Christmas break to start on Dec. 19; classes to resume on Jan. 4 — DepED

by Merlina Hernando-Malipot

The Christmas vacation in public schools nationwide will start next week, the Department of Education (DepED) on Friday, Dec. 16, announced.

DepEd / MB Visual Content Group

Citing DepED Order No. 34 s. of 2022 or the “School Calendar and Activities for School Year 2022-2023,” the department announced that the Christmas break in public schools will start on Dec. 19, 2022, until Jan. 3, 2023. 

Likewise, classes are scheduled to resume on Jan. 4, 2023.

The SY 2022-2023 officially started in public schools on Aug. 22. The current SY has 203 school days and will end on July 7, 2023.

For this SY, DepED said that remedial classes for public schools are also scheduled to start on July 17 and will end on Aug. 26, 2023.

3-day Mount Apo Sky and Vertical Race in Davao del Sur set

by Antonio Colina IV 

IMAGE from DOT-Davao region FB

DAVAO CITY – The municipality of Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur will host the Mount Apo Sky and Vertical Race from Dec. 16 to 18 where around 300 runners from 20 countries are expected to scale the country’s highest peak.

Municipal tourism officer Julius Paner said that this would be the first international race in the municipality since the pandemic started in 2020.

He said the three-day Mount Apo Sky and Vertical Race is co-organized by the Asia Trail Master, an international trail running organization, which tapped the municipality to host the culmination and championship final of the international Asia Trail Master race.

“They gave the manifestation to hold it in the Philippines for the first time. They have been doing it throughout but not yet here in the Philippines,” Paner said. 

He said racers will compete in three categories: 75 kilometers, 100 kilometers, and 50 kilometers.

Romualdo Cabales, race director of Mount Apo Sky and Vertical Race, said champions would be hailed as the fastest in Asia.

He said winners of the 100-km category will represent the country in an international race in April.

Paner said hosting an international race is a good mechanism to regain travelers’ confidence, most especially that the municipality is positioning itself as an eco-adventure destination.

“It’s a good signal that Davao region is tourist-ready in terms of international arrivals. We are trying to position Davao del Sur to be an eco-adventure destination. For the longest time, that’s how we brand our locality because that’s the strength of Davao del Sur. Mount Apo is the highest peak and there are attractions within the foothills,” he said.

Department of Tourism (DOT)-Davao director Tanya Rabat-Tan said that the region is excited to hold the event because it would give them the opportunity to showcase the region to international delegates, particularly Mount Apo as an “icon of Davao.”  “It’s an opportunity for us to make them feel that we are ready. We want to promote Davao as a safe destination for our tourists,” she said.

Marcos asks EU: ‘Who will pay for damage caused by climate change?

by Raymund Antonio, MB

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. raised a question to the European Union (EU) amid discussions on the loss and damage compensation because of climate change: “Who do we go to? Who pays the bulk of it?”

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during the ASEAN-EU Commemorative Summit in Brussels, Belgium (Photo from the Office of the Press Secretary)

During a press conference at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-European Union (ASEAN-EU) summit in Brussels, Belgium, the Chief Executive mused about who would shoulder the loss and damage fund in relation to climate financing. 

Despite EU being at the “forefront” of the proposal to compensate developing countries for the damages caused by climate change, the President noted the difficulties of determining the actual amount of compensation needed, as well as process to acquire this compensation.

“And however, the issue of damage and loss is still — although it is a big step forward that we all now accept both developing and developed countries, now accept the concept of damage and loss, the actual number is very, very hard to determine,” he told journalists. 

“And beyond that, even if we are able to quantify the damage and loss, it says $100 million whatever the number is, what do we do with that number? Who do we go to? Who do we — who pays the bulk of it?,” Marcos asked.

He also raised issues on “how will the compensation for that damage and loss be made.”

“And on my part, I think until we are able to determine that, I think we should think of what we can do in the future, and that I think has great potential to be put into effect in the short term, rather than in the very long term,” the President said. 

The concept of climate financing and loss and damage fund was launched in November 2022 during the 27th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 27) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) climate summit in Egypt when the EU agreed to help poor countries mitigate the impacts of climate change.

Loss and damage refers to the ravages of extreme weather on the physical and social infrastructure of poor countries, and the finance needed for rescue and reconstruction after climate-related disasters.

Rich countries such as the United States and China both objected to the fund. The two countries are also the top emitters of carbon dioxide.

Marcos, however, noted the “willingness for the developed countries to participate and to help in mitigation, to help in adaptation for those countries like the Philippines, most of the countries around ASEAN that are very vulnerable.”

