Lessons from Afghanistan
One wonders which is worse for a developing country with no economic or military muscle: to be consigned to the margins of global affairs, or to serve as a recurrent battleground of rival world powers. Throughout its long and fabled history, Afghanistan had known that because of its strategic location in Central and South Asia, […] The post Lessons from Afghanistan appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Imee to Gibo, Año: Explain US special immigrant request for Afghans in Phl
“Afghan refugees or American spies?” This was the question raised by Senator Imee Marcos on Friday as she urged the Department of National Defense and the National Security Agency to explain the supposed request of the United States to grant some Afghans special immigrant status in the country. In a statement, Marcos said newly appointed Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro and National Secretary Adviser Eduardo Año should shed light on the matter. She also asked why the US government wanted to house Afghans in the Philippines instead of the American mainland or countries closer to Afghanistan. In her Senate Resolution 651 which she filed on Thursday, the lawmaker called for an inquiry into the real intention behind the US request since no data have been made public on the said Afghans' status as legitimate refugees or employees of the US government or American companies. "During the past year, security and espionage threats have substantially increased because of the sharp escalation in tension between rival superpowers," said Marcos, who chairs the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. In the resolution, she also mentioned a letter dated 5 June by the Presidential Management Staff where the agency held a "Technical Coordination Meeting" with other government agencies to take up the "proposed temporary housing in the Philippines of Special Immigrant Visa applicants from Afghanistan." However, according to Marcos, the government agencies called to attend could not thoroughly discuss the matter because the PMS did not provide details about the meeting other than its general topic, date and venue. She noted that her sources said that the memorandum of agreement was already in the works. "There's a lack of transparency in the present case," Marcos pointed out, comparing the previous administration's policy of accepting Afghan refugees when the Taliban took over their homeland in August 2021 following the withdrawal of American troops. The Philippine Immigration Act of 1940 states that the admission of refugees for religious, political or racial reasons should serve a humanitarian purpose and not be opposed to the public interest. "We need to know the real nature of the agreement between the Philippines and the United States and the course of action the executive branch plans to take," Marcos stressed. The post Imee to Gibo, Año: Explain US special immigrant request for Afghans in Phl appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
ASEAN network hails Go Negosyo gains
Members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Mentorship for Entrepreneurs network or AMEN gave Go Negosyo founder and chairperson Joey Concepcion a pat on the back for the efficient delivery of the movement’s targeted outputs focused on mentoring micro, small and medium enterprises or MSMEs. AMEN is the legacy project during the term of the Philippines as chair of the ASEAN-Business Advisory Council in 2017 under Concepcion. He expressed his delight that other nations are now benefiting from mentorship adding that “access to mentorship is critical to an entrepreneur’s success and with AMEN, we are able to share this with the rest of ASEAN.” “MSMEs comprise the majority of the businesses in the Philippines, and this is almost the same for our neighboring countries. Nano, micro, and small entrepreneurs are the most in need and we will continue to make sure that this legacy project will continue,” he added. Human capital dev’t promoted Legacy projects incorporate private-public partnerships to promote human capital development and entrepreneurship in the region, with each country initiating its own legacy project during its chairmanship of the private sector advisory body of the ASEAN. The feedback from the region on the AMEN report comes as its Joint Coordinating Committee convened its second meeting during the 15th ASEAN Coordinating Committee on Micro Small and Medium Enterprise Meeting last 22 to 26 May in Bangkok, Thailand. MSMEs comprise the majority of the businesses in the Philippines, and this is almost the same for our neighboring countries. Nano, micro and small entrepreneurs are the most in need and we will continue to make sure that this legacy project will continue. Last 23 May, the Project Management Office led by Project executive director, Engr. Merly Cruz, presented the achievements and milestones of the AMEN Project Phase 2 thus far together with the challenges encountered, lessons learned, and recommendations put forward by the project stakeholders. AMEN’s Phase 2 is near completion after having been rolled out in February 2023, which involves the regional rollout of the project after having been successfully piloted in Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. The AMEN Project Phase 2 is implemented by the ASEAN-BAC Business Advisory Council, together with the ASEAN Secretariat and the Government of Japan through the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund. AMEN is a modules-based training program facilitated by accredited mentors. Go Negosyo originated the blueprint for AMEN, and patterned it after its Kapatid Mentor Micro-Enterprises Program, which runs in partnership with the country’s Department of Trade and Industry. The KMME program has been implemented in the Philippines since 2016 and has since produced more than 13,000 graduates. The post ASEAN network hails Go Negosyo gains appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Pakistan Int’l Container Terminal, SeaLead launch Pakistan-Australia direct service
