Former BI chief-of-staff now new Immigration Commissioner

by Argyll Cyrus Geducos, Manila Bulletin

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has named lawyer Norman Tansingco as the new Commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration (BI), Malacañang confirmed.

Bureau of Immigration

Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles made the confirmation after Tansingco’s appointment circulated on social media on Monday, September 12.

The President signed his appointment paper on Monday. 

Tansingco’s appointment came two weeks after reports circulated that Marcos had appointed lawyer Abraham Espejo Jr. as Immigration Commissioner.

Tansingco is no stranger to the BI. He has been with the Bureau for nearly a decade and was the chief-of-staff of former Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan.

He was also once a technical assistant to the Commissioner.

The Bureau of Immigration enforces the country’s immigration and foreign nationals registration laws.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla once named BI a department that “needs their help.”

Remulla lamented that the BI was the “face of the country” but was embroiled with “extortion syndicate, human trafficking syndicate, and protection syndicates” issues.

Over the past years, the BI was under fire for the so-called “pastillas” scheme that was first exposed in 2020. Under this scheme, Chinese nationals had supposedly entered the country without background checks in exchange for bribes.

It was named “pastillas” because the rolls of grease money involved in the illegal activity, which had supposedly reached P40 billion in October 2020, looked like the said Filipino snack. 

Typhoon Inday exits PH area of responsibility; another tropical cyclone may enter PAR by Sept. 15 or 16

(PAGASA FACEBOOK PAGE)

by Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz, Manila Bulletin

Typhoon Inday (international name: Muifa) left the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) early Tuesday morning, Sept. 13, the State weather bureau said, as it monitors another tropical cyclone that may enter the PAR by Thursday or Friday, Sept. 15 or 16.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Inday left the PAR at around 12:40 a.m., and was already 560 kilometers (km) north-northeast of Itbayat, Batanes as of 4 a.m.

It had maximum sustained winds of 140 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 170 kph.

While the typhoon has already left the PAR, PAGASA said the extreme Northern Luzon may still experience wind gusts.

In the next 24 hours, the entire archipelago will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with chances of rain showers or localized thunderstorms.

Meanwhile, PAGASA continues to monitor another tropical depression outside the PAR as of Tuesday morning.

In its 5 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said the tropical depression was estimated at 1,720 km east of extreme Northern Luzon.

It has maximum sustained winds of 45 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 55 kph, while moving eastward “slowly.”

“Modest intensification is likely today (Sept. 13) through tomorrow (Sept. 14). By Thursday (Sept. 15), improving environmental conditions will enable the tropical cyclone to intensify at a relatively faster rate. Current forecast scenario shows that this tropical cyclone will enter the PAR as a typhoon,” PAGASA said.

PAGASA weather specialist Aldczar Aurelio said the cyclone may enter the PAR by Thursday or Friday, and once inside the PAR, the domestic name “Josie” will be assigned to this tropical cyclone.

Aurelio said that based on the latest track forecast, the tropical depression may only pass through the right corner of the PAR.

“This tropical cyclone is forecast to remain far from the Philippine landmass and not directly affect the weather condition in the country,” PAGASA said.

“However, it may enhance the southwest monsoon within the forecast period. This may bring monsoon rains over the western sections of Southern Luzon and Visayas beginning tomorrow (Sept. 14) or on Thursday (Sept. 15),” it added.

German Day of Unity 2022

 

Oil firms cut pump prices

By Eireene Jairee Gomez

September 12, 2022

Last September 5, oil companies lowered the cost of gasoline by P2.60 per liter, diesel by P1.55 per liter and kerosene by P1.60 per liter.

The Department of Energy said the year-to-date net increase have so far reached P16.95 per liter for gasoline, P36.25 per liter for diesel and P31.60 per liter for kerosene.

Davao de Oro officially opens Tourism Month Celebration

A display of locally-made products in Davao de Oro's provincial capitol lobby brandished various municipalities' tourism signatures in celebration of Tourism Month 2022.

