Selena Gomez becomes first woman to have 400M Instagram followers

 

Jan Milo Severo - Philstar.com

MANILA, Philippines — A few weeks after dethroning Kylie Jenner as the most followed female celebrity on Instagram, Selena Gomez became the first woman to have 400 million followers on the platform.

Kylie has 382 million Instagram followers. 

Selena, however, is the third celebrity who has the most followers on Instagram. Football stars Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are on the top with 562 followers and 442 million followers respectively.

In her Instagram account, Selena posted photos with her fans celebrating the accomplishment. 

"Wishing I could hug all 400 million of you," she captioned the post. 

Selena was the most followed woman in 2019 until Ariana Grande and then Kylie took the title. 

Her comeback as the most followed woman on Instagram came in the middle of her retreat from social media. 

She recently told Vanity Fair that she only has TikTok app in her phone and tried to put filters to avoid hurtful comments. 

“People can call me ugly or stupid and I'm like, 'Whatever',” she said. 

“But these people get detailed. They write paragraphs that are so specific and mean. I would constantly be crying. I constantly had anxiety... I couldn't do it anymore. It was a waste of my time,” she added.

BSP assures Marcos of PH banks' stability

By Niña Myka Pauline Arceo

THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) on Monday reiterated the stability of the Philippine banking system following the collapse of two US banks.

Local banks are "strong and prepared to withstand possible shocks" and also have asset bases significantly different from those of US banks, the BSP said in notes sent to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Philippine banks, in particular, were said to:

• mostly hold loans that are less susceptible to changes in fair value;

• have lower market risk exposure compared to US banks;

• maintain a diversified lending base and manageable loan quality;

• have strong risk governance and risk management systems;

• be highly liquid and tend to rely on a wide depositor base; and

• not have material exposure to the failed banks.

Beauty queen Rikki Dela Pena gets featured on digital billboard

BY MANILA BULLETIN ENTERTAINMENT

Mar 21, 2023 00:08 AM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• Ms. Philippine Youth International 2019, and reigning Miss Philippines Face of Tourism.

• Rikki is the executive producer of Manila Fashion Runway. She will have a fashion show dubbed "Manila Fashion Runway Summer ‘23" which will be held at the White Space Manila on March 26.

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Rikki Dela Pena (Facebook)

Spotted along the corner of Edsa and Magallanes in Makati City was the latest digital billboard of Block Modeling School, a school that trains aspiring and experienced models with the help of professionals in the modeling industry. 

Also seen at the same spot was the digital billboard of Modernò Eyewear founded by Rikki Dela Pena, Ms. Philippine Youth International 2019, and reigning Miss Philippines Face of Tourism.

Rikki is the executive producer of Manila Fashion Runway. She will have a fashion show dubbed "Manila Fashion Runway Summer ‘23" which will be held at the White Space Manila on March 26.

Special thanks to fashion designer Ana Matutina and Joville Reyes.

Moderno by Rikki billboard models: Trisha, Ana, Chin, Duke, Rikki, and Althea. Follow @moderno.official on Instagram and visit www.modernoofficial.com

 

Nesthy Petecio remains last Filipina standing in IBA world boxing tourney

BY KRISTEL SATUMBAGA-VILLAR

Mar 20, 2023 1:43 PM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• Petecio’s triumph came after Aira Villegas absorbed a 5-0 beating at the hands of Bulgaria’s Zlatislava Chukanova in her opening-round match in the 48-50kg light flyweight division.

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Nesthy Petecio clobbered her rival to remain the last Filipina standing in the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in New Delhi, India Sunday, March 19.

Nesthy Petecio advances to the next round in IBA Women's World Boxing Championships in New Delhi, India. (File Photo/AFP)

The 30-year-old Davaoeño showcased her strength that won her the silver medal in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics to outclass sixth seed Guy Tianna of Trinidad and Tobago, 6-0, in the 54-57 kg featherweight class.

Petecio dominated the scorecards by scoring 30-27 from Moroccan, Estonian, Serbian and Indonesian judges and 30-26 from the Venezuelan judge.

The victory not only opened Petecio’s title bid on a high note but also arranged her a next meeting with Venezuela’s Omailyn Alcala, who routed Chandra Kala Thapa of Nepal, 5-0.

Both Petecio and Alcala earned opening round byes.

Petecio’s triumph came after Aira Villegas absorbed a 5-0 beating at the hands of Bulgaria’s Zlatislava Chukanova in her opening-round match in the 48-50kg light flyweight division.

Judges from Argentina and India gave a close 29-28 score in favor of Chukanova, while Cuban, Algerian and Serbian judges had it 30-27 also for the Bulgarian.

Riza Pasuit was the first casualty of the small PH contingent after succumbing to her opening match in the 60-63kg light welterweight class on Friday, March 17.

