Policy on rent has not changed, MSMEs still covered under ECQ, MECQ, GCQ – DTI Chief
DTI reiterated that the 30-day grace period in the payments for residential and commercial rents still has not changed during the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ)......»»
U.S. asserts safe WPS passage for all
It has nothing to do with that particular country, or so they claimed rather cautiously and diplomatically. Navies of the Philippines and the United States opened their bilateral naval exercises yesterday, along with six other countries, at Naval Station Jose Andrada on Roxas Boulevard, Manila. The drills involve at-shore events at the Philippine Navy’s headquarters before going out to sea for exercises intended to improve the allied naval forces’ interoperability. Dubbed Exercise Sama-Sama, or Together, the exercise, according to Philippine Navy chief Vice Admiral Toribio Adaci, has nothing to do with a particular country that has figured in increasing tensions in the West Philippine Sea. But Adaci was obviously referring to China whose coast guard had used water cannons on Philippine Coast Guard-led resupply missions to Filipino troops stationed on the BRP Sierra Madre at Ayungin Shoal in the WPS. Adaci opened the exercise with US Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Karl Thomas. “The exercise is designed to be conducted here in Manila and the southern Luzon area,” Adaci said. Thomas, for his part, stressed the need to recognize the rules-based international order. Strong word “I think it is important that all nations have a right to sail and operate in the West Philippine Sea — free from worrying about being attacked,” Thomas said. “And attack is probably a strong word.” “I would say, free from being coerced, free from being intimidated. You know we want the commons to be common and open and free. And so long as our nations operate in accordance with the rule of law, in accordance with the rules and regulations, with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,” he said. Like Adaci, Thomas did not mention China, but it is common knowledge that the United States military has been conducting “freedom of navigation” patrols to keep the South China Sea open to international commerce. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. last week ordered the PCG to cut the 300-meter floating barrier installed by Chinese militia vessels at Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal. PN assets in action A 2016 arbitral ruling deemed China’s territorial claim on nearly the entire South China Sea, including areas that overlap the WPS, invalid. The ruling stemmed from a 2013 case filed by the Philippines against China before the Permanent Court of Arbitration, or PCA, after Beijing seized control of Scarborough Shoal in 2012. As the PCA junked China’s nine-dash line South China Sea claim, it affirmed the Philippines’ entitlement to its 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone. Around 700 sailors and marines from different PN units are participating in the exercise, which will see in action, among other assets, the BRP Antonio Luna, and an AW109 naval helicopter. For the second straight year, the exercise will include the navies of Japan, the United Kingdom, Canada, France and Australia. They will be participating mainly in humanitarian assistance and disaster response drills. Observers Meanwhile, the Royal New Zealand Navy and the Indonesian Navy are also joining as observers the naval exercise that dates back to 1994 when it was known as Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training. In 2017, its name was changed to Exercise Sama-Sama. Subsequently, the exercise was conducted annually across various regions: In 2017 at Naval Forces Central; in 2018 at Naval Forces Northern Luzon; in 2019 at Naval Forces West; and in 2021 at the Northern Luzon Command. Last year, it was held alongside Exercise Lumbas — the bilateral navy-to-navy exercise between the Philippines and Australia — with the limited participation of France, Japan and the United Kingdom. According to the PN, the primary objective of the exercise is to enhance the capabilities of both nations in responding to regional crises. Additionally, it aims to strengthen its capacities to address non-traditional challenges, including territorial defense, natural and man-made disasters, counterterrorism, maritime security and transnational crimes. The post U.S. asserts safe WPS passage for all appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Fancy word ‘revisionism’
Were there widespread abuses during the martial law years spanning 21 September 1972 to 17 January 1981, or nine years under President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.? Certain groups consider the narrative of the period being the dark ages of civil rights as sacrosanct and should never be challenged. Anything different from their storyline would be revisionism. These are the hypocrites who consider themselves as having the divine appointment to decide what is best for the country after the 1986 EDSA revolt. “I am ready to debate with anyone, and it is my duty to explain to the people,” Presidential Chief Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile, who was the martial law administrator, said on the necessity of the controversial 1972 imposition. The situation then called for the declaration of powers to address an extraordinary threat to the nation. Everything was done according to the provisions of the 1935 Constitution, stressed Enrile on his weekly morning show “Bayan ni Juan.” “I was ordered by then — President Marcos Sr., who was acting under the commander-in-chief provision of the law, to study what was contained in the Constitution on the powers of the President,” he said. He pointed out that martial law covering the entire country was necessary at that particular period. Our country, not only today but in the future, is guaranteed always to be stable. “The time will come when there will again be a need to impose martial, and it will be the people who would clamor for it, I’m telling you,” he predicted. Enrile said that all forms of government leave something to be desired; even China, which is fast developing, faces several criticisms. The government, however, is responsible for preventing chaos, anarchy, and disorder. “We should be thankful that martial law was declared, or Mr. Jose Maria Sison would have taken over the government,” Enrile recalled. “Our economy then was hit by a global crisis. America was on a downturn, and it brought down the Philippines with it,” he said. “History will give us a fair picture of the past, such as what happened in Roman times, the Persian period and the Assyrian period.” Similarly, history will bear out that martial law was what was called for. According to the seasoned public servant, he could vouch for the Marcos military rule being fair and far from what was painted by the opportunists. “If they call the declaration of martial law a dictatorship, then what was the description of the government when President Cory Aquino took over? She was the legislator and the executive. Cory, the supposed saint of democracy, changed the 1973 Constitution that the Filipinos voted for,” Enrile said. With a single signature, she changed the Constitution and assembled 60 individuals who were supposedly knowledgeable on the laws to craft the 1987 Constitution, Enrile said, recounting the forming of the Constitutional Commission that drafted the 1987 Charter. Even though he held the executive and legislative functions, Enrile said Marcos made sure “we were all working under a system of democratic procedure.” Marcos, he said, did not monopolize the government. “All the laws created under martial law were deliberated, debated, and discussed.” As proof of the just creation of the presidential decrees by Marcos, Enrile said that most are still being used by the government “because they were well thought out.” “Compare that with the laws being passed now. After a few years, these are required to be revised because of mistakes,” he said. The Supreme Court was always there to balance the executive and the legislative. “Can anyone say how many decrees passed during martial law were turned down by the SC as unconstitutional?” Of course, all were correctly upheld and in accord with the Basic Law. The post Fancy word ‘revisionism’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Disguised military force
Wrongheadedly asserting outdated notions about the China Coast Guard or CCG show us exactly why some sitting senators shouldn’t be senators. Worse, despite having been schooled by maritime law experts and defense officials, Senators Robinhood Padilla’s and Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa’s smarmy refusals to believe they are wrong about the CCG embarrass the Senate. Hear Padilla sarcastically telling experts during a joint Senate panel hearing into West Philippine Sea issues: ““Ibig niyong sabihin, iba ang definition ng coast guard ng China? Wow, ha, talaga lang, ha (So you mean, the Coast Guard is defined differently by China? Wow, really, are you sure about that)?” Most of us may be excused if last week we didn’t know or pay much attention to the fact that since its 2021 transformation by Chinese domestic law, the CCG is now a military force disguised as a civilian force. But sitting senators can’t claim the same excuse. Senators are expected to at least possess some knowledge of recent international developments since the Senate is constitutionally tasked with scrutinizing and approving the country’s treaties with other countries. Senators are supposed to enlighten us then. But both Padilla and Dela Rosa inspire us instead of their sheer ignorance of recent Chinese developments that directly affect our national interest. Not taking Filipino expert counsel, too, is wholly pathetic. It isn’t only Filipino experts but international maritime law experts who said the CCG’s command and control structure had been changed to that of a military-like organization under the centralized command of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee and the Central Military Commission. True, putting military organizations in charge of maritime law enforcement — which coast guards typically do — is not unique to China. For instance, the United States Coast Guard is one of America’s five armed forces branches and has an explicit defense readiness mission. The French, too, have the Maritime Gendarmerie, a paramilitary police force under the operational control of the chief of staff of the French Navy. Still, the