Creamline banners cast in PVL All-Filipino opener

by Kristel Satumbaga-Villar, MB

Multi-titled Creamline headlines the early cast of teams that are scheduled to raise the curtain when the Premier Volleyball League returns with a re-branded All-Filipino Conference on Feb. 4 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Creamline Cool Smashers are out for another title campaign when the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference unfurls on Feb. 4. (PVL Images)

The Cool Smashers are set to clash with the Petro Gazz Angels at 6 p.m. in a rematch of last year’s Open Conference finals where Creamline won the crown. 

Akari and Choco Mucho clash in the 4 p.m. appetizer with the two teams out to parade their beefed-up roster that include Dindin Manabat, Bang Pineda and Eli Soyud for the Chargers, and a new coach in Dante Alinsunurin for the Flying Titans.

Other squads competing in the conference are PLDT, F2 Logistics, Chery Tiggo, Cignal and Army.

The PLDT High Speed Hitters and the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers will open their campaign on Feb. 7 at 4 p.m. at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City, followed by the Chery Tiggo Crossovers and the Cignal HD Spikers at 6 p.m.

The Army Lady Troopers will start their bid on Feb. 11 against the Crossovers also at the Philsports Arena.

Creamline, winner of five conferences including two last year, is expected to parade an intact lineup composed of Jema Galanza, Jia De Guzman, Ced Domingo and Tots Carlos.

Skipper Alyssa Valdez is hoping to get back in full strength in time for the conference after sustaining a knee injury late last year.

Petro Gazz, meanwhile, will play under its new coach in Oliver Almadro as it hopes to extend its supremacy after winning the Reinforced Conference last December.

𝟏𝟗 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐁𝐫𝐠𝐲. 𝐀𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐩 𝐢𝐧 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐁𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐚𝐧 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐬

Despite the heavy rains on Tuesday, January 24, a total of 19 families from Brgy. Andap in New Bataan got a PHP 381k worth of housing units each during the ceremonial turnover led by the National Housing Authority (NHA) in partnership with the PAO-Housing and Homesite Division (HHD) of the provincial government and other stakeholders.

Anna Jane S. Pedro, 25, a beneficiary, expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the national and local government units for the provision they received.

"Karun nga napadulong (na) gyud mi sa offsite (pabahay), nga totally naa amoa nagyud ni siya. Wala ko nagtuo nga ingon ana siya kanindot, daghan na-amaze dili lang kami nga benipisyaryo. Number one ko nga blessed jud kaayu ug dakog pasalamat sa tanan nga nahimong kabahin ani" Pedro said.

Meanwhile, in a one-on-one interview with Maricel L. Lindaan, 40, also a beneficiary, she extended her appreciation to the government and is looking forward to more programs and projects for them.

"Manghinaot ko nga naa pay muaabot nga kining amoang kapanginabuhian gawas sa among pabahay nga na-avail para maka-sustain pud sa among panginahanglan", Lindaan said.

Aside from the turnover of symbolic keys, the beneficiaries acquired their Certificate of Award which denotes the ownership of their new house. These beneficiaries are among those individuals who were once affected by the wrath brought by typhoon Pablo in 2012 and were initially included under the New Bataan Resettlement Project 2.

Acting Provincial Administrator Fatima Montejo representing Governor Dorothy Gonzaga congratulated the beneficiaries and stated that the delay of the turnover was due to occurrences that must be settled such as processing the legal documents so that they will not encounter any problems in the future and be protected by their rights of owning the residence. 

In addition, it can be remembered that the Relocation Site located in Purok 5A, where the said beneficiaries formerly lived, has been declared a danger zone as the land constantly moves during heavy rains, making it susceptible to landslides.  

Thus, in a message from Mayor Geraldford Balbin, he said that the new sites, where these new houses are constructed, are declared by Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) as a secure area, ensuring the protection of the people. 

