PESO Helpdesk, NavoProdukto Corner inilunsad sa Navotas
MANILA, Philippines- Pinangunahan ni Navotas Mayor John Rey Tiangco ang paglulunsad ng Public Employment Service Office (PESO) Helpdesk at NavoProdukto Corner sa Navotas City Hall Lobby. Ang PESO helpdesk ay layon na matulungang maghanap ng trabaho ang mga Navoteño, mag avail ng iba’t ibang programa ng Hanapbuhay Center tulad ng TUPAD, Livelihood Programs, at Tulong […] The post PESO Helpdesk, NavoProdukto Corner inilunsad sa Navotas appeared first on REMATE ONLINE......»»
PESO Helpdesk, NavoProdukto corner binuksan kasabay ng Christmas tree lighting
MANILA, Philippines – Opisyal nang sinimulan ng lokal na pamahalaang lungsod ng Navotas ang pagsisimula ng Christmas season at ang pagbubukas Public Employment Service Office (PESO) Helpdesk and NavoProdukto Corner. Personal na pinangunahan ni Navotas City Mayor John Rey Tiangco at Congressman Toby Tiangco ang Christmas tree lighting ceremony at ribbon-cutting ng Navotas Christmas Bazaar […] The post PESO Helpdesk, NavoProdukto corner binuksan kasabay ng Christmas tree lighting appeared first on REMATE ONLINE......»»
Metro subway now 33% complete
The first-ever subway linking Valenzuela to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal is now 33 percent complete, the Department of Transportation reported Saturday. In a press conference, DoTr Undersecretary for Railways Cesar Chavez said part of the multi-billion peso Metro Manila Subway Project from Valenzuela to North Avenue, including 4 stations is almost complete. “We expect that before Christmas the Valenzuela corner Quirino will be completed,” Chavez added. However, Chavez said right of way remains to be an issue in several areas as some homeowners from posh subdivisions in Quezon City raised their concerns about the effect of the project on their houses. “It’s their fear we have to address and explained to them railway tracks will strengthen the foundations of their homes, aside from being ruled out that they are sitting on a sinkhole. The tunnel will also reinforce the ground,” Chavez explained. Acquiring lands that need to be used for the subway is also giving them challenges, but according to Justice Undersecretary Raul Vasquez. the government is still expected to have its way, especially if the area would be used for public services. “It’s the power of eminent domain the right of the state will prevail,” Vasquez said, adding that no one can also file or seek a restraining order over the project. Dubbed as the “Project of the Century”, the Metro Manila Subway is expected to reduce travel time between Valenzuela City and NAIA to only 41 minutes for only estimated minimum fare at least P22, with an additional P2 per kilometer. The post Metro subway now 33% complete appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Metro Subway now 33 percent complete
The first-ever subway linking Valenzuela to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal (NAIA) is now 33 percent complete, the Department of Transportation reported Saturday. In a press conference, DoTr Undersecretary for Railways Cesar Chavez said part of the multi-billion peso Metro Manila Subway Project from Valenzuela to North Avenue, including four stations is almost complete. “We expect that before Christmas, the Valenzuela corner Quirino will be completed,” Chavez added. However, Chavez said right of way remains to be an issue in several areas as some homeowners from posh subdivisions in Quezon City raised their concerns about the effect of the project on their houses. “It's their fear we have to address and explained to them railway tracks will strengthen the foundations of their homes, aside from being ruled out that they are sitting on a sinkhole. The tunnel will also reinforce the ground," Chavez explained. Acquiring lands that need to be used for the subway is also giving them challenges, but according to Justice Undersecretary Raul Vasquez, the government is still expected to have its way, especially if the area would be used for public services. “It's the power of eminent domain the right of the state will prevail," Vasquez said, adding that no one can also file or seek a restraining order over the project. Dubbed the “Project of the Century”, the Metro Manila Subway is expected to reduce travel time between Valenzuela City and NAIA to only 41 minutes for only an estimated minimum fare of at least P22, with an additional P2 per kilometer. The post Metro Subway now 33 percent complete appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Katrina Ponce Enrile: A woman worthy of her name
Anyone who had come of age in the late 1970s and the 1980s would surely know about the most famous names and faces of the younger set of the era known for the coming of age of feminism and women’s lib. The 1960s may have ushered in a cultural revolution but it was in the succeeding decades that the cataclysmic events of the decade that was, in the Philippines, would manifest in the ways and attitudes of Filipino women. I mention this phase in our history because I am sharing my thoughts on one woman whom many consider as one of the country’s most powerful, influential and successful. She is Katrina Ponce Enrile. I may not privy to the growing-up years of Katrina Ponce Enrile, and I would not have the advantage of seeing her from the point of view of someone old enough to observe the growth of a child, but as a teenager, I would occasionally read about her and see her on photographs published in newspapers and magazines, although not too frequent. I just knew she was not only well-bred and beautiful in the mestiza sense being the daughter of a striking beauty of a mother (and the granddaughter of a handsome playboy of a paternal grandfather), but that, she too was brilliant. I would assume that she got her brains from her father, one of the wonder boys of the Marcos administration. Katrina would, in time, be mentioned in juicy gossip now and then, but it was her smarts in enterprise and management that she would eventually be recognized, this notwithstanding the controversial stories that one occasionally heard of her family members. [caption id="attachment_134172" align="aligncenter" width="525"] KATRINA Ponce Enrile has always lived up to her parents ‘ expectations.