𝐄𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: 𝐃𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐨 𝐝𝐞 𝐎𝐫𝐨'𝐬 𝟏𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐨 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬

In celebration of the Solo Parents Week, the Provincial Government of Davao de Oro led by Governor Dorothy "Dotdot" M. Gonzaga, through the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office conducted the 1st Solo Parents Congress on April 26, 2024 at the Megatent, Capitol Grounds, Nabunturan, Davao de Oro with the theme "𝑺𝒐𝒍𝒐 𝑷𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒏𝒂 𝑹𝒆𝒉𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒐, 𝒔𝒂 𝑮𝒐𝒃𝒚𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒐, 𝑻𝒊𝒚𝒂𝒌 𝒏𝒂 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒌𝒕𝒂𝒅𝒐".

Over 600 solo parents participated during the activity that featured sessions from various agencies. The aim was to empower and equip them with essential knowledge and tools while addressing the needs and challenges that a solo parent may face.

This initiative has been long envisioned by the Governor along with PSWDO Department Head Ms. Josephine Frasco. Despite her hectic schedule, the Governor made a personal appearance at the event and conveyed her eagerness for this activity. She expressed her understanding that solo parents are among the sectors that require the utmost assistance from the government saying "Dugay na nako gusto makuha inyong numero ug identities mismo sa mga solo parent kay kabalo ko nga usa mo sa sektor sa atung komunidad nga kinahanglan gyud tabangan sa gobyerno".

Congressman Ruwel Peter Gonzaga of the Second District in his message emphasizes that regardless of one's political affiliations or personal beliefs, the government is committed to providing support and assistance to all members of the society. "𝐴𝑛𝑔 𝐺𝑜𝑏𝑦𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑜 𝑑𝑖𝑙𝑖 𝑚𝑎𝑔𝑝𝑎𝑠𝑎𝑔𝑎𝑑 𝑠𝑎 𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑛𝑔 𝑘𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑏𝑎𝑛", he added.

The activity also highlighted the presentation of Ms. Chariena Joy Lacuin, RSW of City Social Welfare and Development Office- Panabo, who elaborated the Republic Act of 11861 otherwise known as the “Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act”. She provided insights into the rights and benefits of the solo parents under the law, ensuring that the participants understand and well-informed about the support available for them.

During the afternoon session, the focus shifted towards entrepreneurial mindset development and financial literacy which was presented by the Department of Trade and Industry- Davao de Oro. Additionally discussing the basic loan availment and consumer education.

Furthermore ,Technical Education and Skills Development Authority representative Ms. Mary Ann Afuan presented the programs and activities of TESDA. This is to provide the participants a comprehensive information with regard to vocational training and skills development opportunities, enabling them to acquire new skills or enhance existing ones to pursue sustainable livelihoods.

Among the attendees were EA Nena Atamosa, Board Members Vivencia L. Secuya and Ruwina Gonzaga, IPMR Albert P. Camana, PG Department Heads and others.

The Solo Parent Congress 2024 was a remarkable event that brought hope and empowerment to solo parents. The government's visionary leadership and the tireless efforts of all participants made it possible. This event serves as a reminder that no one walks alone on the journey of parenthood, in unity, there is Greatness as long as the 𝐆𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐊𝐒!  (Photos by R. Naval)

#SoloParentWeek #SoloParentsCongress2024 #GovernmentWorks #GovernmentWorksForSoloParents #WeLoveDavaodeOro

Provincial Administrator’s Office – Information and Public Relations Division

4th Floor, Executive Building, Provincial Capitol Complex, Cabidianan, Nabunturan, Davao de Oro

Click here to go to our website!

Filipino nurses in Germany struggle with the language

 

Nikka Valenzuela

April 25, 2024

Filipino nurses are in high demand in Germany, but struggles learning German make it harder for them to feel at home.

Filipino nurse Elaine Custodio has been working at the Urology department of University Hospital Bonn for 6 years nowImage: Nikka Valenzuela/DW

Elaine Custodio arrived in the midsized city of Bonn in Germany's west in March 2018. She had six years of nursing experience and a B1 intermediate German language certificate in her backpack.

