New label Viral Records wants to create 'safe space' for musicians

By Christina Alpad

The Philippines is never short on musical talents resulting to a rich landscape teeming with local music producers. But one new player, Viral Records, is stepping forward in the hopes of providing opportunities for Filipino talents without compromising their authenticity.

In a grand media conference where Viral Records introduced itself and its seven new talents, Patsy Ferrer explained that the label she co-founded with Cons de Guzman and Raven Bobilar aims to provide a sanctuary for artists.

"Our belief is that musicians and creators thrive when supported because there's an abundance of exceptional talent within our community," Ferrer said passionately.

"Our mission at Viral Records is simple: prioritize their creative desires. We're dedicated to upholding their artistic freedom and uniqueness; conformity isn't in our vocabulary. Our goal is to foster an environment where they feel free to express themselves freely," the executive added.

Nearly half of new HIV cases in PH are teens

Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa (Photo from the Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau)

By: Kathleen de Villa - Reporter / @kdevillaINQPhilippine Daily Inquirer 

MANILA, Philippines — The number of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cases in the country has nearly doubled this year, with almost half of them involving teens, which could be attributed to a new strain of the virus, according to Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa.

Citing the latest figures, Herbosa said on Tuesday that HIV infections grew to about 50 new cases per day, from last year’s average daily count of 22.

Younger people aged 15 to 24 are the most affected at 47 percent, he added.

“There’s a new subvariant that’s quite more infectious and this is the reason we’re finding this increase in cases,” he told reporters, citing infectious diseases specialist Dr. Edsel Salvana. “It’s been happening even before. We’re just detecting it [now] because we’re concentrated so much on COVID,” he said.

In 2022, a group of researchers led by Chris Wymant found that a new HIV variant called subtype B could cause a more severe infection and individuals hit by this strain may have “an average viral load about four times higher than usual,” according to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).

Herbosa said on Monday that he had a meeting with Vice President Sara Duterte, who also heads the Department of Education, and that one of the topics they discussed was the rapidly growing number of HIV cases, specifically on the “interventions” to take in terms of health literacy.

“We forged a stronger collaboration [and] convergence between … on the efforts we will put for adolescent health,” he said.

He added other health issues they tackled were teenage pregnancy, substance abuse, mental health, and nutrition.

The Philippines has one of the fastest-growing HIV epidemics in the world dating back to 1984, UNAIDS said.

In 2017, the DOH declared the epidemic a national emergency because of the rapid rise of infections.

PAL, Singapore Airlines offer more flight options via codeshare deal

BY KHRISCIELLE YALAO

Nov 16, 2023 10:19 AM

  

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Philippine Airlines (PAL) and Singapore Airlines (SIA) have recently signed a new codeshare partnership agreement to accommodate more flight options for passengers traveling to and from the Philippines and Singapore, beginning in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Through the codesharing agreement, PAL and SIA will be able to offer a wider range of flights between Manila and Singapore, allowing the partner airlines to market and sell tickets to other domestic and international destinations.

Singapore Airlines Chief Executive Officer Goh Choon Phong (left) and Philippine Airlines President and Chief Operating Officer Captain Stanley K. Ng (right) at the signing of the new codeshare partnership agreement. Photo: Singapore Airlines

The codeshare agreement will commence on SIA and PAL flights between Singapore and Manila, once undergone regulatory approvals.

PAL will codeshare on SIA's flights to Europe, mainly Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Milan, Paris, Rome, and Zurich. The European codeshare sectors will gradually be made available in PAL and SIA's sales channels, online websites, and travel agents.

"The partnership is the product of a strengthened relationship with our fellow Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) mainline carrier, Singapore Airlines, and an enduring commitment to expanding our presence in Singapore, a top PAL destination that we have been serving for 58 years and counting.  We also look forward to offering increased connectivity to several cities across Europe, home to many overseas Filipinos and to a growing number of tourist and business travellers whom we invite to discover the wonders of the Philippines," said Captain Stanley K. Ng, PAL president and CEO.

