REAL WINNER IN MMFF 2022

By: ReniMV Valenzuela

The character of a nation cannot be far from the kind of movie it produces, watches and rewards with accolades.

On New Year's Day, I watched the movie Family Matters with my family and we liked it very much as we enjoyed every bit of it. There was no dull moment. It has depth. Everyone in the theater seemed to be in perpetual anticipation of what will happen next, and how might the story end. There were a few laughs in between and sometimes tears in the eyes.

I seldom appreciate a movie for its overall quality, but this one, for me, takes the awards if the awards were to be given based on correct criteria. Though, in fairness to the other Metro Manila Film Festival entries, I haven't seen any one of them. But having said that, it's a huge, huge wonder why Family Matters didn't win a single award except for Gatpuno Antonio J. Villegas Cultural Award, whatever that award means. Worse, its actors and actresses didn't even get to be nominated when they performed so well and I thought they had very good chances of winning the best acting and best supporting acting awards as they are all natural before the camera, including the children.

Family Matters can be likened to the 1975 movie, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. It was a light but poetic drama. There were no spectacular scenes and acting in the movie but it was aptly applauded in the Oscars as a runaway winner, having bagged 35 awards, including best picture, best actor and best actress.  The only difference is that Family Matters lost, and lost big, during the MMFF awards night.

It's curious. Could there be manipulation or corruption among the festival's organizers/people?

Family Matters is an excellent drama movie without being excessively dramatic. It has profoundness in its story and script, and in the manner it was directed. The movie is intentional in teaching moral lessons and imbibing good values to its viewers. It is a drama about a fairly big family to which every Filipino family today can relate.

I liked the portions wherein some scenes would have evolved to transform the movie into a heavy drama flick, but each one was prevented from making the heavy drama happen because everyone involved in the squabble/fracas knew how to forgive.

The movie is a rebuke to the children who are uncaring to their elderly parents, to the busy parents who are irresponsible, and to the modern youths who are addicted to gadgets. The plot's heavy drama is left in the imagination of the viewers. Watch well every scene, listen intently to the words of the characters and fathom the message - and thus it is expected that one would leave the movie house a better child, a better father, a better parent, a better husband and wife and a better grandchild.

Actor Noel Trinidad's words rang a bell when he collected the phones and gadgets of every member of his entire family for a three-day special family bonding occasion: "In order to connect, you have to disconnect."

You lost, Family Matters, but cheer up! You won big in much greater aspects/categories, and in Heaven's eyes. You are the real winner.

Congratulations!

renivalenzuelaletters@yahoo.com

MIND YOUR MIND!

As human beings, we’ve all indulged in some form of negative self-talk in the past. In most cases, these types of unhealthy thinking patterns usually stem from mistaken beliefs — core beliefs we learned while growing up and were taught to us by authority figures such as parents and teachers. They refer to our “life outlook” or “attitudes,” and are unfortunately at the root of much of our anxiety.

Feelings can either be helpful or unhelpful. Helpful feelings give direction - like a compass. Unhelpful feelings overwhelm and paralyze. Most unhelpful feelings are fueled by mistaken or irrational beliefs. In other words, mistaken beliefs turn irritation into rage, sadness into depression, and appropriate nervousness into panic.

A mistaken belief accompanies each and every one of us daily. Incorrect decisions and wrong doings are part of our daily life.

It is almost a ridiculous fact that man wants to know certain truths about mundane things. But really he seems least interested in even mundane truths as can be read many times in newspapers for example. There seem to be too many rash judgments, and the readers absorb these and make these their own. A fatal attraction!

This is sometimes referred to as journalistic mentality wherein accusations are generously made without proof. Evolution started this trend, when scientists stated for example that man evolved from the apes, BUT without proof. The only proof they had was the missing link, and if I am not mistaken, it's still a missing proof until now.

