Nearly half of new HIV cases in PH are teens

Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa (Photo from the Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau)

By: Kathleen de Villa - Reporter / @kdevillaINQPhilippine Daily Inquirer 

MANILA, Philippines — The number of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cases in the country has nearly doubled this year, with almost half of them involving teens, which could be attributed to a new strain of the virus, according to Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa.

Citing the latest figures, Herbosa said on Tuesday that HIV infections grew to about 50 new cases per day, from last year’s average daily count of 22.

Younger people aged 15 to 24 are the most affected at 47 percent, he added.

“There’s a new subvariant that’s quite more infectious and this is the reason we’re finding this increase in cases,” he told reporters, citing infectious diseases specialist Dr. Edsel Salvana. “It’s been happening even before. We’re just detecting it [now] because we’re concentrated so much on COVID,” he said.

In 2022, a group of researchers led by Chris Wymant found that a new HIV variant called subtype B could cause a more severe infection and individuals hit by this strain may have “an average viral load about four times higher than usual,” according to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).

Herbosa said on Monday that he had a meeting with Vice President Sara Duterte, who also heads the Department of Education, and that one of the topics they discussed was the rapidly growing number of HIV cases, specifically on the “interventions” to take in terms of health literacy.

“We forged a stronger collaboration [and] convergence between … on the efforts we will put for adolescent health,” he said.

He added other health issues they tackled were teenage pregnancy, substance abuse, mental health, and nutrition.

The Philippines has one of the fastest-growing HIV epidemics in the world dating back to 1984, UNAIDS said.

In 2017, the DOH declared the epidemic a national emergency because of the rapid rise of infections.

Pauline Amelinckx receives Miss Supranational’s ‘Woman of Substance’ award

Pauline Amelinckx (right) receives the ‘Woman of Substance award from reigning Miss Supranational Andrea Aguilera./SCREENSHOT FROM MISS SUPRANATIONAL FACEBOOK VIDEO

By: Armin P. AdinaI NQUIRER.net

Pauline Amelinck received the “Woman of Substance” award from the Miss Supranational organization during the finals of The Miss Philippines Culture and Heritage Celebration last month, the third time that the international pageant has bestowed such a distinction.

“It is a small token to show our respect to Pau-Pau for her dedication, speaking out against body shaming and her #FromTheGroundUpCSI project, which focused on the importance of #environmentalprotection through education,” the Miss Supranational pageant said on social media. The two previous recipients of the award were Jesica Fitriana from Indonesia, and Dr. Julita Kitwe Mbangula from Namibia.

Fitriana was second runner-up in the 2019 Miss Supranational pageant. Then-reigning queen Anntonia Porsild from Thailand bestowed the recognition to her in a trip to Indonesia to see the project initiated by the Indonesia beauty in Bogor in West Java, creating safe spaces for children infected with HIV/AIDs by their parents.

Mbangbula, a physician, finished in the Top 24 of last year’s competition. She was recognized for her medical outreach programs, social welfare initiatives, and health education programs online and in disadvantaged communities. The organization awarded her during the 2023 Miss and Mister Supranational Namibia pageant in March.

Amelinckx finished strong in the 2023 Miss Supranational pageant in Poland in July, placing second to Ecuador’s Andrea Aguilera. The reigning queen flew to the Philippines and personally handed over the trophy to the Filipino beauty during the final competition show of The Miss Philippines at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Oct. 24.

“My Pau-Pau, for me it is an honor to give you this third-ever Woman of Substance award. Because of your dedication, for never giving up, for working so, so hard for your community, you deserve it. Pau-Pau, we, our Supra family, we are so proud of you. We love you so much,” Aguilera said.

The awarding took place after Amelinckx delivered her farewell speech as The Miss Philippines. She became the first women to hold the title after Miss Universe Philippines National Director Shamcey Supsup-Lee awarded her the crown upon her arrival from Poland in August.

This year’s The Miss Philippines is the national search’s first edition. It is a sister competition of the Miss Universe Philippines pageant under Empire Holdings Inc. Amelinckx relinquished her national title to Alethea Ambrosio, who made an impact by answering in straight Filipino in the contest.

12 signs it’s almost Christmas in the Philippines

Christmas spirit can be found in almost anything: traffic, your inability to wake up early, your “nagpaparamdam” inaanaks, and best of all, in puto bumbong, bibingka, and castañas stalls

Yes, I know that technically Philippine Christmas begins in September. But! Since we also observe All Souls and All Saints Days, and by extension, Halloween, all that yuletide preparation comes to a pause come the last week of October and well into the first few days of November.

This article argues that the real precursors of Christmas in the country are on full, uninterrupted display after Nov. 2. These things are undeniably what constitutes a Paskong Pinoy, for better or worse.

It’s harder to wake up in the morning

Climate change may have messed up our two seasons (dry “not summer” and wet or rainy season) but still, colder mornings prevail during “ber” months, thanks to the onset of Amihan, which started Oct. 20 this year. This makes waking up to your alarms an even bigger undertaking now, a palpable sign that indeed Christmas is here.

It’s hard to get anything done, period

Chalk it up to cooler weather or to a longing to fast forward to holiday vacation but you may find it difficult to do your usual task with energy and gusto. It doesn’t help too that a lot of people are going on vacation this time of the year to beat the Christmas rush.

Balikbayans are everywhere

There’s no place like home, and no Christmas like a Filipino Christmas, which is why many OFWs and immigrants are going home to celebrate with their families as early as now—again to beat skyrocketing airfare and the deluge of merrymakers come December.

Everyone out and shopping

Because bonuses are given out towards the end of the year, you can expect more Filipinos going out to shop as early as now.

Sales, sales, sales everywhere

And because of previous reasons, businesses pounce on this opportunity to rack up more profits by organizing sales at this time of the year, creating special Christmas bundles and deals to lure shoppers.

