Inflation, rate woes drag shares anew

By Agence France-Presse and Manila Times

HONG KONG: Stock markets struggled on Tuesday on long-running worries over surging inflation and rising interest rates, which overshadowed hopes that China would ease off its regulatory drive against its beleaguered technology giants.

A spike in United States Treasury yields took the wind out of the proverbial sails for Wall Street, with the focus now on the release of US and Chinese inflation data at the end of the week.

Analysts are betting that the Federal Reserve (Fed) would lift borrowing costs by half a point at its next three meetings as officials try to get a grip on runaway consumer prices.

But that is causing discomfort on trading floors as investors fret over the impact on economic growth and firms' bottom lines.

"Inflation concerns are not going anywhere fast," Fiona Cincotta of City Index said. "Rising crude oil prices and a strong labor report have lifted bets that the Fed may need to act aggressively to rein in inflation."

      

SPI Asset Management's Stephen Innes said "investors are hyper-focused on inflation, economic growth and future Fed policy."

Most, he added, "assume the worst and think a financial tsunami [would] hit the US and global markets, thanks to the quorum of US-based bank CEOs (chief executive officers) that have given the gloomy growth narrative their imprimatur. Anything less than that outcome is going to surprise a lot of folks."

Equity markets were mixed in Asia and Europe.

Tokyo rose, helped by a softening of the yen to a two-year low owing to expectations that the Bank of Japan would not tighten monetary policy just as US rates climb.

Shares mixed as chances for rate increases grow

Manila and Jakarta also edged up, but there were losses in Seoul, Singapore, Mumbai, Bangkok, Wellington and Taipei.

Sydney dropped more than 1 percent after the Australian central bank announced a bigger-than-forecast half-point rate hike to quell inflation.

Hong Kong fell and Shanghai ticked slightly higher, even as heavyweights Alibaba and JD.com led a rally among tech firms following a report that China was close to ending a painful crackdown on ride-hailing app Didi Global and restoring its main apps this week. Didi's US-listed notes soared more than 20 percent.

The Wall Street Journal said probes into two other firms — Full Truck Alliance and recruitment platform Kanzhun — were fanning optimism for the sector's outlook after a long period of hefty selling pressure.

Stocks mixed as inflation, rate woes temper rally

"This was seen as a signal that the regulatory crackdown on Chinese tech firms was starting to end... as China focuses on stabilizing the economy following Covid restrictions," National Australia Bank's Tapas Strickland said.

London was flat in early trade, but Paris and Frankfurt fell.

Markets have seen some leveling out in recent weeks as the easing of restrictions in China helps to offset some of the worries about higher rates and the impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

US tech rout, China data drag markets

But market-watcher Louis Navellier warned there was still plenty more volatility to come.

"If history repeats, we could be down tomorrow, then up on Wednesday, then down on Thursday and possibly up on Friday," he said in a commentary.

"So just get used to these up-down, up-down oscillations because they are going to continue," he added.

"I want to remind investors to not get too excited when the market rallies because it is going to continue to oscillate. There is just too much uncertainty out there."

Why the beatitudes?

 

By Fr. Roy Cimagala *

I BELIEVE we are all familiar with the beatitudes, those Christ-defined formulations of how we can be considered blessed. (cfr. Mt 5,1-12) They intriguingly convert what we usually consider as human disasters or clear disadvantages and inconveniences according to worldly standards into a source of joy, a means of our redemption, a path to heaven, narrow and difficult though they may be. 

They expand our understanding of what should comprise our true happiness by including those situations which we normally regard as unsavory and therefore to be avoided as much as possible and hated even.

They portray the way love, which is the essence of God and is what is also meant for us, can be lived in the confusing condition of our earthly life where good and evil are mixed up.

That is why the Catechism teaches us that the beatitudes are considered as depicting “the countenance of Jesus Christ and portray his charity. They express the vocation of the faithful associated with the glory of his Passion and Resurrection, they shed light on the actions and the attitudes characteristic of the Christian life,” it says.

And it adds, “They are the paradoxical promises that sustain hope in the midst of tribulations, they proclaim the blessings and rewards already secured, however dimly, for Christ’s disciples; they have begun in the lives of the Virgin Mary and all the saints.” (1717)

The beatitudes are so articulated by Christ in order to serve as a profound and most effective antidote to our strong, almost invincibly strong tendency to self-love, to self-indulgence.

Yes, we need to declare an unrelenting war against our self-indulgence which has become a very formidable problem we all have. Yes, this has always been a problem to us, but these days it is much more so.

