Outstanding Filipino artists recognized by NCCA at 15th Ani ng Dangal Awards

Published March 1, 2023, 11:22 AM

by MB Lifestyle

It was a festive afternoon for the art industry as 33 local talents were awarded at the 15th Ani ng Dangal Awards last Feb. 22, 2023 at the Ceremonial Hall of Malacañan Palace.

Ani ng Dangal Music Category awardees with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Frist Lady Louise Araneta Marcos

The Ani ng Dangal or Harvest of Honor is an annual celebration that recognizes homegrown artists who received esteemed international accolades in the categories of Architecture and Allied Arts, Cinema, Dance, Music, Visual Arts, and Broadcast Arts. It serves as the highlight and culmination of the National Arts Month.

Eleven individuals were acknowledged for their impeccable work in Cinema. This includes Dolly De Leon, who won the Best Supporting Performer Award during the 2022 Los Angeles Films Critics Association Awards (LAFCA) for her outstanding performance in “Triangle of Sadness.”

The sole award from Broadcast Arts went to Ramona Diaz for her critically acclaimed social documentary, “A Thousand Cuts.”

 Dance awardee Billy Crawford with wife Coleen Garcia together with Music Voice awardee Danikka Louise Dy

Included in the four Dance awardees is TV host and 2022 “Danse avec les stars (Dancing with the Stars France)” champ Billy Crawford.

Apart from seasoned artists, this year’s lineup brought to the fore impressive young talents. Among them is 14-year-old Danikka Louise Dy, Grand Prize winner for Voice at the Rocky Mountain Music Competition Spring Season 2022 in Toronto, Canada. Her exceptional rendition of Jason Robert Brown’s “Christmas Lullaby from Songs for a New World” placed her ahead of all contestants in the Advanced Voice (Junior Category, 13-14 years old). Under the tutelage of Aliw Awardee and soprano Nenen Espina from the age of six, Dy religiously trains for better technique, stamina, and mixed belting voice. She aspires to make it to Broadway like her idol, Lea Salonga.

Another young performer in the 11-man roster is 12-year-old violinist Theodore Julius Chua Tan, who took home First Place in the Judges’ Best Performance Award for the Junior Category (ages 9-12) at the 2022 Vienna Virtuoso Music Competition.

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Danikka with Joaquin Domagoso, winning Best Actor for “That Boy in the Dark”; and Young Music awardee Teddy Tan

Three artists bagged the Visual Arts Awards, including Albert Emir B. Reyes, whose “Bustling Little Town” was named Grand Prize at the 23rd International High School Arts Festival in Tokyo, Japan.

Meanwhile, four awardees were named in Architecture and Allied Arts, including The Penthouse by Atelier Almario, which received the distinction of Best Residential Interior Apartment at the Asia Pacific Property Awards 2022 in the United Kingdom.

Awardees were handed the Ani ng Dangal trophy, which depicts the vibrant sarimanok by National Artist and sculptor Abdulmari Imao.

Retrieval of sunken oil tanker in Mindoro ongoing to avert ‘environmental catastrophe’

Published March 1, 2023, 12:52 PM

by Martin Sadongdong

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Wednesday, March 1, that it has prepositioned all of its available assets to help in the retrieval of motor tanker (MT) Princess Empress which sank off Naujan, Oriental Mindoro while carrying 800,000 liters of industrial fuel oil as cargo.

Photo: Philippine Coast Guard / PCG

Rear Admiral Armando Balilo, PCG spokesperson, said BRP Melchora Aquino, a 97-meter multi-role response vessel, and tugboat Titan were deployed in the area with sonar and oil spill boom while the Coast Guard Aviation Force conducted aerial inspection in the area to pinpoint the location where MT Princess Empress capsized on Feb. 28 and prevent the oil spillage from spreading. 

The motor tanker sank 11 nautical miles from the municipal waters of Naujan, affecting the livelihood of the fishing community there, but its exact location underwater was not determined yet. 

So far, the oil spill involving the diesel oil of the motor tanker already spread into the municipal waters of Naujan, particularly at Balingawan Point, with an estimated area of six kilometers long and four kilometers wide from the initial observation of five km long and 500 meters wide on Tuesday. 