Eat Bulaga' will never be the same again

With the grand media conference not happening until April 15, fans are left wondering about the fate of their favorite ‘Dabarkads.’ PHOTO FROM FACEBOOK/EBDABARKADS

By Ronnie Carrasco 3rd, Manila Times

AS many as the "isanlibo't isang tuwa" line in the iconic anthem of "Eat Bulaga" are the circulating rumors about the fate that awaits the nearly 44-year-old noontime program in the country.

Hopefully, however, the nagging questions will finally be answered as Tape, Inc., which produces EB, holds a long-overdue media conference on April 15 — two days before the legendary show is relaunched.

The public can't help but be consumed by both anxiety and excitement as EB announces the major changes it will undergo, that are — at the same time — expected to define the landscape of Philippine television.

This is apparently the reason why the current batch of hosts has declined to grant any interviews so as not to preempt the program's official announcement. Allan K, for instance, is consistent with his evasive yet polite refusal to volunteer any comments, "Huwag muna."

The following are basic random questions that any curious, loyal EB viewer wants answered.

First on the list is what happens to the comedic trio of TVJ (Tito, Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon)? Will they still be retained under the Jalosjos management? Or will they head towards the direction of Tony Tuviera, reportedly to Net25?

In the event that the TVJ trio gets eased out, is it true that Jose Manalo, Wally Bayola and Allan K automatically take their place to give the show a younger look? If this is the premise, where does this leave Paolo Ballesteros of JoWaPao fame?

Is there also truth to the buzz that Alden Richards — only when his work sched will permit him — will be positioned as the program's "poste" or pillar? And what about Maine Mendoza, Alden's erstwhile EB partner, is the senior Jalosjos' daughter Soraya nudging her out of the scene?

Maine's supporters, on the other hand, are less worried for their idol since word has it that she'll be preoccupied with prepping up for her wedding to Quezon City First District Congressman Arjo Atayde, which is happening anytime soon.

There's also less tension among the fans of Maja Salvador — in case she's among the outgoing hosts — who's also getting hitched with Rambo Nuñez.

Manning a thriving, stable food business with wife Judy Ann Santos, Ryan Agoncillo shouldn't likewise feel worried about his finances getting affected.

With the exodus of the old-timers, there are persistent talks that a number of GMA's Sparkle artists are coming into the fray. Reportedly, this is the result of the meeting between the senior Jalosjos and the GMA executives led by Johnny Manahan.

With no final list of network artists yet, the idea is to infuse fresh faces in EB to attract more millennial audience.

At present, EB is under the helm of Louie Ignacio. There's a likely chance that Louie will still direct the show in mid-April given his topnotch skills.

And since he's reportedly close to the Jalosjos family, are we to see Kim Atienza join the wacky gang? If confirmed, is Kuya Kim willing to give up his stint on "TikToClock," EB's pre-programming?

Also, how true are reports that already retired Malou Choa-Fagar (then-SVP for finance) is being wooed to rejoin EB? If so, won't there be any duplication of functions since Romeo's son Jon-jon is the company's treasurer?

Lastly, doesn't the TVJ trio deserve to get paid their retirement benefits?

Albeit network or contractual talents are not generally covered by existing labor laws, are they not entitled at least to severance pay most especially for all the struggles they had to endure during EB's fledgling years?

More than 43 years of hosting is just as long as any senior employee's stint with any company. Pa-konsuwelo, to use a better term even if they don't need it at all.

While all these questions beg for answers, we can only ascertain what will surely disappear co-terminus with TVJ: the program title by Joey de Leon and the EB anthem by Bossing Vic.

Yes, Eat Bulaga — as we've all known it — will never be the same again.

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GUESS WHO?

The production team of a cooking show has become wary of this mother-and-daughter tandem (MDT) since it had them as guests.

As in any program of that type, the invited guests introduce their specialty, get the ingredients ready (all pre-set by the program) and share with the viewers how to prepare it until it's done.

The MDT, however, went beyond. Much to the staff's astonishment, not only did the MDT take home the dish they concocted, they also brought with them the program-owned utensils they used.

"Amin na rin 'tong mga ito, ha?" the mother casually told the program staff as she stuffed them all in her bag.

Having gleaned a lesson, the staff was firm in its resolve: never to invite the MDT ever again.

UN to deliver prescription for climate crisis

PARIS: The United Nations was poised to release a capstone report Monday distilling nearly a decade of published science on the impacts and trajectory of global warming, and the tools available to prevent climate catastrophe.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's 30-odd page "summary for policymakers" — compressing 10,500 pages authored by more than 1,000 scientists — is as dense as a black hole and will deliver a stark warning.

"We are nearing a point of no return," UN chief Antonio Guterres said last week as diplomats from 195 nations gathered in Interlaken, Switzerland, to hammer out the final wording, finalized on Sunday night by exhausted and sleep-deprived delegates two days behind schedule.