With the many new wonderful things that can instantly give us convenience, comfort, pleasure and satisfaction, many of us are trapped into the very sticky web of obsessions, addictions and the many other forms of self-indulgence that feed on our weaknesses, like lust, pride, conceit, gluttony, unhinged curiosities, envy, etc., etc.

We just have to give a cursory look around to see how bad this problem is. Many people are just looking at their cellphones most of the time. There are reports saying that many young people often forget their meals and lose sleep because of what they do on the Internet. It’s clear they are terribly hooked there and it seems it’s now next to the impossible to get them out of there.

As a result, many duties and responsibilities are left unattended. Disorder and chaos are fast gaining ground as priorities are skewed. Superficiality has now become a mainstream lifestyle, reinforcing the trend toward consumerism, materialism and what Pope Francis refers to as the “throw-away culture” where ethical and moral considerations are ignored or even flouted, i.e., regarded with contempt.

 

In short, the beatitudes detach us from our own selves so that we can truly identify ourselves with Christ who is the very pattern of our humanity and the savior of our sin-damaged humanity. They are actually a way to our liberation from our own self-inflicted bondage to merely earthly and bodily urges. They purify us from any stain caused by our worldly attachments.

They have to be understood from the point of view of our faith and never just from our own estimations of things, no matter how impressive these estimations may be due to our philosophies, ideologies, cultures, etc.

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

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

What are the different Filipino values that we have ignored?

 

Bisaya

Proud Bisaya Ko

Barok and Takya Blog | Bisaya Podcast

In a rapidly globalising world, it is easy to lose sight of our own identity. We become caught up in the search for material success and forget the things that make us unique. 

As a result, we often neglect the values that define us Filipinos. These values include family, faith, and community. We are known for our close-knit families, yet we increasingly live far away from home, pursuing more significant opportunities. Our religious beliefs are a source of strength and guidance, but we often turn to them only in times of difficulty. And while we are renowned for our sense of community, we often fail to support those less fortunate than us.

 If we want to preserve our identity, we need to rediscover these values and start living them daily. We can only hope to create a brighter future for ourselves and our country.

Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn align this June for rare conjunction

 Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn align this June for rare conjunction

By Kristofer Purnell - Philstar.com

All five naked-eye planets line up in their proper order from the Sun during the month of June. At dawn on the 24th, the crescent Moon joins the planetary lineup.

MANILA, Philippines — Amateur astronauts are in for a treat this June as the planets Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn will all be seen in a rare alignment for the first time in 18 years.

Sky & Telescope magazine, headed by the American Astronomical Society, said the five naked-eye planets — meaning they can be viewed without a telescope — will be in an orderly conjunction from the Earth's point-of-view the entire month of June around thirty minutes before sunrise.

Mercury will at first be hard to spot but as June carries on the small planet climb higher and shine brighter in the pre-dawn sky.

To be able to see the alignment clearly, it is suggested to have binoculars and face a clear view of the eastern horizon. Those in the Northern Hemisphere can see the alignent from the eastern to southeastern horizon while those in the Southern Hemisphere should look from the eastern to northeastern horizon.

According to Sky & Telescope, the best day to view the five-planet alignment will be on June 24, where the conjunction can be viewed for an hour before the Sun completely shines.

Additionally on this day, the waning crescent Moon will be positioned in between Venus and Mars, acting like a substitute for the Earth in the alignment.

The last time these five planets aligned in their correct sequence was in December 2004, but this time around the distance between Mercury and Saturn is shorter. The alignment will again occur in 2040.

Is it hard to be a Filipino?

 

Everything FILIPINO!

Answered by 

Bisaya

 

There are over 100 million Filipinos in the world, spread across a vast archipelago of more than 7,000 islands. Though the Philippines is a relatively young nation, its people have a rich culture and history. One of the things that make being Filipino so special is the diversity of the population. Filipinos come from different backgrounds, and each group has its unique traditions. This diversity is one of the things that makes Filipino culture so vibrant and exciting. It also creates challenges, however. Chief among these is the challenge of communication. With more than 170 different languages spoken in the Philippines, it can be difficult for people from other regions to understand one another. But Filipinos are nothing if not resourceful, and they have developed a unique form of communication that combines elements of various languages. Called Taglish, this pidgin language helps to bridge the divide between different Filipino groups. Despite the challenges, being Filipino is a source of great pride for many. It is a badge of honor that represents centuries of history and culture. From the majestic mountains of Luzon to the azure waters of Mindanao, the Philippines is a land that is truly unique in the world. And being Filipino means having a connection to this special place.