US and French coast guards are considered exceptions rather than the rule insofar as how most countries conceive, structure, and operate their civilian-led coast guards. China did follow the general practice when it put up its coast guard in 2013. Since 2021, however, after a comprehensive China Coast Guard Law took effect, China set its coast guard apart from the rest of Asia, except for Vietnam. China ensuring that military, not civilian government agencies, exert control over its coast guard undoubtedly has far-reaching consequences in the ongoing tensions in the South China Sea and the West Philippine Sea. For instance, one consequence of a militarized CCG is that China doesn’t need to declare war in her attempts to expand her de facto control over disputed waters. A militarized CCG is enough to bolster China’s preferred strategic approach of “slow intensity or low-intensity coercion.” Other important consequences of CCG’s militarization abound, particularly thorny questions about Chinese CCG law violating significant provisions of the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea. But that’s for another time. On a more recent topical note, however, our military officials say our armed forces are already preparing for any eventuality should the CCG go beyond firing water cannons when blocking our ships resupplying the beleaguered Ayungin Shoal detachment. Our military’s fears are not unfounded. Article 22 of the CCG law authorizes a CCG vessel to use its weapons without warning against foreign government and civilian vessels. And there are fears the CCG might use weapons deadlier than water cannons and lasers. Some CCG vessels, in fact, are equipped with destroyer-class 76mm guns. It behooves the military, therefore, to keep a close eye on any major equipment changes — like larger caliber guns and missiles — on CCG vessels patrolling the West Philippine Sea. The post Disguised military force appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Seda celebrates 5th year
Five years ago, the landscape of Cebu Business Park forever changed when Seda Ayala Center Cebu opened its doors to appreciative local and international travelers. [caption id="attachment_181228" align="aligncenter" width="1900"] Evening gown by Paco Serafica.[/caption] Helmed by general manager Gwen dela Cruz, with 35 years of experience in the hospitality industry, she assembled a sterling team that was ready — and had triumphed — through each and every challenge imaginable — to include the global terrors, such as the Covid-19 pandemic and devastating typhoons like “Odette.” [caption id="attachment_181246" align="aligncenter" width="1900"] Gwen dela Druz, Margie Lhuillier, Javier Hernandez and Genny Puno.[/caption] Fast forward to half a decade, the property brought together Cebu’s top corporate partners and most esteemed individuals to celebrate the past and embrace the future through the Pagpadayun. [caption id="attachment_181247" align="aligncenter" width="1384"] DesigneD by Stef Tirado.[/caption] A Bisaya word which means “to move forward,” Pagpadayun is a testament to the previous trials that the hotel faced and surmounted — as it was spearheaded by the officers and supported by the staff — and the hotel’s bright tomorrow. [caption id="attachment_181248" align="aligncenter" width="1900"] Designed by Eyla Orsais.[/caption] The Filipiniana-inspired affair was anchored on their core values, dubbed as LIVEM — Leadership, Integrity, Vision, Excellence and Malasakit. [caption id="attachment_181250" align="aligncenter" width="1900"] Gown by Pearl Arandia.[/caption] The evening showcased the well-orchestrated five-course dinner, unveiled by executive sous chef Gina Limot. It was definitely a top-tier gastronomic experience. [caption id="attachment_181253" align="aligncenter" width="1746"] DesigneD by Jan Tiong.[/caption] It likewise highlighted fashion, as they collaborated with the Fashion Association of Cebu’s Elite Talents to include designers, such as Stef Tirado, Jan Tiong, Eyla Orsais, Paco Serafica and Pearl Arandia. [caption id="attachment_181254" align="aligncenter" width="1900"] Filet Mignon and pan seared parrot fish drizzled with red wine reduction, safron sauce, mashed potato and asparagus spears.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_181255" align="aligncenter" width="1087"] Chicken liver pate served with toasted baguette and a drizzle of cumberland sauce.[/caption] In attendance were Ayala Land Hotels and Resorts Corporation board of directors representative Michael Alexis Legaspi, president and chief executive officer Javier Hernandez, chief financial officer Phearl Raz, Seda Hotels Group communications director Genny Puno and Seda Hotels Group engineering group director Efren Rodrigo. [caption id="attachment_181257" align="aligncenter" width="1824"] Laurie Boquiren, Neil Felipp, Jun Alegrado and Eva Gullas.[/caption] The aptly named observance was more than just a mere get-together for it celebrated Seda Ayala Center Cebu’s drive to persevere despite the challenging onslaught of natural crises. The post Seda celebrates 5th year appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Store thefts stoke shopping fear
A sharp rise in store thefts and threats of harm from thieves across the United States in the last few months have raised fears among shoppers. Some shops have begun locking up basic items like toothpaste, deodorant and tissues behind transparent doors. “It has to stop and the only way to get things done is if people start getting involved,” Ann McGee, a New Yorker from the borough of Queens, said. “It’s time to rally — I want to start a class action.” McGee is behind a recent petition denouncing the insecurity caused by rising retail theft — sometimes by thieves operating in groups and threatening anyone near them with violence — in her neighborhood. The drugstore chain CVS was targeted in June by McGee’s petition, which she also sent to her local councilman, Democrat Robert Holden. Holden reached out to CVS chief executive Karen Lynch to denounce what he called “rampant retail theft” in four of its stores and the lack of action by the company to alert the police. “Failing to report retail theft constitutes a dereliction of duty and poses serious consequences,” Holden wrote in a letter to Lynch. “It inadvertently incentivizes criminals to continue their unlawful activities while putting CVS staff and consumers in unnecessary danger,” he added. Holden’s office told Agence France-Presse that he received a response from CVS’s head of security, who pledged that all incidents would be reported to the police from now on. But on the ground “nothing has changed,” when it comes to security, according to McGee. “Everything is all locked up, it’s horrible. I feel like a criminal. I don’t like shopping like this,” the mother of four added. “The other day, I went to CVS to buy some air freshener to put in my car. Everything was locked up,” she continued. “I didn’t buy it, I didn’t want to wait for an attendant just for that.” In response to the recent rise in crime, McGee now shops in upstate New York where “it’s very, very secure and very safe.” WITH AFP The post Store thefts stoke shopping fear appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Stocks waver on uncertain rate outlook
Concerns about further interest rate hikes weighed on stock markets Monday even as data pointed to economic fragility in the United States and Europe -- but Wall Street eked out gains to start the week. Investors were spooked Friday by US jobs data that showed moderate hiring but further wage increases, underscoring persistent inflation pressures. Many have been betting the Federal Reserve is near the end of its monetary tightening cycle as it seeks to engineer a "soft landing" for the world's largest economy -- a strategy also being pursued by the European Central Bank. This refers to an outcome where inflation comes down on the back of interest rate hikes, without triggering a major recession. But Fed governor Michelle Bowman doused those hopes in a speech on Saturday, saying "consistent evidence" was needed that price increases are slowing. "I also expect that additional rate increases will likely be needed to get inflation on a path down to the FOMC's two percent target," she said, referring to the policy-setting Federal Open Market Committee. Higher rates would increase the risk of broader economic slowdowns on both sides of the Atlantic. Bowman's comments underscored "the growing uncertainty that is not only starting to permeate central bank thinking but also investor sentiment more broadly", said Michael Hewson, chief market analyst at CMC Markets. As a result, investors are likely to take a wait-and-see stance ahead of US consumer price data due on Thursday. For now, all three major US indices advanced to end the day, with the Dow gaining 1.2 percent and the broad-based S&P 500 climbing 0.9 percent. The tech-focused Nasdaq rose 0.6 percent, although it was initially pulled off of opening gains. Apple shares lost 1.7 percent after the company warned of further revenue declines, while Tesla also stumbled on news that its longtime chief financial officer was leaving. "Traders are punishing a couple of the most highly-weighted 'Big Tech' behemoths like Apple and Tesla," said Matthew Weller, research chief at StoneX, noting a "mixed" second-quarter earnings season for US companies overall. European markets closed little changed, tracking Wall Street's weakness on Friday and a mixed showing in Asia amid signs of further economic headwinds. Germany's industrial output plunged in June, official figures showed, with the economy ministry warning of a gloomy outlook as high energy prices and interest rates continued to take their toll in Europe's biggest economy. In Britain, average UK property prices fell 0.3 percent in July from June, major mortgage provider Halifax said, as homeowners struggle with surging borrowing costs. "Early economic data has done little to help lift the outlook for growth in Europe," said Joshua Mahony, chief market analyst at Scope Markets. Elsewhere Monday, oil prices fell after a pre-weekend rally, in part reflecting supply concerns after a Russian oil tanker in the Black Sea was struck by Ukrainian drones. The Black Sea strikes increase geopolitical risks, according to analysts at DNB, noting the "significant volumes" of both crude oil and refined fuels transported via the Black Sea. The post Stocks waver on uncertain rate outlook appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Deaf or blind to Vietnam’s activities?
