Alex Eala, Polish partner book Aldershot quarters

BY NIKOLE JAVIER

Aug 17, 2023 11:31 AM

  

---

AT A GLANCE

• The 18-year-old seemed to be hardly feeling the fatigue after tirelessly flexing her might in the singles and doubles events for twin victories on the same day.

---

Fresh from winning her fourth pro title, Filipina tennis star Alex Eala scored twin victories in singles and doubles for a smashing start in the International Tennis Federation (ITF) W25 Aldershot GB Pro Series on Wednesday night, Aug. 16 (Manila time), at the Aldershot Tennis Centre in Great Britain. 

The 18-year-old seemed to be hardly feeling the fatigue after tirelessly flexing her might in the singles and doubles events for twin victories on the same day.

Eala advanced to the Round of 16 at the expense of hometown bet Ranah Akua Stoiber, 6-2, 6-4, then teamed up with Urzula Radwanska of Poland to beat Andre Lukosiute of Lithuania and Eliz Maloney of Great Britain, 6-4, 6-4, and secure a quarterfinals berth. 

 

 

Alex Eala and partner Urzula Radwanska of Poland. (Alex Eala's Facebook)

 

"Two good wins today! Had a lot of fun in both matches, going through to the next round in singles and semifinals in doubles tomorrow," said Eala on a Facebook post.  

The Filipina-Polish duo encountered a slight hiccup in their chemistry after dropping serve four times along with four doubles faults before eventually finding rhythm en route to the victory that took an hour and a half. 

However, the 2022 US Open girls champion and 32-year-old veteran Radwanska will need to play with more cohesion as they take on Japanese duo Erina Hayashi and Saki Imamura in the quarterfinals. 

The Filipina bet is also on a quest for back-to-back singles titles after clinching the W25 Roehampton crown on Sunday, Aug. 13 (Manila time). 

Similarly, Eala also barged into the quarterfinals of the event's doubles competition with Australian partner Destanee Aiava, where they succumbed to Aussie pair Petra Hule and Talia Gibson, 1-6, 5-7.  

Interestingly, Eala is no stranger to her upcoming opponent in the singles event of the W25 Aldershot as she arranged another meeting with Gibson also on Thursday, Aug. 17 (Manila time) for a quarterfinals seat. 

Spritpreise auf Höhenflug: In welchem Bundesland Benzin und Diesel am günstigsten sind

Stand:17.08.2023, 17:42 Uhr

Von: Patricia Huber 

Tanken wird immer teurer. Ein aktueller Vergleich zeigt, wo Autofahrer am meisten und wo am wenigsten zahlen müssen.

München – Tanken ist weiterhin teuer. Wer einen Tagesausflug plant oder mit dem Auto verreisen möchte, sollte auch die Spritpreise miteinbeziehen. Denn aktuell verharren die Kraftstoffpreise auf einem beträchtlichen Niveau. Dies belegt auch der neueste ADAC Regionalvergleich der 16 Bundesländer. 

Spritpreise: Wo Autofahrer am meisten zahlen – und wo am wenigsten

Insbesondere in Sachsen müssen Autofahrer derzeit tief in die Geldbörse greifen, wenn es um das Betanken des Autos geht. Für einen Liter Super E10 werden hier durchschnittlich 1,872 Euro fällig. Sachsen führt auch die Negativliste beim Diesel an: Ein Liter kostet im Durchschnitt 1,796 Euro. Brandenburg liegt mit einem Preis von 1,811 Euro pro Liter Diesel knapp darüber. 

Laut der ADAC-Analyse zahlen Diesel-Fahrer in Rheinland-Pfalz am wenigsten. Im Durchschnitt kostet ein Liter Diesel hier 1,728 Euro. Dies ist um 8,3 Cent günstiger als in Brandenburg.

Preisunterschiede beim Benzin geringer

Die Preisunterschiede bei Benzin sind gegenwärtig etwas kleiner. Super E10 ist in Berlin am preiswertesten: 1,825 Euro muss man hier durchschnittlich pro Liter zahlen. Das sind 4,7 Cent weniger als in Sachsen. Knapp dahinter liegt das Saarland mit einem Preis von 1,828 Euro pro Liter Super E10. Der Club hat für diese Studie die Preisdaten von über 14.000 Tankstellen, die bei der Markttransparenzstelle registriert sind, ausgewertet und den 16 Bundesländern zugeordnet. Die erfassten Preise sind eine Momentaufnahme von vom 17. August, 11 Uhr.

