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By Javier Joe Ismael and Jerry M. Hernandez
July 4, 2023
SEN. Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go, chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, personally attended the groundbreaking of the Super Health Center (SHC) in Hagonoy, Davao del Sur on Saturday, July 1.
Coinciding with the 70th Araw ng Hagonoy celebration, the event provided an opportunity for Go to greet the people of Hagonoy, emphasizing his dedication to assisting those in need.
The establishment of SHCs is one of Go's initiatives, done in collaboration with the Department of Health (DoH). It is aimed at strengthening the health care system, particularly access to basic medical services in remote areas.
Go consistently advocated for the establishment of these health care facilities, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that more Filipinos have access to affordable health care.
Super Health Centers will offer basic health services, including database management, outpatient, birthing, isolation, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: X-ray, ultrasound), pharmacy, and ambulatory surgical unit.
Other available services are eye, ear, nose, and throat (EENT) service; oncology centers; physical therapy and rehabilitation center; and telemedicine, where remote diagnosis and treatment of patients will be done.
Through the collective efforts of fellow lawmakers, sufficient funds have been allocated for 307 SHCs in 2022 and 322 in 2023. The DoH, the lead implementing agency, identifies the strategic areas where they will be built.
In Davao del Sur, SHCs will be strategically located in Digos City, Matanao, and Kiblawan, aside from the one in Hagonoy.
Before the groundbreaking, Go and his staff distributed grocery packs, vitamins, masks, shirts, and snacks to 1,000 struggling residents. The senator likewise gave away shoes, bicycles, cellular phones, watches, and balls for basketball and volleyball to select beneficiaries.
Moreover, personnel from the Department of Social Welfare and Development extended financial aid to struggling residents in the town through its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program.
Novo Ecijanos' turn to have SHCs
In a related development, Novo Ecijanos will also enjoy the benefits of the government's health services as the DoH establishes 10 SHCs in the province. This was announced by DoH Nueva Ecija Development Management Officer 4 Clesther Jose Espinosa during the latest episode of the Philippine Information Agency's "Leaders In Focus" media program.
Espinosa said these projects, currently being built in strategic locations in Nueva Ecija, are part of the General Appropriations Acts of 2022 and 2023. They will ensure health services to 849 barangay (villages) in the towns of Santo Domingo, Rizal, San Leonardo, Laur, Carranglan, Zaragoza, Llanera, and Bongabon and the cities of Cabanatuan and Muñoz.
The DoH has set the completion targets for the 10 SHCs, also called Primary Care Facilities, at the end of this year. They will feature a 6-in-1 package of health services including clinical laboratory, diagnostic and radiologic services, pharmacy, birthing services, dental services, and ambulance services. Some P10 million have been allotted for each facility, with an additional P2 million for medical equipment.
The local government, Espinosa added, will shoulder the identification and provision of lots for the facility, acquisition of other additional equipment, and hiring of personnel. Aside from SHC, the DoH is also helping strengthen barangay or rural health unit facilities, including the deployment of doctors, nurses, and midwives who will attend to the resident's medical needs.
At present, a molecular laboratory is being built at the San Jose City General Hospital. This is similar to those in Dr. Paulino J. Garcia Memorial Research and Medical Center (PJGMRMC) and Manuel V. Gallego Cabanatuan City General Hospital. The PJGMRMC is a recipient of the Service Delivery Network that designates it as a Regional Heart Center in response to rising cases of cardiovascular diseases.
First though, who is Milky Day and why should we care? Well, Pinoys love a good singer and Milky Day certainly checks that box. And while he’s a Singaporean-New Zealander (currently) based in Sydney, being from ‘out of town’ never was a problem for us innately hospitable Pinoys. That and our appreciation for somebody who’s really putting themselves into the music.
A singer who goes by the name Milky Day is reaching out to an audience in the Philippines. And he’s starting by adding some local color.
