DURIAN GD69 and the Man Behind The Variety

If there is one fruit that has gained notoriety for its reputation as the fruit that smells like hell but tastes like heaven, it is the Durian (Durio zibethinus). It also has a thorny shell that has not stopped it from reigning as the king of fruits in Asia. Some love it and some hate it. Some would devote years to get the best flavor, texture of flesh, and yield. One of them is Mr. Angel Tirona Galang.

In Davao City where durian thrives and serves as one of its icons, Mr. Galang planted more than 300 trees from the University of the Philippines in Los Banos courtesy of his daughter’s father-in-law, the late Dean Dr. Dioscoro L. Umali, and diligently took note of the characteristics of each. He observed that one of his Chanee trees (Thailand variety) yielded tastier fruits, different from the rest of its cultivar.

Intrigued with the peculiarity, staff from the Department of Agriculture sampled the fruit and referred to it as Galang’s Durian Tree No. 69 or GD69. Cuttings from the branch core bore fruit that exhibited the outstanding qualities of having thin rind, thick and buttery flesh that is deep yellow in color, and tastier. It also has a milder aroma than the native variety.

GD69 was registered with the National Seed Industry Council (NSIC) under Mr. Angel Tirona Galang and was awarded Best Durian for the Introduced Variety category during the 17th Kadayawan Festival in 2003.

Its limited availability has made GD69 much sought after by the Durian cult.

Garden Classics Davao is the official distributor and seller of GD69. (https://www.facebook.com/gardenclassicsdavao?mibextid=ZbWKwL)

Reposted from The Ida Chronicles September 17, 2023

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Back-to-back: PH's Emma Mary Tiglao wins Miss Grand International 2025

 

The Philippines' Christine Juliane "CJ" Opiaza crowns her successor, fellow Filipina Emma Mary Tiglao, as the new Miss Grand International 2025 at the end of the coronation night in Bangkok, Thailand on October 18, 2025.

Screenshot via Grand TV

Earl D.C. Bracamonte - Philstar.com

October 18, 2025 | 11:36pm

MANILA, Philippines — Emma Mary Tiglao bested 76 other international delegates to be crowned the 13th Miss Grand International at glitzy rites in Bangkok, Thailand.

It was technically a back-to-back victory, with outgoing queen, the Philippines' Christine Juliane "CJ"  Opiaza crowning the newscaster from Pampanga.

Finally, the Golden crown was won, fair and square. Emma's victory harks back to the near-wins of Nicole Cordoves in 2016 and Samantha Bernardo in 2020.

Sarunrat Puagpipat of Thailand was proclaimed 1st runner-up. The Thai beauty also won Best in Swimsuit and Best National Costume.

Aitana Carolina Jimenez of Spain, Faith Maria Porter of Ghana, and Hariman Battikha of Venezuela were named as 2nd, 3rd, and 4th runners-up, respectively.

Emma wore a custom burnt orange Rian Fernandez gown in the finals. The Kapampangan beauty also impressed with her final question-and-answer portion where they were asked: “Scammers are an online threat — a form of warfare often tied to human trafficking that has global consequences.Countries such as South Korea and the USA have launched severe crackdowns. What penalties do you think could help dismantle these operations?”

The beauty queen related her winning answer as a TV presenter. 

"As someone who reports this kind of stories, I really want to use the power of balance. Ask people to be educated and aware for us to not be scammed, and the help of the government to enhance their justice system for the scammers to be behind bars, to be accountable.

“'Cause one day I hope that we will live in a peaceful, peaceful world where no one should deceive just to survive," Emma answered.  

How Trump’s latest climate move could hurt Filipino seafarers

 

A boat sails past shipping containers at a port in Manila on April 8, 2025.

Philstar.com

October 19, 2025 | 2:30pm

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines, home to the world’s largest seafaring workforce, could face repercussions after the United States sank a landmark global deal to cut carbon emissions from ships, delaying international climate action for another year.

The London-based International Maritime Organization (IMO) on Friday, October 17 postponed a vote to formally approve the Net Zero Framework, a proposed carbon-pricing system for the shipping industry, after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened sanctions against countries supporting the plan.

Approved by a narrow 57–49 vote, the postponement marks a victory for Washington, which withdrew from IMO negotiations in April and denounced the carbon tax proposal as a “scam.”

The Philippines, along with Caribbean nations reliant on cruise tourism, is seen as particularly vulnerable to any U.S. visa restrictions or port levies that could follow. Filipino seafarers make up a significant share of global maritime labor, and disruptions in shipping policies or sanctions could directly affect thousands of Filipino workers.

The Net Zero Framework sought to make ships progressively reduce carbon emissions from 2028 or face financial penalties. Funds raised from the system were intended to reward low-emission vessels and help climate-vulnerable nations adapt to rising seas and extreme weather, including archipelagos like the Philippines and Pacific Island states.

Carbon pricing divisions

Shipping accounts for nearly 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the IMO, and the plan had broad support from climate-conscious members such as the European Union, China, Brazil, Britain and Pacific Island states.

But divisions deepened this week between oil producers and non-oil economies. Saudi Arabia, Russia, and the United Arab Emirates joined the U.S. in opposing the plan, arguing it would harm food security and economic growth. Argentina also shifted from abstention to opposition.

“I am outraged that the International Maritime Organization is voting in London this week to pass a global Carbon Tax,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, calling it a “Global Green New Scam Tax on Shipping.”

'Chaos' in London. IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez, representing 176 member states, lamented the breakdown.

“It doesn’t help your organization, it doesn’t help yourself,” he told delegates after what one Russian representative described as “chaos” in the plenary session.

The April vote had been expected to cement the Net Zero Framework, but U.S. pressure upended expectations and exposed rifts between developed economies and fossil-fuel exporters.

If approved next year, the measure would make it harder for ships, including U.S.-flagged ones, to evade emissions inspections during foreign port calls, under existing IMO conventions that allow member states to detain non-compliant vessels.

For the Philippines and other climate-exposed maritime nations, the delay means another year of uncertainty and another missed chance to slow the industry’s contribution to global warming. — Based on a report by Agence France Presse

No new virus in Philippines

 

No new virus in Philippines, only seasonal flu — DOH

The Department of Health (DOH) clarified on Sunday, Oct. 19, that there is no new or unusual virus or strain circulating in the country, stressing that the recent uptick in respiratory cases is due to the seasonal flu. This came as the Quezon Provincial Government ordered the mandatory wearing of face masks in all indoor areas citing a rise in respiratory illnesses such as cough, colds, and pneumonia. Read more

TS Ramil exits PAR on Oct. 20, leaves several dead, thousands affected

(Image from PAGASA)

Tropical Storm Ramil (international name: Fengshen) continues to move away from the country’s landmass and is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Monday morning, Oct. 20, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Sunday evening, Oct. 19. Read more

After unleashing heavy rains and powerful winds, “Ramil” had forced around 7,884 families or 22,311 persons to be evacuated in Bicol (Region 5) and Calabarzon (Region 4A), the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) disclosed on Sunday, Oct. 19. Read more

Meanwhile, heavy rainfall from tropical cyclone “Ramil” killed two persons and displaced nearly 18, 500 residents in Capiz and northern Iloilo provinces. Read more

A family of five was killed when a buri palm tree fell on their house while they were sleeping at the height of tropical cyclone "Ramil" in Pitogo town, Quezon province on Sunday morning, Oct. 19. Read more