German gov't donates equipment to NBI for use vs human traffickers

 

BY JEFFREY DAMICOG

Sep 26, 2023 09:01 AM

  

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The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) received a vehicle and various equipment from the German Federal Criminal Police Liaison Office  to help the Philippine government's fight against human trafficking.

NBI Director Medardo G. De Lemos and German Ambassador Dr. Andreas Michael Pfaffernoschke on Monday, Sept. 25, signed the Deed of Donation for the turnover of the various equipment.

“Among the items donated by the German Federal Criminal Police Liaison Office include a Hyundai van, laptop computers, shirt vests, tactical lights, camera, camera lens, body cams, drone with remote control, electric scooters, binoculars, heavy-duty boltcutter, aluminum ladder, battering ram, mini GPS trackers, wireless wifi mini-cameras, wireless wifi mini camera bottle and wallet cameras,” the NBI said 

It said the German government has been “committed to improving police cooperation worldwide for several years now.”

“In pursuit of this objective, the German Federal Criminal Police Liaison Office provides assistance to police partners through projects related to Police Development Assistance, it said.

“To accomplish its goals, the German Federal Criminal Police Liaison Office facilitates Police Development Assistance thru equipment assistance that primarily includes training aids, such as command and operational, IT hardware and software infrastructure projects, among others,” it added.

During the turnover ceremony, De Lemos expressed his gratitude to the German government “for their generosity as he stressed that this will considerably help the operational capacity of our Agents and Investigators.” 

De Lemos also assured that “both the Federal Republic of Germany thru the German Federal Criminal Police Liaison Office and the German Embassy Manila and the NBI are dedicated to combatting and eradicating all forms of criminality including human trafficking and online sexual exploitation as well as promoting peace and order and efficient enforcement of laws.”

 

Karen Davila appointed as first United Nations Women Philippines Goodwill Ambassador

BY CARISSA ALCANTARA

Sep 26, 2023 06:29 AM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• Karen has joined the ranks of other celebrity goodwill ambassadors such as Emma Watson, Anne Hathaway, Nicole Kidman, and Danai Gurira.

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UN Women Asia Pacific Regional director Alia El-Yassir and Karen Davila (Image courtesy of Instagram) 

Known for her work in broadcast journalism, Karen Davila is a woman of many hats. She is the first Filipino appointed as UN Women Asia Pacific Goodwill Ambassador for the Philippines.

Karen has joined the ranks of other celebrity goodwill ambassadors such as Emma Watson, Anne Hathaway, Nicole Kidman, and Danai Gurira.

On her Instagram post, Karen took the time to make her announcement and thanked UN Women Asia Pacific Regional Director Alia El-Yassir for giving her a welcome.

"THE UN FAMILY 🇺🇳 Yesterday, I was officially welcomed by UN Women Asia Pacific Regional Director Alia El-Yassir as the first UN Women Philippines Goodwill Ambassador serving the country & the region.

"I honestly didn’t know what to expect but was so surprised with how warm, and welcoming everybody was at the UN Women Asia Pacific office!" Karen wrote.

"In the series of photos she uploaded, Karen is seen having a conversation with some of the UN Women regional office staff in Bangkok. 

Karen Davila with the staff of UN Women Asia Pacific office

"She expressed her passion for women empowerment by stating that the international organization covers topics that are important to her, such as climate change, ending violence against women (VAW), women’s economic empowerment, women’s role in governance, peace & security (WPS), and unpaid care.

"Many of the issues felt familiar as in my 30 years as a broadcast journalist, I have done stories, docus, and advocated for women & girls rights. I always say the best investment one can make to lift a family out of poverty is educating a girl and empowering a mother," she added.

Playing her duties as the newly selected UN Women Asia Pacific goodwill ambassador, she promised to work closely "with many UN Women champions and advocates back home to help bring about change in mindsets, behaviour and hopefully, in the everyday lives of women & girls thru projects, we will be involved in."

At the end of her post, Karen embarked on this momentum as her first journey towards to many projects and campaigns in the future as a goodwill ambassador.

"This is the first step of the journey. The final meet is this October at the UN HQ in New York. And siyempre, PROUDLY FILIPINA po tayo 🇵🇭", she wrote.

I have been taught that Saturday in German is "Sonnabend"...

 

Alexey Gukov

482 followers

49 following

... but I know "Samstag" is also used. When is the one used and when is the other?

It is not “when”, but rather “where”. E. g. I live in the Northwest (Lower Saxony, near Bremen) and use “Samstag” all the time, albeit — according to studies — “Sonnabend” is prevalently used in Northern and Central Germany. I don’t hear it a lot, though, but I think I remember that our first landlady in Germany (born in the 20ies in Eastern Pomerania, today Polish territory) did use it quite often.