Before leaving her native Philippines to take up a nursing job at the University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Custodio studied German full time to obtain the language proficiency required to work at the hospital.

Despite her certificate, she still struggled to speak and understand German, which proved to be a hurdle in the workplace.

German is one of the 10 most difficult languages to learn in the world, according to UNESCO. 

German is 'really hard'

The system for measuring language skill level starts at A1 for beginners, progressing to A2 for advanced beginners. B1 is intermediate, B2 is advanced intermediate. Learners at the C1 level are advanced and the C2 level is when someone speaks almost perfect German.  

"When I moved here, I felt safe on the streets, but I was scared of answering the phone at work," said Custodio, who hails from Quezon City in the Philippines. "The language was hard, really hard. During every shift, I would write down words I did not know and learn the meaning at home."

Custodio was among the third batch of nurses who arrived in Bonn when the UKB began recruiting qualified medical workers from the Philippines to offset Germany's labor shortage.

The hospital now employs some 740 foreign nurses, 300 of whom are from the Philippines. Like Custodio, many of these Filipino nurses at UKB struggle with speaking and understanding German.

Joel Licay, who also works as a nurse at UKB, said that he felt depressed two months into working in Germany because of the language barrier.

"Some patients told me that I'm stupid because I didn't know the language. Every day I was crying," he said, adding that he felt frustrated not being able to communicate with colleagues as well as patients and their loved ones.

Licay said when he first started working on one of the UKB wards five years ago, he needed to be accompanied by an advanced German speaker in order to effectively communicate with patients.

Even today he says he usually spends time honing his German skills when he comes home from work. His efforts have paid off and he is now on track for the C1 level.

Culture shock in Germany

The challenge of communicating in German is a "worldwide barrier," according to Maria Hesterberg, who heads recruitment for UKB, because it is not the easiest language to learn.

She and her colleagues noticed that their foreign nurses tended to struggle with the language.

And the language requirement to work as a nurse in Germany has been raised from B1 to B2, adding to the difficulties faced by them.

Many nurses in the Philippines who had been eyeing a career in Germany ended up dropping out of their beginners' courses, said Steffen Zoller, founder of CWC (Care With Care) Recruitment. 

Cultural differences can add to the language barrier. Many foreigners perceive Germans as being forthright in their communication, whereas people from other countries may not say things as directly.

"Germans communicate directly. We are very open, and it is not something that Filipinos are used to. We learned that in the beginning, it is very unusual in the Philippines to answer a question with 'no'," Hesterberg said.

She added that they had to discuss this in information events, explaining that saying 'no' is nothing personal. They have also encouraged nurses to ask questions proactively, no matter who they are communicating with.

Smoothing the path to Germany

Zoller added that CWC Recruitment — which has deployed around 700 Filipino nurses around Germany — also has an integration team to help prepare incoming health care workers for their big move to the country.

The Philippines is an important source of skilled workers for Germany, and remittances from Filipinos living abroad are a crucial source of income for their families back home.

Zoller said that an increasing number of Filipino nurses have expressed an interest in migrating to Germany since it opened more routes for skilled workers to migrate.

Since 2017, UKB has recruited more foreign nurses. They don't just come from the Philippines but also from Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mexico and Argentina. The company has around 1,000 more nursing positions to fill by 2027.

Zoller said that, despite the language issues, Germany is often seen as a permanent destination for Filipino nurses who want to migrate, unlike in other countries.

"I see myself getting old here," said nurse Licay. As for his nursing colleague Custodio, she still isn't sure.