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From Kaiser to cheese and biology — the etymology of German words

 Jumble of large wooden letters in a bowl

The German word "Kaiser" is Latin by origin, "capital" and "bankrupt" are Italian, and "biology" is Greek. A new book offers insights into the evolution of the German language.

By Suzanne Cords, DW

"The German language is well-traveled, well-connected and happy to keep up with the times — it is a prime example of successful integration," the authors of "The Extraordinary History of Our Words," published by the Duden publishing company, write in the new book's preface. Indeed, language purists might rub their eyes in amazement when reading how many words entered into the German language not just in Europe, but from all over the world. 

Germans and Romans

Researchers have found out that the original proto-German language originated around 8,000 BC in Asia Minor. It later developed into what is known as Indo-Germanic: today, about half of humanity speaks a language that goes back to it. Germanic as such did not crystallize until the second millennium BC in northern Europe, where different tribes formed a cultural group with a similar language.

In the course of time, they migrated southward and inevitably met the Romans. The Roman Empire was an advanced civilization at the time, and the Germanic peoples picked up many achievements and techniques, along with the Latin terminology, which was assimilated.

Statue of Gaius Julius Caesar in Rome - Caesar became "Kaiser" in German

What is presumably the oldest loanword from Latin goes back?

To Gaius Julius Caesar, the Roman general who conquered the Gaul region (today's France and Belgium) in the first century BC. The word "Caesar" for the ruler became "Kaiser" (emperor). The Romans were ingenious builders, too: "Mauer" (wall) from murus and "Fenster" (window), from the Latin word fenestra, also entered the Germanic language. The Nordic tribes ate and used the words for the many delicacies the Romans brought with them, including "Kirsche" (cherry, Latin ceresia), "Zwiebel" (onion) — the Romans called the vegetable cepulla —, "Käse" (cheese, Latin caseus) and "Wein" (wine, the Latin is vinum).

In turn, the Romans borrowed words from the Greeks, who were highly developed and eloquent in everyday culture, philosophy and literature. And so, via Latin, ancient Greek words were later often adopted into Germanic or German, including "Kirche" (church, Greek kyriakon) and "Biologie" (biology, Greek bios and logos).

The Germanic tribes, however, were far from having any kind of unified language. The tribes spoke Frankish, Alemannic or Bavarian; Latin was the church and administrative language and — to make the confusion complete — there was a mix of all languages.

Portrait of Cosimo De Medici

German merchants had close ties to Italy.

In the 13th century, the bourgeoisie, with its crafts and trades, became more powerful. Their close ties with Italian merchants led to the adoption of a great many words from Italian in the 15th and 16th centuries. People went to the bank (banco: long table of the money changer), deposited their capital (capitale) there and hoped never to go bankrupt (banca rotta — the money changer's broken table).

German merchants had close trade relations with the Orient, too — words including coffee, alcohol and sugar originated in Arabic. In the 16th century, ships brought goods from the newly discovered America — indigenous words like chocolatl and tomatl became Schokolade (chocolate) and Tomate (tomato).

Martin Luther's 1522 translation of the Bible into German had the greatest influence on the development of the German language at the time. The reformer tried to write in a manner that was clear and understandable. He "looked at people's mouths," as he put it. Thanks to Johannes Gutenberg's invention of the printing press around 1450, Luther's bible was widely distributed. The language of science, however, remained Latin — German dialects were deemed vulgar.

After France won the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648) and expanded its supremacy in Europe, French became the colloquial language for the upper social classes. German was spoken only by commoners, craftsmen and peasants. And even they would use the odd French word, like parquet, rendezvous and wardrobe, to appear educated.

Language purists feared moral decline.

17th-century language purists were opposed to the flood of fashionable foreign words. On August 24, 1617, the first language society was founded in Weimar, named the "Fruchtbringende Gesellschaft" (Fruitful Society). Its members were firmly convinced that a decline in the language would inevitably endanger native customs, virtues and traditions. 150 years later, poets who were revered abroad, including Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Friedrich Schiller, helped the German language blossom again. But even they used foreign phrases and words.

A new era.

The Industrial Revolution provided a whole new chapter of word creations. The French term "industrie" that originally meant "diligence, industriousness" took on a unique meaning.

Karl Marx' and Friedrich Engels' criticism of capitalism followed on its heels, including words like communism (from communis: common), proletariat (proletarius: member of the lowest class) or socialism (socialis: social).

