AN AWESOME IDEA

This is an awesome idea! Or is it? How many times have you been there? You’ve got it down. You know exactly what you want to do. All the details are worked out and you’re ready to go.

And then, it hits!

You start to question yourself. How do you know it’s a great idea? 

The first characteristic of a great idea is that it needs to be desirable, feasible, and viable. Ideas need to spark something in the person hearing about them, namely a sense of new possibilities. Is the proposed idea something that people would want?

Carlos Mendes, Co-Founder at InnovationCast - Innovation Management Software, explained it last September 2023: 

"Ideas are a starting point in the innovation process. They are the place from which you begin an innovation journey that has the potential to create impactful opportunities that produce value. Given their role, the quality of an idea is crucial to determining whether you have a good or bad outcome in innovation. But idea development is iterative and incremental. Ideas are not born perfect, requiring sustained investment to get them in the best shape possible."

Sometimes we feel that our thoughts and ideas can't be fulfilled with life. Where the heart is willing, it will find a thousand ways; but where the heart is weak, it will find a thousand excuses. If doubts begin to take roots, we should rouse from pink-tinted idealism or wear down and annihilate nightmares and erase and wipe out such thoughts and ideas.

If our thoughts are good and have the chance to be fulfilled in action, especially if "the other side" is prepared and willing to step on to such a bridge of life, we might get support and words of encouragement.

And, if not? No action? Maybe it is God's will to keep and protect us from a careless, rash, disadvantageous and uneasy action. Every new day gives us new inexhaustible possibilities to survive, to bear trials and to start a new beginning. We overlook and fail to notice many chances to lie through our sluggishness and laziness while thinking and dreaming of unequaled and unfulfilled ideas.

Once you’ve identified areas where you don’t have a positive emotional attachment to a belief, give yourself permission to let it go. It clearly does not serve you and is not something you want to do. Learning to work with the guilt around being “selfish” is important to work on at the same time. It will feel uncomfortable at first but until you release the guilt, you’ll continue to “should”. 

The House of Collab: A content creator's 'boot camp'

BY ANNALYN S. JUSAY

May 12, 2024 10:07 AM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• THOC's sales and marketing manager, Maann Barcebal-Alejandrino,describes her wards in the house as "social media stars who are huge on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and Youtube.

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This is the seventh season of the House of Collab, and each week, one or a few of the members are eliminated, depending on their performance. To the left (holding the microphone) is an influencer and THOC co-owner Ryan Tanada.

Somewhere in the south of Manila, there's a big house with an inviting pool, lounge chairs, a studio, and five bedrooms to "shelter" 25 of the country's fast-rising and upcoming digital media stars. The location is top-secret to keep the occupants away from snooping fans.

Welcome to The House of Collab! The Philippines' only reality show to focus on content creators and influencers is now on Season 7, where contestants with the weakest link are eliminated weekly, and the last few remaining will vie for the P1 million peso cash prize at stake for the grand winner.

Shades of Pinoy Big Brother, one may ask? THOC does not deny the similarity,  although they stress the fact that it's more patterned after the "content houses" that have sprung up in the US within the last decade. Think about Jake Paul's YouTube mansion in California (later sold), Clubhouse Beverly Hills, and Hype House, to name a few. The idea is to have one place where content creators can shoot their videos, goof around, exchange ideas, and grow their supporters. 

THOC's sales and marketing manager, Maann Barcebal-Alejandrino, describes her wards in the house as "social media stars who are huge on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and Youtube. What they do (in the house) every day is create content, whether it's static photos, branded content, or live streaming."

Spread across the 25 "occupants" of The House of Collab, that's an average of 200 pieces of content created every day for the brands that partner with them. The creators, in turn, get compensation by way of "talent fees," aside from the fact that everything during their stay is free—from the food to the shopping trips.

"All the hard work has paid off," according to Maann. Starting with THOC's seventh season, they've become an agency partner of TikTok Philippines.

