3 Important things to learn from this year’s Women’s Month celebration

Because everyone has a role to play

BY JESSICA PAG-IWAYAN

Apr 4, 2024 11:43 AM 

The month-long celebration of International Women’s Month is officially over. However, this doesn’t mean that the fight for equality and women's empowerment is over.

Throughout March 2024, various organizations and companies hosted events and published studies to shed light on important issues regarding women’s rights and the challenging situations girls and women still face in today’s society.

Here are three things we learned from all the forums and events we covered during the celebration.

Image and data from UN Women's official website

Funding is needed

Based on the latest data released by the United Nations (UN) Women's official website, with the current crises the world is facing today, including climate change, geopolitical conflicts, and soaring poverty levels, 'more than 340 million women and girls could be living in extreme poverty by 2030.'

To prevent this and 'achieve gender equality,' around $360 billion is needed annually. 'To ensure women’s needs and priorities are considered, governments must prioritize gender-responsive financing and increase public spending on essential services and social protection,' the report says.

The same study shows that women spend three times more on unpaid work than men. Thus, this study encourages policymakers and decision-makers to recognize women's value and contribution to worldwide economic stability. 

Promote financial literacy and inclusion

Meanwhile, in the Philippines, more and more private organizations and companies are playing their roles by opening up opportunities for women, creating safer environments, and promoting inclusivity. In multinational companies with local offices like Procter and Gamble (P&G), Telus, and even in local ones like the fintech company Tala, women are given seats.

These companies offer various benefits and perks that can help women achieve work-life balance, such as a remote-first work setup that allows employees to work from anywhere in the country, a flexible work schedule, and paid scheduled holiday leaves, in addition to personal time off (PTO). Tala also provides a dedicated lounge for new mothers who need to rest and breastfeed during on-site office hours.

To promote awareness about digital literacy, the same company invests in women’s financial education through TALAkayan sessions with financial literacy advocate and money expert Salve Duplito. This workshop specifically caters to women and mothers, providing them with the necessary tools to manage their finances effectively.

“Fintech is traditionally a male-dominated industry, but Tala as a company is proof that women can also very much be leaders and decision-makers in this field. In turn, this encourages more women to thrive in the organization and in their respective careers as well,” said Iona Iñigo-Mayo, director of Global Customer Experience Operations of Tala. 

Find and carve your path

The goal might still seem hard to reach, but with everyone chipping in their efforts, progress is being made. However, to be empowered and become the woman she aspires to be, one needs to work hard and carve her path.

This is an important lesson that award-winning Filipina director Antoinette Jadaone shared during the recently held #StrongLikeCoffee event, where Starbucks Philippines brought together a panel of trailblazing women to inspire learners from Young Focus Foundation and AHA! Learning Center.

According to Jadaone, just like the box-office hit stories of every superhero, where they have to go through hardships and improve their talents and skills before becoming the strong, mighty heroes that they are, everyone else must do the same. She emphasized that women should view these hardships as steps closer to their dreams and aspirations.

“Before ako naging director ang dami kong ginawa. Pero alam ko lahat ng iyon kailangan kong gawin kasi kapag dumating yung time na may magbigay sakin ng break, dapat ready ako (before I became a director, I did so many things and job. But I knew that I had to went all through that because when the time comes that I’ll be given a break, I am ready),” she said. 

Rock band We The Kings to storm Davao City on April 21

BY JONATHAN HICAP

Apr 4, 2024 12:03 PM 

Wildly popular American rock band We The Kings from Florida will be taking the Philippine stage by storm when they perform in Davao City this month. 

The We The Kings Asia Tour 2024 Live in Davao will be held on April 21 at the SMX Convention Center Davao.

We The Kings (Pulp Live World)

After their memorable performance in the Philippines in 2014, and due to overwhelming demand, We The Kings are ready to perform before Filipino fans again. 