Last week I mentioned the report regarding Vietnam facilities and other structures being built within the Philippine territory. I am just wondering how come the government is quiet about the issue. I even suggested that a public forum and press conference be conducted to inform the people and make fellow Filipinos aware of it. A fellow observer even asked me why is it that the Marcos government is silent on such an issue. As I remember right, since President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. took over as the Chief Executive there have been only six diplomatic protests filed against Vietnam compared to the 97 against China. I cannot recall if the protests against Vietnam were in the news but I am afraid the public was never informed about such things. A fellow journalist confirmed that there has been no report of Hanoi’s ambassador to Manila being summoned by the Department of Foreign Affairs to explain the Vietnamese activities in our country’s exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea. The Philippine government has the responsibility to make statements on this matter considering that it is our sovereignty that is at stake. As I said, Vietnam’s activities in the WPS are a threat to our national security and should be dealt with accordingly by Philippine authorities. To give you a picture of how serious this matter is, on 1 August, despite heavy rains a small group of around 50 members of Makabayan Alyansa ng Bansang Anti-War and Anti-Terrorism (Makabansa), who claimed to be concerned citizens, held a protest rally in front of Vietnam’s embassy in Malate, Manila, to show that they are against what the Vietnam government is doing. The protesters called on the Vietnam government to stop the alleged militarization at the WPS and their fishing in the Kalayaan Group of Islands. The militant group through their spokesman, Benny delos Reyes, urged the embassy to respect their demands for amicable ties between the Philippines and Vietnam. For the information of the Philippine government, its department or agency concerned, Vietnam is planning to build “a covert fortification, command fortification, firepower fortification, weapons storage fortification, traffic trench system, trench, and related tactical items” within the Philippine territory. The Vietnamese government is ready to send more people to the land features, where they will set up residence. Perhaps due to the non-reaction of the Philippine government, Vietnam thinks that building military and civilian infrastructure and sending people to live on the islands will prove that those islands, which are in a portion of the WPS, belong to them. Let our government be reminded that Vietnam first took possession of areas within our own territory in 1978. Without knowing it, Vietnam might not only be occupying Philippine territories but already controlling our society. In the Gospel today, Jesus takes some of His friends away from the business of the village and marketplace. He invites them to travel with Him as He makes His way up the mountain. This is not unusual. We know from the Gospels that Jesus often went off by Himself to the mountains to pray. While they were there praying something wild and wonderful happened. Jesus was transfigured; He was changed; His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as light. Imagine how surprised, shocked, and taken aback those with Jesus were. Once composed, Peter uttered the famous words: “Lord, it is wonderful for us to be here.’ But more important than what was said is what they heard: ‘This is My Son, the Beloved, He enjoys My favor, listen to Him.” My regards to Rev. Father Richard Diaz, CICM, the Academic Dean of Maryhill School of Theology, and to Ms. Daisy Arao-arao, MST Registrar, all the faculty, students, and staff of MST who are about to start the Academic Year 2023-2024. The post Deaf or blind to Vietnam’s activities? appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
ARTA’s backtrack not in rules — PPA
Anti-Red Tape Authority Secretary Ernesto Perez’s re-evaluation of the Philippine Port Authority’s container monitoring and tracking system is not provided for under ARTA rules and is thus not valid. The ARTA retreat has no bearing as its Good Practice RIS (regulatory impact statements) rating of 36 on a scale of 40 in the program last February stays, according to PPA General Manager Jay Santiago. “ARTA has not retracted its positive rating of the Trusted Operator Program-Container Registry and Monitoring System or TOP-CRMS recalled its regulatory impact statement rating,” Santiago stressed. “I don’t know what the purpose of that ARTA memo or its value or its effect on the previously issued Good Practice RIS rating was,” Santiago said in a text message. According to the PPA chief, his office submitted all the required documents to ARTA, “sometimes twice,” and even consulted all the stakeholders in the shipping and logistics sectors, including those opposed to the scheme, before ARTA granted the Good Practice RIS. “The situation has not changed, so we do not understand what happened,” Santiago said. In a statement, ARTA defended its re-evaluation of the TOP-CRMS “upon the request of various stakeholders to be affected by the proposed regulation.” Perez said, “Our re-evaluation was diligent, and it stands as our final recommendation unless either party provides relevant additional documents,” adding that the re-evaluation was impartial and not influenced by external factors. While ARTA’s memorandum did not approve the TOP-CRMS program, it conceded the implementation remains within the mandate of the PPA. DoTr wants shift to CLA Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista has directed shipping lines to stop collecting container deposits from brokers or reimburse the amount within two weeks. Bautista also ordered them to subscribe to a foreign firm’s Container Ledger Account or CLA. In a letter to Joseph Collantes, operations manager of RCL Feeder Pte. Ltd., and Jesus Sedano, owner’s representative of the firm, obtained by Daily Tribune, Bautista ordered the company to avail of other ways instead to collect container deposits. The alternatives include “discontinuing the container deposit practice or continuing to collect container deposits contingent upon the ability to refund it within 14 days and subscribe to container deposit from Container Ledger Account subscribers or other providers that offer equivalent services.” “The delays in refunding container deposits and unreturned deposits in the millions of pesos continue to burden and create financial difficulties for many importers that have become an industry problem. This matter has been raised by various stakeholders in the transport and logistics services sector for government intervention,” Bautista’s letter read. Earlier in July, Danny Sta. Maria, an independent broker for various imports, such as yarn and other raw materials for the clothing industry, said international shipping lines make it hard for them to collect their container deposits. “In my case, my deposits have been stagnant in their hands for four months. Each deposit for a 40-foot container is P15,000. I rented 50 containers, so the total cost is P750,000. Imagine the money sleeping with them? I could have used the money for my business,” Sta. Maria told reporters. He said that on following up on reimbursements, the shipping lines kept telling him his requests were still pending, unsigned by signatories, or the refund requests were too voluminous to transact. He said the money collected by the shipping lines lay dormant in banks while earning interest. “I pity those small importers and brokers that have been victimized by these shipping lines,” Sta. Maria said. Sta. Maria lambasted the shipping lines for holding onto their money which, he said, was illogical and unacceptable @tribunephl_raf. The post ARTA’s backtrack not in rules — PPA appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
ARTA backpedals, nixes TOP-CRMS
The Anti-Red Tape Authority, or ARTA, made a surprising move in backtracking on an earlier approval of a port digitalization plan, apparently bowing to pressures from several powerful groups. ARTA’s about-face effectively shot down what could be the Marcos administration’s most potent anti-smuggling weapon. ARTA issued a memorandum last 25 July signed by ARTA director general, Secretary Ernesto Perez, in which it said its reevaluation of the Trusted Operator Program-Container Registry and Monitoring System or TOP-CRMS regulatory impact statement, or RIS, convinced it that reducing the cost of container deposits from the scheme was not accurate based on the benefit-cost analysis. Perez said the decision is “final” and denied bowing to outside pressures. “That’s our final recommendation unless either party will submit to us additional relevant documents,” Perez indicated. Part of the ARTA report reads: “Port congestion may not be used by PPA or Philippine Port Authority as a justification for government intervention,” with the proposed TOP-CRMS. It added that the PPA “cannot use congestion as a justification or basis to establish the proposed... TOP-CRMS.” The PPA which is the main beneficiary of the digitalization scheme indicated that it is studying its options. “We’ll study our options. As far as we are concerned, ARTA already issued a Good Practice RIS with a 36/40 rating for the TOP-CRMS program. I don’t think they have retracted that or recalled the rating which they previously issued,” PPA general manager Jay Santiago said. “So I don’t know what was the purpose of that ARTA memo nor its value or its effect on the previously issued Good Practice RIS rating. We submitted all required documents to ARTA sometimes twice even and they even consulted all stakeholders including oppositors before they issued the Good Practice RIS. The situation has not changed so we don’t understand what happened,” Santiago added. Complete reversal The latest ARTA memorandum is a complete turnaround