PH now has over 118K dengue cases—DOH

THE Aedes Aegypti mosquito that transmits dengue.

by Analou de Vera, Manila Bulletin

The Philippines continue to see a rise in dengue cases as it already recorded more than 118,000 cases since the start of this year.

A total of 118,526 dengue cases across the country were already logged from Jan. 1 to Aug. 6, as shown in the latest data of the Department of Health (DOH).

This figure is 153 percent higher compared to the 46,761 dengue cases reported during the same period last year.

Most of the dengue cases were recorded in Central Luzon with 21,242, Central Visayas with 11,363, and Metro Manila with 10,937.

Deaths related to dengue also stood at 399. This is higher compared to the 167 fatalities recorded during the same period last year.

Most of the deaths were logged in Central Visayas with 68, Western Visayas with 51, and Central Luzon with 41.

The DOH continuously reminded the public to practice the 4s strategy against dengue.

These 4S strategy consists of: search and destroy mosquito breeding places, secure self-protection, seek early consultation, and support fogging/ spraying only in hotspot areas where increase in cases is registered for two consecutive weeks to prevent impending outbreak, the DOH said.

New subspecies of Begonia seen in Zamboanga

Begonia bangsamoro subp. Bagasa. PHOTO BY MARK ARCEBAL K. NAIVE/PHYS.ORG

By Al Jacinto, Manila Times

ZAMBOANGA CITY: Researchers from the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have reported a new subspecies of Begonia in Mount Timolan Protected Landscape in Zamboanga del Sur province.

Begonia is a genus of perennial flowering plants in the family Begoniaceae.

The genus contains more than 2,000 different plant species. The Begonias are native to moist subtropical and tropical climates. Some species are commonly grown indoors as ornamental houseplants in cooler climates. In cooler climates some species are cultivated outside in summertime for their bright colorful flowers, which have sepals but no petals.

In ongoing taxonomic studies of the genus Begonia, the researchers and their collaborators collected a population of peculiar Begonia section Petermannia species, according to a report by Phys.org.

The report, attributed to Zhang Nannan of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said after meticulously examining its morphology and comparing it with protologues and available digitized type specimens from across the Philippines and neighboring countries, the researchers confirmed it as a subspecies of Begonia bangsamoro that is new to science.

The new subspecies was named as Begonia bangsamoro subp. Bagasa and published in Phytotaxa. It is the 17th representative of the genus Begonia for Zamboanga Peninsula.

The new subspecies is a terrestrial, monoecious, perennial herb, up to 30 cm long. It differs from Begonia bangsamoro subspecies bangsamoro in having staminate and pistillate flowers with much narrower and elongate tepals.

The new subspecies is endemic to the Zamboanga Peninsula. It was found in deeply shaded lower montane forest with damp soil growing along the trail with an elevation of 700–900 m a.s.l. It was also found growing as a terrestrial, lithophyte and as a climber on tree ferns.

The conservation status of the new subspecies is proposed as "least concern" following the International Union for Conservation of Nature Standards.

The Mount Timolan Protected Landscape is a protected area covering Mount Timolan and its surrounding forested landscape. The park encompasses an area of 1,994.79 hectares (4,929.2 acres) and a buffer zone of 695.39 hectares (1,718.3 acres) in the municipalities of San Miguel, Guipos and Tigbao.

It was established on Aug. 14, 2000 through Proclamation Order 354 issued by then President Joseph Estrada. The park was also earlier established by the provincial government of Zamboanga del Sur as a provincial park and wildlife sanctuary known as the Zamboanga del Sur Provincial Park through Provincial Ordinance 3 in 1992.

The presence of various microhabitats is reflected in the diversity of flora and fauna found there. However, limited information is available and biodiversity studies are scarce up until now.

Obiena wins gold medal in Germany

By Niel Victor C. Masoy

FILIPINO Olympian Ernest John "EJ" Obiena cleared 5.81 meters to win the men's pole vault gold medal at the Internationales Stabhochsprung-Meeting in Germany on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila).

Obiena outperformed 10 other competitors, including Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Chris Nilsen of the United States, to jumpstart a seven-event stretch on a winning note.

Nilsen bagged the silver after clearing the 5.71-meter bar. Kurtis Marschall of Australia also jumped 5.71 meters but settled for the bronze after the count back.

With his golden performance, Obiena also reached the qualifying standard for the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

Obiena resets PH record, wins bronze at World Athletics

"Great start for the second part of the season," the 26-year-old Obiena wrote on his Facebook page.

"We got the standard for next year's World Champs in Hungary."

Other pole vaulters who participated in the tournament included Germany's Bo Kanda, Lita Baehre and Oleg Zernikel, Norway's Sondre Guttormsen, and USA's Tray Oates.

Obiena has two more events scheduled for the week as he competes in the Lausanne Diamond League in Switzerland on August 25 and the True Athletics Classics in Germany on August 28.

He made history last month by capturing the bronze medal at the 2022 World Athletics Championships.

Obiena, the world's number three pole vaulter, was recently reinstated to the Philippine team after a run-in with the previous leadership of the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association.

