Lea Michele stars in Broadway's 'Funny Girl'

By Associated Press

Lea Michele has been tapped to step in and lead the Broadway revival of the beleaguered ‘Funny Girl.’ AP PHOTO

NEW YORK: Lea Michele has been tapped to step in and lead the Broadway revival of the beleaguered "Funny Girl" this fall, an announcement made just hours after current star Beanie Feldstein revealed she was leaving the musical sooner than anticipated due to the show taking a "different direction."

The high-profile casting change rocked the Broadway community and represents another step toward a return to the spotlight and respectability for Michele after former "Glee" castmates in 2020 accused the actor of behavior that was interpreted as racist and bullying.

Michele, who started her career on Broadway and starred in the original "Spring Awakening" recently returned to the work with the documentary "Spring Awakening: Those You've Known." In many ways, her ascension to playing Ziegfeld Follies comedian Fanny Brice — the role Barbra Streisand famously played on film — was foreshadowed by Michele singing several "Funny Girl" songs during the run of "Glee."

After the show's formal announcement, Michele hailed her next career step, saying "a dream come true is an understatement" on Instagram. She did not mention Feldstein.

Enjoy a double dose with 'Lunch Out Loud' and 'It's Showtime'

By Iza Iglesias, Manila Times

It’s official – Kapamilya Network and TV5 will simultaneously air 'Lunch Out Loud’ and ‘It’s Showtime’ from Monday to Saturday beginning this weekend.

Fans of noontime variety shows no longer need to switch between two out of three existing 12 o'clock sing-dance-and-games programs beginning Saturday, July 16. On Monday, free TV channels A2Z and TV5 and ABS-CBN's cable and online network Kapamilya Channel announced that "Lunch Out Loud" and "It's Showtime" will have back to back airing.

In other words, viewers no longer need to switch channels or platforms during commercial breaks between the respective Brightlights Production and ABS-CBN programs unless they also like check out "Eat Bulaga" on GMA Network in between.

At least for the two shows, ABS-CBN declared in a statement, "The collaboration among ABS-CBN Entertainment, Brightlight Productions, Zoe Broadcasting Network and TV5 [will provide] Filipino viewers with more fun and entertainment and bring an extended and enjoyable midday TV viewing experience."

As such, "Lunch Out Loud" (LOL) will air from 11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., followed by "It's Showtime" from 12:45 p.m. to 3 p.m. every Monday to Saturday, this weekend onwards.

For a look back, "Lunch Out Loud" premiered on October 19, 2020, with then newly-resigned ABS-CBN talents Billy Crawford and Alex Gonzaga. A production of business tycoon and newly elected Bacolod Mayor Albee Benitez, LOL quickly became a prominent blocktimer on Manny Pangilinan's TV5. Today, the show also features pioneering and lately added comedians and social media influencers as hosts. They are Bayani Agbayani, K Brosas, KC Montero, Wacky Kiray, Jeff Tam, Jobert Austria and Laboching.

Building a good fanbase in "Tropang LOL" — the hosts' nickname for their viewers —LOL is best known for fun and games. These include the "HOPE" dating game, "Maritest" showbiz quiz, "Beat The 2" battle of wits, "Pera Usog," and "Sagot Mo, Sagot Ko" that fulfills their wishes.

On the other hand, "It's Showtime" is now in its 13th year and still enjoys the support of its loyal audiences – the "Madlang Pipol" – despite the failed renewal of ABS-CBN's free TV franchise.

Quick to find a home on Zoe TV's A2Z before this development, the Vice Ganda- and Anne Curtis-led program is beloved for such segments as "Tawag ng Tanghalan," "Sexy Babe," "ReINA ng Tahanan," "Miss Q and A" and "MiniMe."

However, the move to go back-to-back hardly came as a surprise to the rest of the industry nor the public at the start of the week since many Kapamilya shows have been airing on TV5's Kapatid Network for a good while now. ABS-CBN's Sunday noontime show "ASAP Natin 'To" and its primetime originals have long been airing as block timers on TV5, led by "FPJ's Ang Probinsyano."

Damage to agriculture reaches P17M

 

By Francis Earl Cueto, Manila Times

THE National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Tuesday said estimated damage to agriculture brought by flash floods and landslides in Benguet reached P16.6 million.

NDRRMC spokesman Mark Timbal said at the Laging Handa Public Briefing that the estimated damage to infrastructure is P860,000.

While there were no fatalities due to the flash flood, six people were injured, and 1,054 families were evacuated from 10 affected villages.