She pointed out, "We've produced 31 billion-plus views for TikTok, and that's something that we are really proud of." 

Casey Diy (left) is in charge of talent scouting, while Maann Bersalino takes care of sales and marketing for The House of Collab

The numbers are big. When THOC talks about its P1 million cash prize for the Season 7 winner at the end of three months, it's only a small share of the huge pie. Maann revealed that some big-name creators in their fold (who are not part of the show) earn close to P3 million weekly from affiliate income alone - meaning they help promote products from their social media accounts.

"It really depends on the talent. Some are strong in affiliate promotions, while others do well in actual live selling. Some get brand deals and also monetize their Facebook and YouTube channels. In TikTok,  they earn from the shops and receive virtual gifts," Maann explained.

Overall, THOC acts as the talent management outfit of the 200 or so creators under its wing. It does the dirty administrative work (for example, filing taxes) so the influencer can focus on creating content.

Season 7 cast members include Pabby Bartolome, Amber Miles, Lydsa Sabijon, Shaun De Mesa, Panty Queen, Luna Paulino, Lars Avila, Councilor JD Batino, and others. Most of them have a large following on TikTok.

"Our goal here is to build up these talents so they can create a sustainable career in terms of content creation and make a better life for themselves and their families. The House of Collab is like a boot camp for them. Here, they're able to create better content, build their audience, and establish their status as content creators," THOC's chief talent scout Casey Diy pointed out.

The proverbial question is: how does one penetrate or get into The House of Collab? Casey clarified that a few of their creators didn't start with a huge following. 

"It's not really the numbers. We had creators here who started with 100 to 200 followers on their platforms and grew to 100,000 after the 90 days in The House of Collab," Casey stated.

"It's more of what you can bring to the table, and I am referring to talent, grit. And perseverance. Being an effective influencer means you know how to represent your brand and how you present yourself in the content. We teach our creators to love their fans and supporters and build a mindset - not just to be a star, but also an entrepreneur," she closed.

Davaoeña educator wins Miss Philippines Earth 2024 crown

Miss Philippines Earth 2023 Yllana Marie Aduana crowns Irha Mel Inutan Alfeche of Davao del Sur as Miss Philippines Earth 2024 on May 11, 2024.

Earl D.C. Bracamonte - Philstar.com

May 12, 2024 | 9:22am

MANILA, Philippines — Irha Mel Inutan Alfeche, an educator from Matanao, Davao del Sur, bested all other Earth warriors to be crowned Miss Philippines Earth 2024 winner. She was crowned by outgoing queen Yllana Marie Aduana, who is currently enjoying her reign as Miss Earth Air 2023.

The members of the elemental court are Feliz Clareianne Recentes of Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte (Air), Samantha Dana Bug-os of Baco, Oriental Mindoro (Water), Kia Labiano of Titay, Zamboanga Sibugay (Fire) and Ira Patricia Malaluan of Batangas (Eco-Tourism). Malaluan was also named Miss Hana earlier in the evening.

The five other ladies who made it to the Top 10 were Ansha Lichelle Jones (Zamboanga City), Victoria Johnson (Filipino Community of Brandon, Florida), Sam Samara (Makati City), Mary Joanne Fuentes (Maramag, Bukidnon) and Chaoncy Rich Azucena (Balungon, Bukidnon). They were all declared runners-up to the title. This year, Mindanaoan delegates made good placements throughout the competition.

The five other delegates who made it to the Top 15 were Marinell Salvador (Cabanatuan), Rin Rin Rances Raz (Lubao, Nueva Ecija), Jeyzel Ann Reyes (Filipino Community of Rome, Italy), Reyna Ruhen (Aborlan, Palawan) and Kristel Codas (Iligan City).

The coronation ceremony opened with the reigning queen and delegates dancing to a choreographed production number decked in identical Talaandig traditional dresses. The cultural performers representing the various Indigenous Peoples (IPs) of Bukidnon showcased the province's unity in diversity.

