Minority congresswoman only has good things to say about VP Sara

Published February 1, 2023, 9:44 AM

by Ellson Quismorio

A member of the House minority bloc is backing the efforts of Vice President and Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sara Duterte in addressing the challenges hounding the country’s basic education system. 

BH Party-list Rep. Bernadette Herrera (left) and Vice President Sara Duterte

“I personally laud and support the Vice President for her commitment to improve the quality of basic education in the country in her capacity as the Secretary of the Department of Education,” Deputy Minority Leader and Bagong Henerasyon (BH) Party-list Rep. Bernadette Herrera said in a statement Wednesday, Feb. 1. 

The minority bloc in the House of Representatives are traditional composed of government critics. But in this case, Herrera only has good things to say about the former Davao Ciity mayor.

“I have absolute confidence in her ability to institute much needed reforms to make the Philippine basic education system competitive and at par with other countries,” Herrera added of Duterte.

The party-list solon issued the statement after Duterte launched the “MATATAG” agenda, which would serve as the DepEd’s roadmap in addressing the challenges in the basic education sector under her term as education chief. 

MATATAG aims to focus on making curriculum relevant to produce competent and job-ready, active, and responsible citizens; taking steps to accelerate delivery of basic education facilities and services; taking good care of learners by promoting learner well-being, inclusive education, and a positive learning environment; and give support to teachers to teach better.

These key strategies, according to Herrera, would “surely help the basic education sector continue to recover from the pandemic and address the problems that have long existed in our education system.”

Herrera said she is also ready to support whatever laws or policies that the Vice President wants Congress to prioritize for the basic education sector.

Herrera said she was particularly amazed by the Vice President’s determination to get children’s education back on track with the resumption of full face-to-face classes after two years of intermittent distance learning during the pandemic.

“We have seen the tremendous work VP Sara has done to help schools reopen for in-person learning and allow our children to safely return to school,” she pointed out.

“I believe this is just a preview of how she will lead the DepEd in the next six years. With her strong leadership and firm political will, people can expect VP Sara to undertake some bold reforms that will help improve and transform our country’s basic education system,” she added.

‘The Clash’ earns more than 200 million views on TikTok

by Manila Bulletin Entertainment

Julie Anne San Jose and Rayver Cruz

GMA Network’s all-original Filipino singing competition, “The Clash,” remains as one of the top sources of entertainment to Kapuso viewers both on air and online.

Recently, #TheClash has earned more than 200 million views on TikTok! The said hashtag includes snippets of unstoppable performances from the Clashers and fun behind-the-scenes from the previous seasons.

Last Jan. 22, the show made its much-awaited comeback. The formidable trio of Asia’s Nightingale Lani Misalucha, Asia’s Romantic Balladeer Christian Bautista, and Comedy Concert Queen AiAi Delas Alas returned as The Clash Panel together with Clash Masters Asia’s Limitless Star Julie Anne San Jose and Total Heartthrob Rayver Cruz.

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Lani Misalucha

In the pilot episode, viewers witnessed the fresh faces and spellbinding voices of the Top 30 Clashers. As the competition moves forward, Kapuso fans will get to know more about the Clashers’ unique and inspiring stories.

Christian Bautista

The audience must also expect unpredictable twists and shocking surprises that will make The Clash 2023 its best season yet!

Ai AI Delas Alas

Find out who among the Clashers will advance to the next round! Catch The Clash 2023 every Sunday at 7:50 p.m. on GMA Network. Viewers abroad can also catch the program via GMA Pinoy TV.

Netizens can also catch it via livestream on GMA Network and The Clash’s Facebook pages, The Clash’s YouTube account, and on GMA Network’s website.

Rare comet is coming: Here’s how to see this celestial spectacle

by Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz, Manila Bulletin

(SCREENGRAB FROM PAGASA’S OFFICIAL FACEBOOK PAGE)

Grab your camera, telescope, or binocular as a rare comet will begin its closest approach to Earth in February.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) will be brightest on the first day of February. 

PAGASA said the comet is located in the constellation Camelopardalis and will be observed at night.

“Since it is circumpolar, it becomes visible all night, reaching its highest point in the sky around 9:48 p.m.” PAGASA said in its astronomical diary for February.

“To locate this comet, find the north star Polaris as it points to the comet, 32 degrees above the northern horizon,” it added. “It will then sink towards the horizon as the sun rises the next day.”

However, PAGASA told skygazers that they need patience and perseverance, as the waxing gibbous moon may affect their observation.

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“This comet may be challenging to see with the naked eye,” it said as it advised skygazers to use the telescope or binocular to see the comet.

According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) was discovered by astronomers using the wide-field survey camera at the Zwicky Transient Facility in California in early March 2022.

This is the first time it will make a close approach to Earth in over 50,000 years.

The comet is also known as the “green comet” because of its green glow coming from the comet’s coma, caused by glowing carbon gas.

 

Marcos appeals support from diplomatic community in achieving PH dev’t goals

by Betheena Unite

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has urged the diplomatic community to support the Philippines in its mission to achieve its development plans, which he approved a day ago.

