Next press secretary sees herself as a 'problem solver'

By Kristina Maralit, Manila Times

PRESS secretary-designate Rose Beatrix "Trixie" Cruz-Angeles will lean on her years of experience as a lawyer in performing her job as the incoming administration's chief communicator.

Describing herself as a "problem solver," the next chief of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) said one of her priorities will be plugging the holes in the PCOO and its attached agencies.

"As a lawyer, when you handle a case, you solve the problem that a client has. Coming into the PCOO, what I want to do is help and that help comes in the form of solving certain problems," Cruz-Angeles told The Manila Times.

Her main job still is helping the president. "That is the main reason I'm here," she said.

"I'm also in charge of several attached agencies that come with their own unique challenges. I'd like to solve those challenges. I'm not saying that I'm going to succeed, but I like the idea of being able to come in and say, 'OK, let me do this for you. Ayusin natin 'yan (Let's fix that). That's my idea of public service," she said.

Cruz-Angeles had said she has started reviewing the existing projects of the agency as well as those in the pipeline to determine which will continue, and which will be shelved for the meantime.

Among the projects is the upgrading of the state-owned network PTV-4 and IBC-13 to give the government a wider reach in conveying its programs and achievements. To do this, the PCOO must first secure the needed funding, one problem the lawyer-turned-vlogger hopes to solve.

Still, Cruz-Angeles remains confident she and the rest of the Marcos administration's communications team will have few problems in making the public take notice and digest messages they will convey.

Because President-elect Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. is "very personable," Cruz-Angeles sees "no issues" in communicating with the public.

Why the president-elect will be his ownspokesman on certain issues and questions

"Like he's very popular on social media, so we would like to hear and see him more on radio, other platforms. It's [about] bringing the presidency and his unique brand of leadership to where it is seen and appreciated. I want it to be more consistent, and now that he's going to be the leader of the entire country, he will now be directly talking to people and I'd like them to see how he is," she said.

Cruz-Angeles said Marcos "doesn't need to be interpreted, he's clear." The only thing she needs to do is find out Marcos' message. "I just want it to be like, 'OK, sir, I'll take this, and I will bring it to the people, more people.'"

She gave assurances that under a Marcos leadership, the rights of media workers will be protected and press freedom respected.

"There's never been an issue about dissent. The president-elect doesn't even answer his critics. You're free to talk. We're not changing anything. Whatever freedoms we have now will always be our freedom. Our Constitution guarantees that," she said.

Covid positivity rates climb – OCTA

THE number of Covid-19-positive tests in the National Capital Region (NCR) or Metro Manila and eight other areas has exceeded the threshold set by the World Health Organization. File Photo

By Franco Jose C. Baroña, Manila Times

OCTA Research fellow Guido David said the positivity rate in the NCR climbed to 5.9 percent on June 25 from 3.9 percent on June 18.

The WHO recommends a rate of 5 percent or lower to ensure that the coronavirus is under control.

The positivity rate refers to the percentage of people who were positive for Covid-19 among the total individuals that were tested for the virus.

Other areas with rates above the WHO threshold are Batangas (from 1.2 percent to 5.6 percent), Cagayan (from 1.9 percent to 5.8 percent), Cavite (from 3.6 percent to 6 percent), Iloilo (from 4.4 percent to 5.7 percent), Laguna (from 3.1 percent to 7.5 percent), Pampanga (from 3.3 percent to 5.9 percent) and South Cotabato (from 6.3 percent to 7.4 percent).

Rizal province recorded the highest rate, jumping from 6.3 percent on June 18 to 11.9 percent on June 25.

Amid the rising Covid-19 cases, Dr. Anthony "Tony" Leachon said the government should seriously consider administering second booster shots to economic frontliners and people with comorbidities.

For now, Leachon said, the priority must be to ramp up the first booster shots to the general public.

"I think, the first approach is to ramp up the first booster and consider also the expansion of the second booster or the fourth shot not only to the health care workers, senior citizens or immunocompromised individuals, but start and align with the US CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) guidelines to start it above 50 years old," the former special adviser to the National Task Force Against Covid-19 said.

"For the A3 (people with comorbidities) and economic frontliners, maybe we should also open it up, considering some of the vaccines will expire," he added.

The CDC recommends two booster shots for adults ages 50 and above as well as people ages 12 and older who are moderately and severely immunocompromised.

