Olympics chief admits & lsquo;sleepless nights& rsquo; over troubled games
Tokyo—Olympics chief Thomas Bach revealed “doubts” and “sleepless nights” over the postponed Tokyo Games on Tuesday as the opening ceremony nears after a year’s delay and coronavirus chaos that has made them deeply unpopular with the Japanese public......»»
WATCH: Why your choice of mattress can affect your sleep, posture
You do not have to suffer through sleepless nights because there is an option available on the market that its makers say can improve your sleep quality and even your posture......»»
Philippine wrestling chief confident of return to Olympics
Wrestling of the Philippines (WAP) president Alvin Aguilar has expressed confidence that the reforms implemented in the association will result in unwavering success for Pinoy wrestlers, including a return to the Olympics......»»
Google CEO Admits AI Model ‘Biased’
Google Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai acknowledged that the company’s artificial intelligence (AI) model, Gemini, generated biased content, including images depicting historical figures from diverse ethnicities and genders. This comes as he addressed the issues in an internal memo, stating that such outputs are “unacceptable” and that the company is actively working on improvements. “I […].....»»
After being ‘unbothered,’ Tokhang chief Dela Rosa admits fear of going to jail
Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa, former Philippine National Police chief, said that he is afraid of being imprisoned following rumors that the International Criminal Court is currently conducting a probe into the alleged human rights violations in the Philippines......»»
Heart Evangelista admits she got kicked out of a Fashion Week event
For someone who is as tenured as Heart Evangelista in the fashion industry, one will have a difficult time believing she has experienced getting kicked out of a show at Fashion Week. Sitting down with MEGA Editor-in-Chief Peewee Reyes-Isidro, the actress detailed her experience of having been kicked out of a Fashion Week event, which she noted was.....»»
Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar: Scaling the realms of social responsibility
There is something quite riveting about Ana Margarita “Ginggay” Hontiveros-Malvar. Her gaze direct, her rhetoric fluid, she shares stories of immersing in conflict areas, of being in Leyte post-“Yolanda” and in Marawi post-violence, and within the same conversation, of her corporate hat within the “power, banking, food, land and infrastructure sectors.” Not so much as a vein mars her refined features. If not for those eyes, which reveal a depth of thought and feeling, hers would likely be a face some might take as just another classic beauty. Then again, her relationship with similarly strong-minded women cannot be discounted. She says, from the get-go, that she would rather not talk about herself or her sisters (Risa, the senator, and Pia, the broadcast news personality). Unlike them, she took the private route, but now unwittingly finds herself in the limelight. The Aboitiz Group, for which she handles a vital role, has many exciting things to share, Ginggay says. Smiling, she proceeds to rattle off some of these pillars — in education (“to create future leaders” who are solutions-oriented), in climate action and in enterprise and jobs. “For over 35 years, we’ve delivered probably over 5,000 CSR (corporate social responsibility) projects, spread over all the business units all over the Philippines. We’ve partnered with something like 600,000 individuals and organizations and we’ve invested the amount of P5.1 billion in all these different programs. We’re trying now to reevaluate what it is that’s next for Aboitiz Foundation, and then how we can serve our stakeholders better, and what are some of the things that we want to scale. Maybe to create a bigger impact in the country, help the country more, I think is what we want to do.” In the pipeline toward this goal of creating a bigger impact on development, Aboitiz Foundation is seeking more collaboration — “more conversations between organizations that are doing a lot of work already here in the country, and probably having a stronger voice and then putting that voice out there,” she enthuses. Clearly, Ginggay is in her element in the world she inhabits — at the heart of an “old legacy conglomerate,” her words, that now sees the need to transform along with the climactic times. “I lead a department called Reputation Management. We cover brands, media, corporate communications, sustainability — the ESG (environmental, social and governance) journey for the Aboitiz Group. We provide strategy, direction, governance and then very recently, just this year, we have our CSR arm which is called Aboitiz Foundation. It was recently also placed under us. Because at the end of the day, Aboitiz Foundation is like the big ‘S’ in our ESG — it’s really all about the social impact, the social good that we want to continue,” Ginggay tells the DAILY TRIBUNE in an interview on Pairfect. Ginggay is currently vice president for Reputation Management and Sustainability at Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc., a holding company of the Aboitiz Group. For the Aboitiz