First though, who is Milky Day and why should we care? Well, Pinoys love a good singer and Milky Day certainly checks that box. And while he’s a Singaporean-New Zealander (currently) based in Sydney, being from ‘out of town’ never was a problem for us innately hospitable Pinoys. That and our appreciation for somebody who’s really putting themselves into the music.
“I was always surrounded by music growing up! I’ve been playing piano since I was 8,” Milky Day shares. Years later, like every musician worth their salt, he was tinkering with computer music and started down the path of writing and producing his own music and at the same time never stopping to improve his know-how in music, studying jazz and taking singing lessons. “As I released more songs, I was surprised to see my songs gaining traction and my fanbase expanding. Then in 2022, I quit my job and decided to fully focus my time and energy on creating music.”
Milky Day has since collected a string of releases that includes the Vibe-y and pop R&B-esque “You’ll Be Alright” and the equally grooving and lo-fi tinged “Fool.” Just between those two songs, Milky Day has already amassed more than 28 million listens of his almost 50 million streams in Spotify alone.
Pinoys can also relate to Milky Day’s ‘hugot’ themes of heartbreak, love, hope and regret. One of those songs would be “Listen to the Rain.''
“I was going through a rough patch. Laid off from my day job, recovering from a breakup and adjusting to my new life as a full-time musician in a new country. I was under a lot of stress, worrying about my future, struggling to come to terms with negative emotions I was feeling. Then one day, it was raining lightly outside and for the first time in a long time, I felt a huge sense of relief from the weight I had been bearing. It felt like all of my worries weren’t as bad as they had seemed in my head. I wrote “Listen to the Rain” inspired by this feeling, so I hope that the song provides comfort to the listener the same way the rain had for me.”
Which leads to his latest single “Let Me.” In true ‘hugot’ fashion, Milky Day made “Let Me” –a lo-fi tinged R&B ballad--while “reminiscing about the summer night drives and adventures I had shared with my loved one back in L.A.” And here’s where local act Denise Julia comes in. “Halfway through, I thought it would be nice to have another singer tell the story from another perspective. I was looking for a female with soothing vocals, so I had my management reach out to Denise!”
Milky Day then shared how the young Filipina indie rap and R&B artist “killed it with her verse and how he loved her sound and how she interpreted the song and accurately captured the mood that I had intended. It was a really great experience we got to work together.”
Milky Day believes that “music is a universal language, so I use it to convey some of my own personal experiences, hoping to convey my story and reassure listeners they’re not the only ones feeling the things they do. I want my music to provide comfort and be a reminder that you’re not alone when you’re going through the ups and downs of life.”
Amen, brother.
"Kailangan nating tanggapin ang katotohanan na hindi naman forever young ka," said Marian, when she was launched as the latest brand ambassador of BlancPro, a new skincare brand, held at a hotel in Quezon City recently. "Ang tanong. How do you take care of yourself kapag tumatanda ka? Kaya nadyan ang ating mga lotion para alam natin kung paano natin alagaan ang sarili natin. Lahat tayo darating dyan. Lahat tayo tatanda. Yun nga lang, paano ka tatanda na mas maayos at mas maganda. For me, okay ako dun. Ine-embrace ko yung ganung pagkakataon."
Kapuso Primetime Queen Marian Rivera has gracefully embraced the transformations that come with time. She is among the celebrities who embrace the inevitable process of aging.
"Kailangan nating tanggapin ang katotohanan na hindi naman forever young ka," said Marian, when she was launched as the latest brand ambassador of BlancPro, a new skincare brand, held at a hotel in Quezon City recently. "Ang tanong. How do you take care of yourself kapag tumatanda ka? Kaya nadyan ang ating mga lotion para alam natin kung paano natin alagaan ang sarili natin. Lahat tayo darating dyan. Lahat tayo tatanda. Yun nga lang, paano ka tatanda na mas maayos at mas maganda. For me, okay ako dun. Ine-embrace ko yung ganung pagkakataon."
