DepEd: Enrollment for SY 2022-2023 breaches 16M mark

(DepEd file photo)

by Merlina Hernando-Malipot, Manila Bulletin

Over 16 million learners have already enrolled for the incoming school year, the latest data from the Department of Education (DepEd) showed.

Data as of Aug. 5 from the Learner Information System (LIS) for School Year (SY) 2022-2023 showed that there are now 16,029,252 registered students for the incoming school year.

Region IV-A still has the largest number of enrollees with 2,367,246; followed by the National Capital Region with 1,870,470, and Region III with 1,591,722.

Per grade level, Kindergarten has the most number of enrolled learners with 1,060,138 followed by Elementary (Grades 1 to 6) with 7,376, 586.

There are 5,179,673 enrollees in Grades 7 to 10 (Junior High School) and 2,412,855 learners in Grades 11 and 12 (Senior High School).

DepEd opened the enrollment for public schools on July 25. Enrollment will continue until Aug. 22, 2022, which is also the first day of classes as announced by DepEd.

Meanwhile, DepEd continues to encourage parents and guardians to enroll their children as soon as possible.

To ensure the safety of everyone, DepEd schools are implementing various enrollment methods which include in-person, remote, and dropbox enrollment.

For the Alternative Learning System (ALS), DepEd said that learners can now enroll in-person or online.

In a recent press conference, DepEd recognized that the opening of classes “will not be without challenges.”

Despite this, the agency remains optimistic that these challenges would be addressed by working together.

From Aug. 22 to Oct. 31, DepEd said that schools will be allowed to implement blended learning.

However, all schools offering basic education are expected to have transitioned to five days in-person classes starting Nov. 2, 2022.

The natural and the supernatural

By Fr. Roy Cimagala*

WE have to learn to live in the natural world while pursuing our supernatural goal. This aspect of Christian life is somehow highlighted in that gospel episode where Christ talked about his impending passion, death and resurrection, and proceeded to ask Peter if Christ also should pay taxes. (cfr. Mt 17,22-27)

In that gospel, Christ implied that as the son of God, he ought to be exempted from paying taxes, but so as not to offend the earthly authorities, he decided that he too should pay the tax. Here Christ is showing us how to live naturalness which we have to learn. 

Naturalness has something to do with how to handle our human condition considering what we ought to be and what we are at the moment. Fact is, we have a supernatural goal, nothing less than to be united with God, which we have to pursue in the context of our human and natural world.

Naturalness is about how to mix the spiritual and material dimensions of our life, our personal and social aspects, and other elements in our life that, given the way we are, appear to compete with each other. How to integrate and harmonize them is the task of naturalness.

Naturalness is a very active affair, lived day to day, moment to moment, as we grapple with the continuous flow of our concerns. It’s the front man who does the dirty job of the bigger virtues of discretion, prudence and ultimately charity, the foot soldier who does the hand-to-hand combat, the peddler who does the door-to-door selling.

It has to know when to push and when to pull, what to say and show and what to be quiet about and hide. Obviously, it has to follow a game plan, with a clear goal in mind and a detailed knowledge of all the elements it has to contend with.

It has to know when to be active and when to be passive, when to be aggressive and when to be patient and tolerant. Of course, in our spiritual life, these elements, while initially contrasting, can be blended and lived simultaneously, obviously an effect of grace and our cleverness.

It also has to know how to project oneself to the future, given the data of the present and of the past. It has to learn how to relate history and current events with eternity. It should know how to connect the mundane with the sacred.

Naturalness is strengthened when we deepen in our convictions about our ultimate goal as well as in our continuing observations and growing wealth of experience of passing things.

The secret to blending all these apparently contrasting elements in our life is to pray always. When we keep our conversation with God going, we certainly would know what is proper for us to do at any given moment.

Prayer should be kept alive always and we should just try our best to find the appropriate ways to achieve it amid the changing circumstances of our day and despite setbacks, mistakes, failures and the sins that we may commit along the way.

We have to be wary of our strong tendency to converse only with our own selves or, at least from time to time, with others. We need to talk to God. Without him, there is no way but simply for us to be confused, tempted and eventually fall.

* Chaplain Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE), Talamban, Cebu City

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

BEING ON THE RIGHT TRACK?

Very often, we asked ourselves this question. That's normal. That's human.

Even though you didn't get the job I think you're on the right track because you're getting lots of callbacks for interviews.  Don't worry, you'll get a job offer soon.