Pakistan International Container Terminal Limited, International Container Terminal Services, Inc.'s subsidiary operating at the Port of Karachi, has partnered with Singaporean shipping line SeaLead to establish a direct service between Pakistan and Australia. Calling regional ports across Malaysia, Australia and Pakistan, the newly launched ASI service enables easy and efficient connection between markets in South Asia and Australia. With the arrival of the service at the Port of Karachi, PICT looks to strengthen trade patronage with global customers and cater to growing trade demands. The ASI service will substantially benefit importers and exporters through the faster and more cost-efficient route that provides direct access to Asian and Australian ports, and eventually allow new businesses and growth areas to emerge within the associated economies. “We look to provide unmatched supply chain solutions to local and global trade stakeholders. Through our partnership with SeaLead, customers in both Pakistani and Australian markets will benefit through direct port linkages that enable economies to grow,” said Khurram Aziz Khan, PICT chief executive officer, “PICT will remain resilient in its efforts to make this collaboration a successful venture for all stakeholders,” he added. The ASI service, which handles both shipper-owned and carrier-owned containers, is also expected to provide PICT’s trade allies a competitive edge within the industry. With Pakistan as a commercial hub connecting several geographical regions, the PICT-SeaLead partnership will boost the country’s foreign trade through the enhanced and efficient access to and from Australian markets. Operating Berths 6 to 9 at the East Wharf of the Karachi Port, Pakistan International Container Terminal is the preferred terminal for the Indian subcontinent trade routes. The common-use terminal offers excellent connections to Central Asia, Afghanistan and the Western China hinterlands. Headquartered and established in 1988 in Manila, Philippines, International Container Terminal Services, Inc. is in the business of port development, management and operations. ICTSI’s portfolio of terminals and projects are located in developed and emerging market economies in the Asia Pacific, the Americas, and Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Independent with no shipping or consignee-related interests, ICTSI works and transacts transparently with all stakeholders of the supply chain. ICTSI continues to receive global acclaim for its public-private partnerships, which are focused on sustainable development, and supported by corporate social responsibility initiatives. (www.ictsi.com) The post Pakistan Int’l Container Terminal, SeaLead launch Pakistan-Australia direct service appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Camille Pascual, of British Empire’s Most Excellent Order
My good friend, prominent banker Federico “Ding” Pascual, shared with me news about his daughter, Camille, who has just been bestowed by His Majesty The King with the honorific title of “Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.” On the occasion of His Majesty’s birthday, selected individuals are recognized twice a year for their services to the United Kingdom. Camille, who is the Marketing and Communications Head of the British Embassy in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, was officially honored on 23 May as an MBE for her services in promoting British Trade and Investment in the Middle East by Princess Anne at Windsor Castle. Below is an abridged version of Camille’s first-hand account of her investiture as an MBE. “I looked at my mobile one Saturday evening last year and saw that I had missed four calls from HM Trade Commissioner for the Middle East, Simon Penney. I immediately called him back as I was concerned that I would have to handle an urgent work request. He asked if I was sitting down. I wasn’t, so he told me to sit down and then proceeded to congratulate me, saying I had been awarded an MBE in HM The Queen’s Birthday Honors. The Honors List would be published in The Gazette — the UK’s official public record — on the 1st of June. I burst into tears. “Will you accept?” asked Simon. “Of course!” I replied. He swore me to secrecy, but that I could tell my husband and no one else until the Birthday Honors List was published. I have worked for the British Embassy in Dubai for 13 years, promoting the UK in the Middle East and Africa as a place to trade with, invest in, and do business with. Over the years I have supported hundreds of British companies, championing UK capability across all sectors from Infrastructure and Energy to Healthcare and Education. Outside the trade and investment sphere at the British Embassy, I was media lead working in Crisis Communications, including during the Covid lockdown to support stranded British nationals, and during the Afghanistan evacuation of 15,000 people to the UK through the UAE. When I told my parents on the morning of the day it was being announced, they could not have been prouder. We moved to the UK in 1982 when my father was posted there to head the Philippine National Bank’s European Headquarters. During our years in the UK, we traveled up and down the country and regularly visited many of the Royal Palaces: Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, Hampton Court Palace, among others. We would stand with the crowds during the Trooping of the Color on HM The Queen’s official birthday in June. Suffice it to say that my parents have always been Anglophiles, with a deep love of the UK, so my MBE means as much to them as it does to me. Indeed, I would not have received this Honor had it not been for them. The investiture itself only lasted a few moments, but the memory will last forever. On the day of the Investiture, the weather was glorious, and Windsor Castle could not have been more beautiful in the spring sunshine. We were ushered up a grand staircase, past a string quartet, and into the Queen’s Drawing Room to await our turn under the portraits of Henry VIII and Charles II. We were given a program which told us that it would be HRH The Princess Royal — Princess Anne — who would be formally investing me into the Order. I was one of nearly sixty people being invested that day — a mix of civilians, military and civil servants. At the top of the list of recipients was Sir Salman Rushdie, who was invested as a Companion of Honor. When it was my turn, my family and I entered the castle’s Grand Reception Room, a stunning, ornate, gilded room decorated with magnificent chandeliers. They stood to the side of the dais where The Princess Royal stood. I felt nervous as I approached the dais, curtseyed, and walked towards her, but she was smiling and kind as she congratulated me and hung my medal on the small loop that had been clipped to my dress. She asked me what had brought me to Dubai and we chatted briefly about my time at the Embassy and she commented that our relationship with the UAE was very important. I thanked her for her support of charities active in the Philippines, and for her visits there, mentioning that my family and I had moved to the UK when I was eight. She thanked me again, shook my hand, and I retreated a few steps, curtseyed again, and joined my family. The investiture itself only lasted a few moments, but the memory will last forever. We moved to St. George’s Hall for official photos, and then outside and into the sunshine to take our own photos in the courtyard. As we walked through the grounds to leave the castle, a group of four Coldstream Guards in their red jackets and bearskin hats marched past. A perfect sendoff to mark the end of a truly magical experience.” Until next week… OBF! For comments, email bing_matoto@yahoo.com. The post Camille Pascual, of British Empire’s Most Excellent Order appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
SEC delays issuance of framework for crypto assets
The Securities and Exchange Commission has pushed back the issuance of a framework for the issuance of digital assets in the Philippines, heeding the lessons from the collapse of Bahamas-based cryptocurrency exchange FTX in late 2022......»»
