Northern Mindanao transport group not joining week-long nationwide transport strike

by Franck Dick Rosete

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY –- The National Confederation of Transport Union (NCTU) Northern Mindanao has decided not to join the scheduled weeklong nationwide transport strike starting on Monday, March 6.

The NCTU has earlier said it would join the nationwide transport strike as its way to express their opposition to franchise consolidation and traditional jeepney phaseout.

In a sudden change of heart, the transport group decided not to join anymore but did not cite reasons for its decision. 

However, NCTU Northern Mindanao coordinator Joel Gabatan said in a phone interview on Saturday, March 4, that despite their nonparticipation, the NCTU Northern Mindanao still called on the national government to address various concerns of the jeepney operators pertaining to the franchise consolidation that is part of the public utility vehicle modernization program (PUVMP).

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) extended the franchise consolidation deadline until the end of this year.

Gabatan said there were jeepney operators who are also cooperative members who voiced concerns because of the expensive fees and the fear to raise concerns due to the possible consequences.

“Pagmureklamo sila ignon dayon nga i-drop imong franchise ilabi na nga naka-consolidate naka; kay paghuman consolidate, ang tag-iya ana ang coop na (If they complained, they would say they will drop the franchise, especially that they were already consolidated; because after consolidation, the owner will be the cooperative),” Gabatan said. 

The NTCU regional coordinator said this could be the reason why there were still several jeepney drivers and operators who were not in favor of the consolidation.

Aminoden Guro, LTFRB Region 10 director, advised members of transport cooperatives to directly report their concerns or complaints about their management to the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA).

“Para and CDA na ang musita ana nga ccoperaive nga ngano dili mo gasunod sa inyong balaod (So that the CDA would be the one to call out that cooperative asking why you’re not following your rules),” Guro said in a separate phone interview with the Manila Bulletin on Saturday.

Guro underscored the importance of consolidating the individual jeepney operators in order to have better fleet management in the transportation system.

The LTFRB-10 director said 98% of the PUVs in the region have already formed into cooperatives and consolidated their franchises.

Despite the extension of the franchise consolidation deadline, the planned transport strike next week will still continue, said Manibela chairman Mar Valbuena. 

During the public hearing Thursday, March 2, the Senate Committee on Public Services chaired by Senator Grace Poe urged the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the LTFRB to fix their problem first before providing a deadline.

The LTFRB previously set a March deadline for the traditional jeepney consolidation, but it was extended on June 30 as many transport groups objected.

Meanwhile, the Northern Mindanao Federation of Transport Service Cooperative (NOMFEDTRASCO) also expressed opposition towards nationwide transport strikes.

The NOMFEDTRASCO said its members already consolidated their franchises and voiced support for the public utility vehicle modernization program of the government.

“There were 20 transport service cooperative members that already have operational modernized units that is 45 percent of the total membership,” it said in a statement released on March 1.

The group stressed that the implementation of nationwide transport strike could prejudice the right of the riding public to access public transportation and could deplete the purpose of the PUVMP.

The said transport federation has almost fifty (50) transport cooperatives from the five provinces in the Northern Mindanao region.

Just in case there is transportation paralysis, the LTFRB regional office 10 secured its contingency plans by coordinating with the transport groups and transport corporations to have their buses offer ‘Libreng Sakay’ to government employees, barangay workers, and students, among others.

“This office assures the public that in case of strike, it is ready to fill the routes affected by the said strike and is prepared to cushion the effects of the strikes of transport groups,” the LTFRB-10 said.

 

Be prepared for thin power supply this summer

Published March 3, 2023, 12:05 AM

by Manila Bulletin

A couple of days ago, power transmission operator National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) warned of thin power supply during the coming summer months.

It cited the forecast of the Department of Energy (DOE) that total peak demand this year will hover over 13,125 megawatts (MW) for Luzon — an 8.35 percent increase from the peak load of 12,113MW logged on May 12, 2022.

“Thin operating margins (power in excess of demand) from where ancillary services (power used to manage and balance the grid) are taken, are forecast for this year,” NGCP said.

