No kidding: Video calls with goats boost British farm
Blackburn, United Kingdom — A British farmer came up with a jokey idea to rent out her goats to liven up video call meetings — and found an unexpected source of lockdown income. The floppy-eared goats glance curiously as farmer Dot McCarthy holds up a mobile phone to film them eating hay and prancing around […] The post No kidding: Video calls with goats boost British farm appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Julia Fordham calls Filipinos’ appreciation for her songs a ‘blessing’
The esteemed British sultry singer-songwriter Julia Fordham is set to grace Manila with a one-night Valentine’s concert at The Theatre at Solaire on Feb. 16. She will be joined by Asia’s Romantic Balladeer, Christian Bautista, as a special guest......»»
‘ Remittances still pillar of Philippines growth’
Remittances from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) will continue to fuel consumption and boost the Philippines’ economic resilience, according to British banking giant HSBC......»»
Advancing OFWs’ welfare, protecting Filipinos abroad
Overseas Filipino Workers, or OFWs, are indeed modern-day heroes. They help boost our economy, but more importantly, they help uplift the lives of their families to give them a better future and also showcase Filipinos' talents, skills, and work ethic to the world. I was in London, United Kingdom last week for an official trip upon the invitation of the British Group Inter-Parliament Union. Led by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and co-head of delegation Senator Grace Poe, we embarked on several meetings aimed at strengthening relations of the Philippine Senate with our counterparts in the UK parliament to exchange best practices in policymaking while enhancing bilateral relations, fostering economic security, exploring areas of cooperation between the two countries, and promoting the welfare of Filipinos working there. As Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, I also expressed my gratitude to the UK for donating vaccines during the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic. Moreover, we thanked them for other development assistance extended by the UK to the Philippines and for their help in strengthening the Bangsamoro Region. As vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Migrant Workers, I also maximized the visit to highlight efforts in promoting the welfare of more than 200,000 OFWs in the UK, particularly the more or less 40,000 Filipino nurses working there. We were able to raise to the UK policymakers the concerns of Filipino nurses regarding their rights to proper benefits, just compensation, and a safe working environment. We should be proud of Filipino medical frontliners in the UK, particularly nurses who are among the world’s finest. Take, for example, May Parsons, a Filipina-British nurse who became known globally for administering the first COVID-19 vaccine outside of a clinical trial and receiving the UK's George Cross Award. I have co-sponsored a Senate resolution earlier recognizing and commending her achievement. After our official meetings, I met with a group of OFWs, some of them were fellow Dabawenyos, Filipino Muslims, Ilonggos, and Ilocanos, among others. The stories they shared were proof of how resilient our OFWs are. Despite their sacrifices, homesickness, and worries about their families in their hometowns, they maintain their cheerfulness and positive outlook. I brought some good news to our OFWs by informing them about the establishment of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) through Republic Act No. 11641, a legislation for which I am proud to be one of the authors and co-sponsors in the Senate. This measure streamlines the organization and functions of all government agencies related to overseas employment and migration to better address the needs and concerns of migrant workers. I have also filed Senate Bill No. (SBN) 2297 to institutionalize the OFW Hospital and ensure its continuous operation in San Fernando City, Pampanga, primarily intended for OFWs and eligible dependents. More importantly, a Malasakit Center is operational there to help reduce their out-of-pocket expenses. The establishment of the DMW, the OFW Hospital, and its own Malasakit Center are just a few of our dreams that are now realities for Filipinos to benefit from. These are testaments of our commitment to promote the welfare of migrant workers and their dependents. However, we acknowledge that there is more work to be done. That is why we continue to listen to their concerns, serve them to the best of our abilities, and pursue initiatives to further their cause. I have also filed SBN 2414, which seeks to establish OFW wards in Department of Health (DOH) hospitals if enacted into law. While our efforts continue to safeguard the welfare of Filipinos abroad, our commitment to serve Filipinos facing challenges in their communities remains unwavering. This week, we had groundbreaking ceremonies for Super Health Centers in Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte; Brgy. Labangon in Cebu City; Pitogo, Zamboanga del Sur; and in Tigbauan, Iloilo. Through the collective efforts of DOH, LGUs, and fellow lawmakers, we continue to advocate for establishing more community health facilities to help bring public health services closer to those needing medical attention. We have also assisted 1,000 indigents in Llanera, Nueva Ecija, with the office of Cong. Jose Padiernos; 500 members from various sectors in Barangay Mintal, Davao City; 1,900 in Caloocan City, with the office of Congresswoman Mitch Cajayon-Uy. In Cebu City, we also distributed aid to 1,700 residents of the South District with Congressman Edu Rama; 450 in Nagcarlan, Laguna, with Mayor Elmor Vita and Councilor Rey Comendador; and 333 in Pulupandan, Negros Occidental, in collaboration with the Malasakit@Bayanihan group. We also aided 1,000 United Senior Citizens Association members of Quezon City, with Congresswoman Mila Magsaysay, Senator Robin Padilla, and private sector volunteer organizations. My office also extended additional aid to 93 displaced workers in Lumban, Laguna; 210 in Pilar; 217 in Carmen and Batuan in Bohol. DOLE also gave qualified beneficiaries temporary employment. We also supported 200 scholars during their TESDA Orientation in Daet, Camarines Norte. There are also 43 residents of Davao City and nine in La Paz, Agusan del Sur, who were victims of fires and 32 victims of flooding in Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat. They were provided separate assistance and the livelihood kits they received through the DTI program, which we advocated for before and continue to support. We also supported 283 victims of past fires in Cagayan de Oro City by giving separate aid in addition to the emergency housing assistance received from the NHA through a program we pushed for so that they could buy materials like nails, roofing, and other necessities for home repairs. My office also provided immediate help to victims of recent fires, such as 50 families in Baseco, Manila City, and 11 families in Brgy. Alabang, Muntinlupa City. No one is exempt from facing life’s hardships. However, our OFWs have shown us how resilient Filipinos can be. Let us learn from them and, more importantly, do our part in uplifting their lives by advocating for their welfare, promoting their rights, protecting their families, and providing the genuine public service they deserve. The post Advancing OFWs’ welfare, protecting Filipinos abroad appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Colombia deadliest country for green activists in 2022
