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Sunday, December 18, 2022
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Christmas rush in seaports already felt, PCG says
by Martin Sadongdong
The influx of passengers in seaports and terminals is already evident a little over a week before Christmas Day, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said.
On Saturday, Dec. 17, the PCG monitored 45,271 outbound passengers and 35,554 inbound passengers in all ports nationwide. The monitoring started at 6 a.m. and ended at 12 noon.
Commo. Armando Balilo, PCG spokesperson, said 2,108 frontline personnel were deployed in 15 PCG districts to inspect vessels in ports. A total of 425 sea vessels and 680 motorbancas were checked by PCG personnel during the six-hour monitoring.
“The PCG has placed its districts, stations, and sub-staions on [a] heightened alert to manage the influx of port passengers during the Yuletide season,” Balilo said.
The heightened alert status took effect last Dec. 15 and will last up to Jan 7.
Meanwhile, the riding public is encouraged to coordinate with the PCG through its official Facebook page or its hotline 0927-560-7729 for inquiries, concerns, and clarifications regarding sea travel protocols and regulations for the holidays.
Cardinal Advincula cites strong faith of Filipinos
Published December 18, 2022, 9:57 AM
Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula cited the strong faith of the Filipino people as more parishioners are going back to hear the live masses just as the Catholic Church began its observance of the nine-day “Simbang Gabi.”
“Jesus is the light of the world. Jesus is the bread of life who will satisfy our hunger, Jesus is the Emmanuel who will guide us in our journey and serve as our ally in our struggles,” Cardinal Advincula said over Radio Veritas.
His Eminence cited the resilience and perseverance of the faithful in attending the “Simbang Gabi” which he said is a way of showing gladness on the Birth of Christ.
“The strong faith of Filipinos serves as the fuel for him to complete the nine-day holy masses. Despite the crisis and hardships, the faithful return to the Church as a manifestation of his faith in the Savior Jesus Christ,” the Church leader said.
Cardinal Advincula urged the faithful to remain active in the church’s activities not only during the “Simbang Gabi” but even beyond.
The Catholic Church began its observance of the nine-day “Simbang Gabi” on Dec. 16 with anticipated masses that started on Dec.15. The votive masses in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary in preparation for Christmas will culminate on Dec. 24 with the Christmas Eve mass at midnight.
With the ease of Covid-19 restrictions, more are able to attend the holy masses at the church instead of just joining online.
PBBM opens Malacañang to public for Simbang Gabi
by Raymund Antonio
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has opened Malacañang to the public for the traditional Misa de Gallo or Simbang Gabi in this year’s Christmas season.
According to the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS), Marcos announced this during last Friday’s Christmas party for employees of the Office of the President (OP).
The Chief Executive joined the Palace employees at the event held in the parking area of Mabini Hall inside the Malacañang compound.
Marcos said daily masses will be held at 4:30 a.m. in front of Mabini Hall and attendees may enter through Gate 6 directly in front of Kalayaan Hall.
A devotional, nine-day series of Catholic Masses, Simbang Gabi is done in anticipation of Christmas Day and to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary.
This tradition has been celebrated by devout Catholics for decades, with the novena prayers beginning in homes around the 1960s and the more formal Masses starting in the 1980s.
Simbang Gabi starts at dawn—at 4 a.m.and 5 a.m.—of Dec. 15 with the final Mass or the Misa de Gallo scheduled on Dec. 24, the Christmas Eve.
The President two weeks ago led a Christmas tree lighting at the Palace Kalayaan Grounds and held a gift-giving event for children.
He noted it was his goal to make sure that every Filipino child would experience Christmas.
Under the theme “‘Balik Sigla, Bigay Saya: Nationwide Gift Giving,” some 600 children were invited for the event, which was also held simultaneously in 40 different areas nationwide.
How do Filipino kids treat guests from other countries?
Filipino kids have been known to have a unique way of welcoming guests from other countries with open arms. A typical Filipino household would often bustle with excitement in preparation for arriving guests. The children fill it with infectious energy and joy that the foreign visitors can immediately feel. This level of hospitality is ever present when Filipino kids
meet someone new, as they exude warmness and genuine kindness from genuinely wanting to make them feel welcome. With big hearts and infectious smiles on their face, these little ones are sure to brighten up any room and touch the hearts of anyone who is blessed enough to share at the moment. No doubt, having a Filipino kid as your guide during your visit will definitely give you an extraordinary experience!Footnotes
Saturday, December 17, 2022
Super American Circus in Manila will be the biggest yet, says Tuffy Nicholas
by Annalyn S. Jusay, MB
Super American Circus, which begins its run at the Newport Performing Arts Theater on Dec. 21, promises to be the must-watch show in Manila this Christmas season with its world-class acrobatics and jaw-dropping stunts. It will have its theme culled from the 2017 movie, “The Greatest Showman.”
This was announced last night by Cornell “Tuffy” Nicholas, famed producer and ringmaster of Super American Circus, as he arrived in Manila coming from a US flight.
Tuffy said the coming circus production is “the biggest one” out of the shows they’ve mounted all over the world.
“You know the movie The Greatest Showman? That’s our theme and we have an American singer that sings the song,” he revealed.
“We have two motorcycles going on a high wire at the same time. We have motorcycles in a ball of steel… three of them, beautiful aerial ballet, acrobats, contortionists, funny clowns….We have a troupe from Argentina, they will do a Gaucho act. I could go on and on and on. But i wanna let you guys see it for yourselves, I can’t tell you everything right now, but it’s gonna be a great show,” he further pointed out.
“We’ve scoured the globe to find the best artists in the world. It’s one of the biggest circuses I’ve ever produced in my life and I’ve been doing it for a long time,” Tuffy said.