“Wala pang pangamba o panganib na madudulot ito sa yamang-dagat doon sa kabuuan ng incident area pero ang pinangangambahan ay kapag tumagas ‘yung industrial fuel oil. Ito ‘yung malapot kaya magiging problema ito (There is no threat yet to the marine resources in the incident area but what’s feared is if the industrial fuel oil spills. This is the sticky oil so it will be a problem),” Balilo said in a radio interview with dzBB.

Balilo said the diesel fuel can easily dissipate under the heat of sun or when hit by big waves because its particles are thin. Industrial fuel oil is different because its particles are thick and can harm fish, coral reef, and other marine resources.

Photo: Philippine Coast Guard / PCG

The industrial fuel oil are cargoes onboard the MT Princess Empress which also sank underwater when the tanker’s engine overheated after being hit by huge waves while sailing off Naujan. The tanker was traveling from Bataan to Iloilo when it encountered bad weather around 2 a.m Tuesday.

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“Kailangan pong tanggalin siya kasi anytime ito ay tatagas at magiging environmental catastrophe (We need to remove it [industrial fuel oil] because it can spill anytime which can lead to an environmental catastrophe),” Balilo stressed. 

Lessons from Guimaras oil spill

Balilo said they already have the capability and experience to respond to massive oil spill incidents after the 2006 Guimaras oil spill. It can be recalled that MT Solar 1 sank off the coast of Guimaras on Aug. 11, 2006 which resulted to an oil spillage of more than 2.1 million liters of bunker fuel.

Photo: Philippine Coast Guard / PCG

“Kung nakita natin ang barko, ang plano is hahatakin ito malapit at isasadsad. Kung kaya sa port, dadalhin para masipsip ang krudo. Ang problema wala na tayong makita, ang pwede na lang gawin mag-abang ng oil spill at makipag-usap sa company kung may salvage operation na gagawin (If only we have seen the ship, our plan is to tow it near the shore and ground it. If possible, we can bring it to the port so we can suck the crude oil. The problem is that we can no longer see it, and what we can only do now is to wait for an oil spill and talk to the company if there is a salvage operation),” he said.

The shipping company of MT Princess Empress, RDC Reield Marine Services, Inc., is leading the retrieval operations for the sunken motor tanker while the PCG is assisting them. The shipping company also contracted a towing company, Malayan Towage, to assess the oil spillage in the area.

“Mayroon naman silang arrangement sa salvage companies, mayroon silang oil spill response pero nandyaan din ang PCG at tinatap naming ang mga kumpanya ng langis na may oil spill response para pagtulung-tulungan na (They have an arrangement with salvage companies, they also have an oil spill response but the PCG is there and we already tapped oil companies with oil spill response capabilities to help),” Balilo said.

If worse comes to worst, Balilo said they can ask for assistance from other countries where they teamed up for oil spill response exercises in the past like Japan and Indonesia.

“Kung talagang masayadong malaki, maging karatig-bansa tumutulong kung talagang ‘di masawata. Pero sa tingin ko naman ay handa tayo at hopefully ang preparation namin ay maayos at enough (If it [oil spill] is really massive, even neighboring countries can help if we cannot really suppress it. But I think we are prepared and hopefully our preparation is orderly and enough),” he noted.

The PCG will also investigate if there is negligence on the part of the shipping company so appropriate charges could be filed.

Meanwhile, the 20 crew members of MT Princess Empress have been brought to Subic, Zambales by MV Efes, a foreign vessel which rescued them, so they can be given appropriate medical attention.

Residents of Naujan were also advised by the PCG to keep their distance from the municipal waters due to the possible hazards posed by the oil spillage to their health and livelihood.

Job seekers urged to get ready for job fair in Cagayan de Oro

by Franck Dick Rosete

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — The Department of Tourism Region 10 (DOT-10) and the Department of Labor and Employment Region 10 (DOLE-10) are urging all job seekers in the region to get ready as they will launch the ‘Trabaho, Turismo, Asenso!’ Philippine Tourism Job Fair Northern Mindanao leg on March 30 and March 31 this year at the Limketkai Atrium in this city.

