LPA outside PAR may develop into a tropical depression within 24 hours --- PAGASA

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Jul 14, 2024 05:58 AM

  

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The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Sunday, July 14, monitored a low pressure area (LPA) outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

Photo credit to MB Visual Content Group

"At sa kasalukuyan, may binabantayan rin tayong low pressure area sa labas ng ating Philippine Area of Responsibility (Currently, we are monitoring a low-pressure area outside of our Philippine Area of Responsibility)," PAGASA Weather Specialist Daniel James E. Villamil said in the latest weather report.

Villamil explained that as of 3 a.m., the said LPA was last observed at a distance of 885 kilometers (km) west of Central Luzon. 

"Within the next 24 hours, there is a high chance that this low-pressure area will develop into a tropical depression," he said in a mix of English and Filipino, clarifying that "we do not expect direct impacts from this weather disturbance on our country."

In the following days, PAGASA expected this LPA to generally move northwestward towards Vietnam.

Meanwhile, the state weather bureau is currently monitoring a cloud cluster in the eastern part of Mindanao.

"In the coming days, these cloud clusters may also develop into a low-pressure area that could bring rains to the eastern part of Visayas and Mindanao," Villamil said. 

 

'Habagat'

The southwest monsoon or 'habagat' remained the dominant weather system in the country, continuing to affect the western parts of Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

"Due to the habagat, we will also experience rains in large parts of our country, particularly across Mindanao and the western sections of Southern Luzon and Visayas," the weather specialist said.

Meanwhile, according to PAGASA's 24-hour public weather forecast, Metro Manila may experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms due to "habagat."

PAGASA said locals may experience possible flash floods or landslides during severe thunderstorms.

BINI drops new summer banger 'Cherry On Top'

Serving eye-popping visuals in new music video

Jul 14, 2024 08:09 AM

  

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BINI

The nation’s girl group BINI brings a delightful addition to their bubblegum discography with the new summer banger “Cherry on Top,” now available on music streaming platforms worldwide. 

Its music video features BINI members Aiah, Colet, Maloi, Gwen, Stacey, Mikha, Jhoanna, and Sheena in eye-popping visuals dancing through a carefree summer vibe sound. 

As of writing, “Cherry on Top” is on Spotify New Music Friday charts in Korea, Australia & New Zealand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, and the Philippines.  The song also topped iTunes Philippines while its music video immediately became no. 1 on Trending for music on YouTube Philippines. 

“Cherry on Top” follows the group’s “Talaawaran” EP drop last March, which features hit songs “Karera,” “Salamin, Salamin,” and “Pantropiko.” 

After their sold-out three-day concert held at the New Frontier Theater, BINI has embarked on their “BINIverse” tour across the country this July to be followed by their North American tour next month.   

The pop octet, formed by ABS-CBN’s “Star Hunt Academy,” recently debuted on the Global Top Artist Chart on Spotify, becoming the first-ever Filipino artist to achieve this. Labeled the next pop sensation out of Asia, BINI has already received the prestigious Rising Star Award for Women in Music from Billboard Philippines, Rolling Stone’s “Ones to Watch,” MTV Asia's Artist Spotlight title, and one of Teen Vogue's 2024 Girl Groups to watch.

Fans can now listen to BINI’s “Cherry On Top” here: https://orcd.co/bini-cherryontop and watch the official music video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wufUX5P2Ds8.

Faithful invited to rosary fluvial procession for peace

Jul 12, 2024 08:17 PM

  

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Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas is inviting the Catholic faithful to join the rosary fluvial procession for peace in the country particularly in the West Philippine Sea on July 16, Tuesday, to coincide with the Memorial of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

Archbishop Socrates Villegas (Photo courtesy of CBCP)

The rosary fluvial procession will follow the 6 am holy mass and will take off from Barangay Cato in Infanta, Pangasinan. Apart from the holy rosary, the participating vessels will also carry an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary, said Archbishop Villegas in a Veritas PH post Friday, July 12.

The Church leader, likewise, thanked all those who are participating in the 50-Day Rosary Campaign launched by the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan on June 27, to pray for peace in the WPS. 

"I am grateful for the heartwarming response to our appeal to pray the rosary starting June 27 until August 15 for peace in our country especially on the West Philippine Sea which is west of our dear Pangasinan province. A nation at prayer is a nation at peace,” the prelate said.

“After the 6 a.m. mass, by the sea coast, we will pray the rosary on the shore while a few of our boat riding brothers and sisters will sail offshore praying the rosary too, each boat carrying a venerated image of Our Lady. We will also install prayer banners on which are printed the image of Our Lady to float over the sea as an act of trust and gesture of trust in her loving protection,” Archbishop Villegas said in a statement.