[/caption] ‘Treat everybody with respect’ But to imagine her childhood and teenage years, one would suppose that for all the comforts that she might have enjoyed while living first in Urdaneta and then Dasmarinas Village, she had had to assert herself, she had once been overheard to say: “At 10, I had to fight a little bit harder to be heard” -- which was expected if one were the only daughter of a famous lawyer of a father and a lovely talented mother, herself a respected stage actress. But no matter that she had to deal with being the daughter of awe-inspiring parents, what she had been showered with, aside from her parents’ affection, was well-meaning advice. For one, it was from her dad and mom that she first heard the word of wisdom. “Treat everybody with respect — everybody. Because you don’t know what fate will bring you or them. People that you meet when you are going up, you also meet when you are going down.” No wonder that years later, as a businesswoman, she was very thoughtful in making decisions whether she was dealing with other top businessmen, her executives or the employees who served the family company at her beck and call. “I always think of how my actions and decisions would affect others,” she said in an interview with the Daily Tribune Lifestyle. No, for all the feisty woman that we know her to be, Katrina, was not advised to be aggressively pro-active when facing a conflict. The legendary Juan Ponce Enrile, instead, cautioned his daughter: “Never throw the first punch. But if they throw the first punch, then…” This, she would take to heart whenever she had had to face corporate, social or emotional bullies, not that she is one to attract people prone to violating her rights. [caption id="attachment_134173" align="aligncenter" width="525"] As the only daughter of Juan Ponce Enrile, the most famous native son of Cagayan, Katrina brings to her new job an affection for the province and Cagayanos and the whole Cagayan Valley.[/caption] One imagines her father might have preferred her to be a boy, JPE being a man’s man, but to which she would have retorted: “Dad, I don’t have to be a boy to be what I am now… Girls can do it too.” Call it outright confidence, or chutzpah, or maybe it’s Pinay pride, but Katrina is not one to be cowed. And yes, she could lead and fight and attack, but as her father would most likely say: “Only if they attack first.” Self-assured executive What I have heard of Katrina, especially from my dear friend, Carol Mercado, who was her classmate at St. Paul College, is her signature confidence. “From our youth, when she could be stubborn, she has matured steadily into a self-assured executive no wonder that she has accomplish much as an entrepreneur. “It’s a paradox that while she may have been underestimated at times and even flat out rejected, she knows how to overcome these challenges because she is one creative person and she is not one to easily bow down or to say no. But then, she is not even outright assertive. She could be very charming and before any nemesis would know it, she has gotten what she wants without lifting a finger.” It would seem that the lady would have aimed for political eminence, being the daughter of the powerful JPE, but to everyone’s surprise, she had chosen to create a name outside of her inherited box (or confines), so to speak. While she takes pride in being an Enrile, she has not taken advantage of her family name as though an amulet that would do wonders for her. Instead, she has chosen to rely on the old-fashioned values of industry, respect for others, commitment and determination. She might as well be girl scout, except more courageous, daring and trailblazing. Flexing her risk-taking muscles In her 20s, when her friends were disco dancing, she was, to use another friend’s words, “flexing her risk-taking muscle and sharpening her foresight for the first time — pivotal experiences that would shape her business sense now admired by many.” She surprised everyone when, at 26, she bought properties in Palawan. “It was a big joke to many,” she recalled. “They could not see any reason I should take the risk and invest in a place where no one dared go. It was then no man’s country and perceived to be mosquito-infested.” Today, Palawan is a safe haven from the pandemic, and, of course, an investors’ paradise. On the other hand, her parents saw a promise in her, someone who would play a key role in the family enterprises. They appointed her as Group Treasurer even before her 30th birthday, and with it the added role of overseeing the many concerns of the JAKA Group of Companies. It is quite a daunting responsibility given its extensive industrial reach –- food manufacturing and product distribution to marketing and logistics; forest plantation management; safety match manufacturing, property management and development; as well as IT, security and financial services. It would seem that, for a “beginner” in the big league, it was beyond Katrina’s grasp, and yet she lived up to her parents’ expectations. [caption id="attachment_134175" align="aligncenter" width="525"] SOME of Delimondo’s best products.[/caption] In time she would qualify as the firm’s COO and eventually CEO. Not one used to trumpeting her achievements, Katrina candidly shared: “I was able to turn around the company, helping navigate it through the debilitating Asian Financial Crisis in the mid-1990s. And when the peso devalued in 2008 to 2009, when we had [a] one dollar denominated loan which I had to quickly deal with, I was able to restructure our company and keep it afloat.” Soon, she would be trusted to manage JAKA’s investments, which “allowed me to dream of bigger things, this in the midst of an economic crisis and the pressure to survive it.” Her baby Delimondo When shopping in a supermarket or a grocery, the Filipino consumers, especially those who take their corned beef seriously, would pick the Delimondo brand. They would also put the brand’s Bolognese Pasta, Luncheon Meat, Yellowfin Tuna spreads and aromatic oils in their cart or shopping bags. Katrina confides, “Delimondo was my baby and was purely our family’s venture.” Her was a one-woman team that managed the brand’s marketing, sales and R&D. To introduce it to the market, she gave away cans of their initial recipes for free. “I wanted to offer something deliciously different, one that I enjoyed from my travels abroad.” [caption id="attachment_134174" align="aligncenter" width="525"] SHE is most proud of her baby, Delimondo.[/caption] It wasn’t long before investors would come in too aware that Delimondo operates its own plants that produce and package its own products. The company would soon expand and offers its manufacturing services to other products all the way to exporting them. In time and with Katrina at the helm, JAKA shifted to investing in other companies. But if her JAKA performance is impressive, anyone should take a look at her other achievements. To cite one, as the Philippines Overseas Telecommunications Operations director and CEO/president. She led the efforts to renew the company’s franchise that would allow it to provide the Philippines satellite services. For another, as director and president, she has brought into the Montemar Resorts Development Corporation and Montemar Beach Club Inc. not only her management expertise, but her exposure to top international resorts as a frequent guest. No wonder that Manila’s well-heeled consider these resorts as standard-bearers of local luxury travel. [caption id="attachment_134171" align="aligncenter" width="525"] ‘Delimondo was my baby and was purely our family’s venture,’ said Katrina.