Southwoods Chairman’s Charity Cup tees off
Four hundred players make up the full-packed field slugging it out for top honors in the Chairman’s Charity Cup beginning Friday......»»
Villar, Zhang raffle winners in Southwoods Chairman’s Charity Cup
Rey Villar and Junqing Zhang drove home brand-new cars after winning the grand raffle prizes in the Manila Southwoods Chairman’s Charity Cup at the Manila Southwoods in Carmona, Cavite over the weekend......»»
Villar, Zhang win cars in Chairman’s Cup
Rey Villar and Junqing Zhang drove home brand-new cars after winning the grand raffle prizes in the Manila Southwoods Chairman’s Charity Cup at the Manila Southwoods in Carmona, Cavite over the weekend......»»
Plana, Ilagan rule Chairman’s Cup
Jun Jun Plana and Marty Ilagan struck on the final day of the Manila Southwoods Chairman’s Charity Cup, matching 38 points to secure the men’s and seniors low gross titles, respectively, at the Masters course in Carmona, Cavite yesterday......»»
Plana, Ilagan stand out in Chairman’s Cup
Jun Jun Plana and Marty Ilagan struck in the final day of the Manila Southwoods Chairman’s Charity Cup, matching 38 points to secure the men’s and seniors low gross titles, respectively, at the Masters course in Carmona, Cavite Saturday......»»
Four-handicapper leads Chairman’s Cup
Jong Sug Han produced 40 points under the Stableford points system to wrest control in Division I while Harry Gonzales took charge in Division 2 with 38 points at the start of the Manila Southwoods Chairman’s Charity Cup in Carmona, Cavite yesterday......»»
Southwoods event stakes fabulous prizes for aces
The Manila Southwoods Chairman’s Charity Cup kicks off tomorrow at the Legends and Masters courses in Carmona, Cavite, boasting an impressive lineup of prizes and making it a highly anticipated event in the golfing community......»»
Cars, cruise packages await ace hitters in Chairman s Cup
The Manila Southwoods Chairman’s Charity Cup kicks off Friday, December 15, at the Legends and Masters courses in Carmona, Cavite, boasting of an impressive lineup of prizes and making it a highly anticipated event in the golfing community......»»
Southwoods Chairman’s Cup draws huge field
The Manila Southwoods Chairman’s Charity Cup gears up for another fun but competitive edition when it is held Dec. 15 and 16 at the Legends and Masters courses in Carmona, Cavite......»»
Over 240 golfers vie in Southwoods Chairman’s Charity Cup
The Manila Southwoods Chairman’s Charity Cup gears up for another fun but competitive edition when it is held December 15 and 16 with a full-packed field all primed for battle......»»
A legacy award for Tita Helen
Our favorite charity fund raiser, the indefatigable and ageless Helen Ong, honorary consul of Angola to the Philippines, received the surprise of her life when the Board of Trustees of the Philippine Cancer Society bestowed on her the organization’s first-ever Legacy Award, which cited “her outstanding service as the chairperson of the Best Dressed Women of the Philippines from 2004 to 2023, while selflessly dedicating her precious time and worthy efforts to raise funds for the benefit of the PCS and, in so doing, alleviate the plight of cancer-stricken Filipinos.” Given during the recent “Best Dressed Women of the Philippines 2023” awarding at the Shangri La Hotel The Fort, the award underscored “her indefatigable commitment and loyal devotion to the Society for the last 20 years, even beyond the call of duty; her inspiring creativity and unparalleled perseverance in ensuring assistance was forthcoming during the Covid-19 pandemic amidst the scarcity of resources; and her unwavering belief in the compassionate hearts of her fellowmen and her steadfast faith in God.” [caption id="attachment_192151" align="aligncenter" width="525"] MEN of Great Influence 2023 (from left) David Ackerman, Noel Gonzales, Harold Co, Philippine Red Cross chairman Richard Gordon, Dr. Cecilio Kwok Pedro, Orberto Alvarez Jr., Richard Cariño and Richie Lerma.[/caption] The signatories of the award were PCS chairman of the Board of Trustees Antonio J. Ma. Guerrero and PCS president Dr. Corazon A. Ngelangel, with PCS trustee Dr. Kelly Salvador and PCS executive director Dr. Rachel Rosario handing the plaque of recognition to the awardee. Earlier, in her welcome remarks, Tita Helen, as she is fondly referred to by her friends and family, said, “This marks a day of gratitude for me as this is our 20th year. This could not have been possible without your continued help and support to our noble cause by providing financial assistance to your cancer-stricken brothers and sisters. [gallery columns="2" size="large" ids="192157,192161"] [gallery columns="1" size="large" ids="192162,192163"] Addressing the honorees, she acknowledged “every one of you here who have accepted our invitation as an awardee. Choosing one is not an easy task as we aim to recognize achievers in their own fields of work or advocacy, who are not just measured by their success and accomplishments but also by the kindness of their hearts. [caption id="attachment_192164" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Dr. Lauren Lior Liechtenstein.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_192165" align="aligncenter" width="525"] DAVID Ackerman and Mache Torres Ackerman.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_192166" align="aligncenter" width="515"] Agile Zamora receives her husband Wopsy Zamora’s award. Photographs by Yummie Dingding for the Daily Tribune [/caption] “Being beautiful has nothing to do with looks; it is how you are as a person and how you make an impact on the lives of many, especially to those who are in need. Beauty isn’t about having a pretty face, it is about having a pretty mind, a pretty heart and pretty soul.” Finally, she thanked “God who has been providing me with abundant blessings to be able to mount this event.” Major sponsors of this most special of annual awards recognizing these icons of style and philanthropy were Museo Orlina Foundation, Midas Hotel and Casino, San Miguel Foundation Inc., PAGCOR, The French Baker, SM Investments, SM Retails, Corso Como 88, Salcedo Auctions, Wilcon Depot Inc., Czarina Foreign Exchange, IPM Holdings Inc., B.A. Securities Inc., MW Travel and Tour and NEO. The post A legacy award for Tita Helen appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bong Go urges DOH to bolster gov’t health services initiatives