To go out shopping and to get to the said sales, you would, of course, need to commute. The deluge of Filipinos wanting to take advantage of these sales with the money they just made results in congested roads. Being stuck in traffic? Not very merry if you ask me.

Mariah Carey blasting everywhere

Luckily, you can count on taxi cabs and shopping establishments (among others) to blast “All I Want for Christmas” to make all these inconveniences somehow bearable. Long live, Lambs!

Puto bumbong, bibingka, and castañas stalls are up

Another upside is that seasonal food is upon us, too. If like us you’ve been craving puto bumbong all year, now’s actually the perfect time to get them—straight out of the steamer poles, slathered with butter, and sprinkled with coconut meat and muscovado sugar.

Countdowns everywhere

And as if you need reminding, Christmas countdowns everywhere—on billboards, on TV and radio shows, on the newspaper—will tell you how many days there are left until Dec. 25.

Christmas lights and parol everywhere

This is probably a giveaway but there’s no other more tangible sign that Christmas is upon us than the kumukutikutitap na Christmas lights and bumubusi-busilak na parol.

Inaanaks randomly making their presence felt

Social media savvy godchildren are also making moves, “randomly” liking your photos, replying to your Facebook Stories, and commenting on your posts. Yeah, that too is a sign that it is Christmas time.

Carollers are roaming around

And if all these other sensory signs fail, you can always count on the merry singing of carollers who go door-to-door belting Mariah Carey songs and contemporary and traditional Filipino yuletide tunes to remind you that indeed ‘tis the season to be jolly.

The stands - An Inquirer Sports Newsletter

 

October 13, 2023

Led by Favour Onoh, the UP Maroons have flattened the opposition thus far. (UAAP Media)

Hey there sports fan, It's Friday the 13th! But the day has really lost its superstitious mystery and the greatest fear of people when that day and date coincides is the traffic. After all, it is a Friday, and it's also payday. Luckily, we've got a lot of sports to go home and relax to. So drop your worries for a moment and chill out to this trivia question: The UP Maroons stunned the NU Lady Bulldogs recently, their first win over the college powerhouse since what year? The answer will come at the end of this letter. But yes, you read it right the first time. And in case you're thinking, "Well, it is the Maroons, going up against the Lady Bulldogs," please remember that like Ateneo, Univesity of the Philippines has opted to use the same moniker for its men's and women's teams. So yup, we're talking about UP women's team here. Led by the hardworking Favour Onoh, the Maroons finally scored one over the nation's most fearsome women's college program to produce the stunner of the season so far. Not only that, it gave the Maroons the early lead in UAAP Season 86. And yes, you can take that satement both ways. The Maroons in the men's side have kept in stride so far with their women's team, making great use of all those preseason acquisitions to steamroll their way to the top so far.  On the opposite end of the spectrum, University of Santo Tomas, which also kept the offseason buzzing with its own haul of recruits, continues to search for its footing after slipping into a 13-game spiral last season. Meanwhile, La Salle, whose biggest offseason move was to hire coach Topex Robinson, seems to be doing just fine early on. It's going to be an exciting UAAP basketball season so keep it here with us as we provide you with varsity content across all our platforms.

Tim Cone returns to Barangay Ginebra in a rush to get some preparation in before the PBA season starts.  (Marlo Cueto)

Meanwhile... After winning the gold medal in the Asian Games, Tim Cone is headed back to Barangay Ginebra, hoping to get some practice in with his "baby" in preparation for the new PBA season. Cone "wrote" his entry into basketball history but is looking to make sure he gets the Gin Kings ready for what could be a grueling season ahead.  And oh, yes, volleyball. The PVL is getting ready to fire off its next tournament and already, we've got loads of features for you already. Check out our archives for the latest on the next PVL conference here.  What we're up to next: The Asian Games is done, but you can still catch up on the stories you may have missed by checking out our archives here. You know, in case you want to weigh in on this hot-button issue. And, like we said, we will be launching our coverage of volleyball with fresh digital features so watch out for that. And we will start to ease into the coverage of the new PBA season. For the meantime, get your latest varsdity features and stories on the UAAP and NCAA here! Number of the Week: 2011 The answer to the trivia question above.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK “I think, stop analyzing. Just enjoy. This is a great moment.” —Tab Baldwin, Ateneo coach, on people trying to break down how the Philippines won the Asian Games gold medal in men's basketball.

There are more trivia questions in our weekly sports quiz which you can access by joining our Viber community, which also featres the freshest sports updates.  Buy the Inquirer at newsstands, subscribe to our digital edition, Inquirer Plus, visit our online site and follow us on socials (Twitter: @inquirersports; FB: facebook.com/inquirersports) for more stories and updates—or to send us questions or suggestions of stories you'd want to read. Have a great and safe weekend! See you next Friday. Francis Francis T. J. Ochoa is the Sports Editor of the Philippine Daily Inquirer. For comments, suggestions and questions, hit him up on Twitter (@ftjochoaINQ).

Preventing a mental health crisis

Quote card for EDITORIAL: Preventing a mental health crisis

The mass shooting in a Bangkok mall a few days ago involving a minor with a history of mental illness has cast a spotlight on young people and the growing trend of mental health problems among them. The incident, which resulted in two deaths, may have happened in a neighboring country but it does not make it any less relevant to the Philippine setting, especially as we mark National Mental Health Month.

Of specific concern is the number of mental health cases reported among young Filipino students. Per the Department of Education (DepEd), 404 students took their own lives while 2,147 others attempted suicide during Academic Year 2021-2022. In addition, 775,962, out of the country’s 28 million young learners in public schools, sought the assistance of guidance counselors for the same period.