Die Preise für Benzin und Diesel befinden sich immer noch auf einem enorm hohen Niveau. (Symbolfoto) © Marijan Murat/dpa/Archivbild  

PINOYS DON’T LIVE BY BREAD ALONE …

Have you eaten yet?” is a common greeting in Filipino homes, often taking the place of “How are you?”

Many Filipinos will tell you it’s the first question that’s asked when a loved one walks in the door, because, culturally, food is much more than just something to eat. I learnt that from the first moment when I stepped on Philippine soil. That was in 1976. 

The phrase “Man shall not live by bread alone” is today a common expression meaning that people need more than material things to truly live. However, it is also sometimes used in almost the opposite sense to justify material luxuries beyond simple things like bread.

Much could be told or written by staying abroad. A lifetime is not enough to discover all the beautiful places all around the world. I stayed in more than 80 countries worldwide till now. I met a lot of Filipino Oversea Workers. Mostly, they have been so occupied and so tired with work that on half-day-off, they don’t go out anymore. They prefered to rest instead. There is no more time to remain in touch with their loved ones. They failed to appear at dates or appointments even if schedules were agreed upon. 

Being abroad is sometimes like being in a garden of roses. Everybody’s free to pick up flowers but surely, everybody will find it that easy because the roses are on top of the thorns.

Much has already been written and talked about homesickness of mind and heart. Homesickness usually attacks when Pinoys receive unpleasant notices from home, as many say, “O ano, may sulat ka. Alam ko ang laman niya. PROBLEMA AT MAGPADALA KA NG PERA.”

Nervousness leads to homesickness. Homesickness comes when a tooth aches with the thought that a monthly salary is not enough to have one fixed … and what about the other usual bodily aches? Homesickness comes when one is so hungry he or she couldn’t simply chew something because the ‘AMO” is around.

Homesickness comes, when one hears one of the boys in the Philippines doesn’t want to go to school. As one father in my neighborhood said this morning, “Anahin ba natin ang pera kung ayaw din lang mag-eskuwela ang bata?”

Pinoys don’t live by bread alone! Or should I say by rice? Anyway, I salute to all Filipino Overseas Workers. I learned a lot about their feelings and emotions.

Winds of incredible speed are raging in Germany! The worst storm in Brandenburg

126,993 views Aug 16, 2023 BRANDENBURG

Winds of incredible speed are raging in Germany! The worst storm in Brandenburg Heavy rain storm and hail hit Saxony and Thuringia. A storm left a trail of devastation in Brandenburg an der Havel. During local storms with gusts of wind, hail and heavy rain, trees were uprooted and roads flooded in Saxony and Thuringia on Tuesday evening. According to the German Weather Service, the storm moved from the west over Erfurt without much lead time. The storm brought wind gusts of up to 90 kilometers per hour and hailstones up to one centimeter in diameter. Locally it rained up to 90 liters per square meter. In the Thuringian state capital of Erfurt, local public transport came to an almost complete standstill. Fallen trees and falling branches blocked rails and overhead lines. #germanynews #heavyrain #brandenburg #erfurt #unwetter #thüringen #sachsen #storm #gewitter #strum #weather #climatechange #news #flooding #today

“Where I’m coming from”

By Fr. Roy Cimagala

Chaplain

Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE)

Talamban, Cebu City

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

THAT’S the usual line many people use when they want to justify their reaction and even their attitude and behavior of anger, if not of hatred or despair, toward a certain person or event.

They usually say that they were mistreated, misunderstood or prejudged, etc., and so they feel they are entitled to react that way. Things get worse when such reaction and behavior become extreme and permanent, forming all sorts of prejudices, biases and closed-mindedness. We have to be most wary of this danger.

We naturally have our initial and spontaneous reactions to anything that can happen in our life. We can hardly control them. They are quite raw. They are reflex reactions that definitely need to be purified and set in their proper context of our real dignity as persons and children of God.