To look for proofs is a mental activity, which is no longer a common thing nowadays, because it takes really time, effort and is too serious to think about. Yet, in Christian education, thinking right is very important.That's why Philosophy is important in Christian life. To avoid error in thinking, the rules of right reasoning must be studied and mastered. Is it really totally neglected in today's modern education?

Thinking is actually an enjoyable activity but when one is pressured to get a good job for one's sustenance, then the other more mundane becomes attractive. After all, great thinkers often do not get (good?) jobs... .

Spiritual writers like the British Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834) noticed that mankind had stopped thinking even two centuries ago. That was during his age. Man probably stopped thinking even earlier. He has ceased many times to search for the truth. It's easier to listen to gossip and believe in it. What a sign of weak minds!

Too often are we blind to the truth and as a consequence we easily believe in lies we only have to like it. Too bad, if people always like to close their eyes and ears especially while experiencing the delusion of error. Countering mistaken beliefs may take a lot of time, energy and hard work, but remember that they will increase your level of self-esteem as you learn to respect and believe in yourself. But mostly, they’ll reduce unnecessary pain and suffering.

Bong Go seeks heightened monitoring of border control amid China’s COVID-19 surge

Published January 4, 2023, 9:24 AM

by Hannah Torregoza, MB

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go has called on the government to strengthen its monitoring system in the country’s borders as more travelers coming from China raises concerns of a surge in more COVID-19 cases. 

“Secure our borders. Intensify our monitoring. Review our current protocols especially from incoming travelers from China because it has been reported that COVID-19 cases there are increasing and they are having lockdowns,” Go said in Filipino during an ambush interview in Misamis Oriental on Monday, January 2.

Go, chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, likewise, urged the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) to review and strengthen COVID-19 guidelines in order to prevent the Philippines from being impacted by the surge of COVID-19 cases in China.

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“Reviewing the guidelines should be a daily basis so that not one positive for COVID can get through because it’s difficult to start all over again,” Go said.

“It is very difficult to put to waste what we worked hard for. We have come a long way in our COVID response and we don’t want to go back to what was done before, strictly imposing lockdowns. Many of our countrymen will lose their jobs again,” he added.

As far as he is concerned, the senator said Filipinos should not relax their vigilance as long as COVID-19 is still present. 

“It’s important for us to balance everything. While COVID is still here, it is still dangerous,” he said.

Go reiterated his call for people who are still unvaccinated to get jabbed and those who are eligible for boosters to get themselves boosted, stressing these are essential for combatting COVID-19.

“Vaccination is the only key or solution so that we can gradually return to our normal lives and have herd immunity. When we are vaccinated, we are more protected,” he stressed.

Local tourists spend long New Year weekend in Tanay, Rizal’s famous falls

by Nel Andrade

Tanay, Rizal’s famous water falls, the Daranak Falls, was filled with local tourists during the long New Year weekend.

Tourists, mostly coming from Metro Manila, spent the first and second day of the New Year by dipping into the refreshing water of Daranak Falls, one of the famous attractions in Tanay.

Most of the guests at the Daranak Falls were families amnd groups of friends who opted to spend the first long weekend of the year in Tanay.

Daranak Falls, which is managed and maintained by the Tanay Municipal Government, records hundreds of visitors during weekends and holidays.

Joicee Gapido of the office of Tanay Mayor Rafael “Lito” Tanjuatco told the Manila Bulletin that the local government has enough local government personnel, including life guards, to ensure the safety of the visitors going to the town’s tourist spots.

Parking attendants are also deployed to assist motorists.

Aside from Daranak Falls, other places worth visiting in Tanay are some upland resorts and restaurants which offer a scenic view of Rizal’s portion of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range.

Last December, at least three tourists spots in Tanay were recognized by the Department of Tourism-Region 4-A Office — the Tanay Highlands, for being a finalist and official nominee for Customer Service Excellence Award for Food and Beverage; Best Casual Dining Experience Innovation Award and Sustainability Award; and Pico De Pino Café and Restaurant as the People’s Choice Award for Restaurant during the 3rd Calabarzon Tourism Excellence Awards ceremony.