In the Philippines, the second booster is only available to 18-year-olds and above, workers in essential health services, senior citizens, immunocompromised individuals ages 18 years and above with an immunodeficiency state, HIV, active cancer or malignancy, transplant recipients, undergoing steroid treatment, patients with poor prognosis or bedridden patients, and other conditions of immunodeficiency as certified by a physician.

Leachon noted that catching a mild Covid-19 from someone infected with an Omicron subvariant could still have severe effects.

Covid positivity rates in NCR, 8 areas surpass WHO threshold

"This can actually also lead to long Covid-19 or post-Covid-19 patients, and that would affect the productivity of our economic frontliners. We should not increase the cases since it would affect not just hospitalization and death rate, but it will affect our quality of life and productivity of our economic frontliners," he said.

Vaccine Expert Panel Chairman Dr. Nina Gloriani favors second booster shots for those with comorbidities and economic frontliners, as well as a review of the definition of the term "immunocompromised" to cover people with other comorbidities.

Gloriani said only the Department of Health (DoH) can make the final decision, but the agency is still waiting for more data from the WHO.

Expand second booster shot rollout – Concepcion

The DoH has declared that the majority of the country's population is still not eligible for a second booster because there is insufficient evidence that it will be beneficial to the general public.

Reaching the academic top means fixing school problems from the ground up

by Manila Bulletin

President-elect Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. recently made a comment, reminiscing the “glory days” of the Philippines when it comes to academics. With the still ongoing pandemic ravaging the country’s—the world’s, in fact—academic systems, such a call for improving the academic standing of Filipino learners is a welcome one.

In recent years, much has been said about the state of education in the country, with issues such as public school textbooks riddled with errors as well as international and regional academic rankings that place the Philippines in positions that leave much for improvement.

This does not, however, take away from the fact that there are individuals and institutions that perform quite well academically, recognized for achievements in various fields. These are testament to, perhaps, the inherent intellectual prowess of the Filipino. But, as the saying goes (and loosely translating it), talent is bested by effort—and adding to this, effort is more effective if the environment and the situation is more ideal.

Hence, the need for improving the academic situation of the country. It is an almost perennial pursuit, one that any well-meaning government should pursue with the sincerest of efforts and the most liberal of budgets. That there remains a more than palpable distinction between schools run privately and those managed by the government is one such situation that needs to be remedied. Public education, after all, should not seem like an academic disadvantage for a lack of a better option because it truly isn’t. How many of the country’s top minds today have a public education background? To say that there is a lot would be an understatement.

Still, this does not take away from the fact that there are many public schools that sorely lack modern or updated equipment.

There are public schools that do not have enough classrooms to cater to the number of learners enrolled. There are public schools where teachers lack the basic materials necessary for a smoother delivery of lectures. Perhaps it is time to de-romanticize the sad fact that Manila paper is still being used by many teachers—neither is this an example of being “ma-diskarte” (innovate).

In a strange sense, the learning-from-home setup (and now the hybrid one) was a welcome respite from the realities of public school education, realities that should not have been so in the first place. But now that restrictions are easing up and education is slowly returning to the way things were, albeit with face masks and isopropyl alcohols as souvenirs, the Department of Education must sooner than later face and change these sad realities.

In order for Filipino learners to reach the proverbial academic top, there is a need to improve education from the ground up.

Tourists rescue sea turtle off Aurora

By Leander C. Domingo, Manila Times

Tourists and paraglider pilots from Nueva Vizcaya province helped find a mother sea turtle on its way home to the ocean after laying its eggs offshore in the coastal town of  Dinalungan in Aurora province.

PHOTO BY AMBAGUIO MUNICIPAL TOURISM OFFICE IN NUEVA VIZCAYA

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya: A mother sea turtle has been successfully returned to the Pacific Ocean after it was rescued in Barangay Ditawini, Dinalungan in Aurora province by local tourists from the upland town of Ambaguio in this province.

Nuepe Manuel Jr., municipal tourism officer of Ambaguio town, said they were at a resort in Dinalungan town in Aurora with some paraglider pilots from Nueva Vizcaya when they saw a turtle that had just laid eggs under a tree.

Manuel said he did not immediately post the photos and videos they took on social media until Tuesday, June 21, after some residents in the area became interested in the eggs when they heard that they helped the turtle return to the sea.

Other than Manuel's group, only the caretaker of the resort knows the place where the turtle laid its eggs.

Manuel's group spotted the turtle and immediately worked to help the reptile find its way to the sea for fear that the residents might see it.

"This mother turtle just laid eggs on the shore, and we immediately guided and even pushed her way back to the ocean to prevent it from being captured by locals," Manuel said.