Formed in 2005, We The Kings became a musical powerhouse by blending elements of alternative rock, emo, pop, pop-punk, pop rock, and power pop to create a distinct sound. 

The band’s current lineup—all of whom will be at the SMX Convention Center Davao for the show—includes Travis Clark (vocals/guitar), Hunter Thomsen (guitar), Coley O’Toole (keyboard/guitar), and Charles Trippy (bass). They have consistently pushed musical boundaries while cultivating a dedicated fanbase. Having toured with industry legends such as All Time Low, Boys Like Girls, and Simple Plan, We The Kings demonstrated their prowess on international stages. 

Their hit “Check Yes Juliet” achieved platinum status in Australia, and their collaboration with Demi Lovato, “We'll Be A Dream,” earned a Teen Choice Award nomination. 

They’ll first join as special guest at Boys Like Girls in Manila on April 20 at Araneta Coliseum, followed by their headlining concert in Davao City. 

For the  We The Kings Asia Tour 2024 Live in Davao, they have  prepared a setlist designed to make the night memorable and linger in the hearts of fans forever.

Tickets are available through SM Tickets outlets nationwide or online at smtickets.com.  

For the ultimate fan experience, the VIP with Meet & Greet option is available for P5,000. Standard VIP tickets are priced at P3,000, while General Admission tickets are available for those looking to enjoy the concert at P2,000. Ticketing charges will be applied. 

The show is proudly presented by Skesh Entertainment, Davao Concert Scene, and Pulp Live World. 

El Niño-induced wildfires break out in Mindanao, Visayas

VILLAGE THREAT A grass fire has already spread across a two-hectare area at Barangay Bata in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, by the time this drone shot was taken on Tuesday morning. JOSE ANTONIO ROSELLO

By: Carla Gomez, Nestle Semilla, Ryan D. Rosauro - @inquirerdotnet

Philippine Daily Inquirer / 05:34 AM April 04, 2024

GENERAL SANTOS CITY — Rising heat levels due to the El Niño weather phenomenon have been causing wildfires in various parts of Mindanao and the Visayas, with the latest on Wednesday threatening to engulf the airport in General Santos City (in Soccsksargen or Region 12).

Firefighters battled for four hours a wildfire in Barangay San Isidro that broke out around 11 a.m., was put under control after three hours and eventually put out by 3 p.m.

It was the most serious incident so far since wildfires broke out in various parts of Mindanao beginning last month.

San Isidro village chief Edward Frederick Yumang led the barangay’s fire and rescue brigade in extinguishing the blaze, aided by the Bureau of Fire Protection’s Calumpang substation and the fire brigades of Calumpang, Labangal and Bula villages, the firefighting team of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, and three volunteer fire brigades.

The fire, according to Yumang, started inside the airport compound but no damage was reported to its facilities and other nearby properties.

On Wednesday, General Santos City was expected to register a heat index of 38 to 40 degrees Celsius and a video shared on social media by a certain Francis Sablon taken from inside a landed plane showed thick smoke hovering near the airport’s traffic control tower.

Near airport

Six days earlier, a wildfire also broke out near the airport compound in Barangay Fatima.

The most wildfires, per monitoring by the Inquirer, were in Koronadal City, the capital of South Cotabato province, with six incidents starting on March 4.

The most serious was on March 19, in Barangay Paraiso, when the blaze threatened a power distribution facility, leading to an unscheduled power interruption in the city.

Wildfires also broke out in Banga, Tantangan and Polomolok towns.

In Cotabato province, a grass fire spread on Tuesday night and engulfed portions of an oil palm plantation in Mlang town, local media organizations reported.

Also, on Tuesday night, a fire spread across a grassland in the hinterlands of Sta. Cruz town, Davao del Sur, toward its boundary with Digos City. The fire was put out by 2 a.m. on Wednesday through the combined efforts of the fire stations of Digos, Sta. Cruz and volunteer firefighters.

