72nd Miss Universe online voting begins

BY ROBERT REQUINTINA

Oct 9, 2023 10:37 PM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• "She is also the President of Inner Peace Foundation, and notably, her lifelong mission is towards Autism Acceptance. Growing up with two autistic siblings inspired her to work closely with advocacy groups nationwide, and with that, Michelle has been the Autism Society Philippines’ Goodwill Ambassador since 2019."

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Miss Universe Philippines 2023 Michelle Marquez Dee

Help Miss Philippines Michelle Marquez Dee enter the semifinal round of the 72nd Miss Universe Competition, which will be held in El Salvador on Nov. 18.

Michelle, who publicly came out as bisexual in May, is currently busy preparing for the prestigious pageant.

You can vote for Michelle: 1) download the Miss Universe app. 2) Go to the Vote tab. 3) Vote Miss Philippines. 

The Miss Universe Philippine Organization has also released the official headshot of Michelle for the competition.

In her bio for Miss Universe, Michelle said her lifelong mission is towards autism acceptance. Her full bio:

"Michelle Marquez Dee is a 28-year-old entrepreneur, advocate, adrenaline junkie, award-winning actress, and beauty queen who graduated with a degree in Psychology at De La Salle University and accomplished a certificate course in Entrepreneurship at Harvard University Online - all while founding a series of businesses that focus on health, multi-media creation, and WEB3 adoption.  

"She is also the President of Inner Peace Foundation, and notably, her lifelong mission is towards Autism Acceptance. Growing up with two autistic siblings inspired her to work closely with advocacy groups nationwide, and with that, Michelle has been the Autism Society Philippines’ Goodwill Ambassador since 2019.

• I'm most proud of being able to see the good in everything that happens in my life.

• If I could have any superpower, it would be the power to control time because it’s the only resource you cannot stop, take back, or control.

• I'm inspired by people who maximize their highest potential and encourage others to do the same.

• If I had to describe myself in one word, it would be unapologetic. 

• I'm happiest when I’m fully content with my life.

• I can't live without my camera.

What makes German a cool language?

 

Sybille Peters

1. There are a number of idioms, metaphors and colloquial expressions that are quite pictorial. Examples:
1. “alles in Butter” (translation: “all in butter” meaning everything is ok)
2. “ein Brett vor dem Kopf haben” (translation: “have a plank in front of your face” meaning you overlooked the obvious)
2. Some excessively long words are absurd and funny. Seriously! Who can put so much into one compound word? Examples:
1. Schienenersatzverkehr (translation: “rail replacement traffic”, usually used for buses that temporarily replace a train)
2. See this clip with the awesome Austrian actor Christoph Waltz and Jimmy Fallon for more examples (Side note: I have never ever had use for the word “Waldeinsamkeit”. But “Sitzpinkler” can be quite useful, just don’t call your boss this unless it’s behind their back.)
3. If you are a native English speaker you have only one gender for articles. It’s always “the” (e.g. the dog, the cat, the door). In French you have 2 (le chien / la porte), meaning masculine and feminine. If you want to be really challenged, we have 3 (masculine, feminine and neuter), e.g. “der Hund” / “die Tür” / “das Boot”. More is always better. So, learn German. ;-)
4. To make it worse, we don’t just have 3 genders, we have 4 cases, but that’s another story.
5. Once you master the language, you may find the various dialects in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, etc. amusing, charming (or annoying) and challenging. It can even be a challenge to us who speak German sometimes.

The German language reflects our nature. Both good and bad. And don’t believe people who tell you, Germans have no sense of humor. We do. Other German speaking folks (e.g. Austrians) do too, see 2b.

Also, read this charming article, that I found linked in another answer: Why we should learn German | John le Carré

Note that German is also spoken in other countries, not just Germany, e.g. Austria, Switzerland etc.

Filipina actress Althea Vega to compete in international swimsuit model search

A veteran of over 30 films and television appearances, Althea Vega has been in the Philippine film industry for over a decade. 