Meanwhile, SIA will codeshare on PAL's flights to 27 places in the Philippines including Bacolod, Basco, Busuanga, Butuan, Cagayan De Oro, Calbayog, Catarman, Caticlan, Cebu, Cotabato, Davao, Dipolog, Dumaguete, General Santos, Iloilo, Kalibo, Laoag, Legazpi, Ozamiz, Pagadian, Puerto Princesa, Roxas, San Jose (Antique), Siargao, Tacloban, Tagbilaran, and Zamboanga.

“This agreement enables Philippine Airlines and Singapore Airlines to work more closely together, and find ways to offer our customers enhanced travel connections between Singapore and the Philippines. This will support the growing demand for both business and leisure travel between the Philippines and Singapore, and beyond that to our key markets around the world," said SIA CEO Goh Choon Phong.

SIA flights to other destinations in Europe, along with Australia, India, New Zealand, and South Africa, are also on the table for the future expansion of the codeshare agreement.

LPA and shear line interaction to bring heavy rainfall in the southern half of the Philippines

What do Germans normally eat?

 

Volker Eichener

Professor at Hochschule Düsseldorf

Studied Political Science & Sociology at Ruhr University BochumGraduated 1999

Let’s answer this question in a scientific way by empirical data.

Here is the ranking of the most popular dishes in canteens (which are in fact eaten) - which is probably the best answer to the question what Germans normally eat, not on special occasions:

1. Schnitzel with french fries.
2. All kinds of pasta (spaghetti bolognese is most popular).
3. Pizza.
4. Grilled steaks.
5. Potatoe dishes (potatoe salad, casserole…).
6. Hamburger.
7. Currywurst and Bratwurst.
8. Chicken.
9. Stews (thick soups with lentils, peas, barley, beans, potatoes…).
10. Fresh fish.

Source: Compass Group Deutschland

Suprised?

If you ask the Germans about their favourite food you get this ranking:

1. Beef roulade.
2. Spaghetti Bolognese.
3. Sauerbraten.
4. Crusty pork roast.
5. Steaks and Barbecue.
6. Cabbage roulade.
7. Königsberger Klopse (veal meatballs in creamy sauce).
8. Pizza.
9. Schnitzel with creamy mushrooms.
10. Gulasch.

Source: various polls

Surprised again?

Lessons learned: Germans prefer beef over pork (however, beef is pricier). And sausages are considered a snack, not a proper meal. So the real Germans eat different things than the tourists do when in Germany. But why should you travel to Germany in order to eat a pizza?

House bill makes 'half-rice' a menu mainstay in restos

BY MANILA BULLETIN

Nov 15, 2023 01:08 PM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• A bill mandating food establishments to make half-cup rice servings an option in their respective menus is being pushed in the House of Representatives. 

(Unsplash)

 

A bill mandating food establishments to make half-cup rice servings an option in their respective menus is being pushed in the House of Representatives. 

House Deputy Majority Leader Rep. Janette Garin filed House Bill (HB) No.9536, also known as "Rice Waste Reduction Act of 2023". 

The bill seeks to mandate restaurants, eateries, canteens, and other eating establishments that serve cooked rice to allow the serving of a half-cup of rice. 

In the explanatory note of HB No. 9536, Garin said she “envisions a future where individuals are more conscious of their food choices, establishments prioritize responsible serving practices, and society as a whole benefits from a more sustainable and balanced approach to food consumption”. 

The Garin measure intends to minimize food wastage, promote balanced and sustainable eating habits, and ensure healthier meal portions. 

Any establishment that will violate this proposed Act will be fined P10,000 for the first offense; P20,000 for the second offense; and P30,000 for the third offense. 

The Iloilo 1st district solon is calling on her colleagues in the House to support the legislation. 

"I hope my fellow lawmakers will back this legislation. Marami ang nasasyang na kanin na dapat mas marami ang pwedeng makinabang. Panahon na para maipatupad ito at mabawasan ang rice wastage," she said. 