He said residents who learned about this expressed dismay at failing to catch the turtle because they believe that eating turtle meat and eggs can cure some diseases.

Although the caretaker of the resort promised that he would keep an eye on the turtle eggs, the guests were still worried about the condition of the eggs.

"In the landlocked province of Nueva Vizcaya, we are hundreds of kilometers away from the ocean but we are aware that the turtle is considered endangered and we know that our government is doing so much effort to help save endangered species," he said.

Endangered species such as turtles are protected under Republic Act 9147, better known as the "Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act."

The law provides that anyone found to be involved in the capture, assault, killing, sale, or purchase of endangered species will be subject to appropriate penalties such as imprisonment.

"We were excited and even told about the turtle to an elderly woman selling halo-halo and learned that the locals truly hunt turtles whose meat the woman said tastes like beef," Manuel said.

He said he lied when he was asked where the turtle laid its eggs, especially when he heard that its meat and eggs are also hunted for human consumption and believed to have medicinal value.

"We were happy to have seen through this mother turtle's tough journey back home to the ocean after laying eggs on the shore. We believe we prevented it from being captured by poachers who could have easily taken it," Manuel said.

He said is hoping that nobody finds the eggs until they hatch and that all the hatchlings eventually find their way home to the ocean alive, like their mother.

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐃𝐝𝐎𝐂, 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐭-𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 & 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬

 

The Provincial Government of Davao de Oro, recently recognized the milestones of “𝑪𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝑫𝒅𝑶𝑪", acknowledging its front-liners and partners in delivering genuine services to the constituents during the hardest of times.

When the Covid-19 pandemic hits the province, after one week or two, one of the programs initiated by the head of provincial hospitals, with the help of the technical working group of the province, was the formulation of “𝑪𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝑫𝒅𝑶𝑪 𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒆” which is in response to limit the face-to-face contact during the pandemic intensification. Under the program, the patients, even if they are only in the comfort of their home, will be able to consult medical specialists from four (4) Provincial Hospitals in Pantukan, Laak, Montevista, and Maragusan through online modality and phone calls as well. 

In a statement by Governor Uy, “who would have thought of the onset of the pandemic, an innovative program developed by the young province can be made sustainable.”  The governor also highlights the achievement of the province within the 2-year time since the program has been developed, “September last year, we already catered all 250+ barangays, including the special barangays … as of today, the service has reached, served and treated almost 50,000 cases for free”.

The cost-free program garnered “3𝒓𝒅 𝑷𝑳𝑨𝑪𝑬 𝒊𝒏 𝑫𝒊𝒈𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝑰𝒏𝒏𝒐𝒗𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 & 𝑩𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝑪𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒅 𝑷𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒎𝒊𝒄 𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒆” which is the first national award given by DICT last 2020  and it was also awarded as “𝑻𝑶𝑷 20 𝑺𝒆𝒎𝒊-𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝑮𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑷𝒐𝒐𝒌” for sustainability out of 200 nominees. Thus, this could not be achieved without the untiring support of the Teleconsults/Doctors, Executive Committee, Government Internship Program, TWG especially for the Provincial Information and Communications Technology Office (PICTO) “the brains behind technology integration”, and even outside partners including APEX Mining Inc. for the administrative support, Globe Telecom for the implementation and UP Mindanao for the research and development of the program.

During the recognition and thanksgiving, medical front-liners shared their experiences during the darkest of times in protecting the lives of others and their families. Despite it, they were very much happy, the numbers tell, not only for the achievements and rewards of the program but also for the lives that have been saved. 

The ceremony also served as the appreciation of Governor Tyron Uy for Call DdOC’s partners during his term as Governor of the province.

“This is the result of our ingenuity and innovation sa atong probinsya and tungod pud sa atong mga dekalidad nato nga mga doctors and medical staff nga walay lain gihunahuna kon dili ang welfare gyud sa atong mga katawhan. Thank you kaayo sa atong partners,  we wish to continue this program, hopefully we can find ways that we can collaborate still under the Vice-Governor’s Office. This is not the end of our journey but rather this is just start of our journey towards attaining quality healthcare for all sa atong probinsya. Kanatong tanan, daghang salamat!” Gov Uy added. (𝐽𝑎𝑦𝑛𝑢𝑠 𝐹𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑎𝑑𝑒𝑧, 𝑃𝐴𝑂-𝐼𝑃𝑅𝐷, 𝑝ℎ𝑜𝑡𝑜s 𝑏𝑦 𝐽. 𝐶𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑧)

Climate change the 'real threat' for PH

By Kristina Maralit

(UPDATE) CLIMATE change, not the territorial dispute with China or the Russia-Ukraine conflict, is the real threat to the country's security, incoming national security adviser (NSA) Clarita Carlos said Thursday.