This number is certainly more than what the country’s guidance counselors could handle: as of 2021, DepEd reported, there were only 2,093 of them or a ratio of one mental health professional to nearly 13,400 learners.

Last June, Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel urged President Marcos to declare a mental health emergency because the country “cannot afford to keep turning a blind eye on the hundreds of young lives that have been taken by academic and economic pressures of today’s society.” He added that it was high time the government paid attention to the prevailing mental health crisis and crafted a national course of action.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that unaddressed mental health issues will put a huge burden on future generations. As of 2021, WHO estimated that one in seven, or 13 percent, of 10–19-year-olds globally experience mental health conditions and that half of all mental health disorders in adulthood start by age 14 but most of the cases are undetected and untreated.

“If these disorders are left untreated, they can extend into adult life, thus impacting educational attainment, employment, relationships, and even parenting,” said Tarun Dua, a mental health adviser at the WHO.

It’s not only young people; adults who belong to generations that barely acknowledged and considered mental illness a taboo suffer from at least one type of mental, neurological, or substance use disorder. The National Mental Health Program said 1,145,871 Filipinos suffered from depression and 213,422 from schizophrenia in 2020.

No doubt that the Philippines has made breakthroughs in pushing mental health into the national agenda and society has become more open to discussing it. But the figures quoted above and the reality on the ground bear out the fact that there is still so much more that needs to be done in terms of lawmaking, and institutional and budget support.

For one, treatment for mental disorders remains costly and inaccessible, especially for those who need it most: the poor and vulnerable sectors whose living conditions can have adverse effects on their mental well-being.

The landmark passage of Republic Act No. 11306 or the Mental Health Act (MHA) in 2018 was supposed to make mental health services more accessible to the public. But the truth is that the minimal budget that goes into the government’s mental health program — P1.9 billion for both the awareness campaign and medicines for this year — reflects its low priority.

The state of the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) — ”tragic” and in “poor condition” in the words of a senator — is also emblematic of the kind of mental health service available in the country.

At least two proposals meant to complement the MHA and ensure the accessibility of mental health services in schools and communities have been put forward: for local governments to enact ordinances that will integrate mental health service into basic health service; and for Congress to pass a new law, the proposed Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act, that will task the DepEd to establish “care centers” in schools and create plantilla positions for trained personnel to manage the program.

The recent case of a Grade 5 student who allegedly died from a brain hemorrhage after being slapped by a teacher only underscores the importance of providing professional mental health training to educators and guidance counselors. But all these — the localization of mental health services as well as training and additional positions for mental health professionals — require a budget, which the sector already has very little of.

The government cannot continue to handle the mental health issue the way previous generations have handled mental illness: ignored, denied, untreated. It must take concrete action now or it will have a full-blown mental health crisis in its hands.

Read more: https://opinion.inquirer.net/166970/preventing-a-mental-health-crisis#ixzz8FWQGDmbt

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Mindanao study finds microplastics in ‘bangus’

Newly harvested bangus from island barangays in Dagupan City are brought to Magsaysay Fish Market. From the boat they are classified according to sizes and placed into tubs.PHOTO BY WILLIE LOMIBAO

By: Jane Bautista - Reporter / @janebautistaINQPhilippine Daily Inquirer / 05:34 AM October 08, 2023

MANILA, Philippines — A team of researchers has found the prevalence of microplastics (MPs) in the gastrointestinal tracts of adult milkfish (“bangus”), one of the predominant species developed in the country’s aquaculture industry. But because microplastic research in the country is still in its infancy, the full extent of its health risks has yet to be established, according to the team.

Researcher Kaye Similitan of the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) said their study found that 97 percent, or 29 out of 30 milkfish samples, were contaminated with MPs.

These samples were taken from fish cages in the portion of the Masao River in Butuan City and in the area of Butuan Bay in Nasipit town, Agusan del Norte province.

The research, funded by the Department of Science and Technology, was conducted last year and published in September in the “Marine Pollution Bulletin” of the Dutch academic publishing company Elsevier.

Earlier scientific studies by other groups had also detected MPs in Metro Manila’s air and in the waters of Laguna de Bay, the country’s largest freshwater lake.

Based on the findings of MSU-IIT, an average of 5 MPs was found from milkfish samples in Nasipit while the MP content of milkfish in Butuan City reached an average of 10 MPs, or two times higher.

In an interview with the Inquirer, Similitan attributed the MP ingestion in Butuan to economic activity in the city, a leading tourist and investment destination in the Caraga region in northeastern Mindanao.

Team member Hernando Bacosa, an environmental scientist who has been working on microplastics research, explained that the higher amount of MPs in milkfish may be attributed as well to the higher MP concentration in the water since the species tend to mistake waste as food.

“Butuan has high industrial [and] commercial activities and high population, and that is also tantamount to high plastic consumption and disposal that go to canals, esteros, and the sea,” he said. On average, the water in the Masao River has 1 MP per liter, five times higher than that of Butuan Bay in Nasipit which has 0.2 MP per liter.

The Agusan River, another waterway alongside Butuan City, also has so many plastics coming from other parts of Mindanao, Bacosa said.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) also has ongoing research on microplastic levels in different bodies of water around the country.

The DENR’s Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau said there are “no global or local thresholds [yet] on microplastics.”

At any rate, “we don’t have to wait for it (the concentration of microplastics) to reach 100 [MPs per liter] in 10 years or after 20 years,” Bacosa said.

‘Nanoplastics’

He noted further that MPs could be broken down into smaller compounds called “nanoplastics,” which could penetrate the lungs, liver, and blood.

“If the fish ingests a small amount of MP, it won’t affect the fish. But later on, when the amount increases to as much as 100 MPs in 20 to 30 years, it could affect the fish,” he said.