Further, this PHP 7.2M Balai Maal-lag or Mahayag nga Balay Housing Project (offsite) consists of 19 one-story houses with 30 sq. meters in floor area having two bedrooms, one bathroom, and a sink each. These houses are built into the beneficiaries' individual properties or the properties of third parties who offered the use of their lands in favor of the beneficiaries herein, subject to the limitation that the property is located in Brgy. Andap. 

NHA XI District Manager Engr.  Sonia Bulseco, in her speech, encouraged the beneficiaries to take good care of what the government has given to them. (J. Fernandez, Photos by J. Cadiz)

Oyster bar’s statement on food poisoning claims draws flak from diners

 

By

 Jeline Malasig

 

A popular oyster bar in Makati City’s statement addressing online allegations of food poisoning earned flak from diners who claimed to have experienced such.

Oyster bar’s statement on food poisoning claims draws flak from dinerson Wednesday said that it takes customer feedback and reviews “very seriously,” adding it is “taking it to heart.”

“We always strive to provide freshly prepared meals while adhering to critical safety and health standards,” it added. 

The Poblacion-based oyster bar said it has “addressed each issue in a timely fashion requiring the necessary details in a fair and scientific manner.”

It added that the laboratory tests conducted on samples from the dates they received complaints “have shown a negative result for bacteria and thus clearing the possibility of any food poisoning.” 

Wantusawa lamented continuously receiving “social media bullying” despite its efforts, laboratory tests and health clearances.

“In our pursuit of truth and due process, we shall likewise review our options to take any legal action against these purveyors of bullying and untruth,” it said.

The oyster bar added that it hoped the statement could assure the community “that any complaints made will be taken seriously, investigated thoroughly, and dealt with fairly in a timely manner.” 

The statement came after several Facebook users left bad reviews about the food establishment after experiencing stomach aches and food-related illnesses.

These diners claimed of feeling stomach discomfort after allegedly consuming meals from the oyster bar.

Among them was Facebook user Coco Eje who called the attention of the Food and Drug Administration, as well as the city government of Makati, on Monday.

She shared screenshots of various reviews from other users who claimed to have had unpleasant experiences after dining from Wantusawa.

These complaints reportedly include vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, cramps, bloating and other symptoms.

“Wantusawa, I would leave a review on your page but I’m afraid it’s just gonna be shrugged off like all the other reviews [that are] already there. This needs urgent action,” Coco wrote on January 23.

“For public awareness and for the sake of honesty: the food is good but look at all these food poisoning complaints the past three weeks alone. Are all of these still isolated cases?” she added.

LPA unlikely to escalate into storm but to bring rains in Visayas, Mindanao

By Arlie O. Calalo

January 25, 2023 

THE low pressure area (LPA) off Davao City has a slim chance of intensifying into a tropical cyclone although it will bring moderate to heavy rains over parts of Visayas and Mindanao, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said on Wednesday.

Pagasa weather forecaster Patrick del Mundo told The Manila Times that the LPA, last spotted around 3 a.m. some 575 kilometers east of the city, was unlikely to develop into a tropical depression over the next 48 hours.

"But this weather disturbance will bring moderate to heavy rains over Davao Oriental, Davao de Oro, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur," he said.

Meanwhile, light to moderate with at times heavy rains will be experienced over Zamboanga Peninsula, the rest of Caraga, the rest of Davao Region, Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat, Saranggani, and South Cotabato within 24 hours, the state-run weather agency said.

"Under these conditions, flooding and rain-induced landslides are possible, especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards," Del Mundo said.

On one hand, the northeast monsoon locally known as 'amihan' will bring overcast skies with rains over Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon and Visayas, he said.

The weather bureau said the localized thunderstorms are affecting the rest of Mindanao and the southern portion of Palawan where partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms will prevail.

Davao del Sur town to boost onion farming

by Keith Bacongco

The local government of Magsaysay in Davao del Sur is planning to boost onion farming along with other high-value crops amid the rising price of the commodity.