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, urged Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Teodoro "Ted" Herbosa during a Commission on Appointments (CA) hearing on Tuesday, 26 September, to bolster its initiatives towards providing better health services, especially in the grassroots and particularly for poor and indigent patients needing government support. Among those mentioned by Go are the continuing operations of Malasakit Centers in accordance with the law, the establishment of more Super Health Centers in strategic locations nationwide, and the proper implementation of the recently enacted Regional Specialty Centers Act. "Sa inyong palagay, nakakatulong ba ang Malasakit Centers sa mga mahihirap nating kababayan? At hindi ba napapabayaan ang mga pasyente?" Go said during the Commission on Appointments hearing on the ad interim appointment of Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa which Go presided on that day. As a response, Herbosa highlighted the significant number of patients served by the centers. "Ang pinakamarami dito sa NCR, almost 607,000 at more than 200,000 sa iba't ibang region. Almost every region is over 100,000 to 200,000 patients served," Herbosa answered. The senator also appealed to the DOH to ensure that poor and indigent patients are given the utmost attention in public hospitals. Go cited a recent department memorandum signed by Herbosa instructing medical center chiefs to ensure that all patients must be accorded with the available services in Malasakit Centers. "Ang mga social workers doon sa loob ng Malasakit Centers — at ako mismo pagpupunta ako doon — sinasabihan ko talaga ang mga social workers, ‘Isa lang ang pakiusap ko sa inyo, as chairman ng Committee on Health, huwag niyo pabayaan ang mga mahihirap na pasyente’," Go said. The Malasakit Centers consist of various agencies offering medical assistance programs including the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), DOH, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO). These centers were institutionalized under Republic Act No. 11463, principally authored and sponsored by Go. According to DOH, more than seven million indigent patients have already benefitted from the 159 Malasakit Centers established nationwide. Go also discussed the importance of Super Health Centers, which serve as primary care facilities offering a range of services including consultations, laboratory tests, and minor treatments. These health facilities in communities aim to provide early detection of diseases and also decongest hospitals by providing immediate medical care. "Kung nandiyan ang primary care, (magkakaroon ng) early detection… meaning… hindi lumala ang sakit at maagapan ito. It will also help decongest the hospitals," Go explained. Go also said free consultations handled by municipal health offices, LGUs, and PhilHealth through its Konsulta program can be facilitated in Super Health Centers. Services offered in Super Health Centers include database management, out-patient, birthing, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: x-ray and ultrasound), pharmacy, and ambulatory surgical unit. Other available services are eye, ear, nose, and throat (EENT) service, oncology centers, physical therapy and rehabilitation centers, and telemedicine. Go was instrumental in pushing for adequate funding to ensure that more Super Health Centers are established across the country. Some 307 Super Health Centers were funded in 2022 through Go’s initiative and with the help of LGUs, DOH, and fellow lawmakers, and 322 more Super Health Centers in 2023. Herbosa supported this initiative, stating that Super Health Centers are partnerships between the national and local governments. Go then questioned Herbosa on whether there would be sufficient funding for the continuous operation of Malasakit Centers and Super Health Centers. "Can you assure us that there is and there will be sufficient funding for the continuous operation of Malasakit Centers?" Go asked. "We will assure the Commission na talagang tutulungan natin ang mga mahirap at nangangailangan using all the funds given by the Department of Health," Herbosa responded. Finally, Go also highlighted RA 11959, or the Regional Specialty Centers Act, a new law he principally sponsored and is one of the authors in the Senate, which mandates the establishment of specialized medical centers within existing DOH regional hospitals. Echoing President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr.'s priority of bringing specialized medical services closer to other parts of the country, Go reminded DOH that sufficient funding must be allocated for the proper implementation of the law. “Ipagpatuloy natin na ilapit ang serbisyong medikal mula gobyerno sa ating mga kababayang mahihirap na walang ibang matakbuhan. The more we should support their health needs, the more na mag-invest po tayo sa ating healthcare system,” Go said. "Huwag po natin silang pahirapan. Marami po sa mga kababayan natin sa iba’t ibang sulok ng Pilipinas na wala silang sariling health facility. Kaya importante na mailapit natin ang serbisyong medikal mula gobyerno sa mga taong nangangailangan nito," he concluded. The CA has suspended the confirmation of Herbosa as Health Secretary due to "lack of material time”, since Congress is set to go on break and will reconvene in November. The post Bong Go urges DOH to bolster gov’t health services initiatives appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