For the Luzon grid, the NGCP said “these are forecast from April to June due to the historically high demand during the summer months” — the period when households as well as commercial and industrial establishments will use their air-conditioning or cooling systems for longer durations.

With the projected power outlook for the coming summer months, the power sector — the government energy agencies and the power generating and distribution firms — should sit down and come up with contingency measures so it could be set in motion in the event of an outage.

Power generators and distributors should also heed the grid operator’s call to rationalize maintenance schedules, which are mandated under the Grid Operating and Maintenance Program (GOMP), to ensure steady power supply. The DOE approved the 2023 GOMP in December last year.

Likewise, “unplanned shutdowns,” which are outside the ambit of the GOMP, should also be taken into consideration.

Despite the warning, there is no reason to press the alarm button right now.

As the NGCP said, “while base case projections show no occurrence of yellow or red alerts, there are weeks between March and April where operating margins are below required levels due to higher demand and planned outages of plants.”

Earlier DOE projection also showed no “red alert” or extreme thinning of power reserves although it plotted possible 12 yellow alerts, precipitated by insufficiency of system reserves, to occur between March and November this year. A yellow alert is issued when operating margin or the power in excess of demand is insufficient to meet the transmission grid’s regulating and contingency requirement. A red alert, on the other hand, is issued when power supplies are insufficient to meet consumer demand and the regulating requirement of the transmission grid.

Whether the projection becomes a reality or not, it’s better to be prepared rather than be caught flat-footed. It is necessary that consumers practice electricity conservation at all times, including unplugging appliances not being used.

Let’s learn from past experiences.

Who laughs last laughs longest

If I only knew how! A friend of mine contacted me yesterday. Another said, "This is hardly the time to do so." Understandable, if I consider his very personal situation. Anyway, it seems we have no more time and no reason for laughter. That can wait until tomorrow or better until the day after tomorrow. Anticipation is better... .

Ask yourself: Are you still in a laughing mood? Maybe you are just ready to give a forced and embarrassed laugh. Sure, if we look around the whole globe, we must indeed ask the question: What's so funny about it? Refugee problems - mostly in Europe nowadays? War and killings all over the world? 

Roar with laughter? Our enemies laugh up their sleeves, and most of the time we miss to recognize the fortune still smiling at us. But hold on: he who laughs last laughs longest. Remember?

American neurologist Henri Rubenstein says, laughter lowers high blood pressure while aiding digestion and fostering sleep. Well, give me even a simple smile and believe in what  experts say: "Good humor can help the gravely or terminally ill to hear their ordeal".

Of course, if we look around us these days, we might really not roar with laughter or split our sides laughing. Or even more than this! Have you heard about the incident at the Danish Imperial Theatre in Copenhagen/Denmark sometime during the 1980s, when a spectator died of a heart attack while watching the movie "A Fish Called Wanda" starring John Cheese of my favorite Great Britain's Monty Python Comedy Team? Sure, a heart attack is indeed not funny, and honestly, I still love to watch this movie on VHS.

Well, even if we think we don't have reasons to laugh,we should try to express mirth spontaneously, and we should try to be merry or gay. We still have reasons to start with the softest form of audible laughter - the vocalized smile. This is what I learned and experienced from the first moment on while travelling in Asia since 1978, and being an expat living in the Philippines since 1999 for good. Keep smiling - even you are overloaded with huge problems.

Experts also say good humor works because it helps people feel easier in mind. The French psychotherapist Sylvie Tenenbaum stressed that, in her patients, laughter often signals the dawning of a wholesome awakening to reality. Gallow humor might be dubious in the eyes of others. But try to sing out loud, try to cry, but try to laugh!

As a devout Christian I love reading the bible. Ecclessiastes 3:1-4 say: "There is a time for everything ... a time to be born and a time to die ,,, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh!"

Davao chamber upbeat on regional growth

THE Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCCI) shared a positive growth outlook of their region and survived inflation only through strengthening agricultural productivity.

During the roundtable interview with The Manila Times Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dante Francis "Klink" Ang 2nd on Wednesday, DCCCI President John Tria said that their region performed better despite high inflation due to rich agricultural productivity that sustained them.

"Mindanao economy, as a whole, performed better than the national economy, both during the pandemic and immediately after," said Tria.