FARMERS harvest onions in a remote barangay in Magsaysay, Davao del Sur. (Photo courtesy of MAO Magsaysay)

Municipal Agriculture Office chief Helen Caramptana told Manila Bulletin that the upland areas of Magsaysay are suitable for onion and other high-value crops. 

Over the weekend, pictures of a farmer harvesting onions from Magsaysay made rounds on social media and has prompted netizens to call on the government to support local onion farmers.

Caramptana revealed that onion farming is not new in Magsaysay, adding that some farmers in lowland areas have ventured into this crop sometime in 2010 or 2012.

“However, they did not succeed after the onions were hit by a fungal disease,” she recalled over the phone. “After the failed cropping, they did not plant again.”

A lone B’laan farmer continued to cultivate onions in a borrowed 200 square-meter lot in the hinterland barangay of Bacungan, the municipal agriculturist disclosed. “He is a very hardworking farmer, he persisted and now he’s earning from his produce.” 

Caramptana said the farmer was able to harvest almost 300 kilos of onions after three months.

She added that a buyer from North Cotabato has offered to buy all his onions for a wholesale price of P200 per kilo.

As the town’s climate and soil characteristic are suitable for onion farming and other high-value crops, Caramptana said the local government is encouraging farmers to engage into diversified farming.

Caramptana pointed out that growing onion is very tricky and requires a huge capital compared to other high-value crops.

She cited that the B’laan farmer who also grows ginger and tomatoes spent P10,000 for onion seeds to be planted on the lot. “These are the reasons why only a few farmers are willing to gamble on this crop.”

Amid of these challenges, Caramptana said at least 40 farmers have signified their intention to avail of the free seeds from the Department of Agriculture Regional Office-11 once these will be available next month. 

Ronnie Mahinay, project assistant of the High-Value Crops Development Program of the DA Regional Office-11, said the DA has been supporting onion farmers in towns of Magsaysay and Matanao, also in Davao del Sur.

“We are regularly providing seeds to our onion farmers. But their produce is just enough for the local market or within their municipalities only,” Mahinay bared.

He said the DA has allocated 20 kilos of onion seeds per farmer association. There are three farmer groups in Magsaysay and another in Matanao.

Onion farming is indeed very tricky, he said. “Kailangan bini-baby, very tricky. Last cropping season at least one-fourth hectare of onions were destroyed due to rains.”

Quake hits Davao Occidental province

by Mike Crismundo 

UPDATED: BUTUAN CITY – A 4.8-magnitude earthquake hit Davao Occidental province in Southern Mindanao region early Tuesday morning, Jan. 24, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.

In its bulletin, Phivolcs said the earthquake was recorded at 9:10 a.m.

The epicenter was plotted 327 kilometers southeast of Balut Island in the Municipality of Sarangani, Davao Occidental province, the state agency said. 

The tremor had a depth of 28 kms, Phivolcs said.

This one was also an aftershock of the January 18 2023 M 7.0 offshore Davao Occidental earthquake event.

It was the third aftershock recorded for the day in the province.

Around 1:06 a.m. on the same day, Jan. 24, a 4.6-magnitude tectonic earthquake was also registered and its epicenter was traced 299 kms. southeast of the same island and province, with a shallow depth of only 2 kms., the state agency also said.

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A little over an hour later, at 2:17 a.m. to be exact, on the same day, Jan. 24, a 5.2-magnitude earthquake was also felt in the region and its epicenter was traced 264 kms southeast of the same island and province, with a depth of 76 kms., the state agency said.

The three tremors were tectonic in origin, hence the state agency is expecting no aftershocks.

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Southern Mindanao region and Davao Occidental Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) there reported no damage or injury.

 

BLACKPINK’s Lisa sets 3 Guinness world records in 2022

by Jonathan Hicap

Guinness World Records announced on Jan. 24 that BLACKPINK’s Lisa set three world records in 2022.