As of noon Tuesday, only two families remain at the evacuation centers, with the rest returning home to clean their houses. A total of 1,048 houses were damaged.

Meanwhile, a total of P2.4 million worth of assistance was given to the evacuees.

"The clearing operations are being rushed to allow the residents to return home," he said.

The Philippine National Police reported that a woman died after her house was buried by a landslide due to the incessant rain on Sunday in Abucay, Bataan.

Abucay Police chief Maj. Dennis Duran identified the victim as Roselyn de la Cruz, 27, caretaker of a resort in Abucay.

He said that rescuers found her body under the mud along with a car.

Earlier, the Agriculture department estimated the damage due to the monsoon rains in Ifugao, Benguet at P14.6 million.

The figures came from the devastated rice crops and high-value crops, including vegetables.

Europe swelters as heatwave spreads

A woman fills a bottle of water during a heatwave in Seville on July 12, 2022

IMAGE SOURCE,GETTY IMAGES

Soaring temperatures have gripped parts of Europe, which has barely recovered from its last heatwave.

Droughts and forest fires have hit Spain and Portugal and the scorching heat has spread to France and the UK.

Temperatures are set to peak on Thursday in France and Spain and authorities have cancelled traditional fireworks displays on France's national day to reduce the risk of fires.

Heatwaves have become more frequent, more intense, and longer-lasting because of climate change. The world has already warmed by about 1.1C since the industrial era began.

This is the picture as seen by our BBC colleagues sweltering on the continent.

Extreme heat in northern Spain

By Guy Hedgecoe, Madrid

The heat sweeping across Spain is unusual in that it is affecting almost the whole of the country.

High temperatures are often registered in the summer months, particularly in southern and central areas of the country.

That is certainly the case during this heatwave, with Andalusia, Castilla La Mancha and Extremadura all seeing temperatures in the low 40s Celsius so far this week. However, northern Spain, which usually avoids extreme temperatures, is also being hit, with the north-western region of Galicia on red alert - the highest category - as it braces itself for temperatures of up to 42C in the Miño valley.

Temperatures are expected to keep rising in many areas over the next two days. The north-eastern city of Zaragoza is forecast to see temperatures of up to 42C, while Badajoz, in the south-west, could register up to 47C on Thursday.

Air quality is poor in many areas across the north because of the heat. That adds to existing health concerns caused by the hot weather, which mean that the streets of towns and villages tend to be much quieter in the afternoon.

With the heatwave expected to continue into the weekend, it could break records in terms of length if it goes on into next week.

Soaring temperatures across Portugal

By Alison Roberts, Lisbon

An unprecedented 80% of mainland Portugal is at "exceptional" risk of fires, according to national meteorological institute IPMA.

The government has put the whole of the mainland under a "state of contingency" until Friday - one notch above "state of alert" and the second-highest of three levels.

That triggers local, regional and national responses, putting police and other forces at the ready, and releasing funds to hire more firefighters.

On Tuesday there were 849 firefighters in action at the scene of 30 fires, only three of which were deemed not under control. That is down from well over 2,000 the day before.

Several major fires burning over the weekend have now been extinguished or brought under control, though not before consuming thousands of hectares of forest.

But conditions are expected to gradually worsen between now and Thursday, as temperatures soar and winds are seen picking up at night in some areas. The IPMA forecasts maximum temperatures as high as 47C in the coming days.

While there may be some thunderstorms, meteorologists warn that any rain may evaporate before reaching the ground.

Tourism is already being affected, even in areas as yet untouched by fires.

In the popular tourist destination of Sintra, near Lisbon, the national palaces, castle and other attractions are closed by government order.

There are also fears that a big music festival scheduled to take place from Thursday to Saturday near the beach at Meco, in Sesimbra, south of Lisbon, and a motorbike rally in the Algarve which is one of Europe's largest will have to be cancelled.

Heatwave hits Bastille Day

By Georgia Goble, Paris

Temperatures in France are set to reach 39C in some areas of the south-west in a heatwave that will last between eight and 10 days, according to Météo France.

While rising temperatures are not predicted to break records as in other European countries, there are concerns about the possible consequences.

With 23 departments placed under a yellow warning, and with orange alerts potentially coming into place from Wednesday, Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne has urged ministers to take action to minimise health risks, especially for vulnerable groups.

A health plan has also been rolled out by the government in all areas on alert. Meanwhile, Thursday's 14 July Bastille Day will be somewhat less colourful, with fire risks leading to the cancellation of firework displays in some areas of the country.