[/caption] Transforming the upper east corner of Luzon Katrina also sits as the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority’s vice chairperson. In this role, she envisions making the province a model destination that easily rivals the country’s capital. “They’re considering appointing me as administrator. Once that post is confirmed, I will be fully committed to transforming the upper east corner of Luzon into another business area that the Philippines will be proud of.” As part of her vision, she plans to build a stronger point of economy with the available freeport and expand its potential by constructing an airport. To attract investors, she plans to boost incentives to encourage more players to relocate. “We plan to make smart cities there. I plan to make it very green. I plan to protect the lush forests. It’s really also known as the rice granary of the Philippines. I plan to push the transition from GMOs (genetically modified organism) to non-GMOs. I know that that will be a hard task but I plan to do it. I want to give the Filipinos healthy food for the next generations to come,” she states. Worthy and deserving As the only daughter of the most famous native son of Cagayan, Katrina brings to her new job an affection for the province and Cagayanos and the whole Cagayan Valley. She may have grown up in Manila, travelled the whole world, but her heart has always remained in the home of her father, Juan Ponce Enrile, and it is among his people, relatives and townsmen that she intends to pursue her next dream. There is no stopping this feisty Cagayanon. For her home province, she is out to conquer the world. But then, I must insist that this is not about being her father’s daughter, although there is no denying the great influence of JPE on Katrina becoming the woman that she has become -- strong-willed, passionate, forward-thinking. Still, Katrina could only thank herself most for being herself. That she accepted the challenges that came her way and faced them head on using her own gifts and advantages – which undoubtedly brought her to her destiny, one that she has arrived at and one that she has yet to fulfill. Indeed, if the women’s movement has reached this far, and women today now enjoy key positions in government, private sector and civil society, this may be attributed to the generations of women who have looked toward the future and embraced their destinies as key players in the affairs of humanity. Katrina is one of these women and we wish her all the best. No one could be more worthy of the challenge and deserving of the honor. The post Katrina Ponce Enrile: A woman worthy of her name appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Acquittal flawed, recantation witness’ intimidation unproved (2)
The 39-page decision on the De Lima case by the Regional Trial Court of Muntinlupa City Branch 204, contains a recitation of facts and circumstances as alleged in the complaint and as testified to by witnesses, as well as the reasons for the verdict of acquittal. The accused who was then Secretary of Justice was charged with accepting drug money to fund her senatorial campaign from the drug lords operating the illegal trafficking of prohibited drugs inside the national penitentiary. Two witnesses namely Jovencio Ablan, an NBI agent, and Rafael Ragos, former Bureau of Corrections officer-in-charge, testified that on two separate occasions – 25 November and 21 December 2012 – the two of them delivered a total of P10 million to De Lima at her residence in South Bay Subdivision, Parañaque City. Both of them testified that on 24 November 2012, the black bag containing P5 million was received by the other accused, Ronnie Dayan, personal driver of De Lima, who handed it to the latter. Likewise, the two witnesses testified that on 15 December 2012, the 2nd delivery of P5 million to De Lima was made by them at the same aforesaid residence. It was Dayan who received the plastic bag containing the money. Ragos saw De Lima receiving the money from Dayan. Quoted hereunder is the testimony of Jovencio Ablen as narrated by the court on Pages 5 and 6 of the decision: “Jovencio “Jun” Ablen is an intelligence agent connected with NBI Intelligence Division. From November 24, 2012 to December 15, 2012, he received verbal instructions to assist Deputy Director Ragos on some investigations, particularly at the Bureau of Corrections Maximum Security facility where there was a grenade explosion incident. On Nov. 24, 2012, at or about 8:00 o’clock in the morning, he received a call from Deputy Director Ragos, who picked him up from his house and told him that they will deliver money to “Lola” pertaining to them Sec. de Lima. He saw bundles of money in one-thousand-peso bill denominations allegedly amounting to Five Million Pesos and they delivered the money to the residence of accused De Lima at Laguna Bay corner Subic Bay, South Bay Subdivision, Paranaque City. When Ragos was approaching the pedestrian gate, he saw accused Dayan already standing there as the pedestrian gate was open. Ragos handed over the black bag to Dayan. While going towards the house, he saw then Sec. de Lima outside the main entrance and accused Dayan tried to hand over the black bag to her. On December 15, 2012, he was again instructed by Ragos to accompany him. They proceeded to accused De Lima’s house to bring one plastic bag containing money. Upon approaching the pedestrian gate, Ragos handed the transparent plastic bag supposedly containing Five Million Pesos to accused Dayan.” On the other hand, the testimony of Rafael Ragos is reproduced below as found on pages 9 and 19 of the court’s decision, to wit: “Deputy Director Rafael Marcos Z. Ragos testified that they delivered on two (2) occasions sum of money to accused Dayan and De Lima.” On November 24, 2012, he found a black bag in his quarter’s bedroom and when he opened it, he saw bundles of money, which was placed thereat by a trustee called “Jordan.” After the latter told him he could not identify the person who delivered the said bag, Deputy Director received a telephone call from Hans Tan, a high-profile inmate involved in drugs who told him to deliver the Five Million Pesos to accused Dayan and De Lima.” (To be continued) The post Acquittal flawed, recantation witness’ intimidation unproved (2) appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bango ng champaca
My amah (paternal grandmother) had a champaca tree planted in a corner of a pocket garden in the old family compound in San Miguel district......»»