Extreme heat in Southeast Asia leads to school closures and health warning

157,492 views Apr 25, 2024 #heat #heatwave

Hundreds of millions of people across South and Southeast Asia are facing soaring temperatures and drought as a heatwave grips the region. Dozens have been killed by heatstroke in Thailand alone. Authorities in the capital Bangkok are warning their citizens of the 'extremely dangerous' conditions. Schools have been closed in the Philippines and Bangladesh for tens of millions of children and the daytime temperature in Myanmar has reached nearly 46 degrees Celsius. The UN has warned that deaths due to heatstroke were widely underreported, calling heat a 'silent killer'

Philippine Fairy Tales (XXXVI) - Philippinische Märchen (XXXVI): The Presidente who had Horns - Der Präsident, der Hörner hatte

 

The Presidente who had Horns 

Once there was a presidente who was very unjust to his people, and one day he became so angry that he wished he had horns so that he might frighten them. No sooner had he made this rash wish, than horns began to grow on his head.

He sent for a barber who came to his house to cut his hair, and as he worked the presidente asked:

“What do you see on my head?”

“I see nothing,” answered the barber; for although he could see the horns plainly, he was afraid to say so.

Soon, however, the presidente put up his hands and felt the horns, and then when he inquired again the barber told him that he had two horns.

“If you tell anyone what you have seen, you shall be hanged,” said the presidente as the barber started away, and he was greatly frightened.

When he reached home, the barber did not intend to tell anyone, for he was afraid; but as he thought of his secret more and more, the desire to tell someone became so strong that he knew he could not keep it. Finally he went to the field and dug a hole under some bamboo, and when the hole was large enough he crawled in and whispered that the presidente had horns. He then climbed out, filled up the hole, and went home.

By and by some people came along the road on their way to market, and as they passed the bamboo they stopped in amazement, for surely a voice came from the trees, and it said that the presidente had horns. These people hastened to market and told what they had heard, and the people there went to the bamboo to listen to the strange voice. They informed others, and soon the news had spread all over the town. The councilmen were told, and they, too, went to the bamboo. When they had heard the voice, they ran to the house of the presidente. But his wife said that he was ill and they could not see him.

By this time the horns had grown until they were one foot in length, and the presidente was so ashamed that he bade his wife tell the people that he could not talk. She told this to the councilmen when they came on the following day, but they replied that they must see him, for they had heard that he had horns, and if this were true he had no right to govern the people.

She refused to let them in, so they broke down the door. They saw the horns on the head of the presidente and killed him. For, they said, he was no better than an animal.

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Der Präsident, der Hörner hatte

Es war einmal ein Präsident, der sehr ungerecht zu seinem Volk war, und eines Tages wurde er so wütend, dass er wünschte, er hätte Hörner, um sie zu erschrecken. Kaum hatte er diesen voreiligen Wunsch geäußert, begannen auf seinem Kopf Hörner zu wachsen.

Er ließ einen Friseur kommen, der zu ihm nach Hause kam, um ihm die Haare zu schneiden, und während er arbeitete, fragte der Präsident:

„Was siehst du auf meinem Kopf?“

„Ich sehe nichts“, antwortete der Friseur; denn obwohl er die Hörner deutlich sehen konnte, hatte er Angst, es zu sagen.

Bald jedoch hob der Präsident seine Hände und befühlte die Hörner, und als er sich erneut erkundigte, sagte ihm der Friseur, dass er zwei Hörner habe.

„Wenn du irgendjemandem erzählst, was du gesehen hast, wirst du gehängt“, sagte der Präsident, als der Friseur wegging, und er hatte große Angst.

Als er nach Hause kam, hatte der Friseur nicht vor, es irgendjemandem zu erzählen, denn er hatte Angst; Doch als er immer mehr über sein Geheimnis nachdachte, wurde der Wunsch, es jemandem zu erzählen, so stark, dass er wusste, dass er es nicht für sich behalten konnte. Schließlich ging er zum Feld und grub ein Loch unter etwas Bambus, und als das Loch groß genug war, kroch er hinein und flüsterte, dass der Präsident Hörner hätte. Dann stieg er aus, füllte das Loch und ging nach Hause.