(We have to accept the fact that you are not forever young. The question is, how do you take care of yourself when you get old? That's why our lotions are there, so we know how to take care of ourselves. We'll all get there. We'll all get old. How do you get older better, and more beautiful? For me, I'm okay with that. I embrace that opportunity.)
Marian, 38. disclosed that during her youth, she used a considerable amount of lotion to moisturize her skin. Her mother instructed her on the importance of applying lotion after taking a bath and before going to bed.
Her husband, actor Dingdong Dantes does not use lotion often, she said. So what she does is she puts lotion on Dingdong while he sleeps. "Ang mga boys aminin natin hindi masyadong gumagamit ng lotion. Pagtulog na lang, saka ko sya lalagyan ng lotion." (Boys, let's face it, don't use lotion very much. When he sleeps, I'll put lotion on him.)
Beauty is not only external. According to Marian, it is also important that you grow old, happy with your family and satisfied with your achievements in life.
Full blast
Marian said that she's excited about her latest projects in showbiz: a movie with Dingdong and a teleserye with Gabby Concepcion.
Asked about her kids Zia and Sixto who will miss her while taping for movies and teleserye, Marian answered: "Simple lang. Time management."
Marian said that she and her husband always discuss with their kids the nature of their profession.
“And siguro maganda na open yung communication ko sa kids. At kahit bata pa sila, ine-explain ko sa kanila. Ito ang gagawin ni mama. Ito yung mga times na wala si mama. O, ito yung mga times na free si mama at masasamahan ko, makakapasyal tayo," she said.
(And maybe it's good that my communication with the kids is open. And even though they are young, I explain to them. This is what mom will do. These are the times when mom is not around. Or, these are the times when mom is free, and I can go with you. We can go for a walk.)
Marian always requests Zia to look after her younger brother Sixto whenever she is not around.
“I’m very open, especially to Zia. Si Zia kasi, medyo mature na talaga ang isip. Naiintindihan niya na. pag wala ako, sasabihin ko sa kanya, bahala ka sa kapatid mo. Ikaw ang tatayong mama ni Sixto pag wala si mama," she added.
(I'm very open, especially to Zia. Because Zia is really quite mature in mind. She understands that. When I'm not there, I'll tell her, take care of your brother. You will be Sixto's mom when mom is not around.)
“May mga ganung conversation na kami. At talagang mahalaga na wala pa man, hindi pa man nangyayari, nabibigay mo na ang schedule ahead of time sa kanila. Mas maganda kasi na sinasabi mo sa mga bata. Hindi yung one week before, aalis na pala ako, may taping na pala ako.
(We have had such conversations. And it's really important that even if nothing has happened yet, you can give them the schedule ahead of time. It's better if you tell the children. Not one week before, I'm going to leave, I have a taping.)
“Mas maganda, months pa lang, alam nilang magwo-work si mama. So, handa yung isip at puso nila na mawawala ako. Mabilis lang naman. Four months lang naman. Then balik na uli kami sa dati," Marian also said.
(It's better that months before, they know mom will work. So their minds and hearts are ready. It's just quick. It's only four months. Then we're back to what we were before.)
New skin care brand
Taking inspiration from the success of premium beauty and wellness brand Beautéderm, the company’s President and CEO Rhea Anicoche-Tan extends a warm invitation to consumers as she introduces a new skincare brand - BlancPro.
“BlancPro is tailored to cater to consumers who seek effective yet budget-friendly skincare products. What sets BlancPro apart is its use of quality ingredients, carefully formulated to suit all skin types,” Rhea said.
The respected businesswoman further emphasized BlancPro’s commitment to inclusivity, simplicity, and affordability. Tan’s new venture introduces an array of products that address various skin concerns, such as the Milk Body Wash, Sakura Body Scrub, Charcoal Foam, Phyto-Emerald Moisturizing Soap, and Sleeping Mask. This also includes Marian Rivera's signature endorsement, the Jeju White Brightening, and Moisturizing Lotion.