7 Malasakit Centers now operational in CARAGA region
Senator Christopher "Bong" Go on Friday, 15 September, attended the launch of the country's 159th Malasakit Center at Bislig District Hospital in Bislig City, Surigao del Sur. This new addition brings the total number of Malasakit Centers in the CARAGA Region to seven and to 40 across Mindanao. Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, has been steadfast in his commitment to improving healthcare access for Filipinos, particularly for the less privileged. The Malasakit Center initiative, a program close to Go's heart, aims to provide a seamless and expedited process for particularly poor and indigent patients to access government medical assistance programs. "As Chairman ng Committee on Health, priority ko talaga itong Malasakit Center para mayroon kayong nalalapitan sa inyong pagpapaospital," Go emphasized during the inauguration. He further elaborated that these centers serve as a one-stop-shop for healthcare, consolidating various government agencies such as the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office under one roof. This approach eliminates the need for patients to make multiple visits and fill out extensive paperwork, thereby making healthcare more accessible for Filipinos. The recent launch at Bislig District Hospital shows the steady progress of healthcare accessibility in the Caraga Region. The Butuan Medical Center in Butuan City, Agusan del Norte, was the first to open in the region on 12 October 2018. It was followed by the Caraga Regional Hospital in Surigao City, Surigao del Norte, on 1 March 2019. The year 2021 marked a surge in the program's expansion, with new centers at the Siargao Island Medical Center in Dapa, Surigao del Norte, on 3 July; the Lianga District Hospital in Lianga, Surigao del Sur, on 10 July; and two more inaugurated on 31 July at the Democrito O. Plaza Memorial Hospital in Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur, and the Adela Serra Ty Memorial Medical Center in Tandag City, Surigao del Sur. Go said that these centers serve as a testament to the government's commitment to healthcare accessibility. Each center is strategically located to serve the healthcare needs of the local population, particularly those who are less privileged. "Ubusin niyo po ang pera ng gobyerno para sa mga mahihirap. Sabi ko, bakit natin pahirapan ang Pilipino? Sa totoo lang po ay pera ninyo yan. Dapat po ibalik sa inyo sa mabilis na paraan. ‘Yan po ang Malasakit Center," Go said. According to DOH, these centers have already assisted more than seven million Filipinos nationwide. During the launch, Go expressed his gratitude to local officials, as well as the medical staff and partner agencies who have made the program's expansion possible. "Hindi po ako titigil sa mga programang makakabuti po sa ating mga kababayan, ipagpapatuloy ko po ang mga nasimulan," Go concluded. The post 7 Malasakit Centers now operational in CARAGA region appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bong Go visits Navotas City to aid vulnerable sectors
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, together with Mayor John Rey Tiangco and Vice Mayor Kap Tito Sanchez, led a relief operation on Tuesday, August 22, for 800 Navotas City residents, consisting of persons with disabilities, senior citizens, and indigents at San Roque Elementary School. All beneficiaries received support personally from Go through grocery packs, vitamins, masks, and meals while select recipients were given bicycles, mobile phones, shirts, watches, and balls for basketball and volleyball. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) then extended financial assistance to the qualified beneficiaries. “Tuwing may kalamidad, tuwing may sunog, tuwing may problema po tayo, hindi niya tayo nakakalimutan…Talagang inaalala tayo, iniinisip niya tayo, at patuloy na nagmamalasakit sa inyo,” Tiangco said, referring to Go’s efforts. In addition to the 800 beneficiaries from vulnerable sectors, Go’s team is set to return today, August 23, to provide additional assistance to 200 more residents. Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, stressed the importance of prioritizing one's health and said “Mga kababayan ko, palagi tayong mag-iingat at alagaan natin ang mga sarili. Napaka importante po talaga unahin muna natin ang kalusugan natin.” Go principally authored and sponsored Republic Act No. 11463, also known as the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019. This law mandates the establishment of Malasakit Centers in all hospitals under the Department of Health (DOH), including the Philippine General Hospital in Manila City. He encouraged individuals with health concerns to visit any of the 31 hospitals in Metro Manila, including the Navotas City Hospital, that house Malasakit Centers. These centers offer a one-stop shop for assistance from four government agencies – DSWD, DOH, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. Currently, there are 158 Malasakit Centers nationwide and, according to DOH, these centers have helped more than seven million Filipinos nationwide. “Huwag kayong matakot pumunta sa ospital kung wala kayong pera. Nasa loob na ng isang opisina ang mga ahensya na tutulungan kayo sa inyong babayaran,” Go said. Moreover, Go said Congress has allocated the necessary funds for DOH to construct Super Health Centers (SHCs) across Metro Manila, including the one in the city. “Mayroong 307 na itatayo na Super Health Center sa year 2022 sa buong Pilipinas at 322 na Super Health Center sa year 2023 sa buong Pilipinas. Bilang chairman sa Committee on Health sa Senado, sisikapin ko na maimprove ang ating healthcare system at ilapit natin ang serbisyo medikal sa ating mga kababayan,” Go said. SHCs are medium versions of polyclinics and are bigger than rural health units. The centers offer basic services such as database management, out-patient, birthing, isolation, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory, x-ray, and ultrasound), pharmacy and ambulatory surgical unit. Other available services are eye, ear, nose, and throat (EENT) service, oncology centers, physical therapy and rehabilitation center and telemedicine. In line with his vision for a more progressive urban community, Go, vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, supported various projects, including the construction of multipurpose buildings in various barangays; construction of floodwall structure along Chungkang River, floodgates along Navoyas Coastal Dike; improvement of drainage canals. He also helped secure funding for the acquisition of ambulance units, trucks, and multicabs. Aside from the said projects, the senator also supported several projects to bolster the city’s education sector, such as the rehabilitation of some facilities in Navotas Polytechnic College and additional buildings in Kaunlaran High School, Daanghari Elementary School, North Bay Boulevard Elementary School, Navotas National High School, Tangos Elementary School, San Roque Elementary School, San Rafael Village Elementary School, Tanza Elementary School, and Dagat-dagatan Elementary School. “Hinding-hindi ko po sasayangin ‘yung pagkakataong ibinigay n’yo po sa akin. Magtatrabaho po ako para sa Pilipino sa abot ng aking makakaya. Iyan po ang pwede kong ialay sa inyo, ang aking kasipagan. Kung trabaho po ang pag-uusapan sanay po ako sa trabaho,” said Go. “Alam n’yo parati kong naririnig na pinapasalamatan kami ni dating pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte sa mga tulong (at) sa mga programa. Huwag ho kayong magpasalamat sa amin. Sa totoo lang po kami po ang dapat magpasalamat sa inyo dahil kami po’y mga probinsyano na binigyan n’yo po ng pagkakataon na makapagseribsyo po sa inyong lahat. Maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat,” he concluded. After the said activity, Go proceeded to lead another distribution effort in the city for recovering fire victims on the same day in coordination with the National Housing Authority which provided emergency housing assistance to qualified beneficiaries. The post Bong Go visits Navotas City to aid vulnerable sectors appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Logo redesign cheapest, says PAGCOR chair
The once-controversial redesign logo of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation that drew criticism from the public for costing P3 million in government funds is already the “cheapest,” said its chairperson Alejandro Tengco on Monday. Responding to Kabataan Rep. Raoul Manuel’s query during PAGCOR’s briefing on the 2024 national budget before the House Committee on Appropriations, Tengco justified the agency’s spending of P3 million for rebranding the logo was already a steal. In fact, he said, the graphic artist’s act of rebranding the old PAGCOR logo design for P3 million could be perceived as an act of charity. “That’s why that P3 million was very cheap,” Tengco said. During his interpolation, Manuel asked the top PAGCOR official why there was a need to spend such a vast amount, given that other international top brands such as Coca-cola, Twitter and Nike do not spend millions of dollars for such redesigning. “We, in the government, shouldn’t be saving more? And we claim we don’t have fiscal space for other budget items, but for that logo, there is,” Manuel said. The Makabayan lawmaker further noted that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, which is also a part of the bureaucracy, did not spend millions of funds to redesign its 10-year-old logo, released in 2020. Manuel also said that the country has many graphic artists that could come up with logos that would not cost much. Tengco, on the other hand, countered that the P3 million paid by PAGCOR not only accounts for the logo itself since the graphic designer also has other deliverables, such as traveling the country to examine various divisions and departments of the agency to install the new logo. Moreover, the PAGCOR chief disclosed to the panel that the modification of their logo was to counter thousands of counterfeit licenses now in circulation. Tengco bared that there have been reports from various regions in the Philippines and other international jurisdictions that there are close to a thousand fake licenses going around now. These fake licenses, he said, are being used for illicit operations worldwide, particularly in London, Turkey, Curacao, and also within the country’s borders. “So we decided to redesign the logo immediately to be able to