First 100 Days: VP Duterte cites return of in-person classes as her biggest achievement

by Raymund Antonio, Manila Bulletin

Vice President and Education chief Sara Duterte considers the resumption of in-person classes in the present school year the biggest accomplishment of her office, citing the benefits of face-to-face classes to students.

Vice President Sara Duterte (Photo from Inday Sara Duterte Facebook page)

She said this as her office prepares the report for her 100 days as vice president and Education secretary.

“Ang pinakamahalaga na masasabi ko na nagawa natin (The most important that I can say we did) as a country is naibalik natin iyong ating (we were able to bring back the) in-person classes sa ating mga eskwelahan (in our schools),” she said during an interview at an event where she and the Qatar Embassy in Manila distributed FIFA bags to daycare children in Mandaluyong City.

The Vice President cited studies that showed the “many benefits” of in-person classes to students.

“Kaya napakahalaga na naibalik natin ang (That’s why it’s very important that we were able to return the) option na iyon sa ating mga eskwelahan na mag-conduct ng (that our schools conduct) 5-days in person classes,” Duterte added.

Filipino students returned to school on Aug. 22 after more than two years of online classes due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Though it is not until November that the government mandates students to return to in-person classes, it was earlier said that schools and teachers should use September and October for the transition.

READ: DepEd chief VP Sara eyes full face-to-face classes by November—Marcos

The Vice President earlier underscored the benefits of face-to-face classes, noting also the measures—vaccines, face masks, and medicines—now available.

God always cares

 

By Fr. Roy Cimagala *

THAT gospel episode about 10 lepers who begged Christ to cure them teaches us the lesson that we should always go to God especially when we find ourselves in difficulties. It also reminds us that we should always be thankful to him because he always cares for us. (cfr. Lk 17,11-19) These two attitudes should be kind of instinctive to us.

We have to learn how to deal with the difficult and the impossible things in our life. Let’s remember that as long as we are here on earth, we have to contend with all sorts of difficulties, trials and temptations. 

And as if these are not enough, we also have to contend with the truth of our faith that tells us that we are meant to pursue a supernatural goal that definitely cannot be achieved simply with our own human powers alone, no matter how excellent they are.

The secret is always to go and to be with God through Christ in the Holy Spirit who can make the impossible possible. In all our affairs and situations in life, we should always go to God to ask for his help and guidance, and to trust his ways and his providence, even our prayers and petitions appear unanswered, if not, contradicted.

This should be the attitude to have. It’s an attitude that can only indicate our unconditional faith and love for God who is always in control of things, and at the same time can also leave us in peace and joy even at the worst of the possibilities.

We just have to remember that Christ never abandons us and is, in fact, all ready and prompt to come to our aid, albeit in ways that we may not realize, at first, just like what happened in that story of the two disciples who were on their way to Emmaus. (cfr. Lk 24,13-25)

We should not allow our feelings of sadness to be so dominant and pervasive that we shut off Christ’s many and often mysterious ways of helping us. If we do not pose a deliberate impediment to Christ’s ways, there is always hope. In our darkest moments, some light will always come piercing and dispelling the darkness away.

At the same time, we should always keep in mind that we need to be thankful to God for whatever gift, blessing and favor he gives. We have to be wary of our tendency to take this duty for granted. As shown in that gospel about the 10 lepers who were cured, only one came to thank Christ who showed concern that the other nine did not bother to thank him. 

We need to do everything to cultivate this abiding mentality of thanksgiving. We have to deliberately do this task, given the desensitizing effect of the flurry of activities and other concerns our modern world is bombarding us with.

Gratitude forms an essential part of our relation with God. It is the adequate response we give upon seeing the continuous attention and care God gives us. It makes us stick to the reality of our life. It keeps us from inventing a world unhinged from its Creator and from others.

When we are thankful, we open our heart to the workings of grace and the innate goodness that comes with our nature, at least that part that is still unaffected by sin. In a way, gratitude is a main language of the heart. It’s a major expression of love.