Hosted by perennial host James Deakin with Miss Earth 2008 Karla Paula Henry, the Miss Philippines Earth 2024 coronation night was streamed from Talakag, Bukidnon, through Carousel Productions' channel on YouTube.

Outgoing elemental queens Kerri Reilly (Air), Jemima Joy Zabala (Water), Sha'uri Livori (Fire) and Athena Claire Auxillo (Eco-Tourism) crowned their respective successors.

Next year, Miss Earth will be celebrating its silver year anniversary in both local and international pageants. It would be another milestone for the platform as it continues with its campaign on environmental conservation and protection, as well as with its partnership with the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals.

Judy Ann Santos to play Philippine president on 'The Bagman'

 

Kristofer Purnell - Philstar.com

May 12, 2024 | 9:42am

MANILA, Philippines — Actress Judy Ann Santos is gearing up for her teleserye comeback on the action-drama "The Bagman," alongside actor-politician Arjo Atayde and John Arcilla.

Her last teleserye appearance was on "Starla" in 2019, while also appearing in the film "Mindanao" that same year.

Since then, the actress hosted the documentary show "Paano Kita Mapasasalamatan?," was a guest host on "Magandang Buhay" and manages "Judy Ann’s Kitchen" on YouTube.

Judy Ann will portray the President of the Philippines on the eight-part "The Bagman," with the show's cast even surprising her on set with a small birthday celebration as she turned 46 years old this May.

Judy Ann recently hosted a "Gimik" reunion on "Judy Ann's Kitchen" with co-stars Jolina Magdangal, Marvin Agustin, Mylene Dizon and Dominic Ochoa.

Over three decades ago, Judy Ann made her breakthrough on the 1992 soap "Mara Clara," opposite Gladys Reyes, before appearing in other big projects in movies and films such as "Esperanza," "Isusumbong Kita Sa Tatay Ko," "Till There Was You" and "Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo."

Marcos hands over P210-M aid to El Niño-hit Mindanao LGUs, provinces

 

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. extended PhP100 million in Presidential assistance to the provincial governments of Sultan Kudarat and Cotabato on Friday

James Relativo - Philstar.com

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. distributed millions worth of aid to local officials in a bid to help Mindaoan farmers and fisherfolks reeling from the effects of the devastating El Niño.

Marcos handed over the financial aid as the Department of Agriculture earlier estimated damages and losses to agriculture at around P5.9 billion, sending over 207 cities and municipalities to a state of calamity.

The chief executive distributed the cash assistance to the following areas in separate ceremonial turnovers on Friday:

General Santos City: P10 million

South Cotabato province: P50 million

Saranggani province: P50 million

Sultan Kudarat province: P50 milllion

Cotabato province: P50 million

Among the presidential assistance provided were in the form of irrigation projects, rice mill facilities, farming tools, and fertilizers for farmers as well as help for fisherfolk from the DA.

"I went here not only to personally thank our friends in GenSan and South Cotabato, but to also to show trust and a vote of confidence in your capacity to reach a prosperous and bright future," said Marcos in Filipino.

"Were are here to give assistance and aid to our farmers, fisherfolk, and their families amid the drought brought about by El Niño."

The president likewise assured the farmers, fisherfolk and residents of Sultant Kudarat that the state will exhaust all resources to ensure that no one will be left behind.

In line with this, the DA also distributed seedlings, fertilizers, pumping equipment and other agricultural machineries.

PAGASA characterizes El Niño by unusually warmer than average sea surface temperatures, while increasing the likelihood of below-normal rainfall conditions.

While the state weather bureau earlier saw the weakening of El Niño, the DA is already bracing for a "more destructive" La Niña.

"In our 'Bagong Pilipinas,' the government is united so that we will together overcome the calamities and challenges we're facing," Marcos said.

3 Filipinas among 2024 Pulitzer Prize finalists

 

From left: 2024 Pulitzer Prize finalists Ren Galeno, Hannah Reyes Morales, and Nicole Dungca

Kristofer Purnell - Philstar.com

MANILA, Philippines — Three Filipinas — photographer Hannah Reyes Morales, Davao visual artist Ren Galeno and Fil-Am investigative journalist Nicole Dungca — are among the finalists for the prestigious Pulitzer Prize this year.