We're on track for completing the prototype by the end of the month. Looking positively. 

I just had my performance review and my boss said I'm on the right track for a promotion next year. Congratulations. You deserve it.

"Help! I can't finish this algebra equation!" "Calm down and keep thinking, you're on the right track." My mathematics professor mentioned this a thousand times.

Many times we compare our life with a way. We talk about a "human life way". We describe a determined human such as, "He's on the right track (way)". We must make our tracks, but we will  take a path across a rice-field. We learn that there are many ways to solve problems. We also don't want to stand in other people's way. Sometimes we prefer to keep out of someone's way. Sometimes, we already plan to get someone out of our way. It just happened in my surroundings. Most of all, we do try to find the golden middle course. "Hay nako" - that's the hardest task in life!

Many different ways have been offered to us during our whole life. Whole life? I am 69 now. Whole life? Mmmmh, let's wait and see and have a cup of tea! How can we be able to choose the right way? The correct one? Which signs can be trusted blindly? These are urgent and vital questions for all of us, and, during this time, important like never before. In the past traditions and custom demands have been produced our ways unquestionably. Nowadays permanently, constantly and continually we must think about decisions and look for the correct plan - but, more and more alone!

Today's man is like a ship's captain.This ship contains solid iron. The compass needle is no longer able to show the Northern direction as expected, because of the ship's iron inflexible body. You only have one choice: look up to the stars and study their guiding support. A very wise idea by German atom-physicist Werner Heisenberg (1901-1976).

We are all happy and proud while having the perfect means at our disposal. On the other hand, our blindness allows us to intricate and confused destinations in life, aims, goals and objectives. We all know the headlines of our daily life, which always turn us away and distract our views to the stars - means to say: to God.

I am the way - not only a traffic sign or a shepherd without responsibility or a "mailbox-doctor a la Doctor Love. I am the way - the only right way. His deeds colored our fates. Let's keep our eyes open for the most important signs at our way, such as

- Ready to help the unprotected and defenseless weak;

- Struggle for freedom and justice;

- Commitment of peace;

-  Most of all: Love, which doesn't calculate and count - love without measurements, boundaries and limits.

If you know you are on the right track, if you have this inner knowledge, then nobody can turn you off... no matter what they say.

First lady breaks bread with woman ambassadors

By Catherine S. Valente and Kristina Maralit, Manila Times

(UPDATE) First lady Liza Araneta-Marcos recently bonded with resident woman ambassadors by hosting a luncheon for them in Malacañang.

DAMES OF DIPLOMACY First lady Louise ‘Liza’ Araneta-Marcos poses with resident lady ambassadors inthe Philippines in Malacañang on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022. Mrs. Araneta-Marcos hosted a luncheon to thank the envoys for supporting theadministration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. SCREENSHOT FROM RTVM VIDEO

Those who attended the gathering last Wednesday were Ambassador Mary Kay Loss Carlson of the United States, Ambassador Bartinah Ntombizodwa Radebe-Netshitenzhe of South Africa, Ambassador Betty Palaso of Papua New Guinea, Ambassador Bita Rasoulian of Austria, Ambassador Shobini Kaushala Gunasekera of Sri Lanka and Ambassador Folakemi Ibidunni Akinleye of Nigeria.

Also present were Ambassador Annika Gunilla Thunborg of Sweden, Ambassador Grete Sillasen of Denmark, Ambassador Anke Reiffenstuel of Germany, Ambassador Michèle Jeannine Andrèe Boccoz of France, Charge d'Affaires Monica Theodora Geertruida van Daalen of The Netherlands and Charge d'Affaires Lhuana Pamella Lopez Amorim of Panama.

"Thank you for supporting my husband's administration. I hope we get to do this more often," the wife of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said in her brief speech as shown in a video posted by Radio Television Malacañang online.

In response, Carlson said the first lady plays just as an important role as the President.

"I really appreciate the atmosphere here of women supporting other women and their important roles. And that's why we are so honored to be here for your (Araneta-Marcos) official engagement. As a very important woman in this country, and frankly, in this region, it's a very challenging position to take on, and we are very grateful for the opportunity to be here," the US ambassador added.

Prior to sharing a sumptuous meal at the Rizal Dining Hall where the visitors were also treated to a brief cultural show, the first lady gave them a walking tour of the Palace where she also shared tidbits of its colorful history.