The DOT-10 said the activity is primarily intended to bridge employment opportunities for the tourism industry and revitalize its workforce to recover from the losses during the pandemic.

Marie Elaine Unchuan, Department of Tourism Region 10 director, answers questions from the media during the “Trabaho, Turismo, Asenso!” Philippine Tourism Job Fair Northern Mindanao leg Press Conference at one of hotels in Cagayan de Oro City on Thursday, Feb. 28.
(Photo courtesy of Franck Dick Rosete, Manila Bulletin)

Marie Elaine Unchuan, DOT-10 director, said in a press conference on Thursday, Feb. 28 that the DOLE-10 will provide a link for the online registration prior to the activity, but she said they will still accept walk-in applicants. 

There will be 50 booths at the upcoming event and the said government agencies are hoping the booths will be occupied by the different employers in the region as they are targeting 50 employers and at least 500 jobs.

The DOT-10 will also designate an area for some tourism-related enterprises that are only looking for two to three employees.

“That is why we really need your [media] help so this reaches all of our areas in our region; so that those who are looking for job, and/or displaced or new students or graduates for TESDA can avail for this opportunity,” Unchuan said.

The regional offices of DOT and DOLE have already coordinated to the different Public Employment Service Offices (PESO) in the local government units (LGUs) to collect pertinent job posting information from partner establishments, verify their credibility, and supervise them while adhering to the established guidelines set by the agencies.

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The collaboration has been stipulated under the Memorandum of Understanding signed by Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco and Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma on Aug. 30 last year.

Albert Gutib, DOLE-10 director, said the upcoming 2-day activity will be the only job fair so far in the region. However, for job seekers in some parts of Northern Mindanao may visit Cagayan de Oro to participate or their respective PESO.

“The job vacancies that will be generated in this job fair will also be shared with our public employment service offices so that they have information and they can provide referrals to the job seekers in the province who are unable to go to Cagayan de Oro,” Gutib said.

Unchuan added that the DOT-10 also encourages its tourism officers from different provinces, cities and municipalities in the region to get the list of their job seekers.

“Just in case they cannot make it, we’re also looking at trying to arrange online interviews so that they can also get the opportunities of course if they are qualified for the jobs that are available,” she said.

The DOT-10 director said that they also invited other government agencies to the upcoming event so that it would be easy for the applicants to get their necessary requirements, as the DOT-10 and DOLE-10 are aiming for ‘hired on the spot.’

Several tourism-related job opportunities will be available for the upcoming job fair, including positions in administration, accounting, marketing, human resource, front office, support staff, MICE operators, food and beverages, kitchen or food production, and housekeeping.

Job applicants should prepare their resume, application letter, 2×2 ID picture, and additional copies of each item if they intend to apply for several companies and positions.

Gutib and Unchuan both stressed that providing employment, not just in tourism but in all industries, has a vital role in boosting the economy which is significant in improving the lives of the people by having various job opportunities.

Marcos eyes improved cropping schedule to protect local production from agri imports

by Jel Santos

President and Agriculture Secretary Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday, Feb. 28, said he wants a detailed cropping schedule to ensure that agricultural imports will not harm local production.

(MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)

This came after he met with officials of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and other concerned agencies.

Marcos also requested that agriculture officials provide more information about the cyclical nature of crops in the Philippines in order to avoid importing products during harvest season.

When sourcing products from other countries, the government, according to the chief executive, must consider the sensitivities of local cropping, particularly their cyclical nature.

“Hindi tayo nag-i-import ng kahit anong produkto pagka maraming production para naman magamit natin lahat ng production na galing sa Pilipinas ( We do not import any product when there is a lot of products so that we can use all the production that comes from the Philippines),” said Marcos.

“Kung mag-i-import lang tayo, kung talagang may kulang and that’s what I mean about the cyclical nature of crops, that we have to be sensitive to that(If we only import, if something is really lacking and that’s what I mean about the cyclical nature of crops, that we have to be sensitive to that),” he continued.

Marcos said that, in response to climate change, Filipino farmers must change their planting schedule in some areas of the Philippines to take advantage of the moving rainy season, adding it may bring some benefits because farmers can have three croppings a year. 

