Marcos skips 36th Cordillera Day due to bad weather

 

BY ARGYLL CYRUS GEDUCOS

Jul 15, 2023 09:18 AM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• Garafil said the decision was made upon the advice of the Presidential Security Group (PSG).

• The program, however, will push through.

• The entire CAR was placed under Signal No. 1 on July 14.

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The rains brought by Tropical Depression "Dodong" prompted President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. to call off his attendance at the 36th Cordillera Day celebration in Luna, Apayao, Malacañang reported.

Photo from DOST-PAGASA (Facebook)

In a statement, Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil said the decision was made upon the advice of the Presidential Security Group (PSG).

"Due to inclement weather, the PSG has advised to cancel the President's visit to Apayao today (July 15, 2023)," Garafil said in a text message to Palace reporters.

The program, however, will push through.

The Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) comprises six provinces: Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, and the Mountain Province.

In a press briefing on Friday, July 14, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported that all provinces under CAR were under Signal No. 1.

In an advisory early Saturday, PAGASA said the center of Tropical Depression Dodong was estimated at 260 kilometers west of Sinait, Ilocos Sur, with maximum sustained winds of 55 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 70 km/h.

Dodong was said to be moving westward at 20 km/h, while the southwest monsoon would continue to bring rains to Central and Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

PAGASA advised people living near the mountain slopes and in the low-lying areas of the rivers of the CAR to be "alert for possible flashfloods and landslides."

Big-time hike in oil prices due next week

BY MYRNA M. VELASCO

Jul 15, 2023 09:25 AM

  

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Big-time oil price hike across products await motorists next week, based on advisories by oil companies.

Based on the calculation of the industry players, the price of gasoline will rise by as much as P1.90 to P2.30 per liter; while diesel prices will also climb by P1.95 to P2.35 per liter.

For kerosene, which is an indispensable commodity for many households especially in the rural areas as well as key industries like aviation, its price will increase by P1.70 to P2.00 per liter.

Oil firms will implement the price adjustments on Tuesday, July 18, based on the Mean of Platts Singapore (MOPS), a price index for traded fuel commodities in the region.

The big jump in prices next week is partly traced to the fresh round of rally in the spot prices of fuel commodities on a global scale, with international benchmark Brent crude breaking above $81 per barrel as of Friday, July 14, trading.

According to global experts, the uptick in prices had been mainly traced to the production cuts of Saudi Arabia extending into August; as well as the export curtailments being enforced by Russia.

Market watchers indicated that "backwardation" appeared to have been the prevailing sentiment in the market last week, entailing that spot prices had been higher than the prices of fuel commodities traded in the futures market.

While there was reported buildup in the inventory of the United States, industry experts noted that such development had been largely unnoticed in last week’s commodities’ trading.

This early, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) already laid down forecasts that demand growth next year will likely top 2.25 million barrels per day, triggering additional pressure on global oil prices.

Compounding the geopolitical factors had been production stoppage in one of the oil fields of Libya, one of the member-producers of OPEC, and that was due to a kidnapping incident involving a former government official.

Caring for Filipino nurses

 BY SENATOR FRANCIS TOLENTINO

  

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This might be a bold claim, but there is great reason to believe that Filipino nurses are the most sought-after health care professionals in the world. In many European countries, in the United States, Middle East, Japan, Australia, and several other countries worldwide, Filipino nurses are most loved by both patients and employers not only because of their proficiency in the English language, their competencies and their work ethic, but more so for the Filipino brand of nursing service which, more often than not, extends the “extra mile” in compassionately caring for their patients, especially those already in their twilight chapters.

Recognized for their contribution to the United Kingdom’s response to the coronavirus, Filipino nurses Charito Romano and Minnie Klepacz were awarded the British Empire Medal in 2021. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II even wrote in a message to then President Rodrigo Duterte her commendation on the services of Filipino nurses in UK, saying: “They bring exceptional care and comfort to their patients. I wanted to express my sincerest gratitude for their work, especially in response to the coronavirus.” Elsewhere in the world, Filipino nurses continue to shine, giving not only the basic health care which patients need, but sharing as well a part of themselves to offer compassion, comfort and care.