We just have to realize that while our reactions are always shaped somehow by some immediate or proximate causes, in the end our reactions need to reflect that we all come from God and should reflect the attitude, reactions and behavior that God has toward all of us who have our share of defects, limitations and sins themselves.

That’s simply because we are God’s image and likeness. How God is, as shown to us and empowered in us by Christ in the Spirit, should also be how we ought to be. We are reminded of this important aspect of our life in that gospel episode where Peter asked Christ how many times he should forgive a brother who had offended him. (cfr. Mt 18,21-19,1)

Christ responded by talking about a certain servant-debtor whose huge debt was forgiven because he appealed to the king. The king eventually forgave his loan out of compassion. But when this servant-debtor could not forgive another servant of his loan, the king punished that servant-debtor severely.

“You wicked servant!” the king said, “I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?” We should learn how to be always forgiving of others just as we all need forgiveness from God.

Let’s remember that with God, mercy has the last word. It is the highest form of charity as shown very vividly by Christ who, while still hanging on the cross, offered forgiveness to those who crucified him.

We have to make a shout-out for the need to develop in us the virtue of mercy so we can be forgiving of everyone, irrespective of whether one deserves it or not. Christ gave a clear indication of this need: “Forgive and you shall be forgiven.” (Lk 6,37) He reiterated this injunction when he said: “For if you will forgive men their offences, you heavenly Father will forgive you also your offences. But if you do not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive your offences.” (Mt 6,14-14)

It’s clear therefore that we can only be forgiven if we also forgive others. This injunction is meant for everyone, and not only for a few whom we may consider to be religiously inclined. That’s why when asked how many times we should forgive, he said not only seven times, but seventy times seven, meaning always.

Being forgiving even to the most undeserving person is the highest form of charity precisely because charity is always a gift. The more gratuitously given it is, the more charity grows in us. The more we become Christ-like, God-like.

Pia Wurtzbach to launch book at MIBF 2023

BY MANILA BULLETIN ENTERTAINMENT

  

---

AT A GLANCE

• During the launch to be hosted by Tuttle Publishing and ABS CBN Books, Wurtzbach is expected to share her experiences on writing her first book, and autograph copies for the first 250 buyers. Customers who purchased signed copies from Fully Booked are the ones eligible to join the meet and greet event.

---

Pia Wurtzbach

Pia Wurtzbach will be a special guest at the Manila International Book Fair (MIBF) on Sept. 14, at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City. Wurtzbach will be joining the opening ceremonies at 10:00 am and have the first public launch of her novel “Queen of the Universe” at 6:30 pm of the same day.

During the launch to be hosted by Tuttle Publishing and ABS CBN Books, Wurtzbach is expected to share her experiences on writing her first book, and autograph copies for the first 250 buyers. Customers who purchased signed copies from Fully Booked are the ones eligible to join the meet and greet event.

Wurtzbach is an entrepreneur, advocate, and global media personality crowned Miss Universe in 2015. She has built her brand & business empire across beauty, fashion, food, and lifestyle working with some of the world's largest companies and building an audience of over 20 million on social media. She passionately advocates for gender equality and mental health, supporting leading charities UNAIDS & UNICEF, launching her female empowerment network Between Us Queens, and giving motivational talks for Tedx.

Wurtzbach is one of only a handful of Filipinos to have a book published for international release. Outside the country, “Queen of the Universe” will be available in Singapore and Malaysia, as well as launch later this year in Australia, UAE, United States, and the United Kingdom.

The Tuttle Publishing Company, founded in 1832, is one of the oldest American publishers in operation today. It is the world's largest publisher of books on Asia covering Asian culture, history and art including books on the Philippines and by Filipino authors.

Wurtzbach’s’s literary agent ABS-CBN Books is best known as the publisher of titles from bestselling authors such as the late Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Alex Gonzaga, Solenn Heussaff, Georgina Wilson, Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, Charo Santos-Concio, Vice Ganda and most recently, Binibing Mia. “Queen of the Universe” is ABS-CBN Books’ first international deal.