Rhea urges consumers to treat their skin with kindness, just as the brand's official ambassador, Marian, exemplifies.
"Marian Rivera has been a dear friend for many years. As the official endorser of Beautéderm Home, her effectiveness in representing the brand has been undeniable, leading my team and me to select her as the face of BlancPro. Marian embodies grace, confidence, and beauty," the BlancPro CEO shared.
Motorists will gain financial relief at the pumps this week as the price of gasoline and diesel products will be on rollback by P0.70 per liter, based on the pricing adjustment advisories of the oil companies.
For kerosene products, the industry players similarly announced price cuts of P0.85 per liter and that had been anchored on the movement of prices in the world market.
As of this writing, the oil firms that already sent notices on their price reductions effective Tuesday (July 4) had been Shell Pilipinas Corporation, Seaoil, Cleanfuel, Chevron, Jetti and PetroGazz; while their competitor-firms are anticipated to follow.
Prior to this round of adjustment, domestic petroleum prices since the start of the year logged net decrease of P3.00 per liter for diesel and P5.15 per liter for kerosene; while gasoline prices had a net increase of P6.55 per liter.
The cost adjustments at the domestic pumps had been referenced on the Mean of Platts Singapore (MOPS), the pricing barometer adopted by the deregulated downstream oil industry.
Prices in the world market had been on downtrend last week, on lack on factors that could lift market sentiments versus portended global economic growth slowdown.
While mammoth oil consumer United States had reported decline on inventory, that did not come as enough succor to any upward price pressures on traded oil commodities last week.
As of Monday (July 3), spot trading prices for international benchmark Brent crude had been hovering at $75 per barrel scale, barely moving from its level last week.
Nevertheless, global oil markets have been looking forward to any potential declaration that the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) may be coming up on their International Seminar that is slated this July 5-6.
There is no clear direction yet how prices would swing this week, but market watchers have not been expecting major developments that could jolt oil market fundamentals in the days ahead.
By: Dona Z. Pazzibugan, Julie M. Aurelio, Melvin Gascon - @inquirerdotnet
Sen. Nancy Binay and House Deputy Minority Leader France Castro urge tourism department to ensure accountability following controversy involving foreign video clips, noting that taxpayer money is used to fund its projects.
MANILA, Philippines — Just two days after it announced that it was conducting an investigation, the Department of Tourism (DOT) abruptly ended its contract with DDB Group Philippines on Monday after the advertising agency apologized for using stock footage of other countries in the video launching the country’s “Love the Philippines” tourism campaign.
In a statement, the DOT pointed to DDB’s “abject failure” to comply with its obligations under the P49-million contract after the agency “admitted in no uncertain terms” that the materials used in the promotional video were not original.
The almost two-minute-long video featuring popular travel destinations in the country was shown at the June 27 launch of the newest tourism campaign that replaced the “It’s more fun in the Philippines” branding that had been in use since 2012.
But netizens pointed out that some clips were of tourist sites in other countries, including a fisherman in Thailand, an airport runway in Switzerland, rice terraces in Indonesia, and sand dunes in the United Arab Emirates.
In deciding to terminate the contract for the new tourism campaign, the DOT cited its right “to change, suspend, or discontinue temporarily or permanently the contract at any time should [it] deem the agency incapable of [carrying out] the project.”
It stressed that no payments had been made to DDB, adding that it would “review standards of performance or lack thereof” should the agency submit a claim.
The DOT did not comment, however, on whether it would retain the “Love the Philippines” campaign created by the ad agency.
Asked for comment on the termination of the contract, DDB said it had “no statement” on the issue.
Lawmakers from both the Senate and House of Representatives were quick to weigh in on the controversy with Sen. Nancy Binay calling it a “bad omen” for the revamped tourism campaign.