President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. (RTVM Screenshot)

During the Vin d’ Honneur held at the Malacañang Palace on Tuesday night, Jan. 31, Marcos appealed for support as he informed the attending foreign envoys that he just rolled out the Philippine Development Plan on Monday, Jan. 30 which will serve as his administration’s roadmap for economic and social transformation in the next six years.

“I urge our friends in the diplomatic community to work with us in achieving our development goals through partnerships and cooperation with your respective government and also your private sectors. Let us discuss opportunities where our countries can participate to the mutual benefit of the Philippines and your countries,” Marcos said.

In his speech, Marcos said that “the Philippines is poised to reach upper middle income status very soon,” telling his diplomatic guests that it “is a daunting but achievable milestone and the development well-earned and long overdue.”

“We want this to have meaning and impact to the lives of more than 110 million Filipinos and to set the future generations of Filipinos,” he said, thus he urged them to work with the Philippines in its endeavors under his term.

On foreign relations, the President stressed that the Philippines will continue to elevate its foreign relations with bilateral and multilateral partners, saying that “we are a staunch champion of multilateralism and remain invested in working with partners in building a stronger united nations, one that is more fair, more constructive, more united.”

He also took the opportunity to campaign for the Philippines in its goal to secure a seat in the UN Security Council as the country’s bid stands on its “strong foundation” of “well-recognized contributions” to the shaping of a global rules-based architecture and respect for the sovereignty of nations.

“The Philippines counts on your support for our candidature for non permanent seat in the UN Security Council for term 2027-2028. You’ll excuse my little bit of campaigning for the Philippines and our membership,” he said.

“The legacies of the Philippines as a responsible global citizen I dare say are solid,” he added.

The chief executive also called on the diplomatic community to “continue to strengthen the bond of our countries for the mutual benefit of our peoples and our countries.”

Papal Nuncio Charles Brown, Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, meanwhile, expressed that the “diplomatic corps assures you our support for this goal in the new year of 2023 and beyond.”

“So your excellency, it is an honor for me to express in behalf of all members of the diplomatic corps our heartfelt best wishes for a new year blessed by peace, prosperity, mutual understanding and global solidarity,” Brown said as he offered a toast to the President.

5 CHANGES TO PH TRAVEL/TOURISM APPROVED BY PRES MARCOS: E-TRAVEL, E-VISA...

Wow! Does Philippine Airlines really have bad service?

More reforms needed to lure foreign investors

 

By Niña Myka Pauline Arceo  and Jenica Faye Garcia

Private sector representatives urged the government to focus on making the country more attractive to investments as the Marcos administration formally launched its 2023-2028 Philippine Development Plan (PDP).

"I used to say it's not enough for us to be in the radar but we really have to provide the runway lights for them for... investments to land in our country," Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry President George Barcelon said in a forum organized by the National Economic and Development Authority.

Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry President George Barcelon. Screengrab from Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028 Live Forum

Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry President George Barcelon. Screengrab from Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028 Live Forum

These "fundamental issues" such as "power, production costs, logistic costs, connectivity, and human skills sets" will be addressed by the PDP, he noted, along with improving the ease of doing business where the Philippines had already made improvements in the last few years.

Barcelon, however, noted that the last Philippine Business Conference had stressed the need to reinvigorate the resource-based sector, particularly mineral mining, oil exploration, forestry, and salt harvesting.

"We have legislators looking into that and improving the ASIN law," he said, "We need to tweak it, so that we can grow our salt industries. Our shoreline worldwide is number five, but we import 93 percent of our salt."

As for oil exploration, he pointed out that Indonesia has seen 20 projects in the past two-three years compared to the Philippines' three in the past decade.

Also noting the country's vast mineral resources, Barcelon said "I think the government is cognizant of that and they will open it up".

The PCCI chief also pointed to the importance of the agricultural sector to economic development. He urged the provision of insurance support and called for a push to involve more of the youth in the sector.

"Aside from the usual talk about farm to market road, post harvest infrastructure, cold storage, and so forth, one of the areas... is that we really have to fortify our crop insurance, otherwise the banks would see that the farmers are not bankable. So, I hope that the government will look into that."

The youth also have to be induced into joining the agriculture sector via the establishment of more technical schools that provide training on the latest farming advancements.

The farm sector, he continued, should also be opened up to foreign investors and scaled up.

Local governments, meanwhile, should emulate the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), which Barcelon said is favored by investors given the clarity of its rules.

"I think our solution is for the local government to have the DNA of PEZA," he said.

"If you're talking about growth, inclusivity for the country, the growth should be throughout the Philippines and I think the local government plays a key role in making things easy for people to want to invest in the area of their jurisdiction."

Private Sector Advisory Council digital infrastructure lead Henry R. Aguda, meanwhile, said digital development was enjoying a "watershed moment" in the Philippines.

However, while adoption markedly accelerated over the last few years, private sector concerns with regard to digital initiatives remain high.

"It's highest next to energy sufficiency," Aguda noted, but added that "the nice thing about it ranking high is there's a lot of effort right now to actually improve it".

Barcelon raised the issue of connectivity costs, saying that local subscriptions rates remained high compared to other countries.