There are actually 951,905 registered Filipino nurses, according to the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC). Out of this number, only 509,297 or 53.55 percent are in actual practice. Added to this, an estimated 19,000 Filipino nurses migrate every year to other countries which offer more substantial pay and incentive  packages as well as opportunities for permanent residency for them and their families. Who wouldn’t be lured by the chance of living better lives in better countries? The exodus of Filipino medical professionals, including doctors and nurses, continue to threaten the Philippine health care system. Unless the Department of Health can offer commensurable options, then we can only watch helplessly as our doctors and nurses flee.

I think it is utterly unfair for Filipino nurses choosing to work abroad to be labelled ungrateful or unpatriotic. If comparable opportunities can only be made available for them here, I am sure they would not decide to leave home. With costs of living rising disproportionately with work pay and incentives, we cannot blame the likes of Filipino nurses seeking broader and brighter horizons. The current shortage of nurses is at a high of about 106,000. While legislation to advance the welfare and interest of our health care professionals are well underway, their flight continues. Recognizing the valuable contribution of Filipino nurses in sustaining the Philippine health care system may not be enough. Until these professionals can clearly see a brighter ray of hope for them in their home country, they will continue to sacrifice being away from their families if that will mean better opportunities to give their loved ones better lives.

Angat Dam needs 4 to 5 typhoons to reach spilling level --- PAGASA

BY MANILA BULLETIN

Jul 14, 2023 03:45 PM

  

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The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Friday, July 14, said that the Angat Dam needed four to five typhoons to reach the spilling level. 

Angat Dam in Bulacan. (Photo credit to www.napocor.gov.ph)

"Kailangan pa rin ng at least 1350 millimeters of rainfall or apat hanggang limang bagyo na dadaan sa watershed ng Angat dam (At least 1350 mm of rainfall or four to five typhoons should pass to fill the watershed of Angat Dam),"  said PAGASA Weather Specialist Richard Orendain said. 

"So ganun po kalaki ang pangangailangan ng Angat Dam sa ngayon (That is the amount of water which Angat needs for now)," Orendain said, noting that this volume of water is needed to reach a spilling level of 210 meters. 

30-35 mm to reach the minimum operating level 

"Ang kailangan kasi natin sa Angat to reach 180 meters or yung minimum operating level or above is nasa 30 to 35 mm na lang (What we need in Angat, is to achieve 180 meters or the minimum operating level or above is 30 to 35 mm)," Orendain said. 

However, he stressed that in order to reach the safe level of the dam, Angat still needs to achieve 185 -190 meters.

Other dam updates

In its latest bulletin, PAGASA said that Angat Dam decreased by one cm (178.3 m to 178.2 m), Ipo Dam increased by 59 cm (98.56 m to 99.15 m), La Mesa Dam elevated by 10 cm (78.41 m to 78.51 m), and Binga Dam which decreased with 79 cm (568.70 m to 567.91 m).

These dam updates were gathered at 6 a.m., thus, the water from the rainfall onward is not included in the latest measurement. (Sonny Daanoy) 

Our basic identity as apostles

By Fr. Roy Cimagala

Chaplain

Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE)

Talamban, Cebu City

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

WHEN Christ chose his 12 apostles, (cfr. Mt 10,1-7) we have to realize that if we want to be true believers and followers of Christ, we too should feel called to be apostles of his. We too should feel the need to continue helping him in his work of human redemption all throughout time.

While this divine call for us to be his apostles will take time and effort to be effective in us, we on our part should try our best to realize that we are all given that call and that we have to correspond to it as early as possible.