If you read newspapers or watch news on TV, you’ll see that the prevalence of the shorter “Samstag” is 100 % or close to that. In more relaxed contexts, you may hear and read Sonnabend, but I think it is slowly disappearing.

Andrea Brillantes looks stunning as she attends Versace’s spring-summer 2024 show

Here's what she is wearing

BY JOHN LEGASPI

Sep 25, 2023 01:06 AM

  

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As Milan Fashion Week continues to present its brands’ and designers’ vision for spring-summer 2024 dressing, fashion savants from all over the world turn the fashion capital’s streets into their very own runway. And that includes many Filipino stars.

One of the many Filipino celebrities present at the fashion fest is actress Andrea Brillantes. The 20-year-old actress graced Versace’s spring-summer 2024 show. For the event, she donned the brand’s leather bustier top and skirt, both adorned with Medusa ’95 hardware.

Versace’s spring-summer 2024 collection is a nod to late designer Gianni Versace’s 1995 collection. The latest line featured shift dresses, pieces in checkerboard print, tailored jackets, as well as accessories and footwear imbued with its Medusa emblem, all in sorbet colors. One of the major highlights of the runway presentation was the presence of the supermodel Claudia Schiffer. 

Check out more of Andrea’s ’fits in Milan below:

Photo from @blythe/Instagram

Still from @ibaydrake/Instagram

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Asian Games: Rodriguez, Eslapor in beach volley quarters

BY KRISTEL SATUMBAGA-VILLAR

  

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AT A GLANCE

• Rodriguez and Eslapor needed 32 minutes in besting Leong Ong Leng and Law Weng Sam of Macau, 21-15, 21-15, to inch closer to the medal round at the Ningbo Banbianshan Beach Volleyball Centre.

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Floremel Rodriguez and Genesa Eslapor kept their medal hopes alive after barging into the women’s quarterfinals in beach volleyball at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China on Sunday, Sept. 24.

Floremel Rodriguez and Genesa Eslapor inch closer to the medal round after barging into the quarterfinals of the women's beach volleyball tournament at the 19th Asian Games. (File Photo/AVC)

Rodriguez and Eslapor needed 32 minutes in besting Leong Ong Leng and Law Weng Sam of Macau, 21-15, 21-15, to inch closer to the medal round at the Ningbo Banbianshan Beach Volleyball Centre.

The Filipina duo, however, will have their hands full as they arrange a date with Japan’s Miki Ishii and Sayaka Malki, who clobbered Kazakhstan’s Alina Rachenko and Anastassiya Ukolova, 21-8, 21-7. 

The men’s crew of James Buytrago and Jude Garcia, however, fell short in their bid after absorbing a stinging 21-17, 16-21, 15-6 defeat at the hands of Indonesians Mohammad Ashfiya and Bintang Akbar in their Round of 16 duel.

A triumph could have earned Buytrago and Garcia a quarters meeting with Iran’s Abbas Pourasgari and Alireza Aghajanighasab, who advanced via a 21-15 21-15 win over Thais Surin Jongklang and Dunwinit Kaewsai.

Meanwhile, Khylem Progella and Grydelle Matibag try to join Rodriguez and Eslapor into the next round as they battle Woranatchayakorn Phirachayakrailert and Charanrutwad Patcharamainaruebhorn of Thailand at press time.

Damot shares her pageant journey

BY CARISSA ALCANTARA

  

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AT A GLANCE

• "Well I really cannot promise, kasi I'm no Pia naman and Catriona, but I am Arlene, so I will do my best and I believe I'm unique naman," she said.

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Mrs. Universe Philippines 2023 Arlene Cris Damot (Image courtesy of Instagram) 

After winning the title of Mrs. Universe Philippines 2023 last June 18, Arlene Cruz Damot, mother of two kids, is a remarkable woman of many talents and titles.

During her media conference at the Seda Hotel Vertis in Quezon City last Sept. 21, Arlene stated what encouraged her to join pageant.

"When I was young I was bullied because of my appearance, I was chubby and my skin tone was morena, so I just wanna show to everyone that if you set your heart and mind to it, you can be anything that you want to be," Arlene said. 

(When I was young I was bullied because of my appearance, I was chubby and my skin tone was morena, so I just wanna show to everyone that if you set your heart and mind to it, you can be anything that you want to be)

She also believed that another reason she joined the pageant was because she shared the same values with the competition.

Mrs. Universe Philippines 2023 Arlene Cris Damot (Image courtesy of Instagram) 

"I think kaya ko napili sumali dito sa Mrs. Universe, kasi I think that we share the same values and I love being a mom. Mrs. Universe the requirements are actually like if you're married or widowed," Arlene added.

