. China in turn regularly accuses the United States of cyber espionage. The post US, Microsoft warn cyber actor attacking ‘critical’ infrastructure appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Negros clashes death toll now 10
Another suspected New People’s Army guerrilla was killed as more armed clashes erupted on Negros Island yesterday......»»
Philippine troops kill 5 suspected rebels in clashes
MANILA, May 20 (Xinhua) -- Philippine troops killed five suspected rebels in a series of clashes in the central Philippines on Saturday, a military spokesperson said. Lieutenant Colonel Israel Galorio of the Visayas Command said the first fighting broke out around 5 a.m. local time Saturday, followed by two more clashes in Negros Occidental province, resulting in the death of five New People's Army (NPA) members.....»»
4 more ‘NPA rebels’ killed as Negros clashes continue
Four more suspected New People’s Army guerrillas were killed as clashes continued on Negros Island over the weekend......»»
AFP-NPA Negros clashes: 5 rebels slain
Five New People’s Army rebels were killed in encounters with Army soldiers in Barangay Quintin Remo in Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental yesterday......»»
4.8 magnitude earthquake damages schools, roads in Romblon town
A strong earthquake hit Romblon province Saturday, prompting Odiongan Mayor Trina Firmalo-Fabic to suspend classes and work in both the public and private sectors due to continued aftershocks across the municipality......»»