Environmental activist murders doubled in Colombia last year, making it the most dangerous country in the world for those trying to protect the planet, a watchdog said Tuesday. In its annual review, Global Witness named 177 land and environmental defenders who had been killed in 2022 -- from the Amazon to the Philippines and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Latin America again bore the brunt of the murders, including 39 killings across the vast Amazon rainforest, a vital carbon sink facing widespread destruction at a time when the world is grappling to curb climate change. The number of those killed has progressively decreased since a record 227 in 2020, however, "this does not mean that the situation has significantly improved," said Global Witness. "The worsening climate crisis and the ever-increasing demand for agricultural commodities, fuel, and minerals will only intensify the pressure on the environment -– and those who risk their lives to defend it," warned the London-based watchdog. While in 2021 most killings took place in Mexico, Colombia last year surged ahead with 60 deaths -- more than a third of all the murders globally. "This is almost double the number of killings compared to 2021 when 33 defenders lost their lives," said the report. Many of those targeted were Indigenous people, members of Afro-descendant communities, small-scale farmers, and environmental activists. At least five children, three of them Indigenous, were among the global tally. "Yet there is hope," said the NGO, praising efforts under new leftist President Gustavo Petro to boost protection for defenders -- a first in the country. Colombian sociologist and activist Nadia Umana, 35, fled her northern home after the murders of four colleagues, all of whom had been fighting for the return of rural lands taken over by paramilitaries. "Knowing that a colleague of yours was murdered is an indescribable pain," Umana told AFP in Bogota. Even the country's vice-president, Francia Marquez -- the 2018 winner of the prestigious Goldman environmental prize -- has faced multiple threats. In 2019, she survived an attack by gunmen who tried to kill her over her work defending her home region's water resources against mining companies. Mining, logging, farming According to Global Witness, almost 2,000 land and environmental defenders have been murdered over the past decade -- some 70 percent of them in Latin America. In Brazil, where British journalist Dom Philips and Indigenous expert Bruno Pereira were killed last year in the Amazon, a total of 34 land defenders were killed. Mexico, Honduras, and the Philippines also had high numbers. Global Witness said that while it was "difficult to identify" the exact drivers for the killings, 10 were found to be linked to agribusiness, eight to mining, and four to the logging industry. Aside from activists, state officials, demonstrators, park rangers, lawyers, and journalists are also among those who lost their lives. "All of them shared a commitment to defend their rights and keep the planet healthy. All of them paid for their courage and commitment with their lives," said the report. The post Colombia deadliest country for green activists in 2022 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
ASEAN leaders agree on 5PC to address Myanmar crisis
JAKARTA, Indonesia – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday called for the complete implementation of the Five-Point Consensus (5PC) in Myanmar, a set of principles agreed upon by the Association of the Southeast Asian Nation leaders in April 2021 to address the political crisis in the country. Speaking at the 18th East Asia Summit (EAS) here, Marcos said that the Philippines believes that the key to any solution in Myanmar is the inclusive participation of all parties. He also reiterated the Philippines' support for the Special Envoy of ASEAN in pushing the Five-Point Consensus forward. "We maintain that endeavors by other parties to address the crisis should support and complement ASEAN's efforts, and should be done in consultation with the ASEAN Chair," Marcos said. The Five-Point Consensus calls for an immediate cessation of violence, constructive dialogue among all parties, an inclusive political process, the appointment of a Special Envoy of ASEAN, and the provision of humanitarian assistance. Marcos also called for the urgent realization of the Loss and Damage Fund (LDF) to help countries address the impacts of climate change. He said that countries with the smallest carbon footprints disproportionately bear the heaviest burden of climate change. "Climate financing, complemented by viable and effective technology transfer and country-specific capacity-building, is needed to expedite a just transition to a climate-resilient economy," Marcos said. He also sought the support of other EAS leaders for the development of the Philippines' strategic minerals supply and value chains. He said that this would boost the Philippines' efforts to ensure a resilient and sustainable future for the region. Marcos concluded his intervention by reaffirming the Philippines' commitment to an open and inclusive regional order where the rule of law and ASEAN Centrality remain the bedrock of an evolving regional architecture. The East Asia Summit is a regional forum held annually by leaders of, initially, 16 countries in the East Asian, Southeast Asian, South Asian, and Oceanian regions, based on the ASEAN Plus Six mechanism. Membership expanded to 18 countries including Russia and the United States at the Sixth EAS in 2011. The post ASEAN leaders agree on 5PC to address Myanmar crisis appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
British foreign chief visit to Manila to boost UK-Phl ties
United Kingdom Secretary of State for Foreign Commonwealth and Development Affairs James Spencer Cleverly’s visit to the Philippines will bolster the ties between London and Manila, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Monday. Cleverly, who is expected to arrive in Manila today for a one-day official visit, will meet his counterpart, DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo, to discuss the bilateral relations between the Philippines and United Kingdom. “The visit is anticipated to reaffirm the Philippines-United Kingdom ties and demonstrate mutually strong cooperation between the two governments, in line with the PH-UK Enhanced Partnership which was launched in November 2021,” the DFA said in a statement. The two foreign chiefs are also expected to exchange views on pressing regional issues, after their bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Ministerial meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia last month. During his one-day visit to Manila, the British Foreign Secretary will also be calling on other high-level officials of the Philippine government. Cleverly’s visit to the Philippines will be the first time since 2016 that a British Foreign Secretary has set foot in Manila. The Philippines and the United Kingdom just celebrated the 77th anniversary of their diplomatic relations last 4 July 2023. The post British foreign chief visit to Manila to boost UK-Phl ties appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Loch Ness hunt biggest in decades
DRUMNADROCHIT, United Kingdom (AFP) — The biggest search for the Loch Ness Monster in five decades takes place in the Scottish Highlands Saturday, as researchers and enthusiasts from around the world meet to try to track down the elusive Nessie. The expedition will deploy drones with thermal scanners, boats with infrared cameras and an underwater hydrophone to try to unravel a mystery that has captivated the world for generations. “It’s always been our goal to record, study and analyse all manner of natural behavior and phenomena that may be more challenging to explain,” said Alan McKenna, of co-organizers Loch Ness Exploration. The searchers believe the thermal scanners could prove crucial in identifying any strange anomalies in the murky depths. The hydrophone will allow the searchers to listen for unusual Nessie-like underwater calls. Stretching 23 miles and with a maximum depth of 788 feet, the freshwater loch is the UK’s largest lake by volume. Reports of an aquatic monster lurking in Loch Ness date back to ancient times, with stone carvings in the area depicting a mysterious beast with flippers. The earliest written record of the creature dates back to AD 565 in a biography of the Irish monk, Saint Columba. According to the text, the monster attacked a swimmer and was about to strike again when Columba commanded it to retreat. More recently, in May 1933, the local Inverness