counter such,” Tengco said, brushing off allegations that the revision of the logo was solely for the luxury of the chairman and the board. “So we have to rebrand. When you rebrand, that means you don’t just do a logo specifically. One, the graphic designer, who was awarded the design, has to ensure that the said logo’s implementation and use will be properly done,” the PAGCOR chief told the panel. Meanwhile, Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez raised concerns that PAGCOR’s new logo could have infringed on the copyrights of Petron, which many believe have comparisons to PAGCOR’s logo. “It’s not only about the expedite of P3 million, but the fact that the logo that you have has a big similarity to the Petro logo. It looks the same,” Rodriguez said. Tengco, however, confidently answered Rodriguez that he himself examined the logo and denied claims that there was intent to duplicate Petron’s. “I have asked the artist, and we have also asked the artist of Petron. So far, nothing. Actually, eight logos were presented to the board,” he said. “Unfortunately, for some, that’s what the board chose. But definitely, the graphic artist had assured us that there was no infringement and there was no attempt to copy such,” Tengco added. The post Logo redesign cheapest, says PAGCOR chair appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Idolizing Danny Dolor (The man I might have been if I had at least P500 million)
Here’s sharing with you Cyber Proust’s (now Proust Redux) winning piece when he joined the 2010 Philippine Star Lifestyle Journalism Contest sponsored by Rustan Commercial Corporation and the Stores Specialists, Inc. The announcement called for feature articles, as many as one could submit, about heroes, dead or alive. Cyber Proust submitted three — one about his mother; another about a blogger who tells stories about his clan and people like them, making for a good read for people interested in Philippine upper class but not necessarily high society; and this one, about Danny Dolor, Cyber Proust’s patron and benefactor when Cyber Proust had not yet declared himself rich. Here goes: My hero, my icon, the man I’d rather be When people are asked who they want to be if they ever get the chance to live their lives all over again, they almost always say they want to be the same person. If you ask me the same question, I’d have the same answer, only because I want to keep the same set of parents. But if I could keep my Dad and Mom, and still be someone else, I’d look at you straight in the eye, and declare, I want to be Danny Dolor. I can think of a hackneyed thousand and one reasons why I prefer to breathe and eat and live like Sir Danny, but let me stick to the quintessential five. First, he is rich which we all want to be. He is an art lover which I profess to be. He is a trailblazer even if he is a Libran who prefers balance, while I am an Arian who always wants to be the first. He was a good son who took care of his mother in her old age, which every good son should do especially if he were single. I am single, but I was always away from home, too busy changing and finding writing jobs. The closest I got to emulating Sir Danny was spending endless nights conversing with my mother whenever I was home during Christmas breaks. Sir Danny, on the other hand, never travelled abroad because he wanted to be by his mother’s side every night of the year. When he visited Lipa, their hometown, he would pick up his mobile phone to check on his mother and sister Fe in their Makati home, rattling off his orders to their yaya — check their temperature, don’t forget the medicine after their merienda, and so on. Finally, Danny Dolor is a good Catholic who hears Sunday Mass, fingers his beads when in the car, and joins the procession on Good Friday beside his own Mater Dolorosa. How I wish I could give away lands on which to build churches, donate thousands of portfolio bags for priests attending their annual convention, and build a museum in honor of a townsman, Alfredo Maria Obviar, who may yet be the first Filipino bishop to be beatified and, in God’s time, canonized. First conversation I am lucky to have an icon whom I have seen up close. I have seen Danny Dolor when he goes into a trance as he describes his first conversation with National Artist Atang de la Rama, to whom he became a friend and confidante, or fits of laughter as he recalls the usually funny repartee between his friends Sylvia La Torre and Oscar Obligacion when the latter was still alive. For all the secrets and fun times we have shared, I stick to calling him Sir as I did the first time I interviewed him in his thickly-carpeted, air-conditioned and perfume-smelling den. I had known about the man before I ever met him. I knew about his Tribung Pinoy which concertized all over the country in the late 1970s all the way to the mid 1980’s. I never saw them perform in person, but I read about Danny Dolor and his gang of sopranos, tenors and baritones who rendered their harana, danza, balitaw and, of course, kundiman, in schools and churches, and quixotic venues like the Culion Leper Colony in Palawan, the mental hospital and the women’s correctional where the patients and inmates cried, sang, danced and thanked him because no one ever came to sing for them. The path-breaking Danny Dolor also produced the first ever concert at the Cultural Center of the Philippines featuring an all-Filipino-traditional-music repertoire. Danny Dolor’s house, at that time when I interviewed him, was along Tamarind corner Banaba in uppity Forbes Park. In the den, paintings, sculptures, plaques, and