Carlos said environmental concerns create a chain reaction affecting food, human and national security, especially among developing countries like the Philippines which bear the brunt of the effects of global warming.

The 76-year-old Carlos said the so-called powerhouse nations' vow to cut carbon emissions by 2030 will remain a promise since many of them have gone back to using sources of energy that are harmful to the environment.

"India is going back to coal, some countries are going back to using fossil fuel. That is the reality on the ground," Carlos said during a roundtable discussion with the Philippine Council for Foreign Relations (PCFR) in Pasig City.

"The promises of de-carbonization by 2030, 2050, they are by the wayside in the meanwhile because human survival is at the highest premium," she said.

Carlos said the government must start recalibrating policies on environmental protection.

The Philippines, she noted, has one of the best environmental laws in the world. The problem is that they are not being fully enforced.

The Marcos administration, she said, can consider giving tax breaks to buyers of electric vehicles to entice more motorists to switch from fossil fuels whose prices have been skyrocketing.

Further pushing the use of solar energy is another solution, taking advantage of the Philippines being a tropical country, especially amid disasters and calamities, Carlos said.

PH, China to act on climate change

One proposal is to establish solar farms in military camps to reduce their dependence on power from grids that are disrupted during typhoons or earthquakes.

All these make up the "broad strokes" of a general security strategy Carlos said she will present to President-elect Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

"I will have the President design the national strategy. I can present to him a draft, in broad strokes," she added.

The Philippines has been strongly urging developed nations to ramp up their assistance to developing countries that continue to grapple with climate change.

Marcos invited to UN Climate Change meet

Several weeks ago, President Rodrigo Duterte called on wealthier nations to be held accountable for failing to reduce their carbon emissions.

Marcos, meanwhile, has been invited to attend the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP27, to be held at the Egyptian resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh in November.

Inflation 'shock' hits euro economy

By Agence France-Presse

BRUSSELS: Economic growth in the eurozone plummeted in June, a key survey showed on Thursday, as high prices took the wind out the strong recovery from the deep lows of the coronavirus pandemic.

The closely watched monthly purchasing managers' index by S&P Global fell from 54.8 in May to 51.9 this month. A figure above 50 indicates growth; below that, a contraction.

The slowdown, caused by a "cost-of-living shock," is "the most abrupt recorded by the survey since the height of the global financial crisis in November 2008," excluding the pandemic-caused lockdown, said Chris Williamson, chief business economist at S&P Global.

Since the beginning of the year, the European economy has recovered strongly from the lifting of restrictions linked to the Covid-19 crisis. The move revived tourism in countries like Spain and Greece, as well as transport.

It also benefited from household spending, as consumers burned through savings accumulated during many months of confinement, offsetting the negative impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

an email address, I acknowledge that I have read and agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

But in June, the "tailwind" of this pent-up demand "is already fading," Williamson warned.

The latest data "is now consistent with gross domestic product (GDP) growth of just 0.2 percent for the second quarter, compared to quarterly growth of 0.6 percent at the start of the year," he said.

Metro Manila may reach peak of Covid infections in early July, says OCTA

(SCREEN GRAB FROM LAGING HANDA PUBLIC BRIEFING)

by Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz

With the steady increase in new infections in Metro Manila, the OCTA Research Group projected that the Covid-19 cases in the region may reach its peak by the first or second week of July.

In a televised briefing on Tuesday, June 21, OCTA fellow Dr. Guido David said that Metro Manila’s seven-day average infections increased to 225 cases per day this week, from 131 cases last week.

This translates to a growth rate of 72 percent.

Moreover, Metro Manila’s Covid reproduction number and positivity rate also rose to 2.05 and 4 percent, respectively.

Reproduction number refers to the average number of secondary infections by each infected individual, while positivity rate refers to the number of individuals who yielded positive results from among those who have been tested for Covid-19.

“Posible itong [average daily cases] tumaas between 500 and 1,000 [cases] by end of June or first week of July. Kapag ganyan masasabi na natin baka nasa moderate risk na yung situation natin (It is possible that the average daily cases will rise between 500 and 1,000 cases by the end of June or the first week of July. By then, we can say that our situation may be at moderate risk),” David said.

David pointed out that Metro Manila may see the peak in infections in early July.