Courier newspaper reported a couple driving along a newly constructed lochside road seeing “a tremendous upheaval” in the water. “There, the creature disported itself, rolling and plunging for fully a minute, its body resembling that of a whale, and the water cascading and churning like a simmering cauldron,” the report said. In December that year, British newspaper the Daily Mail recruited a South African big game hunter, Marmaduke Wetherell, to locate the sea serpent. Wetherell found large footprints that he believed belonged to “a very powerful soft-footed animal about 20 feet long.” But zoologists at London’s Natural History Museum determined that the tracks were made with an umbrella stand or ashtray that had a hippopotamus leg as a base. In 1934, English physician Robert Wilson captured what came to be known as the “Surgeon’s Photograph,” seemingly depicting Nessie’s head and elongated neck emerging from the water. The photo, published in the Daily Mail, was later revealed to be part of a hoax, catapulted the Loch Ness Monster into international fame. There are now more than 1,100 officially recorded Nessie sightings, according to The Loch Ness Center in Drumnadrochit, near Inverness. The monster brings in millions of pounds in tourism revenue to the Scottish economy each year. Over the years, scientists and amateur enthusiasts have tried to find evidence of a large fish such as a sturgeon living in the depths of the loch. Some have suggested the monster could be a prehistoric marine reptile like a plesiosaur. In 1972, the Loch Ness Investigation Bureau undertook the biggest search to date but returned empty-handed. In 1987, Operation Deepscan deployed sonar equipment across the width of the loch and claimed to have found an “unidentified object of unusual size and strength.” In 2018, researchers conducted a DNA survey of Loch Ness to determine what organisms live in the waters. No signs of a plesiosaur or other such large animal were found, though the results indicated the presence of numerous eels. “The weekend gives an opportunity to search the waters in a way that has never been done before, and we can’t wait to see what we find,” said Paul Nixon, the general manager of the Loch Ness Center. The post Loch Ness hunt biggest in decades appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
New gov’t hotline to boost campaign vs child abuse
The Department of Social Welfare and Development urged the public on Friday to utilize the Makabata Helpline 1383 to report cases of child abuse. The Makabata Helpline is a mechanism developed by the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC), an attached agency of the DSWD, to provide immediate response, monitoring, and feedback via calls, electronic mail, and different social media platforms about all child rights and concerns. These include legal queries, psychosocial support, referral services to appropriate agencies involved in safeguarding children’s rights, and reporting of child abuse and emergency cases, among others. Since its launch in November 2022, a total of 156 reports via text, calls, emails, and chat have been received by the helpline, of which, 76.28 percent of cases were closed, while 19.23 percent are pending with limited traction and 4.48 percent are on-going. “The CWC is consistently seeking out partnerships with non-government organizations and national government agencies to strengthen the implementation of the Makabata Helpline 1383 because we believe that this mechanism will truly help us to protect and uphold the rights of children,” DSWD Assistant Secretary for Strategic Communications Romel Lopez said. Lopez, who is also the DSWD spokesperson, reminded the public not to use the hotline for prank calls or false inquiries. “We continue to remind the public that this hotline must only be used for emergency cases. So please avoid making prank calls or false reports because it may cause grave consequences for those who are in distress,” Lopez explained. The post New gov’t hotline to boost campaign vs child abuse appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
UK sustainability, digitization ally
The United Kingdom is the country’s partner in the promotion of sustainability and digitization, according to Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual. At the 3rd ASEAN Economic Ministers-United Kingdom Consultations on 20 August in Semarang, Indonesia, Pascual acknowledged the vital role of the British government in advancing regional economic integration, particularly in the areas of sustainability and digitalization. He said this includes new cooperation initiatives of the UK on the ASEAN Catalytic Green Finance Facility, which aims to increase access to finance for green infrastructure, and the British International Investment, which plans to open satellite offices in the region, including in the Philippines. Pascual also expressed appreciation to ASEAN and UK officials for the progress made in the implementation of the initiatives outlined under the Joint Ministerial Declaration on Future Economic Cooperation. Initiatives expanded Pascual also called on ASEAN and UK officials to consider expanding initiatives to support the region’s digital transformation agenda, particularly the intended ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement. “As the Philippines targets to transition into a green economy, a partnership with the UK will be integral in advancing sustainable and digitalized processes,” the DTI said in a Facebook post. Also, the UK Government is eyeing to establish a Joint Trade and Economic Committee or JETCO with the Philippines to improve partnerships in terms of trade. With this, Pascual welcomed UK’s interest to strike an agreement with the Philippines to form a committee that would boost both countries’ trade and economy. “This will serve as a platform to enhance economic relations, promote more trade and investments, and address related issues,” according to Pascual. The UK established JETCO with different countries to address trade barriers and improve the flow of trade in goods and services. In Southeast Asia, the UK has JETCO with Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. The post UK sustainability, digitization ally appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘We are afraid’: Violence-hit Ecuador votes under heavy security
Heavily-armed security officers kept watch Sunday as Ecuadorans voted in a presidential election marked by the murder of a top candidate and despair over the lawlessness that has engulfed the once-peaceful nation. Polls closed after a tense day, with soldiers and police searching voters at the entry to polling stations, while some of the eight presidential candidates wore helmets and bulletproof vests to cast their ballots. The small South American country has in recent years become a staging for foreign drug mafias seeking to export cocaine, stirring up a brutal war between local gangs. The murder of serious presidential contender Fernando Villavicencio on the campaign trail less than two weeks before the vote underscored the challenges facing the country. "The most serious problem is insecurity," said voter Eva Hurtado, 40, as she left a polling station north of the capital Quito on Sunday morning. "So many crimes, assassinations, disappearances. We are afraid." "Security, above all the security of our families, of our people, must be improved," said public worker Luis Veloso, 52. Villavicencio's killing has reshuffled the electoral cards, with none of the eight contenders expected to get an absolute majority -- likely forcing a runoff on October 15. Ecuadorans voted for a successor to conservative leader Guillermo Lasso, who called a snap election to avoid an impeachment trial just two years after coming to power. - Lawyer, reporter, sniper - Leading the polls before Villavicencio's murder was Luisa Gonzalez, 45, a lawyer from the leftist party of former president Rafael Correa. Villavicencio, who was polling second before his murder, was replaced at the last last minute by a close friend, another journalist, Christian Zurita, who witnessed his gunning down. Hours ahead of the vote, Zurita