MANILA, Philippines – Filipina actress and licensed fitness professional Althea Vega is one of 65 contestants vying for the title of Miss Swimsuit USA International Model Search 2023. 

Vega gained attention once again for a powerful performance opposite Jericho Rosales in the film “Basurero,” which was hailed best short film at last year’s Star Awards, and has been nominated for the same award at the Busan Film Festival and San Francisco Festival, among others. A veteran of over 30 films and television appearances, Althea has been in the Philippine film industry for over a decade.

 A licensed fitness trainer, Vega is now based in New York, where she trains aspiring American actors and actresses while simultaneously working on upcoming international film projects. She was the first winner of the Ms. Gold’s Gym competition for professional trainers and joined the Fitness Universe pageant in the US a few years ago. Althea is also the founder of the Get FITPinoy movement, which encourages Filipinos to take responsibility for their personal health and fitness. 

Most recently, the talented morena walked the ramp at the Fashion Week Awards Gala Night in New York in September. Her work schedule is starting to accelerate as more film producers and talent agents in America get wind of her talent. In December, she will be producing her first international film with a Filipino director based in Texas. But for her latest major beauty contest, she admits that she needs help.

“These are very exciting times for me, and I’m proud to make it to the finals of Miss Swimsuit USA International, but I need the support of our countrymen,” said Vega, who has been based in the US since 2022. “These kinds of competitions are very costly, and I’m doing everything on my own.”

Women in art

How this special art gallery was made

for women by women

BY POCH EULALIA

Oct 8, 2023 10:29 PM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• Women artists are still treated differently from men. — Yoko Ono

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WOMEN IN ART Several Filipina artists’ works were featured at the ‘Her Story in Color: Celebrating the Diversity and Creativity of Women’ art exhibit

When we think about great classical artists, we mostly only remember male artists. Try it for yourself, can you think of any women artists who rose to fame alongside the likes of Renaissance artists like Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Caravaggio, and so on? One might also notice that even the symbolizations of women in artworks come from a male gaze-y point of view. 

 

As Lynda Mead points out in her book, The Female Nude: Art, Obscenity and Sexuality, you would find that most of the artworks considered as "high art" were nude paintings of women. She notes that in these paintings, women were often depicted as having idolized bodies. They were drawn with body features that the average woman at the time did not have. She argues that this idolized vision in the art world is due to the increasing power of men in a capitalist world.  

A WOMAN IN POWER Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano leads the opening of the ‘Her Story in Color: Celebrating the Diversity and Creativity of Women’ art exhibit at the Grand Hyatt Manila in BGC, Taguig

Fortunately, in recent years, the art world has found a shift toward a more inclusive space. Nowadays, more people are aware of works by notable female artists such as Frida Kahlo, Margaret Keane, Georgia O'Keeffe, and many more. These are largely due to the collectives of women in the art industry that continue to grow over the years.

 

One such collective is Zonta International. Zonta found its start in 1919 in Buffalo, New York. Its name is derived from a Lakota Sioux Indian word that means "honest and trustworthy." What started as a small collective of businesswomen by Marian de Forest has now grown into a global movement consisting of over 29,000 members in 62 countries. Zonta International has put work into putting up programs hoping to provide better opportunities for women, improving the livelihood of women in their local communities, giving scholarships, and one day achieving a world free of violence against women and girls. Through their efforts, they wish to create a world in which women's rights are recognized as human rights and every woman is able to achieve her full potential. As their vision states, “In such a world, women have access to all resources and are represented in decision-making positions on an equal basis with men. In such a world, no woman lives in fear of violence.” 

Paghihip by Pia Dacanay, 20x20 inches, acrylic on canvas

Just recently, Zonta International held the 22nd Zonta International District 17 Conference at the Grand Hyatt Manila in BGC, Taguig. During this gathering, Zontians from all over the country and our neighbors in Asia were provided a venue to provide one another with ideas on how to uplift fellow women. A highlight of the conference was an art exhibit entitled, “Her Story in Color: Celebrating the Diversity and Creativity of Women.” It contained the works of several Filipina artists and was put together by Mita Rufino, in collaboration with ManilArt and National Art Fair curator Danny Rayos del Sol and NCCA National Committee on Art Gallery head Tess Rayos del Sol. 