“Tumataas yung bilang ng kaso [at] hindi pa natin nakikita yung pagbaba niyan anytime soon. Baka yung peak niyan could happen sometime first or second week of July (The number of cases is increasing and we are not seeing that to decrease anytime soon. Maybe the peak could happen sometime between the first or second week of July),” he added.

However, he noted that the region’s health care utilization remains within “safe” level, at 22 percent.

“We’re not projecting an increase in hospital utilization. Tataas ito pero hindi ganun kataas (It will go up but not that high) so we should still be okay,” David said.

“Hindi naman tayo kailangan matakot, maalarma. Pero syempre patuloy pa rin ang pag-iingat natin at personal responsibility (We don’t have to be afraid, be alarmed. But, of course, we still have to continue to be careful and practice personal responsibility),” he added.

He also noted that other parts of the country, such as Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Iloilo, and Benguet, are also seeing an increase in cases.

David said there is a need to “raise awareness” rather than “raise alert levels.”

“Ang gusto natin is raising awareness na tumataas yung cases, not necessarily raising alert levels. Kasi kung raising awareness yung mga kababayan natin mag-iingat sila, baka magpabakuna, magpabooster, at the same time matutulungan natin ang ekonomiya natin na hindi natin pipigilin (What we want is raising awareness that cases are rising, not necessarily raising alert levels. Because if our countrymen are raising awareness, they will be careful, maybe get vaccinated, boosted, and we can help our economy to further open up),” he said.

High gas prices mean fewer cars on EDSA

By Christian Crow Maghanoy, Manila Times

THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has noted a decrease in the number of vehicles traversing EDSA as a result of oil price increases triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

In a news briefing on Tuesday, MMDA Chairman Romando Artes said the drop was noticed before the May 9, 2022 elections when they logged 27,000 users, a decrease from the daily average of around 500,000 pre-pandemic.

"On May 5, 2022, 417,000 vehicles traversed EDSA or above the 405,000 pre-pandemic level. But on June 9, we counted only 392,000. The other day [June 19], we counted again, and there were only 390,000 users. I think a big factor here is the continuous increases in prices of petroleum products," Artes also said.

He added that the MMDA will not expand the number coding scheme or the Modified Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (MUVVRP), which bases the scheme on license plates on particular days of the week, except holidays.

Under the scheme, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., license plates ending in 1 and 2 are barred from Metro Manila roads on Mondays; 3 and 4 on Tuesdays; 5 and 6 on Wednesdays; 7 and 8 on Thursdays; and 9 and 0 on Fridays.

Marcos on scrapping of excise tax: Help those in need first

 Motorists line up to re fuel in a gasoline station along commonwealth avenue in Quezon city on July 14 2022. PHOTO BY JOHN ORVEN VERDOTE

By Kristina Maralit, Manila Times

PRESIDENT-elect Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. is opting to take the same route as the Duterte administration in helping hardest hit sectors cope with the skyrocketing prices of fuel.

The incoming leader made the remark after being sought for comment regarding Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel's statement that the Senate is willing to act on the proposed scrapping of excise taxes on oil products as long as he calls for it.

"I prefer to handle the problem on the other side of the equation and provide assistance to those who are in need," the President-elect said at a press briefing late Monday afternoon at the BBM Headquarters in Mandaluyong City.

He pointed out that cutting excise taxes does not directly alleviate the plight of those in need.

"So, ang aking iniisip kung sino yung mga kaagad na tinamaan, example yung lumabas kaagad 'yung transport, 'yung mga nagpapasada.... tinamaan kaagad. I-focus natin muna sa kanila, 'yung mga nangangailangan talaga (What I'm thinking is help those really feeling the hit, for example those in transport, those plying regular routes... they were directly hit. Let's focus on them, those in dire need)," stated Marcos Jr.

"'Yung mga may kaya (Those with the means), they can afford to pay. Those who are in danger of losing livelihoods, 'dun tayo mag-focus (let's focus on them)," he added.

Sara to Filipinos: Love God, country

15th VICE PRESIDENT Sara Duterte-Carpio, daughter of outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte, takes her oath as vice president during rites in her hometown in Davao City, on Sunday, June 19, 2022. Duterte-Carpio clinched a landslide electoral victory despite her father’s human rights record that saw thousands of drug suspects gunned down. Also in photo are, from left, Supreme Court Associate Justice Ramon Paul Hernando, her mother Elizabeth Zimmerman, and President Duterte. AP Photo/Manman Dejeto

By Catherine S. Valente, Manila Times

(UPDATED) TAKING her oath as the country's next vice president, Sara Duterte-Carpio on Sunday urged Filipinos to commit themselves to loving "God, family and country." She was sworn in by Supreme Court Associate Justice Ramon Paul Hernando at the San Pedro Square in Davao City before a crowd of 5,000 people.