(There are so many wasted rice that others should have benefited from. It is time to implement this and reduce rice wastage.) 

Citing data from the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), the country has accumulated a total amount of P7.2 billion worth of rice wastage.  

Rice is the Filipino staple food. 

PhilRice further stated that 46 cities have implemented half-cup rice serving option. These include Quezon City, Manila, Davao, Cebu, Puerto Princesa, Baguio, and Iloilo. 

"It is high time to implement this measure nationwide as it can play a pivotal role in addressing the country's rice self-sufficiency goals," Garin said. --Dexter Barro II

Protect the environment at all costs

BY MANILA BULLETIN

Nov 15, 2023 04:03 AM

  

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Environmental protection is of paramount concern to the government.

Apart from various laws and policies on the protection of the environment, the Supreme Court issued a continuing mandamus on Dec. 18, 2008, directing key government agencies “to clean up, rehabilitate, and preserve Manila Bay, and restore and maintain its waters to SB level (Class B sea waters per Water Classification Tables under DENR Administrative Order No. 34 [1990]) to make them fit for swimming, skin-diving, and other forms of contact recreation” to deter unabated abuse of the popular body of water that play a key role in our ecosystem. 

Now comes the Green Justice Zone, the first of its kind launched in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, on Nov. 10, 2023. It is aimed at having a strong collaboration between the national government and the local government units for the efficient and effective delivery of justice in environmental protection and natural resource management.

“Establishing a Green Zone is the Justice Sector’s concrete contribution toward affording our people their constitutional right to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature. In our Puerto Princesa Green Zone, the justice sector actors will deliver responsive and real-time justice services to our constituents,” Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo stressed in his message during the launch on Nov. 10, 2023.

The Green Justice Zone in Puerto Princesa is the country’s 12th Justice Zone. Eleven other Justice Zones have been established in the cities of Quezon, Cebu, Davao, Angeles, Bacolod, Naga, Calamba, Balanga, Baguio, Zamboanga, and Tagaytay.

We look forward to the establishment of more Justice Zones around the country, particularly Green Justice Zones, considering the importance of protecting the environment.
The Justice Zone is an initiative of the Justice Sector Coordinating Council (JSCC) aimed at shortening legal proceedings by up to 50 percent. It is anchored on its objective of having a swift and fair administration of the criminal justice system. It was established to strengthen the coordination and communication among the principal agencies of the JSCC by serving as a venue and a mechanism for communication, principled cooperation, and studied coordination with great deference to institutional independence. 

The establishment of a Green Justice Zone is timely as the country grapples with the impact of climate change that is affecting the whole world, further aggravated by mismanagement of natural resources, mankind’s abuses, and commercialism—activities that put too much emphasis on profit without regard for its adverse effects on the community.

If the objective of the Justice Zone, in particular the Green Justice Zone, is implemented to the letter, we are certain to have a safe environment.

In the case of Manila Bay reclamation projects, which have been ordered suspended by President Marcos, the Green Justice Zone will certainly help expedite the review of these projects to determine its sustainability and impact on the environment and the affected communities.

As of now, the cumulative impact assessment being conducted on the Manila Bay reclamation projects is still ongoing and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources said last month that it would “take some time” before it could be completed.

But with the creation of the Green Justice Zone, we hope that this will help expedite the cumulative impact assessment, not only on the Manila Bay reclamation projects but on other environment-related endeavors, as well, to ensure we have a sound and sustainable environment.

Let’s protect the environment at all costs.   

235 houses razed in massive Davao City fire

BY IVY TEJANO

  

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DAVAO CITY – A massive two-hour fire hit this city on Tuesday, November 14.

FIREMEN map out a plan to contain a fire in Barangay Tomas Monteverde in Davao City on November 14. (BFP-Region 11 FB)  

Two-hundred thirty-five houses were destroyed in Barangay Tomas Monteverde in Agdao District, leaving hundreds of families homeless.