“There’s a willingness to help but how to provide that help is still a question that we cannot definitively answer,” he said, adding that “a lot of work” needs to be done since this is an “important issue” for the Philippines and many other countries.

Marcos’ remarks came after he asked EU to extend assistance to the Philippines in mitigating the harsh effects of climate change.

“Climate action is particularly important to the Philippines,” the President said, especially since the country is “regarded as probably one of the most, if not the most, vulnerable countries in the world to the effects of climate change.”

“Since that seems to be the case and that is what we are facing in the Philippines, we are very much in need of the assistance of Europe, of all the first world countries and to be able to adjust our economy, our communities to the onset of the effects of climate change,” he added.

Kimberly Baluzo and Peniel talk Wish Date concert and Davao adventures

by Manila Bulletin Entertainment

More than a transformative, musical storytelling experience, friendship is a central theme at the Wish Date concert last Dec. 4 at the SMX Convention Center in Davao City. The short film “A Friend of Mine,” centered around friendship and missed chances, debuted exclusively during the concert. A medley of OPM artists and bands, both from Davao and Manila, performed their renditions and original songs that fit the theme and storyline live. But even off-stage and off-camera, the concert series by Wish 107.5 and KDR Music House bonded new friends together, like artists Kimberly Baluzo and Peniel.

“Naging madali because of Pen,” Kimberly said about the rehearsal and preparation process. Both artists have been a part of the Wish Date series since its first two shows, and they both agree that it’s a good opportunity for them both to stretch themselves and get out of their comfort zones, vocally and genre-wise. “Thankful ako kasi dun ko din mas nakikilala ‘yung sarili ko as an artist.”

But the most recent show was a bigger deal for them, especially for Peniel. “Excited ako kasi ‘yung out-of-town concert is in my town. Pero sa point of view ng mga artists na hindi taga-Davao, the staff, and sila Direk, I can imagine that it’s a very big step,” the Davaoeña said. “It was also the first time I stepped on a big stage in my own city. I made sure to give it my best shot and to try new things.”

Peniel shared that it was also her first time to have a hand with her setlist. “I know the kind of songs that the people from this city really love and would have a visceral reaction to,” she said. “Also, because technically, this was my debut in this city as an artist, I wanted to choose songs that really represented me as an artist, which are lyric-heavy songs that have more space to work with.”

“I wanted to challenge myself in a way na gusto ko ma-pull off ‘yung same vision and emotion of the original artist who sang it, but my version,” Peniel said about her performances. Kimberly, on the other hand, talked about her experience in theatre, “Naging helpful sa’kin ‘yung theatre na mas mapalinaw ‘yung delivery while performing, na mas mabigyan ng emphasis ‘yung emotions nung song.”

“Every Wish Date concert naman, laging may pasabog. ‘Yung story pa lang ka-abang-abang na. Hindi lang kaming artists ‘yung nagbuhos ng efforts, kundi madami: the directors, staff, and ‘yung mga gumanap sa story,” Kimberly said.

“It’s always different at each Wish Date concert,” Peniel agreed. The memorable event was marked by her performance of her original song, Moon’s Offer. Catch the livestream of the concert on KDR Music House’s YouTube account. (Contributed by Kynesha Robles)

Remittances up 3.1% end-Oct

by Lee C. Chipongian

Overseas Filipinos sent home $26.74 billion of cash remittances in the first 10 months of the year, up by 3.1 percent from same period last year of $25.93 billion, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas on Thursday, Dec. 15.

Cash remittances are funds transferred via the formal banking system and it is data easily captured by the BSP. The other remittances data is personal remittances which the central bank defines as the sum of the net compensation of overseas Filipinos, as well as personal transfers and capital transfers between households. 

For the month of October, cash remittances totalled $2.91 billion, which was 3.5 percent higher than same period last year of $2.81 billion.

“The expansion in cash remittances in October 2022 was due to the growth in receipts from land-based and sea-based workers,” said the BSP.

Land-based workers’ remittances rose by 3.6 percent year-on-year to $2.33 billion compared to $2.25 billion same time in 2022. Sea-based workers’ fund transfers amounted to $580 million from $560 million or up by 3.6 percent. 

Bulk of remittances came from the US with 41.7 percent of the total. Singapore accounted for seven percent, Saudi Arabia with 5.9 percent and Japan with five percent of the total.

The US will naturally be reported as a big source of remittances because of the common practice of remittance centers using correspondent banks located in the US. “Remittances coursed through money couriers cannot be disaggregated by actual country source and are lodged under the country where the main offices are located, which, in many cases, is in the US,” said the BSP.