While the guts are usually removed from milkfish bought in the markets, “we don’t know what percent of the microplastics are nanoplastics that could have entered the meat or the edible part of the bangus,” he added.

Bacosa said microplastics in fish could also be carriers of bacteria, viruses, and harmful chemicals. The team also analyzed the polymer type of MPs and found the most dominant to be ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), which Similitan said is mostly used in paint and thinner.

Apart from EVA, other polymers detected were low-density polyethylene (9 percent), the material used for packaging foils; polyethylene terephthalate or PET (8 percent), which comes from PET-made bottles and other containers used for carbonated drinks; the polyvinyl chloride (7 percent) used in pipes; and polyamide (7 percent) used for clothing and fishing gear.

“From that we have an idea: MP is not formed overnight,” Bacosa said. “These MPs could come from 10 or 20 years ago. The MP could be from PET bottles disposed [of] 10 to 20 years ago because it takes time [for these plastics to disintegrate].”

Bacosa said there is no immediate solution to this problem, but certain laws like the Extended Producers Responsibility Act of 2022 (Republic Act No. 11898) can make companies liable for their plastic production.

The law requires, in particular, large enterprises with total assets of more than P1 billion to establish a system to recover, treat, and recycle or dispose of their plastic packaging after the consumption of their products.

“Plastic pollution is not just an issue of the scientists, but we have to work with the national and local governments, businesses that are responsible for the manufacture of plastics, international organizations, and regional alliances,” Bacosa said.

Similitan said local governments like Butuan City could also regulate plastic usage in its tourist spots and implement policies like banning single-use plastics.

Ultimately, proper waste disposal should be observed in households.

Read more: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1842557/mindanao-study-finds-microplastics-in-bangus#ixzz8FW8wwfB0

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Old Pangasinan comes alive at Casa Real

 

“Banaan,” the new provincialmuseum at the historic Casa Real in the provincial capital Lingayen pangasinan

By: Yolanda Sotelo - Correspondent / @yzsoteloINQPhilippine Daily Inquirer / 05:02 AM September 17, 2023

LINGAYEN, PANGASINAN — Like most residents here, 75-year-old Paco Santos’ life seems to be intertwined with Casa Real (Royal House), the province’s first seat of power.

He was born, and lived all his life, just about 100 meters from the historic house, which brought back memories of his childhood when it reopened as a museum on Sept. 8.

“My friends and I used to hide behind its colossal posts when we played hide and seek,” Santos tells the Inquirer in an interview. “When we were older, we played basketball in its backyard, where there was a basketball court.”

Santos recalls that day in 2006 when he and two others took students to Casa Real, then already abandoned. Two years later, Typhoon “Cosme” (international name: Halong) would blow off the building’s heavy roof.

“I wanted them to learn about the value of the building in their midst and the need to preserve it,” he shares.

Santos was so attached to the building that he decided to make it the subject of his master’s thesis, or about the need to have it reconstructed and renovated.

And when the Casa Real was transformed into a provincial museum, now named “Banaan” (meeting place), Santos’ art pieces were displayed, some of them for sale.

“Unknowingly, even the name Banaan seemed to be of significance to us because it was the place where my friends used to meet and play basketball,” he says, amused.

Lingayen Mayor Leopoldo Bataoil, a former Pangasinan lawmaker who initiated the reconstruction of the heavily damaged Casa Real, says he “wholeheartedly” supports the establishment of the museum, “which was the original plan when we were working for the building’s restoration to its former glory.”

“It is very appropriate as a place for people to meet to appreciate the history, heritage and culture of Pangasinan,” Bataoil says.

Casa Real has been a mute witness to the province’s rich history, heritage and culture.

Featuring Spanish architectural design, the building played different roles in its almost 200-year existence in the heart of Lingayen, the provincial capital of Pangasinan.

It was used as the provincial capitol, as an elementary school, as “Juzgado” (Court of First Instance), as the sanctuary of Spaniards fighting Katipuneros, and as the “Gobiyerno” (seat of power of the provincial civil government) office of the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II.

The structure survived bombings and earthquakes, but not the howling winds and rains of Cosme in 2008. Later, at least 40 families squatted in the building and its yard while unscrupulous people carted away important components, like the balusters, wood trusses and doors.

But Casa Real is not just about to be relegated to history’s dustbin. Instead, it again stands proud and has metamorphosed into a museum that continues to tell the province’s history.

“This is not just a building. This is the story of us,” Pangasinan Gov. Ramon Guico III tells the crowd during the inauguration of the first provincial museum that features historical, anthropological, cultural, industries, contemporary arts and religious artifacts, among others.

The story is told through 11 galleries that taps technology to bring to life the past and the present.

The galleries feature ancient to modern periods, starting from when the legendary warrior Princess Urduja was said to rule over the province in 1300, to when Chinese pirates established a domain somewhere in Lingayen in 1500, to when the Spanish reigned in the province, and up to contemporary times.

“This is a proud moment for us,” Guico remarks as he stresses the importance of the museum, adding that “if we do not look back and institutionalize our past, we may be lost as people of Pangasinan.”

Vice Gov. Mark Lambino says the museum is a realization of a plan that he and Guico discussed when they were campaigning last year.

“We talked about what is in Pangasinan that we can be proud of. Now, we are showcasing some, if not all, of the cultural heritage of the province,” Lambino says.

For Emmanuel Franco Calairo, chair of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, there’s much more to see and enjoy at the museum, noting that it preserves the memory of the past.

Calairo underscores the role of present generations in establishing museums “because histories will be lost because of several hazards like industrialization that invades agricultural and historic sites and technology.”

A tour of Banaan starts through a massive wooden door that leads to the lobby, which features Pangasinan’s two major landscapes: salt farms in the west and a green rice field framed at the back with bolo bamboos in the central part.