The Davao City Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said the fire in Zones 5 and 6 originated from the ceiling on the second floor of the house of a William Varona at 7 a.m. and spread to nearby homes made of light materials.

The fire was under control at past 9 a.m. but firemen had difficulty putting out the fire due to limited space in the alley on the way to affected areas.

Faulty electrical wiring was the cause of the fire that reached the third alarm. 

Damage to property was estimated at P1.6 million and no injuries were reported.

Affected families were taken to the covered court and assessed by the Davao City Social Welfare and Development Office.

Dana Robles, a Sangguniang Kabataan member and resident, asked for assistance for fire victims, who also included fellow SK members.

The Davao City government and other concerned agencies, in collaboration with Barangay Tomas Monteverde, have initiated assistance for fire victims.

BLACKPINK’s Lisa joins Spotify’s Billions Club through song ‘Money’

BY JONATHAN HICAP

Nov 14, 2023 07:24 AM 

BLACKPINK’s Lisa joined Spotify’s Billions Club, a group of artists which has a song reaching one billion streams on the music platform. 

Spotify announced on Nov. 14 that Lisa will be featured on its Billions Club episode. 

BLACKPINK's Lisa (Instagram, screenshots from Spotify video)

“Breaking records and serving while doing so. LISA is the next inductee into the #BillionsClub,” Spotify posted on X (formerly Twitter).  

Lisa was presented with a one-billion streams plaque by Spotify. 

“Congrats on being the first K-pop female artist to have a track reach one billion streams in Spotify history!” Lisa read the card sent by Spotify. 

Lisa is the first K-pop solo artist and first female K-pop artist to have one billion streams for a song through “Money.” 

Lisa’s song “Money” has reached one billion streams on Spotify and set a Guinness World Records (GWR) title. 

Last September, Guinness World Records announced that Lisa’s “Money” set the record for the “first K-pop track by a solo artist to reach 1 billion streams on Spotify.” 

“On 19 September 2023, social media was awash with news that ‘MONEY’ by Lisa (Thailand, b. Pranpriya Manobal) – the "B-side" of her debut single ‘LALISA,’ released on 10 September 2021 – had become the first track by a K-pop solo artist to reach 1 billion streams on Spotify,” according to GWR. 

It added, “As one of just four tracks by the BLACKPINK rapper/singer available on Spotify, YG Entertainment and Interscope Records cashed in on ‘MONEY’’s viral success and released it officially as Lisa’s second solo single on 9 November 2021.”

“As of 21 September 2023, ‘MONEY’ had amassed 1,002,683,408 streams on Spotify to eclipse BLACKPINK’s best-performing track, ‘How You Like That,’ with 855.7 million streams,” GWR added. 

Cayetano wants MTRCB to uphold Filipino values on digital content

 

PRESS RELEASE

November 15, 2023

 Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday encouraged the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) to conduct a study on how it can ensure that Filipino values are maintained in digital content. 

Cayetano made the statement during the plenary debate on the proposed 2024 budget of the MTRCB.

He stressed that with the widespread use of the Internet, the MTRCB’s role in protecting young viewers from indecent content has decreased.

He encouraged the MTRCB to form a research arm that will study how it can expand its mandate under the law to cover various digital platforms, including Netflix. 

“Since nakikita ko sa MTRCB y’ung heart na maging guardian ng values ng ating youth ngayon, let me encourage MTRCB to look at contemporary Filipino values that we can agree on, and [determine] if they (digital platforms) are allowed na kahit ano pwedeng ipakita,” he said.

Cayetano clarified that the aim is not to censor but to ensure that young Filipinos do not consume content that is violent, lewd, or against Filipino morals, especially in today's “much more confusing time” in which illegal drugs, teenage pregnancy, and sexually transmitted diseases have become rampant.

“It’s not more of censorship, but more of giving the young people the right ideas and information, and then they can make their own choices later on,” he said.

