How ballet can fulfill the soul

 

A glimpse into Ballet Manila's 'Paquita'

By Poch Eulalia

Published Jun 18, 2026 01:10 pm

When we look into the way each dancer moves, we find ourselves brought to their world.

In this world, we follow the story of Paquita, a gypsy dancer from Spain. It is a time of great uncertainty, as France’s Napoleon Bonaparte has a strong hold on the country. On one fateful night, Paquita finds herself falling for a French officer whom she saves from an assassination plot. Little does she know, there’s more to her life than just being a gypsy dancer.

PERFECT FORM Dancers move with utmost grace and tranquility

When we look into the way each dancer moves, we find ourselves brought to their world.

In this world, we follow the story of Paquita, a gypsy dancer from Spain. It is a time of great uncertainty, as France’s Napoleon Bonaparte has a strong hold on the country. On one fateful night, Paquita finds herself falling for a French officer whom she saves from an assassination plot. Little does she know, there’s more to her life than just being a gypsy dancer.

“I read the lengthy text in a book about rare Russian ballets that included Paquita,” shares Lisa. “I listened to the music of the full-length ballet by Anna-Marie Holmes, Kevin Gaile, and Li-Mei Liang. I started to build the ballet chapter by chapter in my head.” 

READY TO SHINE (From left) Ballet Manila principal dancers Romeo Peralta and Mark Sumaylo, soloist Shamira Drapete, Ballet Manila CEO Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, soloist Jos David Andes, principal dancer Abigail

From the preview presented to us at Aliw Theater, we were shown just how stunning bits of the show can be. Dancers move with such hypnotic grace that your eyes are drawn to their every movement.

Even if it’s their first time going for the full-length performance of “Paquita,” you feel as if they’ve known the routine their entire life. We’re sure it’s enough to keep even Timothée Chalamet enticed and not wanting to leave his seat.

“Paquita” runs at the Aliw Theater in Pasay City on June 19 at 8 p.m., followed by 5 p.m. shows on June 20 and 21.

BizBayani Awards for MSMEs launched in Davao City

 

THE Dito Bizbayani Awards was officially launched on Tuesday evening, June 16, at Acacia Hotel in Davao City. (Photo via Ivy Tejano)

By Ivy Tejano

Published Jun 17, 2026 10:03 pm

DAVAO CITY – A telecommunications company officially launched the Bizbayani Awards at Acacia Hotel here on Tuesday evening, June 16, recognizing Filipino micro, small, and medium enterprises as the modern-day heroes driving economic growth through innovation, resilience, and digital adoption.

Dito Telecommunity and Dito BizBayan officials said the launching, first in Davao, highlighted the role of MSMEs in strengthening communities and creating opportunities, and that the initiative goes beyond recognition, aiming to build a nationwide movement supporting entrepreneurship.

"This is the beginning of a movement that recognizes the heart, resilience, and innovation of the Filipino MSMEs," Dito BizBayan MSME head Gabby Cui said, adding that the program seeks to empower businesses through connectivity and digital tools.  

He said MSMEs account for over 99 percent of registered businesses in the country and employ most of the workforce, highlighting their role in the economy. He added that the Bizbayani Awards aim to support them, many of who have grown through resilience and self-learning.

"There is a word in Filipino that does not fully translate into English: Bayani (hero)," Cui said during his presentation of the Dito BizBayani. "A bayani builds not only for themselves, but for something larger – for family, for community, and for the nation."

Cui said Dito's experience as a late entrant in the telecommunications industry mirrors the challenges faced by MSMEs, noting that competition and risk-taking are essential for growth and long-term success in a highly competitive market.

An official audio-visual presentation (AVP) presented by Dito BizBayan Community Engagement head Louie Rovillos emphasized the role of entrepreneurs in connecting communities, creating livelihoods, and providing opportunities despite challenges.

Rovillos said the awards were designed to highlight MSME stories of sacrifice, growth, and innovation. She added that the program is open to Filipino-owned MSMEs that have been operating for two years and show business growth, innovation, digital adoption, or community impact.