The ground floor has three galleries, one of which has walls adorned by Pangasinan maps showing the congressional districts, a video on how coastal residents turn seawater into salt, and central Pangasinan folk creating furniture and useful articles for the house and the farm, from bamboo.

On the ground floor, the “Kaluyágan Art Exhibit” showcases local artists’ paintings and other works that are for sale.

The staircase leading to the second floor is just one of the few original parts of Casa Real that survived looting. It is, after all, made of weighty “piedra China” or granite stones used as ballasts for Chinese ships and galleons.

All the original balusters, however, were gone, and the replacements are replicas.

“These are the stairs that American Judge William Taft used when he visited the Casa Real,” the tour guide notes.

Taft and his commissioners visited Lingayen on Feb. 16, 1901, and were given a grand reception at Casa Real. Historians said the Taft Commission organized Pangasinan as a civil province.

re themed galleries occupy the second floor. One gallery is titled “Water by the Hands of Ama Gaolay” and features natural heritage, ecotourism and flora and fauna.

“The Descendants of Apolaqui ‘’ gallery displays artifacts from prehistory, archaeology, myths, and legends.

Replicas of the locomotive (train) and Pantranco (the first provincial bus that traveled from Dagupan City to Manila) are displayed. Also featured are the ox-pulled carts called cattle caravans that used to bring native products to Metro Manila and other provinces.

Pangasinenses who carved a name in politics and the arts are given their place of honor at the museum.

These include Geronima Pecson, the country’s first female senator; Maria Magsanoc, a novelist/writer and leader of the Women Suffragists of the Ilocos region; and former President Fidel V. Ramos.

Also given a place of honor are National Artists F. Sionil Jose (literary), Victorio Edades (visual arts), Salvador Bernal (theater design), and Fernando Poe Jr. (film).

Restoration work that started in 2015 through the efforts of Bataoil, the provincial government, and the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, had tried to be as faithful to Casa Real’s original design as possible.

By 2019, Casa Real was ready to be reintroduced to the public but its inauguration had to be delayed as the COVID-19 pandemic struck.

Read more: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1832495/old-pangasinan-comes-alive-at-casa-real#ixzz8DigH7aov

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Class cancellations: Balancing safety and learning

By: Eleanor Pinugu - @inquirerdotnet

Philippine Daily Inquirer / 04:25 AM September 04, 2023

Growing up in the pre-social media era, rainy mornings meant tuning in to A.M. radio to check if classes were canceled. The announcer typically mentioned affected cities in alphabetical order, and as soon as I heard “Parañaque,” I would immediately crawl back under the covers. On days when no such declaration was made, I would slip into autopilot mode and prepare for school while half-asleep.

However, there were times when the verdict on class cancellation came much later, and my classmates and I would already be in school. The joy of an unexpected day off was always tempered by the logistical nightmare of getting home. Our school bus service would eventually show up, but since its limited fleet was designed to pick up students at different dismissal times, not all of us could be immediately accommodated. Whenever I missed the first batch, my stranded busmates and I would sit down on the pavement, with little to do except eat microwavable pizza from the sole open food stand and wait for the second shift. Before we knew it, we had spent almost the entire day in school just waiting to go home.

Lost time was one thing, but the inconvenience I endured pales in comparison to the experience of students and teachers who rely on public transportation. Aside from braving heavy rain, they stand in long queues for a bus or jeepney and sit through hours of traffic to get to school, only for classes to eventually be canceled. They need to brace themselves for an even more challenging journey back home, with the possibility of getting stranded in flooded or vehicle-scarce areas.

To enhance the efficiency of class cancellation announcements, the Department of Education released updated guidelines in September 2022. According to Department Order No. 37, in-person and online classes from kindergarten to Grade 12 and work are automatically suspended if the school is in an area under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal Nos. 1 to 5. The same is followed in cases where there is a flood warning, as well as when there are orange (intense) and red (torrential) rainfall warnings.

Nonetheless, delays in announcing class suspensions still occur when there are no official storm warnings from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) but there are strong winds, torrential rains, or flooding in specific areas. In these cases, suspension of classes is left to the local government unit’s discretion. Since public school classes start as early as 6 a.m., announcements made after 4:30 a.m. mean that many students are already en route, with some having already reached school. This not only compromises their safety, but also wastes their time, money, and resources.

Some disagree with early class cancellations, with concerns about unnecessary disruptions to the learning process, especially given the significant pandemic-related learning loss. I would argue, however, that announcing class cancellations a day in advance whenever possible could afford teachers ample time to plan and assign asynchronous activities, ensuring the momentum of learning continues at home. This would be a far more beneficial use of the students’ time, than the frustration and physical exhaustion they endure when stuck in the commute to school.

Department Order No. 37 acknowledges the need for adjustments in learning delivery in the event of class cancellations and encourages schools to implement modular distance learning, performance tasks, and make-up classes to ensure that learning competencies are still met. As climate change continues to make weather disturbances more common, schools should be more proactive in planning for quality remote learning activities that could be implemented during typhoon season. These measures could be as straightforward as preparing worksheets to reinforce mastery of previously tackled concepts or projects that students could undertake at home to introduce them to new topics scheduled for classroom discussion. The lockdown has provided us educators enough practice to guide our students in learning beyond the confines of the classroom. Perhaps it is time to apply that same creative resourcefulness to this context.

As always, flexibility and empathy must be paramount. Given that many students still grapple with challenges such as inconsistent internet access, unreliable devices, and a lack of quiet study spaces, the objective should not be to replicate everything they would have accomplished in a typical classroom day. Saturday makeup classes can serve that purpose. Instead, the focus should be activities that spark a child’s curiosity, deepen understanding, and build self-sufficiency. By nurturing independent learners and encouraging proactive educators, we are also cultivating a more resilient education system that could evolve with changes and overcome disruptions brought about by an uncertain future.