Elements by Joy Vocalan Cruz, 36x18 inches, acrylic on wood and resin

Two artists whose works were present at the exhibit, Pia Dacanay and Joy Vocalan Cruz, share their hopes for how such efforts can help women in the art industry. “For me to be able to paint is a blessing already. I did not even expect to be a part of this but I’m grateful for groups like Zonta that they give opportunities for women to be heard (and) to be seen through their works,” says Pia. “Ang hope ko (My hope) is that we encourage more women to still keep on doing what they love doing even if you become a professional or a career woman or even if you become a homemaker, whatever you decide to do with your life, you can still do a lot of things.” Joy, meanwhile, has a hopeful message for those who see the exhibit. “(I hope) that you will be empowered and influenced by all the artworks and do more good as an advocacy to help women (from) all walks of life,” she says.

Zonta.org

Muntinlupa mom to represent PH at Woman of the Universe international pageant in Dubai

BY JONATHAN HICAP

Oct 8, 2023 08:46 AM

  

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A 38-year-old mother of five from Muntinlupa City will represent the Philippines to an international pageant to be held in Dubai in November. 

Erika Joy Santos-Reyes from Barangay Ayala Alabang will compete at the Woman of the Universe pageant slated from Nov. 6 to 12 in Dubai. 

Erika Joy Santos-Reyes (Photos from the Facebook accounts of Erika Joy Santos-Reyes and Richard Hinola)

Reyes earned the right to represent the country after winning the Mrs. Philippines 2023 pageant title last Sept. 23 at WhiteWoods Convention and Leisure Hotel in Silang, Cavite. 

The Muntinlupa City government congratulated Reyes for her win. 

“As a Muntinlupeño and to be the pride of the city, I feel an overflowing happiness,” said Reyes, according to the city government. 

She added, “When I was crowned isa lang nasa isip ko, para sa Muntinlupa ‘to! (When I was crowned, there was only one thing in my mind, this is for Muntinlupa).” 

“Expect that I am going to put in all the effort to represent Muntinlupa and our country,” she promised about her upcoming participation in the Dubai beauty pageant. 

Reyes held a victory press conference on Oct. 7 at The Bellevue Hotel in Alabang. 

She earned a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Santo Tomas, according to pageant Facebook account Eventologie. She is the president and CCO of ESC Interactive Communication Services Inc. and Queues Inc.

Charity means all in

By Fr. Roy Cimagala

Chaplain

Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE)

Talamban, Cebu City

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

INDEED, that’s how charity is. It’s all in, irrespective of how the objects of our charity are. They may reciprocate our love for them or not, they may like us or not. On our part we should just continue to love them if charity truly dwells in our heart.

We are reminded of this truth of our Christian faith in that gospel episode where a scholar of the law asked Christ what he had to do to inherit eternal life. And Christ simply said that he had to love God with everything that he had and to love his neighbor as himself. (cfr. Lk 10,25-37)

And when asked who his neighbor was, that was when Christ told the parable about a man who fell victim to robbers in his journey and was left half dead on the road. A priest saw him but passed by. A Levite also just passed him by. But a Samaritan, who at that time had the least relation with the man, was the only one who took pity on the man. It was the Samaritan who proved to be the good neighbor to the victim.

Yes, charity is for everyone. It has a universal coverage. It’s not only for those who are right in something. It’s also for those who are wrong. It’s not only for the winners. It’s also for the losers. Not only for friends, but also for enemies! 

But the universal inclusivity of charity does not do away with the exclusivity of truth. It does not do away with the distinction between good and evil, between right and wrong, between truth and falsehood. In fact, it sharpens that distinction. And yet, it still works in all that distinction.