trophies vied for the attention of first-time guests. I immediately liked a Zalameda portrait of a basketball player, but what impressed me was a plaque with Latin inscriptions which, my host explained to me, was his papal award. He next brought me to the lanai, thrice as large as the den, where beside the lacquered opium bed stood a gigantic St. Joseph. He showed me a life-size oil portrait of Charito Solis, Ramon Valera ternos worn by Gloria Romero and his sister Fe, and original drawings of Darna by Mars Ravelo. The man, who knows his art, takes pride in his penchant for everything Filipino. It is an interest that goes a long way back to his childhood during the Japanese occupation. In the family hacienda where they evacuated, he listened to the farmers sing native songs. In grade one a year or two later, the young Danny sang Bayan Ko before his classmates, to the shock of the teacher who probably expected Jack and Jill. When Sir Danny was in grade school, he watched Filipino films in the movie houses along Rizal Avenue. As a high school student, he listened to the Mabuhay singers over the radio. In college, he watched Tawag ng Tanghalan on television. Is it any wonder that he should mount a best-selling exhibit of movie ads from the golden years of Philippine cinema? Or that he has maintained, for more than ten years, a column in the Philippine Star, “Remember When?” featuring the movie stars and great musical talents of yesteryears? Danny Dolor is unique in that he straddles the worlds of show business and high society, which many find incompatible. Not with him who has produced movies, including Indie films, and concert tributes honoring luminaries of the silver screen like Director Hermogenes Ilagan and movie queen Carmen Rosales. His involvement in the upper strata, on the other hand, is never without a good reason. For example, he collaborated with the socialite businesswoman Nedy Tantoco in organizing the best-selling Ramon Valera retrospective exhibit. If he is chummy with the grand dame Imelda Cojuangco that’s because he is a loyal and trusted officer the Cofradia de la Inmaculada Concepcion, of which she is the chair. Every year, come Feast of the Immaculate Conception, they gather hundreds of children from depressed areas to receive their first holy communion. Imagine the mix For all of these, he takes a break from his duties as chairman of various companies that include a hospital, hotel, educational institution, bank and subdivisions. Imagine the mix — movies, music, church, business and high society. And he dances the Rigodon too. How can one not desire such completeness? There’s something though he’d rather not be said about him. In my times of need, he does not hide under his canopied bed, and in the milestones of my life, he gives me a thick red envelope. Once I ran out of cash to pay my rent, I called him up and told him that if only I could touch the tip of his pants, I was sure to have what I needed. Scolding me first for being such a cheap copy of the woman in the bible, he said Yes to my pleadings, while reminding me to help him prepare another souvenir program for yet another concert tribute for another forgotten gem of Philippine music. The man does not believe in outright charity. Not to me, anyway. And while he is patient with me, he insists that I “fix” my life for “all these things you delight in will soon come to pass” and “if you do not take care of yourself, who will?” and so on. From his mother, he passes on a classic gem, “Never do anything that people will notice from afar,” a rough translation of “Huwag kang gagawa ng kahit anong matatanaw mula sa malayo.” In short, don’t be a show-off. My hero and icon, Danny Dolor, is not only a model for living the successful and well-lived life that I dream about. He is also a saviour, a mentor and an angel who, despite the “professional distance” we keep between us as a “client” and as a “talent,” if the relationship must breed results, has come closest to being my “Tito” and best friend. Sir Danny will not be pleased with this article. He will think that I need to borrow money from him again. The post Idolizing Danny Dolor (The man I might have been if I had at least P500 million) appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bong Go inspects Malasakit Center in Tagbilaran City
Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, conducted on Monday, July 17, a monitoring visit to the Malasakit Center at the Governor Celestino Gallares Memorial Medical Center in Tagbilaran City, Bohol. In his speech, Go also thanked the medical frontliners who have been working tirelessly during the pandemic. "Hindi natin ito mararating ngayon kung hindi sa inyong sakripisyo, headed by our doctors, nurses, lahat pati security guards, kasama rin 'yan sa mga nagsakripisyo. Sa mga medical workers natin, salamat sa inyong lahat,” Go said. The senator expressed his commitment to promoting the welfare and rights of healthcare professionals, stating, "rest assured, na magsusumikap ako na magdepensa sa inyo sa Senado at ipaglaban ang inyong kapakanan as your chairman sa Committee on Health." The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop for government agencies including the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Health (DOH), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHIC), and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO). During the visit, Go and his team also provided grocery packs, masks, vitamins, and snacks to 196 patients and 1,438 frontliners, including security guards, utilities, and other hospital staff. They also gave away