No matter where you go in the world, communication is key to forming connections with others. And while there may be language barriers that prevent some people from understanding one another, there are always ways to overcome these obstacles. In the Philippines, for example, many people speak English as a second language. This can be helpful for those who are looking to communicate with others from different parts of the world.However, it can also create some challenges. While most Filipinos can understand and speak English, there may be some instances where communication breakdowns occur. But these moments are often just a matter of patience and understanding. By taking the time to listen and be open-minded, we can bridge any language barrier and create lasting connections with others.
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Saturday, October 8, 2022
Still ‘more fun’ in PH despite post-pandemic effect, says tourism chief
by Jun Marcos Tadios, Manila Bulletin
With the constant recognition being given Philippine tourism as the top destination in Asia, Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said on, Friday, Oct. 7, that the country was finally overcoming the post-pandemic upshot of the Covid-19 crisis.
Frasco made her manifestation during the deliberation of the proposed P3.573-billion budget of the DOT and its attached agencies before the Senate Committee on Finance.
Frasco said they had presented the programs and plans of the DOT to transform the tourism industry into a significant economic pillar through institutional development.
She stated that this was envisioned as the department’s commitment to promoting the direction of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
“We also presented that we are heralding the Filipino brand to the world by highlighting the best qualities of our country and the Filipino people,” said Frasco.
The DOT chief reiterated that they would continue to promote the country’s tourism capability despite the continuing adverse effect of the global pandemic on the tourism industry.
“While the promotion of the Philippines will not entirely change in the sense that we will continue to market that it is indeed more fun here, we are growing, we are evolving — as the entire world has post-pandemic — to introduce and highlight also the beauty of our culture, the substantial and immersive experience we can offer, and the strength of our identity as a nation,” Frasco uttered.
She thanked the Committee on Finance Subcommittee on Tourism, chaired by Senator Nancy Binay, and all the senators who supported their budget for the fiscal year 2023.
The DOT and its attached agencies and corporations have a total recommended budget amounting to P3.573 billion, which is 27.87 percent higher than this year’s appropriations.
The DOT’s proposed budget has been endorsed to Senate’s plenary for debate.
The Philippines has consistently been hailed as among the best tourist destinations in the world. The latest feat came from the 2022 World Travel Awards (WTA) in Vietnam which proclaimed the Philippines as Asia’s leading dive and beach destination, and Intramuros as Asia’s leading tourist attraction.
Sarangani seeks to plant 1 M trees in 3 years
by Joseph Jubelag, Manila Bulletin
ALABEL, Sarangani – The Sarangani provincial government launched on Wednesday, Oct. 5, a reforestation program that seeks to plant and grow some one million trees across the province in the next three years.
Provincial officials led by Gov. Ruel Pacquiao attended the kick-off ceremony of the Sarangani One Million Trees project at the watershed areas of Barangay Bacagay here.
Hundreds of local officials, national government employees, and non-government organizations planted some 1,000 seedlings of iron bamboo and fruit trees, including coffee, langka, durian, rambutan, and lanzones.
Pacquiao urged residents and community stakeholders to take part in the environmental project.
“It could be a long way to go, but with the support of the community stakeholders, we can possibly save the depleting watershed of the province,” he said.
Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Rolando Tuballes said the provincial government launched the environmental protection program amid a study conducted by the USAID-Safe Water Project that showed that some 20,000 hectares of the province’s forest covers have been degraded from 2015 to 2020.
He said the degradation had caused soil erosion and siltation triggered by perennial flooding.
“The massive tree-planting and tree-growing project for the next three years will intensify the reforestation of the denuded watershed areas which aimed to improve the quantity and quality of the province’s water supply,” Tuballes said.
LTFRB Chair Garafil is new Press Usec, OIC
by Argyll Cyrus Geducos, Manila Bulletin
As the public awaits the announcement as to who would the next press secretary be, Malacañang confirmed that Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairperson Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil is now the officer-in-charge (OIC) of the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS).
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said this a day after President Marcos said that the shortlist for the next press secretary is now down to three people.
In a text message, Bersamin said “yes” when asked if Garafil resigned from her post and will be an undersecretary at the OPS and serve as its OIC, while Marcos has yet to name the new press secretary.
In a statement, Garafil said she resigned from her post on Friday, October 7, after accepting the offer to help the OPS as its Undersecretary and OIC.
“This is a great honor and privilege, and I thank the President for this opportunity to once again work with him in his administration to serve the Filipino people,” she said.
The press secretary post has been vacant since Tuesday, October 5, following the resignation of lawyer Trixie Cruz-Angeles supposedly due to health reasons.
Angeles was one of the officials that the Commission on Appointments (CA) bypassed last week. This came after Bersamin was appointed as the new executive secretary, replacing long-time Marcos ally Vic Rodriguez.