Palace: Phl gets P41.6-M from Indonesian billionaire
The Philippines received SGD1 million or P41.6 million from an Indonesian businessman, the Palace said Thursday. Entrepreneur Dato’ Sri Tahir met with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. at Malacañang Palace to express his eagerness to provide charitable assistance through social work and low-cost housing. In a statement, Presidential Communications Office Secretary Cheloy Garafil said Tahir handed over a check amounting to P41.6 million to Marcos during their meeting at the Palace on Tuesday, 30 May. Tahir previously met the Marcos family in Hawaii when they were in exile. He said he was reconnecting with Marcos Jr. to support his government policies and development initiatives. “So maybe I use this opportunity. I like to see, explore, and we can work together in social work. We have been working in the region. So, I hope that, with your permission, with your support, let me arrange to explore,” Tahir told Marcos. The President, for his part, informed Tahir of the latest developments in the government’s social welfare programs for children and the elderly. “We have a program that we are going to start for the street children. Unfortunately, we still have people who are homeless. So, we are trying to look after them… As much as possible, we would like people not to become dependent on the government.,” Marcos said. Marcos also discussed the administration’s ongoing initiatives to address the country's 6.5 million housing backlog. “That is a very important part of our agenda. It causes so many social problems if we don’t have available housing. It’s very hard for people to be productive if they do not have their own home,” he said. “Even if they are just paying for it, it’s different from being informal settlers, squatters. That’s why it’s a big priority. So, housing is moving well.” Tahir also said he is considering putting up a hospital in the Philippines. “We are running the largest private hospital in Indonesia. So maybe if we can invest also in hospital here,” he said. “Anything regarding humanitarian, I’m interested in that.” Tahir, a founder of the Indonesian conglomerate Mayapada Group, has provided healthcare support to countries in crisis situations, including Syria, Libya, Afghanistan and Turkey. He donated about $40 million to the United States government and lent assistance to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Marcos said he will ask concerned government agencies to help Tahir "put together his proposals when he comes back to the country sometime in July or August." Tahir's businesses are in the financial, healthcare, hotel, real estate, specialty retail, media and mining industries. In 2019, he was appointed to the Presidential Advisory Council by Indonesian President Joko Widodo. The post Palace: Phl gets P41.6-M from Indonesian billionaire appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Thailand charges Canadian over Indian gangster murder in Phuket
Thai police said on Monday they have charged a Canadian man they described as a mercenary with the murder of an Indian gangster in the resort island of Phuket. Officers launched an investigation after Jimi "Slice" Sandhu -- whose nickname came from a distinctive scar on his face -- was shot and killed in February 2022. Interpol issued a red notice last year for Canadian citizen Matthew Leandre Ovide Dupre in connection with the murder. The 38-year-old was extradited from Canada and returned to Thailand late Sunday. "He is quite a key suspect and a professional mercenary. He flew in to finish his job, and did not even bring a weapon," National Police Chief Damrongsak Kittiprapas told reporters. Dupre was charged with premeditated murder, illegal gun possession, and firing a gun, a police statement said. Officials said Dupre denies all charges. Damrongsak said Dupre was a former soldier and mercenary who had worked in several countries, including Afghanistan. He had arrived directly from Canada in the Thai capital Bangkok on a special Thai Air Force flight, Damrongsak said. "It is a difficult case, no commercial flights or countries allowed the plane to refuel as they were concerned about hostage-taking," he said. Officers will continue to investigate who supplied the weapon. Canada and Thailand have an agreement to provide mutual assistance, including extradition, in criminal cases. Thai state prosecutor Intranee Sumawong said the foreign office had reassured Canadian concerns over Thailand's death penalty, under a new extradition bill. Sandhu was shot on 15 February 2022, after he flew in on a private jet from Malaysia days earlier. Police obtained CCTV footage showing two men jumping from bushes, opening fire on Sandhu, and then fleeing into the night. Sandhu's car had had a GPS tracker taped to it before the attack, the 2022 Interpol notice said. Sandhu was deported from Canada in 2016 over a string of criminal offenses, resurfacing when he was detained in India over a ketamine factory in 2018. A second man, Gene Karl Lahrkamp, also wanted in connection with the murder, died in a small plane crash in 2022, according to Canadian media. The post Thailand charges Canadian over Indian gangster murder in Phuket appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Zero hunger is possible
As grade school students back in the day, one of the more important lessons drilled in our young minds was to know the basic needs of man. In the relatively simple and peaceful universe we lived in then, we were told these were food (and water), clothing, and shelter. Years later, a more sophisticated, technologically advanced, and complex environment exposed men to new challenges and corresponding changes. To that simple three-item list were added — apart from the basic physical needs — emotional, mental, and spiritual necessities, and a host of others, including, and most especially now, communication facilities or an Internet connection. Within the Philippine setting, Undersecretary Dennis Mapa, our National Statistician and economist, appended health, education, and personal care as essentials. High on the list is food, and rightly so, for the nutrients we get from it make our bodies strong and healthy as these replace cells worn out from wear and tear. Yet a United Nations Sustainable Development Report released last year revealed alarming news: between 720 million and 811 million persons were suffering from hunger, roughly 161 million more than in 2021. And in the same year, a staggering 2.4 billion people, or above 30 percent of the world’s population, were moderately or severely food insecure, lacking regular access to adequate food. On the home front, despite our vaunted natural resources and seemingly inexhaustible bounty from the land and seas around us, a survey has shown that one out of 10 households in the Philippines suffer from “food insecurity.” The survey also cited the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Region VIII (the six provinces and seven cities in Eastern Visayas), and Region XII (the Mindanao provinces of Cotabato, Sarangani, South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat) as the three most “food insecure” regions of the country. It may not be a coincidence that these three areas are among the country’s poorest regions. Admitting this is a national concern, the government has said it considers food security a top priority. Late last year, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said they were watching out for surges in the prices of goods and services due primarily to recent typhoons that hit the country, affecting workers who complained their wages were barely enough to buy or pay for their basic needs, especially food. He added that the administration was bent on ensuring consumers an adequate and affordable food supply. Food security has been defined as “when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life,” according to the 1996 World Food Summit. At the same time, food should be readily available, easily accessible, prepared and eaten the right way (nutrition-wise), and procured regularly, the world body added. In the Philippines, the most common food security problems are poor or inadequate agricultural harvests attributed to practices or methods that have either been discarded or have not been adopted or kept pace with the times. Suggestions have been floated as possible solutions to food security like introducing more diversified crops, improving infrastructure, building new road networks linking farms to markets, enhancing or restructuring current trade practices and policies, working on programs and advocacies to combat the adverse effects of climate change and maintain sustainable green economies. Boosting agricultural production would mean “more investments in the food value chain and research and development to enhance farm productivity and improve the efficiency of post-harvest processes,” Balisacan said. “Getting the government to facilitate private investments in marketing infrastructure including storage, transport, and logistics, and continuing to provide cash transfers and fuel discounts are crucial to achieving durable food security.” Is zero hunger attainable? The optimist (and farmer) in me believe it is possible, but only when we aggressively push for renewable agricultural practices and work hard at growing more crops on every piece of land available. Then, we can say that we will never be hungry again. The post Zero hunger is possible appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DA’s onion SRP flip-flop slammed