According to Guinness, Lisa set the record for being the first solo K-pop winner at the MTV Video Music Awards and first solo K-pop winner at the MTV Europe Music Awards. 

BLACKPINK’s Lisa (Instagram)

“At the MTV VMA’s, Lisa came first in the category of Best K-pop Video; an award which had been exclusively won by BTS since it’s introduction in 2019. BTS were also the previous winners in the Best K-Pop category at the EMA’s in 2021 before Lisa completed a historic double,” Guinness stated.

In addition, Lisa also scored the title of “most followers on Instagram for a K-pop artist with 86.3 million followers as of 19 January 2023.”

Guinness World Records added, “This makes her the 38th most followed account on the platform, with Cristiano Ronaldo being the most followed individual with 538 million followers.”

BLACKPINK, meanwhile, bagged the “Best Metaverse Performance for their performance of new single ‘Ready For Love’ in the video game PUBG [PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds] Mobile, gaining an additional Guinness World Records title for being the first winners of the award.” 

As of January this year, Guinness said, BLACKPINK held records for “most subscribers for a band on YouTube as well as becoming the first K-pop group to reach No.1 on the UK albums chart (female) and the first K-pop group to reach No.1 on the US albums chart (female).”

Keeping up with evolving and emerging jobs

by Monchito B. Ibrahim

With the rapid pace of technological change, the increasing complexity of the global economy, and calamities like the pandemic, there is now a need for organizations and workers alike to adapt to the unending changes in the workplace. Organizations will have to constantly revisit job roles, drop some of them, or even create new ones. In turn, workers will have to keep up by ensuring that they have the new skills needed by these evolving and emerging jobs. And because the cheese will keep on moving, it will be a lifelong endeavor for most of them.

I remember when I was just starting and looking to land my first job. The first thing I was asked for was my transcript of record and the interview basically revolved around my grades. And just like most of my seniors in the company, promotions would mean learning new skills only when I already have a new position and only for skills that I need to do my new job well. Technology innovations were not as pervasive as it is today so there was no need to anticipate changes in job roles so there is not much motivation to explore new job skills outside of what the existing role needs.

Fast forward to today and we see that most organizations are looking for individuals who have the skills to adapt and keep up with the changes. In order to stay competitive in the evolving job market, individuals need to anticipate industry and technology trends, and continuously acquire new skills and knowledge throughout their careers.

We are beginning to see changes in the workplace today. One example is the accelerated shift towards remote work and digitalization. With the rise of automation and artificial intelligence, we are starting to see software and machines taking over many jobs once performed by humans. Individuals then will have to adapt to new ways of working and acquire new skills that complement the capabilities of machines and AI. Or even anticipate the emergence of new job roles and develop the necessary skills for them to take on the new jobs. The times when most workers would just depend on their companies to get them trained for new jobs are long gone. Employers today value employees who are self-learners, proactive in their learning and development, and would more likely promote and provide opportunities for advancement to these individuals. Lifelong learning then is key today.

We are also beginning to see a change in the attitude of recruiters. They are warming up to a skills-over-degrees mindset. Many employers today value skills and potential more heavily than degrees or pedigrees when hiring. Even global brands are relying on soft skills and willingness to learn as predictors of success.

A worker today essentially needs a strong set of digital skills in order to navigate the digital landscape. This would include proficiency in using various software and online tools. Online digital skills courses, mostly free, are available today. 

It is also important that workers embrace flexibility because remote work and flexible schedules are becoming to be common. It is essential for them to be open to different ways of working. In these emerging work environments, workers need to build their support network. This would include family, friends, and colleagues who can provide emotional support and advice. Working remotely can be isolating and it is important to have a dependable support network in place.

Many have taken the path of lifelong learning to explore new career paths and opportunities that may not be available to them previously. By anticipating the impact of emerging technology trends, they can also better prepare for new job roles that may arise. Finally, learning new things can be challenging and stimulating, which helps to keep our minds active and engaged.