Nach und nach kamen einige Leute auf dem Weg zum Markt die Straße entlang, und als sie am Bambus vorbeikamen, blieben sie verwundert stehen, denn sicherlich ertönte eine Stimme aus den Bäumen und es hieß, der Präsident hätte Hörner. Diese Leute eilten zum Markt und erzählten, was sie gehört hatten, und die Leute dort gingen zum Bambus, um der seltsamen Stimme zu lauschen. Sie informierten andere und bald hatte sich die Nachricht in der ganzen Stadt verbreitet. Den Stadträten wurde Bescheid gesagt, und auch sie gingen zum Bambus. Als sie die Stimme gehört hatten, rannten sie zum Haus des Präsidenten. Aber seine Frau sagte, er sei krank und sie könnten ihn nicht sehen.

Zu diesem Zeitpunkt waren die Hörner schon 30 cm lang, und der Präsident schämte sich so sehr, dass er seiner Frau befahl, den Leuten zu sagen, dass er nicht sprechen könne. Sie erzählte dies den Stadträten, als sie am nächsten Tag kamen, aber sie antworteten, dass sie ihn sehen müssten, denn sie hätten gehört, dass er Hörner habe, und wenn das wahr sei, hätte er kein Recht, das Volk zu regieren.

Sie weigerte sich, sie hereinzulassen, also brachen sie die Tür auf. Sie sahen die Hörner auf dem Kopf des Präsidenten und töteten ihn. Denn sie sagten, er sei nicht besser als ein Tier.

Kathryn Bernardo joins Alden Richards as new Century Tuna 'Superbod'

Jan Milo Severo - Philstar.com

April 25, 2024 | 1:16pm

MANILA, Philippines — Kapamilya star Kathryn Bernardo joined Kapuso star Alden Richards as the ambassador of Century Tuna Superbods 2024. 

Flaunting her well-toned physique, Kathryn is ecstatic to be part of the Century Tuna Superbods campaign, which is a dream that has become a reality since her teenage years, according to the star.

“I’ve always found the Century Tuna Superbods to be inspiring and being a part of this campaign feels like a dream come true," Kathryn said.  

"It’s an honor to become part of the Century Tuna Superbods and through this campaign, I hope that I’ll also become an inspiration for every Filipino to let them enjoy full, happy, and healthy lives,” she added. 

Leading the "Best You Ever" campaign, Kathryn started her fitness journey with her trainer, Mauro Lumba, who is also the Century Tuna Superbods 2014 Grand Champion.

As the Century Tuna Ambassador steps into a new phase of her life, she aims to inspire Filipinos to embody Century Tuna’s belief that everybody can be a superbod through the "Best You Ever" campaign.

“Anyone can achieve the best version of themselves with the right discipline and determination, proper exercise and nutrition, and a good support system. So I encourage everyone to take that first step towards your ‘Best You Ever’ and join me in Century Tuna Superbods 2024! Let’s redefine fitness by embracing self-love, challenging growth, and inspiring others,” she said.

Launched in 2006, Century Tuna’s Superbods campaign has been a trailblazer in promoting health, fitness, and an active lifestyle. This year, their “Best You Ever” movement takes it a step further by advocating for self-love and holistic self-improvement. 

End of the road? Jeepneys face uncertain future

In this photo taken on April 3, 2024, an older model of a passenger jeepney produced since the 1950s by Sarao Motors, is displayed at the workshop in Las Pinas City, suburban Manila. About 70 years after the first jeepneys rolled on to the streets of the Philippines, the noisy, smoke-belching vehicles face an existential threat from a plan to replace them with modern mini-buses.

Allison Jackson, Faith Brown - Agence France-Presse

April 26, 2024 | 11:19am

MANILA, Philippines — The first jeepneys rolled onto the streets of the Philippines just after World War II -- noisy, smoke-belching vehicles initially made from leftover US Jeeps that became a national symbol.

Seven decades later, the colourfully decorated vehicles face an existential threat from a plan to replace them with modern mini-buses.

Easy to fix and cheap to ride, the vehicles grew in size and length to become the backbone of the country's transport system, carrying passengers, goods and even visiting popes.

But the government's plan to phase out jeepneys in an effort to modernize the country's chaotic public transport network has put the future of the iconic vehicles in doubt.

"It was a heavy blow," Leonard Sarao, operations supervisor of jeepney maker Sarao Motors, told AFP.