He said putting in P10 million to 15 million for the proposed research “will go a long way” in achieving this objective.

Senator Jinggoy Estrada, who presented to the plenary floor the proposed budget of MTRCB, agreed that the board is operating on “a relatively old law” and therefore “will not be able to address the challenges of the modern times and the digital age.”

“The MTRCB family is listening and I am certain that they will seriously consider the valid suggestions of Senator Cayetano,” Estrada said.

Cayetano said to ensure balanced results, the research should not rely on the personal values of the MTRCB chairperson but rather on the values of Filipino communities.

“We do have to have a standard, and siguro the first standard is the Philippine Constitution, which mentions the Lord Almighty sa preamble pa lang,” he said. 

He said the research can also keep the filmmakers updated as to the type of shows that the Filipino public actually wants.

“Hindi totoo na kailangan parating violence at sex para kumita,” he said.###

Cayetano nais itaguyod ng MTRCB ang Filipino values sa digital content

Hinikayat ni Senador Alan Peter Cayetano nitong Martes ang Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) na magsagawa ng pag-aaral o research kung paano nito matitiyak na napapanatili ang Filipino values sa mga digital content na mapapanood online.

Ipinahayag ito ni Cayetano sa isinagawang plenary debate ng panukalang 2024 budget ng MTRCB nitong November 14, 2023. 

Binigyang-diin niya na dahil sa malawakang paggamit ng Internet, nabawasan ang kakayahan ng MTRCB na pangalagaan ang mga kabataang manonood mula sa mga hindi kanais-nais na content.

Hinikayat niya ang MTRCB na bumuo ng isang research arm na magsasaliksik kung paano mapapalawak ang mandato nito sa ilalim ng batas upang masakop ang iba't ibang digital platforms, kabilang ang Netflix.

“Since nakikita ko sa MTRCB y’ung heart na maging guardian ng values ng ating youth ngayon, let me encourage MTRCB to look at contemporary Filipino values that we can agree on, and [determine] if they (digital platforms) are allowed na kahit ano pwedeng ipakita,” aniya.

Nilinaw ni Cayetano na ang layunin ay hindi upang mag-censor kundi upang matiyak na ang mga kabataang Pilipino ay hindi kumokonsumo ng mga palabas na mararahas, mahahalay, o labag sa moral ng mga Pilipino.

Aniya, lalong mahalaga ito ngayong panahon kung kailan laganap na ang ilegal na droga, teenage pregnancy, at sexually transmitted diseases.

“It’s not more of censorship, but more of giving the young people the right ideas and information, and then they can make their own choices later on,” wika ng senador.

Pahayag ni Cayetano, malayo ang mararating ng paglalagay ng P10 milyon hanggang P15 milyon para sa iminungkahing pananaliksik sa pagkamit ng nasabing layunin.

Sumang-ayon si Senador Jinggoy Estrada, na siyang nag-presenta sa plenaryo ng panukalang budget ng MTRCB, na medyo luma na nga ang batas na bumuo sa MTRCB at hindi na angkop sa mga hamon ng modernong panahon at digital age.

"Nakikinig ang pamilya ng MTRCB at sigurado ako na seryoso nilang isasaalang-alang ang mga balidong mungkahi ni Senator Cayetano," pahayag ni Estrada.

Sinabi ni Cayetano na para matiyak na balanse ang lalabas na resulta, ang dapat gamiting basehan ng pananaliksik ay ang values ng sambayanang Pilipino at hindi ang personal na values ng chairperson ng MTRCB.

"We do have to have a standard, and siguro the first standard is the Philippine Constitution, which mentions the Lord Almighty sa preamble pa lang," aniya.

Dagdag ng senador, makakatulong pa nga sa mga filmmaker ang panukalang research dahil magiging updated sila tungkol sa uri ng mga palabas na talagang gusto ng publikong Pilipino.

“Hindi totoo na kailangan parating violence at sex para kumita,” aniya.###