Desire for unified language

People in Germany increasingly resented not having a unified nation-state — but at least, so the thinking went, they could aim for a common language. Chairs for German Studies were established at universities in the early 19th century. Language guides including the Grimm Brothers' 1854 German Dictionary and the 1880 Duden Spelling provided orientation.

In 1871, the German Empire was founded, but still, foreign words slipped into the language. When the Nazis seized power in 1933, they turned back the clock and avoided foreign words. Some terms were stylized, in particular "Volk" (people). The "people as a whole" took precedence over all else, everyone had to serve the "people's welfare." Most Germans owned a Volksempfänger radio set and people who could afford it bought a Volkswagen.

Separate ways

After World War II, the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic, West and East Germany respectively, were founded in 1949. Again, language reflected realities: West Germans admired the American way of life and many English words found their way into the language, including management, makeup and LPs. East Germans resorted to Russian words like "dacha" (small country house) and coined ideologically influenced terms like "workers' and peasants' state" and "anti-fascist protective wall" (for the Berlin Wall).

Political, social and technical developments were reflected in the language over the following decades, from the fall of the Berlin Wall to recycling in times of climate change. The computer age, too, has given Germans numerous everyday technical terms that were unthinkable in the 1980s: from browser (to browse) to download to e-mail.

Peaceful coexistence

The new Duden book points out that people worried about the German language should realize that it has lived in peaceful coexistence with foreign words for thousands of years. "Our old lady the German language lives entirely according to the motto 'You never stop learning' and demonstrates a stylistically confident attitude," according to the book. "While the vocabulary is undergoing a very dynamic development, the grammar demonstrates stability and perseverance and takes even bold new creations under its structuring wing."

What does Pentecost mean?

By Fr. Roy Cimagala *

EVEN if Christ already died and ascended into heaven, his presence and mission continues to be with us, this time through the Holy Spirit. “I will not leave you as orphans,” he said. “I will come to you.” (Jn 14,18) It is the Holy Spirit who will make Christ present in us and who will involve us in the continuing redemptive work of Christ.

We have to understand that the Holy Spirit perpetuates the presence and redemptive action of Christ all throughout time, with all the drama, vagaries, ups and downs that we men make in our history.

It has been prophesied that God will pour out his Spirit upon all men. The Holy Spirit is intended for all of us. We are all meant to be filled with the Holy Spirit. But this divine will obviously has to contend with the way we receive and do things, and that is, that we take to this reality in stages involving a whole range of human means of teaching, evangelizing, etc.

We need the Holy Spirit because only in him can we truly recognize Christ. Only in him will we be able to have Christ in our life, to remember all his words and even to develop them to attune them to current needs and situations.

Only in him can we see things properly. Especially these days when truth, justice and charity have become very slippery, and people are left confused and vulnerable to fall into scepticism and cynicism, we need to be in the Holy Spirit to be able to sort things out and stay away from the mess.

We need the Holy Spirit to be able to read the signs of the times properly. The world is getting very complicated, and we definitely need the Holy Spirit to guide us. We cannot rely anymore on our politicians and other leaders. We, including politicians and especially them, actually always need the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit acts on each one of us in different ways but always for the common good. St. Cyril has this to say about how the Holy Spirit comes to us:

“The Spirit comes gently and makes himself known by his fragrance. He is not felt as a burden, for he is light, very light. Rays of light and knowledge stream before him as he approaches.

“The Spirit comes with the tenderness of a true friend and protector to save, to heal, to teach, to counsel, to strengthen, to console. The Spirit comes to enlighten the mind first of the one who receives him, and then, through him, the minds of others as well.”

We have to understand that Christ’s redemptive mission is very much an ongoing affair, and he involves all of us actually in this business. Those words that he addressed to his apostles, giving them their mission, can be considered as addressed to us also. And we can carry out that mission because of the abiding work of the Holy Spirit in us. All we have to do is to correspond to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

We need to be familiar with this Christian duty. We have to do apostolate, and we need to see to it that the zeal for it is always nourished, stoked and fanned to its most intense degree.

Yes, we are all meant to be “another Christ” through the Holy Spirit, with the lifelong concern for our sanctification and apostolate, taking advantage of all the occasions and situations in life to pursue those goals!

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

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

Avian flu threatens Philippine Eagle Center

By Ruth Palo, Manila Times

These two Philippine eagles are among the 35 protected by the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) at Malagos village, Davao del Sur.  PEF FILE PHOTO

DIGOS CITY: The Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) is now working to relocate the Philippine Eagle Center to a more secure and viable location for breeding amid the looming threat of the avian flu.

