DOH: Monitoring systems on alert vs mpox spread

By: Dexter Cabalza - Reporter / @dexcabalzaINQ

Philippine Daily Inquirer / 05:36 AM August 16, 2024

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday said the country’s surveillance systems had been placed on alert as the World Health Organization declared mpox (formerly monkeypox) a global public health emergency for the second time in two years, following an outbreak in Africa that could spread outside the continent.

No border control measures are being recommended but the Bureau of Quarantine would conduct “interviews, particularly to passengers departing and arriving from countries in Africa,” according to DOH spokesperson Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo.

“No new mpox cases have been detected in the Philippines since December 2023,” Domingo said.

The DOH had recorded nine confirmed cases of mpox —four in 2022 and five in 2023 —none of them fatal and with all the patients recovering later.

Highest alert level

On Thursday, WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the upsurge of mpox cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and a growing number of countries in Africa constituted a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). A PHEIC status is the WHO’s highest level of alert, a situation calling for accelerated research, funding and international cooperation to contain a disease.

The declaration came on the advice of an emergency committee of independent experts who informed the WHO chief that the surge of mpox cases has the “potential to spread further across countries in Africa and possibly outside the continent.”

“The emergence of a new clade of mpox, its rapid spread in eastern DRC, and the reporting of cases in several neighboring countries are very worrying. On top of outbreaks of other mpox clades in DRC and other countries in Africa, it’s clear that a coordinated international response is needed to stop these outbreaks and save lives,” Tedros said.

Earlier outbreaks

According to the WHO, there have been around 100,000 confirmed mpox cases worldwide, with 208 deaths reported.

This would be the second time the WHO raised a PHEIC relating to mpox.

In July 2022, an mpox outbreak in different parts of the world was declared a PHEIC as cases spread rapidly via sexual contact across a range of countries where the virus had not been seen before.

BINI headlines Asiya Music Festival and Conference

Kristofer Purnell - Philstar.com

MANILA, Philippines — P-pop girl group BINI leads a sprawling list of performers and delegates for the Asiya Music Festival and Conference this October.

Asiya organizers released the full lineup of performers and delegates for the two-day event happening in Pasay's World Trade Center on October 12 and 13, both days starting at 2 p.m.

Joining BINI as headliners are Korean band Hyukoh and Taiwanese band Sunset Rollercoaster, the latter having just performed at Wanderland 2024 last March.

Representing the Philippines as well are JK Labajo, UDD, Urbandub, Zild Benitez, Reese Lansangan, Gabba Santiago, Ysanygo, Jose Miguel, and Flu.

Completing the performer lineup are Korea's Balming Tiger (also returning from Wanderland 2024) and Colde, Japan's imase and Salasa, Singapore's Shye, Taiwan's 9m88, Malaysia's babychair, and Thailand's Numcha.

Delegates speaking at keynote talks and panel discussions come from all around the world, even outside Asia like the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, Spain, and Russia.

Organizers already released ticketing details for the festival, which come in three phases: Phase 1 from August 15 to 31 (or until supplies last), Phase 2 for the whole of September (or as soon as Phase 1 sells out), and regular selling from October until event proper (or as soon as Phase 2 sells out).

During Phase 1, single-day tickets cost P3,650, general admission weekend tickets cost P5,050, while VIP weekend tickets cost P8,850.

The prices will go up for Phase 2 (P3,950, P5,550, and P9450, respectively) and regular selling (P4,450, P6,150, and P9,950, respectively).

General admission allows for music festival access while VIP tickets include access to the viewing deck, express entrance and merchadise lanes, re-entry, and a kit containing a totebag, lanyard with ID, shirt, and keychain.

There will be no barriers dividing ticketholders, meaning, festival goers can roam around the venue proper between two stages.

Children below seven years old will not be allowed while minors (ages 8 to 17) must be accompanied by a ticket-bearing guardian.

Because transactions are made via the Asiya website, no discounts can be applied to students, senior citizens, and people with disabilities though organizers assured they are "working on it for future shows."

They added that even non-Filipinos can buy tickets, with a maximum of 10 tickets per purchase.

Passes for the conference portion of Asiya will be announced at a later date.

K-pop girl group Fromis 9 returns with ‘Supersonic’

BY JONATHAN HICAP

  

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Fromis 9, the girl group under HYBE and Pledis Entertainment, released their third single album ‘Supersonic” on Aug. 12. 

Composed of Lee Sae Rom, Song Ha Young, Park Ji Won, Roh Ji Sun, Lee Seo Yeon, Lee Chae Young, Lee Na Gyung, and Baek Ji Heon, Fromis 9’s lead single “Supersonic” is a summer song that combines a heavy bass with a fast-paced beat, layered on top of Miami Bass. 

Fromis 9 (Pledis Entertainment)

The title symbolizes the band’s ambition to reach listeners at supersonic speed and become the soundtrack of the summer.

The second track, “Beat the Heat,” immediately gives the summer anthem vibes with a rhythmic melody and Fromis 9’s Lee Sae Rom and Park Ji Won contributed to the lyrics. 

The dreamy, euphoric pop track “Take a Chance” features lyrics by Lee Sae Rom, Park Ji Won, and Lee Seo Yeon.

Fromis 9’s new single album encapsulates the bright and energetic charm that defines who they are. 

"We want to share our signature refreshing vibe while showcasing our healthy energy," fromis_9 said. 

Sharing their thoughts on the new album, they added, “This single truly captures ‘summer' itself. From the intense and passionate lead track “Supersonic” to the cool and breezy B-sides like ‘Beat the Heat’ and ‘Take A Chance,’ we’ve infused the essence of summer into every song. We hope listeners can recharge their energy and enjoy a refreshing summer with our new single.”

They aim to establish themselves as ‘Summer Heroines’ with this release, with captivating performances that are sure to win everyone’s hearts. Anticipation is high as they’re ready to race in at ‘supersonic’ speed to sweep away the exhaustion and thirst of the sweltering season in one go.

Fromis 9’s new single album “Supersonic” is now available on streaming platforms.

Long weekend: Marcos moves Ninoy Aquino Day to Friday, Aug. 23

Philstar.com

August 15, 2024 | 10:53pm 

A supporter tapes a placard on a car before a motorcade to commemorate the 40th death anniversary of Ninoy Aquino in Pasay city on August 21, 2023. Ninoy Aquino, one of the opposition leaders during the Marcos dictatorship was shot upon arrival from exile at the Manila international airport on August 21, 1983, sparking massive anti-Marcos protests after, that led to their ouster of the Marcoses from power in 1986, in a people power revolution. 

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has rescheduled the observance of Ninoy Aquino Day from Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024 to Friday, Aug. 23, 2024.

In a newly issued Proclamation 665, Malacañang said the move allows for a long weekend. It also facilitates domestic tourism while maintaining the commemoration’s historical significance, it said.

The holiday has been observed annually on August 21 as a commemoration of the assassination of Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr., a senator and opposition leader during the regime of Marcos's father, Ferdinand Marcos.

It is still considered a special non-working holiday despite the move. This suggests that employees who render work are paid 30% more for the day.

Marcos also directed the Department of Labor and Employment to issue a circular to implement the proclamation for the private sector.