from its 2 February evaluation which greenlighted the TOP-CRMS implementation and allowed the PPA to resume its suspended modernization plan. ARTA gave the program a rating of 36, meaning a “Good Practice RIS.” ARTA said in a February statement after it assessed the program, “PPA has provided concise and satisfactory evidence on all RIA sections. Hence, the RIS was assessed as Good Practice.” ARTA stressed there should be more regulations to address the current issue, which is also the leading cause of the problem. The PPA’s TOP-CRMS also meets ARTA’s criteria for cost-saving mechanisms, including the fee on container deposits and port access roads, and has reduced the dwell time of empty container returns to less than 72 hours. Under Section 6 of Presidential Decree 857, PPA must supervise, control, regulate, construct, maintain, operate, and provide facilities or services belonging to the Authority. Thus, under this mandate, TOP-CRMS will provide efficient port services to the public. Santiago said then, “With the approval by ARTA, I believe the concern on ease of doing business has been sufficiently addressed.” “PPA will continue to fine-tune the program, and the implementation of PPA AO No. 04-2021 and its IOG will be constantly monitored, and the necessary adjustments to the IOG will be made as necessary. TOP-CRMS seeks to remove the payment of container deposits and efficiently manage the return of empty containers. There have been a series of public consultations, and we have adjusted based on the need of the stakeholders,” Santiago added. Anti-smuggling initiative Ironically, ARTA reversed its TOP-CRMS recommendation a day after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. warned in his State of the Nation Address that the days of smugglers and hoarders of agricultural products are numbered as he identified the proposed Amendment of the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act as a priority legislation. The Chief Executive said in Filipino, “One of the reasons behind the higher prices is that smugglers and hoarders manipulate the prices of agricultural products. We will run after them, and we will file charges against them. We will not let these practices continue. The days of the smugglers and hoarders are numbered.” The President is also the secretary of agriculture. The PPA’s TOP-CRMS is a government-owned container monitoring system providing a whole-of-government approach to tracking container movement and management by giving relevant government agencies access to information and even automating and streamlining their processes. The anti-smuggling feature of the TOP-CRMS preempts cargo diversion or diverting shipments to another warehouse with real-time container tracking. Law enforcers could quickly identify where the shipments are located, which port stakeholders said would eliminate “for hire consignees,” as all foreign-owned shipping containers, both laden and empty, are monitored. Similar to the tracking system now in use among private port operators, the technology makes it easy for investigators to identify and prosecute suspected smugglers. Pressure from smugglers Industry insiders suspect that a powerful group of smugglers is pressuring concerned government agencies and regulators to stop the implementation of the TOP-CRMS because it would have a profound negative impact on their illegal activities. More importantly, the TOP-CRMS can detect illegal contraband and prevent entry into the country’s ports. It can eliminate smuggled drugs from entering any country’s entry points, including illegal arms shipments and, God forbid, nuclear materials. The data collected by the system can be shared with concerned agencies in charge of tax collection, law enforcement, import permit authorization, trade department, anti-smuggling units, intelligence units, etc. The wealth of data from the system will provide the PNP, AFP, BOC, BIR, DTI, DA, DSWD, Intelligence Community, and other relevant agencies an efficient tool to deter all forms of smuggling activities. The post ARTA backpedals, nixes TOP-CRMS appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Musk renames Twitter to X
Twitter owner Elon Musk and its chief executive officer have announced the rebranding of the microblogging site to X and the replacement of its bird logo soon. On late Sunday night, Musk changed his profile picture to the company’s new logo, which he described as “minimalist art deco,” and changed his Twitter bio to “X.com,” which now redirects to twitter.com. Musk also tweeted that under the site’s new identity, a post would be called “an X.” CEO Linda Yaccarino tweeted on late Sunday night a picture of the company’s logo — a white X on a black background. “Powered by AI, X will connect us in ways we’re just beginning to imagine,” Yaccarino tweeted. “X is the future state of unlimited interactivity centered in audio, video, messaging, payments/banking “creating a global marketplace for ideas, goods, services, and opportunities,” he added. The changes were not yet visible on the website on Monday. Musk, who is also the owner of SpaceX, had already named Twitter’s parent company the X Corporation, and previously said his takeover of the social media giant was “an accelerant to creating X, the everything app” — a reference to the X.com company he founded in 1999, a later version of which went on to become payments giant PayPal. Founded in 2006, Twitter takes its name from the sound of birds chattering, and the company bought a stock symbol of a light blue bird for $15 to be its logo, according to the design website Creative Bloq. WITH AFP The post Musk renames Twitter to X appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Twitter website replaces bird logo with X
Twitter launched its new logo on Monday, replacing the blue bird with a white X on a black background as the Elon Musk-owned company moves toward rebranding as X. The social media network's website showed the company's new logo, but its URL was still showing as twitter.com and the blue "Tweet" button was visible, suggesting the rebrand was not yet finalized. Musk and the company's new chief executive Linda Yaccarino announced the rebranding Sunday, saying the company would be renamed X and move later into payments, banking, and commerce. Founded in 2006, Twitter takes its name from the sound of birds chattering, and it has used avian branding since its early days, when the company bought a stock symbol of a light blue bird for $15, according to the design website Creative Bloq. Musk changed his profile picture late Sunday to the company's new logo, which he described as "minimalist art deco," and updated his Twitter bio to "X.com," which now redirects to twitter.com. He also tweeted that under the site's new identity, a post would be called "an X." Musk had already named Twitter's parent company the X Corporation and has said his takeover of the social media giant was "an accelerant to creating X, the everything app" -- a reference to the X.com company he founded in 1999, a later version of which went on to become online payments giant PayPal. Such an app could still function as a social media platform and also include messaging and mobile payments. Musk had previously said he wanted to create a super-app modeled on China's WeChat, a social media platform that also offers messaging and mobile payments. "You basically live on WeChat in China because it's so usable and helpful to daily life, and I think if we can achieve that, or even get close to that at Twitter, it would be an immense success," he told a company town hall meeting in June last year. The new logo was projected onto the facade of Twitter's San Francisco headquarters on Sunday night. "Powered by AI, X will connect us in ways we're just beginning to imagine," Yaccarino tweeted earlier. Yaccarino, a former advertising sales executive at NBCUniversal who Musk hired last month to be Twitter's CEO, said the social media platform was on the cusp of broadening its scope. "X is the future state of unlimited interactivity – centered in audio, video, messaging, payments/banking – creating a global marketplace for ideas, goods, services, and opportunities." Simon Kemp, CEO of digital consultancy Kepios, said he was skeptical that Twitter could evolve into a super-app. "Given how Musk has treated Twitter's own employees since the acquisition, I don't imagine many developers will rush to build third-party apps to integrate into the Twitter ecosystem unless Musk can offer outstanding incentives, and that'll be extra tricky given the company's existing debt." But he also said the platform had the potential to become "a great (global and paid) news aggregator." New revenue streams Since Musk bought Twitter for $44 billion last October, the platform's advertising business has partially collapsed as marketers soured on Musk's management style and mass firings at the company that gutted content moderation. In response, the billionaire SpaceX boss has moved toward introducing payments and commerce through the platform in a search for new revenue. Twitter is thought to have around 200 million daily active users, but it has suffered repeated technical failures since Musk sacked much of its staff. Many users and advertisers alike have responded adversely to the social media site's new charges for previously free services, its changes to content moderation, and the return of previously banned right-wing accounts. Musk said this month that Twitter had lost roughly half of its advertising revenue since he took control. Facebook parent Meta also launched its text-based platform this month, called Threads, which has up to 150 million users according to some estimates. But the amount of time users spend on the rival app has plummeted in the weeks since its launch, according to data from market analysis firm Sensor Tower. The post Twitter website replaces bird logo with X appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
BATO DARES ICC ‘I am here, arrest me!’