The cyclical nature of agriculture already exists, the President said, adding, however, that with the advent of climate change, which complicates things, the sector should adjust accordingly.

Marcos said the agriculture’s cyclical nature already exists, and  that with the advent of climate change, which complicates matters, the sector should adjust accordingly.

Agriculture, forestry, and fisheries (AFF) performed modestly last year, at 0.5 percent, data showed.

The modest growth was attributed to positive Gross Value Added (GVA) growth of 2.3 percent in livestock and 6.7 percent in poultry, despite a -1.1 percent and -3.5 percent decline in the performance of the crops and fisheries subsectors, respectively.

The DA is aiming for an increase in the agriculture sector’s growth rate between 2023 and 2028 of 1.8 percent to 3.3 percent under the Philippine Development Plan of the Marcos administration.

 

45 Zentimeter Schnee sorgen für Winterwunderland in Oberbayern

 

45 Zentimeter Schnee sorgen für Winterwunderland in Oberbayern

Erstellt: 28.02.2023, 04:57 Uhr

Von: Katarina Amtmann

Am Wochenende fiel in Teilen Oberbayerns ziemlich viel Schnee. Das dürfte vor allem Wintersportfans freuen. Knapp 45 Zentimeter wurden gemessen.

Inzell - Der Winter läuft in dieser Saison auf Sparflamme. Schnee gab es nur hin und wieder. Wenn er fiel, sorgte er aber oftmals für ein Winterwunderland - wie zum Beispiel im Bayerischen Wald.

Wintereinbruch in Oberbayern: 45 cm Schnee in Inzell (Landkreis Traunstein)

Nun brach der Winter auch über Inzell (Landkreis Traunstein) herein. Wie ein Foto zeigt, betrug die Schneehöhe dort am Sonntagnachmittag, 26. Februar, gut 45 Zentimeter. Das dürfte Schneeliebhaber mehr als gefreut haben. Glücklich waren darüber sicher auch die Wintersportfans auf der Piste und die Liftbetreiber.

Zäher Winter für Wintersportfans: Oft zu wenig Schnee auf den Pisten

Denn Skifahrer hatten in den letzten Monaten oft Pech. Für Wintersportler ist der aktuelle Winter oftmals sehr enttäuschend, da zu wenig Schnee liegt. Eine Expertin schlug deshalb Alarm und forderte zum Umdenken auf. Die Skifahrer in Inzell genießen das aktuelle Wetter deshalb vielleicht jetzt umso mehr. (kam)

BDO net balloons to P57B

A view of BDO Unibank Inc.'s main office building in Makati City. File Photo

By The Manila Times

February 28, 2023 

THE country's largest bank saw its net income surge to P57.1 billion last year, up 34.7 percent from P42.8 billion in 2021, following robust growth across its core businesses.

The earnings were "broad-based and diversified," the Sy-led bank said in a statement, adding that it remained optimistic about its growth prospects despite current headwinds.

"We continue being alert to the challenges posed by supply constraints, higher inflation, tighter external liquidity, rates/FX (foreign exchange) volatility and geopolitical strains," it said.

"While macroeconomic challenges remain... BDO believes that its established business franchise and strong balance sheet will allow the bank to surmount near-term risks and capitalize on structural growth opportunities to attain long-term sustainable growth," it also said.

Return on equity improved to 13 percent for the year — 15.3 percent in the fourth quarter alone — from 10.5 percent in 2021 and 12.8 percent in 2019 before the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Gross customer loans were said to have gone up by 9 percent year on year, which BDO described as "broad-based" and due to the economy's reopening. Deposits climbed by 14 percent and net interest income grew by 14 percent to P149.2 billion.

Non-interest income, meanwhile, rose by 17 percent to P71.5 billion on the back of strong fee income, foreign exchange and fixed-income client-flow businesses.

Asset quality also improved, the bank said, with the non-performing loan (NPL) ratio declining to 1.95 percent and NPL coverage strengthening to 167 percent.

Total capital expanded to P461.5 billion with the capital adequacy and common equity tier 1 ratios both above regulatory minimum levels at 14.5 percent and 13.4 percent, respectively. Book value per share rose by 9 percent to P86.20 year on year.