The MIBF, which will run from September 14-17 is the Philippines’ biggest and longest-running book fair with an average of over 100,000 attendees every year. A haven for book lovers, it features the biggest selection of discounted books and educational needs. The book fair will also have author signings, book launches, seminars, book awards, and a lot more.

Organized by Primetrade Asia Inc, in partnership with Asian Catholic Communicators, Inc. (ACCI), Book Development Association of the Philippines (BDAP), Philippine Booksellers Association of the Philippines (PBAI) and Overseas Publishers' Representatives Association of the Philippines (OPRAP), the MIBF is a celebration of the written word, with a host of special activities made especially for book lovers of all persuasions. For inquiries, call 8896-0682 or 8373-3301, e-mail bookfair@primetradeasia.com, or follow @ManilaBookFair on Facebook and Instagram.

DOLE releases pay guidelines for Aug. 21, Aug. 28 holidays

BY MANILA BULLETIN

  

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has released the regulations that would be applied in the payment of salaries of workers in two holidays scheduled in August. 

Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma signed the Labor Advisory No. 17, Series of 2023 which stipulated the proper computation of workers’ salaries for these holidays.

 

The following pay guidelines were provided by the labor department for the special non-working day on Aug. 21, Ninoy Aquino Day: 

If the employee does not work the “no work no pay” principle shall apply, unless there is a favorable policy in the company;

For work done during the special day,  an additional 30 percent of the basic salary on the first eight hours of work;

For work done more than eight hours, the employer shall pay the employee an additional 30 percent of the hourly rate on said day;

For work done during the special day that also falls on the employee’s rest day, the employer shall pay the employee an additional 50 percent of the basic salary on the first eight hours of work;

For work done more than eight hours during the special day that also falls on the employee’s rest day, the employer shall pay an additional 30 percent of the hourly rate on said day.

On the other hand, Employees who would report for work on Aug. 28, National Heroes Day, are entitled to 200 percent of their pay for the first eight hours, according to the DOLE.

The following guidelines will also be implemented on Aug. 28: 

 the employee would not report for work, the employer shall pay 100 percent of the employee’s salary for that day;

For work done during the regular holiday, the employee is entitled to receive a total of 200 percent of the employee’s salary;

For work done more than eight hours, the employee shall receive an additional 30 percent of the hourly rate on said day;

For work done during the regular holiday that also falls on the employee’s rest day, the employee is entitled to receive an additional 30 percent of the basic salary of 200 percent;

For work done more than eight hours during the regular holiday that also falls on the employee’s rest day, the employee is entitled to receive an additional 30 percent of the hourly rate on said day. (Nicole Magmanlac)

Comedy Fest at Hard Rock Café Manila on Aug. 24

BY MANILA BULLETIN ENTERTAINMENT

Aug 16, 2023 08:43 PM

  

---

Kakai Bautista

Live entertainment at Hard Rock Café takes a “comedic” turn on Aug. 24 with some of today’s funniest stand-up comedians- Kakai Bautista, Kitkat, Brod Pete (Isko Salvador). They’d be joined by Nina Holmes, who will provide musical numbers with her band. Showtime is 8 pm. 

Brod Pete

Kitkat 

Nina Holmes

Swing by Hard Rock Cafe Conrad for this "Comedy Fest". Prepare to laugh aloud and have a great time!

Reserve seats for Aug. 24 via (02) 89909809. The rate is P1500 per head, inclusive of a beverage. Follow @hardrockcafemanila.

Marcos pushes pay hike for teachers

By Kristina Maralit  and Niña Myka Pauline Arceo

August 15, 2023 370

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday directed the Department of Education (DepEd) to find ways to increase the salaries of teachers.

The presidential directive is on top of the pay hike already mandated by the Salary Standardization Law.

Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte confirmed the directive in an interview following the "Brigada Eskwela" activities of the DepEd at the Victorino Mapa High School in Barangay San Miguel, Manila, where Marcos was also present.

"We have increases based on the Salary Standardization Law, that is in tranches every year. And when we took over last year, President Marcos ordered a study not just on the yearly increase but the long-term outlook on how to implement increases to the salary of teaching and non-teaching DepEd personnel," Duterte said.

"So, we are waiting for the result of that study which states the increases, and it also contains the comparison of inflation and the economic indicators ... forecast of economic indicators in the coming years," she said.