Galeno and Dungca are finalists in the "Illustrated Reporting and Commentary" for their work on The Washington Post's "Searching for Maura" with journalist Claire Healy.

The Pulitzer website praised the Post's story for "masterful and sensitive use of the comic form to reveal the story of a great injustice to a group of Filipinos exhibited at the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis, where some of them died."

Galeno expressed her gratitude on social media for the team that brought Maura's story to the surface.

"I'm also so grateful to you! We were just posting doodles here not too long ago. Thank you thank you thank you!" Galeno added.

Last year Dungca, president of the Asian American Journalists Association, was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in the Audio Reporting category for another Post story "Broken Doors."

Morales is a finalist in the "Feature Photography" category for her contributory work in the New York Times' "How the Youth Boom in Africa Will Change the World."

The Pulitzer says the Times' story is about a "youthquake" in Africa, where the continent will make up a quarter of the global population and a third of all young people by 2050.

"Thank you to everyone we photographed — it was not the easiest assignment but those we photographed helped us understand, bit by bit, what it means to be young and reshaping Africa, and the world," Morales said on Instagram.

Morales previously won a Pictures of the Year International Award and a World Press Photo Award, both in 2023, and also photographed the Nobel Peace Prize winners of 2021, which included the first Filipino winner and journalist Maria Ressa.

The annual Pulitzer Prize administered by Columbia University recognizes achievements in newspaper, magazine, online journalism, literature and musical composition in the United States.

To date, only two Filipinos have won Pulitzer Prizes: journalist Manny Mogato in 2018 and the late diplomat Carlos P. Romulo back in 1942.

Photographer Ezra Acayan was a finalist in the Feature Photography category in 2021, while another photographer, Romeo Gacad, was twice a finalist before passing away that same year.

A number of Filipino-Americans have received Pulitzer Prizes, including Jose Antonio Vargas, Cheryl Diaz Meyer, Bryan Acohido and Alex Tizon.

Zendaya: a superstar, not a challenger

 

US actress Zendaya accepts the award for Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series for "Euphoria" onstage during the 74th Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California, on September 12, 2022.

Charlotte Causit - Agence France-Presse

May 11, 2024 | 10:32am

WASHINGTON, United States — From film to fashion, former teen actor Zendaya has emerged as one of the few bona fide A-list superstars of her generation, thanks to a stunning recent run of hits on both the screen and the red carpet.

The 27-year-old American leads two of Hollywood's highest profile movies of the year so far — "Dune: Part Two" and "Challengers" — while also finding time to co-host New York's Met gala earlier this week.

Her appearance in two separate dazzling outfits at the annual showbiz summit in Manhattan set social media ablaze, and wowed critics who increasingly refer to Zendaya as a "fashion icon."

That is just the latest accolade in a career that has seen Zendaya become the youngest lead actress in a drama winner at the Emmys, with "Euphoria," release a musical album, star in multiple Marvel superhero movies, and move into producing.

"To me, Zendaya is a thousand years old. She has already lived many lives before this one. And yet, she is as young as springtime," Zendaya's "Dune" director Denis Villeneuve told Time Magazine in 2022.

"She is timeless, and she can do it all," said Villeneuve, calling Zendaya "a cultural icon in the making."

Born Zendaya Coleman in California in 1996, the future star initially struggled with extreme shyness, according to her parents, who are both teachers.

After trying her hand at sports including basketball, Zendaya discovered a passion for the stage. Her mother Claire worked a second job at a theater in Oakland.

"She would beg me to bring her to technical rehearsals," recalled her mother, in a 2021 interview.

Noting her transformation on stage, Zendaya's parents decided to take her to Los Angeles for auditions. Aged 14, she landed a role in Disney Channel series "Shake It Up."