Binay, chair of the Senate committee on tourism, said the DOT, headed by Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, should ensure that heads would roll since people’s money was being used for such projects. But at the same time, she also took the department to task for its “lapses.”
“The DOT cannot afford to be negligent about campaigns like this which are worth millions [of pesos]. [It] should also be more discerning and critical [of] pegs, concepts, storyboards, and drafts that ad agencies present to them,” she said.
Binay lamented how the initial salvo of the DOT’s new campaign suffered a “major setback,” saying the controversy might drive away visitors, instead of attracting them.
She suggested that the DOT consider retaining the “It’s more fun in the Philippines” slogan, saying, “Perhaps it will still be better to bring back the ‘Fun’ because of the problem faced by ‘Love.’”
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III, on the other hand, touched on the irony of using foreign footage to promote the Philippines.
“[It’s] very disappointing due to the very unprofessional work using stock video footage. ‘Love the Philippines’ is the idea, yet we were proudly showing Indonesian, Thai, Swiss, and Emirati tourist attractions,” he said.
At the same time, he jested that the video could also affirm the government’s thrust to be a “friend to all nations,” adding that it may be “our expression of our friendliness to all nations. We promote them also in our promotional videos about the Philippines.”
‘Scammed’
For Sen. Grace Poe, chair of the Senate Committee on Public Services, the government and the public were “scammed” by the DOT advertisement.
“It’s frustrating to know that even the government can fall victim to blunders in a marketing campaign that supposedly aims to promote the Philippines’ unique character, natural beauty, and cultural attractions,” she said.
House Deputy Minority Leader France Castro expressed a similar sentiment, saying the video and slogan were a form of “budol” or swindle, as she called on the DOT to rectify the matter by conducting an investigation and filing appropriate charges.
“We cannot allow this kind of ‘budol’ or swindling of our people. The DOT should be also probed because it is wasting the people’s money and it is a shame to the international community,” Castro said in a statement.
For Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, the House ways and means panel chair, the video and “Love the Philippines” logo—which excluded Mayon Volcano in his home province of Albay — was a “symptom of trabahong tamad” or shoddy work.
Salceda earlier criticized the DOT for what he perceived as a snub.
“The first video was supposedly a ‘mood video,’ according to the contractor. For something as critical as an entire country’s image, you don’t ‘set the mood’ with plagiarism,” he said.
Apparently referring to independent opposition lawmaker and fellow Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman’s remark that his complaint was just “political sound bite,” Salceda stressed that legitimate concerns of legislative representatives should not be brushed aside.
“One lesson here is not to dismiss legitimate concerns as ‘political sound bites’ but to listen, consult and discuss. The country’s branding is reflective of our identity and aspirations as a people. What’s wrong with wanting to be represented well in that?” he said.
Track record
Incorporated in 1992, DDB Group Philippines is a full-service marketing communications group with advertising, digital, media, PR, content, and data analytics agencies.
Its forerunner was the Advertising Marketing Associates founded in 1958 by Antonio de Joya, known as the “Dean of Philippine Advertising.”
DDB had bagged other government projects before, including several with the DOT.
At the 19th Philippine Quill Awards in 2022, it won several awards under the competition’s communication management division for the following campaigns: the “Resbakuna” campaign of the Department of Health, the “Our Sea, Our Story” campaign for the DOT’s Philippine International Dive Expo 2021, and the DOT’s “Balikan ang Pilipinas” campaign.
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By Fr. Roy Cimagala
Chaplain
Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE)
Talamban, Cebu City
Email: roycimagala@gmail.com
WE are familiar with the story of the doubting Thomas who later on turned to be a fervently believing Thomas. (cfr. Jn 20,24-29) It’s a story that can only remind us of our duty to always nourish our faith to such an extent that Christ’s words to Thomas can also be applied to us: “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”
We have to be wary of the danger of starving our faith by neglecting its abiding need for nourishment. Especially nowadays when we are bombarded with so many distracting elements that would lead us to ignore this responsibility, we need to make some special effort to truly nourish our faith by availing of the relevant means of ongoing formation.
