Ivana Alawi expresses view on 'victim blaming' against women

Jan Milo Severo - Philstar.com

June 30, 2026 | 10:42am

MANILA, Philippines — Actress Ivana Alawi boldly expressed her views on the issue of “victim blaming” against women and their choice of clothing. 

Ivana pointed out the issue of blaming women who become victims of sexual harassment and other types of harassment, allegedly because of their style of dress.

On her Facebook page, Ivana shared her opinion and reaction to the issue.

"‘Puro ka pasexy’, ‘Paano hindi babastusin eh tignan mo naman ang suot mo?’ Andaming opinion ng tao about women. Madaming posts patungkol sa damit at dapat sinusuot ng mga babae para sila ay respetuhin,” Ivana said. 

“Ang respeto sa babae ay hindi dapat nakabase sa haba ng kanyang pananamit, o kung anong sinusuot niya. Walang anumang kasuotan ang nagbibigay ng karapatan sa iba para husgahan, maliitin, o bastusin ka.

“Sa dulo ng araw, mas mahalaga ang kabutihan ng puso, ang respeto sa kapwa, at kung paano mo pinakikitunguhan ang ibang tao. Lahat ng babae ay karapat-dapat respetuhin anuman ang suot, anuman ang hugis ng katawan, anuman ang estado sa buhay.”

Ivana also had a message to all the women. 

“Wear what makes you happy. Be proud of who you are. Love yourself. Hindi damit ang nagde-define kung sino ka. Character does,” she said. 

Many commented and agreed with the star's Facebook post, including content creator Lans.

“Your character speaks louder than their criticisms, Ate Ivana. People may talk, judge, and criticize, pero hindi nila mababago ang fact na you’ve used your platform to help, inspire, and give hope to so many people po, that is what truly matters, ate," Lans said. 

“Thank you for reminding us that kindness is way way more powerful than criticisms. Hugs po, Ate Ivana. We see your heart, and we support you,” she added. 

Meine Heimatstadt SPENGE und Erwin Tröster

 

Ich danke meinem deutschen Freund in Davao City Erwin Tröster. für die wunderbaren Bücher über meine Heimatstadt Spenge/Westfalen im Kreis Herford.

Ein großartigens Andenken, das meine Frau und ich sehr zu schätzen wissen!!!

'We need live shows more than ever': Lola Amour, Over October, and Shirebound gather for ALT.CHESTRA

By Manila Bulletin Newsroom

Published Jun 29, 2026 05:15 pm

"ALT.CHESTRA" is the latest showcase series by GNN, bringing together alternative musicians for live performances backed by an 11-piece orchestra. The result transforms beloved songs into lush, strings-heavy and brass-filled arrangements typically heard only in grand concert halls.

Leading the inaugural presentation are three of the country's most beloved acts—Lola Amour, Over October, and Shirebound. 

For "Raining in Manila" hitmakers Lola Amour, whose catalog spans funk, jazz, rock, and emotional ballads, hearing their signature grooves and intricate arrangements performed by a full ensemble feels like a natural progression.  

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Meanwhile, Over October's atmospheric soundscapes and introspective songwriting already carry a cinematic quality. Songs like "Ikot" seem destined to be accompanied by sweeping string sections, giving them the emotional depth of a memorable film score.

For Shirebound, whose folk-inspired storytelling shines through songs such as "Waltz of Four Left Feet" and "Pahintulot," orchestral arrangements feel equally fitting. Tales of youth, longing, fantasy, and adventure naturally lend themselves to the grandeur and emotion of a live ensemble.

But "ALT.CHESTRA Vol. 1" is more than an orchestral novelty—it's a statement.

At a time when algorithms optimize songs for streaming and AI can generate endless playlists in seconds, the concert argues that indie music deserves the same scale, drama, and permanence often reserved for film scores and classical masterworks.

That conviction extended beyond the performances. During the event's media conference, the artists emphasized that live music has become even more essential in the age of AI.   

"We need live shows more than ever," said the members of Over October, Shirebound, and Lola Amour.

As with any concert built around familiar songs, audiences—whether they're Lola Amour's "apos," Over October's Octobears, or longtime fans of Shirebound's understated charm—will undoubtedly realize that these tracks would have sounded great regardless of the new arrangements.

Still, "ALT.CHESTRA" promises something far more special: a rare musical experience that can only happen when the right artists, the right audience, and the right moment come together on one stage. (Ian Ureta)

LPA may develop into a tropical cyclone as it moves toward West Philippine Sea — PAGASA

By Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz

Published Jun 29, 2026 10:01 am | Updated Jun 29, 2026 02:16 pm

At A Glance

• PAGASA weather specialist Aldczar Aurelio said the LPA is expected to pass through the Southern Luzon-Visayas area on Tuesday, June 30, before emerging over the West Philippine Sea by Wednesday, July 1.
• If it develops into a storm within the Philippine area of responsibility, it will be given the name "Henry."