Yes, charity is all-inclusive, though it is expressed, of course, in different ways. As they say, we have to have different strokes for different folks. And that’s simply because at the end of the day, whether we like it or not, we are all creatures and children of God, brothers and sisters to each other. We have been created by our Creator out of love and for love.

We have to realize that our life here on earth can be described as a journey toward our ultimate home, which is to be with God our Father and Creator in heaven. It will be charity that would keep us going and that would enable us to leap to eternal supernatural life with God.

While here on earth, we have to realize that we form one body and that we are actually on the same boat. Despite our differences and conflicts, we have a common origin and a common end. We are bound to care for one another. We are meant to love one another.

Charity is what binds us together despite our unavoidable differences and conflicts. Yes, we form one body, but we are different parts of that body. We play different roles and carry out different functions.

So, we have to develop with God’s grace the true charity that is a living participation of the charity God has for everyone, including those who go against him. Let’s remember that Christ went to the extent of loving our enemies.

St. Paul describes charity in these words: “Love is patient, is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” (1 Cor 13,4-7)

Big-time oil price rollback seen next week | ANC

Preventing a mental health crisis

Quote card for EDITORIAL: Preventing a mental health crisis

The mass shooting in a Bangkok mall a few days ago involving a minor with a history of mental illness has cast a spotlight on young people and the growing trend of mental health problems among them. The incident, which resulted in two deaths, may have happened in a neighboring country but it does not make it any less relevant to the Philippine setting, especially as we mark National Mental Health Month.

Of specific concern is the number of mental health cases reported among young Filipino students. Per the Department of Education (DepEd), 404 students took their own lives while 2,147 others attempted suicide during Academic Year 2021-2022. In addition, 775,962, out of the country’s 28 million young learners in public schools, sought the assistance of guidance counselors for the same period.

This number is certainly more than what the country’s guidance counselors could handle: as of 2021, DepEd reported, there were only 2,093 of them or a ratio of one mental health professional to nearly 13,400 learners.

Last June, Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel urged President Marcos to declare a mental health emergency because the country “cannot afford to keep turning a blind eye on the hundreds of young lives that have been taken by academic and economic pressures of today’s society.” He added that it was high time the government paid attention to the prevailing mental health crisis and crafted a national course of action.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that unaddressed mental health issues will put a huge burden on future generations. As of 2021, WHO estimated that one in seven, or 13 percent, of 10–19-year-olds globally experience mental health conditions and that half of all mental health disorders in adulthood start by age 14 but most of the cases are undetected and untreated.

“If these disorders are left untreated, they can extend into adult life, thus impacting educational attainment, employment, relationships, and even parenting,” said Tarun Dua, a mental health adviser at the WHO.

It’s not only young people; adults who belong to generations that barely acknowledged and considered mental illness a taboo suffer from at least one type of mental, neurological, or substance use disorder. The National Mental Health Program said 1,145,871 Filipinos suffered from depression and 213,422 from schizophrenia in 2020.

No doubt that the Philippines has made breakthroughs in pushing mental health into the national agenda and society has become more open to discussing it. But the figures quoted above and the reality on the ground bear out the fact that there is still so much more that needs to be done in terms of lawmaking, and institutional and budget support.

For one, treatment for mental disorders remains costly and inaccessible, especially for those who need it most: the poor and vulnerable sectors whose living conditions can have adverse effects on their mental well-being.

The landmark passage of Republic Act No. 11306 or the Mental Health Act (MHA) in 2018 was supposed to make mental health services more accessible to the public. But the truth is that the minimal budget that goes into the government’s mental health program — P1.9 billion for both the awareness campaign and medicines for this year — reflects its low priority.

The state of the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) — ”tragic” and in “poor condition” in the words of a senator — is also emblematic of the kind of mental health service available in the country.

At least two proposals meant to complement the MHA and ensure the accessibility of mental health services in schools and communities have been put forward: for local governments to enact ordinances that will integrate mental health service into basic health service; and for Congress to pass a new law, the proposed Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act, that will task the DepEd to establish “care centers” in schools and create plantilla positions for trained personnel to manage the program.

