Folklore: A Halloween Festival at the Mall of Asia Arena on Oct. 28

BY MANILA BULLETIN ENTERTAINMENT

Sep 23, 2023 07:43 AM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• Folklore: A Halloween Festival will transport attendees to mystique and wonder with enchanting Halloween-themed photo booths and activations. As Folklore: A Halloween Festival aims to establish itself as Manila 39's annual must-attend Halloween event, it promises to set a new tradition for many years to come.

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 Mark your calendars for an extraordinary Halloween celebration! On Oct 28, the Mall of Asia Arena will come alive with Folklore: A Halloween Festival that promises unparalleled entertainment and debauchery.

Headlining the Halloween festivities are two international music stars: Bebe Rexha and T.I. Bebe Rexha is a chart-topping, multi-platinum superstar who has delivered electrifying performances globally. Her single “I’m Good (Blue)” with David Guetta has been lauded with various award nominations and has been streamed and viewed billions of times worldwide. Bebe Rexha and Guetta followed up their smash hit with their new single “One In A Million”.

 

Sharing the spotlight is T.I., a name synonymous with hip-hop royalty. Known for his iconic lyrics and impactful storytelling, T.I. has dominated the charts and earned numerous awards throughout his career. With hits like “Whatever You Like”, “Bring Em Out,” and “Live Your Life”, attendees can expect an unforgettable night of hip-hop hits, bringing his signature style and charisma to Folklore: A Halloween Festival.

Adding to the excitement is the country's largest Halloween costume contest, where participants can compete for a jaw-dropping PHP 1,000,000 in cash and prizes. Individual and group costumes will vie for the coveted title of Halloween's best-dressed, making this contest a thrilling spectacle of creativity and imagination.

Folklore: A Halloween Festival will transport attendees to mystique and wonder with enchanting Halloween-themed photo booths and activations. As Folklore: A Halloween Festival aims to establish itself as Manila 39's annual must-attend Halloween event, it promises to set a new tradition for many years to come. 

 

Get those costumes ready, and don't miss this extraordinary Halloween celebration!

Tickets range from PHP 2,500 to PHP 6,500 and will go on sale on Saturday, Sept. 23 at www.InsigniaPresents.com or at any SM Tickets outlet nationwide. For more info, please visit www.InsigniaPresents.com or follow our social media accounts @FolkloreMNL or @InsigniaPresents.

Southern Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao affected by ITCZ — Pagasa

2,227 views Sep 22, 2023

Scattered rain showers and thunderstorms are expected in Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration reported on Friday. Read more: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1835324... Visit us at https://www.inquirer.net Facebook: https://facebook.com/inquirerdotnet Twitter: https://twitter.com/inquirerdotnet

High sulfur dioxide emissions cause volcanic smog over Taal

BY ELLALYN DE VERA-RUIZ

Sep 22, 2023 09:25 AM

  

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IP camera images of Taal Volcano taken at 8 a.m. (left), 12:30 p.m. (middle), and 5:30 p.m. (right) from the Cuenca Observation Station (VTCU), with initially thin volcanic smog or vog thickening throughout Thursday afternoon, Sept. 21, 2023. (Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology)

The ongoing unrest at Taal Volcano, which is characterized by high sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions, is causing volcanic smog, or “vog,” the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said on Friday, Sept. 22.

Phivolcs detected 4,569 tons of sulfur dioxide emissions during a 24-hour observation of the active volcano in Batangas, which produced significant volcanic smog.

This is slightly higher than the 4,322 tons recorded on Thursday, Sept. 21.

In an advisory on Thursday, Phivolcs said it has observed a “large cloud of SO2 over and stretching west of Taal Lake.”

“Vog has been affecting the Taal Region since the first week of September 2023 as an average of 3,402 tons per day of SO2 has been degassed from Taal Volcano for the month,” it said.