said he was receiving death threats on social media. "The threats against my life and my team will not stop us, but they are forcing us to take greater security protocols," he wrote on X, formerly Twitter, adding that his party had alerted authorities and election observers. Political analysts say the candidate who has seen the biggest boost to his popularity is 40-year-old right-wing businessman Jan Topic. Nicknamed "Rambo," the former paratrooper and sniper with the French Foreign Legion has vowed to wipe out criminal gangs and build more prisons, emulating El Salvador's Nayib Bukele. While casting his ballot, Topic urged voters to elect "the candidate who has the experience, the will, and the plan to eradicate violence in the country." Other leading candidates are right-wing former vice president Otto Sonnenholzner and leftist Indigenous attorney Yaku Perez. In one of the world's most biodiverse countries, two key referendums are taking place on Sunday alongside the election. One will ask voters to choose whether to continue oil drilling in an Amazon reserve that is home to home to three of the world's last uncontacted Indigenous populations. Another focuses on whether to forbid mining activities in the Choco Andino forest. "I feel bad voting in favor of oil exploitation, but Ecuador lives off this oil," said electrician Magdalena Maurisaca. - Brutal gang war - Ecuador was once seen as a haven of peace wedged between cocaine-producing nations Colombia and Peru. The small country straddles the Andes and the Amazon, and was best known as the world's top exporter of bananas and home to the biodiverse Galapagos Islands, where British scientist Charles Darwin developed his theory of evolution. However, in the past five years its large ports, lax security and corruption have lured foreign cartels that have come under increased pressure from the war on drugs in Mexico and Colombia. A struggle for power between local gangs has mostly played out in prisons, where 430 have been killed since 2021, leaving a trail of dismembered and burned bodies. "Ecuadorans are going to vote with three feelings: fear of insecurity... pessimism regarding the economic situation and distrust of the political class," political scientist Santiago Cahuasqui of the SEK International University told AFP. In 2022, the country hit a record of 26 murders per 100,000 inhabitants, higher than the rate in Colombia, Mexico or Brazil. Voters will also elect members of the 137-seat parliament. Initial results are expected to trickle in late Sunday, with a final tally expected in 10 days. To win in the first round a candidate must capture 40 percent of the vote or come 10 points ahead of their nearest competitor. The new president will take office on October 26 and will serve only the remainder of Lasso's term, a year and a half. bur-fb/dw © Agence France-Presse The post ‘We are afraid’: Violence-hit Ecuador votes under heavy security appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Marcos EO maximizes Pasig River potential
Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar on Tuesday said that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s Executive Order 35, constituting the Inter-Agency Council for the Pasig River Urban Development, targets not only the rehabilitation of the historic waterway but also to maximize its economic potentials and address issues like safe and decent housing for informal settler families. Acuzar, who was tapped to head IAC-PRUD, said he has already coordinated with other member-agencies to discuss initial plans on how to implement EO35. “The issuance of Executive Order 35 is like hitting many birds with one stone. It will trigger huge positive impacts to several sectors like housing, transportation and even tourism,” said Acuzar. “The rehabilitation of Pasig River could serve as a catalyst for economic opportunities along its banks from Manila to Pasig,” he added. The DHSUD chief stressed that while EO 35 primarily calls for full rehabilitation of the Pasig River, its implementation will also secure the safety of thousands of ISFs living along the riverbanks, promote mixed-use development and tourism that will trigger economic opportunities. According to Acuzar, DHSUD has already laid out initial plans covering pilot areas along the portions of Pasig River in Manila in coordination with some of the IAC-PRUD member-agencies like MMDA, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the Philippine Ports Authority. The IAC-PRUD was primarily tasked to “facilitate and ensure the full rehabilitation of the banks along the Pasig River water system and nearby water systems in order to provide alternative transportation, propel economic opportunities, and boost tourism activities.” The council was directed to formulate a Pasig River Urban Development Plan which shall serve as the blueprint for the full rehabilitation of the river with the end view of realizing its full potential for mixed-use development, transportation, recreation, tourism and sustainable human settlement, taking into consideration its historic and cultural value. It was also ordered to “study, prepare and implement a comprehensive shelter plan for massive relocation of informal settler families and other unauthorized or unlawful occupants along the Pasig River banks, including identification of suitable relocation sites; strategies for economic and social integration for ISFs, and long-term solutions to address ongoing migration into the Pasig River banks. EO 35 also authorizes the IAC-PRUD to “accept grants, contributions, donations, endowments, bequests, or gifts in cash or in kind from local and foreign sources in support of the formulation and implementation of the Pasig River Urban Development Plan, subject to existing laws, rules and regulations. The post Marcos EO maximizes Pasig River potential appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Pasig River rehab will spur economic opportunities along the banks from Mnl to Pasig
The Inter-Agency Council for the Pasig River Urban Development is targeting not only to rehabilitate the Pasig River, but also to maximize its economic potential and address issues like safe and decent housing for informal settler families. The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar on Tuesday said that he has already coordinated with other member agencies to discuss initial plans to implement this. “It will trigger huge positive impacts to several sectors like housing, transportation and even tourism,” Acuzar said. "The rehabilitation of Pasig River could serve as a catalyst for economic opportunities along its banks from Manila to Pasig," he added. The DHSUD chief stressed that while EO 35 primarily calls for the full rehabilitation of Pasig River waterways, its implementation will also secure the safety of thousands of ISFs living along the riverbanks, which will promote mixed-use development and tourism that will trigger economic opportunities. “Malaking bagay po ang activation ng inter-agency council para mas mapapabilis ang ating galaw at maging synchronized ang lahat ng efforts ng mga concerned agencies para sa pagbangon muli ng Pasig River,” he added. According to Secretary Acuzar, DHSUD has already laid out initial plans covering pilot areas along the portions of Pasig River in Manila in coordination with some of the IAC-PRUD member agencies like the Metro Manila Development Authority, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the Philippine Ports Authority. The IAC-PRUD was primarily tasked to “facilitate and ensure the full rehabilitation of the banks along the Pasig River water system and nearby water systems in order to provide alternative transportation, propel economic opportunities, and boost tourism activities.” The council was directed to formulate a Pasig River Urban Development Plan which shall serve as the blueprint for the full rehabilitation of the river with the end view of realizing its full potential for mixed-use development, transportation, recreation, tourism and sustainable human settlement, taking into consideration its historic and cultural value. It was also ordered to “study, prepare and implement a comprehensive shelter plan for massive relocation of informal settler families and other unauthorized or unlawful occupants along the Pasig River banks, including identification of suitable relocation sites; strategies for economic and social integration for ISFs, and long-term solutions to address ongoing migration into the Pasig River banks." The IAC-PRUD can also accept grants, contributions, donations, endowments, bequests, or gifts in cash or in kind from local and foreign sources in support of the formulation and implementation of the Pasig River Urban Development Plan, subject to existing laws, rules and regulations. The post Pasig River rehab will spur economic opportunities along the banks from Mnl to Pasig appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Top three ways to improve well-being through music