"For decades, the IPCC has put forward evidence on how people and planet are being rocked by climate destruction." Since the last IPCC synthesis report in 2014, science has determined that devastating impacts are happening more quickly and at lower levels of warming than previously understood.

With Earth's average surface temperature 1.2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels so far, the planet has seen a steady crescendo extreme weather, including tropical storms made worse by rising seas.

On current trends, the world is on track to warm by an additional 1.6 degrees.

In 2022, climate change quantifiably amplified deadly heat waves in South America and South Asia, massive flooding in Nigeria and Pakistan, and record-breaking drought in Western Europe and the Unites States, according to the World Weather Attribution consortium, which includes many IPCC authors.

Science in the last decade has also elevated the danger posed by so-called tipping points in Earth's climate system that could — beyond certain temperature thresholds — see tropical forests in the Amazon morph into savannah, and ice sheets in Greenland and West Antarctica shed enough water to lift oceans by meters.

But most of the wrangling at the week-long IPCC meeting centered on potential solutions, especially on how to decarbonize the global economy quickly enough to avoid crippling impacts, according to participants.

Under the 2015 Paris Agreement, nations vowed to collectively cap warming at "well below" 2 C, and at 1.5 C if possible.

A 2018 IPCC special report made it alarmingly clear that the more ambitious aspirational goal — since adopted by governments and business as a hard target — was a better guarantee for a climate-safe world.

Some countries emphasize the need to rapidly phase out fossil fuel use and reduce consumer demand, and others the potential of technological solutions.

"Over time, IPCC meetings became more politicized as government representatives — mainly, but not exclusively, from oil-producing states — interfered in the scientists' discussions," the journal Nature said in a recent editorial.

In Interlaken, negotiators from Saudi Arabia, for example, fought hard to remove or dilute passages that emphasized the central role of fossil fuels in driving global warming.

They also insisted on balancing any mention of renewable solar and wind energy with technologies that reduce the carbon emissions from burning gas or coal, such as carbon capture and storage.

"Other countries were hiding behind them, but the Saudis were most vocal," said one participant at the closed-door deliberations.

The IPCC synthesis report will also feed into the next high-level round of UN climate talks this December in Dubai, which will see the first "global stocktake" of progress toward achieving the Paris treaty goals.

To be unveiled ahead of COP28 in Dubai, the stocktake will confront countries with the deep inadequacy of their Paris pledges to cut emissions.

Taking care of our conscience

By Fr. Roy Cimagala *

CONSIDERING that our conscience plays a very important role in our life, we have to see to it that we take utmost care of it. It is supposed to be where we hear the voice of God who tells us what is right and wrong, what is good and bad. It is our immediate guide as to how we have to think, speak, act and react. 

But we should see to it that it is truly God’s voice that we hear and not just our own ideas or the voice of another entity, which if it is not God, then it is something that is opposed to God.

We are reminded of this aspect of our life in that gospel episode where Christ was confronted by some leading Jews, accusing him of not following the Sabbath law because he cured a man who was ill for 38 years on a Sabbath. (cfr. Jn 5,1-16)

For our conscience to truly hear the abiding promptings of God, we need to always anchor our mind and heart on God. We have to always remember that we are meant to live our life with God. We should be wary of our tendency to live our life on our own, especially when we are quite gifted with intelligence and other talents. 

Such gifts should never take God away from our mind and heart. Rather, they should work to make our consciousness of God’s constant presence and interventions in our life sharper. 

When we notice that we are already relying more on our own powers and are slowly distancing ourselves from God, we should immediately correct it. The ideal condition for us should be that we be sharply aware of God’s presence and interventions. There should be no moment when we are not aware of God in our life.

This, obviously, will require a certain discipline, considering that we have this strong tendency to be on our own. In fact, right at the beginning of human history, during the time of our first parents, Adam and Eve, who were created in the state of original justice, that tendency already occurred. That is why they fell into sin, causing all of us to be born with original sin, that is, not in the state of grace as God wanted it for us in the beginning.

Again, for us, to contain this tendency, we need to truly live by faith, which would require of us total obedience and humility before God. This is the constant challenge we have to tackle. But while it certainly requires great effort and sacrifice, we should remember also that God always gives us the necessary grace so we can do what he wants us to do. We just have to correspond to that grace through obedience and humility.

The goal to pursue is that even though we may feel very awkward and unworthy about this, we should feel God’s presence all the time, we should somehow see him, have a living encounter with him, engaging him in a continuing dialogue of love. To be sure, he initiates that dialogue with us. We should just learn how to correspond.

Yes, to be keenly aware of God in our life, and to discern his constant promptings should be the normal thing in our life. When we realize that we are more aware of our thoughts independently of God, we should realize that we are taking the wrong track and, therefore, should correct ourselves promptly.

* Chaplain Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE), Talamban, Cebu City

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com