More success quickly followed, as she released a self-titled pop album in 2013, before making her big-screen debut in superhero smash hit "Spider-Man: Homecoming."

She played the role of MJ, the girlfriend of Peter Parker/Spider-Man, played by English actor Tom Holland. As the film spawned sequels, the pair became — and remain — a couple in real life.

'Euphoria'

But it was Zendaya's role in dark HBO teen drama "Euphoria" that established her as a formidable, grown-up star.

She played the show's main character Rue, a troubled youth plagued by addiction and self-destructive behavior.

The role earned her the prestigious lead actress in a drama Emmy at 24, and she repeated the award two years later.

Between those wins, Zendaya appeared in Villeneuve's first "Dune" movie, in a small part that was nonetheless highlighted in the movie's marketing.

Villeneuve praised Zendaya's "authenticity" as "a new superpower," and she features heavily in the sequel, which came out in March and has earned $700 million (P40.3 billion) globally.

Her other major role this year, "Challengers," casts Zendaya as a tennis prodigy at the center of a love triangle in which rivalry, friendship, and lust intertwine.

Zendaya also produced the movie, having been sent the script while shooting "Euphoria" and "falling in love" with the character of Tashi.

"It's a female character that doesn't have to be likable and doesn't care about you liking her and doesn't ask for forgiveness... that was refreshing to me," she told a press conference.

Zendaya dazzled the red carpet at premieres for both films, in a cyborg outfit for sci-fi "Dune" and wearing courtside chic for "Challengers."

Outspoken

For now, Zendaya has stepped away from her music career.

Asked last month, she expressed distaste for the business side of the music industry, before adding that she could "maybe put out a little song" in the future.

She remains focused and outspoken on issues of diversity and representation.

uring her later teen years at Disney, Zendaya pushed for the inclusion of a Black family in the series "K.C. Undercover."

She has been outspoken in her support of the LGBTQ+ community, and openly criticized beauty standards and race in the entertainment industry.

"I am Hollywood's... acceptable version of a Black girl, and that has to change," said Zendaya, whose mother is white and whose father is Black, in one interview.

"As a light-skinned Black woman, it's important that I'm using my privilege, my platform, to show you how much beauty there is in the African-American community."

How Mother’s Day came to be

And a simple DIY present you can give to your mom

BY ELIZA ROMUALDEZ-VALTOS

May 10, 2024 10:28 PM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• It took a few years but in 1914, then US President Woodrow Wilson made Mother’s Day a national holiday and by virtue of us being an American colony, the tradition of celebrating Mother’s Day on the second Sunday of May has been kept.

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Mother’s Day in the Philippines is tomorrow. If you haven’t yet found a gift or want a more novel and meaningful token of your appreciation for your mom, I will talk you through a few quick and easy DIY Mother’s Day gift projects but before that let us remind ourselves how this annual celebration came to be.

MOTHER KNOWS BEST Ana Reeves Jarvis was a Sunday school teacher and social worker who taught poor families in the US how to take care of themselves

The modern-day tradition of setting aside one Sunday to honor mothers was started by a spinster from Philadelphia, US named Anna Jarvis. Ana was the daughter of Ana Reeves Jarvis more popularly known as “Mother Jarvis,” a social activist, Sunday School teacher in Virginia, and founder of the Mother’s Day Work Clubs in 1858. These Mother’s Day Work Clubs (later known as the Mother’s Friendship Clubs) wanted to “educate poor families to combat poor health and unsanitary living conditions.” You see Mother Jarvis had 13 children but only four survived into adulthood. It was said that this was not unusual in West Virginia where the Jarvis lived as infant mortality rates were high on account of “poor sanitary conditions and hygiene practices and the very limited availability of professional physicians.”
 