With or without lyrics, music is the universal language of the soul. It transcends forms and boundaries and speaks within our deepest humanity. To be in sync with harmony calls for self-reflection, self-regulation and self-expression. It increases motivation and happiness. When shared through experiences, it even harnesses meaningful relationships. [caption id="attachment_171002" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Janine Marie Flores,part-time faculty under the Music Production Program of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde School of Arts, Culture, and Performance.[/caption] Janine Marie Flores, a professor in the Music Production Program of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde School of Arts, Culture, and Performance (SACP), stresses how music can enhance one’s mental, emotional, physical and social well-being. “It has many therapeutic effects,” she states. “It can assist, manage and reduce stress, decrease anxiety. It may increase self-esteem, strengthen coping skills and more.” Through music therapy, a clinical and evidence -based treatment, individuals can maximize the power of the art to improve their holistic wellness. With the guidance of a credentialed professional, objectives are tailored and specific needs are met. To further encourage the general public to utilize the wonders of melody for their overall health, Flores, who is currently pursuing her Master of Arts in Music, major in Music Therapy, at Saint Paul University Manila, shares the top three tips one can explore in their day-to-day life. [caption id="attachment_171001" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Choose songs that resonate with your current state or can influence your desired state. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF DLSC-SB[/caption] Create a playlist. Specific types of music bring out certain emotional responses. This may be similar or different from one person to the other. Some may feel calm listening to rock or pop music, others find solace in ballads or jazz. Identify feelings brought by particular genres. Use these to manifest calmness, improve the mood, spark creativity or inspire movement. If you want to shift from being upset to feeling happy, start with sad songs. Then, add happy-themed songs to change the mood into a more positive one. Sing. Singing releases endorphins and oxytocin, the “feel-good hormones.” It helps relieve pain, alleviate anxiety and stress, and boost mood. It also eases muscle tensions, corrects posture and refines breathing. It improves our lung capacity as we need to take deep breaths in order to sing properly. The act may even sharpen mental alertness, boost our confidence, increase our socialization skills and develop more friendships. [caption id="attachment_171004" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Songwriting helps us process and regulate our emotions, boost self-expression, relieve stress and increase self-esteem.[/caption] Write songs. Interpreting difficult circumstances through music fosters self-expression, stress relief, and self-esteem. You can write music with or without words and improvise with various sounds and rhythmic patterns. This allows one to acknowledge, process and regulate emotions. Substitute your own words for lyrics. Play an instrument with an unplanned melody. Create a new tune. The post Top three ways to improve well-being through music appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Singapore races to save ‘Garbage of Eden’
Visitors to the island hosting Singapore's only landfill might expect foul odors and swarms of flies, but instead, they are greeted with stunning views of blue waters, lush greenery, and wildlife. Welcome to Pulau Semakau, the land-scarce city's eco-friendly trash island, where ash from the incinerated garbage of its nearly six million people is dumped. With just over a decade to go until the site is projected to be filled, the government is in a race against time to extend the lifespan of the island landfill, so serene it has earned the moniker "Garbage of Eden". "This is the only landfill in Singapore, and due to the small area and the competing land needs, it is difficult to find another location," Desmond Lee, the landfill manager at the National Environment Agency (NEA), which oversees the island, tells AFP. "It is imperative that we continue to use the Semakau landfill for as long as possible, and if possible extend its life beyond 2035," he says. 'Massive waste' Singapore generated 7.4 million tonnes of waste last year, of which about 4.2 million tonnes, or 57 percent, were recycled. Plastics remain a sticking point for the island’s waste drive, with just 6 percent recycled last year. Food waste, of which 18 percent was recycled, also poses a problem. Environmental group Greenpeace criticized the city-state for producing a "massive" amount of waste for its size. In 2019, the government launched a "zero-waste" campaign seeking to boost the amount of recycled waste to 70 percent and slash the amount of trash dumped at Semakau by 30 percent before the end of the decade. Roughly the size of New York City, Singapore has carefully managed its rapid growth in recent decades to avoid the problems faced by other fast-developing Asian metropolises, such as overcrowding and undisposed garbage. The government built the offshore landfill after an inland waste depot began running out of space in the early 1990s. Engineers merged Semakau -- whose residents had earlier been resettled to the mainland -- with the nearby island of Pulau Sakeng. A seven-kilometer (four-mile) perimeter bund was constructed to enclose part of the open sea between the two islands and create space for the landfill, which began operating in 1999. Pollution risks With Singapore’s population growing steadily, authorities were forced to roll out bold, space-saving solutions. Incinerators were deployed to burn non-recyclable waste, before authorities shipped the ash to Semakau on a covered barge. But the practice of burning the rubbish has been criticized by environmental groups for its pollution. "The process results in pollution in each of its phases -- from waste hauling to managing air emissions and residues," Abigail Aguilar, Greenpeace's anti-plastics campaigner for Southeast Asia, told AFP. "While aesthetically it might be appealing, the landfill still contains waste that could potentially leak," said Aguilar. The NEA has said its incineration plants are fitted with treatment systems that clean the gas before they are released into the atmosphere. It added that the landfill had been lined with an impermeable membrane and marine clay to contain any potential pollution within the site, and the water is tested regularly for leakage. Eco island There could still be more use for Singapore's garbage island, with plans to build solar farms and also to turn ash from the landfill into road construction materials. After the barge docks on Semakau, earthmovers scoop the ash and load them onto giant yellow tipper trucks for the trip to the landfill, which has been subdivided into sections. As each pit is progressively filled up over the years, the area is covered with soil, allowing for the growth of natural vegetation. Mangrove forests have also been planted, making the island verdant and attracting wildlife. During a recent visit by an AFP team, a couple of brahminy kites were seen swooping down on the water to catch fish, while a white-bellied sea eagle circled above. Red-wattled lapwings made bird calls on the edge of a mangrove patch and little terns maneuvered above a filled-up pit. A family of grebes swam on a pond, its dike lined with coconut trees. The post Singapore races to save ‘Garbage of Eden’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Without ‘soul, progress is meaningless