The Department of Agriculture was roundly criticized Thursday for deferring the implementation of a suggested retail price, or SRP, for onions, after it cited compliance concerns. The SRP, which was set at P150 per kilo for red onions and P140 per kilo for white onions, was supposed to take effect yesterday. However, the DA said on Wednesday it will first coordinate with other government agencies before implementing the SRP. The group Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura scored the department headed concurrently by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for taking back the SRP. SINAG president Rosendo So encouraged consumers not to patronize retailers selling onions beyond the P150 per kilo SRP. Jayson Cainglet, the group’s executive director, lambasted Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban for taking back the SRP, describing the withdrawal as “pathetic.” “We find it strange and unfortunate for the DA to postpone the SRP. Unless the real objective of those who refused to sign the SRP is to keep retail prices of onions high,” Cainglet said. The DA said it is considering the cost structure regarding the SRP, as it will also impact on onion growers or farmers. It is also coordinating with the Department of Trade and Industry to ensure compliance with the SRP, it added. Filipinos consume about 17,000 tons of onions monthly. The high prices have made onions unaffordable for many Filipinos. High prices of onions had been blamed on crop-ravaging super tycoons, soaring global inflation, inaccurate crop projections, price manipulation and hoarding. P720/kilo The DA had previously imposed SRPs on onions, but these were disregarded by retailers. In December 2022, the DA implemented a P250 per kilo SRP, but the price of onions skyrocketed to P720 per kilo amid the shortage in supply. In February this year, the department also imposed a P125 SRP on imported onions, but it failed to get compliance from traders and retailers. “The SRP did not work out, we don’t want to repeat this and there are some things that we have to address first particularly the supply,” DA spokesperson Rex Estoperez said. “Then we’ll encourage the farmers to lower the farm gate prices. It appears that didn’t happen and they didn’t do so. Nobody followed our SRP. We have lessons learned there, including our setting up of the SRP,” he explained. For an onion grower like Jimmy Vistar, the DA will have to fix an acceptable SRP as he said the price from their last harvest this year has already reached P112 per kilo. The alleged smuggling and hoarding of onions had been blamed for the high prices of onions in the Philippines. With the Bureau of Customs seizing smuggled onions valued at over a hundred million pesos a couple of months back, government officials had mulled releasing them to local markets. The onions were hidden in containers labeled as clothing, plastic buckets, dish plates, and cat litter. In one shipment, the onions were labeled as udon noodles and frozen fish. The post DA’s onion SRP flip-flop slammed appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Beauty beyond the brush
Nix Soriano, a well-known makeup artist in the Philippines, described her amazing career transition from being a nursing graduate to pursuing her genuine passion for makeup artistry. The chief hair and makeup artist of Nix Institute of Beauty, in an interview with the Daily Tribune, disclosed that after finishing her nursing degree and passing the board examinations, she found herself at a crossroads. When the recession was at its worst in 2010, her grandma encouraged her to put off her travel plans to the United States and suggested that she stay in the Philippines until things got better economically. This is when Nix’s interest in makeup really began to blossom. As she and her business partners worked on commercials and other audiovisual projects, Soriano became interested in putting on makeup. She often found herself stepping in as a last-minute makeup artist when emergencies or cancellations occurred. Recognizing her talent and passion for the craft, she decided to pursue formal training in makeup artistry. “Sometimes I would step in at the last minute like your makeup artist or last-minute cancel makeup. So, from there I took up classes.” Nix went to classes to improve her abilities after realizing how much she loved beauty and makeup. She witnessed a growing demand for makeup services, not only among celebrities and beauty queens but also individuals attending parties and weddings. Observing the delight and confidence it gave, Soriano’s excitement for makeup artistry intensified. [caption id="attachment_136766" align="aligncenter" width="525"] NIX Soriano, chief hair and makeup artist of Nix Institute of Beauty.[/caption] She set out to provide budding beauty artists in the Philippines access to reasonable but thorough training after seeing the large expenses needed for cosmetics workshops overseas. Transitioning from nursing to makeup artistry wasn’t without its challenges. Initially, Nix faced skepticism from her loved ones, including her then-boyfriend, now husband. They questioned her decision, pointing out alternative companies that would have generated greater profits. But it was obvious that she had found her real purpose because of her consistent joy and enthusiasm for makeup artistry. “I can’t imagine myself doing something I’m not happy with. It’s not that I’m not happy with nursing but this makes me more happy,” she said. As her career was established, renowned pageants and productions were drawn to her talent and commitment. She rose to prominence as the preferred makeup artist for illustrious occasions like Miss Universe Philippines. Nix’s talent went beyond pageantry; in addition, she catered to weddings and worked on side jobs for advertising and commercial shoots. She founded the Nix Institute of Beauty to broaden the reach of her expertise and provide accessibility to cosmetics courses. She set out to provide budding beauty artists in the Philippines access to reasonable but thorough training after seeing the large expenses connected with cosmetics workshops overseas. Nix believes that creating a solid foundation for makeup artistry requires starting with the fundamentals. “We start with the fundamentals of makeup because I’m a firm believer that if you know the fundamentals, if you know the basics kahit paikot-ikutin ka, kaya mo ayusin (even if you get turned around and around, you can handle it),” she explained. The Nix Institute of Beauty has seen a diverse range of students, including both females and males. Even photographers enroll to enhance their skills in makeup for editorial shoots. It takes pride in fostering a supportive learning environment that encourages creativity and helps students understand the theory behind their art. Even though Soriano’s path has had its fair share of lessons learned and minor setbacks, she is still passionate about what she does. She wants to continuously grow and deliver outstanding results while acknowledging that mistakes do occur as a real professional. She reflected on how it all began with Global Asian Models, and shared her journey, starting as the makeup team for Rabiya Mateo, Beatrice Gomez, Celeste Cortesi, and finally the newly-minted Miss Universe Philippines Michelle Dee. “It’s a rollercoaster talaga, but it’s a proud moment for me.” The Nix Institute of Beauty is a team of skilled hair and makeup professionals who are dedicated to empowering individuals to embrace their individuality and their own sense of beauty. They provide lessons and hair and makeup services all around the Philippines. The team’s mission is to give clients treasured experiences and memories while also acting as mentors for rising business professionals. The post Beauty beyond the brush appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Militants attack Hungarian oil site, kill 6
Six paramilitary and security guards died when some 50 armed militants attacked a Hungarian-owned oil and gas exploration site in a province of Pakistan at midnight. The police chief of the Hangu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa said the attackers fired light and heavy weapons and mortars in an attempt to enter the remote site of the Budapest-based MOL Group near the Afghanistan border. “The exchange of fire continued for more than an hour. Police forced the militants to flee,” district police chief Asif Bahadur told Agence France-Presse. Bahadur said the attackers came from the nearby North Waziristan district, which borders Afghanistan and has historically been a hive of militancy. The post Militants attack Hungarian oil site, kill 6 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Life lessons for the college student
Two years ago, well before I began writing this column, I was asked to share some thoughts with fellow teachers of General Education – that special recipe of college courses in various disciplines meant to give incoming students a basic but challenging introduction to the issues of life and society......»»