Rising heat index

In Bacolod City, at least 13 fire incidents, 10 of which were grass fires, were recorded on April 2 amid the forecast heat index of 42 C.

A grass fire with alarmingly huge flames hit seven hectares near the Northbound Terminal in Barangay Banago at 5:41 p.m. and was extinguished around 8 p.m., the Bacolod City Fire Station reported.

Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez visited the Missionaries of Charity in Barangay Banago, which cares for the indigent elderly and sick, as the alarm was raised since the raging grass fire was close to their facility and the smoke could be harmful to its patients.

Benitez said the nuns and patients at the facility were okay.

A grass fire also hit two hectares in Barangay Bata at 7:46 a.m. and was declared out at 9:51 a.m.

Fire also destroyed the house of Roland Dillapeña Tulopia at Bangga Totong, Barangay Felisa, Bacolod City, while rubbish and vehicular fires were also reported on Tuesday.

Early reporting crucial

Benitez called on the public, as well as all barangay and purok officials, to be extra vigilant against grass fires and other fire incidents and to immediately report them to the nearest fire station, said lawyer Caesar Distrito, the mayor’s spokesperson.

“The mayor also asked barangays to organize or reactivate volunteers as part of the firefighting initiatives of the city,” Distrito said.

The mayor reminded Bacolod residents to avoid burning their garbage and to make sure fire-prone and combustible materials were stored safely.

The heat continues with limited rain in Mindanao in the forecast

DOH chief reminds public: Hydrate, ‘cool off’ vs summer diseases

 

By: Maila Ager - Reporter / @MAgerINQ

MANILA, Philippines — Summer time is here, and so are heat-related illnesses.

Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa on Tuesday explained that heat-related diseases are due to long exposure to the sun.

“Ang unang sign niyan [ay] dehydration, uhaw. Pangalawa: fatigue, ‘yung heat exhaustion, madaling mapapagod, tapos nun magkakaroon ng heat fatigue, tapos magkakaroon ng heat stroke,” Herbosa said in an interview in the Senate.

(The first signs are dehydration and thirst. Secondly, fatigue and heat exhaustion — you become easily tired, leading to heat fatigue, and eventually, heat stroke.)

“’Yung heat stroke hinimatay, ‘yung nag-collapse sa init, so ‘yung heat stroke madadala na kayo sa emergency room,” he added.

(A heat stroke can cause fainting or collapsing due to the heat. So, if you experience a heat stroke, you may need to be taken to the emergency room.)

To prevent falling ill due to hot weather conditions, the health chief advised the public to drink water and “cool off” or go to a cooler place.

“Kailangan ‘pag nag-umpisa pa lang ‘yung pakiramdam ng thirst, mag-hydrate na,” Herbosa said.

(When you start feeling thirsty, it’s important to drink water to hydrate immediately.)

“’Pag nakaramdam ng heat exhaustion, ‘yung parang pagod na pagod at parang lanta na yung katawan mo… mag-cool off na kayo.”

(When you start feeling heat exhaustion, or extremely tired and your body feels drained… it’s time to cool off.)

“You better go to a cooler place. Huwag masyadong mabilis cooling at kailangan ‘wag masyadong malamig ang inumin ng tubig kasi pwede ring magkaroon ng side effect,” he added.

(You better go to a cooler place. Don’t cool down too quickly, and make sure not to drink water that is too cold as doing this may also have side effects.)

To cool down, Herbosa said one may look for a covered place first, preferably under a roof or tree, or go to an air-conditioned room before taking a shower.

Long exposure to the sun is more dangerous for individuals with hypertension, heart ailments, and other existing illnesses, the health chief warned.

“Kung ikaw may hypertension [at] mapunta ka sa init ng araw, baka makaroon ka ng heart attack or heat stroke. Hindi lang heat stroke, [kundi] totoong stroke,” he said.