Reduced budgets against big, supportive words paint a grainy picture of how the Marcos Jr. administration is prioritizing the arts and culture sector of the Philippines. In 2022, “proposed budget cuts for four key agencies tasked with preserving history and culture,” as said in a report, got critics’ hackles up, implying that the Marcoses had no love lost for history as it was allegedly bent on revisionism. However, a source from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts acknowledges that this has been a “period of recovery,” and that “the administration has continuously supported and assisted in the recovery of the sector, which is one of most adversely affected by the pandemic. Through the government’s cultural agencies, support to the culture still continues” to this day, one year into the term of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. For its part, the Duterte government, at the height of the pandemic, took steps to alleviate the needs of all those affected in the arts and culture sector. Assistance Data from the Cultural Center of the Philippines reveals that during that time, about 800 events were canceled, losing about 800,000 audiences or participants, and at least P90 million in revenues. About 3,000 artists, cultural workers and other kinds of workers were affected. This was the same all over the country and the world. The NCCA’s Assistance Program for Cultural Workers Under the State of Calamity aimed to provide quick cash assistance in the amount of P5,000 to around 800 beneficiaries. Artists and cultural workers who were not under an employer-employee relationship, without regular income or were working freelance, with no benefits, and/or had no employers to run to, and those whose source of income were gone due to the pandemic, were prioritized. The executive council members of the NCCA’s 19 national committees, which represent the different fields of culture and the arts, were tasked to list 35 priority beneficiaries. The NCCA “is the overall policy-making body, coordinating and grants-giving agency for the preservation, development and promotion of Philippine arts and culture; an executing agency for the policies it formulates; and tasked to administer the National Endowment Fund for Culture and the Arts — a fund exclusively for the implementation of culture and arts programs and projects.” Executive Order 80’s. 1999, under then President Joseph Ejercito Estrada, put the NCCA on top of other cultural agencies: the Cultural Center of the Philippines, National Historical Institute (now the National Historical Commission of the Philippines), National Museum, The National Library (now, The National Library of the Philippines) and the Records, Management and Archives Office (now, the National Archives of the Philippines). In 2001, Section 8 of Republic Act 9155 added the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino/Commission on the Filipino Language under the NCCA umbrella tied up with education goals. It states: “The Komisyon ng Wikang Pilipino, National Historical Institute, Record Management and Archives Office and the National Library shall now be administratively attached to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and no longer with the Department of Education. The program for school arts and culture shall remain part of the school curriculum.” Putting these cultural agencies together was meant to synergize efforts to strengthen the Filipinos’ sense of heritage and nationhood. Budget allocations In 2023, a year after President Marcos first stepped into office, what “resources” are we talking about? When budgets were being deliberated on in 2022, reports came out on calls for an increase in the proposed budget for arts and culture. At the hearing of the Senate Committee on Finance, NCCA chairman Rene Escalante said, “…we are proposing additional funding of a total of P33 million” to cover expenses for “more manpower and space as some regulatory functions of the National Museum of the Philippines were transferred to it.” Department of Budget Management Secretary Amenah Pangandaman in her newspaper column wrote last 31 May: “For 2023, DBM has released funding for our cultural agencies to sustain their projects. It has allocated P212 million for the National Historical Commission of the Philippines; P33 million for NCCA; P164 million for the National Archives; P70 million for the Commission on the Filipino Language; P356 million for CCP and P444 million for the National Museum.” ‘Full support’ Prior to his State of the Nation Address this year after one year in office, expressed his “commitment to promoting Philippine culture, as well as the preservation and protection of the country’s cultural heritage, In a speech at the NCCA Ani ng Dangal (Harvest of Honors) awarding ceremony in Malacañang, he said: “Makaaasa kayo na kaisa ninyo ang pamahalaan at administrasyong ito sa pagsusulong at pagpapayaman ng ating sining at kultura (You may rest assured the government and this administration is one with you in the promotion and development of our arts and culture),” pointing out its importance in and interconnection to efforts to boost our economy while uplifting the image of Filipinos across the globe. [caption id="attachment_161350" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] TRADITIONAL style of mat weaving. | PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF LIKHA[/caption] [caption id="attachment_161351" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Banig weavers.[/caption] ‘Who we are’ What a rich and thriving culture means to a nation cannot be emphasized enough. In October 2018, when Malacañang hosted the awarding of the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan, Philippine Heritage Award and the Order of National Artist, then President Rodrigo Duterte noted the role that cultural heritage plays in the formation of the Filipino identity. “We must recognize and fulfill our duty to stay true to who we are, remember where we came from and honor the timelessness of our culture and traditions,” he said. His commitment was evident as the pandemic went on, with the NCCA offering assistance to the affected workers in the arts and culture sector. The unspoken benefit from that experience was that the arts community bounced back immediately, as artists and cultural workers continued to create, to entertain, to impart insights, to provoke and stimulate, to inspire. Creativity might have taken a pause during the pandemic but not for long as artists began to turn to cyberspace to share their works and interact with their audiences mainly in their social media accounts. Taking this cue, cultural institutions and companies, arts organizations and culture-related groups took the online route, creating virtual events such as online galleries, webinars and talks, film showings, workshops and tutorials, live-streamed musical shows and even presentations of recorded theatrical and dance performances. The digital arts have blossomed and traditional artforms have found themselves increasingly and suddenly in the digital world. Post-pandemic, establishments reopened, but cultural spaces such as museums, galleries and theaters were among the last ones to reopen. Local artistry In the first year of Marcos’ presidency, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos took on the role of promoting Filipino culture by spearheading projects like the Malacañang museums and Likha exhibits, which shone the limelight on local artistry and craftsmanship. One of the legacies of the pandemic that will continue in the coming years is incorporation of streaming or recording for posting and sharing in social media and other