Her mother, Elizabeth Zimmerman, held the Bible by which she took her oath while her father, President Rodrigo Duterte, joined them on stage.

In her inaugural address, Duterte-Carpio said she believed that "we should commit to heart the priorities of God, country, and family" as one country united and determined "to overcome our difficulties and achieve our aspirations." She said the voice of the 32.2 million Filipinos that voted for her "was loud and clear — with the message to serve our motherland, and this message has been reiterated in my oath: to consecrate myself to the service of the nation." "There is a God. A God whose will transcends the desires of our hearts, one whose will direct us to the way that we might not have imagined — but a way that consecrates ourselves every day to help our fellowmen overcome the difficulties they face in their lives, to change lives, to save lives," Duterte-Carpio said.

"If we all take a moment to listen to the call to serve and decide to heed the call — in the same way that many are already devoting their lives as hardworking farmers and fisherfolk that ensure there is food on our tables, dedicated health workers who help the sick, brave soldiers who fight for our country, honest and fair entrepreneurs who support our economy, patient school teachers that guide our children — I believe the country will be heading toward a future of hope, security, strength, stability and progress," she said.

Duterte-Carpio called on the people to become patriots and draw inspiration from the life and works of the national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal.

"May his memory light up the fire within us to become patriots. Rizal taught us that selflessness and sacrifice could change our country's fate and shape our children's future. The bravery of Rizal completes the fabric of our identity as Filipinos," she said.

"Let us show our love for our country by taking care of our families and communities despite the unending challenges that come our way," she said.

She noted that "a strong, loving, happy family sets down all the basic foundations essential in the development and growth of a child." "Today, our children are facing a very complex future, one that is rife with conflict and uncertainties. Some of these challenges include the winding cycle of poverty, the trauma of broken families, the life-long baggage because of irresponsible and bad parenting, the abandonment issues due to an absentee parent, the anguish of gender confusion and discrimination, the destruction brought about by drugs, the lure of easy money in criminality, cases of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, the failure to identify and speak up against different kinds of abuses, the life-altering effects of teenage pregnancy, the detrimental effects of illiteracy, the emotional injury of bullying, unstable mental wellness, recruitment to support terrorism, misinformation in the internet — and the list could be endless," she said.

We are meant to judge, but to judge fairly

By Fr. Roy Cimagala *

IN spite of our first impression on Christ’s words that we should not judge, since he said, “Judge not that you may not be judged,” we have to make it clear that we are actually meant to judge, but to judge fairly.

We are meant to judge precisely because we have been given the capacity to know things, situations and people as well with our God-given powers of intelligence and will. The very act of knowing already involves some judgment. We cannot know anything unless we make some judgments.

But we need to realize that we should judge fairly. Somehow this point is implied when Christ said, “For with what judgment you judge, you shall be judged. And with what measure you mete, it shall be measured to you again.”

In fact, in the gospel of St. John, we hear Christ saying: “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge just judgment.” (7,24) It’s clear that we have to be most careful in our judgments. We cannot be reckless about them, judging persons and things on the basis of instincts or feelings alone, or on some opinions, personal preferences, social trends, and even sophisticated theories and ideologies. 

Such way of judging cannot capture the essential issues involved in a particular case. It will unavoidably get entangled with the non-essential elements. It will be at the mercy of the wiles of the flesh, the world and the devil himself.

We have to judge with Christ himself, and now in the Holy Spirit. With respect to this point, St. Paul had this to say: “He that is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.” (1 Cor 2,15) It is not pride to aspire to that ideal of being so spiritual to be able to judge all things.

Only in this way can we become persons of sound judgment. It’s an ideal whose importance, relevance and urgency are increasing these days, given the complicating conditions we are getting into.

That’s actually an understatement. We know that to be a prudent man or a person of sound judgment is essential to us, considering our nature and dignity, plus the growing scope of the responsibilities we are acquiring nowadays.

Not only do we have to contend with the multiplying pressures and conditionings on our personal, family and professional life. Not only do we have to grapple with the confusing ramifications of our social, economic and political life, sorting them out as best that we could.

With escalating insistence, we need to learn how to integrate the material with the spiritual dimension of our life, the here and now with the eternal and supernatural destiny meant for us.