By: Ann JEnireene Gomez and Alvin Murcia With GLEN JACOB JOSE, Tiziana Celine Piatos AND JOM GARNER, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa warned of “big trouble” if the International Criminal Court comes to the Philippines to arrest him or anyone else. “I already expected that, their insistence on meddling in our domestic affairs. Let them, let them do what they want,” Dela Rosa said in Filipino in an interview with Frontline Tonight. “I’ll be here, I am not hiding. If they have a warrant of arrest, let them serve the warrant,” Dela Rosa said, with one caveat — that he’ll only allow himself to be arrested by Philippine authorities and not by any foreigner ordered to do so by the ICC. Dela Rosa was responding to a statement of Senate President Miguel Zubiri that the government will have no choice but to turn over anyone to the ICC if the arrest warrant will be coursed through local courts and will be served by local authorities. “We are still a sovereign country, and they (accused) are still citizens of this country. They do that with many other countries. However, the danger there is if Senator Bato dela Rosa goes to a country that is friendly to the ICC, then they will arrest him. Here in the Philippines, the process is they must coordinate with the local courts,” Zubiri said. The ICC’s Appeals Chamber voted 3-2 on Tuesday to deny the Philippines’ appeal to stop the ICC Office of the Prosecutor from resuming its investigation. “There’s no problem if the Philippine government would be the one to arrest me, but not the foreigners,” he said. “If it’s the government of the Philippines that would decide to arrest me, what can I do? But if they (ICC) would come here to take me, our government would have none of that.” “There’s going to be big trouble if they would insist on coming here against our government’s expressed will. That would be too blatant an interference and they would be treating us like fools,” he added. Chill Meanwhile, Senator Francis Tolentino, who offered to stand as legal counsel for a fellow lawmaker in the ICC probe, advised Dela Rosa to “Just chill”. “I accept the proposal of Sen. Dela Rosa to a lawyer for him. I am now speaking as the counsel for Senator Dela Rosa,” said Tolentino, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights, in an online press conference yesterday. He said nothing has changed in the Philippines’ position on the dismissal of the ICC Pre-Chamber in the country’s appeal regarding the probe of the “war on drugs.” The ICC, he added, has no jurisdiction in the Philippines. Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Wednesday advised former president Rodrigo Duterte and Dela Rosa to stay away from countries where the ICC has influence. Dela Rosa is accused of implementing the alleged iron-fist policy of Duterte as a Davao regional police official and later as Duterte’s first Philippine National Police chief in 2016. “They are citizens of the republic who also need our protection,” Remulla said, adding that Duterte and Dela Rosa should refrain from going to countries in Europe. Why Sara? But even before Remulla came out with his advice, Dela Rosa had already said he would not deliver himself to the ICC. “I will make sure not to go to those countries that are friendly with the ICC,” he said. He also brushed aside efforts to involve Vice President Sara Duterte in the ICC probe, calling the move politically motivated against one who could become the country’s next president. He reiterated that the Vice President’s name was never mentioned in proceedings that looked into the alleged activities of the so-called Davao Death Squad. On Wednesday, the Department of Justice maintained that the ICC has no jurisdiction to investigate the extrajudicial killings allegedly committed during the Duterte administration’s so-called war on drugs. The DoJ expressed deep disappointment and strong disagreement with the denial by the ICC of the Office of the Solicitor General’s appeal to stop the probe on account of the Philippines having withdrawn from the ICC, and its having a fully functioning justice system. It said the rejection of the appeal was based on the ICC’s flawed interpretation of its jurisdiction as a court of last resort — that it could only assume jurisdiction when a member country showed it was not capable of investigating and prosecuting crimes within its borders. The DoJ pointed out that the principle of complementarity, enshrined in the Rome Statute that created the ICC, recognizes the jurisdiction of local courts to try crimes within their respective countries. “The dissenting opinions of two esteemed justices out of the five-judge panel highlight the grave errors in the majority decision,” the DoJ said in a statement. “These dissenting justices rightly recognized the Philippines’ commitment to upholding the rule of law and maintaining an independent and effective legal system.” “Their dissenting opinions underscore the existence of a legitimate difference of legal interpretation, casting doubt on the majority’s ruling,” it added. Remulla had lambasted the ICC for meddling in Philippine affairs and said the government would not honor any arrest warrant issued by the ICC. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his predecessor, Duterte, had been firm in saying the ICC had no jurisdiction over events that transpired in the Philippines. PNP no ICC lackey Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police said it would not be dictated to by the ICC as it recognizes the stance of the government that the international tribunal has no jurisdiction over the conduct of the drug war probe. “The PNP is under the executive department and we will follow the lead of the national government that there is a question with respect to sovereignty and jurisdiction of the ICC,” PNP spokesperson P/Col. Jean Fajardo said. Duterte, as Davao City mayor from 2011 to 2016 and as the country’s president from 2016 to 2022, is seen as the ICC prosecutor’s primary target, along with his former police chief, Dela Rosa. Government data showed that about 6,200 people died in “legitimate” anti-drug operations during the Duterte presidency, including law enforcement officers killed in action. Government critics claim as many as 15,000 to 30,000 were killed. Meanwhile, Vice President Duterte appeared to have been included in the complaints filed with the ICC prosecutor, along with her father’s long-time aide, the now Senator Christopher “Bong” Go. “No comment,” was the terse reply of the Vice President’s camp on her alleged inclusion in the ICC complaints. Go, on the other hand, said the ICC had no “business meddling in our internal affairs, where our courts remain fully functional and free from political interference.” “Probes into the war on drugs are presently being conducted by the competent authorities. Filipinos should be judged by fellow Filipinos before Philippine courts operating under Philippine laws,” Go said. With the ICC ruling, the DoJ vowed to continue to defend the sovereignty and integrity of the nation’s legal system and strongly urged the ICC to reconsider its decision and recognize the Philippines’ unwavering commitment to the rule of law and the pursuit of justice. “Furthermore, we would like to take this opportunity to reiterate our commitment to the well-being and support of all victims affected by the drug war,” Remulla’s department said. “The DoJ, in collaboration with other relevant agencies, is willing and able to assist those who had suffered harm or loss during this challenging period. We encourage all individuals with evidence and witnesses to come forward and share their testimonies with us,” it added. Former president Duterte, through his former spokesperson Harry Roque, shrugged off the ICC decision. In a Facebook post, Roque said Duterte has always maintained that as an independent and sovereign state, only Philippine courts can try any crime committed in Philippine territory. “He has time and again said that because of this, he will face all his accusers anytime but before Philippine courts and before Filipino judges only,” Roque said. In a television interview, Zubiri said the upper chamber would “not give up” Dela Rosa should the ICC issue a warrant of arrest against the latter. “Without the local warrant of arrest issued by the courts, then as far as I’m concerned, he is still a working member of the Senate and accorded of course that respect, similar to Senator De Lima and Senator [Antonio] Trillanes,” he said. “Only when the warrant of arrest was issued, then we allowed or we agreed that he may be taken in custody,” he added. The post BATO DARES ICC ‘I am here, arrest me!’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Agri remains the number one priority says PBBM