‘Vog’ threats

“As a reminder, vog consists of fine droplets containing volcanic gas such as SO2, which is acidic and can cause irritation of the eyes, throat and respiratory tract with severities depending on the gas concentrations and durations of exposure,” Phivolcs explained. 

“People who may be particularly sensitive to vog are those with health conditions such as asthma, lung disease and heart disease, the elderly, pregnant women and children,” it added.

Phivolcs advised those vulnerable to vog to limit their exposure by avoiding outdoor activities, staying indoors, and closing doors and windows to block out vog.

Residents were also advised to cover their noses, “ideally with an N95 facemask.”

“Drink plenty of water to reduce any throat irritation or constriction. If belonging to the particularly sensitive group of people above, watch over yourself and seek help from a doctor or the barangay health unit if needed, especially if serious effects are experienced,” Phivolcs said.

It also warned that acid rain could be produced during periods of rainfall and volcanic gas emission over areas where the plume disperses, causing crop damage and corroding metal roofs on houses and buildings.

Alert Level 1 remains 

Taal Volcano remains on Alert Level 1, which means it is still experiencing a "low-level unrest," Phivolcs said.

Under Alert Level 1, sudden steam-driven or phreatic explosions, volcanic earthquakes, minor ashfall, and lethal accumulations or expulsions of volcanic gas are possible and could endanger areas on Taal Volcano Island (TVI).

Phivolcs emphasized that entry into TVI, Taal's permanent danger zone, must be strictly prohibited, particularly in the vicinity of the main crater and the Daang Kastila fissure.

We need to preserve our coral reefs

BY MANILA BULLETIN

Sep 22, 2023 00:03 AM

  

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How important are coral reefs?
 

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, “coral reefs are some of the most diverse and valuable ecosystems on Earth. Coral reefs support more species per unit area than any other marine environment, including about 4,000 species of fish, 800 species of hard corals and hundreds of other species. Scientists estimate that there may be millions of undiscovered species of organisms living in and around reefs. This biodiversity is considered key to finding new medicines for the 21st century. Many drugs are now being developed from coral reef animals and plants as possible cures for cancer, arthritis, human bacterial infections, viruses, and other diseases.”

That is how valuable coral reefs are to mankind. Therefore, it is incumbent upon everyone — Filipino or otherwise — to preserve them for our existence.

The subject is brought to the fore in the wake of the destruction of corals and coral reefs at Rozul (Iroquios) Reef and Escoda (Sabina) Shoal, both located in the West Philippine Sea and within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Philippines.

Rozul Reef, located at the southern end of Recto (Reed) Bank in the northeastern portion of Kalayaan Island Group (Spratly Islands) in Palawan, is known as a haven for different species of fish and other marine life because of the natural coral reef growing around it which serves as their shelter.

Based on a recent survey conducted by the Palawan-based Western Command (WesCom) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), there was nothing left of the corals at Rozul Reef and Escoda Shoal.

“There’s nothing left, they are destroyed and only debris was there,” Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos, WesCom commander, said in a recent news forum.

The WesCom said the destruction of corals and coral reefs were discovered after Chinese vessels swarmed the areas.

In view of this, the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) has begun studying the best legal course of action to take.

“The OSG is in the fact-finding and data gathering stage of its study on legal options regarding WPS issues,” Solicitor General Menardo I. Guevarra said on Wednesday, Sept. 20. “These matters require a lot of prudence and circumspection in view of their potential long-term impact on our national interests.”

Japan and the United States have joined the Philippines in deploring the massive destruction of corals and coral reefs in areas within the Philippines’ EEZ.

We call on all responsible nations to join the Philippines in denouncing this deplorable act as this impacts global food security considering that millions of people depend on the vast South China Sea, where the West Philippine Sea is located, for their food and livelihood. They should also help in the preservation of marine habitats to ensure that we have food on the table everyday.

This is not a matter of territorial dispute, this concerns food security for all.

We should all act now before it’s too late. 