"During the pandemic, the... contraction... is only 7.5 percent compared to the country at 9.5 [percent] in 2020. Then in the year after, we grew at 6.1 percent, which is higher than the nation's 5.7 [percent]," he added.

Regarding energy, the country is considered to be a consumer-based nation. Therefore, what really needs to be considered is that energy is not cheap, and needs further expansion and investment, which will harbor competition for a cheaper cost.

"I think the long term is really to electrify our... or commit or source it from renewable resources, electrify our homes and our mobility," Tria stressed.

Investment

Tria said that in Mindanao, there is an increase of investments in which he said, "Maybe many countries like India see Mindanao as a good market."

According to him, it is probably because Mindanao is the source of many raw materials such as food, which amounts to a total of 40 percent of the country's source. In addition, it is also rich in mineral resources.

Furthermore, Tria underscored the region's advantages for future possible investments based on geographic advantage.

"In terms of Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), we are actually a port city that is very close... compared to other countries... we are very close to Shanghai, Yokohama, and of course, the continental United States," he explained.

Bb. Pilipinas 2023 candidates tour revamped Art in Island museum

by Manila Bulletin Entertainment

The gorgeous candidates of Binibining Pilipinas 2023 visited on Feb. 27 the equally-beautiful Art In Island: The Media Square, which recently reopened to the public after undergoing renovation.

The girls took a break from the usual pageant events to immerse in the breathtaking state-of-the-art attractions in the largest mixed media museum in the Philippines.

Upon entering the museum, the candidates were welcomed by the sight of a beguiling virtual waterfall and a floor-to-ceiling display of breathtaking light scenery. The ladies were in awe of the projected images that overlay highly detailed hand paintings of the natural topography, which range from under the seascape to the wonders of the jungle. 

The Binibinis also enjoyed the array of interactive wall paintings, where they took fun and playful photos for their social media feeds.

“The competition is long and challenging, so we give the Binibinis some time to have fun and loosen up through this experience. This break is also an opportunity for them to bond more with their Binibini sisters,” BPCI Head Gines Enriquez said.

The revamped The Art In Island: The Media Square, located along 15th Avenue in Quezon City, reopened in December 2022. Its latest offerings were made in collaboration with renowned artists and digital experts from South Korea.

Stars and models grace skin clinic opening

Published March 3, 2023, 7:34 AM

by Annalyn S. Jusay

Gabrielle Lantzer, Polo Ravales and Jamilla Obispo

Actor Polo Ravales, Viva talent Jamilla Obispo, beauty queen Gabrielle Lantzer, Russian model Ilia Nikeshin and Miss Supermodel Philippines 2023 candidates were some of the personalities who graced the opening of Aurea Aesthetics and Wellness in Mandaluyong City, beside SM Cherry Shaw.

Owner Gwen Tamayo said the Mandaluyong clinic is their second branch. The first one is located in Makati City while they are also scheduled to expand soon to Pampanga, Tarlac and Las Piñas City.

Gwen’s other business partners in the venture are Katrina Aurea Vibandor, Allan Aparis, Troy Dy, and Yangky Tamayo. 

 Aurea Aesthetics owners Allan Aparis (left) and Gwen Tamayo (right) with Gabrielle Lantzer

She added that Polo will be a partner in the Las Piñas branch which is set to open in the first half of 2023. They have known each other since first year high school.

“Originally, I wanted to open a barbershop. But then, Gwen also has this skin clinic so we decided to merge the two business concepts into one.A barbershop inside a skin clinic is pretty unique,” said Polo who is based in the South with his fiancee, Paulyn Quiza.

The owners of Aurea also happen to be partners in another business called Arcka Ventures which supplies all kinds of machines to aesthetic clinics. Mr. Aparis said the beauty services in Aurea will definitely be cheaper than other clinics because they are the source of the equipment and they are targeting people with a lower budget.

Aurea Aesthetics big boss Gwen Tamayo with Miss Supermodel Philippines 2023 contestants

Aurea Aesthetics and Wellness is envisioned to be a one-stop shop for all pampering procedures, including mani/pedi, massage, gluta drip and eyelash extensions which can be requested for home service.