Also on Monday, BDO announced on Monday that its board of directors had approved an increase in the bank's quarterly cash dividends on common shares to P0.75 per beginning this year and payable on March 31, 2023.

"This will be the new dividend policy of BDO going forward," the bank said in a separate statement.

"This higher dividend payout compares favorably with the P0.30 per share quarterly dividend in the past, as the bank recognizes the importance of providing a stable and sustainable dividend stream consistent with its commitment to shareholders, and its financial performance," it added.

The bank's shares rose by 10 centavos, or 0.08 percent, on Monday to P124.10 apiece amid a 1.29-percent plunge for the benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index.

DOTr tells transport groups: Let’s talk first before you strike

by Argyll Cyrus Geducos

Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista asked transport groups to sit down and iron out the issues concerning the sector with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) before they stage a week-long transport strike.

photo: Ali Vicoy

Bautista said this in response to the planned transport strike starting on March 6.

In an interview with Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil, Bautista said the government and the transport organizations should at least discuss each other’s positions regarding the Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) Modernization Program. 

“Dapat pag-isipan nating mabuti yung pag-stop ng operations. Dapat mag-usap-usap muna (We should think carefully about stopping operations. We should talk first),” he said on Monday, Feb. 27.

“Let’s understand what the issues are kasi baka hindi tayo nagkakaintindihan (because we just might be misunderstanding each other),” he added.

Bautista proposed a dialogue between the stakeholders, such as transport operators and representatives from the DOTr and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

“Ang problema yata ay hindi nagkaroon ng representatives ang DOTr doon sa mga discussions para ma-clarify kung anuman ‘yung mga issues (I think the problem was there were no DOTr representatives in the discussions to clarify issues),” he said. 

“I have already instructed the Undersecretary for Road Sector to coordinate with the LTFRB and with the operators,” he added.

Meanwhile, Bautista clarified that they are giving ample time to transport groups to muster enough funds to buy new units for their operations in line with the government’s PUV modernization program.

The DOTr chief pointed out that there would be no phase-out of old PUV units in areas where groups could not acquire new units for their designated routes.

In places were the drivers find it very hard to acquire new equipment, Bautista said the DOTr would give the operators time to join cooperatives to help them get the necessary equipment.

He added that the DOTr has been working closely with the Development Bank of the Philippines and the Land Bank of the Philippines to help transport groups and cooperatives finance modernized transport units’ acquisition.

Duterte to Mindanao student leaders: Rebuild torn communities with peace, trust

by Joseph Pedrajas

Vice President Sara Duterte has called on Mindanao youth to help the government rebuild their communities affected by conflict with peace and trust for the success of the Philippines.

In a gathering of student leaders in Sultan Kudarat State University on Monday, Duterte, who concurrently serves as the secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd), also appealed to make education accessible to the youth as “literacy is one of the casualties of war” that hinders the island’s progress.

Vice President Sara Duterte talks to the student leaders of Mindanao at Sultan Kudarat State University on Monday. (OVP photo)

“Together, let us rebuild our conflict-affected communities with the values of peace, mutual trust, and conflict transformation that will empower us to achieve our shared goals for sustainable development and inclusive socio-economic advancement,” Duterte said. 

The vice president lamented the violence that persists in many parts of Mindanao as the youth “have suffered the misfortune of chronically interrupted learning progress.”

“Meanwhile, our youth, especially those who have forcibly dropped out of school are vulnerable to being recruited by groups that espouse violence and terrorism,” she added.

But Duterte said she “never lost faith in the power of the Filipino youth,” and that DepEd commits to hone children to be nation builders to “unlock Mindanao’s full potential.”

“As the Secretary of the Department of Education, I hold on to this promise as we work hard to institutionalize peace and boldly introduce reforms in our basic education curriculum,” she said.

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She then challenged the student leaders to be the change they want for the societies and sustain its ties with the government to achieve their goals.

“As a fellow Mindanawon, I urge you to partner with the government in empowering your peers to become fellow catalysts of peace, reconciliation, and non-violence in your communities,” she said.