La Salle libero Justine Jazareno goes pro with Akari Chargers in PVL

BY NIKOLE JAVIER

Sep 21, 2023 09:59 PM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• Justine Jazaro has decided to leave De La Salle to turn pro with Premier Volleyball League's (PVL) Akari, the team announced on social media on Thursday night, Sept. 21.

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Justine Jazareno has decided to leave De La Salle to turn pro with Premier Volleyball League's (PVL) Akari, the team announced on social media on Thursday night, Sept. 21. 

The libero is set to join her former Lady Spiker middle blocker teammate Fifi Sharma in the Chargers’ rotation in the season-ending All-Filipino Conference in mid October. 

Justine Jazareno. (UAAP Media)

Jazareno, who was part of the La Salle squad which won the UAAP Season 85 championship title, still had two more years of eligibility left. 

Like Sharma, who decided to forgo three years of eligibility, Jazareno is likely to have significant playing opportunity with the Chargers as former liberos Dani Ravena and Rachel Jorvina were moved to Akari’s expansion team newcomer NXLed. 

The 23-year-old Jazareno will take turns with the Chargers’ starting lineup libero Bang Pineda. 

With Jazareno’s move, the Lady Spikers’ defense title campaign just took another blow with the previous departure of senior players Jolina dela Cruz and Finals MVP ace setter Mars Alba. 

Careful with the danger of envy

By Fr. Roy Cimagala

Chaplain

Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE)

Talamban, Cebu City

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

THIS danger usually arises when we are not content with what we have or with what is promised to us. It arises when we tend to compare ourselves with others in an improper way—that is, not for the glory of God but rather for our own self-interest only.

We are reminded of this danger in that gospel parable about a landowner hiring workers at different hours of the day. (cfr. Mt 20,1-16) The landowner saw idle people around and decided to hire them, promising to pay them a certain amount of money. When he saw other idle people in the latter part of the day, he also decided to hire them, promising them to pay them something.

As it turned out, when the time came to pay them, the landowner decided to pay the same amount to everyone, irrespective of the time they were hired. That’s when those hired in the first hour thought they would receive more than what was promised, obviously because they rendered longer time of work.

But the landowner noticed that those hired in the first hour grumbled about their pay, and so, he corrected them saying, “Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what is yours and go. What if I wish to give this last one the same as you?”

That’s when the parable ended with the intended concluding lesson with these intriguing words of Christ: “Are you envious because I am generous? Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

Indeed, we need to be most wary of this danger of envy that would lead us to feel entitled just because we came ahead of the others, or more gifted and privileged than them. That would lead us to think that those who came later than us or who are less gifted than us to be better rewarded by God than we are if they were given the same treatment.

What we should rather do is to be content with what we have as given by God through his different ways, and just focus on what we have to do to fulfill our duties and responsibilities. Anyway, in the end God knows what to give us in return, and he can never be outdone in generosity.

We should just be generous in our self-giving without feeling entitled. This was the example of Christ himself who, being God, emptied himself to become man and to bear all the sins of men by dying on the cross, all for the purpose of saving mankind. (cfr. Phil 2,7)

He reiterated this point when he lamented about the domineering sense of entitlement of some of the leading Jews of his time while praising the poor widow who put all that she had into the temple treasury. (cfr. Mk 12,38-44)

While it’s true that we obviously are entitled to our rights, we should not feel entitled to privileges and favors that are above our rights and needs. If they come and we cannot avoid them, then let’s be thankful. 

But let’s be reminded that these privileges, favors and blessings are meant for us to strengthen our desire to serve more and not to be served. But as it is, we should try to avoid them, since they tend only to spoil and corrupt us.

We have to be most wary when we happen to enjoy some privileged positions or status in life because we tend to think that we deserve more entitlements. And not only would we expect them. We may even demand them for us.