Meet Miss Philippines-Earth's Top 20 for 2022

All 20 candidates will vie for the Miss Earth-Philippines 2022 crown tonight in Coron, Palawan. PHOTOS BY RENE H. DILAN

By Arlo Custodio, Manila Times

FROM 41 Miss Philippines-Earth (MPE) 2022 official candidates introduced in May, the final Top 20 who will compete on coronation night were presented to the media on July 28.

Held with Okada Manila's The Fountain for a backdrop — the wonder that is touted as the world's largest multicolor dancing fountain — the candidates proceeded to compete in the swimsuit preliminaries at this meet and greet. At each one's turn on the runway, the girls likewise presented their respective environmental advocacies in keeping with pageant tradition and theme.

The day's emerging standouts were Mandaluyong's Jennifer De Asis, who won the Gold for her presentation, and Santa Ignacia, Tarlac's Jenny Ramp and Manila's Justiene Ortega, who were awarded Silver and Bronze, respectively.

Completing the Top 20 are Merhyl Kit Paraluman representing Alabel, Sarangani Province; Trisha Van Eldik, Balagtas, Bulacan; Nice Lampad, Bayugan City, Agusan; Jayra Aliyah Olvinada, Cadiz City; Kiara Liane Wellington, Cebu City; Rache Santos, Dipolog City; Chrisdalyn Yvonne Abrenica, Dubai, UAE Filipino Community; Jimema Tempra, Jasaan, Misamis Oriental; Bea Cecilio, Las Piñas City; Eryka Vina Tan, Legazpi City; Trina Martinez, Makati City; Micaela Legarda, Muntinlupa City; Jazmine Calma, Pateros; Lourdez De Leon, Quezon City; Jarizz Borcela, Sagay City; Jasmine Paguio, Toronto, Canada Filipino Community; and Angel Santos, Trece Martires City.

The finals and grand coronation of MPE 2022 will unfold tonight, August 6 in Coron, Palawan. The pageant will have a next-day telecast on August 7 on A2Z Channel 11 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon.

The international Miss Earth 2022 competition is once again set in the Philippines towards the end of the year, with organizers already announcing Vietnam as the host country for 2023. Fittingly Miss Earth 2018 Nguyen Phoung Khanh of Vietnam has already agreed to be the event emcee.

Seasoned actress Cherie Gil passes away

By Iza Iglesias  and Aric John Sy Cua, Manila Times

AWARD-winning veteran actress Cherie Gil passed away on Friday. She was 59.

Her talent manager Annabelle Rama posted the news on social media, saying, "Cherie Gil just passed away at 5 p.m. today please pray for her."

A few hours later, Gil's nephew actor Sid Lucero confirmed it through a couple of Instagram posts.

Sharing a photo of her aunt, he wrote, "I love you;) big hug:) #bugluv" Followed by a video of crying emoji he drew from his phone.

The reason for her passing, however, has yet to be disclosed as of press time.

It was in February this year when she was reported to have moved out of the Philippines and started a new life in New York to be with her kids.

Explaining in her Mega magazine cover wherein she revealed a shaved head bald look "as a symbol of rebirth," the actress grew tired of herself and "felt angry and unhappy" at the same time.

"I got rid of all the clothes I had that symbolized a past life. I'm completely finding myself and coming to terms with who I really am. It's just great to have this opportunity and to be alive to start over. It's like a rebirth of sorts," she told Mega.

"I just had to make sure that first and foremost, my mental, emotional, spiritual states were getting the priority. I was getting tired of myself. And I was just so angry and unhappy, so I sold everything and packed up," she added.

Evangeline Rose Gil Eigenmann in real life, Gil is known in the entertainment industry as the Philippines' "La Primera Contravida" for her versatility in acting, especially with portraying villain roles.

Through her 50-year career, Gil won a number of awards, including from Famas. She was a recipient of the Ani ng Dangal (Harvest of Honor) award by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, and a Hall of Famer at the Metro Manila Film Festival in the "Best Supporting Actress" category.

In 2015, Gil won the highly coveted "Best Actress" trophy at the Asean International Film Awards. The same year, she also won "Best Lead Actress in a Foreign Language Film" at the 2015 Madrid International Film Festival. In 2019, she won her first Gawad Urian Award in the category "Best Supporting Actress" for her portrayal in "Citizen Jake."

Gil came from a family of actors. She is the daughter of showbiz luminaries, the late Eddie Mesa and Rosemarie Gil. Her brothers are Michael de Mesa and the late Mark Gil.