We have to know how to live by faith, hope and charity, the essence of our supernatural life with God, in the middle of our daily activities and concerns, and in the pursuit of our temporal affairs, be it in business, politics, education, culture, sports, etc.

This necessity demands of us to be nothing less than persons of sound judgment. We have to overcome our tendency to be guided mainly by instincts, emotions, moods, fashions, and some sophisticated philosophies and ideologies that, while offering many good elements, actually lead us away from our proper end.

Let’s never dare to emit judgments that are mere products of our own making. We have to make them always in the presence of God and motivated by nothing other than love for God and for everybody else. We have to continually check on the rectitude of our intention, and the correctness and timeliness of our words and deeds.

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

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

Europe swelters in record-breaking June heatwave

By Agence France-Presse

PARIS: France and other western European nations sweltered over the weekend under a blistering June heatwave that has sparked forest fires and concerns such early summer blasts of hot weather will now become the norm.

The weekend's soaring temperatures were the peak of a June heatwave in line with scientists' predictions that such phenomena will now strike earlier in the year thanks to global warming.

The popular French southwestern seaside resort of Biarritz saw its highest all-time temperature Saturday afternoon of 42.9 degrees Celsius (109.2 degrees Fahrenheit) state forecaster Meteo France said as authorities urged vigilance from the central western coast down to the Spanish border.

Many parts of the region surpassed 40C, although storms were expected on the Atlantic coast on Sunday evening -- the first signs that the stifling temperatures will "gradually regress to concern only the eastern part of the country," the weather service reported.

Queues of hundreds of people and traffic jams formed outside aquatic leisure parks in France, with people seeing water as the only refuge from the devastating heat.

With the River Seine off limits to bathing, scorched Parisians took refuge in the city's fountains.

And at Vincennes Zoo in the capital's outskirts, shaggy-haired lions licked and pawed at frozen blood fed to them by zookeepers, who monitored the enclosure's animals for signs of dehydration under the scorching sun.

"This is the earliest heatwave ever recorded in France" since 1947, said Matthieu Sorel, a climatologist at Meteo France, as June records fell in a dozen areas, leading him to call the weather a "marker of climate change."

Europe braces for blistering June weekend

In a major incident in France, a fire triggered by the firing of an artillery shell in military training in the Var region of southern France was burning some 200 hectares (495 acres) of vegetation, local authorities said.

"There is no threat to anyone except 2,500 sheep who are being evacuated and taken to safety," said local fire brigade chief Olivier Pecot.

The fire came from the Canjeurs military camp, the biggest such training site in Western Europe.

Fire services' work was impeded by the presence of non-exploded munitions in the deserted area, but four Canadair planes were deployed to water bomb the fires.

Daniel Toffaloni, a 60-year-old farmer near the southern city of Perpignan, now only works from "daybreak until 11:30 am" and in the evening, as temperatures in his tomato greenhouses reach a sizzling 55C.

Forest fires in Spain on Saturday had burned nearly 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres) of land in the northwest Sierra de la Culebra region.

The flames forced several hundred people from their homes, and 14 villages were evacuated.

Some residents were able to return on Saturday morning, but regional authorities warned the fire "remains active".

Firefighters were still battling blazes in several other regions, including woodlands in Catalonia.

Temperatures above 40C were forecast in parts of the country on Saturday -- with highs of 43C expected in the northeastern city of Zaragoza.

There have also been fires in Germany, where temperatures were forecast to go as high as 40C on Saturday but only reached 36C. A blaze in the Brandenburg region around Berlin had spread over about 60 hectares by Friday evening.

The UK recorded its hottest day of the year on Friday, with temperatures reaching over 30C in the early afternoon, meteorologists said.

"I think at the moment people are just enjoying it being hot but if it gets any hotter than this, which I think it is meant to, then that's a concern," said Claire Moran, an editor in London.

Several towns in northern Italy have announced water rationing and the Lombardy region may declare a state of emergency as a record drought threatens harvests.

Italy's dairy cows were putting out 10 percent less milk, the main agricultural association, Coldiretti, said Saturday.

With temperatures far above the cows' "ideal climate" of 22-24C, animals were drinking up to 140 litres of water per day, double their normal intake, and producing less due to stress, it said.

Experts warned the high temperatures were caused by worrying climate change trends.

"As a result of climate change, heatwaves are starting earlier," said Clare Nullis, a spokeswoman for the World Meteorological Organization in Geneva.