Andi Baldonado, PEF development manager, said this is due to threats brought by the avian influenza, adding they are on standby to relocate the Philippine eagles to the 50-hectare local government property in Barangay Eden Toril District in this city.

Baldonado said the recent avian flu infection in Magsaysay town in Davao del Sur, which is less than a hundred kilometers away from the center, "practically brings the threat at their doorstep."

She said a single case of avian flu in the center can potentially wipe out all 34 Philippine eagles that they have right now.

"That's why we've said that we are on standby for a possible lockdown again if ever there's a case that will be detected in Davao City because we cannot risk having avian flu in the only captive breeding facility for the Philippine eagle," Baldonado said.

"The long-term plan is to really move, Malagos is no longer conducive for breeding wildlife and keeping the birds safe from the avian flu threat. In 2017, we had the threat as well so it's becoming more frequent. To prevent contamination, we need to isolate them," Baldonado said.

Right now, Baldonado said they are intensifying its biosecurity measures where the keepers are given access to the eagles in the center.

These keepers, she said, are assigned to specific eagles; they go to strict measures such as showering and changing into scrubs whenever they come in contact with the eagles.

The center, however, is still open to the public but stricter measures will have to be followed like not allowing vehicles to come inside the property anymore.

Baldonado also cited some game breeding farms around the 8.4-hectare Philippine Eagle Center, which houses 34 birds apart from several other wild bird species susceptible to infection.

"So it's not ideal anymore for a long-term plan of Philippine eagle conservation like breeding. And we find that it's time that we really need to secure the population and move them away from these areas," Baldonado added.

"We are working with the CPDO (City Planning and Development Office) towards releasing a usufruct which would allow us to use the facility for captive breeding and rescue rehabilitation," Baldonado said.

The PEF is seeking to raise P56 million as an initial budget to start the establishment of a new Philippine Eagle Facility in Eden, Toril.

Meanwhile, the PEF is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year with the theme "#AgiLaya: Lasting Freedom for the Philippine Eagle."

Highlights of the celebration include an exhibit from June 6 to 12 featuring Philippine eagle conservation milestones at SM Lanang Premier Atrium.

Magnitude 5.6 quake shakes Surigao del Sur -- Phivolcs

By Arlie O. Calalo, Manila Times

A magnitude 5.6 earthquake hit Surigao del Sur early Friday morning, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

Tectonic in origin, the tremor took place around 2:54 a. m. some 31 kilometers northeast of the town of Cagwait, also in the same province, Phivolcs said in its 5 a. m. advisory.

Phivolcs chief Renato Solidum Jr. said that Intensity 4 was felt over Cagwait, Bayabas and San Agustin, Surigao del Sur while Intensity 3 over Bislig City, Surigao del Sur; and Rosario, Agusan del Sur.

He said Instrumental Intensity 3 was recorded in Tandag City, Surigao del Sur; and Nabunturan, Davao de Oro while Intensity 2 over Bislig City, Surigao del Sur; and Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte.

Intensity 1 was recorded in Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental; Malaybalay City, Bukidnon; Surigao City; Abuyog, Leyte; and Malungon, Sarangani, Phivolcs said.

Solidum said both damage to infrastructure and aftershocks are possible from the latest quake.

Still blended, still learning

by Manila Bulletin

Over two years into a pandemic later, the Department of Education (DepEd) remains half-and-half with its attitude toward face-to-face classes. But perhaps it is right to do so. The Department’s latest pronouncements regarding the upcoming school year favors a mix of in-person and online classes.

If you are a parent who has been following the discussions regarding the resumption of classes, you might say, “Nothing new here.” And you would be right in saying so.

For the past several months now, with the easing of mobility restrictions due to the pandemic under an Alert Level 1 status, everything seems to be back to normal. Almost.

Kids are allowed back into public spaces—churches, malls, restaurants — accompanied by their families. Kids have been given access to vaccines against Covid. But why are they still not allowed to be back in their classrooms at a 100-percent level?

Some might argue that there are a lot of factors involved in a classroom setup different from those in other public spaces, say, like in malls or parks or restaurants. In schools, students would be mingling with fellow learners as well as educators. The thing is, with DepEd’s push for fully inoculating its personnel and teachers — both for public and private schools — and with vaccines available for children, the classroom setup seems to be becoming more and more viable as an option.