(If you have hypertension and you expose yourself to the heat of the sun, you might have a heart attack or heat stroke. Not just heat stroke; it can be a real stroke)

“Every time we have other illnesses, whether it’s kidney failure, cancer, mahirap ma-expose sa extremes ng weather, so very important to protect yourself, ‘wag pong maglagi sa labas,” he added.

(When we have other illnesses, such as kidney failure or cancer, it’s difficult to expose ourselves to extreme weather conditions, so it’s very important to protect yourself. Avoid staying outdoors for too long.)

Herbosa said other common diseases during summer include food-related and water-borne illnesses.

“Kasi ‘yung food, pagdating ng hapon, during hot weather, ‘yung niluto mo kaninang umaga, sa hapon panis na yun. Dati, ‘pag cooler ang weather, medyo mas tumatagal,” he pointed out.

(During hot weather, the food you cook in the morning might already be spoiled in the afternoon. In the past, when the weather was cooler, it used to last a bit longer.)

The 34 Very Best German Sayings…EVER!: 23. übers Ohr hauen

 The 34 Very Best German Sayings…EVER!

By: AuthorMarcel Iseli

23. übers Ohr hauen

This German proverb comes from the art of fencing. In fencing, there’s a rule that says you must not hit your opponent above the ears. 

If you do this anyway, you have bamboozled (cheated) your opponent, which in German is also called ‘übers Ohr hauen.’   

Example:

Du bist aber auch wirklich naiv! Meinst du wirklich, dass dir Bernd einfach so 1000 Franken schenkt? Der hat dich doch übers Ohr gehauen!  

Translation: You are really naive! Do you really think Bernd will give you 1000 dollars just like that? He’s definitely up to something!  

 

PH, EU launch disaster risk reduction and management program to enhance LGUs readiness capacities

BY MANILA BULLETIN

The Department of Finance (DOF), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the European Union (EU), and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) Group launched a disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) program on Friday to enhance local government units (LGUs) readiness capacities.

DOF Undersecretary Joven Balbosa; AFD Country Director Benedicte Gazon; DILG Undersecretary Marlo Iringan; H.E. Ambassador Luc Veron of the Delegation of EU in the Philippines; AFD Executive Director Philippe Orliange; Expertise France Deputy Director of Peace, Stability, Security-Expertise France; Paul Boulet Desbareau, Regional Representative Olivier Sublard, DOST Assistant Secretary Rodolfo Calzado, Jr.;

The Disaster Risk Reduction Enhancement at the Local Level Technical Assistance (DRREALL TA) Program aims to support the DILG in reinforcing local government units, specifically in building and enhancing existing capabilities in key DRRM aspects. The DRREALL TA Program will cover activities to address critical gaps, namely, risk-informed planning, integrated capacity development strategies, effective local DRRM funds' utilization, and gender sensitive and socially inclusive disaster response towards ensuring the readiness and protection of citizens especially the vulnerable.

The program also aims to conduct high-level policy dialogue among government and non-government stakeholders in setting important policy directions and solutions that foster co-ownership and accountability.

Co-funded by the EU and the AFD, the €4.28 million or P256 million technical assistance accompanies a programmatic policy-based loan by the French government amounting to €250 million to the government of the Philippines in 2021.

The DRREALL TA Program will be implemented by the Expertise France and will run from 2024 to 2027 in close partnership among DILG, LGUs, partner national agencies and French institutions.

In a recorded statement, the DOF said that the DRREALL Program is a fitting solution to the Philippines' ongoing battle against climate change. "Given our archipelagic nature, each locality in the Philippines faces its own unique set of challenges and vulnerabilities. This [DRREALL Program] will allow us to empower our local government units as we develop climate projects and programs uniquely tailored to their specific needs. By doing so, we ensure sensitivity to localities and increase the likelihood of achieving the greatest positive impact for our people," said Secretary Ralph G. Recto.