(I think that's why I chose to join Mrs. Universe because I think that we share the same values ​​and I love being a mom. Mrs. Universe, the requirements are actually like if you're married or widowed) 

Despite being the CEO of an aesthetic clinic, training in pageant, and becoming a mom, Arlene added that it's all about time management to make her work easier.

"Time management talaga, of course, family first muna, that's my priority and then for being an entrepreneur, and then a mom, and then a beauty queen as well, time management talaga is very important," she added.

(Time management really, of course, family first, that's my priority and then for being an entrepreneur, and then a mom, and then a beauty queen as well, time management is really very important)

Embarking on her first pageant, Arlene made sure to prepare her well-being from physical to mental health and the other pageant matters.

"For the preparations, of course, you need to be healthy and fit, so I go to the gym, and I also go to the spa. So I will be mentally and physically healthy. Secondly for Pasarela naman, I am being trained by Ian Mendajar, and for the gowns naman we have collaborated with different designers," Arlene said. 

(For the preparations, of course, you need to be healthy and fit, so I go to the gym, and I also go to the spa. So I will be mentally and physically healthy. Secondly for Pasarela, I am being trained by Ian Mendajar, and for the gowns, we have collaborated with different designers)

Competing against a hundred candidates from different countries. Arlene mentioned that she may not be Catriona Grey or Pia Wurtzbach, but she will do her best to get the title.

"Well I really cannot promise, kasi I'm no Pia naman and Catriona, but I am Arlene, so I will do my best and I believe I'm unique naman," she said.

(Well I really cannot promise, because I'm no Pia and Catriona, but I am Arlene, so I will do my best and I believe I'm unique)

Witness the beauty and elegance as the candidates of the 46th Mrs. Universe 2023 compete for the crown on Oct. 8, at 6PM in Newport Performing Arts Theater, Newport Resorts World in Pasay City.

Vog, smog, haze worsen quality of air; public awareness on pollution heightened

BY MANILA BULLETIN

Sep 25, 2023 00:11 AM

  

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Metro Manilans and those in the Calabarzon region received a generous dose of science education last Friday, Sept. 22, when the hazy atmosphere prompted the suspension of classes. Alerts were also given to those proximately affected by Taal Volcano’s continuing activity.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) retracted its initial declaration that volcanic smog, or vog, was the cause of the haze, noting the west-southwest direction of the emissions from Taal Volcano toward other Batangas towns, and not toward Metro Manila.

Another agency, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) stated that “hazy skies in Metro Manila…may be attributed to ground-level and suspended Particulate Matter (PM) concentration. Then, another term — thermal inversion — was injected into the briefing. Thermal inversion occurs when the layers of the atmosphere do not mix, causing aerosols to get trapped.

DENR-EMB explained further: “Normally, air temperature decreases with increasing altitude, but during an inversion, warmer air is held below the cooler air. An inversion can also suppress convection which is the ability of pollutant(s) to move vertically, causing visibly trapped particulate matter closer to the ground.”

The main cause of the phenomenon, therefore, was the presence of significant amounts of Particulate Matter — in simple terms, air pollution — that hovered closer to the ground, instead of drifting into the skies.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services (PAGASA), our good old weather bureau, chimed in to explain the rather unusual “meteorological conditions” last Friday in Metro Manila, Calabarzon and some Central Luzon provinces. It cited “the presence of very small particles…trapped close to the surface (or nearer ground level) due to the presence of a thermal inversion, high humidity, and calm wind conditions.” Usually “the inversion disappears later in the day as heat from the sun allows the mixing of the air, allowing the aerosols to disappear.” But the haze persists when cloudy conditions prevail. 

Meanwhile, residents in the immediate vicinity of Taal Volcano, have been warned of the persistent and rising amount of vog whose chemical component is sulfur dioxide, which can irritate the eyes, throat, and respiratory system.

To recap, the smog that blanketed Metro Manila last Friday and through Saturday, was caused by heavy traffic emissions and thermal inversion, not by Taal Volcano’s continuing smoke emission.

This drives home anew the imperative need to curb air pollution to ensure that the air we breathe does not endanger our health.

Law enforcement agencies must intensify and sustain their campaign against smoke belching vehicles. More effective public transport systems such as the EDSA Bus Carousel system should be sustained and further enhanced. The use of hybrid or electric vehicles could also contribute significantly to the mitigation of air pollution. Meantime, if air pollution persists or worsens, commuters will be constrained to wear anew face masks for health protection.

Concerned government agencies must do what is needed to give accurate and reliable public information for the citizenry’s guidance.