bicycles, shoes, mobile phones, and watches to select beneficiaries. The DSWD also committed to provide financial assistance to qualified patients. Meanwhile, Go also highlighted his efforts for the establishment of more Super Health Centers across the country, recognizing their potential to substantially decrease hospital occupancy rates and bring government healthcare services at the grassroots level. "Sa mga itinayo ng Super Health Centers, nakita namin kung gaano kalaki ang naitutulong nito sa komunidad lalo na sa rural areas. ‘Yun po ang layunin ng mga Super Health Centers, ang ilapit sa mamamayan ang serbisyong medikal ng gobyerno,” he said. On the same day, Go also visited several infrastructure projects that he earlier supported. These projects included the ongoing construction of the Governor Celestino Gallares Multispecialty Medical Complex, as well as the Cortes Municipal Park and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management building in Cortes. Additionally, he also attended the opening of the Inter-Barangay Basketball League in Cortes town and provided assistance to indigent athletes, coaches, referees, and barangay workers of the town. In Tagbilaran City, Go also took part in a relief activity for underprivileged residents and inspected the city's Super Health Center. To conclude the day, the senator attended the 73rd Commencement Exercise of the Bohol Institute of Technology International College System. The post Bong Go inspects Malasakit Center in Tagbilaran City appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PCSO donates P130-K worth of medicines to 5 recipients
The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office turned over Php 130,000 worth of medicines and vitamins to five qualified recipients of the Medicine Donation Program recently. The local government of Taytay, Rizal, represented by Dr. Maritess Malvar, received Php 30,000 worth of medicines to be used for the Dental Mission and Circumcision Drive' in three barangays of the said town from May to June this year. Meantime, the first district of Aklan, through its chief of staff Jess Marquez, received Php 10,000 of free medicines for their constituents. ACT-CIS Partylist and the second district of Quezon City, represented by Jocelyn Tulfo and her son Ralph Tulfo in Congress, received Php 20,000 pesos each worth of medicines and vitamins distributed to senior citizens and children. Meanwhile, the Ako Bicol Partylist received a big chunk of the donation of 50,000 pesos worth of medicines for residents in the Bicol Region. Rodolfo Vizcaya, its representative, said the PCSO has always been a big help to their constituents. "Nagpapasalamat po ako sa PCSO sa pangunguna ni GM Mel Robles at Chairman Junie Cua, kasama ang Board of Directors sa palagiang pagtulong sa mga mahihirap at nangangailangan. Nagpapasalamat ako sa mga libreng gamot na ipinagkaloob ninyo para sa ating mga kababayan sa Bicol. Magagamit po nila ito para hindi sila magkasakit lalo na ngayon na papasok ang panahon ng tag-ulan," he said. The MDP provides essential medicines and supplies to augment the resources of eligible government, non-government, and non-profit organizations and health facilities to enable them to healthcare services. The post PCSO donates P130-K worth of medicines to 5 recipients appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bong Go visits of Malasakit Center, aids patients and frontliners in Guimaras
Senator Bong Go, Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, personally visited Jordan, Guimaras on Friday, 19 May, where he checked the operations of a Malasakit Center in the town. To help ensure quality healthcare services are provided to the residents, Go conducted a monitoring visit to the Malasakit Center at Dr. Catalino Gallego Nava Provincial Hospital. In his speech, Go highlighted that there are now 157 Malasakit Centers nationwide that serve as one-stop shops for medical assistance programs, streamlining the process of availing such programs. “Ako po ang Chairman of Committee on Health sa Senado at ako rin ang Chairman on Sports. Kaya Mr. Malasakit, mayroon na tayong 157 na Malasakit Centers sa buong Pilipinas, kasama na po ang Guimaras, na may Malasakit Center,” said Go. First established in Cebu in 2018, the Malasakit Center is a brainchild of Go which houses agencies such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office to assist particularly poor and indigent patients with their hospital bills. Go is the principal author and sponsor of the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019. During the visit, Go and his team also provided assistance, such as grocery packs, masks, vitamins, and snacks to 217 patients and 512 front liners, including security guards, utilities, and other hospital staff. They also gave away bicycles, shoes, mobile phones, and watches to select beneficiaries. The senator then mentioned that there will also be Super Health Centers in the province, including in Jordan, Nueva Valencia, and Buenavista — the last one’s groundbreaking was personally witnessed by Go later that day. Through the collective efforts of fellow lawmakers, sufficient funds had been allocated for 307 Super Health Centers in 2022 and 322 in 2023. DOH, the lead implementing agency, identifies the strategic areas where they will be constructed. Earlier that day, Go, who also chairs the Senate Committee on Sports, attended a volleyball tournament as part of the Manggahan Festival of the province. The senator emphasized the importance of sports in promoting a healthy lifestyle, fostering discipline, and honing teamwork. He