The awards feature five categories, Growth Excellence, Digital Impact, Employer Experience, Industry Impact, and Innovation, in partnership with organizations including the Department of Trade and Industry, GCash, and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Nomination opened on June 3 and will run until July 3. Finalists will be selected after panel evaluation, followed by public voting from July 8 to July 23. Winners will be determined by 70 percent panel score and 30 percent public votes, with the awards night scheduled for Aug. 12.

Rovillos said winners will receive a trophy, a Dito BizKit with devices and connectivity, and a learning trip to China to study business and technology ecosystems. "Each Bizbayani Award winner will not only be recognized, but also equipped to scale further," she added.

Dito VisMin MSME head Niño Nanquil announced that nominations for the Bizbayani Awards are now open, encouraging the public to recognize entrepreneurs who have demonstrated resilience and innovation in their communities.

The Dito executives said the program is nationwide and may be expanded or regionalized in the future, as the company continues to strengthen connectivity to support MSME growth across the country,  highlighting the "true heartbeat of the Philippine economy."

Senate OKs bill declaring Waling-waling as Philippines' national orchid

By Hannah L. Torregoza

Published Jun 17, 2026 03:14 pm

At A Glance

• The bill seeks the declaration of Waling-waling as the national orchid of the country, without prejudice to the Sampaguita, the flower of the jasmine species, which has been declared the Philippine national flower.

The Senate on Wednesday, June 17 approved on third and final reading the bill declaring waling-waling as the country’s national orchid. 

Senate Bill No. 2092, which declares the Waling-waling—or Vanda Sanderiana, as the National Orchid of the Philippines, was approved by the Upper Chamber during a Special Sessionc called for by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

The measure was approved with 13 affirmative votes, zero negative votes and zero abstentions.

It was Sen. Loren Legarda who filed the measure and pursued its approval in the Senate.

The bill seeks the declaration of Waling-waling as the national orchid of the country, without prejudice to the Sampaguita, the flower of the jasmine species, which has been declared the Philippine national flower. 

Under SB No. 2092, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will be tasked as the lead agency in protecting, conserving and facilitating the propagation of the Waling-waling orchid.

Likewise, the proposed law designates the National Museum of the Philippines to be in charge of promoting the Waling-waling orchid and its significance to the natural and cultural heritage of the Philippines and the Filipino people. 

Davao City: Leading the Charge in Electrified Public Transport

Davao City is at the forefront of electrifying public transportation in Mindanao. The recent introduction of a fleet of hundreds of GSM electric taxis has significantly bolstered the city’s commitment to sustainable, eco-friendly transit. This deployment complements the electric taxis that have already been successfully operated by local providers for some time.

Furthermore, Aboitiz’s Davao Light has been operating modern EV jeepneys or mini-buses since 2020, positioning Davao as one of the country's first pilot cities for this technology.

A major milestone for the city’s electrification efforts is the procurement of 20 battery-electric low-floor city buses, which are expected to arrive by the end of this year. However, the most significant advancement will come through the DavaoBus project. As part of its total fleet of over 1,100 units, the system will introduce approximately 386 battery-electric, 18-meter articulated buses.

Once these initiatives are fully operational, Davao City is poised to become the national leader, setting a new standard for cities across the Philippines in utilizing electric vehicles as the foundation of their road-based public transportation systems.

THE PHILIPPINES ARE GETTING SANDWICHED BY SIDE-TO-SIDE SUBDUCTION MOVEMENT

 THE PHILIPPINES ARE GETTING SANDWICHED BY SIDE-TO-SIDE SUBDUCTION MOVEMENT

Heads UP #Philippines

Look at these seismic pressures along the trenches, from the Cotabato trench, the Negros trench, and now the Philippines trench.

Just like I warned you a few days ago. The Sunda plate is a microplate but larger than any other microplate, and this plate subducts eastward beneath the Philippines Mobile belt along the Negros and Cotabato trenches.

The pressures on the tectonic plate should have to be balanced, so this is expected on the Negros trench and the Philippines trench to get an earthquake.