ALCOHOLISM: A FAMILY SCOURGE

 

"Who was woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? Those who linger long on the wine, those who go in search of mixed wines? Do not look at the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it swirls around smoothly; at the last it bites like a serpent, and stings like a viper. Your eyes will see strange things, and your heart will utter perverse words. Yes, you will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea, or like one, who lies on top of  the mast, saying: 'They have struck me, but I wasn't hurt; they have beaten me, but I didn't feel it. When I shall awake, that I may seek another drink!'" (Proverbs 23:29-35).

When I recopied this part from my bible I got the idea to write about this topic. The writer of these proverbs expressed very well the effect of alcohol.

Why is alcoholism such a scourge to society? When compared to many other common diseases such as heart disease, alcoholism has a much more devastating social effect — not just on that person, but also their family, who painfully watch for years, helplessly, as their loved one slides into decline. Yes, many diseases are terrible and affect others; smoking can cause secondhand smoke diseases to family members. But alcoholism is a sad disease, and it’s those bad memories that really haunt families of alcoholics — memories of being afraid as we weave across wintry roads as dad drives home tipsy; memories of mom crying as dad refuses to hand over the car keys; memories of watching his belly get bigger and his memory weakening as his liver starts to fail.

Alcohol is, as we all know, a depressant. It slows down the function of all the body's parts. Vital functions can be slowed down to the point of death. Under its influence people choke to death at family picnics, drown at the beach, fall asleep while driving a car, hurt and even kill other people.

The devil's alcohol creates a feeling of freedom without worries and euphoria. Our feelings are really free flowing, everyday worries are replaced with a carefree spirit. Wow, I really feel on top of the world today... .

I joined the circle of many other fellows around, more or less regular social drinking, and/or habitual drinking with meals (beer or wine!). When I stayed in France, I couldn't believe that for many Frenchmen a breakfast consists of bread (baguette), cheese, coffee - and red wine! Anyway, social drinking also means occasional drinks to relieve stress or boredom.

Once we reach the addictive stage we are already in danger. Gulping drinks and secret drinking daily to relieve stress makes one lose control, and being unable to stop drinking creates drinking habits, Danger is with us, if we lose control over when, where and how much we drink. The memory blackouts don't let us remember any more, where we had been or how we got home. We lose our self-respect and the performance of our work is seriously affected. Loss of interest in everything (except in drinking) means loss of jobs, conflicts with the law, mental deterioration, and even death. The sad consequences should let us tremble with fear.

A few people who decide to stop drinking find it easy. Having made the decision, they simply never drink again. And honestly, every time I enjoy a drink in really acceptable measurements I am trying to ask myself, if I could stop drinking right now. And I am pretty sure, the answer is YES. That's how I quit smoking almost 35 years ago... .

Oil firms announce big-time price cut

A motorist gets a fuel refill at a gasoline station in Delpan, Manila on June 13, 2022. PHOTO BY JOHN RYAN BALDEMOR

By Eireene Jairee GomezManila Times

Cleanfuel, Petro Gazz, Pilipinas Shell and Seaoil will lower the cost of gasoline by P5.70 per liter and diesel by P6.10 per liter effective 6 a.m. tomorrow.

The price of kerosene will go down by P6.30 per liter.

ew super contagious Omicron mutant spreads

By Associated Press

THE quickly changing coronavirus has spawned yet another super contagious Omicron mutant that's worrying scientists as it gains ground in India and pops up in numerous other countries, including the United States.

Scientists say the variant — called BA.2.75 — may be able to spread rapidly and get around immunity from vaccines and previous infection. It's unclear whether it could cause more serious disease than other Omicron variants, including the globally prominent BA.5.

"It's still really early on for us to draw too many conclusions," said Matthew Binnicker, director of clinical virology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. "But it does look like, especially in India, the rates of transmission are showing kind of that exponential increase." Whether it will outcompete BA.5, he said, is yet to be determined.

Still, the fact that it has already been detected in many parts of the world even with lower levels of viral surveillance "is an early indication it is spreading," said Shishi Luo, head of infectious diseases for Helix, a company that supplies viral sequencing information to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The latest mutant has been spotted in several distant states in India, and appears to be spreading faster than other variants there, said Lipi Thukral, a scientist at the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology in New Delhi. It's also been detected in about 10 other countries, including Australia, Germany, the United Kingdom and Canada. Two cases were recently identified on the West Coast of the US, and Helix identified a third US case last week.