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

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

Govt urged to create programs for elderly

By Red Mendoza, Manila Ti,es

October 6, 2022

In this file photo thousands of delegates from different cities in Metro Manila participates on DSWD's Filipino elderly week at SM Mall of Asia. File Photo

THE Commission on Population and Development (PopCom) has urged the government to create programs for an increasing aging Filipino population before the end of the decade.

This comes as the country is experiencing an increasing number of aging Filipinos, with the current aging growth rate now hovering at an average of 3.5 percent over the past 10 years, according to the University of the Philippines-Population Institute.

The figures were given by former PopCom executive director Dr. Juan Manuel Perez 3rd, who represented the country in a conference in Bangkok, Thailand during the International Day of Older Persons.

He said in the conference that while older Filipino women outlive their male counterparts, they are the ones who contend with diseases and disabilities.

"More than half (57 percent) struggle with their daily living and have mobility issues. About 56 percent of them are already widowed, while 70 percent of males are either still married or have partners, and are very much physically active," Perez said.

The Philippine Statistics Authority said that senior citizens now comprise 8.5 percent of the total Philippine population, or around 9.2 million individuals.

Executive Director Lolito Tacardon, PopCom officer in charge, urged the institutionalization of comprehensive programs on health for seniors, especially those who are living by themselves.

PopCom projects that by 2030, 11 percent of the total population will be 60 years old and above, and will outnumber children ages 0 to 4 years old.

"Preventive programs to avoid diseases leading to disabilities should be in place. Our local health system should likewise be more decentralized," Tacardon said in a statement.

He added that while the government has implemented programs for long-term care for senior citizens, such as the programs by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, it should be brought down to the community level to address disabilities made by senior citizens.

"For those to be effective, local government units should be more active in widening the scope of our health systems' services, or revisit those already operationalized to elevate their effectiveness," Tacardon said.

He said that the commission will work with legislators, local policymakers and government leaders to create socioeconomic and health policies that are targeted for the elderly as a way of "manifesting their care for Filipinos in all stages of their lives."

Heart Evangelista to appear in ‘Bling Empire’

by Neil Ramos, Manila Bulletin

Confirmed.

Heart Evangelista will appear in Season 3 of Netflix’s “Bling Empire.”

The actress took to Twitter recently to tease fans about it.

She wrote, “Bling on Netflix in about 30ish minutes ?:) see you”

In a separate tweet, Heart thanked “Bling Empire” stars Kane Lim and Kelly Mi Li for the opportunity.

She said, “It was a fun cameo. Thank you Bling Empire for the sweetest party  to Kane and Kelly you are angels  “

Rumors about her appearance in the show started August last year.

Boracay tourist arrivals down in September

by Tara Yap, Manila Bulletin

ILOILO CITY – Tourist arrivals at world-famous Boracay Island in Malay, Aklan are down 34,695 as only 122,373 visited last September.

A COUPLE walks on the beach in Boracay Island. (Tara Yap)

September was the second month in a row in the pandemic period that tourist arrivals plunged.

In July, 183, 076 came. A month later, numbers went down to 157, 338, and figures dropped further in September to 122, 373.

Majority of Boracay’s tourists were still domestic.

However, only 106,776 visited last month, down 26,044 from 132,820 in August.

Foreign and OFW visitors also dropped in September.

Only 12,513 foreigners arrived compared to 19,609 in August, a decrease of 7,096.

Only 3,084 OFWs were in Boracay, down 1,825 a month ago with 4,909.

Boracay tourism stakeholders are hoping that the number of arrivals will pick up again to sustain the socio-economy of the resort island.

Novena Masses for Zamboanga City patron saint under way

by Liza Abubakar-Jocson, Manila Bulletin

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Devotees are flocking to Fort Pilar Shrine for novena masses starting Monday, Oct. 3, in honor of Nuestra Señora La Virgen del Pilar, the patron saint of this city.