That’s because if we are truly Christians, we should be involved in Christ’s mission here on earth. Christ’s mission and concerns should also be ours. We have to realize that Christ treats us the way he treats himself precisely because we are patterned after him.

That’s also why we have been endowed with intelligence and will which, together always with God’s grace, would enable us to know and love others the way Christ loves us. And in this regard, we know that Christ’s love goes all the way to offering his life for us. That’s how we should love one another. That’s how we as apostles of his should be willing to love everybody, including our enemies.

We have to realize that we just don’t do apostolate as if it is just one more task to be done on some parts of the day. We are first of all apostles, and our apostolic concern should be constant and abiding, even while we are asleep or doing all kinds of tasks during the day. We have to learn how to convert everything in our life as an occasion and material for doing apostolate.

To be an apostle is an integral and even essential part of our identity and dignity. Even on the basis of our being human persons, we cannot help but be apostles because we are supposed to be constantly concerned and responsible for everyone. We are all related by the mere fact that we are human beings with intelligence and will, enabled and mandated to know and love each other.

That fundamental reason is even reinforced when we consider that we are creatures of God, made in his image and likeness. The Trinitarian life of God, which is a life of total communion among the three persons and which we are supposed to reflect in our own lives, urges us to always sharpen our concern and love for one another.

Still more, if we are to consider that we believe in Christ and are followers of his, then we will realize that we ought to have the same desire Christ had, which is the salvation of all mankind. This should be the primary motive we ought to have in our relation with others. We should be most interested in their salvation and spiritual well-being. All other human and temporal motives only play a secondary and instrumental role.

Thus, our life can’t simply be a life in pursuit of personal sanctity without doing apostolate. These two go together inseparably, mutually affecting each other to put us in the right track in our life. We do apostolate as we breathe.

We need to keep that apostolic zeal burning, fueling it with prayers, sacrifices, apostolic plans and initiatives that should bank on some traditional means as well as the new things like the new technologies that can do a lot to foster our apostolic activities.

Bis zu 38 Grad: Franken vor intensiver Hitzewelle – Experte warnt vor „schweren Unwettern“

Von: Katarina Amtmann 

In Nürnberg und Umgebung steigen die Temperaturen auf bis zu 38 Grad. Am Samstagabend drohen schwere Unwetter, Sturm- und Orkanböen sind möglich.

Nürnberg - Die letzten Tage waren in Bayern geprägt von Hitzewellen und Unwettern. Am Dienstag, 11. Juli, kletterte das Thermometer stellenweise noch auf bis zu 37 Grad. In der Nacht zu Mittwoch zogen dann heftige Unwetter über den Freistaat. Bäume knickten um, ein Zirkuszelt stürzte auf zwei Frauen und verletzte sie schwer. 

Blitze sorgten in Mittelfranken für ein abendliches Spektakel am Himmel. Am Mittwochabend krachte es dann schon wieder. Auch hier stürzten Bäume durch heftige Böen um, in Weißenburg fiel ein Baum auf das Haus einer Familie.

Massive Unwetterfront fegt über Bayern hinweg: Die Bilder der Sturmnacht

Fotostrecke ansehen

Nach Unwettern in Bayern: Temperaturen steigen auch in Franken wieder 

Der Donnerstag, 13. Juli, begann in Nürnberg und Umgebung dann heiter bis wolkig, wie Wetter-Experte Stefan Ochs in seiner Prognose für die Regnitz-Region auf wetterochs.de berichtete. Die Höchsttemperaturen betragen 26 Grad.

Am Freitag,14. Juli, setzt dann die Zufuhr wärmerer Luftmassen ein, so Ochs. Auch einzelne Wolkenfelder sind möglich, bei einigen Wettermodellen sogar ein paar Tropfen Regen. Die Sonne scheint dann wieder öfter, es wird bis zu 29 Grad warm. 