A stress energy after a large earthquake can transfer to neighboring trenches. When a large rupture occurs, a stress can transfer not just to the neighboring trenches but to a fault system due to continuous collision between the Sunday plate and the Philippines Sea plate.

Stay Alert Mindanao, Visayas and Luzon for more possible earthquakes

Global Disasters News

Is it good to eat banana in the morning?

 

Theresa Belvis

 · 

Medical PractitionerMay 30

Every day, my grandmother would put slices of bananas into her porridge before consuming it, without any fear of anything related to the ongoing nutritional debate because at her age, there were none.

My grandmother lived until she turned ninety-one. During her life, she managed to make her cardiovascular system be better than those who were decades younger than her. Every year during an appointment with a doctor, he pointed that out as one of the puzzles he would never be able to solve. However, she always told him that she had not stopped eating her fruits.

I found out the following years about how smart her idea was because it is precisely what modern-day research tells people should eat. Namely, she never ate her bananas alone. Instead, she always consumed them together with some other products she could find in her pantry, such as some nuts or seeds or even a small spoon of peanut butter.

Thus, she was unknowingly providing her body with all the essential nutrients needed to keep her healthy and energetic. The potassium provided by that daily banana helped maintain her cardiovascular system healthy for decades. In addition, she was receiving sufficient amounts of magnesium needed for good muscle and nerve activity, which made her be sharp in mind and energetic in the last two decades of her life. Moreover, due to the consumption of underripe bananas, she was supplying her gut bacteria with resistant starches.

What genuinely nourished people across generations was never complicated or expensive. It was simply real food eaten with the kind of practical wisdom that grandmothers carried instinctively before nutrition became an industry. Natural foods used with genuine knowledge have healed real people from the inside out. That knowledge is worth finding.

Rentenerhöhung im Juli 2026: Das ändert sich für Millionen Rentner

Stand:17.06.2026, 14:30 Uhr

Von: Alexander Riedel

Im Sommer warten Millionen Rentner auf freudige Nachrichten zu ihren gesetzlichen Altersbezügen. Auch in diesem Jahr fällt das Plus wieder hoch aus. Das gilt ab Anfang Juli.

Berlin (KNA) – Für rund 21 Millionen Rentnerinnen und Rentner bringt der 1. Juli eine Erhöhung ihrer gesetzlichen Altersbezüge. Doch nicht alle erhalten zum gleichen Zeitpunkt mehr Geld. Die Deutsche Rentenversicherung verschickt von Mitte Juni bis Ende Juli dazu Briefe. Die Katholische Nachrichten-Agentur (KNA) beantwortet die wichtigsten Fragen zur Rentenanpassung:  

Artikel der KNA

Dieser Beitrag stammt von der Katholischen Nachrichten-Agentur (KNA).

Um wie viel steigt die gesetzliche Rente?

Ab dem 1. Juli steigen die Renten um 4,24 Prozent. Das ist innerhalb von fünf Jahren zum vierten Mal eine Anpassung von mehr als vier Prozent. Für eine monatliche Rente von 1.000 Euro bedeutet das ein Plus von 42,40 Euro. Für die rechnerische Standardrente nach 45 Beitragsjahren mit einem durchschnittlichen Verdienst würde die monatliche Rente laut Bundessozialministerium um 77,85 Euro im Monat steigen.

Was ist die Grundlage für die Rentenerhöhung?

Die jährliche Rentenanpassung wird von der Bundesregierung mit Zustimmung des Bundesrats festgelegt. Sie folgt der Entwicklung der Bruttolöhne. Zusätzlich gilt eine sogenannte Haltelinie für das Rentenniveau von 48 Prozent. Dieser Wert gibt vereinfacht gesagt das Verhältnis der Standardrente zu den aktuellen Löhnen an. Durch die Haltelinie soll sichergestellt werden, dass Rentner im Vergleich zur arbeitenden Bevölkerung nicht ärmer werden.

4,24 Prozent mehr Rente gibt es ab Juli. Im Durchschnitt haben Rentnerinnen und Rentner dann knapp 78 Euro mehr in der Tasche. © Julia Steinbrecht/KNA     Wie hoch wäre die Rentenanpassung ohne Haltelinie ausgefallen?