DEVOTEES of Zamboanga City patron saint Nuestra Señora La Virgen del Pilar hold a procession during the first day of novena Masses on Monday, Oct. 3. (Nuestra Señora La Virgen del Pilar FB page)

Processions are held daily at 5 a.m. while novena Masses are at 6 a.m., 7:30 a.m., 5 p.m., and 6:30 p.m. until Oct. 11.

Novena Masses will culminate in a mañanita (early morning) Mass at 4:30 a.m. on Oct. 12, the feast day of Zamboanga City’s patroness.

Zamboanga City Mayor John Dalipe has issued an executive order against unauthorized flying of drones in line with religious activities at the Fort Pilar Shrine for the fiesta celebration.

The EO prohibits the unauthorized flying of drones except those from the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the City Administrator’s Office.

Devotees and visitors are prohibited from bringing backpacks, wearing bull caps, fedoras, waistcoats, chalecos, and hooded or non-hooded jackets.

These prohibitions are among security measures proposed and implemented by the security sector in line with the fiesta.

Rainy in Palawan, Eastern Visayas, Mindanao due to ITCZ

 Published October 6, 2022, 9:48 AM

by Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz, Manila Bulletin

(MANILA BULLETIN)

The intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ)—a region where winds coming from the northeast and southeast hemispheres converge that triggers thunderstorms and rain showers—will continue to be the dominant weather system in the country, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Thursday, Oct. 6.

In the next 24 hours, the ITCZ will bring cloudy skies, scattered rain showers, and thunderstorms over Palawan, Eastern Visayas, and Mindanao.

PAGASA advised those in these areas to be vigilant against possible flash floods or landslides during moderate to heavy rains.

The rest of the country, including Metro Manila, will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies in the morning, with chances of rain showers or thunderstorms in the afternoon or evening.

The public is also advised to stay vigilant against possible flash floods or landslides during severe thunderstorms, which are often accompanied by sudden heavy rains, lightning, thunder, gusty winds, and sometimes hail.

No gale warnings were raised on the country’s seaboards on Thursday, as the entire archipelago will have slight to moderate seas.

However, PAGASA still advised seafarers and fisherfolk to remain alert against offshore thunderstorms that could produce gusty winds and strong waves along portions of the coast. 

Alex Eala barges into main draw of US tourney

by Kristel Satumbaga-Villar, Manila Bulletin

Alex Eala advanced to the main draw round of the W80 Rancho Santa Fe International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournament Tuesday, Oct. 4 (Wednesday in Manila) after routing her American foe in California.

Alex Eala books a main draw berth in the W80 Rancho Santa Fee tennis tournament. (File Photo from Alex Eala’s Facebook page)

The 17-year-old Eala blanked Alana Smith, 6-0, 6-0, to set up a first round meeting with another American in the 32-player main draw field.

She is slated to battle wildcard bet Dalayna Hewitt where a victory would arrange her a second-round date with Canada’s Katherine Sebov.

Sebov made her title campaign felt by stunning seventh seed and compatriot Carol Zhao, 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-2.

Eala, who has never met 21-year-old Hewitt in the pro circuit prior to their matchup, holds a better ITF ranking at No. 288 against the American’s No. 401.

Hewitt is searching for her second pro singles title after winning the W15 Monastir crown in Tunisia last year.

Eala, meanwhile, is looking for her third pro title following victories in the W25 Chiang Rai in Thailand last April and in the W15 Manacor in Spain last year. 

Unforgettable lessons

by Dr. Jun Ynares, Manila Bulletin

THE VIEW FROM RIZAL

Dr. Jun Ynares

“What were the most important lessons you learned from your teachers?”

Many years ago, while we were governor of Rizal Province, we were invited to speak at an elementary school graduation ceremony. While waiting for my turn at the podium, one of the graduating students asked us that question: “Governor Jun, what did you learn in elementary school?”

We had no ready answer to that question, but that innocent query got us thinking. When our turn to speak came, we decided to junk the prepared speech and share instead our thoughts on the question posed to us by the graduating elementary student.