Learning can be done by workers themselves and, fortunately for everyone in these digital times, many online learning platforms have popped up offering self-paced workshops, both credentialed and non-credentialed. Credentialed workshops simply mean that at the end of the course, the learner must take an assessment examination and, if passed, will be provided with certifications attesting that the learner has at least attained the minimum level of proficiency required for that skill or competence.

The need for individuals to adapt and acquire new skills throughout their lives has made it essential for them to engage in ongoing learning and development. Lifelong learning enables individuals to stay competitive in the job market, adapt to new ways of working, advance in their careers, stay engaged and motivated, and contribute to society. Therefore, it is crucial for individuals to make lifelong learning a priority in their lives.

A skilled workforce is a key driver of the country’s economic growth and competitiveness. It is therefore everyone’s business to help our workers develop that lifelong learning mindset to ensure that they continue to meet the changing needs of a digital economy.

mon.ibrahim@aap.ph

Training ourselves to give our all

By Fr. Roy Cimagala*

ESPECIALLY in our relation with God and with others, we need to give our all. Especially in our duties toward them, we should do our best to carry them out wholeheartedly.

The consideration of prudence and discretion may appear to us as if we have to be calculating and to give less than what we would like to give, but in the end what it does is to lead us to give our all.

We are reminded of this truth about our life in that gospel episode where Christ told his disciples, “Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket or under a bed, and not to be placed on a lampstand? For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible; nothing is secret except to come to light.” (Mk 4,21-22)

These words of Christ clearly tell us that we should always be at the service of God and others, doing the most important task of always giving glory to God and of leading everybody else to him.

And he capped this indication of his with a call to generosity when he said, “The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you, and still more will be given to you. To the one who has more, more will be given; from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” (Mk 4,24-25)

In our self-giving to God and to others, we should try our best to be energized, driven and zealous. That is actually the ideal condition for us. Even if we are endowed only with the most phlegmatic and melancholic temperaments, something must be burning inside our heart that cannot help but burst into a flame, a flame of love, of self-giving, of serving without expecting any return. If it is not yet there, then let’s enkindle it.

The secret again is always that vital identification with Christ who, in pursuit of his redemptive mission, expressed such zeal when he said: “I have come to set the world on fire, and I wish it were already burning!” (Lk 12,49) And no amount of difficulty and suffering, and even death, could stop him from pursuing his mission. Such should also be out attitude.

If we are truly in love, with the love of God who is the source, pattern and end of love, we cannot help but, like Christ, be always energized, driven and zealous, no matter what the cost. Of course, this condition is quite tough to meet, but if we would just try, and try again as often as necessary, certainly the ideal effect would just come about.

Let’s also remember that God has endowed us with everything we need for us to achieve our ideal condition that would enable us to give our all. We need to develop a keen sense of generosity and self-giving that is also a result of detachment. Let’s never forget that whatever we have comes from God who wants us to work for the common good. Thus, we hear St. Paul saying, “What do you have that you did not receive?” (1 Cor 4,7)

We have been reminded of this need to cultivate generosity in the gospel. “Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions,” Christ said. (Lk 12,15) Let’s remember that God cannot be outdone in generosity.

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

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

10 Pinaka Mapinsalang Bagyo Sa Pilipinas (Worst Typhoons)

10. typhoon Lando 9. typhoon Pedring 8. typhoon Rolly 7. typhoon Ulysses 6. typhoon Pepeng 5. typhoon Ompong 4. typhoon Glenda 3. typhoon Pablo 2. typhoon Odette 1. typhoon Yolanda tags & topic #typhoon #strongest #bagyo #hurricane #cyclone #bagyong #pinaka #pinsala #malakas #malalakas #mapaminsala #pinsalang #philippines #top #typhoons #biggest #tumama #dumaan #humagupit #nabuo #nabubuo #scariest#super #storm #surge This video content is my original creation and narrative, but all of the clips or materials that I used, including images, videos, and music, are all credited to their respective owners.