Pokwang: ‘The best revenge is to be fit and healthy’

by Stephanie Bernardino, MB

Pokwang reiterated the need to be fit and healthy in an Instagram post.

On Instagram, she uploaded a video of her doing some exercise routine.

Her caption read: “The best revenge is to be fit and healthy, not to impress some one or anybody, dapat fit para sa mga anak lalo na kung single mom ka.” 

“Hindi dapat sinisisi ang isang ina kung napabayaan ang katawan kaya nag hanap ng iba si mister, siguro kaya napabayaan kasi kakaalaga sating mga anak? kakaisip pano tayo palalakihin ng maayos? hindi maka pag pa salon kasi kulang sa budget? kakainin nalang ng mga anak, pang baon sa school pang tuition fee,” she added.

She then told her followers to refrain from ridiculing women, particularly mothers.

“Dahil para mo narin sinisi sarili mong ina na nagpabaya dahil sa pagmamahal sayo,” she related.

The Kapuso star ended her post with: “#PeaceEveryone ang ganda ng katawan ay kumukupas at babalik sa alabok pero pagmamahal ng isang anak ay walang kamatayan.”

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Pokwang also used the hashtags: “#womenempowerment” and “#Labanlangnanay.”

The time for innovation is now!

Published February 28, 2023, 12:05 AM

by Manila Bulletin

The Greek philosopher Heraclitus once said, “The only constant in life is change.” And if he were to update this based on current circumstances, he would’ve added the word “innovation.” Change, simply defined, is the act to be different. But innovation is bringing that act one notch higher, toward a better form, toward a better place.

In tech-driven times, we always hear about innovation. “Innovate, or perish” is the mantra of so many companies who have survived changes brought about by life-altering circumstances. In our history, these events are plenty — introduction of the computer, arrival of the hand-held gadgets, connection to the internet, to the emergence of artificial intelligence. Amid all these, what made huge corporations or small businesses survive and thrive is innovation. Without it, they cease to exist as the conditions are different from what they were accustomed with before.

Innovation, however, need not be in the realm of businesses alone. It is high time for the Philippines to develop an “innovation ecosystem,” which is currently championed by National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Director General and Socio-Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan. 

Balisacan made this remark during the National Innovation Council’s (NIC) first meeting under the Marcos administration last Feb. 21, 2023. Unknown to most Filipinos, there is an NIC, which is composed of 25 members, with the President as chairperson and the NEDA director general as vice chairperson. The rest are composed of 16 ex-officio members and seven members from the private sector.

Formed in 2019 under the Duterte administration, the NIC is “tasked to develop the country’s innovation goals, priorities, and long-term national strategies.” It is quite a surprise, or puzzling maybe, that its first meeting under the new administration is only the NIC’s fourth meeting since its creation (disrupted maybe by the pandemic). Now, wouldn’t it be more “fruitful” to have more meetings on innovations in the coming months?

All is not late, hopefully, as the NIC’s meeting was presided over by the President, who concurred with the important role of innovation to ensure economic growth, competitiveness, and resilience amid worldwide upheavals.

Balisacan said that one of our major challenges as a country is that “we have not paid much attention to innovation” and that the Philippines lags behind its neighbors when it comes to innovation.

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To address this challenge, Balisacan said: “What we want to happen is that we have an ecosystem that encourages, promotes… and helps them locate funds, access to credit… so that good ideas can be supported.” There is an Innovation Fund, which is a revolving fund aimed to support enterprises that are developing innovative solutions.

The NIC also presented to the President the important features of RA No. 11293 or the “Philippine Innovation Act” and updates on the formulation of the National Innovation Agenda and Strategy Document (NIASD). The NIASD “outlines the country’s 10-year vision and long-term goals for innovation and serves as a detailed roadmap toward improving innovation governance.”

“These documents aim at enabling a strong innovation governance to drive the innovation ecosystem toward (our) goals of a smart and innovative Philippines that is productive, resilient, and sustainable, as well as inclusive,” Balisacan said.

With this promising start, may the path to embrace innovation be smooth and steady. As a country, we have to innovate, before it’s too late! Otherwise, we suffer the disgraceful consequence of irrelevance on the world stage.