Cebu school receives medical supplies, equipment
The Consolacion National High School in Poblacion Occidental, Cebu recently received clinic and medical supplies provided by Aboitiz Power Corporation and Universal Feed Mill Corporation to benefit their staff, faculty and students. While the quality of education remains a priority, the Consolacion National High School said that the health and well-being of its students and staff are important to them, as they spend a lot of time within school premises. School caretaker Garnet G. Posas acknowledged the support of AboitizPower and Universal Feed Mill. “The impact of this project to the health and wellness of our students is truly significant. As school administrators, our role is to not only educate students, but also to provide healthcare services when needed. We wish for the school to serve as a place of learning and a home where they can feel safe and cared for,” Posas said. Universal Feed Mill CEO Joshua T. de Manuel noted the critical role of businesses in helping improve health services by making medical resources more accessible to schools in Cebu. “As an educator myself, I feel strongly about the plight of students. Beyond classroom walls, books, and lessons, what students need is a well-equipped school clinic where they can be treated and be comfortable enough to recover,” De Manuel said. “These hospital beds, first-aid kits and other supplies are but the start of what I hope would be something that can be sustained for all members of the school to use in the long-term.” The school is one of the beneficiaries of AboitizPower’s program to support public schools across the Philippines by helping improve the quality of education and welfare of students. Apart from upgrading the clinic, medical equipment was also given to members of the evening class of Consolacion. “At AboitizPower, we know that the value of advancing businesses and communities is better achieved through collaboration,” AboitizPower first vice president-head of Retail James Byron Yu said. “With partners like Universal Feed Mill, we hope to spread more positive energy to communities, and deliver projects that improve education and health.” AboitizPower is one of the country’s leading companies in power generation, distribution and retail electricity services. Meanwhile, Universal Feed Mill Corporation is a Cebu-based manufacturer of hog, poultry and gamefowl feeds. The post Cebu school receives medical supplies, equipment appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bong Go calls for strengthening road safety measures and education campaign
In observance of Road Safety Month, Senator Bong Go emphasized the critical need to strengthen road safety measures in the country, urging for an intensified education campaign and the enactment of Senate Bill No. 1290, also known as the Walkable and Bikeable Communities Act. A co-sponsor of the bill, Go aims to establish safe routes for cyclists, pedestrians, and slow vehicles across the entire country. In an ambush interview after personally providing aid to poor residents in Sta. Praxedes, Cagayan on 18 May, Go expressed his concern about the deaths recorded in the country each year due to road crashes. “According to the DOTr (Department of Transportation), mayroon pong around 11,000 deaths recorded kada taon sa Pilipinas dahil po sa road crashes,” cited Go. “Sa kadalasan po, ito pong drunk driving, over speeding, texting while driving, iwasan po natin ‘yan, at human error,” he added. Based on the 2018 World Health Organization's Global Status Report on Road Safety, the Philippines is showing a growing number of road traffic deaths, with a mortality rate of 12.3 for every 100,000 residents. This positions the country as the tenth most dangerous in Asia in roadway mortalities. Additionally, Southeast Asia is notable for having the second-highest incidence of road traffic deaths worldwide. To combat this issue, Go urged the relevant government agencies involved in the Philippine Road Safety Plan for 2023 to 2028 to intensify the road safety education campaign nationwide. “Halimbawa, ‘yung mga kumukuha po ng driver’s license, siguraduhin pong complied talaga, dapat walang palusot, dapat pumasa sa mga practical at theoretical lessons. Kasi mayro’ng iba sa kanila nagpapakuha na lang sa mga fixer,” Go pointed out. The senator emphasized that road safety is not only crucial for drivers and their passengers but also for pedestrians. He also urged everyone to abide by the law and drive safely, emphasizing the shared responsibility to ensure road safety for all. In addition to his advocacy for education and awareness, Go is also pushing for the enactment of SBN 1290, which aims to provide secure and easily accessible routes for pedestrians, cyclists, and non-motorized vehicles. The bill, authored by Senator Pia Cayetano, has already passed the third reading in the Senate. Go highlighted the importance of promoting alternative modes of transportation, such as cycling, walking, and slow vehicles, by establishing a network of safe pathways, bicycle lanes, walkways, and slow streets across the country. “Importante dito, ligtas at healthy tayo kapag nakapagbike tayo at (friendly) sa ating environment, at exercise din po ito sa ating katawan. Dahil ang bike naman po, walang ginagamit na krudo o gasolina, environment-friendly po ito,” said Go. The post Bong Go calls for strengthening road safety measures and education campaign appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Half world’s largest lakes and reservoirs drying up — study
More than half of the world's largest lakes and reservoirs are dwindling and placing humanity's future water security at risk, with climate change and unsustainable consumption the main culprits, a study said Thursday. "Lakes are in trouble globally, and it has implications far and wide," Balaji Rajagopalan, a professor at the University of Colorado Boulder and co-author of the paper, which appeared in Science, told AFP. "It really caught our attention that 25 percent of the world's population is living in a lake basin that is on a declining trend," he continued, meaning some two billion people are impacted by the findings. Unlike rivers, which have tended to hog scientific attention, lakes aren't well monitored, despite their critical importance for water security, said Rajagopalan. But high-profile environmental disasters in large water bodies like the Caspian Sea and the Aral Sea signaled to researchers a wider crisis. To study the question systematically, the team, which included scientists from the United States, France, and Saudi Arabia, looked at Earth's biggest 1,972 lakes and reservoirs, using observations from satellites from 1992-2020. They focused on larger freshwater bodies because of the better accuracy of satellites at a larger scale, as well as their importance for humans and wildlife. 