Here were three important lessons our teachers taught us and which we shared to the graduating class that evening. The best lessons I learned from my teachers were:

First, “shut up and listen.”

Second, “raise your hand if you know the answer.”

Third, “finished or not finished pass your paper”.

The mention of these lessons elicited laughter from the audience of graduating students, their parents and the teachers present. Why not? No one thought they were lessons. They sounded more like the angry admonitions we got from our teachers. When we hear those words, they bring back memories of the serious face of a stern classroom teacher.

We may have heard those words many times when we were in school. We heard them so often that they became our LSS (last song syndrome). They became embedded in our memory that we cannot forget where we heard them and from whom.
For us, they were lessons.

We told the audience that day that those words from our elementary school teachers were some of the wisest we heard. They were so wise that they helped us become the public servant we are today. Those were some of the best advice that an aspiring leader would ever get and they came from our teachers.
We explained to our audience why and how.

“Shut up and listen” helps one develop an important quality of a leader: empathy. There is a mistaken notion that the leader is one who speaks most often and tells much. What a leader says has meaning only if he or she listens first. People want to feel and know that they have been listened to. It makes them feel important. We learned that people remember those who listened to them more than they would remember those who merely spoke before them.

Listening is a service we do for others. Thanks to our teacher, we learned to shut up and listen to the people we serve.

“Raise your hand when you know the answer” nurtures in a person the spirit of volunteerism, and the courage to stand up and be counted. We learned that the question the world most often asks us is this: “Who is willing to serve?” It takes boldness to raise one’s hand when that question is asked.

Thanks to our teachers, we have been raising our hands for the past two decades or so each time our country calls us to service. Public service exacts a heavy toll. Remembering our teachers’ lessons helps one remember that there should be no regret when the difficult times come. After all, we “raised our hand” when we heard the call.

“Finished or not finished, pass your paper” is a constant reminder to one that the world will not wait for us and that time is a finite, limited, scarce resource. When we embark on a task or mission, we must do our best to finish them and finish them quickly. Deadlines are a permanent feature of life, especially of life in public service. Postponing for tomorrow what we can do and can finish today would be a big mistake.
We have attended many courses, workshops and seminars on governance and administration.

Nothing beats what we learned from our classroom teachers. They are proof that, indeed, teachers prepare today the leaders of tomorrow – the young people who someday will “shut up and listen” to their countrymen, “raise their hand” when called upon to serve” and who will always remember that they will have to “pass their paper, finished or not finished”.
Thank you, teachers.

We join you in the celebration of World Teachers Day today as we salute you for your service to our Nation and to the World.

*For feedback, please email it to antipolocitygov@gmail.com or send it to Block 6 Lot 10 Sta. Barbara 1 cor. Bradley St., Mission Hills Subd., Brgy. San Roque, Antipolo City, Rizal.

Ballet Manila's powerful 'Rise'

 

‘Rise!’ is a double bill that features ‘Ballet & Ballads’ and ‘La Traviata’

Ballet Manila returns to live performance at the newly renovated Aliw Theater with "Rise!" a double bill that features a pop program "Ballet & Ballads" and a retelling of the opera "La Traviata" in ballet as choreographed by Lisa Macuja Elizalde.

While the moving performance of Ballet Manila is the centerpiece of the show, Rise! also features the highly respected Maestro Gerard Salonga as musical director and conductor; one of the country's best female vocalists, Bituin Escalate; and award winning opera singer Jade Riccio.

Supporting these prominent artists is a powerhouse creative team, led by prima ballerina Lisa Macuja-Elizalde as overall artistic director, theater artist Michael Williams as the stage director, playwright Luna Inocian as the scriptwriter and Gerardo Francisco Jr. and Martin Lawrance as choreographers. There is also a 12 person opera ensemble and a 60-piece bespoke orchestra handpicked by Salonga himself.

Rise! Will be staged on October 7 at 8 p.m. and on October 9 at 5 p.m. at the Aliw Theater.

Tickets are available exclusively through Ticketworld. Visit www.ticketworld.com.ph or call 8891-9999.