mediums. This is true for certain events such as launchings and talks. We have discovered the far-reaching reach of online platforms as well as the convenience of it, saving us time and money. With online platforms, we can reach thousands and disseminate information further beyond borders. Our audiences are not limited to certain geography, certain spheres. However, for theatrical productions, dance, films and music, we have to devise ways to monetize them so that the creatives involved can make a living out of their crafts. That is one of the challenges that the sector will be facing, which is part of the recovery process from the pandemic. One other important factor to be considered is the creative industries or creative economy. The Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022 was launched in 2017, and for the first time, arts and culture and the creative industries are included in the national agenda. An inter-agency board has been created focusing on the creative industries, with the NCCA as one of the key agencies. This entails creating a collective vision and aspiration of Filipinos for themselves and for the country, and is an acknowledgment of the power of arts and culture to shape and elevate consciousness and ways of life and inspire communities. In that chapter, the government promises to “boost the development of Filipino creativity as tool for social cohesion and impetus for culture-based industry and creative economy.” Let’s not forget that a thoughtful and caring governance and industry would indeed include arts and culture in order to prosper in all aspects, recognize the important roles of their artists and cultural workers, and would preserve their cultural legacy, which contribute to realizing a deeper sense of self and national identity. True prosperity does not dwell on the material level but must include the nourishment and nurturing of the soul. The post Without ‘soul, progress is meaningless appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DICT seeks workers to fill over 500 digitalization programs
The Department of Information and Communications Technology recently said peopleware and collaborations with technology firms are badly needed by the government to advance 500 to 1,000 digitalization programs in the country. Mon Gutierrez, DICT chief of staff for E-Governance, said last Thursday that the government is working on only less than 10 percent of the total number of digitalization programs currently to guide 22 other government departments and 1,700 local government units. Huge gap “That’s why we’re trying to get help from the private sector to boost our capacity. We know there’s a huge gap between our goals and where we are now in the digitalization journey. We’re not even sure if we’re going to finish digitalization in the next several years,” Gutierrez said in a forum organized by the British Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines. He said the government aims to tap a range of private businesses to help train Filipinos on information technology and require them to work in the government for three to five years. Meager salaries in the government However, Gutierrez said most of those in the workforce are repelled by the meager salaries offered by the government for IT workers compared with those by the private sector. “So that’s the big challenge. It’s not exactly encouraging to work in the government when the private sector offers three times the salary of a government IT worker.” Aside from basic IT work, Gutierrez said private firms can also help the government create a gauge to be used by all its agencies in determining the progress of their digitalization efforts. Help in developing a metric system “We’re inviting other firms to help us develop a metric system to determine how we are in terms of digital transformation. Right now, there’s no such thing that would tell us how an agency is trying to achieve its digital transformation journey, whether on a scale of one to ten. For now, nobody can say where.” Through these efforts, Gutierrez said the country can seize opportunities for further economic growth as the country’s industries become diverse and its citizens more productive. “There are studies that in ten to 15 years, the amount of digital transformation happening in any country will be substantial. We see in the next 10 years that we’ll be able to surpass what overseas Filipino workers are contributing to the Philippine economy which is about 10 percent of gross domestic product,” he said. The post DICT seeks workers to fill over 500 digitalization programs appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Biden calls Putin loser
President Joe Biden said Thursday in a press conference with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto in Helsinki that Russian leader Vladimir Putin has already lost the war in Ukraine. “There is no possibility of him winning the war in Ukraine,” Biden said during his visit to Finland to congratulate the newest member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. In Moscow, Putin fired back, telling journalists Thursday that if Ukraine were to be admitted to NATO, it would “in general make the world much more vulnerable” and boost global tensions. Biden pledged in Helsinki that Ukraine would one day join the western military alliance, despite NATO leaders failing to give Kyiv a timeline at a key summit this week in Vilnius, Lithuania. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s air force said Friday it had downed 16 Iranian-made drones launched by Russian forces overnight, in the fourth consecutive night of aerial attacks by Moscow. “The Russians attacked Ukraine with 17 Iranian-made Shahed-136/131 attack drones from the south-east direction. As a result of military operations... 16 Shaheds were destroyed,” the air force said in a statement online. WITH AFP The post Biden calls Putin loser appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Maharlika bill in Marcos’ hands
Malacañang on Wednesday confirmed that the controversial Maharlika Investment Fund Bill has already been transmitted to the Office of the President. The Palace made the confirmation through Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil after the office of Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said on Tuesday that House Speaker Martin Romualdez signed the final version of the MIF bill. Zubiri’s office added that the MIF bill was transmitted to the OP on Tuesday through the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office. “Maharlika bill received yesterday by Office of the Deputy Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs,” said Garafil in a Viber message to reporters. The bill now solely requires President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s endorsement and signature to be enacted as a law. However, Garafil said there is no announced date yet for Marcos to sign the Maharlika bill. To recall, Marcos mentioned last month that he would “immediately sign” the bill once he received it, but he clarified that he would still need to review the changes made in the Congress’ approved version of the proposed sovereign fund, which he said should be independent of the government to become successful. In an interview following the 85th anniversary of the Securities and Exchange Commission last month, Marcos underscored that the MIF would be “independent” from the government once established through law. “Even I proposed to the House was to remove the president as part of the board, to remove Central Bank chairman, to remove the Department of Finance because it has to operate as an independent fund, well managed professionally,” Marcos said. The MIF bill introduces a sovereign wealth fund that aims to invest in various assets such as foreign currencies, fixed-income instruments, domestic and international corporate bonds, commercial real estate, and infrastructure projects. This initiative is intended to boost economic development. The bill calls for the creation of the Maharlika Investment Corporation, which will serve as the exclusive entity responsible for mobilizing and utilizing the MIF for investment transactions, with the goal of generating optimal returns on investments. According to the proposed legislation, the MIF will not utilize the funds of the Social Security System, Government Service Insurance System, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation or Home Development Mutual Fund. The post Maharlika bill in Marcos’ hands appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Controversial MIF already with the Office of the President