encouraged the aspiring athletes to pursue their dreams and assured them of his unwavering support. “Ngayon as Chairman po ng Committee on Sports, gusto ko po ipagpatuloy na labanan ang ilegal na droga sa pamamaraan po na engganyuhin ang mga kabataan to get into sports, stay away from drugs. Ilayo natin ang kabataan sa ilegal na droga,” urged Go. Go was joined by Governor Joaquin Carlos “JC” Rahman Nava, Vice Governor John Edward Gando, Uswag Ilonggo Partylist Congressman Jojo Ang, and Guimaras Lone District Congresswoman Lucille Nava, among others, during his visit. Later that day, Go also visited Buenavista town in Guimaras where he led the groundbreaking of the town’s Super Health Center, spearheaded a relief operation for indigents, and visited local infrastructure initiatives he earlier supported such as the Buenavista Wharf and a seawall in the town. The post Bong Go visits of Malasakit Center, aids patients and frontliners in Guimaras appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Go visits Malasakit Center in Quirino Province
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go conducted a monitoring visit to the Malasakit Center located at the Quirino Province Medical Center in Cabarroguis, Quirino on Saturday, 22 April. The center is a one-stop shop that houses representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office to help financially incapacitated patients reduce their hospital expenses to the lowest amount possible. A brainchild of Go, the Malasakit Centers program was institutionalized under Republic Act No. 11463, which he principally authored and sponsored in the Senate. To date, the 157 operational centers have helped more than seven million Filipinos nationwide according to the DOH. “Isa lang po ang pakiusap ko sa inyo, huwag n’yo pong pababayaan ‘yung mga kababayan nating mahihirap, ‘yung mga helpless, hopeless, ‘yung walang matakbuhan kung hindi ito lang pong hospital ng gobyerno... Tulungan po natin sila,” urged Go. During the visit, several officials accompanied the senator, including PCSO Chairman Junie Cua, Representative Midy Cua, Board Member Beth Saure, Diffun Mayor May Calaunan, and Cabarroguis Mayor Avelino Agustin, Jr. among others. Also present in the province that day were Senator JV Ejercito and Quirino Governor Dax Cua. Go and his team also provided meals, grocery packs, masks, vitamins, snacks, and shirts to 101 patients and 830 frontliners. They also gave away bicycles, cellular phones, shoes, watches, and balls for basketball and volleyball to select recipients. Meanwhile, the DSWD extended financial assistance to the patients as well as to 317 qualified hospital staff including security guards and other outsourced personnel. Apart from the Malasakit Center, Go, who serves as Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, reiterated his commitment to support the establishment of more Super Health Centers across the country, considering how they can significantly help reduce hospital occupancy rates while bringing government medical services closer to the grassroots. “Patuloy po akong tutulong sa pagpaparami ng Super Health Centers sa bansa sa abot po ng aking makakaya," said Go. "Sa mga itinayo ng Super Health Centers, nakita namin kung gaano kalaki ang naitutulong nito sa komunidad lalo na sa rural areas. ‘Yun po ang layunin ng mga Super Health Centers, ang ilapit sa mamamayan ang serbisyong medikal ng gobyerno,” he added. Through the collective efforts of fellow lawmakers, sufficient funds had been allocated under the Health Facilities Enhancement Program of the Department of Health for 307 Super Health Centers in 2022 and 322 in 2023. DOH, the lead implementing agency, identifies the strategic areas where they will be constructed. In Quirino, necessary funds have been allocated last year for the DOH to construct a Super Health Center in Saguday. More Super Health Centers were funded this year in Aglipay and Nagtipuna. Services offered in Super Health Centers include database management, out-patient, birthing, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: x-ray and ultrasound), pharmacy and ambulatory surgical unit. Other available services are eye, ear, nose, and throat (EENT) service, oncology centers, physical therapy and rehabilitation center and telemedicine, where remote diagnosis and treatment of patients will be done. As Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go has also supported various initiatives to boost development and economic growth in Quirino. These include the construction of a multipurpose building in Cabarroguis, concreting of the Sinabbagan Road in Nagtipunan, construction of the Tamsi-Landingan Viewpoint water system in Nagtipunan, and installation of solar street lights in Saguday and Diffun. “Sana po ay napasaya namin kayo ngayong hapon na ito. Mayroon lang po akong paalala sa inyo, sana po ay maalala n’yo ito sa mahabang panahon: Minsan lang tayo dadaan sa mundong ito. Kung ano pong kabutihan o tulong na pwede natin gawin sa ating kapwa, gawin na po natin ngayon dahil hindi na po tayo babalik sa mundong ito,” said Go. On the same day, Go attended the 6th Quirino Motorismo celebration, and then conducted an inspection of the Super Health Center in Saguday where he also aided indigent residents. The post Go visits Malasakit Center in Quirino Province appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Fernandez overall champ in CJH Chairman’s Cup
Tony Fernandez fired 40 points under the Stableford format to emerge as the overall champion of the 2023 Chairman’s Charity Cup at the Camp John Hay Golf Club in Baguio City......»»