FOUNDER OF MOTHER’S DAY Ana Jarvis, daughter of Mother Jarvis

During the American Civil War (1861-1865) the Mother’s Day Work Clubs, despite being predominantly located in the state of Virginia, remained neutral and tended to the injured, sick, and dying Union (North) and Confederate (South) soldiers. The Civil War centered on the moral issue of slavery. The North led by President Abraham Lincoln comprised of the following states: Maine, New York, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, California, Nevada, and Oregon. While the Confederacy included Texas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia. The North fought for the abolition of slavery. It won the war in 1865.
When Mother Jarvis’ daughter Ana was 12 years old, the young Ana heard her mother offering a prayer, “ I hope and pray that someone, sometime, will found a memorial Mother’s Day commemorating her for the matchless service she renders humanity in every field of life. She is entitled to it.” Upon Mother Jarvis’ death in 1905, Ana worked to make her mother’s prayer come true. It took a few years but in 1914, then US President Woodrow Wilson made Mother’s Day a national holiday and by virtue of us being an American colony, the tradition of celebrating Mother’s Day on the second Sunday of May has been kept.

Ironically, not 10 years after Mother’s Day was declared as an annual national holiday, Ana turned from advocate to critic, What she fought against its commercialization. On the same line of veering away from the commercialization of this annual celebration of Mothers’ love and hard work, here is a simple yet meaningful and easy DIY piece for Mother’s Day.

Materials:
Asst colored or scratch paper
Scissors
Paper (for flowers and leaves)
Old manila folder or cardboard box (for stems)
Glue gun
Spray paint/poster paint/colored markers/colored pencils/crayons*
Clean glass jar (cleaned out mayo, sardinas, pickle glass jar)
Image of one’s mother, you, or your family members

On a piece of paper (new/scratch/colored), draw the shape of a leaf. You can also Google “leaf template” and pick the desired shape and print. Do this for the flowers as well. For the stems cut out strips ½ inch by two inches strops for trunk and ¼ inch by two inches branches. I normally create a set of three flowers big and two small flowers then add another set until you have the desired volume. Attach leaves and flowers with the glue gun and when you have decided on volume, you can start attacking the bottom of the stems to the inside of the bottle cap. When all stems are secured by a glue gun, insert paper floral arrangements into a glass jar. You can add photos of you or your family and perhaps a Mother’s Day greeting with the year. Who knows this project can be a family tradition for many years to come.
I have been a fan of the tradition of Globe de Mariee Display pieces. Well, the tradition of capturing a moment whether it be through memorabilia, pieces of art, or even of everyday things because it’s one way of storing things that you can find right away – especially nowadays when you tend to forget where you put things – in glass domes or bottles. Perhaps it’s associated with happy memories of my childhood experiences when I’d look around in wonder at imagine eating those deliciously sweet things contained in the glass jars of our local sari-sari store.

The decorative art of the French Globe De Mariee became fashionable in the 19th century. These glass domes were started on the day of marriage and added to with other objects from various milestones in their married life. It’s like a living time capsule. I really like that. I suppose not only is it aesthetically and symbolically beautiful but almost impossible for me who can’t throw things away. To be able to store all that I thought important in that jar spanning a lifetime would be as possible as one colleague of mine put it, “like going to the moon on slingshot and back!” This artform is truly the height of aspiration for me, but beautiful nonetheless. 

For Catholics, we often associate these glass globes containing relics and statues of saints and the Virgin Mary. The use of glass domes to contain religious objects also appeared in the 1800s when glass-blowing technology advanced enough to “create large and clear glass pieces” that could be used to contain and preserve valuable and delicate objects. Using domes also made it easier to transport religious icons and securing objects when displayed. In addition, being contained in a glass dome added to the aesthetic appeal. Through the clear glass, the item renders a striking visual display of craftsmanship, religious dedication, and faith.

PH retains title as country most prone to disasters

The country topped the disaster risk report for two consecutive years

BY MAT RICHTER

May 10, 2024 02:49 PM

  

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The Philippines placed first out of 193 countries on the 2023 World Risk Index list, which ranks countries based on susceptibility to natural disasters including typhoons, floods, earthquakes, and drought. 