Increasing teachers' salaries was one of Marcos' campaign promises.

He also vowed to address other pressing concerns of the education sector, such as the lack of school facilities and rundown classrooms, especially in remote areas, and the slow-paced upskilling of teachers and literacy-challenged students.

The President hopes to address the last two issues through the Education department's new "Matatag Curriculum," as it is a significant program that will benefit not just Filipino learners but educators as well.

"This is very significant because ... we are trying to fix the curriculum to be a good fit to the needs of the Filipino youth," he said in the same interview.

He reiterated that the Matatag curriculum will also strengthen the country's "international score," especially when it comes to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects.

He noted that the revised curriculum will give students the chance to choose between vocational or technical training after finishing 10th grade in the present academic year.

The Matatag Curriculum aims to "decongest" the current K to 12 curriculum by reducing the number of competencies.

It is more focused on the development of foundational skills such as literacy, numeracy, and socio-emotional skills for kindergarten to Grade 3.

The President also said he is discussing with DepEd officials and other stakeholders proposals to revert the opening of classes to the pre-pandemic schedule.

He said a thorough study has to be made to determine which schedule would be most beneficial to students and teachers.

The President said the administration has no preference and is only looking at what is best for Filipino learners.

The government is also looking to improve the salaries, allowances and other benefits of other government employees.

In a statement on Monday, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said P48 million has been drawn from this year's budget of the Governance Commission for GOCCs (GCG) to fund an in-depth study of the government's Compensation and Position Classification System.

"This is intended to encourage our fellow citizens to join the government sector and also to motivate our existing employees to remain in government service and perform diligently and effectively," Pangandaman said.

The Department of Budget and Management has earmarked P1.368 billion in the proposed fiscal year 2024 National Expenditure Program (NEP) to raise the uniform allowance by P1,000 for over 1.3 million state employees.

The department was said to be conducting a simultaneous evaluation of the different benefits granted within various tiers of public service, to ascertain if modifications are necessary.

In January, the final portion of salary raises for government employees was put into effect. The increase is mandated by Republic Act 11466, or the "Salary Standardization Law of 2019."

Under RA 11466, the salary for government workers will be carried out in four phases, spanning fiscal years 2020 to 2023.

Casiguran, Aurora sizzles with 60°C heat index on Aug. 14

 NATIONALNEWS

BY ELLALYN DE VERA-RUIZ

Aug 14, 2023 07:00 PM

  

---

(Photo courtesy of Pixabay)

The heat index, or temperature as perceived by the body, reached 60 degrees Celsius (°C) in Casiguran, Aurora on Monday, Aug. 14, based on the monitoring of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

For the fourth day in a row, PAGASA has recorded extremely dangerous heat indices in Casiguran: 53°C on Aug. 11, 53°C on Aug. 12, 59°C on Aug. 13, and 60°C on Aug. 14.

A heat index above 52°C indicates “extreme danger” because “heat stroke is imminent,” PAGASA said.

In addition to Casiguran, 16 other areas on Monday experienced “dangerous” heat indices: Calapan, Oriental Mindoro (45°C); NAIA, Pasay City (43°C); Dagupan City, Pangasinan (43°C); Tuguegarao City, Cagayan (43°C); Baler, Aurora (43°C); Ambulong, Tanauan, Batangas (43°C); Alabat, Quezon (43°C); Daet, Camarines Norte (43°C); Virac, Catanduanes (43°C); Roxas City, Capiz (43°C); Calayan, Cagayan (42°C); Aparri, Cagayan (42°C); Iba, Zambales (42°C); CLSU Muñoz, Nueva Ecija (42°C); Sangley Point, Cavite (42°C); and San Jose, Occidental Mindoro (42°C).

PAGASA said a heat index ranging from 42°C to 51°C indicates impending “danger,” as “heat cramps and heat exhaustion are likely,” and “heat stroke is probable with continued activity.”

In the next 24 hours, the southwest monsoon, or “habagat,” may continue to bring scattered light to occasional heavy rains to Palawan, Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.

Meanwhile, the rest of the country will continue to experience partly cloudy to cloudy weather with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.