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Wednesday that the government is committed to improving the country's agricultural production and that electrification is essential to this effort. The Chief Executive said this as he graced the distribution of various government assistance in the City of Butuan. "We cannot improve and strengthen our economy if we do not fix agriculture," Marcos said in his speech. "The whole system has changed — the sources we used to rely on for agricultural commodities have changed because of the pandemic. Everything has changed," he added. To address this, Marcos said that the government is implementing a number of programs to support the agricultural sector, including the Kadiwa store, which sells agricultural products directly from farmers to consumers, and the RCEF program, which provides farmers with machinery and other inputs. "We are just starting. We will continue doing this. It will not stop until we can say that no one needs TUPAD (Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers) anymore, no one needs AICS (Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations), no one needs that kind of cash transfer because everyone has a job," Marcos said. Marcos also said that the government is working to improve the supply chain for agricultural products and to make it easier for farmers to export their goods. "We are here to help those in need," Marcos said. "We hope that not only through providing this aid but also through improving the economy, the lives of our fellow countrymen will improve," he added. The post Agri remains the number one priority says PBBM appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PBBM: Presidency a work in progress
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday agreed with an economist who gave him an "incomplete" grade in his first year in office, saying he and his Cabinet have "many, many things that we still need to do." During the sidelines of a launching event in Parañaque, Marcos acknowledged that fulfilling his campaign promises is still "a work in progress" as he marks one year into the presidency. "I saw a report earlier this morning where one of the economists said the grade I will give the President is incomplete. I agree with him. We are not done," the Chief Executive said. "There are many, many things that we still need to do. We have to undo 30, 35, and almost 40 years of neglect in the agricultural sector. And the agricultural sectors still occupy the most fundamental part of our economy. We have done a lot of growth (and) we are beginning to see the systemic changes that will be part of the new bureaucracy, but there is still a long way to go," Marcos added. Marcos said that the government would continue to work to reduce inflation, which he described as the "biggest problem" in the economy. He reaffirmed that he and his government are doing their best to revive the economy. He noted that they are focusing on the agriculture sector, which is crucial to the nation's advancement. He pointed out that the international situation has changed regarding trade and geopolitics; hence Marcos said his government is adjusting to that. Marcos added that the most successful economies are agile and resilient. He said his administration is stepping up its attempts to draw in new investors. "The job ahead of us is to make big structural changes that we have instituted, to make them work, and so we can see the results, not only in terms of statistics in the PSA (Philippine Statistics Authority) but also in the lives of ordinary people," Marcos said. "We have to work smart, and we have to work well and be very conscious. We should not be insular and think that only the Philippines exists," Marcos added. The post PBBM: Presidency a work in progress appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Tanks and armed Wagner rebels deploy in southern Russia town
The sound of ambulance and police sirens filled the air on Saturday in Rostov-on-Don -- a hub for Russia's Ukraine campaign -- where the rebellious Wagner mercenary force said it had taken over key facilities. At a major intersection in the city center, an armored car with a machine gun and around a dozen men in military fatigues with silver armbands could be seen. Armored personnel carriers and tanks were positioned in other parts of the center, including outside a toy shop and a circus, journalists in the city reported. Passers-by stopped to look at the military vehicles, including transport trucks, and more armed men with silver armbands carrying rifles in resting positions. Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin has said his troops had taken control of Russia’s main military command center for Ukraine operations as well as an airbase in the city, vowing to topple Moscow's top military leaders. He said he commanded around 25,000 fighters. A port city located just over 100 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, Rostov-on-Don was founded in the 18th century and is the headquarters of Russia's southern military command. Unlike other large Russian cities further from the front lines, Rostov-on-Don -- with a population of just over one million people -- has experienced the ripple effects of Russia's large-scale military operation in Ukraine. One person was killed in March at an FSB building fire in Rostov-on-Don and the Rostov region has also been targeted over recent months in several drone attacks. Regional governor Vasily Golubev called on residents not to leave their homes unless absolutely necessary and said any planned mass gatherings in the city had been canceled. He also asked the public not to use the M4 motorway -- the main road connection between Moscow and southern Russia -- as sections have been closed and large queues of cars have formed along it. Golubev said public transport in the city was still functioning but routes had been changed to avoid the city center. "The situation that has arisen requires a maximum concentration of efforts to keep order," he said on social media. "Law enforcement agencies are doing everything necessary to ensure the security of our region's residents." The post Tanks and armed Wagner rebels deploy in southern Russia town appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Tingting Cojuangco — Christian Espiritu’s ultimate muse
Through the years of Philippine fashion history, Margarita “Tingting” de los Reyes Cojuangco has always been known as the muse of the iconic Filipino designer Christian Espiritu who recently passed away. Theirs is a friendship that had stood the test of time. Tingting was named one of the 100 beautiful women of the world by the international magazine, Harper’s Bazaar, on the occasion of its 100 founding anniversary. During the early years of the 1970s, she made it to the Hall of Fame of Manila’s Best Dressed List, an annual selection initiated by the old guard of Philippine fashion, among them Ramon Valera, Salavacion Lim Higgins of Slim’s, Pilar Romack of New Yorker Gown Salon, and Imelda Reyes of Milie’s Gowns. In the 1980s, Tingting, who graced the social pages as a teenager and a young matron, transformed into a new woman, this time as a street activist braving the firecanons and tear gas, a Yellow campaigner in the South, and finally a graduate student and scholar specializing in the ethnic muslim communities of Cotabago and Zamboanga. She would cap this with a National Defense College master’s thesis on the then rebel Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Through it all, she kept her friendship with the man who first showed the world her potential. Christian saw in Tingting, this gangly yet beautiful teenager, a lady worth grooming and turning into an icon of fashion. Tingting thus became Christian’s muse. Chosen by her mother and grandmother, Christian made her outfit for her high school prom at Maryknoll College. It was the beginning of a lifelong friendship and collaboration that would pass through social, political and economic upheavals in this country. No matter, they were constant in each other’s lives, not minding intrigues, the cycle of fortunes and The recent demise of her original mentor and designer, Christian, brought Tingting out of her reculsive and quiet life to share with the Daily Tribune her memories of the designer who streamline Filipiniana, incorporating his knowledge as a graduate of architecture. The interview with Tingting Cojuangco follows: “He launched my modeling career” Daily Tribune (DT): How did you meet Christian? Did you go to him for your teenage formal dresses, and not only during your wedding? Tingting delos Reyes Cojuangco (TRC): My mom and grandma Lucia “Dada” admired the simplicity of his designs on the Christian Espiritu shop on their way to fetch me from Maryknoll College. [caption id="attachment_148162" align="aligncenter" width="525"] CHRISTIAN and Tingting photographed by Jaime Zobel de Ayala.