DepEd recognizes this with its suggestion that students spend some days back in school and other days of the week learning from home. It seems to be the safest bet. Although the department is not against face-to-face classes, it wants to exercise a degree of prudence.

The question is: What difference does it make for the students to be allowed out on some days compared to being allowed back in school for a week? Less chances of getting Covid? Maybe.

This is the reason why DepEd continues to push for the vaccination of younger learners, which to be clear, is completely optional. That being vaccinated is not even made a requirement for children to return to the classroom says a lot. Yet, putting all arguments in favor of vaccination aside, this may be the more probable reason why a blended learning setup is favored.

DepEd itself, together with the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID), seems to be learning the ropes when it comes to reintegrating students back into a “new normal” for education. While this is understandable given the unpredictable nature of a pandemic, the current situation points to a more stable future, with Covid cases remaining in manageable numbers compared to those of the past two years.

Perhaps parents — and the learners themselves who are arguably in need of social interaction from their peers — only need to be patient for a little while longer, until the “new normal” in education takes on the semblance of a true normal.

Ylona Garcia drops new summertime jam ‘Vibin’

by Manila Bulletin Entertainment

Ylona Garcia

Filipino-Australian singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Ylona Garcia has revealed a more vulnerable playful side to her with the release of “Vibin” via PARADISE RISING/88rising Music.

With a smooth and catchy hook, and a light, airy production matched with Ylona’s crisp vocals, the track is a perfect summertime slow jam. 

“VIBIN” Listen Here: https://ylonagarcia.lnk.to/Vibin

“Vibin is a really special song to me,” Ylona said, “because it truly captures where I am artistically, and where I plan to go sonically. The track is about meeting someone new and not wanting to feel pressured to define the relationship – we’re just vibin and enjoying every moment as they come.”

“Vibin” follows the success of her hit single “Entertain Me,” which was featured in the wildly popular game Valorant’s launch trailer of new playable character Neon, reaching #1 Trending on YouTube and amassing over 8M views. The single currently has over 15M plays on Spotify alone. 

Only 20 years old, Ylona Garcia has set her sights on the global landscape in the next stage of her creative journey.  With multiple song releases under her belt already, in addition to appearing on two of the biggest reality/talent contests shows in the Philippines, Ylona Garcia has become one of the fastest-rising, most prominent young voices in the Filipino music community. She currently has over 4.2M followers on Instagram and nearly 1 million followers on TikTok in addition to over 714,000 monthly listeners on Spotify and 212,000 subscribers on her YouTube channel.

Ylona Garcia’s music is released by 88rising’s sister label PARADISE RISING, which was launched in 2020 to help bring Filipino music to the forefront of culture. 

Gatchalian backs full face-to-face classes

By Javier Joe Ismael, Manila Times

SEN. Sherwin Gatchalian on Thursday expressed his support for the full resumption of face-to-face classes next academic school year, saying that such a move will boost the recovery of the basic education sector from the pandemic.

While the full resumption of in-person learning is a first step, Gatchalian cited the need to implement a massive learning recovery program.

The National Economic and Development Authority estimated that two years without face-to-face learning will result in P22-trillion productivity losses.

Gatchalian's proposed learning recovery program includes well-systematized tutorial sessions for struggling learners.

He said that the program will cover the most essential learning competencies under Language and Mathematics for Grades 1 to 10 and Science for Grades 3 to 10.

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Literacy and numeracy competencies will be given focus for Kindergarten learners to build on their foundational competencies, he added.

The Department of Education said that as of May 26, 34,238 schools were nominated to conduct face-to-face classes, 1,174 of which are private schools. Over 33,000 or 73.28 percent of public schools are already holding in-person classes.

"Matapos ang halos dalawang taon ng pagtugon natin sa mga hamon ng pandemya, napapanahon nang buksan natin ang lahat ng mga paaralan upang makabalik na ang mga mag-aaral. Habang patuloy ang pagbangon ng iba't ibang sektor, dapat nating tiyaking hindi mapag-iiwanan ang sektor ng edukasyon (After almost two years responding to the challenges of the pandemic, it's now time for us to open all our schools for all the learners. While the different sectors continue to rise, we should ensure that the education sector will not be left behind)," said Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture.

Gatchalian vowed to pursue legislation to improve the quality of education and accelerate the sector's recovery from the pandemic's impact.

DepEd urged to participate in vaccination of children

Congress recently ratified the bicameral conference committee report on the creation of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EdCom 2), a measure that Gatchalian sponsored.