PAGASA

A low-pressure area (LPA) east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar has a high chance of developing into a tropical cyclone within the next 24 hours, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Monday, June 29.

As of 8 a.m., the LPA was located 390 kilometers east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar.

PAGASA weather specialist Aldczar Aurelio said the weather disturbance is expected to pass through the Southern Luzon-Visayas area on Tuesday, June 30, before emerging over the West Philippine Sea by Wednesday, July 1.

Once over the West Philippine Sea, the LPA will have a high chance of intensifying into a tropical cyclone, Aurelio said.

If it develops into a storm within the Philippine area of responsibility, it will be given the name “Henry.”

The LPA will bring cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms over the Visayas, Bicol Region, Caraga, Quezon, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, and Romblon.

Meanwhile, Aurelio said the southwest monsoon, locally known as “habagat,” has weakened as of Monday and is currently affecting only the western section of Southern Luzon.

However, it is expected to affect parts of Mindanao again on Tuesday as the potential cyclone enhances the habagat.

Metro Manila and the rest of the country will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms, PAGASA said.

Aurelio advised the public to stay alert for possible flooding and landslides in areas affected by prolonged or heavy rainfall.

 

BPI to waive InstaPay, PESONet fees permanently starting July 1

BPI President Jose Teodoro K. Limcaoco

Ayala-led Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) will permanently eliminate transaction fees for digital fund transfers via InstaPay and PESONet starting July 1, following the central bank's lifting of its cap on electronic payment pricing. Read more

Why do people in the Philippines rarely have a dishwasher at home?

 

In the Philippines, an automatic dishwasher isn't a time-saving luxury. It's a high-wattage paperweight that is completely useless against the cement-like grip of day-old rice.

The most immediate factor behind its absence is the deeply ingrained chore distribution. Many middle-class and upper-class families employ a kasambahay (domestic helper) whose duties include cooking, cleaning, and washing dishes. In households without hired help, dishwashing is the default chore universally assigned to children. Buying an expensive machine to automate a task already handled efficiently by a helper or a family member makes little economic sense.

Compounding the cost is the price of power. The Philippines has some of the highest electricity rates in Asia. Dishwashers rely on internal water heaters and drying coils that draw significant wattage. Because many families are highly conscious of their electric bills—often opting for electric fans over air conditioning to save money—running a high-wattage appliance just to clean plates is widely viewed as an unnecessary luxury.

Kitchen design also plays a major role. Many Filipino homes utilize a two-kitchen setup. The indoor kitchen is a showpiece used for light prep and serving. The actual heavy-duty frying, boiling, and butchering happens in a "dirty kitchen," which is often located outside or in a separate, heavily ventilated area. Installing a high-end appliance requiring dedicated plumbing and electrical lines in a semi-outdoor, heavily trafficked cooking space is highly impractical, and the indoor kitchen rarely sees the messy pots that would warrant a machine.

Finally, the dietary habits of the Philippines render dishwashers ineffective. Filipino cuisine relies heavily on rich stews and thick, sticky sauces like soy sauce, vinegar, and oil. Once a meal is over, deep woks used for frying build up stubborn layers of grease, while any leftover rice aggressively adheres to plates. Modern dishwashers excel at sanitizing and rinsing, but they consistently struggle with the abrasive scrubbing required to dislodge these heavy residues. Hand-washing remains the only reliable way to get the dishes clean.

Music’s Impact: Emotions, Brain, and Culture

    

By Klaus Döring

Why is Mozart’s music good for the brain?

A study found that subjects who listened to Mozart showed significantly increased spatial reasoning skills for at least 10 to 15 minutes. This finding led crèches in the United States to start playing classical music to children.

During my high school years, I discovered that listening to Mozart was indeed helpful.

The Mozart effect is the theory that listening to Mozart’s music can induce a short-term improvement in the performance of certain cognitive tasks. Researchers found that listening to Mozart’s music enhanced word memory across positive, negative, and neutral words.

One of the most persistent myths in parenting is the so-called Mozart effect, which claims that listening to music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart can increase a child’s intelligence.

Claudia Hammond wrote about it in 2013: “It is said that classical music could make children more intelligent, but when you look at the scientific evidence, the picture is more mixed.”

You have probably heard of the Mozart effect. It’s the idea that if children or even babies listen to music composed by Mozart, they will become more intelligent. A quick internet search reveals plenty of products to assist you in this task. Regardless of your age, there are CDs and books to help harness the power of Mozart’s music, but when it comes to scientific evidence that it can make you more intelligent, the picture is more mixed.