As of end-October, the BSP said personal remittances increased by 3.1 percent to $29.72 billion from $28.82 billion last year.

For the month of October alone, personal remittances went up by 3.5 percent to $3.23 billion from $3.12 billion same month in 2021.

Land-based workers with work contracts of one year or more remitted $2.53 billion, up by 3.5 percent from $2.44 billion last year. Sea- and land-based workers with work contracts of less than one year, meantime, transferred $640 million which was higher by 3.6 percent from $620 million last year.

By end-2022, the BSP expects cash remittances to grow by four percent year-on-year, unchanged from previous years’ projections, including pre-pandemic. 

In 2021, cash remittances went up by 5.1 percent year-on-year to a record high of $31.42 billion.

What are the worst ways to offend a Filipino person?

 

Philippine Deep Dive

 · 

Following

Answered by 

Ronna Lou

As a Filipino, here are some things other people do that I find offensive

• Insult our food
• Insult our family members
• Laughing at our accent
• Disrespect our religion
• Assume we are all uneducated
• Bringing up toxic stereotypes

Sometimes, it’s an honest mistake. Other times, there are people who intentionally offend Filipinos just because. And if that doesn't reveal their personalities, I don't know what does.

Related read: What Not to Say to Filipinos

Both God and man

By Fr. Roy Cimagala *

  THERE is that gospel episode where some Jewish leaders started to persecute Christ because Christ, by making an invalid walk, appeared to them as making himself equal to God. (cfr. Jn 5) They just could not accept that.

That was when Christ told them that what he did to that invalid, and later to many others with certain ailments, should prove to them that he was sent by God the Father. “The deeds my Father has given me to perform, these same deeds of mine testify that the Father has sent me,” he said. (Jn 5,36)

We need to understand that Christ is both God and man. In fact, as some theologians have been repeating, he is “perfect God, perfect man.” Obviously, for us to believe this truth of faith, we need faith, since this a supernatural mystery that our sciences and technologies would not fathom.

We need to make that leap of faith, which actually does not suppress our reason and the findings of our human faculties. What it does is to enable us to transcend, with our spiritual powers and the grace of God, our human powers. 

In other words, we should not be trapped in the world of nature alone. We have to enter into the world of the spiritual and the supernatural. We are actually poised for it, but we have to make the decision to take that leap.

Without making that leap, our understanding of who Christ really is has no other way but to be wrong. In fact, some have considered Christ only to be man, not God, though a superior kind of man. Others have regarded Christ only as God, not man, though he appears to be like man.

That Christ is both God and man has been definitively defined by the Church through some councils like those of Ephesus and Chalcedon. It was clarified that Christ was first of all a divine person, the second person of the Blessed Trinity, with two natures, the divine and the human. That would make him both God and man, “perfectus Deus, perfectus homo.” This union of the two natures in Christ is called in theological terms as “hypostatic union.”

This truth of our faith about Christ is crucial in also knowing who we really are. Christ, being the pattern of our humanity, somehow reaffirms the belief that we too are meant to be like God, sharers of God’s life and nature.

For us to be like Christ, and in fact, to assume the very identity of Christ, we have to learn how to die to ourselves so that Christ can live in us. Thus, Christ said, “Whoever loses his life for my sake, he is the one who will save it.” (Lk 9,24) And, “Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a seed; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life will lose it, but whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” (Jn 12,24-25)

We should give full force to our pursuit to assume the identity of Christ to such an extent that we can say with St. Paul, “It is no longer I that live, but Christ lives in me.” (Gal 2,20) Given our proclivity to simply be by ourselves, Christ has given us the formula of how we can be like him: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” (Mt 16,24)

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

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

Davao City has zero crime in past 2 weeks

By Ruth Palo

December 15, 2022 60

DAVAO CITY: The spokesman of Davao City Police Office (DCPO), Maj. Catherine de la Rey, said the city has recorded zero incidents of crime since December 1.

According to her, this is surprising because crimes against persons and property usually increase during the Christmas season.

De la Rey said the people's heightened vigilance and the city's "culture of security" may have curbed the trend.

"There were a number of petty crimes but not that high to warrant concern because the people are also now aware that at this time they're very vigilant, they're very careful of their possessions," she said.

De la Rey, however, said the police are expecting an increase in drunk driving incidents and petty crimes in the next two weeks.

She said the DCPO has intensified its information campaign against drunk driving in the city amid the office parties and Christmas revelries this month.

"The DCPO is constantly reminding citizens to drink responsibly and refrain from driving under the influence of alcohol," she said.