We need to convince ourselves that giving priority to this need is all worthwhile. It does not at all undermine our other needs in life. In fact, giving priority to the nourishment of our faith would make sure that the attention we give to our other needs would be most proper and would be put on the right track.
For this we always are in need of constantly studying our faith, progressively translating what we learn from such study into appropriate attitudes, virtues, words and deeds to such an extent that whatever we do in life is always guided and inspired by our faith and not just by some sheer human wisdom and cleverness.
While faith is first of all a gift, and of the spiritual and supernatural kind that is given to us gratuitously, we have to realize that we also need to correspond to it. We just cannot and should not be casual about this duty to correspond properly to it. It’s a serious duty that once neglected can lead to disastrous consequences.
Especially to those who regard themselves quite gifted intellectually and in other aspects of human life, there is a need to be so humble as to always feel the need to be guided by faith first and always rather than simply by their human powers and other resources.
We have to follow the example of Our Lady whose faith was highly extolled once by her cousin Elizabeth who told her: “Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” (Lk 1,45)
That’s because when she was told by the Archangel Gabriel that she was going to be the mother of the Son of God, she first asked how it could happen since she knew not man. But when the heavenly messenger told her that the Holy Spirit would overshadow her and that she would conceive a son in her womb, she immediately said, “Be it done to me,” even if what she was told cannot be explained humanly.
We have to understand that with respect to our faith, we are not expected to understand everything. We, of course, should try to understand the truths of our faith, but we should always realize that with faith, we can be dealing with supernatural truths and mysteries that are beyond our human capacity to understand.
We should just say, yes, to it not because we understand it, but rather because of the one who told it to us, the one who cannot lie. Faith always involves trust, just like in our ordinary daily affairs when we would just do things without asking so much why we need to do them. We simply do them because we trust in the ones who ask us to do them.
Senator Raffy Tulfo on Sunday, July 2 criticized the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s (BIR) “anti-poor” plan to impose taxes on junk food and other food items next year.
Sen. Raffy Tulfo (Senate PRIB Photo)
Tulfo pointed out it would be the poorest of the poor that heavily rely on these affordable food items would be the most affected.
Instead of these, the senator said the BIR should consider taxing cosmetics and other luxury items.
“Bakit pinagdidiskitahan ng BIR ang mga chichirya at nais nilang patawan ng buwis ang mga ito (Why is the BIR even considering taxing junk food)? This is very anti-poor!” Tulfo said.
“Kung ang pakay nila ay para makalikom ng dagdag kita para sa kaban ng bayan mula sa mga consumer products, bakit ‘di nila punteryahin ang mga luxury items gaya ng mga food supplements, protein bars, energy bars, slimming drinks pati na maging mga cosmetic products (If their goal is to raise more revenue for public funds from consumer products, why don't they target luxury items such as food supplements, protein bars, energy bars, slimming drinks and even cosmetics)?” he pointed out.
Finance Secretary Ben Diokno had said the Department of Finance (DOF) plans to impose a ₱10 per 100 grams or ₱10 per 100 milliliters tax on pre-packaged foods, including confectioneries, snacks, desserts, and frozen confectioneries.
But Tulfo said that if the BIR badly wants to boost public revenue, it should focus train its sights on food supplements and cosmetic products, which are both part of a multi-billion peso industry.
The lawmaker said he believes food supplements and cosmetic products would still be bought by the middle income earners regardless of the price.
On the other hand, Tulfo said the Department of Health’s (DOH) should prompt manufacturers to decrease the sodium content of packaged food.
He said this would be a better alternative that giving approval to the proposed tax measure to supposedly discourage consumers from buying junk food that they said could lead to obesity and diabetes.
According to Tulfo, Singapore manufacturers were able to find low sodium substitute for processed food product without heavily affecting the taste.