EU Ambassador Luc Véron stated, "The European Union is proud to be able to continue supporting the Philippines' efforts to improve the country's climate resilience, most especially at the local level, through blended financing, in partnership with AFD. This project responds fully to the Government's objective to address Climate Change in a more effective and coordinated manner, and should help to take practical steps and support LGUs to move from plans to action. DRREALL is one element in a larger framework of partnership - the Team Europe Green Economy Initiative. As part of this initiative, the EU launched recently the €60 million EU-Philippines Green Economy Programme, which will focus on the Philippines' transition towards a more circular economy, reducing waste and plastic, as well as increasing energy efficiency and renewable energy."

 "The DILG stands firm in our mandate to lead local government units in shaping strategies for local governance, including developing policies, and programs relevant to protecting most especially our local citizens from natural and human-induced hazards. The strengthening of LGUs in delivering devolved services will always be at the forefront of our vision for a climate resilient Philippines. We encourage all stakeholders identified in the implementation of the DRREALL TA activities, to pledge their active engagement, valuable knowledge, and technical expertise for the successful implementation of the Program", said DILG Undersecretary Marlo L. Iringan.

For Philippe Orliange, AFD Executive Director of All Countries' Operation, the Philippines is an important stakeholder in advancing France's Indo-Pacific strategy. "The Southeast Asian region houses 14 of the 20 most climate-exposed countries, 54 percent of the global population, and contributes to 40 percent of the global GDP. Through a €250 million policy-based operation in 2021, AFD demonstrated its commitment to a long-term partnership with the Philippines on a territorial approach to enhance adaptation capacities to climate change. Further, we are mobilizing our French expertise network through the CEREMA (public expertise agency for ecological transition and regional planning) for flood risk planning and Expertise France as DRREALL TA project implementor."

National Committee on Language and Translation announces Rolando S. Tinio Translator’s Prize winners 2024

Ariel S. Tabag, of Bannawag Magazine, receives the prize award in the novel category

BY ANGELA JAVATE

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), led by the National Committee on Language and Translation (NCLT), announced the winners of the Rolando S. Tinio Translator’s Prize on April 2, 2024.

This award aims to give greater prominence to the translation of texts and works written in various languages in the Philippines into the national language. 

The two awardees are Ariel S. Tabag in the novel category and Manu Avenido in the poetry category.

Notably, Ariel is one of the editors of Bannawag Magazine, which is one of the nine magazines published by the Manila Bulletin. He also founded and oversees the Sanita Literary Awards and serves as the President of GUMIL Filipinas, the association of Ilocano writers in the Philippines and overseas.

Ariel is the author of "Karapote" (a collection of Ilokano stories, 2011), "Ay, Ni Reberen!" (an Ilokano novel, 2013), "Voice Tape and Other Selected Stories" (a collection of selected Ilokano stories, 2022), and "Manen, Adda Umuna" (a collection of Ilokano poems, 2023).

Meanwhile, Manu Avenido is a multilingual fictionist, poet, and playwright from Bohol. He has won the Palanca Award four times for his short stories in Cebuano. He has also been honored in competitions such as the Lumbera Awards, BATHALAD-Mindanao, Sinulog Awards for Literature (SINULAT), Balacuit, Kinalitkalit Flash Fiction Writing Contest, among others. Additionally, he has been a fellow in regional and national workshops including Faigao, lyas, ligan, and Lamiraw.

Most of Manu's short stories have been published in Bisaya Magasin and other anthologies. His debut collection of award-winning short stories, titled "Ikigai Ug Ubang Piniling Mga Sugilanon" (Advaux, 2023), with an English translation by Dr. Marjorie Evasco, received a Publication Grant in 2023 from the National Book Development Board.

If we could only readily welcome God in our life

By Fr. Roy Cimagala

Chaplain

Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE)

Talamban, Cebu City

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

WE should do everything to be able to readily welcome God in our life. When we manage to do so, we would be apt to share his power too, and like him we can do great things, even miraculous things.