OP pressed to give up CIF
The Office of the President is studying a proposal to realign for education, health, housing and social services the multi-billion-peso confidential and intelligence funds, or CIF, in the P5.768-trillion proposed 2024 national budget. This was revealed by ACT-CIS Partylist Rep. Erwin Tulfo, who stood as the sponsor of the OP budget during the debate in the House of Representatives on the P10.7-billion proposed budget for the Office of the President for next year. “This is being studied, Mr. Speaker, by the government,” Tulfo said in response to ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. France Castro’s statement that “it is high time to remove this CIF.” “Don’t give it to the civilian agency that has nothing to do with what we call confidential expenses, surveillance, and other things about intelligence,” Castro said. Tulfo, however, expressed reservations about totally removing the CIF from the budget as “it is used to gather information on national security and the internal and external threats to the country.” He said the Office of the President has allocated CIFs to seven agencies, amounting to P4.56 billion. The seven agencies are the Presidential Situation Room, National Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Coordinating Committee, National Cybersecurity Inter-Agency Committee, Presidential Anti–Organized Crime Commission, Philippine Center on Transnational Crimes, Anti-Terrorism Council Project Management Council, and National Coast Watch System, all created under various executive orders of previous administrations. Castro said the CIF has been prone to abuse. In the proposed P5.768-trillion national budget, P9.2 billion will go to CIFs across all agencies — P4.3 billion in confidential funds and P4.9 billion in intelligence funds. The OP stands to receive P4.5 billion in confidential funds. In contrast, the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education, both under Vice President Sara Duterte, will receive P500 million and P150 million, respectively, or a total of P650 million. The post OP pressed to give up CIF appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Quimbo: OVP dispersed P125M in 11 days
Vice President Sara Duterte’s office spent P125 million in confidential funds in merely 11 days in 2022 — not 19 days — as initially claimed by some opposition lawmakers. The revelation was made by Marikina City Rep. Stella Quimbo during the sponsorship debate for the P13.36-billion budget of the Commission on Audit for 2024. Quimbo said she was surprised when she learned that the P125 million confidential fund was spent within 19 days, thus she asked the CoA and looked at the various reports. “It was not spent in 19 days, but 11,” she pointed out. The P125 million was part of the P221.42-million contingency fund of the Office of the President that was transferred to the OVP in 2022. Confidential funds are costs associated with operations carried out by civilian government agencies that require secrecy. They are the equivalent of intelligence funds for the uniformed and allied services. The OVP submitted its liquidation report in January 2023 and was issued an audit observation memorandum, or AOM, on 18 September 2023 by state auditors, said Quimbo, citing the CoA. Government agencies have only 15 days to respond to an AOM. The CoA, meanwhile, pledged that Congress will be furnished a copy of the full report on 15 November 2023 as the audit is still ongoing. OVP spokesperson Reynold Munsayac told reporters the office has yet to receive the AOM from CoA. The transfer of the multi-million-peso fund from the OP to the OVP has sparked intense debate in Congress, with the opposition claiming it was unconstitutional since there was no line item in the OVP’s 2022 budget on confidential funds in the 2022 General Appropriations Act. Former vice president Leni Robredo, who prepared the 2022 budget of the OVP, said there was no line item for confidential funds in the budget she and her staff crafted. The Department of Budget and Management had defended the legality of the transfer in a letter to Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co, chair of the House Committee on Appropriations. The post Quimbo: OVP dispersed P125M in 11 days appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Quimbo: OVP’s P125-M confidential funds spent in 11 days, not 19
Vice President Sara Duterte's office spent P125 million in confidential funds in 2022 in merely 11 days— not 19 days--- as initially claimed by some opposition lawmakers. The revelation came during the sponsorship debate of CoA's P13.36 billion budget for 2024, during which Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo, the agency's budget sponsor, told lawmakers that the multimillion-peso CF granted to the OVP by the Office of the President had been spent in just 11 days. The P125 million CF was part of the P221.42 million contingent fund of the OP transferred to the OVP in 2022. "Madam Speaker, the truth is that I was also surprised when I read the news that it was spent within 19 days and I asked about the CoA and I looked at the various reports, but it was not spent within 19 days but 11 days, Madam Speaker," Quimbo said. Confidential funds are used for discreet costs associated with surveillance operations carried out by civilian government agencies in support of their mandate or operations. The OVP submitted its liquidation report in January 2023 and was issued an audit observation memorandum or AOM on 18 September 2023 by state auditors, said Quimbo, citing the CoA. Government agencies have only 15 days to respond to an AOM. The CoA, meanwhile, pledged that Congress will be furnished a copy of the full report on 15 November 2023 as the audit is still ongoing. OVP spokesperson Reynold Munsayac, however, brushed off the claim and told reporters that the agency has yet to receive the AOM from COA. Gabriela Partylist Rep. Arlene Brosas, who has been an opponent and critic of the CF, appeared surprised by Quimbo's revelation, questioning how the OVP managed to spend that massive fund in less than two weeks. "It's hard to imagine spending that in 11 days because if it's for surveillance, how many reward payments will reach P11 million per day?" Brosas stressed. Quimbo, meanwhile, responded, "I hope you will support me in my call for this creation of a special oversight committee," that she said will look into how CIFs are used properly and judiciously. Under the current system, only the President, the Senate President and the House Speaker have access to information pertaining to CIFs. The multi-million fund shift of OP to OVP has sparked intense debate in Congress, with opposition claiming it was unconstitutional since there was no line item in the OVP's 2022 budget on confidential funds in the 2022 General Appropriations Act. Then Vice President Leni Robredo, who prepared the 2022 budget of the OVP, said there was no line item for confidential funds in the budget they crafted. The Department of Budget and Management defended the legality of such transfer in a letter sent to Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co, chair of the House committee on appropriations, last week. Co has yet to provide a copy of the letter to House reporters. The post Quimbo: OVP’s P125-M confidential funds spent in 11 days, not 19 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
GMA ipinakilala ang AI-generated sportscasters, netizens may iba’t ibang reaksyon
ISANG makabagong teknolohiya ang inilunsad ng GMA Network para sa pagbibigay ng balita pagdating sa larangan ng sports. Sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon, magkakaroon sila ng Artificial Intelligence (AI)-generated sportscasters. Ipinakilala nila ito bilang sina Maia at Marco na nakatakdang magbibigay ng pinakamalalaking balita sa NCAA Season 99, pati na rin sa updates ng local at international.....»»