Vigilant and fruitful

By Fr. Roy Cimagala *

BECAUSE we can easily be confused and entangled in the drama of our life, we should see to it that we are always vigilant and fruitful, so that we avoid losing our proper focus and the sense of purpose of our whole life.

The focus should always be God and how to relate everything to him, glorifying him. This should always be in our mind, whatever the circumstance and situation we may find ourselves in at a given moment.

For this, we have to make use of some effective plan of life, with the proper attitude and spirit. and relevant and functioning practices of piety. Given the complexity of our life today, with all the rapid and sophisticated developments emerging, we should be ready to face the challenge.

We need to be always vigilant, in good times and in bad times, and most especially in ordinary times which we still would not know whether it is good or bad. We should never let our guard down. From time to time, let’s pause to see if we are still keeping our proper bearings and outlook.

This is simply because we have enemies to contend with all the time. First of all, it is our own selves, our own weakened flesh that will always lure us to do things against God’s will and against what is truly good for us.

Then we have the world with all its sinful attractions and temptations. And, of course, the devil himself. Never discount him. He’s always around, prowling like a lion looking for someone to devour. (cfr 1 Pt 5,8)

In what may seem to be good times, when things are more or less ok, let us thank God and do our best to make use of all the blessings and good opportunities made available for us. 

But let’s not forget that the good things can also cause dangers for us if we are not careful. We should know where those dangers lie in the good things that we may enjoy at the moment. In that way, we avoid falling into complacency that will practically spoil us, and take away the goodness of the blessings we are enjoying.

Everyday, we should be keenly aware that we need to be fruitful and productive also. That’s simply because even from the beginning of our creation in Adam and Eve, this has always been God’s will for us.

“Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it,” (Gen 1,28) God told our first parents, clearly outlining his mandate to them. It’s a mandate that continues to be repeated up to now. Christ himself said as much.

We have to realize that God has already given us everything that we need, not only to survive but also to improve our lot that ultimately translates into realizing the fullness of our dignity as image and likeness of God, as children of his.

In this regard, we truly should be most enterprising, coming up with daily plans and strategies such that at the end of the day, when we make our examination of conscience, we can show God that we have gained something, and that the daily balance sheet of our spiritual life is in the black, not in the red.

We have to realize that the capitalization of this enterprise cannot be any better. God has given us everything—life, talents, intelligence, freedom, all kinds of capacities, his graces, etc.

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

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

Flood submerges hundreds of houses in Zamboanga City

A SITIO in Barangay Curuan, Zamboanga City is submerged in floodwater spawned by heavy rains due to localized thunderstorms Tuesday, Aug. 23. (Zamboanga City LGU photo)

by Liza Abubakar-Jocson, Manila Bulletin

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Hundreds of houses were submerged in floodwater in Barangay Curuan here due to heavy rains spawned by localized thunderstorms Tuesday, Aug. 23.

Barangay Curuan Chairman Joselito Falcasantos identified the affected sitios in his barangay as Mina, Presa, Viga, Inner Presa, Riverside, Poblacion, Urban Poor, Purok 9, and Camias.

A report from the Zamboanga City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO) said they are still monitoring affected areas due to the unstable weather condition.

The heavy downpour started at 3 p.m. and caused the river to overflow, resulting in flooding in different areas.

Residents refused to evacuate for fear of looting.

The barangay described the situation as manageable but two sitios, Camias and Tarusan, were placed under close watch.

The CDRRMO, Zamboanga City Police Station 2, and barangay disaster office are on the ground and monitoring the situation.

Palace announces list of holidays for 2023

Malacañang released on Tuesday, Aug. 23, the list of regular holidays and special non-working days next year, 2023.

by Betheena Unite, Manila Bulletin

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. signed Proclamation No. 42 on Monday, Aug. 22, declaring the following dates as regular holidays and special non-working days for 2023.

Regular Holidays

New Year’s Day – January 1 (Sunday)

Araw ng Kagitingan – April 9 (Sunday)

Maundy Thursday – April 6

Good Friday – April 7

Labor Day – May 1 (Monday)

Independence Day – June 12 (Monday)

National Heroes Day – August 28 (Last Monday of August)

Bonifacio Day – November 30 (Thursday)

Christmas Day – December 25 (Monday)

Rizal Day – December 30 (Saturday)

Special Non-Working Days

EDSA People Power Anniversary – February 25 (Saturday)

Black Saturday – April 8

Ninoy Aquino Day – August 21 (Monday)

All Saints’ Day – November 1 (Wednesday)

Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary – December 8 (Friday)

Last Day of the Year – December 31 (Sunday)

Additional Special (Non-working) Day – November 2 (Thursday)

The document noted that separate proclamations will be issued by the Palace in declaring as national holidays the observance of Eidul Fitr and Eidul Adha “after the approximate dates of the Islamic holidays have been determined in accordance with the Islamic calendar.”

The proclamation also emphasized the commemoration of the 37th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution, “which ushered political, social, and economic reforms in the country,” on Feb. 25 next year.