'Filipinos love music': 'Hamilton' international cast on how musical still attracts audiences

Kristofer Purnell - Philstar.com

The international cast of "Hamilton" (from left): Darnell Abraham, Jason Arrow, Rachelle Ann Go, Akina Edmonds, and DeAundre' Woods

MANILA, Philippines — The Tony- and Olivier-winning sensation "Hamilton" has finally reached the Philippines where it hopes to find an even bigger audience.

The sung-and-rapped musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda is based on the titular character Alexander Hamilton's life particularly surrounding America's revolution against the British, which Miranda coined as "America then, as told by America now."

The rap nature of "Hamiilton" was a prominent factor to the musical's immense popularity, which led to a record 16 Tony nominations joint-most wins at 11 including Best Musical.

At a press conference held at The Theatre at Solaire yesterday, where "Hamilton" will run until November 26, Philstar.com asked how the musical's hip-hop and rap features will entice more Filipinos to see the show especially as both genres are rising in the local music scene.

"The fact that hip-hop and rap are growing is already a beautiful insight to how it will continue inspiring people to come along and watch," said Akina Edmonds, who portrays Angelica Schuyler.

Akina also points out that "Hamilton" covers multiple genres with contemporary and musical theater also in the mix.

"What I love about 'Hamilton' is that it's show for people who love theater and also for those who hate theater," continued Akina which ellicited laughter from the crowd. "[Spouses] bring their partners and they leave more inspired than those who dragged them along."

The actress finds the word "universal" the perfect adjective for "Hamilton" as it encapsulates so much of the human spirit, "The show itself is the star. Because its multi-genre and multi-faceted, it only has the potential to inspire more."

Jason Arrow, who portrays the titular character, reiterated something that his co-star Darnell Abraham (George Washington) mentioned about Filipinos' love for music, something that "Hamilton" is filled excellently with.

The actor also took into consideration the voices singing the numbers, and gestures to another co-star Rachelle Ann Go who is reprising Elizabeth Schuyler from London's West End.

"I get to be sung to every night by Rachelle," said Jason with a smile, leading to Rachelle belting an impromptu run much to the crowd's amusement. "Sometimes the ones I get are when the mics are off, I wish you could hear it."

Setting genre aside, Jason ended by saying the music of "Hamilton" itself speaks to everyone.

Philstar.com also asked if the international cast would be getting their own cast recording like previous "Hamilton" ensembles have in the past.

The cast all looked in laughter to the Manila run's producers hoping for a chance to do a recording, with Akina joking they could just make samples on Soundcloud or YouTube.

In the international cast of "Hamilton" with Rachelle, Jason, Akina, and Darnell are DeAundre’ Woods as Aaron Burr, Brent Hill as King George, David Park as Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson, Shaka Bagadu Cook as Hercules Mulligan/James Madison, Jacob Guzman as John Laurens/Philip Hamilton, Elandrah Eramiha as Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds.

PBBM's 20 priority bills on track for passage by December—Palace

BY BETHEENA UNITE

Sep 20, 2023 04:26 PM

  

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Malacañang said the 20 priority bills pushed by President Marcos are on track for passage this year.

President Marcos attends the third Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting on Sept. 20, 2023 in Malacañan Palace. (Photo courtesy of PCO)

Following the third Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 20, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said that both houses of Congress are on track for the December passage of the 20 priority measures requested by the President, including the General Appropriations Bill.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said the 20 measures were requested by the President to be passed in December during the last LEDAC meeting. 

“And we are happy to announce na halos kalahati ay natapos na rin namin sa Senado. Magiging batas na po siya and those that are pending na magiging batas within the next few weeks, and hopefully the President will be able to sign it (And we are happy to announce that almost half have been completed in the Senate. Those that are pending will be passed into law within the next few weeks), and hopefully the President will be able to sign it ,” Zubiri said.

"[W]e will pass this as soon as possible time. Pinakamatagal na end of the year, which is this December, kasama po ng kanyang (including the) General Appropriations Act,” Zubiri added.