Tanay upland scenic spots and tourist destinations can be reached from Metro Manila by private vehicles via Ortigas Avenue by traversing the Antipolo City proper route towards the Sampaloc, Tanay Road.

Commuters can ride the tricycle from Tanay’s town proper or they can ride the jeepney at the town’s transport terminal in going to Daranak Road or Barangay Sampaloc.

Air traffic mess: Ex-CAAP chief points to ‘unqualified’ personnel

By 

Catalina Ricci S. Madarang 

TECHNICAL GLITCH. Passengers at NAIA Terminal 3 in Pasay City queue at the check-in counter as it resumes its operation after Air Traffic Management Center of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines experienced a technical issue on Sunday (Jan. 1, 2023) However, on the official website of the Manila International Airport Authority, there are still international and domestic flights that have been canceled on Monday. (PNA photo by Yancy Lim)

A former executive of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines blamed unqualified authorities for the air traffic mess last Sunday.

In an interview with DZRH, former CAAP Director General Daniel Dimagiba bared that the current management within CAAP lacked experts in the field of air navigation. 

Dimagiba recalled that such a muddle within the organization started when the Department of Transportation acquired CAAP’s projects.

“Nung naging DOTr ang DOTC (Department of Transportation and Communications), lahat ng project ng CAAP, kinuha ng DOTr. Kaya wala silang espesyalista sa navigation. Meron silang civil engineer, mechanical engineer, electrical engineer, but wala silang navigation engineer, 

“Ang inuna kasi ng DOTr, puro ano e. Build, Build, Build. Buildings, Buildings. Yan ang inuna nila. Sa navigation, pinabayaan nila,” the former official also stated.

The “Build, Build, Build” is the main infrastructure project of the previous administration.

Dimagiba further described supposed “consultants” of the transport sector as “walang indoctrination,” or sufficient training, in aviation.

“Wala silang indoctrination. Indoctrination ng airworthiness, operations, license in engineering and aircraft accident. Kami pa nagtuturo sa mga consultant. Baligtad,” he said.

Dimagiba requested Malacañang to hire people who are qualified in the field to resolve the prevailing air transport issues.

“Sana ang higher up natin, ang Malacañang, maglagay naman ng qualified. Hindi basta kakilala, ilalagay mo. Ang nangyayari ngayon, puro kakilala ang nilalagay e,” he said.

How Filipinos reacted online

Several users sounded off their frustrations over the alleged nepotism and corruption even within the aviation sector.

“This is a typical problem in most agencies that require highly trained and experienced personnel. Positions are being handed out to ‘people’ of political allies and friends without regard to their qualifications, starting at the top,” one Redditor said.

“This is beyond infuriating as CAAP is endangering thousands of flight passengers because of its incompetence and greed. Is there still any government office doing its job honestly and properly?!” another Redditor said.

Other Filipinos also called for the government to investigate into these allegations within CAAP, DOTr and other related agencies.

On upgrading new equipment

In the same interview, Dimagiba said he received a report from a former air traffic controller that CAAP supposedly did not consider the request to upgrade the memory card of its systems.

He noted that this memory card holds the necessary data to keep up with the current air travel operations.

“May nagreport sakin na air traffic controller, retired… May pinabibili ang controller ng memory card sa head ng CAAP. Hindi iniintindi, hindi binili. Yung memory card na yun, andoon lahat ng system para mai-deliver sa mga airline,” Dimagiba said.

“Yung lumang ginagamit pa natin, hindi na suitable para sa new operations. Kasi marami ng flights ngayon e,” he added.

The former CAAP executive also said that he received another report claiming a piece of equipment with a huge budget did not materialize.

“Meron pang isa. May nagsumbong pa sakin. Na yung navigation communication parallel system, naka-budget ng ilang million. Hindi daw nabili. Ewan ko… kung nasunog ang pera, di malaman,” Dimagiba said.