Those who will not be able to personally join the fluvial procession may still participate through spiritual unity or solidarity in praying the rosary on July 16 at 7:30 in the morning, the archbishop said.

“We will pray for both China and the Philippines. We will pray not just for protection from conflict but to make all of us, Chinese and Filipinos together, as peacemakers. Beyond human ideologies and political parties, the peoples of China and the Philippines belong to the same human family.”

1,000 families flee Zamboanga City flooding

Juli 13, 2024 11:28 AM

  

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By LIZA JOCSON

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Over 1,000 families have evacuated due to heavy monsoon rains which pummeled this city since Friday night, July 12.

RESCUE teams from the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office conduct rescue operations in Barangay San Jose Gusu, Zamboanga City.  (City Hall PIO) 

Among affected barangays were San Jose Gusu, Talisayan, San Roque, Ayala, Baliwasan, Tumaga, Pasonanca, Tetuan, and Sangali.

Profiling and needs assessment are being conducted to determine the number of families affected.  

The City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office activated its Emergency Operation Center on Friday night as it launched rescue operations together with the Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Fire Protection, police and military units, and volunteer groups in flooded barangays. 

The City Social Welfare and Development Office initially provided food packs, sleeping, and hygiene kits to families staying at different evacuation centers. 

Mayor John Dalipe and House Majority Leader and Zamboanga City Rep. Mannix Dalipe visited evacuation centers to provide hot meals and food packs to flood victims.

Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils have established community kitchens in affected areas.

Offices and agencies of local and national governments are in close coordination to continuously monitor affected communities for continuous rescue operations and relief efforts.

Mayor Dalipe  advised the public to remain alert and vigilant as inclement weather continues here.

La Niña alert raised: PAGASA warns of potential impact

 Jul 12, 2024 06:57 PM

  

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The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) raised the La Niña alert on Friday, July 12, due to an increased likelihood of La Niña development in the coming months.

PAGASA’s ENSO (El Niño Southern Oscillation) Alert System had been under a La Niña watch since March before being upgraded to a La Niña alert.

According to PAGASA's latest assessment, there is a 70 percent probability that La Niña conditions will develop during the August-September-October 2024 season and may persist into the first quarter of 2025. 

On July 9, PAGASA initially projected La Niña conditions to develop by the last quarter of the year but now anticipates its arrival earlier than expected.

The central and eastern equatorial Pacific (CEEP) region is currently experiencing ENSO-neutral conditions, where neither El Niño nor La Niña exists. 

Implications

La Niña, characterized by cooler-than-average sea surface temperatures in the CEEP region, is expected to influence weather patterns in the Philippines and globally.  

PAGASA warned of an increased likelihood of heightened convective activity and tropical cyclone occurrence that may result in above-normal rainfall over some parts of the country in the coming months.

It noted that this could potentially lead to adverse impacts, such as floods and landslides in vulnerable areas, which may vary in severity.

PAGASA advised all concerned government agencies and the general public to stay updated and take necessary precautionary measures to mitigate risks associated with La Niña-related weather events.

The STANDS - An INQUIRER Sports Newsletter

 

July 12, 2024

It was quite the performance for Gilas Pilipinas during the Olympic Qualifying Tournament. (FIBA PHOTO)

Hey there sports fan, Before we dive into one national team, let's check up on the problems brewing beneath the surface of another. It isn't quite the controversy just yet, but already, there were some grumblings heard when Chery Tiggo kept standouts Eya Laure and Jennifer Nierva from practicing with Alas Pilipinas, the country's women's volleyball national team. Talks are being held to clarify the situation, but there is a hanging sanction that teams face if they withhold players from the national program. If you ask me, it's a sanction worth studying as far as other professional sports are concerned.  For now, Gilas Pilipinas is encountering no problems of that nature. The 12 players Tim Cone picked for the squad are still committed to the program and Cone has said he is committed to those 12. His only worry now is getting the injured standouts back to full health. Gilas was undermanned when it participated in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Latvia recently, but even that did not stop the national squad from shocking the world No. 5 hosts—and the world, for that matter. That win was certainly a great headline to wake up to (or stay awake for). The Philippines even moved to within two wins of ending a long string of missed Olympic stints in basketball when it snatched triumph in defeat, advancing to the semifinals of the OQT despite losing a close decision to Georgia. Gilas eventually lost to Brazil in the semifinals, but the Nationals had made their mark in the tournament by proving that Philippine basketball is truly world-class.