"What we're witnessing today is unfortunately a foretaste of the future" if concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere continue to rise and push global warming towards 2C from pre-industrial levels, she added.

What are Filipinos like?

Bisaya

Proud Bisaya Ko

Filipinos are some of the most friendly, hospitable people you will ever meet. They are always quick to help out a stranger, and they love to celebrate. There are few things that Filipinos enjoy more than a good party, and they are always ready to dance, sing, and eat. Filipinos are also incredibly proud of their culture and heritage.They are quick to tell you about their country's history, and they are happy to share their traditions with anyone interested. If you want to experience the genuine warmth and hospitality of the Filipino people, there is no better way than to visit the Philippines yourself. You will quickly see why Filipinos are known as some of the most welcoming people in the world.

About the Author

Bisaya

Proud Bisaya Ko

Pinoy Podcaster

Lived in Iligan City

Active in 2 Spaces

Knows Cebuano

What is the strongest tribe in the Philippine archipelago before the Spaniards arrived?

Dayang Marikit

Philippine History Professor

There we’re tribes in the deep mountainous interiors of the islands, but the most powerful cultures in the archipelago were not tribal.

---

Based on archeological evidence, it seems that Manila bay polities always has some form of influence over the archipelago. We could see this in the Laguna Copperplate, where it seems that Tondo had political influence as far as Dewata in Butuan.

---

By the time of Spanish contact they also mentioned that Manila had a monopoly of the archipelago’s trade, thus making the other polities in the archipelago almost completely dependent on Manila. It is important to note that by around this time, Tondo had become more of a port town, and its leader (Lakandula) was said to be more of a port supervisor than an actual ruler, most of the political power was concentrated in Manila. Chinese products would enter the port of Tondo and be transported to Manila, from where these products would be redistributed across the islands.

Based on Spanish accounts, when the Spaniards arrived in Butuan, they attempted to trade with the locals, but merchants from Manila ordered the locals not to deal with the Spaniards unless it was silver that was being traded. The Spaniards were also able to settle in Cebu because of Manila Moro interpreters who helped them make deals with the local rulers, then when the Spaniards almost starved to death in Cebu, Manila Moros brought them food and supplies. A Spaniard also mentioned that there was a powerful Moro ruler in Manila who was well known throughout the islands and that he was obeyed as little less than a king. Manila had basically woven a trading colony or a trading empire prior to Spanish colonization, and the Spaniards actually based their colony on Manila’s network.

The Spaniards also relied on the local blacksmiths in Manila to manufacture cannons for them, this is because they were already knowledgeable about cannon-making, even before European contact.

---

The main takeaway here is that Manila monopolized trade in the archipelago and that made the other polities become very reliant on them. The Spaniards also relied on Manila to make their own colony. In my opinion, that makes Manila the most powerful political entity by the time of Spanish contact.

• The Spaniards were able to settle in Cebu with the help of Manila Moros, but the Spaniards still wanted to move to Manila. I think that gives you an idea about how wealthy and attractive Manila was.

Chikungunya confirmed in Davao

By Ruth Palo, Manila Times

THE Davao City Health office has confirmed two cases of chikungunya in Barangay Ilang after test results arrived from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Metro Manila.

Ernie Cequiña, a nurse at the City Health Office (CHO) Tropical Disease Prevention and Control Unit, in a report from the City Information Office, said 16 more suspected cases of chikungunya were also recorded in the barangay (village).

Cequiña, however, added that the suspected 28 cases earlier reported in Barangay Panacan are still being verified.

The CHO Tropical Disease Prevention and Control Unit has intensified intervention efforts to control the Aedes mosquito species, the same species that carries dengue, in the area after the city confirmed its first case of chikungunya in Barangay Ilang on June 8, 2022.

Cequiña said the CHO responded with critical mosquito control measures, such as an awareness drive in the villages, Aedes aegypti larvae surveillance and fogging, and later conducted misting or indoor residual spraying.

Chikungunya symptoms are particularly difficult to determine as the patients usually manifest symptoms similar to those of dengue (fever, nausea, pain behind the eyes) but with more severe joint pains and early onset of skin rashes, he added.

According to Cequiña, the city remains steadfast in monitoring these cases and conducting intervention measures.

He, however, said protective measures, such as maintaining cleanliness of surroundings, remain the best method of preventing an outbreak.

Cequiña reminded Davaoeños to practice the 4S procedure; which stands for "Search and destroy" mosquito breeding grounds, practice "Self-protection" from mosquito bites, "Seek early medical consultation" and "Say yes" to community prevention and intervention measures.