The 20 bills identified as priority measures for passage by end of December this year include the National Employment Action Plan; LGU Income Classification, Internet Transaction Act, BOT/PPP Act, Salt Development Industry Act, Ease of Paying Taxes, Real Property Evaluation and Assessment Reform Act, Magna Carta for Seafarers, and Anti-Agriculture Smuggling Act.

Other measures are the Waste-to-Energy Bill, National Disease Prevention Management Authority, Amendments to the Banking Act or the Fund Secrecy Law, Medical Reserve Corps, Virology Institute of the Philippines, E-Governance Act, New Philippine Passport Act, the National Government Rightsizing Act, the National Scamming Act, the National Citizens Service Training Program Act and the Military and Uniformed Personnel Pension System Act. 

House Speaker Martin Romualdez, on the other hand, said that 18 out of the 20 legislation to be passed by year-end had already been approved by the House of Representatives.

Immer mehr Rentner arbeiten: „Symptom eines kaputten Rentensystems“

Von: Patricia Huber 

Immer mehr Rentner kehren in die Arbeitswelt zurück. Linken-Politiker Dietmar Bartsch nimmt das zum Anlass, eine weitere Rentenerhöhung zu fordern.

Berlin – Einem Bericht zufolge steigt in Deutschland die Anzahl der Rentnerinnen und Rentner, die weiterhin einer Arbeit nachgehen. Aktuell sind 1.123.000 Beschäftigte über 67 Jahre alt und haben damit das reguläre Rentenalter überschritten, so das RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland (RND), das sich auf Antworten des Bundesarbeitsministeriums auf parlamentarische Anfragen der Linksfraktion beruft. 

Etliche Beschäftigte über 67 Jahre: Liegt das an den niedrigen Renten?

Die genannte Zahl setzt sich zusammen aus 251.000 sozialversicherungspflichtig Beschäftigten und 872.000 Rentnerinnen und Rentnern, die ausschließlich geringfügig über sogenannte 520-Euro-Mini-Jobs arbeiten. Die Linke sieht in der hohen Anzahl der geringfügig Beschäftigten ein deutliches Zeichen dafür, dass immer mehr Rentner arbeiten müssen, um ihren Lebensunterhalt zu sichern. 

Unser kostenloser Renten-Newsletter versorgt Sie regelmäßig mit allen relevanten News zum Thema. Hier geht es zur Anmeldung.

„Immer mehr Menschen müssen auch noch mit über 67 Jahren arbeiten, das ist eine traurige Entwicklung und ein Symptom eines kaputten Rentensystems“, äußerte Sören Pellmann, der Ostbeauftragte der Linksfraktion, gegenüber dem RND. Unzureichende Renten und hohe Kosten zwingen immer mehr ältere Menschen dazu, weiterhin zu arbeiten. „Für viele ist das keine freiwillige Entscheidung, sondern notwendig, um über den Monat zu kommen“, bemängelte Pellmann.

Immer mehr Rentner arbeiten, wie die Zahlen zeigen. (Symbolbild) © Westend61/Imago 

Linken-Vorsitzender fordert 200 Euro mehr Rente

Dietmar Bartsch, der Fraktionsvorsitzende der Linken im Bundestag, forderte letzte Woche eine außerordentliche Rentenerhöhung von zehn Prozent oder mindestens 200 Euro pro Monat. Er forderte zudem, dass das Rentenniveau in Deutschland auf „mindestens 53 Prozent“ erhöht werden müsse – von aktuell etwa 48 Prozent. (ph/AFP)

Why is German cuisine not popular?

 

Joseph Panzarella

Lived in 4 countries. Traveled to over 25

For many years it was popular. In some places outside of Germany it still is, but less so than before.

In today's world most people tend to shun a cuisine that is heavily based on meat.

Though, on occasion I still love a good sauerbraten or schweinshaxe (pig knuckle)

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