17 Lake Meads lost Their dataset merged images from Landsat, the longest-running Earth observation program, with water surface height acquired by satellite altimeters, to determine how lake volume varied over nearly 30 years. The results: 53 percent of lakes and reservoirs saw a decline in water storage, at a rate of approximately 22 gigatonnes a year. Over the whole period studied, 603 cubic kilometers of water (145 cubic miles) was lost, 17 times the water in Lake Mead, the United States' largest reservoir. To find out what drove the trends, the team used statistical models incorporating climate and hydrologic trends to tease out natural and human-driven factors. For natural lakes, much of the net loss was attributed to climate warming as well as human water consumption. Increased temperatures from climate change drive evaporation, but can also decrease precipitation in some places. "The climate signal pervades all factors," said Rajagopalan. Lead author Fangfang Yao, a visiting fellow at CU Boulder, added in a statement: "Many of the human and climate change footprints on lake water losses were previously unknown, such as the desiccations of Lake Good-e-Zareh in Afghanistan and Lake Mar Chiquita in Argentina." Losses in humid regions, too One surprising aspect was that lakes in both wet and dry regions of the world are losing volume, suggesting the "dry gets drier, wet gets wetter" paradigm that is frequently used to summarize how climate change affects regions, doesn't always hold. Losses were found in humid tropical lakes in the Amazon as well as Arctic lakes, demonstrating a trend more widely spread than predicted. Accumulating sedimentation was blamed for storage loss in drying reservoirs. But although most global lakes were dwindling, nearly a quarter saw significant increases in their water storage. These included the Tibetan Plateau, "where glacier retreat and permafrost thawing partially drove alpine lake expansion," the paper said. Hilary Dugan, a scientist who studies freshwater systems at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and who wasn't involved in the study, told AFP the research advanced scientific understanding of lake volume variability, which is of "huge importance." It is "unique in that it focuses on specific lakes, and reports the amount of water as a volume," she said. But she added: "It's important to keep in mind that many water supplies are from small lakes and reservoirs," and future research should consider these too. Globally, freshwater lakes and reservoirs store 87 percent of the planet's liquid freshwater, underscoring the urgency of new strategies for sustainable consumption and climate mitigation. "If a good chunk of freshwater lakes are drying, then you're going to see the impact come to you one way or the other, if not now in the not-too-distant future," said Rajagopalan. "So it behooves all of us to be good stewards." The post Half world’s largest lakes and reservoirs drying up — study appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
My Alphabet Bucket List
There’s this cool improv game called ABC Soap, and it’s basically running a scene where the players ask for a long word prompt, then use the letters of that word to start the sentences of their scene with. This is a derivative of the original Alphabet Game, which uses the letter sequence of the alphabet to play a scene. I wanna make this piece fun by combining my topic of bucket list and the Alphabet Game. I’ll try to be as “improvisational” about it as I can, in the spirit of the game — so I won’t overthink, and also not over-explain, just write what’s top of mind and top of heart. Let’s see what comes up! A — Adventures, because life is a daring adventure or nothing, and I intend to be on the lookout for unusual and exciting things that appeal greatly to me and just go for it! B — Broadway, because I love theater, especially musical theater, and want to experience watching the best productions in the Great White Way. And Breakthroughs, which means growth! C — Coaching career that’s thriving, because it’s my spiritual career, and my social entrepreneurship vehicle of choice. D — Dogs, which everyone knows I love, and I intend to always have a couple of furbabies in my life. And Drum lessons, because I’m a self-taught drummer, and would love to get better at it. [caption id="attachment_134224" align="aligncenter" width="525"] PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF pexels/bluebird | I INTEND to have a couple of furbabies in my life.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_134224" align="aligncenter" width="525"] PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF pexels/bluebird | I INTEND to have a couple of furbabies in my life.[/caption] E — Event for top coaches and other helping professionals, a dream project that I will put together, hopefully sooner rather than later. F — Flower garden, because I love flowers, and I wanna have a flower garden in my terrace, or in a future bigger house with space for an honest-to-goodness garden. G — Go-with-the-flow, because this is my mantra of choice, and something I want to imbibe as a habit. H — Heartwarming stuff, like conversations, books, films, experiences, which I intend to fill my life with. I — Improv, which is my past-time of choice—both performing and watching, and I would like to develop an Applied Improv workshop for coaches. J — Jive dance, which suits my personality, and I want to learn it while I can still skip and bounce around as the dance requires. K — Keepsakes, which I wish to gift my dearest and closest with; the goal is to give them something I own and value that suits them to a tee. L — Lightworker, which is a mission I’m working on to embody. M — Mommy’s 80th birthday celebration this year, which is something I want to organize and surprise her with (so ssssshhh). N — Nature trips, because we have a gorgeous planet, in spite of everything, and there’s still so much I have to discover and feast my senses on the world over. O — Oracle card deck, because this is another dream project of mine, and I want to create an inspired deck for my coaching Signature Program. P — Podcast, also a dream project, and something a number of friends have suggested I do; what a treat it would be to have animated conversations with people I admire and immortalize these exchanges in a podcast. [caption id="attachment_134225" align="aligncenter" width="525"] PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF UNSPLASH/COTTONBRO | DOING podcasts is a dream project of mine.[/caption] Q — Queenlike, which is my chosen way of being, plus basically the heart of my signature Dating Queen Program. R — Retreat space, because I would love to have my own perfect place to hold coaching retreats and workshops in. S — Self-love and self-care, which need to be constant, because we are worth it, and love is our birthright. T — Team for my coaching practice, one that’s after my own heart. And True love, because #goals! U — Uplifting stuff, which includes my column, a second (maybe even a third) book when the time is right, and a dream foundation—all for sharing blessings and giving back. V — Vacations, because I will always be work-play balanced, and travelling rocks. W — Women’s Circle, yet another dream project, run by myself and other like-minded women trainers. X -- Xmas traditions, because Christmas is love, family, and all things warm and cheery, and it’s never too late to create new traditions. Y — Youthfulness, because age is just a number, and I intend to remain young at heart. Z — Zeitgeist-inspired coaching practice, because I aim to always meet real needs that bring forth timely transformations. So this is how the rest of my life will look like if it were up to me. And no, it doesn’t have to happen in alphabetical order. Care to make your own Alphabet Bucket List? The post My Alphabet Bucket List appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Giving the best?