Foundation, meanwhile, she works to help “scale its impactful programs for systemic change.” The mother of two is also communications lead for the Philippines’ Private Sector Advisory Council and team leader for APEC Business Advisory Council, which are areas where the visionary leader, Aboitiz Group chief executive officer Sabin Aboitiz, holds key roles. Grateful her children are adults now, Ginggay keeps her nurturing side on overdrive with her current responsibilities. “Aboitiz is a group,” she emphasizes. “And as a family of organizations, our priority has always been about people. That’s always been our passion, whether it’s the well-being of our own employees or the well-being of communities where we have our businesses. It’s really always been about people. “We don’t feel it’s right that a business does well and then the community that it’s in doesn’t. It cannot be like that — it has to go hand in hand. So, we’ve always been like that. Very people-centric. I think what we’re trying to change now in our transformation or evolution is to see how can we use more of technology and innovation and balance it with our people-centric approach. So maybe we can be a little bit faster, be better, be more data-driven in the kinds of things that we’re doing,” she says. And has her heart always been in this kind of work — one she freely admits is demanding and sometimes even emotion-driven? “My dad was pretty laidback. And he usually let us do what we want to do as long as you know, like, please do well in school, and things like that,” Ginggay recalls. “My mom was very attentive to us and she just wanted to make sure that aside from doing well in studies, you also had to do well in something else. And then, very ingrained, I think, in our DNA, I think as a family also, is that aspect of service, whether it’s public service, or you know, just service in general — whether it’s to your community or to your family, or your immediate set of, I suppose, stakeholders. So, it’s almost been like part of my DNA or something like that, or probably my character as well.” With so much on her plate, and a daily grind that consists of steering various teams to ensure the conglomerate is moving toward its goals smoothly, Ginggay makes sure she takes time — even just 30 minutes a day, she says — disconnecting from it all and connecting with herself. “Our days are very fast — they are jam-packed with schedules, meetings, a lot of stakeholder engagement activities,” she says. “There’s a lot of collaboration also that goes on between our team and the rest of the business units in the Aboitiz Group, and then a lot of meetings as well with the board just to check in on directions and things like that. It’s very fast-paced. It’s very demanding. It takes a lot of time and I think a lot of commitment… and this is what I see from all our team leaders and team members — people are really passionate about what they do. I think that’s important.” For Ginggay, certainly, such passion is necessary to lead the company toward its goals including “delivering on communications and brand that are integral to the transformation of the group into the Philippines’ first techglomerate.” Techglomerate, she explains, “is a dream in Aboitiz Group, something that we have really been working hard on for the past few years. We kind of coined the term from ‘technology’ and ‘conglomerate,’ putting it together — and it is really about trying to be more technologically advanced but we also want to incubate exciting businesses which are more in the techspace or, say, data science. To incubate all these new companies and hopefully lead in certain industries… and I think at the end of the day we realized we have a much greater responsibility to the country.” And what’s next? “We realized that to stay ahead, we also need to transform… and I suppose that transformation should happen first and foremost at the level of the person. We’re also really focused on building a new kind of culture for the Aboitiz Group, still very much rooted in our core values of responsibility, innovation, teamwork, integrity. But now, probably trying to imbibe more of the behaviors like being more entrepreneurial, trying to be more articulate, being better storytellers, being more open to new things, being more data-driven in our decisions, you know, and a lot of other things that we’re trying to do in terms of helping to develop this new culture.” In her capacity as first vice president at Aboitiz, as well as in her other roles — senior adviser for Agripreneurship at Go Negosyo, for example — Ginggay keeps her “eye on the prize” no matter what challenges come along. This “multi-disciplined, results-oriented and multi-awarded leader,” as she is described in the Women of the Future, may prefer to keep herself below the radar, but Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar will certainly not stay unnoticed. The post Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar: Scaling the realms of social responsibility appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Rio debunks Comelec chief’s claim that private IP address was legal
Chairman George Garcia admits that Comelec used 20,300 modems with only one private IP address for the 2022 election count......»»