Read more: https://opinion.inquirer.net/166046/class-cancellations-balancing-safety-and-learning#ixzz8CIr0xsx1

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PH rejects ‘2023 version’ of China map: ‘No basis’

10-DASH LINE MAP The tenth dash of China’s 10-dash line map Beijing released on Aug. 28indicates Beijing’s claimto Taiwan, and continues to demarcate its sweeping claims to nearly the entire South China Sea. The Philippines, Malaysia and India reject the map.

By: Jacob Lazaro - @inquirerdotnet

Philippine Daily Inquirer / 05:30 AM September 01, 2023

The Philippines on Thursday refused to recognize China’s latest map, which showed a new 10-dash line that still encompassed parts of the country’s 370-kilometer exclusive economic zone (EEZ), and pressed Beijing to abide by an international arbitral ruling on its maritime claims.

Malaysia, its Southeast Asian neighbor, and India, with whom China had engaged in violent clashes over boundary disputes, also strongly opposed the inclusion of parts of their own territories in the new Chinese map.

“The Philippines rejects the 2023 version of China’s Standard Map issued by the Ministry of Natural Resources of the People’s Republic of China on Aug. 28, 2023, because of its inclusion of the nine-dashed line (now a 10-dashed line) that supposedly shows China’s boundaries in the South China Sea,” the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Thursday.

“This latest attempt to legitimize China’s purported sovereignty and jurisdiction over Philippine features and maritime zones has no basis under international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the 

The 2016 arbitral award invalidated China’s previous nine-dash-line demarcation of its claim to nearly the entire South China Sea, the DFA said.

Quoting the arbitral tribunal’s ruling, the DFA said that the previous nine-dash lines were “contrary” to Unclos “and without lawful effect to the extent that they exceed the geographic and substantive limits of China’s maritime entitlements under the Convention.” The award is supported by the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, India, South Korea, France, Germany, Austria, Australia, the Netherlands and the European Union.

In its latest map, China placed the 10th dash line east of Taiwan to indicate ownership and sovereignty over the independently governed island.

The Philippines called on China to “act responsibly and abide by its obligations under Unclos and the final and binding 2016 arbitral award,” the DFA said.

China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the release of the map was a “routine practice” in exercising its “sovereignty in accordance with the law.”

“We hope relevant sides can stay objective and calm, and refrain from overinterpreting the issue,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on Monday.

Malaysia, which also claims parts of the South China Sea, “does not recognize” the new map.

It called the map an example of “China’s unilateral maritime claims” in the strategic waterway as it included Kuala Lumpur’s maritime claims off Sabah Island and Sarawak state as depicted by its “Peta Baru Malaysia 1979” map.

‘No binding effect’

“The (Chinese) map has no binding effect on Malaysia,” its government said on Wednesday.

Aside from the 10-dash line, another controversial inclusion in Beijing’s new map was India’s Arunachal Pradesh state and parts of Jammu and Kashmir region.

India’s Foreign Ministry said it had lodged a “strong protest” with China.

“We reject these claims as they have no basis. Such steps by the Chinese side only complicate the resolution of the boundary question,” it said on Tuesday.

Former Sen. Orlando Mercado said the new map was an example of the Asian superpower’s expansionist intentions.

“Adding one more line to their expanding claims of dominion, only shows there is no limit to their imagination,” Mercado told the Inquirer on Wednesday.

He was the defense secretary when the BRP Sierra Madre was intentionally grounded at Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal in 1999 to serve as one of the country’s military outposts in that part of the West Philippine Sea.

‘Absurd, ridiculous’

The release of the Chinese map follows the harassment and the use of a water cannon against one of two Filipino vessels bringing supplies to the men on the Sierra Madre last month.

The Chinese action then was strongly protested by the Philippines and roundly denounced by its allies.

National Security Adviser Eduardo Año condemned China’s move and reiterated the Philippines’ maritime entitlement as laid down in the arbitral award.

“We do not even recognize the nine-dashed line, [how] much more the 10-dashed line,” he said at a press conference on Thursday.

“Our Armed Forces, our uniformed services, our government will do everything in its capacity to ensure that we are protecting our national interest,” Año said.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros said Beijing also published a 10-dash line map on June 7, 2013, which the DFA strongly protested against in a confidential note verbale.

“A decade has passed and China still seems not to have come to its senses,” she said.

The senator urged Filipinos to resist China’s “absurd” maritime claims using “this ridiculous map” and warned that Beijing would continue to spread fake news and fund sympathetic mouthpieces.

“We must push back. We must not rest until China stops her absurdity,” Hontiveros said.

She also suggested that the Philippines publish an updated map of its own that clearly shows the country’s EEZ, continental shelves and territorial waters in the West Philippine Sea.

Concrete message

Bayan Muna chair Neri Colmenares agreed and called on President Marcos to publish a Philippine map based, among others, on the arbitral award.

“It is a concrete and strong message of the Philippines standing by its territories,” he said.

China’s latest map will only “galvanize more support” for the Philippines and the 2016 arbitral award, according to Senate President Miguel Zubiri.

“There’s a saying ‘misery loves company.’ More countries in the world now become miserable with China’s latest claims,” he said.

—WITH REPORTS FROM JEROME ANING AND MELVIN GASCON

Read more: https://globalnation.inquirer.net/218591/ph-rejects-2023-version-of-china-map-no-basis#ixzz8C2GLu4MO

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Goring worst to hit Iloilo City since 2008

ENSURING SAFETY Policemen and emergency responders, in this photo taken on Tuesday, help evacuate residents of Barangay Sooc in Arevalo district as floods hit a large part of Iloilo City.—PHOTO COURTESY OF ILOILO CITY CDRRMO-URBAN SEARCH AND RESCUE

By: Carla Gomez, Joey Marzan - @inquirerdotnetInquirer Visayas / 05:04 AM August 31, 2023

ILOILO CITY, Iloilo, Philippines — Floodwaters about a meter high greeted residents here at the beginning of the week due to heavy rains accompanying Typhoon Goring (international name: Saola).