The recent case of a Grade 5 student who allegedly died from a brain hemorrhage after being slapped by a teacher only underscores the importance of providing professional mental health training to educators and guidance counselors. But all these — the localization of mental health services as well as training and additional positions for mental health professionals — require a budget, which the sector already has very little of.

The government cannot continue to handle the mental health issue the way previous generations have handled mental illness: ignored, denied, untreated. It must take concrete action now or it will have a full-blown mental health crisis in its hands.

Read more: https://opinion.inquirer.net/166970/preventing-a-mental-health-crisis#ixzz8FWQGDmbt

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Mindanao study finds microplastics in ‘bangus’

Newly harvested bangus from island barangays in Dagupan City are brought to Magsaysay Fish Market. From the boat they are classified according to sizes and placed into tubs.PHOTO BY WILLIE LOMIBAO

By: Jane Bautista - Reporter / @janebautistaINQPhilippine Daily Inquirer / 05:34 AM October 08, 2023

MANILA, Philippines — A team of researchers has found the prevalence of microplastics (MPs) in the gastrointestinal tracts of adult milkfish (“bangus”), one of the predominant species developed in the country’s aquaculture industry. But because microplastic research in the country is still in its infancy, the full extent of its health risks has yet to be established, according to the team.

Researcher Kaye Similitan of the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) said their study found that 97 percent, or 29 out of 30 milkfish samples, were contaminated with MPs.

These samples were taken from fish cages in the portion of the Masao River in Butuan City and in the area of Butuan Bay in Nasipit town, Agusan del Norte province.

The research, funded by the Department of Science and Technology, was conducted last year and published in September in the “Marine Pollution Bulletin” of the Dutch academic publishing company Elsevier.

Earlier scientific studies by other groups had also detected MPs in Metro Manila’s air and in the waters of Laguna de Bay, the country’s largest freshwater lake.

Based on the findings of MSU-IIT, an average of 5 MPs was found from milkfish samples in Nasipit while the MP content of milkfish in Butuan City reached an average of 10 MPs, or two times higher.

In an interview with the Inquirer, Similitan attributed the MP ingestion in Butuan to economic activity in the city, a leading tourist and investment destination in the Caraga region in northeastern Mindanao.

Team member Hernando Bacosa, an environmental scientist who has been working on microplastics research, explained that the higher amount of MPs in milkfish may be attributed as well to the higher MP concentration in the water since the species tend to mistake waste as food.

“Butuan has high industrial [and] commercial activities and high population, and that is also tantamount to high plastic consumption and disposal that go to canals, esteros, and the sea,” he said. On average, the water in the Masao River has 1 MP per liter, five times higher than that of Butuan Bay in Nasipit which has 0.2 MP per liter.

The Agusan River, another waterway alongside Butuan City, also has so many plastics coming from other parts of Mindanao, Bacosa said.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) also has ongoing research on microplastic levels in different bodies of water around the country.

The DENR’s Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau said there are “no global or local thresholds [yet] on microplastics.”

At any rate, “we don’t have to wait for it (the concentration of microplastics) to reach 100 [MPs per liter] in 10 years or after 20 years,” Bacosa said.

‘Nanoplastics’

He noted further that MPs could be broken down into smaller compounds called “nanoplastics,” which could penetrate the lungs, liver, and blood.

“If the fish ingests a small amount of MP, it won’t affect the fish. But later on, when the amount increases to as much as 100 MPs in 20 to 30 years, it could affect the fish,” he said.

While the guts are usually removed from milkfish bought in the markets, “we don’t know what percent of the microplastics are nanoplastics that could have entered the meat or the edible part of the bangus,” he added.

Bacosa said microplastics in fish could also be carriers of bacteria, viruses, and harmful chemicals. The team also analyzed the polymer type of MPs and found the most dominant to be ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), which Similitan said is mostly used in paint and thinner.