The Tourism Division, headed by Senior Tourism Officer Christine Dompor and her team, spearheaded the opening celebration of Tourism Month through a showcase of tatak Davao de Oro products and services dubbed "TurisTiange" at the capitol lobby today, September 12, 2022. The TurisTiannge is part of the month-long array of activities, which marks the official kick-off of the celebration.

The municipalities of Compostela, Nabunturan, Maragusan, Mabini, Maco, and Pantukan took part in the event with their corresponding Municipal Tourism Officers. 

Governor Dorothy Montejo-Gonzaga, Provincial Administrator Fatima Montejo, Board Member Ruwina Gonzaga, and Board Member Vivencia Secuya graced the cutting of ribbon ceremony and visited the booths offered by the participating municipalities.

Gov Gonzaga, in her message, stated that the government would continue to develop and enhance the tourism industry as an economic driver in the province. "Swerte kaayo ang Davao de Oro kay naa kitay tulo (3) ka tourism circuits nga pwede masuruyan ug ikapang-hambog. Infact, naningkamot gyud ta nga mas mapalambo nato ang turismo sa atong probinsya," said Gov Gonzaga.

More tourism-related awaits the whole month of September. In the coming weeks, the tourism division will spearhead a series of Tourism training, the opening of the ice cream festival, Turismo awards, and the launching of DdO Circuits.

The division will also offer the "CapiTours Laag Treats" for government employees and will participate in the 9th Nabunturan Independent Film Exhibition in collaboration with LGU Nabunturan. (JA, PAO-IPRD DdO, photos by J. Cadiz).

Inday’s outermost rainbands may affect Batanes; monsoon rains persist in western parts of Central, Southern Luzon

(PAGASA FACEBOOK PAGE)

 

by Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz, Manila Bulletin

Typhoon Inday (international name: Muifa) continued to move slowly away from the country’s landmass but its outermost rainbands may still bring rain showers and thunderstorms over Batanes, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Sunday, Sept. 11.

In its 11 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA estimated the center of the eye of Inday at 335 kilometers northeast of Itbayat, Batanes.

The typhoon was moving west-northwestward at 10 kilometers per hour (kph), while packing maximum sustained winds of 165 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 205 kph.

“Typhoon Inday remains less likely to directly bring heavy rains in the country throughout the forecast period. However, its outermost rainbands and the southwest monsoon may bring rain showers and thunderstorms over Batanes and the western sections of Central and Southern Luzon,” PAGASA said.

“The latest forecast scenario for Inday shows that while the hoisting of tropical cyclone wind signals remains less likely at this time, further westward shift in the track forecast and/or expansion in the extent of tropical cyclone winds may result in the hoisting of wind signals over portions of extreme Northern Luzon,” it added.

PAGASA said wind gusts may be experienced over extreme Northern Luzon on Monday, Sept, 12, “due to the channeling of the typhoon circulation in the Luzon Strait.”

In the next 24 hours, PAGASA said Inday may cause moderate to rough seas over the eastern seaboard of Northern Luzon.

“These conditions may be risky for those using small seacrafts. Mariners are advised to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea and, if possible, avoid navigating these conditions,” it said.

Based on the latest track forecast, Inday may exit the country’s area of responsibility by Tuesday afternoon or evening, Sept. 13.

Metro Manila Covid positivity rate rising

People shop in Divisoria in Manila on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022. FILE PHOTO BY MIKE ALQUINTO

By Kaithreen Cruz

(UPDATED) THE seven-day Covid-19 positivity rate in the National Capital Region (NCR) or Metro Manila rose by 1.2 percent increase — from 12.1 percent on September 2 to 13.3 percent on September 9, OCTA Research reported Sunday.

This increase was gleaned after an average of 10,247 daily RT-PCR tests were made over the past week.