In Franken wird es erst bis zu 38 Grad warm, dann drohen heftige Gewitter. © IMAGO / Arnulf Hettrich / Michael Weber (Collage: Merkur.de)

„Ungewöhnlich intensive Hitzewelle“ kommt auch nach Franken

„Im Mittelmeerraum erlebt man derzeit eine ungewöhnlich intensive Hitzewelle. Und die wird sich am Samstag auch bei uns bemerkbar machen“, so die Prognose des Wetter-Experten. Dann lenkt nämlich ein britisches Tief Luft vom Mittelmeer über die Alpen. „Fallwinde in den Nordalpen (Südföhn) verstärken den Temperaturanstieg noch und in der freien Atmosphäre in 1000 m Höhe werden ungewöhnliche 30 Grad erreicht“, so Ochs weiter.

PBBM expects more foreign investments with newly launched green lanes

 BY ARGYLL CYRUS GEDUCOS

Jul 14, 2023 11:39 AM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• With the green lanes, Marcos sees the realization of the investment pledges he has obtained during his overseas trips since last year.

• Marcos says EO 18 enables the faster processing of the necessary documents for investors.

• Malacañang issued EO No. 18 on Feb. 23 as part of the continuing efforts to address the concerns of foreign investors and promote the Philippines as a top investment destination.

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President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. is optimistic that the country would get more Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs)--which can boost the country's economy--with the launch of the so-called green lanes.

President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. (Ali Vicoy)

Marcos said this after he led the Green Lanes for Strategic Investments launch on Thursday, July 13.

In a tweet, the President said the green lanes, established under his Executive Order (EO) No. 18, would realize the investment pledges he has obtained during his overseas trips since last year. 

With EO No.18, Marcos said the government would see faster processing of the necessary documents for investors.

"Papabilisin natin ang mga transaksyon para sa mga nais magnegosyo at mamuhunan sa Pilipinas (We will speed up the transaction for those who want to start a business and invest in the Philippines)!" he said.

'Inaasahan nating maghihikayat pa ito ng higit na Foreign Direct Investments para sa dagdag na trabaho at mas matatag na ekonomiya ng ating bansa (We expect that this would entice more FDIs for additional jobs and our country's stronger economy)," he added.

In his speech during Thursday's launch of the green lanes, President Marcos said the Philippines could not compete with other countries if it continued lagging in bureaucratic red tape. 

He hinted that the Philippines could overcome this if it stopped hiding behind "protectionist laws".

Malacañang issued EO No. 18 on Feb. 23 as part of the continuing efforts to address the concerns of foreign investors and promote the Philippines as a top investment destination.

EO No.18 mandated the establishment of the One-Stop-Action-Center for Strategic Investments (OSAC-SI), which, according to the President, would lift the bureaucratic load off potential investors.

15 areas under Signal No. 1 as Tropical Depression 'Dodong' makes landfall in Isabela

By Arlie O. Calalo

AT least 15 provinces in Luzon have been placed under Signal No. 1, including Isabela where Tropical Depression "Dodong" made its first landfall, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said on Friday.

Under storm alert are Cagayan, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Apayao, Kalinga, Abra, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, the northern portion of Pangasinan (San Nicolas, San Manuel, Sison, San Fabian, Pozorrubio, Bolinao, Bani, City of Alaminos, Sual, Labrador, Lingayen, Agno, Binmaley, Dagupan City, San Jacinto, Mangaldan and Anda), the northern and central portions of Aurora (Maria Aurora, San Luis, Baler, Dipaculao, Dinalungan, Casiguran and Dilasag) and Isabela.

Moving west-northwestward at 15 kilometers per hour (kph), Dodong has maximum sustained winds of 45kph near the center and gustiness of up to 55kph, the state-run weather agency said.

Forecast to cross the rugged landmass of Northern Luzon within the day, the tropical depression may initially track northwestward or north northwestward over Cagayan Valley for the next six hours before turning more west northwestward or westward and emerging over the waters west of Ilocos Region.