Sarao Motors was one of the first companies to produce jeepneys after founder Leonardo Sarao Sr gave up driving horse-drawn buggies to make motorised public transport in the early 1950s.

Production at the family-owned company's sprawling facility in the capital Manila peaked in the 1970s and 1980s, with workers making 50 to 60 jeepneys per month.

Demand began to fall over the following decades as other transport options became available. By 2014, Sarao Motors was producing as few as 10 jeepneys per month.

But it was the government's launch of the jeepney phase-out program in 2017 that slammed the brakes on production.

The now drastically downsized workforce produces one jeepney every four to six months, said Sarao, the grandson of Sarao Sr.

"We've had customers that have been around since the '50s, so they've been purchasing jeepneys, making their fleet bigger," said Sarao, 31.

"With this new program there have been a lot of doubts or fears that if they purchase a brand new jeepney will they still be able to use it a couple of years down the road?"

'We can't afford the price'

While Sarao Motors can produce modern jeepneys that meet the government's environmental and safety specifications, they are "three to four times the price of a traditional jeepney", Sarao said.

In the seven years since the phase-out program was launched there have been multiple delays in its implementation due to protests and Covid-19.

Operators now have until April 30 to join a cooperative and then gradually replace their fleet with modern vehicles that are safer, more comfortable and less polluting.

Cooperatives will be able to access bank financing and receive a government subsidy for each vehicle to ease the financial burden of the transition.

But drivers opposed to the plan argue that buying a new vehicle will bury them in debt and they will not be able to earn enough money to repay their loans and make a living.

"It's difficult for us to get a modern jeepney... we can't afford the price," said Julio Dimaunahan, 57, who operates a jeepney in Manila and has joined a cooperative.

"Even now our pockets are hurting because of the little profits we get as operators," he said pointing to increased competition from motorbike-hailing services.

Jeepney operator Flocerfida Majadas, 62, said she was worried about the future of her drivers if she were to go broke.

"Our concern is that we may not be able to pay our liabilities," Majadas said, referring to bank loans.

"If we're not able to pay, the bank will repossess the modern jeepneys. If the bank repossesses them what will happen to our staff?"

Cheap and easy to fix

While jeepneys now vie with buses, vans and motorbikes for passengers, they are still a common sight and sound in the archipelago nation.

Often brightly painted and with an exhaust that sounds like a trumpet, jeepneys cost passengers as little as 13 pesos (23 cents) to ride and their second-hand diesel truck engines are easy to fix.

"Once a customer buys a jeepney from us any mechanic in the provinces or the far flung regions can fix it," Sarao said.

But the modern mini-buses the government would like to replace them with are more high-tech, with European emission standard engines or electric motors, WiFi, CCTV and air-conditioning.

"If it breaks down where will we get the money to fix it?" asked Dimaunahan.

Sarao said his family's company could not compete with the capacity of overseas manufacturers to mass produce vehicles.

But he said jeepneys made by Sarao Motors were cheaper than the imported mini-buses and higher quality.

"The way we do things here is everything is hand-made so at least we do quality control of these units to make sure the panels don't fall off, the welds are completed," he said.

"When you speed things up that's where things can go wrong."

'Spirit of the jeepney'

Teodoro Caparino, who has been driving a jeepney for 35 years, hopes the government will decide to fix existing jeepneys rather than replace them with "Chinese-made vehicles".

"Our families will starve if we do not get to drive our jeepneys... all we know is driving," Caparino, 60, said.

While the jeepney in its current form might be nearing the end of the road, Sarao said he hoped the "essence" of the vehicle would survive.

"It may look bigger, it may look wider and longer, but as long as the essence of how it's supposed to look like or the spirit of the jeepney is still there, I still think it's going to be the jeepney."

Bing Velasco, mother of actors Patrick and Cheska Garcia, passes away at 70

BY CARISSA ALCANTARA

  

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AT A GLANCE

• The news of their mother's demise was confirmed by their eldest sibling Pichon Garcia through social media.