Since its launch in 2011, the annual report, published by the Bündnis Entwicklung Hilft and the Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict at Ruhr University Bochum, has ranked the Philippines with a "very high" risk index, which describes index score of 12.89 to 100, the highest classification among five. 

Notably, the country’s WRI score skyrocketed from 21.39 in 2021 to 46.82 in 2022, when it topped the list first time. PH marked a 46.86 index score in 2023, nearly quadruple the “very high” index baseline, followed by Indonesia at 43.50 and India at 41.52. 

“Diversity plays a significant role in how disaster risk is distributed within a society,” the report stated. “While it is true that disasters, extreme natural events, and crises affect everyone in the immediate surroundings, the impact of the negative consequences tends to be more severe for marginalized groups.” 

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's Sixth Assessment Report, low-income countries suffer the harshest climate impacts despite low contribution to global emissions. 

From COP’s all-talk-low-action stance to unmet reparation vows for climate adaptation, it may not take a genius to know why the Philippines, a developing nation, is inadvertently the country most prone to disasters.

Mindanao execs told: Brace for La Niña

 El Niño. During the event at Universidad de Zamboanga in Zamboanga City, the President also asked Mindanao officials to prepare for heavy rains and flooding when La Niña hits. —MALACAÑANG PHOTO

By: Julie Alipala, Melvin Gascon - @inquirerdotnet

Inquirer Mindanao / 05:06 AM May 10, 2024

ZAMBOANGA CITY—Amid the long dry spell caused by the El Niño phenomenon, President Marcos on Thursday told local officials in Mindanao to brace for the onset of another extreme weather event, La Niña.

“The world is facing a great challenge due to climate change. We are experiencing extreme weather. Today, we endure intense heat but in the coming months, expect heavy rainfall,” the President, speaking in Filipino, told some 10,000 people who gathered at the Universidad de Zamboanga gymnasium where he led the distribution of aid to farmers and fishers whose livelihood were disrupted by the drought and dry spell.

“This is why I’m calling on the local governments of Zamboanga and its nearby areas in the region: Be prepared at all times. Seek out our constituents and learn about their needs. Implement programs that will truly help our countrymen,” he added.

La Niña often follows El Niño, a phenomenon that the state weather bureau expects to wind down by June and give way to the rainy season.

The President assured his audience that the national government was prepared to face La Niña, as he urged local governments to heighten their readiness.

Mr. Marcos handed out at least P60 million in aid to drought-hit families in the Zamboanga Peninsula region and called on local government officials to seek out those needing help and make sure government aid to ease the impact of El Niño would reach them.

Each beneficiary, according to Department of Social Welfare and Development regional spokesperson Ivan Eric Salvador, will receive P10,000.

Mr. Marcos assured the people of Mindanao that the national government would be ready to extend its help to local government officials seeking government assistance for the damage wrought by El Niño on people’s livelihood.“We are also calling on all those affected by the severe drought to get in touch with their local governments to make known their needs and their problems acted upon,” he said.

Two of Zamboanga Peninsula’s 67 towns, and one of five cities have been placed under a state of calamity due to losses incurred as a result of El Niño. Official data showed that a total of 66,878 families or 334,391 people in 165 barangays were affected as of May 7.

Throughout the region, at least 3,000 hectares of farms were wilted by the extreme heat.Nationwide, the President noted that 3.6 million people were gravely affected by the drought that destroyed close to P6-billion worth of crops, mostly rice and corn, and aquaculture products.

Zamboanga Sibugay Gov. Ann Hofer said her province was severely affected by the drought, especially that only 40 percent of farms enjoy irrigation service.

“This assistance coming from the President is a big help,” she said, adding that this would complement the P20,000 given as aid to rice farmers by the provincial government.

Aside from the cash assistance given directly to farmers and fishermen, Mr. Marcos released checks to the local governments of Zamboanga City worth P10 million; Zamboanga Sibugay, P20.3 million; Zamboanga del Sur, P14.35 million; and Zamboanga del Norte, P14.26 million.