A Philippine government advertisement on a London bus featuring May Parsons, a Filipina-British nurse, launched during King Charles III’s coronation last week, stirred controversy. In the ad on a double-decker bus, Parsons was holding up a syringe and described as the nurse who gave the world’s first Covid-19 vaccine, with the tagline “A Filipina. We Give the World Our Best. The Philippines.” It did not sit well, though with Senate Committee on Tourism chairman, Sen. Nancy Binay who said, “There seems to be a disconnect in the messaging. It’s bothersome because when you see the ad, it seems that we are offering the world our nurses — which is a bit off since we’re already running low on health workers here.” “We don’t want to commodify our people, and we don’t want to be labeled as a country that exports labor,” she went on to say. “What is the connection of a nurse, syringe, and vaccine to the tourist destinations we’re promoting.” Office of the Presidential Adviser on Creative Communications Secretary Paul Soriano was quick to clarify that the ad was part of a “country branding campaign” to raise the spirits of Filipinos who are doing well in other countries. “We Give the World Our Best — The Philippines” is meant to promote and focus on the Filipino achievers abroad,” he said. “PACC wants to clear the confusion and clarify that it was not meant, in any way, to promote the country’s tourist destinations.” While Binay recognized that the results of such an advertisement have yet to be seen, Binay said the ad’s messaging is not aligned with the country’s goals for tourism. Tourism ad or not, Binay’s comments make sense. The government should not be focused on labor export but instead, prevent brain drain by providing decent-paying jobs, and promoting the country’s tourist destinations. The government’s neglect of our healthcare workers pushes them to seek good fortune in other countries, while those who choose to stay have to make do with meager pay. It should stop acting as a recruitment agency rather than giving its citizens a living wage. The life of an overseas Filipino worker is not a movie material that the government can produce to influence others to leave their families and homeland. We should walk the talk when we praise our local healthcare workers for their heroism during the Covid-19 pandemic by providing them their due protection through adequate support and benefits. A case in point is the unpaid Health Emergency Allowance during the pandemic. Although sending workers abroad can sometimes be related to tourism, it is not necessarily a core aspect of the tourism industry. In some cases, workers may be sent abroad to work in tourism-related jobs, such as hotel staff, tour guides, or restaurant workers who may play an important role in facilitating tourism experiences for visitors. Exporting labor can be related to other industries such as construction, healthcare, or technology, and not necessarily related to tourism. Clear as day, the tourism industry consists of many components, such as transportation, attractions, events, and activities that do not involve sending workers abroad. The role of health workers in tourism is usually focused on ensuring the health and safety of tourists, rather than promoting tourism itself — typically viewed as a public health and safety issue, rather than a component of tourism promotion. Campaign branding abroad can wait. Why not improve country marketing first which will drive tourist traffic to the Philippines and define the overall tourist experience? Start with the country’s gateways — airports and seaports. It is an overdue plan announced in August 2022. There is so much to be done to bring improvements to the country’s air and seaports that will encapsulate the “Filipino Brand” and give tourists a good first and last impression when they visit the Philippines. Pick up the lessons learned from the NAIA fiasco and horrific seaports. For now, the best tagline should be “We Give Tourists Our Best. The Philippines.” The post Giving the best? appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Triple Celebration for Tzu Chi
The Tzu Chi Foundation Philippines on Friday held a simultaneous celebration of three special occasions: Buddha Day, Mother's Day and its 57th anniversary. The volunteer-run charity organization's patients, staff, doctors and nurses, some of them accompanied by their moms, congregated early morning in the foundation's courtyard at the heart of Sta. Mesa, Manila. The Buddhist nun Dharma Master Cheng Yen-founded the Taiwanese international humanitarian and non-profit organization, which has been offering eye services to poor and disadvantaged Filipinos since 8 November 1994. Tzu Chi also provides emergency disaster relief, educational services and cultural services through periodicals and television programs. According to Michael Siao, the deputy CEO of the Tzu Chi Foundation in the Philippines and head of its Volunteers' Affairs Department: “Our founder decided to establish the mission because of the lessons she picked up as a Buddhist that are applied to our lives, which is important.” Tzu Chi, the world's largest Buddhist humanitarian organization, has over 10 million volunteers working in more than 60 nations, with relief efforts extending to over 120. The post Triple Celebration for Tzu Chi appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Connecting Remote Communities via Satellite Broadband