Why do Filipinos have weird last names?

 

JohnRich R. Levine

I aspire to write what I speak about

Works as Learning and Development Executive.

The same reason why Americans or the British have names such as, Boatman, Wood, Trucker, Dimmer, or Saucepan.

A lot of Filipinos descended from hispanic or hispanic-influenced families and carry that name with them. Some examples are del Rosario, Loyola, Soriano, de los Santos, Sanchez, Miranda, or Villa.

A lot more have Chinese-sounding last names like Tan, Te, Tiu, Uy, Lu, or Chu.

A lot more have American-sounding names like Cassidy, Young, Long, Horn.

A lot more have European-inspired last names like Potylanski, Vermicilli, Hofstedtler, or von Auber.

Still a few more sound Jewish, like Levine.

But a few still sound native Filipino like Hapla, Patay, Palantang, Bahaghari or Cagalitan.

The reason for these weird sounding last names are how they find their way to be the last names. Some by choice, some by preferences, some by affinity, some by consanguinity, some by intermarriage, some by court order, some by coincidence.

How did you derive yours?

DoH launches smoke-free beaches campaign

Health Secretary Francisco Duque 3rd. File Photo

By Red Mendoza, Manila Times

IN celebration of World No Tobacco Day, the Department of Health (DoH) has launched a campaign that promotes smoke-free beaches, parks, and tourist destinations across the country, starting in Boracay Island and in Aklan province.

The campaign, which is in collaboration with Viral Strategies and Smoke Free Philippines, aims to showcase tourist destinations as pilot areas for smoke-free beaches.

The Smoke-Free Beaches campaign will begin at Station 2 in Boracay, before moving to other premiere beach destinations and beaches such as in Caramoan and in Palawan.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque 3rd said the initiative was developed to protect beaches, parks and tourist destinations from the environmental ill-effects of tobacco.

"With this, we hope to further raise awareness and create new areas of impact in our overall effort to ensure the health of the Filipino people," Duque added.

He hopes that the campaign will unify the goal of the DoH in providing universal health care, which also includes "giving families an environment that lets them enjoy healthily without exposure to the harmful effects of second-hand smoke."

Around 4.5 trillion cigarettes become waste and 4.2 million cigarette butts end up in beaches and waterways. Moreover, according to global tobacco industry watchdog Stopping Tobacco Organizations and Products (STOP), plastic and chemical contents in cigarette filters have been shown to destroy marine life and water quality.

In a related story, 321 pairs of shoes and slippers were displayed at the main lobby of the Lung Center of the Philippines to commemorate 321 Filipinos who die every day due to tobacco-related diseases.

The art installation signified the call to have stronger tobacco control legislation in order to save more lives.

Dr. Jessica Catalan-Legarda, chairman for advocacy of the Lung Center of the Philippines, said there should be an ecosystem of policies that would make it easier for Filipinos to quit the "deadly habit of smoking."

"Raising taxes on tobacco products and banning their advertising, promotions, and sponsorships are just some of the policies needed to create a healthier environment for Filipinos," she added.

Dr. Glynna Ong-Cabrera, project director of the DoH Quitline program, said that quitting smoking is not just a matter of personal responsibility, noting that tobacco companies continue to sell and market these products.

She added that tobacco products are designed to make it difficult for smokers to quit, which could put them at risk in developing tobacco-related diseases that could lead to death.

Guidelines out on discounts for online purchases by seniors, PWDs

By Moises Cruz

SENIOR citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) may now avail of their 20 percent discount on essential products and commodities purchased online.

This is contained in Joint Circular Memorandum 1, which the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), National Commission of Senior Citizens, National Council on Disability Affairs, Department of Health, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) signed on May 6 but which was released on Tuesday.

Some of the discounted items, according to the circular, are rice, bread, milk, water, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

According to the guidelines, the elderly and PWDs have a maximum purchase amount of P1,300 a week for both online and offline transactions, with no rollover of the unused amount.

To receive the discount, one must declare to the merchant prior to placing orders that he or she is a senior citizen or a person with a disability and submit supporting documents, such as a scanned copy or screenshot of ID, as well as the front and last pages of the purchase booklet.

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

During the delivery of goods and orders, the same proof of discount entitlement should be shown.

"All business establishments are urged to honor the privileges granted to senior citizens and persons with disabilities by adopting the appropriate system or improving their existing system that ensures the 20 percent is given to them whenever they purchase goods or services, whether in online, telephone or mobile transactions," DSWD said.