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For anti-aging and beauty maintenance, Aurea offers diode laser hair removal, pico laser treatment, high-intensity focused ultrasound or HIFU, Oxygeneo, and Exilis fat reduction, to name a few.

 A client tries a laser treatment in Aurea Aesthetics and Wellness

They also also have a sauna and Moroccan bath in the Mandaluyong branch, which is beside the company-owned Kat Yoko Japanese Fusion restaurant.

Soon, Aurea will unveil their operating room for major procedures such as rhinoplasty and liposuction.The center’s accredited doctors are Manny Calayan, Joan Ocampo and Hazel Calixto.

PH Pop Rock Royalty named Academy of Rock Global Ambassador

Yeng Constantino, music teacher

By Tessa Mauricio-Arriola, Manila Times

It takes one to know one — and to mentor one. This is the eager conviction of Filipina singer-songwriter genius and Pop Rock Royalty Yeng Constantino as she takes on a brand-new role for the award-winning Singapore-based music school Academy of Rock (AOR).

As global ambassador of the Singaporean music school, which is franchised in several countries across Asia, Yeng Constantino looks forward to mentoring student-artists here and abroad.

As global ambassador of the Singaporean music school, which is franchised in several countries across Asia, Yeng Constantino looks forward to mentoring student-artists here and abroad.

In 2013, the brand opened its doors in the Philippines when Yeng was named national ambassador. Now, 10 years to the day, she has agreed to represent AOR in a broader capacity as global ambassador, which she announced will include mentoring student-artists whenever she can.

"Am I a patient person?" the multi-platinum recording artist wondered at loud when The Manila Times Entertainment asked her if she has this essential quality of teachers. "Malalaman po natin," she joked gamely.

More seriously, the voice behind the now classic OPM hit "Hawak Kamay," humbly says she believes she will do well in mentoring young musicians because she is familiar, first of all, with an artist's temperament.

"I think mas magkakaintindihan po kami kasi sabi nga nila ang artists may mga crazy sides yan. And sometimes the crazier the ideas [among artists], may mas magandang kinakalabasan," Yeng explained.

Moreover, she believes her experience as a young girl who only dreamed of becoming a singer-songwriter will be her greatest tool in becoming an effective mentor.

"Nanggaling din po kasi ako dyan kung nasaan sila ngayon," she said, adding that the time for her to give back and make others' dreams come true is now.

Yeng's sincerity in everything she said was proven by AOR's Singaporean founder Priscila Teo, who was in Manila for the signing of the global ambassadorship contract.

"The reason why I chose Yeng to be our ambassadress years ago was because of her authentic and genuine artistry, as well as her exceptional attitude that serves as a wonderful role model for our students," she said.

Free medical check-up bill to save lives and gov’t funds; Cong Duterte explains how

Published March 2, 2023, 9:43 AM

by Ellson Quismorio, MB

Davao City 1st district Rep. Paolo Duterte has highlighted the need to provide free annual medical checkups for all Filipinos to ensure that they get access to preventive care and are able to address potentially serious health issues early on.

Davao City 1st district Rep. Paolo Duterte (KEITH BACONGCO / MANILA BULLETIN) 

Duterte said that, with all Filipinos automatically becoming Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) members under the Universal Health Care Act, free medical check-ups should form part of their benefits.

For this purpose, Duterte, Benguet Rep. Eric Yap and ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Edvic Yap filed House Bill (HB) No.5074 with seeks to automatically entitle every Filipino to free blood sugar and cholesterol  tests each year.

The measure, titled, “An Act providing for a free annual medical check-up for Filipinos”, has already been approved by the House Committee on Health.

“To promote health, identify risks, and ensure early diagnosis, PhilHealth shall establish a system that allows access to a free annual medical check-up and ensure that Filipinos shall be accorded the quality health care services that they deserve,” read HB No.5074.

Duterte said that “Investing in free medical check-ups for every Filipino will help save lives and ensure that no one gets left behind when it comes to health care.”

Detecting potentially serious medical conditions in its early stages will not only benefit every Filipino but also PhilHealth, as this would bring down the costs of providing coverage for  expensive medical procedures that usually come with treating life-threatening diseases, Duterte added.