According to the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), 90 of 180 barangays in the city remained flooded as of Wednesday. These include 24 in Jaro district, 16 in Mandurriao district, 13 in City Proper, 10 each in La Paz and Molo districts, and five in Lapuz.

The highest flood levels reached 38 inches, or almost a meter, which were logged in the Barangay Cuartero on Monday and Camalig village on Tuesday.

The city logged a total rainfall volume of 356 millimeters from Aug. 1 to Aug. 30, with 256 mm attributed to Goring.

A total of 6,072 families (23,260 people) from 58 barangays were reported to have been affected as of 8 a.m. on Wednesday, with 16,751 people from 47 villages forced to evacuate.

In a statement, Mayor Jerry Treñas described Goring as the “most severe” to hit the city since Typhoon Frank (Fengshen) in June 2008.

“More than 12,000 [people] were at the evacuation centers as of 12 noon [on Aug. 29]. I thank the [City Social Welfare and Development Office] for making sure everyone had enough food. I also thank all Ilonggos who contributed food … for the evacuees,” he said.

Treñas on Wednesday asked representatives from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the government weather bureau, the academic community, and experts in other fields to sit down with local governments in Iloilo province to discuss the recent flooding.

“For the first time in Iloilo City, areas which were not previously flooded experienced intense flooding. We should study the situation seriously so that we can prevent similar occurrences in the future. Projects of the DPWH in the future should be able to prevent the same to preclude damage to property and worst, loss of lives,” the mayor said.

“On our part, we need to intensify our efforts for tree planting, conversion to renewable energy, bigger drainage systems, more pumping stations, more cisterns, more rainwater harvesting facilities, and other measures,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Fire Protection stationed in the southern Iloilo town of San Joaquin advised against the use of the Antique-Iloilo Mountain Road connecting to Hamtic town in Antique after a typhoon-related landslide was reported in the area on Aug. 28.

Situation in Negros

A Philippine Information Agency advisory asked travelers to use instead the Antique-Iloilo Coastal Road connecting San Joaquin to Anini-y, Antique.

In Negros Occidental, the provincial government said typhoon-related losses in agriculture, fisheries and livestock in the province and Bacolod City reached at least P115 million.

Reports from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said 25,709 families (82,594 people) were affected by flooding in 10 towns and six cities in Negros Occidental as of 5 p.m. Tuesday.

Among the areas hit by heavy rain and floods were the cities of Bago, Himamaylan, Silay, San Carlos, Valladolid, La Carlota, Binalbagan and Talisay; and the towns of Pulupandan, San Enrique, Pontevedra, Murcia, Hinigaran, Isabela, La Castellana and EB Magalona.

Classes in 26 Negros Occidental localities and work in government offices in 14 towns and cities were suspended on Tuesday.

Joe Recalex Alingasa Jr., disaster risk reduction and management officer of San Carlos City, advised motorists using Eco Translink Highway to be on alert as their initial assessment and monitoring of the upper portion of this road showed there were signs of an active landslide or rockslide caused by high saturation of water along its steep slopes.

Two landslides were also reported in Don Salvador Benedicto town.

In Bacolod City, at least 31 villages were hit by floods, affecting 2,644 families (8,642 people). Reports said at least 6,781 residents were staying in evacuation centers.

Read more: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1824314/goring-worst-to-hit-iloilo-city-since-2008#ixzz8Bvh1u8mB

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Chito, Billy, Stell and Julie Anne bridge generation gap through music

The four music artists sit in ‘The Voice Generations’ iconic spinning chairs

From left: Host Dingdong Dantes and coaches Chito, Julie Anne, Billy and Stell

By: Allan Policarpio - Reporter

If the press conference for the new reality singing competition “The Voice of Generations” was any indication, then viewers can expect lighthearted banter, quick quips and a lot of teasing among the coaches, Chito Miranda, Stell Ajero, Billy Crawford and Julie Anne San Jose.

As the title suggests, the show aims to showcase different generations of musical talent—not only through the contestants, but also through its resident mentors. Chito and Billy, of course, represent the 1990s and 2000s; Stell and Julie Anne the 2010s and the present.

The older—or rather, more experienced—music artists showered their younger counterparts with praises.

“Both Billy and I were surprised because, sometimes, we ask for advice from Stell and Jules. ‘OK ba ang ginawa nila?’ We would ask them. I’m amazed by their grasp of music. I know they’re talented performers, but I’m also in awe of their ability to dissect music and its technical aspects,” the Parokya ni Edgar frontman said.

And the young guns made sure to return the favor—but not without jokingly highlighting the generation gap between them.

“To be honest, I was really nervous. Because who am I to be part of this roster of seasoned artists? But once I got to know them, I thought, ‘Wow, I’m very lucky.’ The nerves went away… The support is there,” began Stell, who’s a member of the acclaimed P-pop group SB19.

“If they think they get wisdom from us, it’s also because of them … because they were the ones our parents grew up with,” Stell added, drawing laughter from the crowd, as well as Chito and Billy themselves.

‘The Voice PH’ spinoff

It was all good fun, though. If anything, such an exchange only showed that all four coaches have been getting along well, so much so that they have no qualms roasting and poking fun at one another in front of people. And this kind of dynamic will be crucial, as they and their respective teams battle it out for the top prize.