Suspect admits role in Abiad slay try
An arrested suspect in the ambush of photojournalist Rene Joshua Abiad two weeks ago in Quezon City has admitted to serving as a “spotter” in the assassination attempt. Philippine National Police Chief General Benjamin Acorda yesterday lauded the arrest of Jomari dela Cruz Campillo, alias “Mata,” 24, at a bus station on Thursday, 13 July. The police said Campillo revealed under questioning that he was paid P15,000 for his services, adding he was the one seen in the closed-circuit TV footage riding the pink motorcycle during the attack. Alleged gunman Eduardo Almario Legazpi II, who was tagged as a “professional shooter,” was arrested in Muntinlupa City last 7 July. Investigators are now searching for the three other suspects in the crime, including a barangay captain in Pasay City who reportedly ordered the hit on Abiad. Meanwhile, Acorda Jr. said they are looking at the possibility of lowering the cost of fees for the permit to carry firearms to encourage gun enthusiasts to regularly renew their firearm licenses and documents. Acorda said they will discuss the matter with the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Bureau of Fire Protection. The post Suspect admits role in Abiad slay try appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Zubiri admits ‘honest oversight’ over disputed sections in MIF, denies tampering
Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri on Thursday denied the allegation of tampering with the enrolled copy of the controversial Maharlika Investment Fund bill. “First of all, there is no such thing as tampering. There was never a plan to tamper. There was no sinister move to tamper, [and] there was no tampering that took place,” Zubiri told reporters at the Kapihan sa Senado. “We just want to put on record that we just reflected the true intention, let me repeat, the true intention of the provisions as reflected in the transcript of records,” he added. He continued: “The enrolled bill – which I signed in Washington D.C. – is the truthful reflection of the intent of the members of Congress. That is the intent of the majority.” Zubiri, who has returned from a three-week official trip to the United States, responded to the allegations made by Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III. Last week, Pimentel, a staunch critic of the measure, said the enrolled Maharlika bill has been “tampered” without proper plenary authority, stressing that it raises serious questions about the constitutionality of the bill. “The enrolled bill being sent to the President is not the version properly and formally approved by Congress. There was a provision that they fixed without plenary authority,” he said. “The revisions made were not just a matter of style. It showed a flagrant violation of our rules and the Constitution,” he added. The lawmaker is referring to the different terms and prescriptive periods found in Sections 50 and 51 of the MIF bill. In the approved version of the MIF bill, Section 50 prescribes 10 years for the prosecution of crimes and offenses, while Section 51 provides 20 years. According to Zubiri, the “erring” provision in the measure was an “honest oversight” on the part of the Senate secretariat. “Maybe because it was already morning that time, that’s the last day of work. It was an honest oversight of our secretariat,” he said. After learning the contrasting provisions in the measure, Zubiri said, Senator Mark Villar, author, and sponsor of the Maharlika bill, sent him a letter to merge the two provisions and retain the 10-year period. Based on the excerpts from the Transcript of Stenographic Notes during the Senate plenary discussion on the Maharlika bill on 31 May -- distributed by the Senate leader -- Villar refused to accept the amendment of Senator Risa Hontiveros to add a new section that would prescribe a 20-year period. Zubiri also noted that the meeting between senators and members of the House of Representatives on 31 May was “not an official bicam” or bicameral conference committee. ‘Pending on House’ The Senate chief said that the Maharlika bill is now pending in the House of Representatives for Speaker Martin Romualdez’s approval. He noted that Romualdez may sign the enrolled copy of the Maharlika bill next week. “It just came back this week. It would be signed soon. The Speaker is committed to signing it,” he said. After the approval of the Speaker of the bill, Congress would then transmit it to Malacanang for the president’s approval. The post Zubiri admits ‘honest oversight’ over disputed sections in MIF, denies tampering appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Avel: A Book, A Fashion Show, A Filipino Designer