The controversial measure seeking to create a Maharlika Investment Fund was already transmitted to the Office of the President, Malacañang confirmed on Wednesday. The Palace made the confirmation through Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil after the office of Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said on Tuesday that House Speaker Martin Romualdez signed the final version of the MIF bill. Zubiri's office added that the MIF bill was transmitted to the OP yesterday through the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office. "Maharlika bill received yesterday by Office of the Deputy Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs," said Garafil in a Viber message to reporters on Wednesday. The bill now solely requires Marcos' endorsement and signature to be enacted as a law. However, Garafil said there is no announced date yet for Marcos to sign the Maharlika bill. To recall, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. mentioned last month that he would "immediately sign" the bill once he received it. But the Chief Executive said he would still need to review the changes made in the Congress' approved version of the proposed sovereign fund, which he said should be independent of the government to become successful. In an interview following the 85th anniversary of the Securities and Exchange Commission last month, Marcos underscored that the MIF would be "independent" from the government once established through law. "Even I proposed to the House was to remove the president as part of the board, to remove Central Bank chairman, to remove the Department of Finance because it has to operate as an independent fund, well managed professionally," Marcos said. The MIF bill introduces a sovereign wealth fund that aims to invest in various assets such as foreign currencies, fixed-income instruments, domestic and international corporate bonds, commercial real estate, and infrastructure projects. This initiative is intended to boost economic development. The bill calls for the creation of the Maharlika Investment Corporation (MIC), which will serve as the exclusive entity responsible for mobilizing and utilizing the MIF for investment transactions, with the goal of generating optimal returns on investments (ROIs). According to the proposed legislation, the MIF will not utilize the funds of the Social Security System (SSS), Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), or Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF). The post Controversial MIF already with the Office of the President appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Camille Pascual, of British Empire’s Most Excellent Order
My good friend, prominent banker Federico “Ding” Pascual, shared with me news about his daughter, Camille, who has just been bestowed by His Majesty The King with the honorific title of “Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.” On the occasion of His Majesty’s birthday, selected individuals are recognized twice a year for their services to the United Kingdom. Camille, who is the Marketing and Communications Head of the British Embassy in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, was officially honored on 23 May as an MBE for her services in promoting British Trade and Investment in the Middle East by Princess Anne at Windsor Castle. Below is an abridged version of Camille’s first-hand account of her investiture as an MBE. “I looked at my mobile one Saturday evening last year and saw that I had missed four calls from HM Trade Commissioner for the Middle East, Simon Penney. I immediately called him back as I was concerned that I would have to handle an urgent work request. He asked if I was sitting down. I wasn’t, so he told me to sit down and then proceeded to congratulate me, saying I had been awarded an MBE in HM The Queen’s Birthday Honors. The Honors List would be published in The Gazette — the UK’s official public record — on the 1st of June. I burst into tears. “Will you accept?” asked Simon. “Of course!” I replied. He swore me to secrecy, but that I could tell my husband and no one else until the Birthday Honors List was published. I have worked for the British Embassy in Dubai for 13 years, promoting the UK in the Middle East and Africa as a place to trade with, invest in, and do business with. Over the years I have supported hundreds of British companies, championing UK capability across all sectors from Infrastructure and Energy to Healthcare and Education. Outside the trade and investment sphere at the British Embassy, I was media lead working in Crisis Communications, including during the Covid lockdown to support stranded British nationals, and during the Afghanistan evacuation of 15,000 people to the UK through the UAE. When I told my parents on the morning of the day it was being announced, they could not have been prouder. We moved to the UK in 1982 when my father was posted there to head the Philippine National Bank’s European Headquarters. During our years in the UK, we traveled up and down the country and regularly visited many of the Royal Palaces: Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, Hampton Court Palace, among others. We would stand with the crowds during the Trooping of the Color on HM The Queen’s official birthday in June. Suffice it to say that my parents have always been Anglophiles, with a deep love of the UK, so my MBE means as much to them as it does to me. Indeed, I would not have received this Honor had it not been for them. The investiture itself only lasted a few moments, but the memory will last forever. On the day of the Investiture, the weather was glorious, and Windsor Castle could not have been more beautiful in the spring sunshine. We were ushered up a grand staircase, past a string quartet, and into the Queen’s Drawing Room to await our turn under the portraits of Henry VIII and Charles II. We were given a program which told us that it would be HRH The Princess Royal — Princess Anne — who would be formally investing me into the Order. I was one of nearly sixty people being invested that day — a mix of civilians, military and civil servants. At the top of the list of recipients was Sir Salman Rushdie, who was invested as a Companion of Honor. When it was my turn, my family and I entered the castle’s Grand Reception Room, a stunning, ornate, gilded room decorated with magnificent chandeliers. They stood to the side of the dais where The Princess Royal stood. I felt nervous as I approached the dais, curtseyed, and walked towards her, but she was smiling and kind as she congratulated me and hung my medal on the small loop that had been clipped to my dress. She asked me what had brought me to Dubai and we chatted briefly about my time at the Embassy and she commented that our relationship with the UAE was very important. I thanked her for her support of charities active in the Philippines, and for her visits there, mentioning that my family and I had moved to the UK when I was eight. She thanked me again, shook my hand, and I retreated a few steps, curtseyed again, and joined my family. The investiture itself only lasted a few moments, but the memory will last forever. We moved to St. George’s Hall for official photos, and then outside and into the sunshine to take our own photos in the courtyard. As we walked through the grounds to leave the castle, a group of four Coldstream Guards in their red jackets and bearskin hats marched past. A perfect sendoff to mark the end of a truly magical experience.” Until next week… OBF! For comments, email bing_matoto@yahoo.com. The post Camille Pascual, of British Empire’s Most Excellent Order appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»