She is also advising people who intend to drink during parties and events to take a taxi or have someone drive them home.

The city's liquor ban and curfew on minors will remain throughout the yuletide season.

"Our curfew on minors and the liquor ban will not stop, there are still limits. If you want to drink, do it inside your homes," she said.

De la Rey assures the public that police officers and security personnel will continue patrolling public places and establishments even during Christmas and New Year's Eve to ensure the liquor ban and curfew are followed.

Beware of cyber scams, ‘clickbaits’ this holiday season

Published December 15, 2022, 12:02 AM

by Manila Bulletin

The most wonderful time of the year need not be the most horrific, traumatic, and exhausting experience of your life, especially when you get the shock upon discovering that your credit card has already been “maxed out” with purchases that you didn’t do.

It is this time of the year that the Philippine National Police (PNP), led by its Anti-Cybercrime Group, is warning the public to be more cautious against online scams and clickbaits — those used by virtual scammers to lure victims, knocking on their generosity (and vulnerability) in this season of giving. 

“Scammers will take advantage of special days or major events like Christmas to fleece people of their money or personal information,” according to a statement from the PNP. “Be cautious every time you get an email (that) asks you to click on a link. Exercise due diligence especially this holiday season as you are making online purchases. Make it a season of awareness to everything around you. Do not easily trust.” 

The PNP reminds netizens of the various popular holiday season scams that they should look out for. There are “online shopping scams,” where scammers will set up fake online stores or post goods for sale in buy swap-sell groups or online classified sites to trick people into buying items that do not exist.

“Many of these websites offer luxury items such as popular brands of clothing, jewelry, and electronics at very low prices. Sometimes you will receive the item you paid for but they may be fake. At times, you may receive nothing at all. A newer version of online shopping scams involves the use of social media platforms to set up fake online stores,” according to the PNP. 

Tugging at the heart of innocent victims, the PNP warns of a high volume of “fake charities scams” this December. “Fake charities are among the most popular holiday scams, soliciting from consumers over the phone, email, and through direct mail. Scammers will pose as either agents of legitimate well-known charities or create their own charity name. Scammers set up fake websites, which look similar to those operated by real charities.” Some scammers may call or email you and request for donations or even ask for your credit card details.

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Awareness is just half of the battle. The PNP further advises the public to exercise due diligence — going directly to the official website of a hotel or airline; researching about the charity before sending a donation; withholding of personal info, credit card details, or online passwords to strangers; avoiding clicking on dubious links that promise easy money or fast return of investments, etc. 

Just 10 days before Christmas, scammers are working double, even triple time to siphon your hard-earned 13th month pay and bonuses. They are even working 24 hours as effective Dec. 27, 2022, users are required to register their SIM cards within 180 days from the effectivity of the law, with an extended registration period of not longer than 120 days.

Being extra generous this season may be acceptable, but not to online scammers, fraudsters, and hackers who are on Santa’s “naughty” list. May they be gifted with the full punishment of the law and celebrate future holidays behind bars.

Boracay in danger of collapsing as 815 sinkholes discovered

by Tara Yap, MB 

THE Sun sets at world-famous Boracay Island on Nov. 24. (Tara Yap)

ILOILO CITY – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Mines and Geosciences Bureau (DENR-MGB) has warned that world-famous Boracay Island could collapse after 815 sinkholes were discovered.

“There is danger if there is overcapacity. Only time will tell when structures will collapse,” warned Engr. Mae Magarzo, chief geologist of MGB in Western Visayas region.

Magarzo told the Manila Bulletin in a phone interview on Wednesday, Dec. 14, that the number of sinkholes at the country’s most popular beach destination in Malay town, Aklan province gradually increased in the past four years.

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The MGB-6 found 789 sinkholes in three barangays during a hazard assessment in 2018, the year when the Duterte administration implemented massive rehabilitation and banned tourists in Boracay for six months.

By 2019, the number of sinkholes rose to 801. By 2022, these increased to 815.

Magarzo said that Boracay is susceptible to sinkholes since the ground is made mostly of limestone. 

She added that sinkholes are very hard to predict as these suddenly happen and there are no prior indicators.

The MGB-6 Coastal Geohazard Map also found key areas in the resort-island that are susceptible to erosion.

“The main beach is already showing low erosion,” Magarzo said.

Magarzo is calling for the stronger implementation of Boracay’s carrying capacity.

In 2018, the government set a maximum of 19,215 tourists in the resort-island per day with only 6,405 new tourists allowed to enter.

The DENR has yet to release Boracay’s new carrying capacity which was supposed to have been released when the term of President Duterte ended last June 30.