BY JOJO G. SILVESTRE Whether one refers to the book, the fashion show or the Filipino designer who takes center stage on the first two, there is no mistaking the message — Philippine textile, woven and embroidered, at their best. In all three, there is another common denominator — the support and patronage of the First Lady, Liza Araneta Marcos. [caption id="attachment_147815" align="aligncenter" width="525"] FIRST Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos with designer Avel Bacudio.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_147821" align="aligncenter" width="525"] First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos with the author.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_147818" align="aligncenter" width="525"] BIANCA Zobel and Dina Arroyo-Tantoco of the Office of the Social Secretary with Avel Bacudio.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_147824" align="aligncenter" width="525"] THE designer with Grace Bernardo Chan.[/caption] The fashion show that was recently held at the Goldenberg Museum, under the auspices of the Office of the First Lady, with the Office of the Social Secretary providing a multi-faceted back-up, was a spectacle in black and white as interpreted by Avel Bacudio whose creations paid tribute to the handiwork of Filipino artisans all over the country. Each piece of clothing modeled by legislators and cabinet secretaries, their wives, key officials of the executive branch, and scions of political families, all clients of Avel, manifested the virtuosity of the iconic designer who chose to downplay extravagance and over-the-top ornamentation by focusing on well-defined structure, casual elegance, comfortability and versatility, the last allowing the wearers to mix and match to suit the occasion. [caption id="attachment_147820" align="aligncenter" width="525"] DOT Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco and Deputy Speaker Duke Frasco.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_147816" align="aligncenter" width="525"] ACTOR-MODEL Jerome Ponce and Cong. Linabelle Villarica, 4th District of Bulacan.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_147822" align="aligncenter" width="525"] KATRINA Ponce Enrile, Administrator, Cagayan Economic Zone Authority.[/caption] Goldenberg Mansion, in all its splendor, served as a fitting yet contrasting backdrop to Avel’s functionality, simplicity and orderly geometric configurations. The book, Avel, Ladies in the Palace, quotes the Bicolano designer who laments, “The local weavers and their craft are dying out and they are unable to pass it on to the next generation. This is where I found the passion to do what I can, as a designer, to help this craft alive.” His intention looks beyond the communities where these beautiful fabrics originate and reveals his deep longing to present the best of Filipino craftsmanship to the international community. He admits to being “challenged to bring their weaves into the modern world but going beyond the ordinary. I turned my focus towards elevating them into pieces worthy of the global stage while still paying tribute to their stories and the craft.” On his part, Ilocos Norte Representative Sandro Marcos, who supported the book project, describes Avel as “a highly accomplished and extraordinary fashion designer.” He enumerates his distinctions, namely, “more than 20 years of successful career; extensive and impressive client list; and numerous awards including Metro Magazine’s 2012 Breakthrough Designer and Asia’s Most Influential Designer in 2014 at the Mercedes-Benz Style Fashion Week in Malaysia.” [caption id="attachment_147825" align="aligncenter" width="452"] Yeye Vivas, Chief of Staff of Congressman Sandro Marcos.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_147814" align="aligncenter" width="525"] PCOO Secretary Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_147823" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Marga Montemayor Nograles, COO, Tourism Promotions Board.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_147819" align="aligncenter" width="377"] CONGRESSMAN Migz Villafuerte, 5th District of Camarines Sur.[/caption] On these pages are Avel’s creations as modeled by dazzling personalities in government and society, as well as the personal choices of guests, celebrities and achievers too, and Malacanang insiders from their respective closets. Fittingly, everyone arrived in their black and white outfits, eager and ready to be impressed by what the designer had been up to in the past months. Avel Bacudio did not disappoint them. [caption id="attachment_147826" align="aligncenter" width="525"] XAVIER Tengco[/caption] [caption id="attachment_147835" align="aligncenter" width="525"] DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. and Vice Mayor Menchie Abalos.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_147817" align="aligncenter" width="641"] Atty. Joeie Domingo, Undersecretary, Special Assistant to the President.[/caption] The post Avel: A Book, A Fashion Show, A Filipino Designer appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Myanmar junta admits village air strike