A most recommended prayer

Fr. Roy Cimagala *

THE Feast of the Visitation of Our Lady to her cousin Elizabeth, celebrated on May 31, brings us to that wonderful prayer of the “Magnificat,” the response of our Lady after her cousin praised her to high heavens, describing her as the most blessed among women. (cfr. Lk 1,39-56)

It’s a prayer that we should try our best to also make as our own, for it expresses what our heart and soul should regard us the most important in our life. It’s the most ideal condition for us to be in. It shows what and who should attract us the most.

We should repeat the words of the Magnificat daily, and, in fact, often during the day. We should repeat them from the heart, especially when we encounter difficulties and failures in life, because they remind us that God never fails to bless us. Yes, we should always feel blessed even amidst our problems and mistakes.

Feeling blessed is important and indispensable to us. Without it, we would be putting ourselves in great danger as we would simply stand on an unstable ground, totally dependent on the shifting world of chance, luck and fortune.

When these latter mundane and temporal values are missing, we cannot help but feel doomed, our life losing meaning and purpose, and our activities would simply become means to pass the time. Nothing more and beyond!

To be able to assume the spirit of the Magnificat, we should try our best to adapt the attitude of Mary. She was most humble and most docile. She asked for a clarification when she was told that she was going to become the Mother of the Son of God, but it was not out of doubt and lack of faith. It was simply to make her cooperation with God’s will and ways most complete.

When we are truly humble like Our Lady, we would know who should attract us most. Definitely, it should be God and none other. Better said, if we make God the source and cause of all our attraction, of all our joy and pleasures, of what ultimately gives us perfect satisfaction and ultimate fulfillment, all the other things can attract us and give us joy in the proper way, always respecting our true dignity as persons and as children of God.

Otherwise, there is no other way but for us to merely have a fake kind of joy, pleasure and satisfaction that can only lead us to bigger dangers. We really have to train ourselves to make God and to make following his will and ways the constant source and cause of our attraction and joy.

For this, we first of all should ask for God’s grace which is actually given to us in abundance. And from there, let’s go through some systematic plan of life that will nourish and strengthen our constant and intimate relationship with God, a relationship that should involve our entire self—body and soul, feelings, emotions and passions down to our very instincts, as well as our mind and heart.

It should be a plan that should obviously include prayer in all its forms—vocal, liturgical, ejaculatory, mental, contemplative, etc. Our life of prayer should be such that even when we are immersed in the things of the world due to our work and our temporal duties, we would still be aware of God’s presence, and it is doing God’s will that should always motivate us.

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

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

Over 34,000 schools nominated for face-to-face classes — DepEd

(Photo courtesy of DepEd)

by Merlina Hernando-Malipot, Manila Bulletin

More than 34,000 schools have been nominated to implement face-to-face classes, the Department of Education (DepEd) on Monday, May 30, announced.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones, during the Laging Handa public briefing, said that as of May 26, 34,238 schools have been nominated for face-to-face classes nationwide.

“Out of these 34,238 schools, 33,000 are public schools and 1,174 are private schools,” Briones said.

 

Briones noted that to date, 73.28 percent of the total number of public schools across the country have been nominated to hold face-to-face classes amid the pandemic.

“Basta may clearance galing sa Department of Health, at saka sa tingin namin ay pumapayag naman ang mga local governments at saka may consent ng mga parents ay talagang tinutuloy na natin ang face-to-face classes (As long as there is clearance from the Department of Health, and if we think that the local governments agree and then with the consent of the parents, we will continue the face-to-face classes),” Briones said.

Meanwhile, Briones noted that DepEd is expecting all schools to fully implement the conduct of face-to-face by the next academic year.

However, Briones clarified that the implementation of face-to-face classes would still depend on the overall readiness of the schools.

Briones said that schools may have various formats when it comes to implementing face-to-face classes. Some, she said, are ready in terms of teachers and other resources while others may need “catching up to do.”

Given this, Briones said DepEd officials at the regional level “have to decide what approach to use” when it comes to face-to-face classes since “they know the situation best.”

Briones also emphasized that DepEd’s approach when it comes to the implementation of face-to-face classes would greatly depend on the schools, the LGUs, the state of health in the area, and on assessment of DOH.

“Pero sa ngayon, ine-encourage din ng DOH na talagang tulyan na nating gawin ang face-to-face classes (But for now, the DOH is also encouraging us to really continue doing face-to-face classes),” Briones, said, noting that DepEd is also encouraging private schools to go back to in-person learning.