"It should not go beyond three percent of take-home pay," he said.

Höchstes Renten-Plus seit Jahren

Die Renten sind im vergangenen Jahr so stark gestiegen wie seit Jahren nicht mehr

Foto: picture alliance / photothek

TEILENTWITTERNSENDEN

Von: DIRK HOEREN

30.01.2023 - 21:24 Uhr

Die Renten sind im vergangenen Jahr so stark gestiegen wie seit Jahren nicht mehr.

Im Schnitt gab es 63 Euro mehr netto für die Senioren!

► Die ausgezahlte Durchschnittsrente ist laut der ersten Statistik der Deutschen Rentenversicherung für das Jahr 2022 ab Juli von 1089 auf 1152 Euro gestiegen. Männer bekamen im Schnitt 1276 Euro und damit 68 Euro mehr, Frauen 1060 (+59) Euro.

Erfasst sind in diesen Zahlen sämtliche Rentenleistungen, also Altersrenten, Erwerbsunfähigkeits- und Witwenrenten.

Die durchschnittliche Netto-Witwenrente stieg von 512 auf 540 Euro (+28 Euro), die Witwerrente von 374 auf 396 Euro (+22 Euro).

 steigende Strompreise und die höchste Inflation seit 1951.

► Damit gab es im vergangenen Jahr das höchste Netto-Plus für die Senioren seit vielen Jahren. 2013 lag die Durchschnittsrente noch bei 855 Euro. Die Altersgelder sind also seither im Schnitt um 34,7 Prozent gestiegen. 

Hauptursachen für den starken Anstieg waren die starke Rentenerhöhung zum 1. Juli von 5,35 Prozent im Westen und 6,12 Prozent im Osten, Verbesserungen für Erwerbsunfähigkeitsrentner und die Einführung der Grundrente. 

Auffallend: Die Zahl der Mehrfachrentner (bekommen neben der eigenen Rente noch eine Witwen-/Witwerrente) ist im vergangenen Jahr erstmals gesunken - um knapp 10.000 auf 4,117 Millionen Personen.

Mögliche Ursache: die vielen Todesfälle unter Senioren durch die Corona-Pandemie. Im Schnitt erhielten Männer, die zusätzlich eine Witwerrente erhalten, 1717 (+89) Euro netto. Frauen mit eigener Rente und Witwenrente bekamen monatlich 1573 (+84) Euro ausge

Iloilo likely to host international dance festival in 2024

Published January 31, 2023, 11:39 AM

by Tara Yap

ILOILO CITY – There is strong indication that an international dance festival will finally be hosted by this city and the province of Iloilo next year.

“We want to continue our commitment to Iloilo,” said Marichu Tellano, deputy executive director of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).

Tellano was referring to the Philippine International Dance Festival which Iloilo was supposed to host in 2020 but it was cancelled due to lockdowns and travel restrictions that followed the declaration of Covid-19 pandemic in the same year.

Around 200 foreign participants from Asia, Europe and Oceania were supposed to fly to Iloilo in what was an attempt to assemble the world’s biggest unity dance and possibly earn a place in Guinness World Records.

It seemed people behind this idea are well determined to push through with the unity dance.

“We have unfinished business [in Iloilo],” Tellano told Manila Bulletin. 

Tellano and NCCA’s Committee on Dance chairperson Dr. Shirley Halili-Cruz had just wrapped up the Dance Xchange: Live in Visayas.

In partnership with the Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation Inc. (IDFI), the NCCA gathered 15 dance groups from the Visayas to perform live in Leganes town, Iloilo province.

Tellano said the Leganes event served as a test for Iloilo in its bid to play host to the proposed hosting of foreign dance groups next year.

“I believe Iloilo is ready. We were ready in 2020. We are ready for next year,” said Maria Luisa ‘Marissa’ Segovia, IDFI treasurer.

Segovia, who’s also the chairperson of the Regional Culture, Heritage and the Arts Committee (RCHAC) of the Western Visayas Development Council, said hosting international arts and cultural events could be of great help for the local economy that is bouncing back from the pandemic.

Pinoys make it to ‘America’s Got Talent: All Stars’ finals

by Stephanie Bernardino, MB

Pinoy couple Jervin and Anjanette Minor, otherwise known as The Power Duo, has barged into the finals of “America’s Got Talent: All Stars.”

Apparently, they earned the votes of fans following a superb performance.

Show judges Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, and Heidi Klum, as with show host Terry Crews, have nothing but good words for the real-life couple. 

“I love you, two,” Simon told them after they flaunted their skills to the tune of Calum Scott’s “You Are The Reason.”

Howie for his part admitted to enjoying their moves.

Heidi, on the other hand, described their performance as “great.” 

Terry echoed the same thing.

“It is so beautiful to watch two people that are in love and they do something beautiful together. It was beautiful to watch,” Heidi pointed out.

On Twitter, Power Duo shared their success to the judges of the local iteration of the show, namely Robin Padilla, Freddie “FMG” Garcia, Vice Ganda, and Angel Locsin.

It was in 2016 when Power Duo was declared winner of the show’s fifth season.