After a short period, I sought more and suddenly “Master” Ludwig van Beethoven stepped into my musical life: “Dadadadaan…”

I strongly agree with François Mai, who wrote: “Beethoven was the first of the Romantic period composers who dominated classical music during the 19th century. He himself was a passionate man who wore his feelings on his sleeve. He had episodes of depression accompanied by suicidal ideas and rarer episodes of elation with flights of ideas. The latter are reflected in some of his letters. He had a low frustration tolerance and at times would become so angry that he would come to blows with others such as his brother Carl, or he would throw objects at his servants. Although he never married, he had several affairs, including one with a married woman who has come to be known to posterity as ‘the Unknown Beloved.’ To her, he wrote three love letters filled with affection and feeling. He much enjoyed wine, which resulted in hepatic cirrhosis that caused his premature death at the age of 56.”

This moodiness is reflected in his music. The “Marches Funébres” of his Third Symphony (Eroica) and the Piano Sonata, op. 26, no. 12, are poignant and powerful portrayals of grief and bereavement. The final movement of the String Quartet, no. 6, op. 18 (La Malinconia), has sudden and alternating changes of tempo and rhythm that depict, in musical terms, the mood changes that occur in bipolar disorder. The pace and fortissimo dynamics of both his Rondo a Capriccio for piano, op. 129, and the storm movement of his Sixth Symphony (Pastoral Symphony) beautifully (or perhaps one should also say fearfully) display anger and agitation.

Beethoven’s and my moodiness remain the same to this day.

Over the last 50 years, I have met most of my classical masters. This could be a never-ending story. My passion for music is a part of my life—maybe the main part.

Der Albtraum aller Reisenden: Millionen Gepäckstücke verschwinden Jahr für Jahr für immer spurlos

 

Der neue Bericht von Sita: Im vergangenen Jahr gingen 24 Millionen aufgegebene Koffer verloren, wurden beschädigt oder zu spät ausgeliefert. Veraltete Flughäfen spielen bei den Problemen eine Rolle.

Im vergangenen Jahr sind an Flughäfen weltweit täglich 2.500 Gepäckstücke spurlos verschwunden und nie wieder aufgetaucht. Verloren irgendwo (oder von irgendwem mitgenommen), nachdem sie von den Passagieren am Check-in-Schalter aufgegeben und für den Frachtraum bestimmt worden waren.  

Content-Partnerschaft

Dieser Artikel von Leonard Berberi entstand in Kooperation mit Corriere della Sera.

Hinzu kommen jene, die verspätet ausgeliefert oder beschädigt wurden, mehr als 63.000 pro Tag. Das sind einige der interessantesten Daten aus der neuen Ausgabe des Sita-Berichts „Baggage IT Insights“, erstellt von der technologischen Organisation des Luftverkehrs.   

Ein verloren gegangener Koffer sorgt für viel Stress und Ärger. © IMAGO/Maksym Yemelyanov

Die gute Nachricht im globalen Maßstab ist, dass die Quote fehlgeleiteten Gepäcks im Jahr 2025 gegenüber dem Vorjahr um fast ein Viertel gesunken ist und nun bei 4,9 pro tausend beförderter Passagiere liegt. Das gesamte Volumen der „fehlgeleiteten“ Trolleys sank um 19 Prozent, von 30 auf 24 Millionen. Das sind die niedrigsten jemals verzeichneten Werte außerhalb der Pandemiezeit, als der Einbruch des Verkehrs die Flughäfen schlichtweg geleert hatte.

Die schlechte Nachricht für die Europäer ist, dass der Kontinent als problematischste Region herausragt, mit fast 12 Millionen „fehlgeleiteten“ Koffern. Die Hälfte der persönlichen Gegenstände wird also hierzulande verloren oder verspätet ausgeliefert, mit einer Quote von 10,5 je tausend Reisenden. Wo? Vor allem auf internationalen Flügen. Es sei daran erinnert, dass es sich um Trolleys handelt, die für den Frachtraum bestimmt sind, nicht um Handgepäck in der Kabine.   

Historische Entwicklung der Gepäckprobleme und finanzielle Dimension

Zurück zum weltweiten Bild: Der Rückgang ist noch signifikanter, wenn man ihn in historischer Perspektive betrachtet: 2007 lag die Quote bei 18,9 fehlgeleiteten Gepäckstücken pro tausend Passagiere. In fast zwanzig Jahren hat die Branche diese Zahl nahezu auf ein Viertel reduziert, obwohl sie doppelt so viele Passagiere befördert. Die Gesamtkosten sind entsprechend um 17 Prozent gesunken, von 7,7 auf 6,3 Milliarden Dollar. Ein positives Ergebnis, das dennoch eine Summe in industriellen Dimensionen auf dem Tisch lässt.