Under the bill, Filipinos can avail of the free medical check-up in any government-run  hospital or medical institution.

On top of free cholesterol and blood sugar tests, the three lawmakers also proposed the inclusion of expanded laboratory and diagnostic tests in the free annual medical check-up benefit “subject to the availability of Philhealth funds”.

“The State is tasked to institutionalize regular check-ups for its citizens in order to determine their potential health concerns and avoid further complications. Every citizen must be able to exercise his or her right to health without incurring any financial burden,” the bill’s authors said.

Sinking of MT Princess Empress: ‘Black, thick’ oil with foul odor emerges in Mindoro’s waters

by Martin Sadongdong

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Wednesday afternoon, March 1, confirmed the presence of “black and thick” oil with strong odor in the waters off Naujan, Oriental Mindoro after motor tanker (MT) Princess Empress capsized there.

Photo: Philippine Coast Guard / PCG

The sighting of the black and thick oil raised fears that the cargoes containing 800,000 liters of industrial oil onboard MT Princess Empress when it sank on Tuesday, Feb. 28, have already spilled. The features of the oil were different compared to the thin particles from the diesel of the tanker that caused the initial oil spill.

The PCG said they also found the possible source of the black oil at 7.4 nautical miles southwest off Balingawan Point, near the area where MT Princess Empress sank. 

BRP Melchora Aquino launched a rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB) to collect water samples from the water after the responders observed there was a foul odor coming from it.

“The Marine Environmental Protection Unit (PCG-MEPU) has observed a black and thick oil on the collected water samples,” the PCG disclosed.

However, the PCG has yet to confirm whether the presence of the black oil could be attributed to the spillage of the industrial oil, saying this is still being assessed by the responders.

The PCG said that its motor tugboat “Titan” sprayed oil dispersants in the area so the black oil could break down into smaller droplets and mix with the water. This will push the effects of the oil spill underwater.

Going beyond the material and the natural

 

By Fr. Roy Cimagala *

WHEN Christ said, “I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven,” (Mt 5,20) we have to understand that Christian life will involve the task of going beyond what simply is material and natural in our life. That’s because our life is meant to be spiritual and supernatural, since it is supposed to be a life of sharing with God’s life and nature.

In this regard, we have to see to it that our dealings with one another, and most especially with God himself, are not guided simply by human and natural standards. This Christ clarified when he said:

“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, ‘You shall not kill’; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment. But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, Raqa, will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna.” (Mt 5,21-22)

This Christian duty, of course, will obviously require tremendous effort, given the way we are—always prone to think that we can only be guided by our own natural and human ways rather than by God’s ways. But even before thinking of the need for this tremendous effort, we have to realize, first of all, that with humility we need to ask for God’s grace. Only with his grace can we aspire to carry out this duty.

To be able to carry out this duty we always need to have in our mind and heart the example of Christ, and to feel his great love for all of us, irrespective of how we are. Let’s remember that he asked us to love even our enemies, and he lived by this standard when even on the cross, he offered forgiveness to those who crucified him.

It’s when we keenly feel this love of God for us that we can manage to love God and others the way Christ loved us, going beyond merely natural and human values. To be sure, loving God and others the way Christ loved and continues to love us, does not in any way go against our nature. It simply goes beyond it, purifying it and elevating it to the supernatural order, so we can share the very life and nature of God as we are meant to be.

In this regard, a certain 4th century Greek bishop by the name of Diadochus had something relevant to say: 

“The measure of a man’s love for God depends upon how deeply aware he is of God’s love for him. When this awareness is keen, it makes whoever possesses it to long to be enlightened by the divine light, and this longing is so intense that it seems to penetrate his very bones. He loses all consciousness of himself and is entirely transformed by the love of God.”

And he added even something very interesting that describes how going beyond our natural self to reach the supernatural life of God is: 

“Such a man lives in this life and at the same time does not live in it, for although he still inhabits his body, he is constantly leaving it in spirit because of the love that draws him toward God. Once the love of God has released him from self-love, the flame of divine love never ceases to burn in his heart and he remains united to God by an irresistible longing.” 

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

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com