We are reminded of this truth of our Christian faith in the first reading of the Mass of Wednesday of the Easter Octave. (cfr. Acts 3,1-10) Sts. Peter and John went to the temple area and met a crippled man who begged for some alms. But instead of giving alms, St. Peter, strongly invoking the name of Christ, told the fellow to rise and walk, and the cripple started to walk!

“I have neither silver nor gold,” St. Peter told the cripple, “but what I do have I give you: in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean, rise and walk.” And the miracle happened.

We should strengthen our belief that if we truly welcome in our life God who, in the first place, takes the initiative to share what he has with us, we too can do what God can. We would be apt to do great things. Obviously, what God shares with us can only be what is truly good for us. We cannot and should not invoke his name to do something that is evil or not in accordance to the will of God.

Let’s remind ourselves frequently, if not constantly, of this wonderful reality, so that we can truly say that we are doing things always with God and not simply by our own selves. It’s not presumptuous of us to remind ourselves of this truth of our faith. We really are meant to share our life with God.

This awareness and conviction of this truth of our faith is necessary for us, since we cannot deny that in our life we will encounter all sorts of challenges, difficulties and temptations and sin, and we should just know how to handle them properly.

When these challenges, difficulties, etc. come, we should immediately remind ourselves of this wonderful truth that God is always with us and is eager to help us, though in ways that may not be accordance to our expectations.

A healthy spirit of abandonment in God’s hands is necessary even as we exhaust all possible human means to achieve our goals or simply to tackle all the challenges, trials and predicaments of our life. We should never forget this truth of our faith.

In this life, we need to acquire a good, healthy sporting spirit, because life is actually like a game. Yes, life is like a game. We set out to pursue a goal, we have to follow certain rules, we are given some means, tools and instruments, we are primed to win and we do our best, but losses can come, and yet, we just have to move on.

Woe to us when we get stuck with our defeats and failures, developing a loser’s mentality. That would be the epic fail that puts a period and a finis in a hanging narrative, when a comma, a colon or semi-colon would have sufficed.

We need a sporting spirit because life’s true failure can come only when we choose not to have hope. That happens when our vision and understanding of things is narrow and limited, confined only to the here and now and ignorant of the transcendent reality of the spiritual and supernatural world.

4 planets aligning on April 4, how to see — PAGASA

 

Kristofer Purnell - Philstar.com

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) announced there would be a planetary alignment involving four planets during the early hours of April 4 over Philippine skies.

Venus, Neptune, Saturn, and Mars will be aligned on the morning of April 4.

PAGASA describes a planetary alignment as an Astronomy term for when multiple planets gather closely on one side of the sun at the same time.

"This provides a stunning celestial display that can be observed without the need for special astronomical equipment," added PAGASA.

Venus, Saturn, and Mars can all be seen with the naked eye, while a good view of Neptune will require a modest telescope or high-powered binoculars.

"Venus can be seen lying very low in the morning sky. Mars and Saturn will be sitting low on the eastern horizon and will remain visible until the end of the month," the agency said.

The largest planet in the Solar System, Jupiter, can be seen in the western sky after sunset, though it will difficult to observe toward the end of April because of the sun's glare, while the smallest planet Mercury won’t be visible because of its proximity to the sun.

Two years ago, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn aligned in their natural order from the sun for the first time in 18 years.

Other astronomical events PAGASA noted for April are the Lyrid Meteor Shower during the month's second half (peaking on the 22nd), the passage of Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, and excellent views of constellations Ursa Major, Leo, Leo Minor, Hydra, Sextans, Crater, and Antlia.

Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks will reach its brightest point and pass perihelion on April 21 and will be visible through the use of a small telescope or 40-50mm aperture binoculars, however, PAGASA noted given its proximity to the sun that the comet might easily disappear into the sunset glow.

The agency also said April is the best time to look at famous deep sky objects such as the Cigar Galaxy, the Pinwheel Galaxy, the Owl Nebula, the Leo Triplet of galaxies, and the Southern Pinwheel Galaxy.