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Former La Salle standout Thea Gagate, to no one's surprise, was the No. 1 pick of the inaugural PVL Rookie Draft. (MARLO CUETO)

Meanwhile... …It's not like ZUS Coffee said anything differently. The team had been vocal about their choice for the No. 1 overall pick in the PVL Draft and made good on that by selecting Thea Gagate. The middle blocker out of La Salle's vaunted volleyball program, however, admitted that she still had butterflies in her stomach on selection night. She later voiced her excitement over being given the chance to breathe life into a club that was stranded at the bottom last season. For more volleyball stories and our coverage of the Rookie Draft, check out this menu. Speaking of volleyball, do you know how many of the 12 teams currently in the PVL have won championships already? Answer is at the end of this email. What we're up to next: We will begin our coverage of Team Philippines to the Paris Olympics over the weekend so watch out for that. There's also the opening of the PVL Reinforced Conference to look forward to. We've had dispatches from the PBA Rookie Combine and you can follow our coverage of the PBA rookie draft across all our platforms. Number of the Week: 1972 Last time the Philippines competed in the basketball event of the Olympics.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK “It’s, kinda like a ‘now we know’ moment—[that] now, we know we can compete.” —Tim Cone, Gilas Pilipinas coach, on the natiomal team's performance during the Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

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Three. That's the answer to the trivia question above. Think you can ace the rest of our weekly sports 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).

Kitchen honey! The Miele and Half Saints connection

Bringing the German global home appliance brand Miele and the local food brand Half Saints together at the Miele BGC showroom

Jul 11, 2024 11:04 PM

  

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Bringing the German global home appliance brand Miele and the local food brand Half Saints together at the Miele BGC showroom is a stroke of marketing genius. Half Saints, led by Christine Roque and Jo Arciaga, has always stood for high quality, fresh ingredients, and culinary creativity that transcends geographical boundaries. With two stores now in Tokyo, they strongly believe that if Japanese food brands can travel and succeed in the Philippines, Filipino brands can achieve the same success in Japan.

Steven Sy and Angela Sy of Focus Global with Christine Roque and Jo Arciaga of Half Saints at the Miele BGC Showroom

It’s a “can do” spirit and ambition that Miele, a 125-year-old brand, can fully appreciate. After all, Miele, founded in 1899 and still a family-owned enterprise, has the historical precedent of taking the technology of a machine for churning butter and realizing the same tech would work for washing clothes. They haven’t looked back since, constantly improving and aiming for that Life Beyond Ordinary.

Angela Sy, head of finance and strategy at Focus Global Inc., and Christine Roque welcomed guests to the Miele showroom and announced the pop-up of Half Saints Bakes. This is a welcome move for anyone who has been to their Quezon City home and sampled their great food and pastries. I’ve been there twice and was happy to know I can get their goodies right here in BGC while the pop-up lasts. 

The Washing Machine and Dryer with the Honeycomb design

Pairing Half Saints with Miele is one “kitchen honey” move; and yes, I’m playing on the “Miel” in Miele, which literally means honey in French. I also took note of the distinct honeycomb design found in the top-rated Miele washing machines and dryers. It seems the upmarket, luxury German domestic appliance brand welcomes this association with honey and all things sweet.

Half Saints pop-up and products

Baked goods including their bestselling cake and pies

If the Miele product range focuses on the kitchen, the laundry room, and floor care, don’t make the mistake of thinking it’s like any other brand in the same retail arena. With the guiding principle of “Immer Besser,” which founders Carl Miele and Reinhard Zinkann printed on their very first machines, the standards for durability, performance, ease of use, energy efficiency, design, and service were all set in stone. Its consistent positioning in the premium segment is a testament to 125 years of this steadfast strategic position. “Immer Besser” translates to "Forever Better."

Fast forward to today, and the short tour I was taken on by Migs of Focus Global was an eye-opener to how Miele and technology are strong bedfellows. Miele has embraced cutting-edge technology to make their appliances even smarter and more efficient than we could imagine or anticipate.

Angela and Audrey Sy

Their convection oven has a built-in camera so that you can always see what’s happening inside. The exhaust or hood tops for their cooking range are diverse and flexible. As for the range itself, with over six positions, it is smart enough to detect when one position is being used and will automatically shut down when not in use or when the pot or pan has been transferred to another position. 

The Miele Dishwasher

Their top-of-the-line dishwasher is a solid investment with a lifespan of more than 10 years. It automatically programs according to the amount of load and washing solution required, efficiently handling even the most stubborn sediments and smears. I was told it also uniquely handles glassware.

The Miele Vacuum Cleaner line

Alongside the state-of-the-art vacuum cleaners, there’s truly so much to discover at the Miele showroom. Making your visit even sweeter is the opportunity to take home a box of Half Saints Bakes. Their Ruby Chocolate Pistachio Tart and Merci Buko Cream Puffs offer a delightful introduction to the Half Saints world. And I personally love the Chocolate Tart.