[/caption] The display changed constantly but the clothes were cut simply along the revered lines of Audrey Hepburn’s and Jackie Onassis. His below the knee dresses were sleeveless, with a boat collar, 2-pin tucks under the bust accentuated the waist and hips that ended in semi straight skirt. Mom brought me into his shop at age 15 it was called “Christian” for Christian Espiritu. He launched my modeling career at 16 years old with Gilbert Perez who taught me how to pose. Mother always reminded me, a pretty face looses attraction if the voice isn’t modulated or manners are impeccable and courteousness for elders. Christian reinforced Mom’s belief, simplicity are carried off with poise, beauty and elegance. Christian’s creativeness suggested taste with ease and wealth subdued characterizing by minimalism. DT: Tell me about that wedding gown. Why did you choose him and not Valera or one of the stalwarts of the era? What was his inspiration for the gown? What did you tell him about your preferences? TRC: He made my wedding gown and the whole entourage. My in-laws wanted my wedding gown to be made by Valera a great designer of his time. But I insisted on Christian. For my wedding gown he sketched the simplest white gown, it turned out he had sequins sewed on the satin fabric one by one. He put a sheer fabric organza on top of the gown. It was very elegant for my morning wedding as the sequins shined different colors depending on the lights. That was his precision. For my wedding Christian was at home with his assistant Romulo Estrada. I recall Inno Sotto as his right hand, both dressed me up constantly. Did I have a preference in designs? He said “bahala na ako” and I agreed. That was trust and loyalty. He designed my dresses with simplicity, cut perfectly, shaping my thin body whether it was a day dress or gown. “His dresses were cut perfectly.” DT: When you were married already, did you still see him for your outfits? Which of the dresses and gowns he made for you do you remember? TRC: Yes, we had a friendship of two family’s compadres and ninangs. He did China’s wedding gown of gray and pink even if he claimed he was retired. I forced him. DT: What made him an outstanding designer? TRC: Simplicity. His dresses were cut perfectly and fabrics that didn’t crumple with pin tucks here and there. With the timelessness in the designs and his execution I could wear Christian’s couture clothes for many years. DT: You are in the Best Dressed Hall of Fame. Was he among the designers that you admired and commissioned to do your dresses? TRC: Yes and our friendship developed through the years and confidence. He never spoke bad of anybody. He would just put his hands together and smile. DT: Any unforgettable creation of his exclusively for you? Can you describe some of the gowns and dresses he made for you? TRC: I had a satin dress with a round Chinese emblem and tassel. His clothes for me were stand outs…my gowns for formal functions were of full skirts. “He said, ‘The language of fashion is refined, cultured and well-mannered.’” DT: When was the last time you saw him? Tell us about that last encounter with him. TRC: At an Elegant Women event in Diamond Hotel, Elegance…Merriam-Webster defines it as “refined grace or dignified propriety; tasteful richness of design or ornamentation; restrained beauty of style.” The Cambridge Dictionary writes “graceful and attractive in appearance or behavior.” When the project of elegant women first came up, it was for me to make a list of best dressed women. It had been done too many times now without a conclusion. I figure that there are many Filipinas who have the perfect body for dressing, who dress and accessorize well – but money and a stylist can do that. And, as the cliché goes, money cannot buy class. So, the concept evolved and we agreed on making a list of The Elegant Filipina. We also decided that, first, this project would be for a cause, and second, that I would be allowed to redefine the meaning of elegance to inspire others to contribute to one’s community, society and country by being an elegant example. While the list was handpicked by me, I sought advice to validate my choices. This panel was composed of designer Christian Espiritu, fashion entrepreneur Tina Ocampo, Monaco Consul Fortune Ledesma, Philippine Tatler’s Editor-In-Chief Anton San Diego, and Managing Editor Chit Lijauco and Pete Cura. We defined an Elegant Filipina as: He said “The woman at the center of attention knows that the language of fashion is refined, cultured and well-mannered; Commands respect in her chosen field; leaves a legacy of power and grace, beauty and sophistication, wisdom and compassion.” At the first Elegant Women event, he was elegant in his suit with a scarf wearing his trade mark of silver bracelets or varied silver rings. I called him three weeks ago and we promised to see each other. It didn’t happen. “He never mixed politics with art.” [caption id="attachment_148158" align="aligncenter" width="525"] A PORTRAIT of Christian Espiritu by Jaime Zobel de Ayala, 1987.[/caption] DT: He turned his back on his number one client, Imelda Marcos, after Ninoy died. Were you ever with Christian during the Anti-Marcos rallies? Do you recall if he was in EDSA? TRC: Christian was calm, well educated, schooled and respectful. He wouldn’t hurt anyone’s feelings. Never mixed politics and arts. I don’t know about that. I was not with Christian rallying. For rallies I only wore blue jeans or khaki pants and trubenized blouses made of cotton white t-shirt. DT: Who are his other clients from your social set? Who were his loyal customers. TRC: I don’t know. I didn’t care nor ask. That’s not my concern. DT: How did your relationship evolve in the latter years of his life? TRC: I love him. He was part of my growing up and getting old. DT: What do you think was his greatest contribution to Philippine fashion? How did he influence the Philippine fashion industry? TRC: He kept piña alive and the Paranaque bordaderas working day to midnight in their livelihood of Filipino tradition. He used muted colors of fabric. He made women look elegant and desired without showing of their bodies. I agreed that elegance can be expensive. But elegance can be inexpensive too, but confidence and amiability are the key factors. The post Tingting Cojuangco — Christian Espiritu’s ultimate muse appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bong Go: Food, hotel stay, reimbursement for inconvenienced flyers
Senator Christopher “Bong" Go on Wednesday called on airlines to provide passengers affected by canceled or delayed flights with food and water, alternative flights, accommodation in nearby hotels, and prompt reimbursement of expenses they incurred from disrupted trips. The senator made the call during the Senate inquiry on passenger complaints against Cebu Pacific, including the airline's overbooking, offloading, and online booking glitches. Senator Nancy Binay chaired the hearing of her Committee on Tourism. Earlier, she filed Senate Resolution 575 that called for the investigation after her office compiled at least 3,000 complaints from passengers from social media platforms. Binay emphasized the need to identify problems and immediately craft strategies to prevent similar complaints in the future. Go told the Committee that even former president Rodrigo Duterte experienced a flight scheduled at five o'clock but changed to 9:30 last Saturday. The senator also cited his own experience that caused him to celebrate his birthday on an airplane at midnight of 14 June. "Last Saturday, I have an 11:25 p.m. flight. I received the boarding time on my cellphone at 10:40 p.m. It means you have to get ready. Then all of a sudden, when you are in the door, you will be told that the airplane has not yet arrived?" he said in another instance of delayed flight. "Why is that? What the online advisory said was different, that the plane was already there when the truth was that it was not there. Passengers should be given proper information to have a comfortable travel." Go added, "The situation is also difficult for our OFWs who are working tirelessly abroad to support their families. Delayed or canceled flights may jeopardize their employment and livelihood." He also lamented the practice of selling more airline tickets than available seats, which has led to situations where passengers with confirmed reservations have been denied boarding, disrupting their plans and causing immense inconvenience. "The airline should compensate affected passengers for their inconvenience," Go said. During the hearing, several Cebu Pacific passengers complained about apparent website errors that resulted in them being charged multiple times for transactions, yet it appeared to be unsuccessful. Cebu Pacific chief marketing and customer experience officer, Candice Iyog, told the committee that the airline is already working on “a fix or an enhancement” to the interface of the website, which will likely be ready at the end of this month. Iyog said they recently reminded their customer service agents to allow passengers to get back to their original flight or to remove add-ons that were “accidentally added.” The post Bong Go: Food, hotel stay, reimbursement for inconvenienced flyers appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Turkey’s Erdogan unveils new cabinet after inauguration
Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday unveiled a new cabinet lineup, naming a powerful spy chief as foreign minister and market-friendly Mehmet Simsek as finance minister, hours after swearing in for a third term as president. Erdogan took the oath of office in parliament after winning a historic runoff election to extend his two-decade rule and promised to serve "impartially". He also called for unity and the anger and resentment of the campaign to be set aside as he spoke during a lavish ceremony at his presidential palace in the capital Ankara attended by dozens of world leaders. Turkey's transformative but divisive leader won the May 28 runoff against a powerful opposition coalition, despite an economic crisis and anger over the response to a February earthquake that killed more than 50,000 people. Erdogan won 52.18 percent of the vote while his secular rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu scored 47.82 percent, official results show. "As president, I swear upon my honour and integrity, before the great Turkish nation... to work with all my power to protect the existence and independence of the state... and to fulfil my duty impartially," Erdogan said in parliament after a ceremony outside the building where he saluted soldiers under pouring rain. Supporters in parliament gave Erdogan a minute-long standing ovation after his swearing-in, while some opposition lawmakers refused to stand up. In his oath, Erdogan also promised not to deviate from the rule of law and the secular principles of the republic founded by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk 100 years ago. Turkey's longest-serving leader, who has survived mass protests, a corruption scandal and a failed coup attempt since he came to power in 2003, now faces significant immediate challenges in his third term, including the slowing economy and tensions with the West. New cabinet Erdogan changed almost all his cabinet members except for his health and culture ministers. He named former deputy prime minister Mehmet Simsek, a reassuring figure with international stature, as treasury and finance minister. Addressing the country's economic troubles will be Erdogan's first priority, with inflation running at 43.70 percent, partly due to his unorthodox policy of cutting interest rates to stimulate growth. A former Merrill Lynch economist, Simsek is known to oppose Erdogan's unconventional policies. He served as finance minister between 2009 and 2015 and deputy prime minister in charge of the economy until 2018, before stepping down ahead of a series of lira crashes that year. Erdogan appointed the head of the National Intelligence Organisation (MIT), Hakan Fidan, as foreign minister. Fidan has been at the helm of MIT since 2010 -- and Erdogan once called the 55-year-old his "secret keeper". Watch the video here: 'Let's make peace' Erdogan, standing next to his wife Emine, promised to embrace all segments of society during a ceremony at his palace earlier in the day. "We will embrace all 85 million people, regardless of their political views, origins, creeds or sects," he said, hoping that his appeal would be reciprocated also by his opponents. "Turkey needs unity and solidarity more than ever," he said. The polarization in society has deepened under the rule of Erdogan -- called "Reis" by his supporters ("the chief"). "We want all opposition segments, including journalists, writers, civil society, artists and politicians, to reconcile with the national will," he said. "If there is resentment, if hearts are broken, let's find a way to make peace." Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, Iran's vice president Mohammad Mokhber, Hungary's right-wing Prime Minister Viktor Orban and the speaker of the lower house of Russia's parliament, Vyacheslav Volodin, were among the foreign guests at the ceremony. In the latest sign of a thaw between the two arch-foes, Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan was also present. NATO allies are anxiously waiting for Ankara to green-light Sweden's drive to join the US-led defence alliance, before a summit in July. Erdogan has delayed approving the application, accusing Stockholm of sheltering "terrorists" from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) which is listed as a terror group by Ankara and its Western allies. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg and Sweden's former prime minister Carl Bildt, who attended the ceremony at Erdogan's palace, are expected to press him to drop his opposition to Stockholm's bid. The post Turkey’s Erdogan unveils new cabinet after inauguration appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Political thunderbolt (2)
The lawmaker who everybody perceives to be behind the unceremonious and contemptuous ouster of FPGMA as Senior Deputy Speaker, and who is fast getting the monicker “Congressman Tambaloslos”, rightly or wrongly, that put to extreme embarrassment and humiliation the Chair Emeritus of his party Lakas-CMD whom he heads as President, with the outraged and pissed Vice-President and concurrent Secretary of Education, as the National Chairperson, initially kept mum on the removal but later on impliedly admitted it when he made a statement to the media that “any destabilization in the House should be nipped in the bud.” The destabilization of course referred to the rumored planned plot to remove him from the Speakership. The plot, which may have been foisted intentionally to justify the fall, was strongly denied by the FPGMA. One “inside story,” says that a female congresswoman told FPGMA that there were several congressmen who are unhappy with the Speaker because their share in the congressional perks have been slashed. The female lawmaker allegedly also told FPGMA that LAM (First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos) had consented to the Speaker being changed. Thereafter, as the story goes, the same congresswoman went to LAM and whispered to the latter that FPGMA was plotting to oust the Speaker. In this version, it would appear that the spreader of the bogus scenarios was sowing intrigue to the key players to make the erstwhile allies head for a collision course. One political pundit says that it is more believable that this early the Speaker is already laying the foundation for a run in the 2028 presidential election, and gradually eliminating the forces that may likely be his adversaries when the time comes. It is no secret that FPGMA is fond of Inday Sara and that the former went all out for the latter during the last elections. She certainly would want VP Sara to succeed PBBM. While the latter has always been quiet and enigmatic with her future political plans, there is no denying that from the looks of it — the convergence of circumstances, will compel her to seek the presidency, which was at her taking during the last elections, had she wanted to, as shown by the election surveys that placed her at the totem pole among the various presidential candidates, but due to compelling personal reasons, and to the overwhelming despair of her millions of followers and admirers, she opted to slide down to the vice presidency, which decision naturally threw a monkey wrench to the well laid plans of the then dominant political party of the previous administration. Every indication points to the Speaker preparing for a presidential run in 2028. He has been very visible at the inception of the Marcos Jr. administration. He was always with PBBM on all his official trips abroad. He makes sure that in every photo opportunity, he is seen beside the President. He is also with the President in every major official and social event that the Chief Executive attends. He is always profuse in praising the PBBM with the latter’s vision and programs for the country and trumpeting the travel trip’s successes of the President every chance he has, even beating the Malacañang press office to the draw. Wittingly or otherwise, the President may by his silence encourage his first cousin to keep traversing the course he has taken. His non-interference on the axing of his “secret weapon” in the matter of his foreign relations with China, seems to validate this view. Keen observers opine that the fact that FPGMA was removed from her previous position is a telltale sign that he approved of it. Whatever may have caused or precipitated the forced hasty departure of FPGMA from her honorific but exalted position in the House, certainly birthed the realignment of the political forces that will alter the present political landscape. (To be continued) The post Political thunderbolt (2) appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Shell Pilipinas bankrolls growth with P6B war chest
Shell Pilipinas Corporation is allocating around P5 to P6 billion in capital expenditure to finance the expansion of its mobility stations and other services as well as sustain growth momentum throughout the year. Shell Vice President for Finance and Chief Risk Officer Reynaldo P. Abilo disclosed yesterday that the budget will also support the company’s target to reach 60 mobility stations by the end of the year. Last year, Shell also spent P5.6 billion on network buildup. In a stock report on Wednesday, Shell Pilipinas reported that it booked P800 million in core earnings in the first quarter, up 45 percent year-on-year despite oil price volatility, high inflation and elevated interest rates. Shell Pilipinas noted that the growth was driven by strong marketing delivery, as sales volume rose by 8 percent and the premium product mix remained healthy. However, this was overshadowed by the P1.1 billion inventory holding loss arising from the decline in oil prices closing the quarter with a P300-million net loss. “We create value for all our shareholders by growing our reach and impact, profitably. Guided by our Powering Progress strategy, we sustain our momentum of recovery quarter by quarter,” Shell Pilipinas president and CEO Lorelie Quiambao-Osial said in the report. “We are pleased to report that growth in fuels and lubes sales volumes continued across businesses such as Mobility, Lubricants and Aviation, while our Non-Fuel Retail business maintained its double-digit growth,” she added. The company recently changed its name from Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation to Shell Pilipinas Corporation. It said the change in corporate name signified that the company “goes beyond petroleum and will deliver more options to its consumers to provide sustainable and cleaner energy solutions to the country.” The post Shell Pilipinas bankrolls growth with P6B war chest appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»