Current CAAP Director General Manuel Tamayo said in a previous briefing that the technology it is using is “outdated.”

“Now, our CNS/ATM (Communications, Navigation and Surveillance Systems for Air Traffic Management) was conceptualized way back in the late 90s’, naumpisahan ‘to I think 2010, and finally, it was completed in 2018.  So medyo — as far as the technology is concerned — it is already outdated,” Tamayo was quoted in a report.

The former head, however, reacted with disbelief at this admission.

“Kalokohan yun. Ang radar natin perfect. Meron tayong primary, meron tayong secondary radar. Lahat yan perfect yan. Mga technician natin, mag engineers natin, okay yan. Highly trained yan. Highly professional,” Dimagiba said.

Epic Fail in NAIA: Hundreds of Flights Cancelled , Thousands Stranded

105,438 views Premiered Jan 1, 2023

All passengers bound for the Philippines must register to E-TRAVEL: https://etravel.gov.ph/ Source of Info: https://iatf.doh.gov.ph/wp-content/up... Philippine Exit Requirements for Foreign Tourists, Balikbayans, Duals, and Filipino Residents Abroad: https://youtu.be/Qb9bm73yQDY Going back to the US? UPDATED & COMPLETE TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE US FOR FILIPINOS & US NATIONALS: https://youtu.be/j00HglOrvNM Filipino Tourists departing the Philippines may be required by Philippine Immigration to secure travel medical insurance. For this, you may check out Safetywing: https://www.safetywing.com/a/24818256 Foreign Tourists, except those covered by Balikbayan Privilege, may be required by airlines and immigration show an exit ticket of not more than 30 days since arrival. You may rent a ticket here to satisfy this requirement for just $14: https://onwardticket.com/jennifer ( FYI - The links above are affiliate codes/links. This means I may get a reward at no additional cost to you when you use them. Thanks in advance because it helps support the channel :) Want to stay longer than 30 days? It’s easy!: https://youtu.be/FONR9zBwYUI Learn Skills here! https://skl.sh/MKR213 NEED TO TRANSFER MONEY TO THE PHILIPPINES? This is what I personally use: https://www.worldremit.com/en/r/JENNI... First transfer is free plus you get a $35 voucher! Hello, I am Jennifer Terri, a 25 year old gal living in Tagum, Philippines. I make Philippine Travel News & Updates. :) Connect with me: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenniferTerr... These videos and the effort I put into them are 100% free for everyone, and all I ask is that you leave a thumbs-up on any videos that you like and subscribe to my channel . Subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/c/JenniferTerri

Year of resonance for PH athletes

by Kristel Satumbaga-Villar, MB

The Year 2022 proved that last year’s historic campaign at the Tokyo Olympics was not a one-hit wonder.

The national women’s football team captures the historic AFF Women’s Championship title last July. (File Photo)

This year, Filipino athletes continued to leave marks in the elite stage to show they are not done conquering the world. 

As expected, Philippines’ first Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz bannered the success of Filipino athletes this year after clinching three gold medals at the 2022 IWF World Weightlifting Championships in Colombia this December.

A champion to almost all high-end tournaments such as the Southeast Asian Games, the Asian Games, the Asian Championships and the Olympics, Diaz finally captured the elusive world title to complete her golden romp in the elite level.

Her success was somehow an icing on the cake as fellow elite athletes such as gymnast Carlos Yulo, pole vaulter EJ Obiena and junior tennis sensation Alex Eala to name a few, also sustained their impressive showing in their respective fields.

Yulo, 22, stamped his class anew at the FIG Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Liverpool, England with his silver-medal triumph in vault and bronze in parallel bars.

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The 27-year-old pole vaulter Obiena, for his part, became the first Filipino athlete to win a medal at the prestigious World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon with a bronze medal while also establishing a new Philippine and Asian record of 5.94 meters.