On 21 April, the United States government and its Philippine partners demonstrated the effectiveness of satellite broadband technology in remote areas of the Philippines as part of a US-supported program to increase access to fast and reliable Internet connectivity in the country. The Introducing Non-Geostationary Satellite Constellations Test Deployments to Improve Internet Service program was launched by the Philippine Space Agency and the Department of Science and Technology’s Advanced Science and Technology Institute, with the support of the United States Agency for International Development, in October 2021. Under this program, PhilSA invites satellite operators to conduct pilot tests in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas to demonstrate the viability of satellite broadband technology and assess its performance in the country. Through INCENTIVISE, USAID facilitated PhilSA’s procurement of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite Internet services for Barangay Dikapanikian in Dingalan, Aurora and Barangay Apad in Jomalig, Quezon. [caption id="attachment_132480" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Dikapanikian Barangay Chairman Richard Francia Belardo and Barangay Health Workers connect to the Internet using a smartphone.[/caption] Residents of the two pilot areas have cited the positive impact of INCENTIVISE in the provision of local services, particularly in the education and healthcare sectors. “With the help of the Internet, we can now conveniently conduct video calls to the local barangay health station to provide clear instructions on medication before our actual visit and check-up appointment,” said Bing Sabado, a midwife of the Rural Health Office of Dingalan, Aurora. “The Internet is a big help to the teachers and students especially in lesson planning because they now have access to online resources,” said Dr. Sharon Villaverde, public schools district supervisor in Jomalig, Quezon. “The lessons now have become more interactive and engaging because the teachers are incorporating the use of technology and the Internet.” “Satellite Internet provides a reliable Internet connection to those living in rural or remote areas where traditional terrestrial connections are not available. By leveraging these technologies, we can bring connectivity to all Filipinos, regardless of their location,” USAID Philippines Office of Economic Development and Governance director Jeff Goebel said during the presentation of the results of the pilot test in Aurora and Quezon. “The entry of satellite broadband technology in the Philippines is crucial to help bridge the digital divide and ensure that every Filipino has access to the opportunities that come with the digital age.” “We want to promote the value and benefit of space technologies so we as a country can continue investing in these capabilities and so that the benefits of these activities will reach our communities,” PhilSA director general Joel Joseph Marciano Jr. said. Following this public demonstration, USAID will continue working with PhilSA and DOST-ASI to identify other GIDA sites that will test the viability and effectiveness of satellite broadband technology. Through programs like INCENTIVISE, USAID is supporting the Philippines to modernize its digital infrastructure. USAID believes that fast and reliable Internet connectivity can help the country become a competitive player in the global digital landscape by improving its access to the global market, enabling e-commerce and online transactions, facilitating communication and information exchange and fostering innovation and entrepreneurship. The post Connecting Remote Communities via Satellite Broadband appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Building climate-resilient housing
Holcim Philippines, Inc. and climate-resilient-housing organization Build Change have strengthened their partnership to improve access of Filipinos to climate-resilient housing renovations. The parties will collaborate on a pilot project to expand funding access to vulnerable, low-income families through scalable, sustainable and appropriate microloans to strengthen houses using low-carbon Holcim products and through Build Change’s partner microfinance institution Alalay sa Kaunlaran, Inc. The project aims to strengthen 28 houses in Baler, Aurora, against extreme weather, create 100 jobs and train 1,500 people in climate-resilient buildings. Holcim Philippines will provide grant funding complementary to the loans taken by clients for the strengthening of select houses in Aurora. In addition, Holcim Philippines will share technical guidance on the proper use of its products and help promote the program. Meanwhile, Build Change will provide technical assistance to incrementally strengthen houses through its developed tools and resources and coordinate with ASKI for the project implementation in Nueva Ecija and Aurora. Holcim chief sustainability officer Zoe Sibala shares: “We are proud and excited to move to this next stage of our partnership with Build Change that will significantly contribute to protecting the most vulnerable Filipino families from the devastating effects of climate change. This initiative enables them to make the needed improvements in the right manner to raise the performance of homes against typhoons and earthquakes that regularly hit the country. We look forward to its success that highlights our commitment to building greener, smarter and for all.” [caption id="attachment_131560" align="aligncenter" width="956"] Photograph Courtesy of HOLCIM | (from left): Holcim Philippines chief sustainability officer Zoe Sibala, president and CEO Horia Adrian, Build Change vice president of programs Juan Caballero and Philippine program manager Girlie Lopez.[/caption] Build Change country program manager Girlie Lopez said: “In our work with MFIs, Build Change has proven that families are willing to take out loans to strengthen their houses if adequate financing and technical assistance options are available for people without access to conventional credit. In collaboration with Holcim Philippines, Build Change will continue to work with MFIs and homeowners to take these lessons and financial products to the next level of scale. We are excited about this partnership and confident it will make a difference in improving the lives of Filipinos.” In 2022, Holcim Philippines and Build Change formalized their cooperation to work on disaster-resilient housing projects in highly vulnerable areas in the country. Build Change has worked in the Philippines since Typhoon Yolanda in 2013. During this period, it has supported post-disaster reconstruction and work to prevent housing loss against future disasters. Its accomplishments include constructing over 2,000 safer buildings for 40,000 people, training over 4,700 individuals in safe construction practices, creating 560 jobs, and expanding its network of partners in the local government and business sector for a more significant impact. Christian business leaders in Nueva Ecija started ASKI in 1989 to support the community’s development by providing microfinancing access to small entrepreneurs and other members of society not served by bigger funding institutions. It has grown to help rural communities and overseas Filipino workers with a portfolio of P1.7 billion with 98 branches in Regions 1, 2 and 3 serving more than 100,000 clients and ensuring more than 800,000 members and their families. The post Building climate-resilient housing appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»