QC anti-crime drive nets 22 suspects
Operatives of the Quezon City Police District have arrested 22 individuals for various offenses in a 24-hour operation over the weekend. QCPD Director P/Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan said three wanted persons were among those apprehended by the Project 4 Police Station 8, Eastwood PS 12 and Payatas Bagong Silangan PS 13. PS 8 under P/Maj. Reynold Tobias arrested Sherwin Lubaton at 3:50 p.m. of 22 September 2023 for illegal possession of bladed, pointed or blunt weapons; the PS 12 under P/Lt. Col. Vicente Bumalay Jr. arrested Francisco Rosadeño Tañala at 2:09 p.m. of 22 September at No. 007, Barangay Calumpang, Binangonan, Rizal for Acts of Lasciviousness; and PS 13 under P/Lt. Col. Leonie Ann dela Cruz served warrants of arrest to Ferdinand Bunuan Pantinople at 3:15 p.m. of 22 September at Quezon City Jail, EDSA corner Kamuning, Quezon City for violation of RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. Maranan said the respective courts of origin of the warrants will be notified regarding the arrest of the wanted persons. In the campaign against illegal drugs, 19 druggies were apprehended in a series of buy-bust operations. The La Loma PS 1 under P/Lt. Col. Romil Avenido arrested Paulo Ramos at 1:30 a.m. of 23 September, along Kaingin Road, Barangay Apolonio Samson, Quezon City and Francis Formento and Mike Pastrana at 1:30 a.m. of 23 September at Clover Leaf Market, Barangay Balingasa, Quezon City. Likewise, the same operatives arrested Alfredo Satiada at 3 a.m. of 23 September, in front of Petron gas station along A. Bonifacio Avenue, Barangay Pag-ibig sa Nayon, Quezon City and Adonis Mercader at 6 a.m. of 23 September along Don Pepe Street, Barangay Sto. Domingo, Quezon City. Confiscated from them were 1.15 grams of shabu with an estimated value of P7,820 and the buy-bust money. Furthermore, the Talipapa PS 3 under P/Lt. Col. Morgan Aguilar arrested Nelson Macaraeg; Mherly Solis; Erol Rivera; Mark Anthony Onana; Herchon Pronce; Jefrrey Harden; and Jamarde Kadil at 10:45 p.m. of 22 September along Ibabaw Ng Tulay, Quirino Highway, Barangay Balong Bato, Quezon City. Confiscated from them were two grams of shabu valued at P13,600; a black cellular phone; one unit orange Motorcycle Honda Beat; and the buy-bust money. The post QC anti-crime drive nets 22 suspects appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Pag-IBIG members’ record-high savings up 11% to P59.52B
Pag-IBIG Fund members collectively saved P59.52 billion in January to August this year, growing 11.45 percent year-on-year and setting a new record for the highest amount saved by members for any January to August period. “We are happy to see that more Filipino workers recognize the importance of saving and are choosing to save with Pag-IBIG Fund. The record high in Pag-IBIG members’ savings collected from January to August 2023 shows their continuing trust and confidence in us and in our programs,” said Secretary Jose Rizalino L. Acuzar, who leads the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development and the 11-member Pag-IBIG Fund Board of Trustees. Good news “This is good news because as our collection increases, the more funds we are able to utilize for the benefit of our members who seek to apply for home loans and short-term loans. All these are in line with the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to improve the Filipino workers’ access to finance,” he continued. Meanwhile Pag-IBIG Fund Chief Executive Officer Marilene C. Acosta noted that the growth in members’ savings collected were seen in both the agency’s mandatory Regular Savings and its voluntary MP2 Savings. Collections for the Pag-IBIG Regular Savings reached P28.03 billion, a seven percent increase from the P26.16 billion collected during the same period in 2022. Popular MP2 savings On the other hand, the agency’s popular MP2 Savings reached P31.50 billion, a 16 percent increase from the P27.25 billion collected in January to August last year. In 2022, the Pag-IBIG Regular Savings earned an annual dividend rate of 6.53 percent, while the MP2 Savings posted an annual return rate of 7.03 percent. “The continued growth of our members’ savings is truly remarkable. We are grateful to the business community for responsibly remitting the Pag-IBIG contributions of their employees and their counterpart share on time. We are also thankful to our members for their trust in saving with Pag-IBIG — by saving more than the required P100 monthly contribution under the Pag-IBIG Regular Savings, and by continuing to save in our MP2 Savings,” Acosta said. “This trust is clearly displayed by the amount voluntarily saved by our members, which has in fact surpassed the amount of mandatory savings we have collected. That is why we remain steadfast in our commitment to prudently and excellently manage each and every hard-earned peso that our members have entrusted us, and provide their savings with the best possible returns,“ she said. The post Pag-IBIG members’ record-high savings up 11% to P59.52B appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Turn up the Music with Your Own Christmas Playlist
The holiday season is just around the corner, and what better way to get into the festive spirit than by curating your very own Christmas playlist? Whether you’re decorating the tree, wrapping presents, or simply enjoying a cozy evening by the fireplace, the right music can enhance the magic of this special time. Here are.....»»
‘PasaHero’ ibinandera ang nakakaantig na istorya ni Vice Ganda, muntikan na nga bang sukuan ang pagiging TV personality?
“SUCCESS stories inspire success.” Ganyan ang peg ng bagong online show na inilunsad ng Founder at CEO ng isang sikat na ride hailing and delivery app na si George Royeca kamakailan lang. Pinamagatan itong “PasaHero with Mister Angkas” na ibabandera ang iba’t-ibang kwento ng kabayanihan, kasipagan at pagkamit ng pangarap ng ilang kilalang mga personalidad......»»