Apart from EVA, other polymers detected were low-density polyethylene (9 percent), the material used for packaging foils; polyethylene terephthalate or PET (8 percent), which comes from PET-made bottles and other containers used for carbonated drinks; the polyvinyl chloride (7 percent) used in pipes; and polyamide (7 percent) used for clothing and fishing gear.

“From that we have an idea: MP is not formed overnight,” Bacosa said. “These MPs could come from 10 or 20 years ago. The MP could be from PET bottles disposed [of] 10 to 20 years ago because it takes time [for these plastics to disintegrate].”

Bacosa said there is no immediate solution to this problem, but certain laws like the Extended Producers Responsibility Act of 2022 (Republic Act No. 11898) can make companies liable for their plastic production.

The law requires, in particular, large enterprises with total assets of more than P1 billion to establish a system to recover, treat, and recycle or dispose of their plastic packaging after the consumption of their products.

“Plastic pollution is not just an issue of the scientists, but we have to work with the national and local governments, businesses that are responsible for the manufacture of plastics, international organizations, and regional alliances,” Bacosa said.

Similitan said local governments like Butuan City could also regulate plastic usage in its tourist spots and implement policies like banning single-use plastics.

Ultimately, proper waste disposal should be observed in households.

Read more: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1842557/mindanao-study-finds-microplastics-in-bangus#ixzz8FW8wwfB0

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Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Take time to learn how to be safe in the digital world

BY MANILA BULLETIN

Oct 8, 2023 03:32 AM

  

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Cybersecurity is everyone’s concern.  It is not only for professionals in the office who are involved in information technology and cybersecurity. No one is a minor player in ensuring a safe digital world.

Being aware of cybersecurity should be taken as a personal duty that comes with the use of technology that’s now deeply intertwined with our lives.  Think of the rise in the use of smartphones, connected home devices, mobility gadgets, leisure and sports devices – technology is informing, guiding, entertaining, and helping make decisions for us.

A person using a smart phone or gadget should take time to know about cybersecurity because of the danger cybercrime can bring not only to the user but also to family and friends.  A smart phone, for example, does not only function as a gadget to communicate to people but it also holds personal information like names, addresses, and contact information of family members and friends, bank account and credit card numbers, and other data. That information can be used by cybercriminals to ruin a person’s finances, businesses, or even status in the community.  In short, a cybercrime can ruin a person’s life. 

The importance of a safe digital world has led many countries to observe Cybersecurity Awareness Month every October since 2004. This global initiative to promote cybersecurity is a collaborative effort among businesses, government agencies, colleges and universities, private organizations, and communities.

“Secure Our World,” the theme of global Cybersecurity Awareness Month, aims to educate people on the new ways to secure the digital world from new threats.  Companies behind this global movement provide the public with information to stay safer and more secure online.

President Marcos has seen the importance of supporting this initiative and has signed a proclamation moving our observance of Cybersecurity Awareness Month from September to October of every year.  Proclamation No. 353, signed on Oct. 2, 2023, cites the need to amend the original Proclamation No. 2054 issued in 2010 “in order to synchronize the Philippines with the international observance of the 'Cybersecurity Awareness Month' in October and to further signify the country's unwavering commitment toward a unified approach in the digital era of governance.”

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has been tasked to lead the observance of Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Its theme for the observance is “Sama-sama para sa Cybersecuridad,” to emphasize “our collective role in improving our country’s cybersecurity posture and enabling a digitally safer Philippines.” 

According to President Marcos, one of the strategies under his Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 is to ensure safety and security in cyber and physical spaces and adopt a legal framework to strengthen cybersecurity and policies on minimum information security standards.

Individuals, families, organizations, businesses, companies should take time to educate themselves on how to be safe in the digital world.  It starts with a few simple things, one of them, a secure password.  Take the step to learn about multifactor authentication on personal devices and business networks. Then learn how to recognize phishing, a scheme still used by cybercriminals today because many people fall for it.

Remember, a smart gadget is not only to call or text a friend.  It holds valuable information about you and your loved ones. Protect them by getting to know how to be secure in this digital world.