It likewise stated that Aug. 21 of every year was declared as a national non-working holiday to commemorate the death anniversary of former Senator Benigno S. Aquino Jr.

The document also said that Black Saturday, which falls on April 8, 2023, has been traditionally declared as a special non-working day in the country, in observance of Holy Week as “one of the most cherished traditions of our predominantly Catholic people.”

It also noted that the Feast of Immaculate Conception of Mary, which falls on Dec. 8, 2023, must be celebrated yearly.

The proclamation also stressed that declaring Nov. 2, 2023 as an additional special (non-working) day throughout the country “will strengthen family ties by providing more time for the traditional All Saints’ Day, All Souls’ Day activities, as well as promote domestic tourism.”

'Florita' disrupts work, suspends classes

By Catherine S. Valente

, Arlie O. Calalo

, Francis Earl Cueto

, Bella Cariaso

, Franco Jose C. Baroña

 and Moises Cruz, Manila Times

DANGER ZONE This photo provided by the Philippine Information Agency in Tuguegarao City shows the Buntun Bridge nearing alert level. At 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2022, the water level had reached 4.9 meters, the Tuguegarao City Command Center said.By Catherine S. Valente, , Arlie O. Calalo, , Francis Earl Cueto, , Bella Cariaso , Franco Jose C. Baroña,  and Moises Cruz

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. suspended government work and public school classes in all levels in Metro Manila (National Capital Region or NCR) and several other provinces beginning Tuesday afternoon until Wednesday, August 24, due to Severe Tropical Storm "Florita."

WET DAY Parents wait for their children to come out of the President Corazon Elementary School in Quezon City on Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2022. President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. suspended classes because of  Tropical Storm ‘Florita.’ PHOTO BY MIKE DE JUAN

Upon recommendation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), the President declared the suspension of government work and classes in the NCR, including the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Bulacan, Zambales and Bataan starting at 1 p.m., according to Press Secretary Rose Beatrix "Trixie" Cruz-Angeles.

"The President has declared a suspension of work and classes in all levels today until tomorrow, for all government offices and public schools in the NCR, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Bulacan, Zambales and Bataan, due to severe tropical storm Florita," Cruz-Angeles said in a statement.

Marcos suspends govt work, classes in public schools due to 'Florita'

By Catherine S. Valente

(UPDATE) PRESIDENT Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has suspended government work and public school classes in all levels in Metro Manila and several other provinces beginning Tuesday afternoon until Wednesday, August 24, due to Severe Tropical Storm Florita.

Upon the recommendation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), Press Secretary Rose Beatrix "Trixie" Cruz-Angeles said the President declared the suspension of government work and classes in the National Capital Region (NCR), including the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Bulacan, Zambales and Bataan starting 1:00 p.m.

"The President has declared a suspension of work and classes in all levels today until tomorrow, for all government offices and public schools in NCR, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Bulacan, Zambales and Bataan, due to Severe Tropical Storm Florita," Cruz-Angeles said in a statement.

"The heavy rains pose possible risks to the general public based on the recommendations of the Office of Civil Defense," she added.

However, government agencies involved in the delivery of basic and health services, preparedness or response to disaster and calamities, and/or the performance of other vital services will continue their operations.

"The recommended suspension will prevent any untoward incidents and will ensure the safety of the general public," the NDRRMC said.

Meanwhile, Cruz-Angeles said suspension of work for private companies and offices is left to the discretion of their respective heads.

"The same course of action for private schools and offices is left to the discretion of their respective heads," she said.

Travelers to PH reminded to register online for One Health Pass

By Kristina Maralit

THE Office of the Press Secretary on Tuesday reminded all inbound passengers to first register for the One Health Pass online before embarking on their trip as this is one of the requirements needed for their entry into the country.

Press Secretary Rose Beatrix "Trixie" Cruz-Angeles likewise cautioned the public against accessing websites posing as legitimate government offices to ensure their hassle-free arrival.

"The only official website of the Bureau of Quarantine's One Health Pass for all international travelers arriving in the Philippines is https:// www.onehealthpass.com.ph," the official said in a statement.

"OHP is required for all arriving international travelers in accordance with the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases Resolution No. 135 to prevent and/or minimize the entry of suspected or confirmed individuals with emerging infectious diseases," she added.

The DOH has detected the fourth case of monkeypox in the country.

The patient, however, has no documented history of travel to where there is an outbreak of the disease.

'Bootleg Beatles' Davao, Cebu shows canceled

Concert Republic, who is bringing The Bootleg Beatles concerts to the Philippines announced today that its shows in Davao and Cebu are canceled. This, despite the best efforts of Concert Republic and The Bootleg Beatles for all scheduled shows to happen.

"Regrettably we have to cancel our forthcoming concerts in Davao and Cebu due to unforeseen production logistics," Concert Republic said in a statement.

"However, our Manila show at Philippine International Convention Center on Sunday, October 30, will proceed as advertised," the concert producer assured.

The Bootleg Beatles was supposed to be staged in SMX Davao City on October 27 and in Waterfront Hotel & Casino, Cebu City on October 29.