BSP maintains policy rate at 6.25%
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas maintained its policy rate at 6.25 percent on Thursday to control the rise in inflation due to the looming higher food and transportation costs. Consequently, BSP retained interest rates on the overnight deposit and lending facilities at 5.75 percent and 6.75 percent, respectively. BSP said overall inflation might accelerate to 5.8 percent this year, up from its previous estimate of 5.6 percent and official level of 5.3 percent in August. The central bank also adjusted its inflation forecast upward to 3.5 percent from 3.3 percent for next year, while it kept initial projection of 3.4 percent for 2025. “The upward adjustments in the 2023 and 2024 projections reflect the spillovers from weather disturbances, rising global crude oil prices, and the recent depreciation of the peso” BSP Governor Eli Remolona Jr. said. He said drought from El Niño might reduce agricultural supply which would force businesses to increase food prices to sustain their operations and fulfill customer orders. The weather bureau said El Niño might persist until the first quarter next year. Food as a major inflation growth driver comprises over 30 percent of all the items in the consumer price index. Rice prices recently rose to P60 per kilo, forcing the government to impose price caps for regular and well-milled rice. “No fireworks were seen from the BSP with the central bank simply maintaining its current policy stance. The BSP opted for another “hawkish hold” by keeping policy rates at 6.25 percent while maintaining readiness to hike should data conditions warrant further tightening,” according to Nicholas Mapa, ING senior economist for the Philippines. High global oil prices Remolona added transportation fares and electricity charges will also likely increase as the commodities’ providers aim to recoup losses from higher global oil prices. These have increased by 15 percent over 11 weeks and amid the persisting war between oil exporting countries Russia and Ukraine. With its previous rate hikes of up to 425 basis points post-pandemic, BSP said consumption of certain goods and services has tempered, resulting in lower inflation rates in recent months from a peak of 8.7 percent in January. “At the same time, the BSP Monetary Board noted that recent indicators of domestic economic activity pointed to waning pent-up demand, even as the impact of prior monetary policy tightening continues to weigh on credit,” Remolona said. BSP said inflation would decelerate to government target of 2 percent to 4 percent in the last quarter of this year as long as supply issues do not surface. However, Remolona said the central bank’s Monetary Board is ready to increase its policy rate when supply shocks occur, especially of rice. To prevent rice supply issues, Remolona said the board supports the reduction of 35 percent tariff on rice imported from the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The Department of Finance suggests lowering the tariff to 0 percent to 10 percent depending on local rice production data. “The Monetary Board also reiterated the need for non-monetary interventions, including the temporary reduction of import tariffs with calibrated volumes and timely arrival of import commodities,” he said. The post BSP maintains policy rate at 6.25% appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Only 30% passes PNP entrance exams
A total of 11,363 or 30.01 percent of the 37,859 examinees hurdled the police examinations conducted by the National Police Commission last 17 to 18 June in 30 designated testing centers nationwide. The announcement came after the Napolcom En Banc issued Resolution No. 2023-1056, dated 18 September 2023, approving and authorizing the release of the results of the PNP Entrance and Promotional Examinations. The total number of passers is distributed, as follows: 5,641 passers of the PNPE Examination representing 20.21 percent of the 27,908 PNPE examinees, and the combined 5,722 passers constituting 57.50 percent of the 9,951 in-service police officers who took the PNP Promotional Examinations. The 5,722 police officers who successfully passed the promotional examinations per category are broken down, as follows: Police Officer 1st Class Examination for Police Major and Police Lieutenant Colonel (60 passers); Police Officer 2nd Class Examination for Police Lieutenant and Police Captain (231 passers); Police Officer 3rd Class Examination for Police Master Sergeant, Police Senior Master Sergeant, Police Chief Master Sergeant and Police Executive Master Sergeant (3,099 passers); and Police Officer 4th Class Examination for Police Corporal and Police Staff Sergeant (2,332 passers). The eligibility conferred upon passing the PNPE Examination is one of the requirements for appointment in the PNP as a Patrolman/Patrolwoman, while passing the corresponding promotional examination is a requirement for promotion to a higher rank. The Napolcom assures the public of its readiness, through its Police Examination System, to detect and address examination anomalies using answer pattern analysis, and thereby warns examinees to refrain from committing any form of irregularity, such as cheating, impersonation, perjury, or violation of examination rules, otherwise, they shall be sanctioned with perpetual disqualification from taking future Napolcom examinations. The list of successful examinees will be posted at the Napolcom One-Stop Shop, 7th Floor, Napolcom Central Office located at DILG-Napolcom Center, Napolcom Building, EDSA corner Quezon Avenue, West Triangle, Quezon City and can be viewed at the Napolcom website at www.napolcom.gov.ph. Individual Certificate of Eligibility or Report of Rating will be sent by mail to all examinees. Certification of successful examinees may be issued upon request by the Napolcom Central and Regional Offices. The post Only 30% passes PNP entrance exams appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
NAPOLCOM: Only 30% pass the PNP Entrance Exam