The World Health Organization (WHO) sets a 5-percent positivity benchmark for declaring that Covid in a particular area is under control.

OCTA also noted that the reproduction number, referring to the number of new cases caused by one infected individual, also rose from 0.93 on August 31 to 1.11 on September 7.

"The reproduction number has increased to greater than 1, which means [Covid-19] infections are increasing," OCTA Research fellow Dr. Guido David said in a tweet on Sunday.

David said the slow uptick in cases was not unexpected since more people are on the move after some Covid restrictions were eased.

He advised the elderly and those with comorbidities to take extra precautions to avoid infection.

OCTA also said that the Covid-19 growth rate in the NCR increased to 6 percent from September 3 to 10, compared to the -17 percent from August 27 to September 3.

The average daily attack rate (ADAR) was also slightly up to 5.58 per day per 100,000 population, still considered low by the group.

Positivity rates in 8 provinces down

Hospital bed and intensive care unit (ICU) occupancy for Covid-19 patients remained low at 34.5 and 28.9 percent, respectively.

Last Friday, Department of Health (DoH) Officer in Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire reported that ICU and severe and critical admissions for Covid-19 that were trending down over the past weeks were showing signs of leveling.

Vergeire said cases in Mindanao have reached a plateau, while the remaining areas were on a slow downward trend.

The DoH also reported that more than 72.7 million Filipinos have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 as of September 8, but only 18.4 million have had their first booster dose and 2.4 million their second booster shot.

Covid positivity rate in NCR dips

The DoH has stepped up its campaign to increase booster coverage among eligible individuals by setting up more than 19,000 vaccination sites nationwide.

It said 2.4 million of the campaign's 23 million targeted individuals were provided with first boosters, and 27,907 senior citizens of the 1.07 million target were vaccinated.

The department continued to remind the public to observe minimum health and safety standards to stay protected against Covid-19.

The centurion’s faith

By Fr. Roy Cimagala *

THAT gospel episode about a centurion who asked some people to approach Christ for him, and to beg on his behalf for the cure of his sick slave (cfr. Lk 7,1-10) teaches us the lesson that we should have a strong faith if we want to ask some special favor from God.

As the story goes, Christ responded immediately to the request, but when he was near the centurion’s house, the centurion told him not to bother to enter his house, saying that he was not worthy to have Christ enter his house. 

He told Christ that like him, the centurion had certain authority and would just give orders to his subordinates who would carry them out. He wanted the cure of his slave to take place that way—“just say the word and my servant will be healed,” he said.

Christ was so impressed by this show of the centurion’s faith that his servant was immediately healed at that hour even if Christ did not have a face-to-face encounter with the servant.

We should try our best to develop the faith as that of the centurion. The problem we have is that we lack faith. It is this deficiency that disables us to see a deeper and richer reality that is beyond what we simply see, touch and understand. It is this deficiency that prevents us from asking for some miracles in some difficult situations we can find ourselves in, and from experiencing them.

Remember that time when Christ was pursued by two blind men (cfr Mt 9,27-31). They shouted, “Lord, have pity on us.” But Christ asked them if they have faith. “Do you believe that I can do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they immediately replied. Then Christ told them, “Let it be done to you according to your faith.” And they were cured.

In all the other miraculous cures narrated in the gospel, faith plays a very crucial role. The woman who was cured of her hemorrhage was also commended by Christ because of her faith, though it was a faith that was not openly expressed. “Be of good heart, daughter, your faith has made you whole…” (Mt 9,22)

The same with the blind man, Bartimaeus, the father of the possessed boy who in his great distress told our Lord earnestly, “I believe, but help my unbelief.”

Besides the lack of faith, many of us have come to associate miracles with big, extraordinary things. Unless a blind man sees again, or a lame starts to walk, or a dead person rises to life again, people nowadays say there can be no miracles taking place.