Fueling experts' concerns are a large number of mutations separating this new variant from Omicron predecessors. Some of those mutations are in areas that relate to the spike protein and could allow the virus to bind onto cells more efficiently, Binnicker said.

Another concern is that the genetic tweaks may make it easier for the virus to skirt past antibodies — protective proteins made by the body in response to a vaccine or infection from an earlier variant.

But experts say vaccines and boosters are still the best defense against severe Covid-19. In the fall, it's likely the US will see updated formulations of the vaccine being developed that target more recent Omicron strains.

"Some may say, 'Well, vaccination and boosting hasn't prevented people from getting infected.' And, yes, that is true," he said. "But what we have seen is that the rates of people ending up in the hospital and dying have significantly decreased. As more people have been vaccinated, boosted or naturally infected, we are starting to see the background levels of immunity worldwide creep up."

PH logs first Omicron sub-variant case

It may take several weeks to get a sense of whether the latest Omicron mutant may affect the trajectory of the pandemic. Meanwhile, Dr. Gagandeep Kang, who studies viruses at India's Christian Medical College in Vellore, said the growing concern over the variant underlines the need for more sustained efforts to track and trace viruses that combine genetic efforts with real world information about who is getting sick and how badly. "It is important that surveillance isn't a start-stop strategy," she said.

Luo said BA.2.75 is another reminder that the coronavirus is continually evolving — and spreading.

"We would like to return to pre-pandemic life, but we still need to be careful," she said. "We need to accept that we're now living with a higher level of risk than we used to."

PHO-Davao de Oro to launch feeding programs in LGUs

 

Davao de Oro Province---In celebration of the Nutrition Month with the theme ““New normal na nutrisyon, sama-samang gawan ng solusyon,” the Provincial Government of Davao de Oro headed through the Provincial Health Office (PHO) will continue to strengthen its programs to counter malnutrition incidence in the province.

Recently, the Adopt-A-Child Program, an initiative spearheaded by the PHO rehabilitated a total of thirty-three (33) children beneficiaries formerly under the brink of malnutrition in the municipality of Laak. The program successfully addressed barriers that impedes children to access a healthier life, and regulated the effects of malnutrition among the beneficiaries. During its operation, the program offers weekly supplies for every beneficiary funded by the different departments of the provincial government.

According to the PHO, community-based feeding program operations of the provincial government will continue to operate starting-off in the municipality of Pantukan, with the second highest malnutrition incidence following Laak, this second week of July. The community-based feeding program will also cover the rest of the municipalities in the province.

Earlier this morning during the regular flag raising ceremony, PHO encouraged each and every employee of PLGU-DdO to a healthier lifestyle in order to further adapt with the changes brought by the pandemic. A nutrition hut was also established by PHO at the provincial capitol lobby, offering fresh farm-produce from the Nabunturan Vendors initiated by the Provincial Agriculturist’s Office (PAGRO).

Governor Dorothy Montejo Gonzaga visited the hut together with the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Board Members and PG Department Heads of the provincial offices. (Jasteen Abella, Information Office Davao de Oro, photo by J. Cadiz)

Make war to gain peace

 

By Fr. Roy Cimagala *

THAT is not a smart-alecky statement. It has to be taken seriously, since in a sense it comes from Christ himself. Note what he said in the Gospel of St. Matthew:

“Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth. I have come to bring not peace but the sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and one’s enemies will be those of his household.” (10,34-36)

But lest we think such a statement is just a capricious, if not evil desire of Christ, he made some clarification. “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (10,37-39)

It’s clear that Christ wants us to make war against anything that would prevent us from being with him. And it is only with him when we can have our true and lasting joy and peace.

We just have to make sure though that when we wage war as suggested by Christ, we do it not out of hatred against anybody or anything, since God loves everyone and everything that he created. We have to do it with the same love God has for everyone and everything. It’s actually a war of peace and love.

We have to understand that in this life we have to make war to have peace. And peace can only come about, at least in this life, as a consequence of some war. Our life here on earth will always be a war of peace. We should not be surprised by this phenomenon anymore. It should be a given.

The war we will be waging here on earth will be a constructive war, not destructive. It is a war to win our way toward heaven. It is a war to make ourselves “another Christ,” a new man, stepping out of the old man that we all are due to sin. Any obstacle along the way, including those who are very close to us but who compete with God for our love, should be fought and rejected.