A total of 11,363 or 30.01 percent of the 37,859 examinees hurdled the police examinations conducted by the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) last 17-18 June 2023 in 30 designated testing centers nationwide. The announcement came after the NAPOLCOM En Banc issued Resolution No. 2023-1056, dated September 18, 2023, approving and authorizing the release of the results of the PNP Entrance (PNPE) and Promotional Examinations. The total number of passers is distributed, as follows: 5,641 passers of the PNPE Examination representing 20.21% of the 27,908 PNPE examinees, and the combined 5,722 passers constituting 57.50% of the 9,951 in-service police officers who took the PNP Promotional Examinations. The 5,722 police officers who successfully passed the promotional examinations per category are broken down, as follows: Police Officer 1st Class Examination for Police Major and Police Lieutenant Colonel (60 passers); Police Officer 2nd Class Examination for Police Lieutenant and Police Captain (231 passers); Police Officer 3rd Class Examination for Police Master Sergeant, Police Senior Master Sergeant, Police Chief Master Sergeant and Police Executive Master Sergeant (3,099 passers); and Police Officer 4th Class Examination for Police Corporal and Police Staff Sergeant (2,332 passers). The eligibility conferred upon passing the PNPE Examination is one of the requirements for appointment in the PNP as a Patrolman/Patrolwoman, while passing the corresponding promotional examination is a requirement for promotion to a higher rank. The NAPOLCOM assures the public of its readiness, through its Police Examination System, to detect and address examination anomalies using answer pattern analysis, and thereby warns examinees to refrain from committing any form of irregularity, such as cheating, impersonation, perjury, or violation of examination rules, otherwise, they shall be sanctioned with perpetual disqualification from taking future NAPOLCOM examinations. The list of successful examinees will be posted at the NAPOLCOM One-Stop Shop (NOSS), 7th Floor, NAPOLCOM Central Office located at DILG-NAPOLCOM Center, NAPOLCOM Building, EDSA corner Quezon Avenue, West Triangle, Quezon City and can be viewed at the NAPOLCOM website at www.napolcom.gov.ph. Individual Certificate of Eligibility or Report of Rating will be sent by mail to all examinees. Certification of successful examinees may be issued upon request by the NAPOLCOM Central and Regional Offices. The post NAPOLCOM: Only 30% pass the PNP Entrance Exam appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Megaworld dev’t targets P5-B sale
Property developer Megaworld Corp. led by tycoon Andrew Tan is expecting to generate P5 billion in sales from building its fifth residential condominium development inside its 34-hectare Upper East township in Bacolod City. In a stock report on Wednesday, the company said the 26-story Kensington Sky Garden, scheduled for completion in 2029, will be the tallest residential development among its Visayas townships to date. The venture will be a two-tower residential development offering 643 smart home units located at the corner of Upper East Avenue and Bentley Street, just across the newly-opened Landers Superstore. Carrying a unique design that reflects Victorian era influences in New York — a city where The Upper East draws much of its inspiration — Kensington Sky Gardens units range from from Studio and Executive Studio (up to 40 square meters), One Bedroom (up to 56 square meters), Two Bedroom (up to 90 square meters), and Three Bedroom (up to 110 square meters). All unit sizes have either a balcony or a lanai. E Vehicle facility set According to Megaworld, the project is planned to have an electric vehicle-charging facility in its basement parking area, the first of its kind in Bacolod City, in preparation for the influx of electric and hybrid cars soon. Other green and sustainability features include low flow rate fixtures to promote water conservation, occupancy sensors in hallways and parking floors that help conserve energy, LED lights for units and common areas, a rainwater harvesting system, and its own materials recovery facility. The post Megaworld dev’t targets P5-B sale appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Motorbike-riding duo with handguns nabbed
Operatives of the Manila Police District -Ermita Police Station 5 in a roving patrol duty arrested two individuals aboard a motorcycle carrying hand guns early morning Wednesday in Malate, Manila. Police identified the two as Chris Jefferson Sevilla y Quindara, 24 years old, single, jobless and resident at #2643 P. Zamora Street, Pasay City, and Rudolf (not his real name), 17 years old, single, student and resident of Pasay City. The two riding in tandem was arrested along Vasquez corner Nakpil Streets, Barangay 697, Malate, Manila at around 6:30 a.m. The report showed that while police were conducting motorized patrol they spotted the duo aboard a white and black motorcycle without plate number. The responding police officers saw the back rider “Rudolf” holding in his right hand the one unit .45 caliber without serial number, and later discovered that the said firearm was loaded with five pieces of .45 caliber cartridge. The arresting police officers accosted the suspect and confiscated the said firearm, hence the arrest. Subsequently, the other arresting police officers noticed that the butt of one unit of Colt.45 caliber 1911 US ARMY with serial number 37612, loaded with four pieces of .45 caliber cartridge accidentally protruded in the right waist of driver suspect Sevilla. They likewise confiscated the said firearm. The two suspects are presently detained at the MPD-PS5 and will be charged for Violation of 10591(Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition) in relation to B.P. 881 Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines and will be presented to the Manila Prosecutor’s Office for inquest proceeding. The post Motorbike-riding duo with handguns nabbed appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Rama, Hari’ gala is a cultural feast
Rama, Hari (Rama the King) returns to live stage, becoming one of the most anticipated cultural events of the year. Produced by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, in partnership with the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the ballet and musical had its gala at the rehabilitated Manila Metropolitan Theater on 15 September. Aside from the show itself, there were a lecture and a small tiangge (bazaar), affording the audience a fuller experience and a deeper appreciation of the ballet, as well as the source material, the Sanskrit epic Ramayana. Also an initiative in line with the recently signed Philippines-Indonesia Memorandum of Understanding on Cultural Cooperation and the Philippines-India Cultural Exchange Program, the lecture, “Perspectives: Understanding Ramayana, The Great Epic of Asia,” was held in the early afternoon at the Metropolitan Theater Ballroom, tackling the impacts and different interpretations of Ramayana not only in India but also in Southeast Asia. Speakers were Agus Widjojo, ambassador of Indonesia to the Philippines; Shambu Kumaran, ambassador of India to the Philippines; and Dr. Marilyn Canta, retired professor from the University of the Philippines in Diliman. [caption id="attachment_185911" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Indian Ambassador Shambu Kumaran, Dr. Marilyn