It’s a question of faith.  When one has faith, even if it is just little, we can see the marvels of God taking place all around everyday. That one perseveres in prayer, or decides to confess his sins after a long period of sinfulness, or a husband being faithful to his wife in spite of the strong temptations, etc., these are miracles too.

They are miracles because these situations often defy human logic and worldly wisdom. But then again, they can only be acknowledged if one has faith. Faith enables us to see beyond appearances and the reality painted only by human and worldly values.

Let us hope that we can be like the centurion, often repeating more or less the same words that now are part of the liturgy of the Mass: “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof. But only say the word, and my soul shall be healed.”

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

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

Alex Eala makes history, captures US Open Girls title

by Kristel Satumbaga-Villar, Manila Bulletin

Alex Eala delivered a performance of a lifetime after routing Czech Republic’s Lucie Havlickova, 6-2, 6-4, to clinch her first US Open Girls Singles title in Flushing Meadows Saturday, Sept. 10 (early Sunday in Manila).

Alexandra Eala of Philippines celebrates after defeating Lucie Havlickova of Czech Republic during their Junior Girl’s Singles Final match on Day Thirteen of the 2022 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 10, 2022 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (AFP)

It was a historic victory for the 17-year-old junior tennis sensation, as she became the first Filipino to ever win a Grand Slam crown.

She only made it as far as the semifinals in the 2020 French Open, and previously claimed titles in the Girls Doubles – at the 2020 Australian Open with Indonesian Priska Nugroho and the 2021 French Open with Russian Oksana Selekhmeteva.

It was her time to shine this time.

So impressive was her journey to the top where she did not drop a set throughout the tournament with only Australia’s Taylah Preston and Canada’s Victoria Mboko forcing her to a tiebreaker.

“Buong puso ko po itong pinaglaban hindi lang para sa sarili ko kundi para makatulong din ako sa kinabukasan ng Philippine tennis,” Eala said during the on-court interview.

Seeded 10th in the tournament, Eala dictated the pace in the opening set by breaking her second-seeded opponent’s serve twice.

The Filipina ace encountered stiff competition in the second frame where she trailed 3-2 and 4-3, but was able to hold serve in the eighth game to tie it at 4-4.

A huge service break for Eala gave her the crucial 5-4 lead before closing the match with crisp serves and huge shots.

“It was overwhelming for me right now, but it’s a huge step for me personally. I’m just happy to be able to contribute and inspire the young generation,” said Eala during the post-match interview.

En route to the final, Eala crushed Canadian Annabelle Xu in the first round, 6-3, 6-0; Slovakian Nina Vargova in the second round, 6-2, 6-3; eighth-seeded Preston in the third, 6-2, 7-6 (1); Russian 14th seed Mirra Andreeva in the quarters, 6-4, 6-0; and ninth-seeded Canadian Mboko in the semis, 6-1, 7-6 (5).

She also competed in the Girls Doubles with Andreeva where they were seeded fourth but managed only in the second round after they handed a walkover to Germans Carolina Kuhl and Ella Seidel.

Facebook no longer attractive among teens

A 2022 study by Pew Research Center uncovers that nearly all US teens right now use YouTube, whereas only 32 percent say they use Facebook. STOCK PHOTO

INTERNET use has increased massively in the past two decades and today, there are more active users than ever. Social media websites, in particular, have become extremely popular, with Facebook being the third most visited site in 2021.

Despite the recent rise of Instagram businesses and influencers, Facebook remains the most popular marketing platform — in 2021, 78 percent of its users said they have found new products and services on the platform according to data published by BroadbandSearch.

TikTok, on the other hand, was the most downloaded app last year after launching internationally back in 2017.

Social media is a big part of teenagers' lives — new generations are now being born in a digital world where texting and sharing videos have largely replaced real-life (or irl, as Gen Zs would say) communication. Tracking what interests young people and, particularly teenagers, when accessing the internet is a fascinating, useful tool for spotting larger trends and even peeking into the future.