"Afterwards, Dodong will continue moving generally northwestward over the West Philippine Sea and leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Saturday or Sunday," Pagasa said in its 5 a.m. bulletin.

Dodong may reach tropical storm category by late Saturday or early Sunday as it moves out of the PAR, the state weather bureau said.

Meanwhile, the tropical depression and the enhanced southwest monsoon or "habagat' may bring moderate to rough seas over the eastern and western seaboards of Northern Luzon and the western seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon.

Pagasa has advised mariners of small sea craft to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea.

"If inexperienced or operating ill-equipped vessels, avoid navigating in these conditions," the bulletin said.

Cignal keeps semis bid alive, ousts Farm Fresh

BY NIKOLE JAVIER

  

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AT A GLANCE

• Ces Molina and Jovelyn Gonzaga’s joint effort boosted Cignal's semifinals bid after a 25-18, 25-19, 25-18 rout of Farm Fresh in the 2023 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Invitational Conference on Thursday night, July 13, at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City. 

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Ces Molina and Jovelyn Gonzaga’s joint effort boosted Cignal's semifinals bid after a 25-18, 25-19, 25-18 rout of Farm Fresh in the 2023 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Invitational Conference on Thursday night, July 13, at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City. 

Ces Molina and Rose Doria celebrate a point. (PVL Images)

The HD Spikers improved 3-1 in the Pool B standings to give themselves a better fighting chance for the next round. 

Molina finished with 16 points all from attacks while Gonzaga contributed 12 points on 10 attacks and two blocks.  

With the win, the HD Spikers joined the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers and the Petro Gazz Angels in a three-way tie as the race for a semis berth gets tighter. 

Kate Santiago paced the Foxies with 12 points as usual top scorer Gayle Pascual was held to a one point-outing. 

Farm Fresh, which absorbed its fourth consecutive losses in as many games, is set to face the also-ran Foton Tornadoes to qualify for the classification round. 

Filipino-Brazilian model wins Miss Grand Philippines 2023

BY ROBERT REQUINTINA

Jul 14, 2023 08:09 AM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• Nikki De Moura, 19, from Cagayan de Oro, emerged victorious among 29 other contestants in the beauty pageant, which has a noble goal of advocating for peace and denouncing any forms of violence.

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Miss Grand Philippines 2023 Nikki de Moura of Cagayan de Oro City (Images courtesy of Miss Grand Philippines Facebook)

A Filipino-Brazilian model was crowned Miss Grand Philippines 2023 during a competition held at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on July 13, Thursday night.

Nikki De Moura, 19, from Cagayan de Oro, emerged victorious among 29 other contestants in the beauty pageant, which has a noble goal of advocating for peace and denouncing any forms of violence.

De Moura will represent the Philippines at the 2023 Miss Grand International beauty pageant in Vietnam on Oct. 25. 

During the final Q&A portion of the pageant, De Moura was asked by one of the judges: "If you were given the chance to come up with your own slogan to promote the Philippines, what would it be and why?"

The beauty queen answered: "It would be to love the Philippines. I think being a Brazilian and Filipina, it makes me love both cultures, both heritages. Two different traditions. And so I am proud to say that I love the Philippines despite having its flaws."

De Moura was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She moved to the Philippines five years ago. At 14, De Moura won her first pageant at the Miss Governor's Cup South 2018. She was then crowned Miss Teen Philippines 2019. She was only 17 years old when she participated in SuperModel Me Season and finished first runner-up.

Other winners in the pageant were Michelle Arceo, Reina Hispano Americana Filipinas; Herlene Nicol Budol, Miss Philippines Tourism, and Francis Reyes, Miss Eco Teen Philippines. 

Shannon Tampon was named first runner-up while Charie Sergio was second runner-up.

The Philippines has yet to win a Miss Grand International crown since its inception in 2013.