Canta, NCCA chairman Ino Manalo and Indonesian Ambassador Agus Widjojo. | Photograph by Roel Hoang Manipon[/caption] The Hindu epic, said to date back as early as the mid-eighth century BCE, is a much beloved work and has many versions in Southeast Asia. Its influence is very much evident in Indonesia, where the epic has a version written in old Javanese, called the Kakawin Ramayana. The Prambanan, the ninth-century Hindu temple compound, has bas-reliefs depicting scenes from the epic, and the Ramayana Ballet is regularly performed up to this day. In the Philippines, the Meranaw people of Mindanao has a folk story derived from Ramayana, “Maharadia Lawana,” which was adapted into an hours-long, modern theatrical showcase for the Budayaw: The BIMP-EAGA Festival of Cultures in 2017. On the other hand, the tiangge, at the Hardin ng Ekspresyon, the west courtyard of the theater, had booths offering Indian food, spices and home decors. Fashion brand Plains & Prints also set up a corner featuring their latest collection featuring heritage sites in collaboration with photographer Mark Nicdao. On the other hand, the tiangge, at the Hardin ng Ekspresyon, the west courtyard of the theater, had booths offering Indian food, spices and home decors. Fashion brand Plains & Prints also set up a corner featuring their latest collection featuring heritage sites in collaboration with photographer Mark Nicdao. Audience members started arriving at six. The first-timers to the theater explored and took photographs of the different corners. Illustrious guests were led by National Artists Virgilio S. Almario, Benedicto “BenCab” Cabrera, Ricky Lee and Agnes Locsin, as well as cultural agency heads, National Archives of the Philippines executive director and NCCA chairman Victorino Mapa Manalo, National Museum of the Philippines director Jeremy R. Barns and Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino chairman Arthur P. Casanova. Also in the audience were theater and cinema scholar Nicanor Tiongson, professor and researcher Galileo Zafra, actor and satirist Mae Paner, actor Menchu Lauchengco Yulo, talent manager Noel Ferrer, theater critic Amadis Maria Guerrero, Manila Vice Mayor Yul Servo, chef Gelo Guison and designer Barge Ramos. Aika Robredo, the eldest daughter of former Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo, also enjoyed the show. [caption id="attachment_185913" align="aligncenter" width="525"] The wedding of Rama and Sita.[/caption] Her mother graced a rehearsal on 6 September, especially invited by Rama, Hari choreographer and director, National Artist Alice Reyes and composer, National Artist Ryan Cayabyab. On 7 September, Robredo enthused on Facebook: “Yesterday, we, together with some local artists from Naga, trooped to the Metropolitan Theater in Manila to watch their first full stage rehearsal and we were stunned. They were not in costumes yet and the stage design was not even mounted yet but the entire production left us breathless and speechless!! It is the best of Philippine Dance and Music.” She encouraged everyone not to miss “the only collaboration that features the masterful works of five National Artists.” Aside from Reyes and Cayabyab, the other National Artists involved in the production are the late Bienvenido Lumbera, who wrote the lyrics and libretto; Salvador Bernal, who designed the stage and costumes; and Rolando Tinio, who translated it to English. They were not yet declared National Artists when the production by Ballet Philippines premiered on 8 February 1980 at CCP’s Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo. The original staging featured Nonoy Froilan, Basil Valdez, Kuh Ledesma, Leo Valdez and Edna Vida. Rama, Hari was not restaged until 2012, starring Christian Bautista, Karylle Tatlonghari, Richardson Yadao and Katherine Trofeo. It won 14 Philstage Gawad Buhay awards. An adaptation was mounted in 1999, called Rama, Hari, Rama at Sita, The Musical, featuring Ariel Rivera and Lani Misalucha as performers, directed by Leo Rialp and choreographed by Locsin. The music was composed by Cayabyab and Danny Tan, and the lyrics written by Roy Iglesias and Dodjie Simon, based on Lumbera’s book. Rama, Hari was planned to be the closing production of Ballet Philippines’ 50th season in March 2020, but was canceled when lockdowns were imposed because of the coronavirus pandemic. When Reyes established her own dance company in 2022, the Alice Reyes Dance Philippines, Rama, Hari became one of its cherished projects. [caption id="attachment_185909" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Energetic dancing by Alice Reyes Dance Philippines. | Photographs courtesy of Teddy Pelaez[/caption] Reyes put both dancers and singers on the same stage, interpreting scenes and emotions in both words and movements. The cast is led by Arman Ferrer as Rama with alternate Vien King and dancer versions Ronelson Yadao and Ejay Arisola. Sita is portrayed by singers Karylle Tatlonghari, Shiela Valderrama-Martinez and neophyhte Nica Tupas and dancers Monica Gana and Katrene San Miguel. [caption id="attachment_185910" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Erl Sorilla as Lakshmana and Monica Gana as Sita. | Photograph courtesy of Teddy Pelaez[/caption] Singers Poppert Bernadas, Matthew San Jose and Jonel Mojica and dancers Richardson Yadao (also dancer for King Janaka) and Tim Cabrera take on the villain role, the demon king of Lanka, Ravana. Other performers are Audie Gemora (singer, King Dasaratha), Lester Reguindin and John Ababon (dancers, King Dasaratha); Miah Canton and Raflesia Bravo (singers, Kooni and Soorpanakha); Ma. Celina Dofitas and Sarah Alejandro (dancers, Soorpanakha); Michaella Carreon and Dofitas (dancers, Kooni); Katrine Sunga and Maron Rozelle Mabana (singers, Kaikeyi and the Golden Deer); Janine Arisola and Karla Santos (dancers, Kaikeyi); Erl Sorilla and Renzen Arboleda (dancers, Lakshmana and King Sagreeva); Paw Castillo and Jon Abella (singers, Hanuman and Lakshmana); and Dan Dayo and Ricmar Bayoneta (dancers, Hanuman); Alejandro and Krislynne Buri (Golden Deer); Dayo and James Galarpe (Bharata). Aside from ARDP and CCP’s Professional Artist Support Program, other performers come from Guang Ming College Artist Residency Program, Philippine High School for the Arts, De La Salle College of Saint Benilde and the Ryan Cayabyab Singers. Music is performed by Orchestra of the Filipino Youth with Antonio Maria P. Cayabyab as conductor. After the two-night gala on 15 and 16 September at the Manila Metropolitan Theater, the production moves to the Samsung Performing Arts Theater of Circuit Makati in Makati City on 22 and 23 September. The post ‘Rama, Hari’ gala is a cultural feast appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»