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(L-R) Patrick, Pichon, Bing and Cheska Garcia (Instagram) 

The mother of Patrick Garcia and Chesca Garcia Kramer, Maria Celeste Dahlia "Bing" Velasco, passed away on April 20.

The news of their mother's demise was confirmed by their eldest sibling Pichon Garcia through social media.

"To those who knew, loved, and cherished every moment of our mom’s vibrant and beautiful personality. Final wishes, messages, and service will be on April 26, Friday 7 p.m.” wrote Pichon.

Bing's remains will be interred at Arlington Memorial Chapels on Araneta Avenue, Quezon City on April 23. The memorial service will be held on Friday, April 26.

Cheska also took the time to post on her social media account a long tribute to her mom. She posed a series of photos of her mom with her siblings, and kids.

"I will miss you so much, Mommy. I love you dearly! I am grateful for all the precious days I spent with you. You were there for all the important events in my life, and you were also there just to hang out, relax, and talk about anything and everything under the sun. I will miss those moments, Mommy!," Cheska wrote in her post.   "I will miss holding your hand or walking arm in arm-with you. I will miss your lovely scent; you always smelled so good. I will miss your smiling face! I love you, Mommy," she said.heska's husband, Doug Kramer, also paid a tribute to his mother-in-law by recalling the moment they went to Europe and she got lost. But it was a core memory for him saying, saying how happy they were to grant Bing's dream trip. He then appealed to the public to give their family the time to grieve.

"The best mom in law anyone could have!The OG, the coolest grandma, the funniest, and one who never runs out of chika because she knows all the issues on fb (Facebook)," Doug ended his post

The Stands: An INQUIRER Sports Newsletter

 

April 26, 2024

National University gets a playoff bonus first. (AUGUST DELA CRUZ)

Hey there sports fan, Before anything else, how about we give the St. Benilde Lady Blazers their much-deserved share of the spotlight? Also, we did an interesting primer on the three artistic gymnastics events that Carlos Yulo will focus on as he seeks podium finishes in the Paris Olympics later this year. You can read the three-part "The Art of Yulo" series here, here and here.    That series will give you an  idea about how performances are scored in the Olympics and will also  introduce you to Yulo's bag of tricks, including the answer to this trivia question: The Nagornyy triple pike is a move performed in what event in artistic gymnastics? We will share the answer here at the end of this email. So, it must feel great to be a Lady Bulldog nowadays. Entering the second preliminary round of the UAAP Season 86 women's volleyball tournament, National U was at third place, behind the surprising University of Santo Tomas and defending champion La Salle. But NU has swept the second round and is now the first team to qualify for twice-to-beat protection in the Final Four. And make ni mistake about it, the Lady Bulldogs plan to leave that semifinal benefit unused.

Like this email? Forward it to your friends and let them know that they can sign up here.

Chery Tiggo drove itself into the semifinals and PLDT out of contention.  (AUGUST DELA CRUZ)

Meanwhile... The present and the future clashed in the PVL All-Filipino, with Choco Mucho's powerful Sisi Rondina battling Farm Fresh rising star Trisha Tubu. Both are excellent hitters and served up a preview of future clashes. Needless to say, Rondina was impressed with what she saw.  Meanwhile, it took some serious work but Chery Tiggo reached the semifinals anyway. The Crossovers found the Galeries Tower Highrisers a surprisingly tough nut to crack and had to rally for a five-set victory on Thursday evening.  That win but Chery Tiggo in the Final Four and also sealed that cast after officially ousting PLDT.  What we're up to next: We will be tracking three-point milestones in the PBA as well as keep tabs on the Philippine Cup, which is now moving to the homestretch of the elimination round. We'll also continue our coverage of the PVL, UAAP and the NCAA volleyball tournaments so keep it here on all your Inquirer platforms. Number of the Week: 53 Three-pointers Marcio Lassiter needs to make as of this letter's posting to become the all-time leader in that department.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK “We are the saling pusa (outsiders) compared to NU and La Salle, so we would really just want to gate-crash their party.” —UST Tigresses coach Kungfu Reyes, on chasing a top-two berth.