JUST A LOAN

Sweet words are easy to say; nice things are easy to buy; but good people are different to find. Life ends, when you stop dreaming; hope ends, when you stop believing; friendship stops, when you stop sharing. A good friend of mine sent me this quotation. I commented back: So very true and very well said!

Our life is borrowed - from God. No rental charges are collected from us. Many of us have forgotten this and live life to the fullest. Our life is equal to a book from a library that lends one. But how insatiable and unbearable are we in disdainful acting towards life and therefore to ourselves? Remember: life is just a loan!

My life is on loan, like money borrowed from a bank. God is the lender, and He retains the right to call in the loan any time. Though I am responsible for taking care of it, I do not own this life; it is borrowed. Why should I fear its loss or the loss of anything else in this world when I must surrender it all anyway?

Life seems to be nothing, just being ready to riddle one with bullets. Life seems to be nothing, just being broken through indifference and unreliable and immoral behavior. Life seems to be nothing for those people who don't understand cries from the heart of other people around them - cries for their hearts and families, for justice and for many other things.

Life with all its ups and downs, is just a loan, but for many of our fellow creatures it just seems to be nonsense to be littered like a dump. And, if people try to survive, especially during these days, and if they just experienced (once more!) indifference, arrogance, ignorance or cheating by whomever - they will give up! 

I can assure you that every one of us can at first help in prayers and in reading the bible. "Proverbs" is the probably most down-to-earth book in the bible. Its teachings prepare you for daily life, the street and the market place. The book offers warm pieces of advice you get; practical guidance for making your way on earth. Proverbs covers any kinds of questions you might have right now. Anybody can relate to the generalities of Proverbs, because this book simply tells how life works most of the time.

While writing this piece, I observed that more and more people struggle through life: tired, hopeless, experiencing their rock-bottoms, believing in fallacious "people" around them. I also observed a lot of people living a thief life, as if it has been giving them without limitation.

"Let's enjoy every single loophole in law!" What a sad and fatal attraction!

PSEi rallies on positive earnings reports

By Ed Paolo Salting, Manila Times

THE Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) went up again on Wednesday by 67.78 points to close at 6,430.08.

Philstocks Financial Inc. research associate Claire Alviar and Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. chief economist Michael Ricafort said good earnings reports from the index members boosted market sentiment.

"Gains from the heavyweight companies, particularly the 3.38-percent income bump of SM Investments Corp., helped lift the PSEi," Alviar said.

Ricafort added that the market also took into account Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Felipe Medalla's signal that inflation may have peaked in July 2022 and factored in the policy rate hike of 25 to 50 basis points on Aug. 18, 2022.

Alviar pointed out that since the market has breached its 6,400-resistance level, it will test the sustainability of that benchmark in the coming days. If the market breaks 6,400, the next indicator is 6,600.

In the United States, Regina Capital Development Corp. Managing Director Luis Limlingan said that investors turned away from US markets as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's controversial visit to Taiwan added to the already tense US-China relations. Stocks also fell further after three Federal Reserve presidents hinted that further rate hikes would be necessary to combat high inflation.

For local catalysts, investors await the release of the PH CPI (Philippine consumer price index) on Friday and continue to be guided by release of additional earnings reports.

Oil prices are on the upward trajectory again. Limlingan said that oil futures edged up ahead of a meeting of OPEC+ producers this week that may not lead to a boost in crude supply amid concerns a possible global recession could limit energy demand. Brent futures rose 51 cents to settle at $100.54 per barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude rose 53 cents to $94.42 per barrel.

Market volume was up, with a net value turnover of P6.09 billion, the highest since July 8's P6.27 billion.

Suffering as proof of true love

By Fr. Roy Cimagala*

WE have to be clear about the truth of our faith. If we truly have love, the love that comes from God and not just our own idea of love, we should be willing to suffer and die for our beloved who in the end is none other than God, and because of God, is also everybody else.

This truth of our faith can be gleaned from that gospel episode where Christ asked his disciples who he was. (cfr. Mt 16,13-23) A variety of answers were given by them, until Peter himself gave the right one. “You are Christ, the son of the living God.” To this answer of Peter, Christ was so happy that he exclaimed: 

“Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.” Then Christ proceeded to tell Peter about the founding of the Church, giving him the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven, such that whatever Peter would bind on earth will also be bound in heaven, and whatever he loses on earth will be lost also in heaven.