On October 6, Marcos said they would be naming the next press secretary “early next week” after revealing that they had narrowed the list to three people.
While he refused to identify the people on the list, he said that the next press secretary should be a “friend of the media,” preferably a journalist or a media practitioner who can effectively deliver the government’s message to the public.
“Yung kaibigan ninyo (They should be your friend),” he said.
“You need somebody who is very experienced in the… probably a journalist or a media practitioner. Yun naman ang kailangan (That’s what we need),” he added.
Reports surfaced that Transportation Undersecretary Cesar Chavez, Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) head of Government Relations Mike Toledo, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) director Gilbert Remulla, and director Paul Soriano were being considered as Angeles’ replacement as Press Secretary.
Chavez confirmed he was being considered for the post and was thinking about it. On the other hand, Toledo is open to returning as Press Secretary. Toledo served in the same position during the Estrada Administration.
Meanwhile, Soriano confirmed to ABS-CBN News that he was being considered but said he preferred to work behind the scenes. Remulla told GMA News Online that he was in the process of “deep discernment,” but he was concentrating on his role in PAGCOR.
Chavez, Toledo, Soriano, and Remulla all have media backgrounds.
Liverpool to host 2023 Eurovision song contest
Published October 8, 2022, 9:28 AM
LONDON (AFP) – The Beatles’ home city of Liverpool will hold the 2023 Eurovision song contest next May, the BBC announced on Friday, after Britain stepped in to host the event due to the war in Ukraine.
“It’s Liverpool, 13th May,” said the BBC’s Eurovision show presenter Graham Norton announcing the result live on television after the shortlist was whittled down to Liverpool or Glasgow.
Singer Sonia Evans, who hails from Liverpool and came second for the UK in the 1993 contest, said she was “absolutely over the moon” by the choice.
“We are going to have the biggest party ever,” she said.
“Liverpool has the music history of the whole world. It ticks all the boxes.”
The northwestern English city was famously home to the Beatles as well as a host of other big names from Gerry and the Pacemakers to Frankie Goes to Hollywood.
“A welcoming city with a proud musical heritage, Liverpool will put on an unforgettable show which celebrates the rich culture and creativity of Ukraine,” tweeted British Prime Minister Liz Truss.
Ukraine had been due to host the contest after Ukrainian folk-rap group Kalush Orchestra in May won the Eurovision crown, on a wave of support for their country following Russia’s invasion.
The group beat 24 competitors in the finale in Turin with “Stefania”, a rap lullaby combining Ukrainian folk and modern hip-hop rhythms.
“Please help Ukraine and Mariupol! Help Azоvstal right now,” frontman Oleh Psiuk appealed in English from the stage, referring to the port city’s steelworks where Ukrainian soldiers had been surrounded by Russian forces for weeks.
Britain’s entrant Sam Ryder came second with his quirky song “Space Man”.
But despite protests from President Volodymyr Zelensky’s government, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which runs Eurovision, in June ruled that Ukraine could not guarantee the safety of the more than 10,000 people involved in the production and a further 30,000 fans expected to attend.
– ‘You’ll do Ukraine proud’ –
“We did it!” said Liverpool Mayor Joanne Anderson on Twitter after the announcement.
“Liverpool is honoured to be hosting Eurovision 2023 on behalf of Ukraine… now begins the work on organising the party.”
The BBC confirmed the semi finals would take place in the city on May 9 and 11, with the grand final on May 13.
Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon tweeted her best wishes to Liverpool after Scotland’s second city of Glasgow lost out.
“Congratulations, Liverpool. Gutted for Glasgow, but no doubt you’ll do Eurovision and Ukraine proud,” she wrote.
The government in Kyiv had originally vowed to fight the decision not to allow it to play host but later agreed to a UK-hosted event with a strongly Ukrainian flavour.
Culture Minister Oleksandr Tkachenko said that after “several rounds” of discussion, the EBU had given assurances of an “extremely high integration of Ukrainian context and presenters”.
British prime minister Boris Johnson at the time said that it had been agreed with Zelensky that “wherever Eurovision 2023 is held, it must celebrate the country and people of Ukraine”.
“As we are now hosts, the UK will honour that pledge directly -– and put on a fantastic contest on behalf of our Ukrainian friends,” Johnson added.
Eurovision is the world’s biggest live music event, taking in performers from across Europe and Central Asia as well as Israel and Australia.
It will be produced in the UK by the BBC.
In line with Eurovision rules, Ukraine is still guaranteed a place in the 2023 grand final along with the EBU’s “top five” countries: Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Spain.
The UK has previously hosted the contest eight times, including four times in London.
The last time was in Birmingham in central England in 1998.