“This is because we love the Philippines,” he added. He recalled that the last time his company, Global Entertainment Productions, put up a show in the country was more than 10 years ago.
Tuffy – the son of Count Nicholas, who is on the Circus Ring of Fame – said his company did not put up any show worldwide during the two-year pandemic and are coming back with a vengeance only now.
Aside from its performances at the Newport theater from Dec 21 to Jan. 8, 2023, the people behind Super American Circus also hope to bring the shows to Cebu and Davao. They will be mounted for a good cause because orphans and less-fortunate children will be treated to the spectacle for free.
The Philippine edition of Super American Circus is made possible in partnership with Newport World Resorts and SGE Productions. Tickets are available at SM Tickets in these prices: Php5,000, Php4,000, Php2,000 and Php1,000.
Christmas break to start on Dec. 19; classes to resume on Jan. 4 — DepED
by Merlina Hernando-Malipot
The Christmas vacation in public schools nationwide will start next week, the Department of Education (DepED) on Friday, Dec. 16, announced.
Citing DepED Order No. 34 s. of 2022 or the “School Calendar and Activities for School Year 2022-2023,” the department announced that the Christmas break in public schools will start on Dec. 19, 2022, until Jan. 3, 2023.
Likewise, classes are scheduled to resume on Jan. 4, 2023.
The SY 2022-2023 officially started in public schools on Aug. 22. The current SY has 203 school days and will end on July 7, 2023.
For this SY, DepED said that remedial classes for public schools are also scheduled to start on July 17 and will end on Aug. 26, 2023.
Friday, December 16, 2022
3-day Mount Apo Sky and Vertical Race in Davao del Sur set
by Antonio Colina IV
DAVAO CITY – The municipality of Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur will host the Mount Apo Sky and Vertical Race from Dec. 16 to 18 where around 300 runners from 20 countries are expected to scale the country’s highest peak.
Municipal tourism officer Julius Paner said that this would be the first international race in the municipality since the pandemic started in 2020.
He said the three-day Mount Apo Sky and Vertical Race is co-organized by the Asia Trail Master, an international trail running organization, which tapped the municipality to host the culmination and championship final of the international Asia Trail Master race.
“They gave the manifestation to hold it in the Philippines for the first time. They have been doing it throughout but not yet here in the Philippines,” Paner said.
He said racers will compete in three categories: 75 kilometers, 100 kilometers, and 50 kilometers.
Romualdo Cabales, race director of Mount Apo Sky and Vertical Race, said champions would be hailed as the fastest in Asia.
He said winners of the 100-km category will represent the country in an international race in April.
Paner said hosting an international race is a good mechanism to regain travelers’ confidence, most especially that the municipality is positioning itself as an eco-adventure destination.
“It’s a good signal that Davao region is tourist-ready in terms of international arrivals. We are trying to position Davao del Sur to be an eco-adventure destination. For the longest time, that’s how we brand our locality because that’s the strength of Davao del Sur. Mount Apo is the highest peak and there are attractions within the foothills,” he said.
Department of Tourism (DOT)-Davao director Tanya Rabat-Tan said that the region is excited to hold the event because it would give them the opportunity to showcase the region to international delegates, particularly Mount Apo as an “icon of Davao.” “It’s an opportunity for us to make them feel that we are ready. We want to promote Davao as a safe destination for our tourists,” she said.
Marcos asks EU: ‘Who will pay for damage caused by climate change?
by Raymund Antonio, MB
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. raised a question to the European Union (EU) amid discussions on the loss and damage compensation because of climate change: “Who do we go to? Who pays the bulk of it?”
During a press conference at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-European Union (ASEAN-EU) summit in Brussels, Belgium, the Chief Executive mused about who would shoulder the loss and damage fund in relation to climate financing.
Despite EU being at the “forefront” of the proposal to compensate developing countries for the damages caused by climate change, the President noted the difficulties of determining the actual amount of compensation needed, as well as process to acquire this compensation.
“And however, the issue of damage and loss is still — although it is a big step forward that we all now accept both developing and developed countries, now accept the concept of damage and loss, the actual number is very, very hard to determine,” he told journalists.
“And beyond that, even if we are able to quantify the damage and loss, it says $100 million whatever the number is, what do we do with that number? Who do we go to? Who do we — who pays the bulk of it?,” Marcos asked.
He also raised issues on “how will the compensation for that damage and loss be made.”
“And on my part, I think until we are able to determine that, I think we should think of what we can do in the future, and that I think has great potential to be put into effect in the short term, rather than in the very long term,” the President said.
The concept of climate financing and loss and damage fund was launched in November 2022 during the 27th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 27) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) climate summit in Egypt when the EU agreed to help poor countries mitigate the impacts of climate change.
Loss and damage refers to the ravages of extreme weather on the physical and social infrastructure of poor countries, and the finance needed for rescue and reconstruction after climate-related disasters.
Rich countries such as the United States and China both objected to the fund. The two countries are also the top emitters of carbon dioxide.
Marcos, however, noted the “willingness for the developed countries to participate and to help in mitigation, to help in adaptation for those countries like the Philippines, most of the countries around ASEAN that are very vulnerable.”
“There’s a willingness to help but how to provide that help is still a question that we cannot definitively answer,” he said, adding that “a lot of work” needs to be done since this is an “important issue” for the Philippines and many other countries.
Marcos’ remarks came after he asked EU to extend assistance to the Philippines in mitigating the harsh effects of climate change.
“Climate action is particularly important to the Philippines,” the President said, especially since the country is “regarded as probably one of the most, if not the most, vulnerable countries in the world to the effects of climate change.”
“Since that seems to be the case and that is what we are facing in the Philippines, we are very much in need of the assistance of Europe, of all the first world countries and to be able to adjust our economy, our communities to the onset of the effects of climate change,” he added.
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