But the more intriguing part of this gospel episode is that after this very dramatic exchanges between Christ and Peter, Christ proceeded to talk about his impending passion and death.

This part of the gospel narrative somehow tells us that for us to be with Christ, some suffering would be involved. Said in another way, suffering is a clear proof that we are with Christ and that we are truly in the dynamic of real love.

Thus, we all need to be reminded that all our suffering has a positive and favorable aspect. It’s not all entirely bad and negative, though in itself it will always be bad. But if viewed and lived through our Christian faith, there is something in it that can give us a greater good. We may refer to this advantageous aspect of suffering as the happy Good News or Gospel of Suffering.

We have to remind ourselves though that we are not actually meant to suffer. Our original as well as our ideal definitive state in heaven excludes suffering. Our first parents, Adam and Eve, were in the state of original justice, where everything was in order and in harmony. No pain and suffering touched them, until they fell into sin.

And as the Book of Revelation would put it, in our definitive state of life in heaven “He (God) will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (21,4)

In this life, we have to expect and be prepared for the unavoidable pain and suffering. And this means that whether we are guilty or not of our pains and suffering, all we have to do is to go immediately to Christ who shows us how to handle our pains and suffering and who is ready to forgive us if ever we are deserving of suffering due to sin.

It’s true that God is always offended by our sin, and will somehow show his anger and disappointment to us. But let’s never forget that with him, anger would only be for a moment, while his mercy is forever. (cfr. Ps 30,5)

We should be quick to unite our suffering with that Christ on the cross, and thus convert our suffering as the very proof of real love!

* Chaplain Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE), Talamban, Cebu City

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

„Bis die Rente wieder reicht“: Senioren arbeiten mit über 70 in der Drogerie

Von: Patricia Huber, Merkur

Vielen Rentnern reicht das Geld zum Leben nicht mehr. So auch bei Wolfgang und Hannelore, die laut einem Bericht trotz Ruhestand in der Drogerie arbeiten.

Hamburg – Das Renteneintrittsalter steigt Jahrgang für Jahrgang auf aktuell bis zu 67 Jahre. Erst kürzlich hat sich der Präsident des Arbeitgeberverbandes Gesamtmetall, Stefan Wolf, für die Rente mit 70 ausgesprochen. Doch bereits jetzt arbeiten etliche Rentner trotz ihres hohen Alters weiter.

Arbeiten trotz Rente: Wenn das Geld nicht mehr reicht

Die Zahl der berufstätigen Rentner stieg in den vergangenen Jahren immer weiter. 2021 waren 1,05 Millionen Beschäftigte 67 Jahre oder älter, wie tagesschau.de berichtet. Auch der 72-jährige Wolfgang K. und die 78-jährige Hannelore H. arbeiten trotz ihres Alters noch. Vier Tage die Woche räumen sie je zwei Stunden in einer Drogerie in Hamburg Regale ein, wie die Hamburger Morgenpost berichtet.

Dafür erhalten Hannelore und Wolfgang jeweils 450 Euro. Würden sie mehr verdienen, würde ihnen die Rente gekürzt werden. Eigentlich haben die beiden den Job angenommen, um der Langeweile vorzubeugen. Mittlerweile ist er jedoch auch notwendig, um über die Runden zu kommen. Wolfgang erhält derzeit 1100 und Hannelore 1300 Euro Rente. „Früher hat das zum Leben gereicht und das Gehalt war ein schöner Bonus“, erklärt Wolfgang der Hamburger Morgenpost. Doch mit der hohen Inflation hat sich die Situation der Rentner verändert. „Seitdem die Preise steigen, bin ich darauf angewiesen.“

Wie das Statistische Bundesamt mitteilte, waren die Verbraucherpreise im Juli 2022 um 7,5 Prozent höher als noch im Vorjahresmonat. Besonders bei Nahrungsmitteln (14,8 Prozent teurer) und Energie (35,7 Prozent teurer) sind die Preise in die Höhe geschossen.

Hannelore und Wolfgang haben immerhin Spaß am Job. Er hilft ihnen dabei, fit zu bleiben – und zusätzlich den notwendigen Lebensunterhalt zur Rente hinzuzuverdienen. Aber wie lange soll das noch so weitergehen? „Na, solange es körperlich möglich ist! Bloß kein Müßiggang“, sagt Hannelore der Hamburger Morgenpost. Wolfgang fügt hinzu: „Bis die Rente wieder zum Leben reicht.“ (ph)