We have to remember that we always have to contend with powerful enemies in our spiritual life. The first one would be our own selves, our own flesh that has been weakened by sin. There is such thing as concupiscence, a certain attraction to evil that leads us to have a lust of the eye, lust of the flesh and the pride of life.

Yes, our Christian life here on earth will always involve some war, some struggle and effort, some combat. But all of this would be done in peace and for peace. The combination may sound incredible, but that is what Christ is showing and telling us.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace,” he told his disciples. “In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world.” (Jn 16,33) If by faith and effort, we do our best to stick with Christ, we know that victory is always assured for us. Peace is gained by making war.

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

 Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

No bank sought BSP support since pandemic

by Lee C. Chipongian, Manila Bulletin

Not a single bank applied for financial assistance since the pandemic began in 2020, according to the central bank’s highest-ranking official.

“No bank needed financial assistance,” Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Felipe M. Medalla told Manila Bulletin.

Medalla is referring to all banks — the big banks or the universal and commercial banks, the medium-sized thrift banks, and the small rural banks supervised by the BSP.

He said banks remain adequately well-capitalized with enough liquidity and buffers even as non-performing loans (NPLs) and non-performing assets (NPAs) rose in the last two years. NPLs are unpaid loans for more than 30 days while NPAs are loans in default.

The BSP has remedial measures to help solvent banks resolve temporary liquidity problems from “causes beyond their control” such as the pandemic. It extends fully-secured emergency loans to banks as financial assistance.

Medalla confirmed that no bank has approached the BSP for financial support because of the public health crisis and its resulting mobility restrictions which impacted on borrowers’ capacity to pay loans.

During the lockdowns, especially in 2020 and the middle part of 2021, business operations were stalled and jobs were lost. Banks had limited activities but it was business as usual for majority of financial institutions via digital means.

“Universal and commercial banks have more than adequate capitalization,” said Medalla.

Based on the BSP Charter, the BSP’s financial assistance to banking institutions is limited to the amount needed by the applicant bank to overcome the emergency or financial predicament but should not exceed 50 percent of its deposits and deposit substitutes. In addition, any emergency advance will be collateralized by government securities and other unencumbered first-class collaterals such as real estate.

As for the rural banks, Medalla said the BSP will soon launch the Rural Bank Strengthening Program (RBSP) which is aimed at assisting small banks hit by the pandemic.

The RBSP, which will replace the Consolidation Program for Rural Banks, will be implemented for three years. It is described as a structured program with four key elements: strengthened capital base; holistic menu of five time-bound tracks; incentives and capacity building interventions; and review and enhancements of existing regulations. These five time-bound tracks are merger and consolidation, acquisition/third party investment, voluntary exit/upgrade of license, capital build-up, and supervisory intervention.

Under RBSP, the BSP wants at least P60 million minimum capital requirement for rural banks. For rural banks with more than five branches, the minimum capital should be P200 million.

Meanwhile, the central bank recently circulated a proposed circular for banks’ guidelines for crafting their recovery plans. Basically, the BSP wants all banks to report within 24 hours if triggers in their recovery plans are breached and to activate recovery measures within three days.

The recovery plans of banks are expected to be commensurate to their size, nature and complexity of operations, overall risk profile, and systemic importance.

Once the circular is approved, banks will submit a recovery plan every June 30. Banks have until July 15 to post feedback or suggestions to the BSP on the guidelines of the recovery plans.

Since the pandemic was declared in March 2020, the BSP closed the operations of 21 rural banks while two rural banks voluntarily surrendered their banking licenses.

As of end-May this year, the BSP is supervising 498 banks, of which 45 are big banks which control over 90 percent of total banking resources. There are currently 43 thrift banks, 383 rural banks and 24 cooperative banks.

The banking sector’s NPL ratio has dropped to a 17-month low of 3.75 percent as of end-May while gross NPLs fell to P429.11 billion in May versus P447.44 billion in April. NPAs also decreased to P550 billion from P568.86 billion previously.

As of end-March, the BSP’s loans and advances amounted to P422 billion, lower compared to same period in 2021 of P665.4 billion and slightly up from the start of 2022 of P421.82 billion. These loans and advances include rediscounting loans and overdraft credit lines.

“The BSP extends discounts, loans and advances to banking institutions in order to influence the volume of credit consistent with objective of price stability and maintenance of financial stability. It also grants loans or advances to banking institutions in precarious financial condition or under serious financial pressures, subject to certain conditions,” said the BSP.