Hi , Have feedback? We're happy to hear it. Give Suggestions

Floor exercise. That's the answer to the trivia question above. Think you can ace the rest of the quiz? head over to our Viber community and try the test out! Buy the Inquirer at newsstands, subscribe to our digital edition, Inquirer Plus, visit our online site and follow us on socials (Twitter: @inquirersports; FB: facebook.com/inquirersports) for more stories and updates—or to send us questions or suggestions of stories you'd want to read. See you next Friday! Francis Francis T. J. Ochoa is the Sports Editor of the Philippine Daily Inquirer. For comments, suggestions and questions, hit him up on Twitter (@ftjochoaINQ).

Pia Wurtzbach to be recognized as Global Fashion Influencer of the year

BY NEIL RAMOS

  

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Pia Wurtzbach is to be honored as Global Fashion Influencer of the Year at the fourth EMIGALA Fashion & Beauty Awards in Dubai, to be held April 27–28.

Organizers of the event, which honors various members and contributors to the fashion and beauty industries globally, shared the news on Instagram.

It is a huge milestone for the former beauty queen, who made a splash as first-time attendee at the Milan and Paris Fashion Weeks last year, going on to secure the sixth spot in the list of “most visible influencers” by Lefty.io, an influencer marketing platform, earning 2.95 million dollars in media value (EMV) due to her social media presence during the fashion weeks.

The success led to comparisons with Heart Evangelista, also a regular at fashion weeks.

Some have even suggested the two are competing.

Heart denied this. 

Pia also downplayed the allegations, insisting “there is so much room in this world for everyone to shine.”

So hot you can't breathe': Extreme heat hits the Philippines

Cecil Morella - Agence France-Presse

MANILA, Philippines — Extreme heat scorched the Philippines on Wednesday, forcing schools in some areas to suspend in-person classes and prompting warnings for people to limit the amount of time spent outdoors.

The months of March, April and May are typically the hottest and driest in the archipelago nation, but conditions this year have been exacerbated by the El Nino weather phenomenon.

"It's so hot you can't breathe," said Erlin Tumaron, 60, who works at a seaside resort in Cavite province, south of Manila, where the heat index reached 47 degrees Celsius on Tuesday.

"It's surprising our pools are still empty. You would expect people to come and take a swim, but it seems they're reluctant to leave their homes because of the heat."

The heat index was expected to reach the "danger" level of 42C or higher in at least 30 cities and municipalities on Wednesday, the state weather forecaster said.

The heat index measures what a temperature feels like, taking into account humidity.

There was a 50 percent chance of the heat intensifying in the coming days, said Ana Solis, chief climatologist at the state weather forecaster.

"We need to limit the time we spend outdoors, drink plenty of water, bring umbrellas and hats when going outdoors," Solis told AFP.

Solis said El Nino was the reason for the "extreme heat" affecting swathes of the country.

Around half the country's provinces are officially in drought.

The northern municipality of Aparri endured a heat index of 48C on Tuesday, the highest in the country, and was expected to hit 45C on Wednesday.

The actual maximum air temperature was 36.4C on Tuesday, with 35C forecast for Wednesday.

"It's really hot here," Eric Vista of the municipal disaster agency told AFP.

Vista said a shower of rain on Tuesday night offered some temporary relief, but it was "back to being super hot" on Wednesday.

Sweltering temperatures in the capital Manila forced many schools to switch to remote learning. The heat index reached 45C on Tuesday and was expected to hit 44C on Wednesday.

In Dagupan city, north of Manila, university employee Edz Alteros said she and her colleagues no longer went out for lunch because of the heat.

The heat index there reached 47C on Tuesday.

"We get somebody to buy food and we eat inside the office," Alteros, 27, said.

"The air conditioning is set at 14-18C during the hottest part of the day, but we ease up at other times to prevent the aircon breaking down."

Global temperatures hit record highs last year, and the United Nation's weather and climate agency said Tuesday that Asia was warming at a particularly rapid pace.

The Philippines ranks among the countries most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.