Striving for answers, the team at TradingPedia examines a new report called "Teens, Social Media and Technology" by the Pew Research Center. It uncovers some interesting tendencies in young people's preferences such as the fact that nearly all teens right now use YouTube whereas only 32 percent say they use Facebook.

While Facebook remains the top platform of choice among all age groups in the US and worldwide, American teens prefer to spend their time mostly on YouTube. The website which launched in 2005 as a video streaming platform is now the most popular social media site among teenagers in the US, with 95 percent saying they have ever used it and 19 percent admitting they visit it almost constantly.

Next in popularity is TikTok (and its original Chinese version Douyin) which was released in 2016 but did not become globally available until 2018 when it merged with the Chinese social media platform Musical.ly. Of those surveyed by Pew Research Center, 67 percent say they have used the app and 16 percent say they use it almost constantly.

The third most popular social media platform among US teens is the video-sharing service Instagram, owned by Meta Platforms (known until recently as Facebook Inc.). Sixty-two percent of respondents are Instagram users, while 10 percent open or use it almost constantly.

Photo sharing app Snapchat is following closely, with 59 percent of teens using it. Fifteen percent say they are constantly on it.

Meanwhile, less than a third (32 percent) of all teens in the survey visit Facebook, and only 2 percent are almost constantly on it. Note that researchers did not include Facebook's Messenger as a separate platform in the survey, so it is likely that these percentages reflect the use of both Facebook and Messenger.

Teens were also asked about several other social media platforms and the results show that 23 percent used Twitter, 20 percent used Twitch, 17 percent were on WhatsApp, 14 percent used Reddit and a mere 5 percent say they ever used Tumblr.

Things change quickly in the world of social media, even more so when it comes to young people and their preferences. Facebook was once the most used social media website among teenagers in the US with 71 percent of them being on it in 2014.

Data from a similar survey by Pew Research Center shows that from 2014 to 2015, Instagram was the second most popular after Facebook with 52 percent using it, while Snapchat was used by 41 percent of respondents.

By 2018, when researchers conducted yet another survey, there was a significant shift in the social media landscape. Facebook's popularity dropped, and it had become the fourth most used platform with only 51 percent of teens using it. YouTube had replaced it — 85 percent of teenagers in the US said they used the website. Another interesting fact is that two platforms from the 2014 to 2015 survey were not present in the 2018 statistics — Vine and Google+, which were discontinued.

Teens on social media

Since TikTok exploded in popularity in 2018 and 2019, there have been concerns that the app and the short video form of the content, may affect users' attention spans and cause addiction.

However, findings from the Pew Research Center report show that YouTube is used more frequently than TikTok, at least at first glance. Nearly three-quarters or 77 percent of teens visit YouTube at least once a day compared to 57 percent who say they are daily TikTok users. Daily (or more frequent) use of platforms drops to 51 percent for Snapchat, 49 percent for Instagram, and 18 percent for Facebook.

But when we look at how many use TikTok and Snapchat at all, we could see that a larger share of users log in daily or more frequently. Around 86 percent of those who use the two platforms open them every day. And a quarter of users are on the apps almost constantly.

This brings us to the next question — is it hard for teens to stop using social media? Unsurprisingly, the short answer is "Yes," at least for half of the youngsters that took part in the survey.

More than a third of teens or 36 percent say they spend too much time on social media, while 55 percent think they spend just the right time on these platforms. Another 8 percent believe their time on social media is "too little."

Researchers also asked them how hard it would be for them to quit social media and 54 percent of respondents said it would be hard — that would be "very hard" for 18 percent of teens and "somewhat hard" for 35 percent. For 20 percent of teens, this task would be "very easy," while 26 percent found it "somewhat easy."

Moreover, 78 percent of teens who say they spend too much time on social media admit it would be hard for them to quit it, with 29 percent describing it as "very hard."