Die schwarz-rote Bundesregierung hat die Haltelinie bis 2031 verlängert. Ohne diesen Schritt würde bei der Rentenanpassung auch berücksichtigt, ob sich die Zahl der Rentner im Verhältnis zur Zahl der Beitragszahler in der Rentenversicherung erhöht hat. Laut Deutscher Rentenversicherung wären die Renten ohne Haltelinie nur um 4,05 Prozent gestiegen.

Wann wird die höhere Rente ausgezahlt?

Das hängt davon ab, seit wann Rentner ihre gesetzlichen Altersbezüge erhalten. Wer bis zum 31. März 2004 in Rente gegangen ist, erhält die höhere Rente für Juli bereits am 30. Juni. Wer erst ab dem 1. April 2004 in Rente gegangen ist, erhält den höheren Betrag erstmals am 31. Juli ausgezahlt.

Wie viel Rente wird im Schnitt gezahlt?

Die durchschnittliche gesetzliche Rente liegt deutlich unter der Standardrente, daher fällt auch das Plus im Schnitt geringer aus als die genannten 77,85 Euro. Laut jüngster Statistik der Rentenversicherung lag der durchschnittliche Bezug etwa aus Alters- und/oder Witwenrente nach Abzug von Kranken- und Pflegeversicherungsbeiträgen bei 1.289 Euro im Monat, wobei Frauen mit 1.194 Euro darunter und Männer mit 1.416 Euro darüber lagen.   

Zur ausgezahlten Durchschnittsrente kämen mit der aktuellen Erhöhung somit etwa 55 Euro hinzu. Eine gesetzliche Rente von mehr als 3.000 Euro im Monat erhalten nach den jüngsten verfügbaren Zahlen übrigens weniger als ein Prozent der Rentenbezieher.

Ist die Rentenerhöhung in Ost und West gleich?

Ja, seit 2023 gilt in ganz Deutschland ein einheitlicher Wert. Seitdem sind die sogenannten Rentenwerte in Ost und West zu 100 Prozent angeglichen. Die Rentenanpassung erfolgt bundesweit gleich. In der Vergangenheit hatte es in manchen Jahren deutliche Unterschiede gegeben.   

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Muss die Rente versteuert werden?

Grundsätzlich ja, allerdings greift auch bei Rentnerinnen und Rentnern der Grundfreibetrag von aktuell 12.348 Euro im Jahr. Hinzu kommt, dass Renten abhängig vom Rentenbeginn steuerlich unterschiedlich behandelt werden. Bei Rentenbeginn bis spätestens Dezember 2005 gelten 50 Prozent der ersten Bruttorente als Rentenfreibetrag, der nicht versteuert werden muss.   

Dieser Freibetrag wird zu Beginn einmal berechnet und bleibt dann gleich, auch wenn die Renten angehoben werden. Jahr für Jahr fällt er für die jeweiligen Neu-Rentner zudem geringer aus. Für alle, die in diesem Jahr erstmals Rente beziehen, liegt er nur noch bei 16 Prozent der ersten Bruttorente. Ab 2058 muss die dann neue Rente grundsätzlich voll versteuert werden.

Was gilt für die Witwen- und Witwerrente?

Auch für Hinterbliebene steigt die Rente grundsätzlich zum 1. Juli. Hinzu kommt, dass sie mehr hinzuverdienen dürfen. Der Freibetrag steigt von 1.076,86 Euro auf 1.122,53 Euro. Für jedes waisenrentenberechtigte Kind kommen noch einmal 238,11 Euro dazu.  

Als die Rente mindernder Faktor kommt dagegen noch eine Sonderregelung zum Tragen: Seit Juli 2024 erhalten rund drei Millionen Rentnerinnen und Rentner einen Zuschlag zur Erwerbsminderungsrente. Dieser wird seit Dezember als Einkommen bei der Witwenrente angerechnet. Das wirkt sich aber erst ab dem 1. Juli auch bei der Auszahlung aus.  

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