“The Voice Generations,” which airs Sundays beginning today, is a spinoff of the popular talent search “The Voice PH.” In this iteration, the competition will be among singing duos or groups whose members must be of different generations.

Hosted by Dingdong Dantes, the show kicks off with the Blind Auditions. Once the coaches’ respective teams are complete, the contest proceeds to the knockouts and sing-offs.

How does it feel to be part of a contest that showcases different generations of talents?

Billy: It’s a blessing to be part of something that involves different generations… But there’s one common ground: music. And that’s the beauty of it all. The older generation of artists can learn something from the younger generation and vice versa. It’s a give-and-take relationship.

Chito: I just wanted to be in a band; I didn’t want to do anything else. I didn’t see myself being part of a mainstream show. But about 10 years ago, I was invited to mentor budding artists in a weeklong songwriting camp. That opened me up to experiences I found enjoyable. I found myself teaching and learning at the same time.

That’s when I became more open to being part of shows like this… I also get annoyed when I see myself on television, because I’m talkative and annoying! But my wife (Neri Naig) convinced me, because we have to buy a house!

But seriously, I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t enjoy it. I thank her for urging me to do this. I was able to get out of my comfort zone and meet new people. If you stay in your comfort zone, that’s the farthest you will ever get. So you have to step out and see a new world. It’s refreshing.

What do you think of your fellow coaches?

Chito: We already knew from the start that Julie is an honor student. She can sing without rehearsal. She comes to work with everything memorized. Grabe ‘tong babaeng ‘to. It’s like Billy and I are in row 4!

Stell was a revelation. We know he’s talented because we have seen him perform. But he’s also good at interacting with people… Kulang na lang siya mag-host. Buhat niya ang show.

Billy: I was really impressed with this kid… Here, you will see the real Stell—not as SB19, but as himself. You will see how generous he is as an artist. It’s a pleasure being with young artists like him and Julie… We have different genres, sounds and career plans, but we jibe because we admire each other.

Stell: I’m thankful and happy. I don’t know what to say. I draw strength from my fellow coaches. They’re my source of energy.

Julie: They’re (Chito and Billy) two of the most influential artists here in the country. We look up to them when it comes to songwriting … all the technical things. What we know now we learned from them.

Your past stints in talent shows have been related to hosting. What’s it like to be a coach?

Julie: It’s such an honor. Nakakapanibago and it’s very humbling. It was unexpected because I only saw myself as a host. But now, they got me as one of the coaches.

I’m a product of contests myself, so I know the feeling—what the contestants go through, the screenings, the auditions … all the ups and downs. It’s exciting. I also want to impart what I know from what I have experienced when I was a contestant myself.

You have always wanted to pay it forward.

Julie Anne San Jose

Julie: It was my dream to become a teacher. My mom is one and I wanted to emulate her. If I weren’t an artist, I would have probably ended up teaching. But still, I wanted to teach, in any way. Then, I was given this opportunity to coach talents. So maybe this is an instrument for me to inspire and motivate people to reach for their dreams.

Who among you often fight over contestants?

Chito: Stell clashes with all the coaches … because all the contestants choose him! So it’s me against Stell; Stell and Julie; or Stell and Billy. So ang target namin talaga ay si Stell.

Stell: I have felt that from the start. Bakit lahat sila against sa ‘kin? Joke lang! I’m just waiting to duke it out with Sir Dong!

I’m not really sure what their reasons are. But what I think is that if we share the same goals, then we will have a smooth working relationship.

As an artist, I know the feeling of being with a person I know I’m going to be comfortable working with. If I’m looking for heartfelt singing and a talent said he can give that, then we can help each other.

What was your reaction when you learned you were going to be a coach?

Stell: To be honest, when this project was offered to me, it didn’t sink in right away. I was like, “Ah, OK.” And then they told me that this is the “The Voice”—you know, the one with the chairs that turn. I was like, “Weh? Is it for an audition” But they told me, ‘No, you’re going to be a coach.’” Tulala ako for two days. I couldn’t practice anything because of that.

What about your bandmates?

Stell Ajero

Stell: My bandmates told me, “Kunin mo na! ‘Di na namin alam sasabihin sa ‘yo kung hindi mo kinuha ‘yan.” I choose my projects carefully. People have been noticing that other SB19 members have been releasing solo songs or doing solo projects, but I haven’t done a lot.

But I would rather wait for the right project for me, something that I feel will showcase who I am. That’s why I’m happy I was chosen by “The Voice.” The people around me thought that I’m right for the project.

Tell us about the fans, the A’Tins, and how much support you have been getting from them.

Stell: The A’tins are one of the reasons I accepted the project. If there’s no one who believes me, then I wouldn’t be able to trust myself. I’m thankful that even if our group is still relatively new, we’re already getting a lot of love and support. I’m thankful to my new home, GMA 7. I promised myself that I will do my best and show everyone that I deserve my place here. I’m happy to be a Kapuso.

What advice would you like to impart to your teams?

Stell: I believe that once artists become too comfortable with their strengths, they will just stay there. They will be scared to try new things because they know there’s a possibility of failing. So what I will say to my team is that they shouldn’t be afraid to make mistakes because that’s part of being an artist and human. It’s normal to make mistakes. You learn from them.

With the right guidance and coaching, the talent will get nurtured. And that’s what we’re willing to do for our teams. I want them to show who they really are. If they’re enjoying themselves, it will show … people will see that.

Billy: Be professional. You have to show up on time. Learning never stops, so you have to study your craft. Do your best and hone your skills.

You should also never forget where you came from. Stay humble. Humility, love and passion can go a long way, whatever career path you choose. All of us here were once dreamers. And we continue to dream.

Read more: https://entertainment.inquirer.net/515795/chito-billy-stell-and-julie-anne-bridge-generation-gap-through-music#ixzz8BXq9Drf3

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