Myanmar’s ruling junta has confirmed that it carried out an air strike on a village in which dozens of people were reported killed, drawing condemnation from the United Nations and Western powers. The early Tuesday morning strike on the remote Kanbalu township in the central Sagaing region killed at least 50 and wounded dozens, according to reports by BBC Burmese, The Irrawaddy and Radio Free Asia, as well as a witness contacted by Agence France-Presse. Military aircraft strafed Pazi Gyi village, where scores of locals had gathered to mark the opening of a local defense force office connected to junta opponents, a witness told AFP. One fighter jet and a helicopter were involved in the attack, a security source told AFP. The junta confirmed Wednesday it had “launched limited air strikes” after receiving a tip-off from locals about the event. Graphic video clips circulating on social media — footage AFP has been unable to verify or geo-locate because of the absence of significant landmarks — show bodies scattered among ruined homes. UN rights chief Volker Turk said he was “horrified” by the deadly air strike, whose victims he said included schoolchildren performing dances, with the global body calling for those responsible to be brought to justice. Junta spokesperson Zaw Min Tun late on Tuesday said some of the dead were anti-coup fighters in uniform, though “there could be some people with civilian clothes.” The spokesperson went on to blame mines planted by the People’s Defence Force — coup opponents — for some of the deaths. Buddhist New Year The attack came as Myanmar was preparing to mark the Buddhist new year — Thingyan — which begins Thursday and traditionally involves public water fights, but celebrations are expected to be muted. “As the people of Myanmar celebrate their New Year, the EU (European Union) is deeply shocked by reports of the latest atrocity committed by the military regime in Sagaing, taking the lives of dozens of innocent civilians,” EU foreign affairs spokesperson Nabila Massrali said. The UN while not confirming a toll, said several civilians were killed, with Turk accusing Myanmar’s military of once again disregarding “clear legal obligations... to protect civilians in the conduct of hostilities.” Military aircraft strafed Pazi Gyi village. The military’s crackdown on dissent following the February 2021 coup that toppled Aung San Suu Kyi’s civilian government has left more than 3,200 people dead, according to a local monitoring group. Sagaing region — near the country’s second-largest city of Mandalay — has put up some of the fiercest resistance to the military’s rule, with intense fighting raging there for months. The post Myanmar junta admits village air strike appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Olympics chief admits & lsquo;sleepless nights& rsquo; over troubled games
Tokyo—Olympics chief Thomas Bach revealed “doubts” and “sleepless nights” over the postponed Tokyo Games on Tuesday as the opening ceremony nears after a year’s delay and coronavirus chaos that has made them deeply unpopular with the Japanese public......»»
Lapu CDRRMO chief admits failure to control spread of COVID-19
LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu—The head of the Lapu-Lapu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) has admitted failure in controlling the spread of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) here. Nagiel Bañacia, CDRRMO head, said that they have failed amidst the rise of the newly reported cases of the COVID-19 in the city. Based on the […] The post Lapu CDRRMO chief admits failure to control spread of COVID-19 appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
New PhilHealth chief admits he has no public health knowledge, experience
"I'm very scared. I'm scared because I don't know the operations of PhilHealth. Unlike NBI, I knew the operations of NBI. But PhilHealth, wala. I do not know about public health," new PhilHealth chief Dante Gierran said......»»
Cimatu admits he was ‘worried’ of COVID-19 cases in Cebu province
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Interagency Task Force (IATF) Chief Implementer for the Visayas Sec. Roy Cimatu urged local government units in Cebu province to continue their COVID-19 responses as he admitted that he was getting worried about the additional infections being logged in the province recently. Cimatu, in an interview after his meeting with Cebu […] The post Cimatu admits he was ‘worried’ of COVID-19 cases in Cebu province appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
PhilHealth chief admits agency inefficiencies but no syndicate
Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) president and chief executive officer Ricardo Morales yesterday denied allegations that there are syndicates defrauding the agency......»»
Casino gaming around the globe
Gaming has always been a popular human activity. Long before land-based casinos were built, casino games existed and flourished. Bingo, for example, first appeared in.....»»
Church visits are allowed only until 10 p.m. – Police chief
CEBU CITY, Philippines – Church visits on Maundy Thursday will only be allowed until 10 p.m. the chief of the Cebu City police announced on Thursday, March 28. Police Colonel Ireneo B. Dalogdog, City Director of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) said that the public is not allowed inside religious places past 10:00 p.m......»»
Pentagon chief reaffirms support after latest China aggression in WPS
Austin emphasized US support for the Philippines in defending its sovereign rights and jurisdiction in a phone call with Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro on Wednesday. .....»»
Hoffman boosts bid for Paris Paris
Olympics hopeful Lauren Hoffman yesterday set a new national record in the women’s 400-meter hurdles with a gold medal performance in the Hurricane Collegiate Invitational in Coral Gables, Florida......»»