Eala, meanwhile, made her mark with a historic victory at the US Open Girls Singles – the first Filipino to do so.

Other notable triumphs were equally momentous as well, like karateka Junna Tsukii’s golden effort at the World Games, the national women’s football team’s historic title run at the Asian Football Federation (AFF) Women’s Championship,

Carlo Paalam’s golden feat at the ASBC Asian Elite Boxing Championships in Jordan, world championship titles for jiu jitsu athletes Meggie Ochoa and Kimberly Anne Custodio, and the World Teams 10-ball Championship crown for cue masters Carlo Biado, Johann Chua and Rubilen Amit, to name a few.

Last year’s significant Tokyo Olympics campaign just showed that Filipino athletes have so much more to offer and give. With more elite tournaments lined up in 2023 leading to the 2024 Paris Olympics, expect them to deliver more.

5.1-magnitude quake hits Surigao del Sur province

Published January 3, 2023, 10:41 AM

by Mike Crismundo

BUTUAN CITY — A 5.1-magnitude earthquake struck Surigao del Sur in Northeastern Mindanao (The Caraga Region) on Tuesday morning, Jan. 3, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.

In its bulletin, Phivolcs said the tremor was recorded at 6:09 a.m.

The epicenter was plotted 82 kilometers northeast of Hinatuan town, Surigao del Sur province.

The tremor had a shallow depth of only one km, Phivolcs said.

Intensity III was felt at the town proper of Hinatuan and nearby Lingig town of this same province while in its instrumental Intensities, Phivolcs said that intensity one was also registered in southernmost city of Bislig, also of Surigao Del Sur province.

The earthquake was tectonic in origin and the state agency is expecting aftershocks.

As of this writing, no damage nor casualty was reported, the Surigao del Sur Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) there said.

Surigao del Sur Gov. Alexander T. Pimentel already mobilized its rescue team and personnel of PDRRMC to look into the situation of residents in Hinatuan town, neighboring towns, and especially those living along the coastal areas.

More flights cancelled despite full restoration of NAIA air traffic operations

by Aaron Recuenco 

At least 48 more domestic and international flights were cancelled on Monday, Jan. 2, as aviation personnel continue to adjust flight schedules following the technical glitch at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) that affected around 65,000 passengers from nearly 300 flights.

In an advisory released on Monday, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) said the cancellation of some flights scheduled on Monday is part of the effects of the technical issue at the Air Traffic Management Center of the the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) on Sunday, Jan. 1.

The technical glitch was restored at 7:45 p.m. on Sunday. 

For international flights, cancelled flights of the Cebu Pacific were 5J 845 Manila-Dubai , 5J 760 Jakarta-Manila, 5J 502 Kula Lumpur-Manila, 5J 804 Singapore-Manila.

For the Philippine Air Lines (PAL), cancelled international flights were PR538 – Bali (Denpasar)/MNL, PR101/01 – Honolulu/MNL (originally departing from Honolulu on January 1)
and PR113/01 – Los Angeles/MNL (originally departing from Los Angeles on January 1).

Cancelled domestic flights for PAL were: 

-PR2808– Davao/MNL,

-PR1809/1810 – MNL/Davao/MNL,
-PR1811/1812 – MNL/Davao/MNL
-PR1841/1842 – MNL/Cebu/MNL
-PR1836 – Cebu/MNL
-PR1867/1868 – MNL/Cebu/MNL
-PR1859 – MNL/Cebu
-PR2781/2782 – MNL/Puerto Princesa/MNL
-PR2921 – MNL/Legazpi
-PR2557 – MNL/Dipolog
-PR2035/2036 – MNL/Caticlan/MNL

For Cebu Pacific, cancelled domestic flights were:

5J 885 Manila-Cotabato
5J 504 Manila-Tuguegarao
5J 891 Manila-Caticlan
5J 625 Manila-Puerto Princesa
5J 6055 Caticlan-Manila
5J 447 Manila-Iloilo
5J 381 Manila-Cagayan de Oro
5J 473 Manila-Bacolod
5J 963 Manila-Davao
5J 785 Manila-Butuan
5J 627 Manila-Dumaguete
5J 451/452 Manila-Iloilo-Manila
5J 383/384 Manila-Cagayan de Oro-Manila
5J 561/562 Manila-Cebu-Manila
5J 567/568 Manila-Cebu-Manila
5J 619/620 Manila-Tagbilaran-Manila
5J 373/374 Manila-Roxas-Manila
5J 325/326 Manila-Legazpi-Manila
5J 506/507 Manila-Tuguegarao-Manila
5J 655/656 Manila-Tacloban-Manila
5J 703/704 Manila-Dipolog-Manila
5J 895/896 Manila-Caticlan-Manila
5J 951/952 Manila-Davao-Manila
5J 485/486 Manila-Bacolod-Manila

CEBGO (DG)
DG 6113/6114 Manila-Naga-Manila

On the other hand, the Mactan-Cebu International Airport also announced the cancellation of the following flights: 

5J562 Cebu-Manila
5J608 Cebu-Clark
PR1836 Cebu-Manila
PR1841 Manila-Cebu
PR1842 Cebu-Manila

71st Miss Universe candidates arrive in the US

by Robert Requintina, MB

Miss Universe Philippines 2022 Celeste Cortesi (Facebook)

Some candidates have arrived in the US for the 71st Miss Universe Competition which will be held at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana on Jan. 14 (Jan. 15, Manila time).

Eighty-five lovely contestants are vying for the title of Miss Universe 2022. Reigning Miss Universe Harnaaz Sandhu of India will crown her successor at the end of the live telecast.

Miss Philippines Celeste Cortesi has arrived in Los Angeles, California for her final preparations in the upcoming pageant. Before heading to New Orleans, Celeste and her team enjoyed Disneyland in Anaheim. Other candidates also celebrated the new year in the US. 

From left: Jonas Gaffud, Miss Universe Philippines Celeste Cortesi and Voltaire Tayag (Facebook)

Celeste Cortesi and Voltaire Tayag (Facebook)

Other candidates who have departed for the US, as reported by Brian Javier in his YouTube, include India, Peru, Iceland, Curacao, Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia, Venezuela, and Thailand.

All the girls are expected to converge in New Orleans beginning Jan. 3-5 for registration and fittings for opening number apparel. On Jan. 6, they will attend the Orientation Day.

On Jan. 11, the girls will take part in the preliminary competition where the judges will select the Top 20 contestants based on swimsuit, evening gown and preliminary interviews. But the semifinalists will be announced during the coronation night.

Prior, the contestants will also participate in the National Costume Competition. 

Miss Universe Philippines 2022 Celeste Cortesi wearing a pair of Bragais shoes, the official footwear of the 71st Miss Universe Competition (Facebook)

Tickets to the finals of the 71st Miss Universe Competition have been sold out since December, as announced by Anne Jakapong Jakrajutatip, CEO of JKN Global Group, new owner of the Miss Universe Organization, on Facebook.

The Miss Universe Organization has ended its five-year deal with popular American broadcast personality Steve Harvey as it revealed that a female host will be announced for the pageant.

“Among the changes in the move: Steve Harvey, who had hosted for five years as part of the pageant’s deal with Fox (with the exception of 2021, when that pact was paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic), also won’t be back. According to Miss Universe Organization CEO Amy Emmerich, a new host — expected to be a female — will be announced in the coming weeks,” read the article for Variety, an international entertainment website.

Celeste Cortesi (Facebook)

In October, JKN, a Thai-owned media and content conglomerate, announced the acquisition of the MUO from IMG.

Changes at the Miss Universe continue as organizers will finally allow mothers and wives to compete in the next edition of the pageant.

Presently, the pageant rule states that only single women aged 18 and 28, who have never been married or had children are allowed to apply.