Christopher de Leon recalls moment he almost lost everything: 'Nasangla ang bahay ko at zero balance na ako sa bank'

 BY ROBERT REQUINTINA

May 8, 2023 02:56 PM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• De Leon added: "I lost everything. Nasangla ko na 'yung bahay. Nabangga na yung mga kotse ko. Zero balance na ako sa bank. Umabot na ako roon. I resigned from the Bananas Group because I want to recover and change my ways. I was just saying help!"

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Christopher De Leon (Screenshot from Korina Interviews)

Award-winning actor Christopher "Boyet" De Leon remembered the days when he was very rich and famous. But everything disappeared when he got lost in fame.

"I was famous. I made lots of money. It gets into your head sometimes, especially kung bata-bata ka. You feel like you're Superman," said De Leon during an interview with Korina Sanchez-Roxas for "Korina Interviews" on NET25 recently.

De Leon added: "When I got famous, I was on my own. I had my own house at naging tambayan ng group yun every weekend. Parties left and right. And then you got lost. You got blinded by fame."

Christopher de Leon and Korina Sanchez-Roxas

Asked how bad it became, De Leon answered: "At the end of my rope, nobody wanted to hire me because I became a headache. Producers shied away from me. There was a time producer na ang gumigising sa akin sa room ko. Sabi n'ya wake up at may trabaho tayo. Sabi ko naman 'meron ba?' I became a pain in the neck. They say I'm a good performer, but I was a headache. I became obnoxious and rowdy. Five or seven years it was like that."

De Leon added: "I lost everything. Nasangla ko na 'yung bahay. Nabangga na yung mga kotse ko. Zero balance na ako sa bank. Umabot na ako roon. I resigned from the Bananas Group because I want to recover and change my ways. I was just saying help!"

Slowly, De Leon said that he recovered because of his children. "Dalawa pa lang noon yung anak ko. You need to survive and kailangan mo ang family. You just realized na you're fortunate to have all of these and then you'll just throw it away? Sabi ko hindi tama."

When asked how he did that, De Leon said: "Hindi mo magagawa 'yun ng sarili mo. You need to hold on to superpower." Watch the full interview:

OCTA: Metro Manila Covid-19 positivity rate may peak by next week

BY ELLALYN DE VERA-RUIZ

May 9, 2023 11:07 AM

  

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The Covid-19 positivity rate in Metro Manila may peak next week, but the 25 percent initial projection will not be reached, said OCTA Research fellow Dr. Guido David on Tuesday, May 9.

David noted that only a “slight” increase in the current Covid-19 positivity rate was observed in Metro Manila, which could indicate that the “increasing trend is slowing down.”

“Metro Manila’s seven-day positivity rate increased slightly to 22.9 percent as of May 7, 2023. It was at 17.8 percent on April 30,” David said.

“The increasing trend is slowing down, and the peak could happen within the next week or so. The positivity rate could also miss the 25 percent mark,” he pointed out.

Metro Manila‘s weekly Covid-19 positivity rate (OCTA Fellow Dr. Guido David)

On May 8, David said that the increasing Covid-19 cases, driven by the Omicron subvariant XBB.1.16, may begin to decline “hopefully by late May or June.”

Positivity rate refers to the number of individuals who yielded positive results from among those who have been tested for Covid-19.

The benchmark for the positivity rate set by the World Health Organization is 5 percent.

The Department of Health on Monday reported 1,545 new Covid-19 cases across the country, of which 677 cases were recorded in Metro Manila.

He said the country’s current positivity rate was down to 18.8 percent on May 8, from 19.9 percent on May 7.

David projected that the country may only record 600 to 700 new Covid-19 cases on Tuesday.

GCash down? Netizens report problems with online cashing app

By Aric John Sy Cua

May 9, 2023 

NETIZENS checking their GCash app may find a notice saying that services will be "right back".

"We'll be right back!" the message wrote. "We're just working on improving your experience. Rest assured that your funds are safe."

According to Down Detector, 63 percent of its reported problems with GCash involve the app itself, with 31 percent for login and 6 percent with its website.

"When we collectively move our funds from #GCash to more secure and convenient platforms, will the app have another downtime in the guise of system maintenance for better user experience? Seems that the best user experience is to not use #GCash at all," tweeted @KJPurisima on Tuesday.

Netizens on Facebook noticed the East West Bank account number ending in 5239 being among their GCash transactions on Monday.

"Ang daming nagrereport na nawalan ng pera sa GCash. Same bank and ending number yung nangunguha ng pera search niyo sa Facebook. Now, under maintenance sila. Wag sana mawala pera ko dun," (A lot of people have reported losing money in their GCash. Search it on Facebook, the same bank and ending number was the one who took our money. It's now under maintenance. I hope I did not lose money there.) tweeted @SnowShop_Ph.

"Gcash should be investigated," tweeted @reklamonomics. "You can't have unscheduled maintenance. Ideally, Digital banks should be accessible 24/7 esp. With policymakers encouraging a shift to digital transactions."

The app confirmed on its Twitter handle that it was under maintenance.

"GCash App is temporarily unavailable to make way for system maintenance. We apologize for this inconvenience. We will notify you once our services are back via our official social media channels or GCash Help Center. Thank you for your patience on this," the online wallet application said in response to a netizen on Twitter.

East West Bank is yet to make a statement, as of posting time. WITH A REPORT FROM MITCH VILLANUEVA

Rizal Monument lights up for Europe Day

BY RAYMUND ANTONIO

  

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The Rizal Monument and the Musical Dancing Fountain in Rizal Park on Sunday, May 7, lit up in the blue and yellow colors of the European Union flag for the celebration of Europe Day 2023.

(File photo courtesy of European Union in the Philippines)

European Union (EU) Ambassador to the Philippines Luc Véron said in a Facebook post that “the observance of Europe Day presents a chance to highlight the partnership and camaraderie between the European Union and the Philippines.”

He noted that the EU and the Philippines would make the 60th year of their bilateral relations in 2024.

The same post said that the celebration of Europe Day 2023 is made possible by the joint efforts of the National Parks and Development Committee (NPDC), the Department of Tourism (DOT), and the European Union Delegation to the Philippines.

They also hosted a free Concert at the Park: Tumutubong Katutubo (Our Evolving Traditional Music Practices) at the Rizal Park Open-Air Auditorium for “a cultural experience like no other!”

Europe Day is held on May 9 every year to mark the anniversary of the historic Schuman Declaration, which led to the establishment of the 27 member-state European Union.

Photos that circulated online showed the Musical Dancing Fountain in Rizal Park illuminated with blue and yellow lights.

DILG warns vs fake info on seniors' pension hike

By Dexter A. See

May 8, 2023 

BAGUIO CITY: The Department of the Interior and Local Government in the Cordillera Administrative Region (DILG CAR) has urged the public to stop spreading unverified and inaccurate information regarding the status of a bill amending social pension for indigent senior citizens.

"We would like to call on [the public] to refrain from disseminating false and misleading information, particularly on social media platforms, because it might cause confusion and panic [among our senior citizens]," DILG CAR Regional Director Araceli San Jose said over the weekend.

San Jose also advised the public to be more vigilant and discerning in their consumption of information, as one of the schemes involves copying the icon and logo or even the actual website of the National Commission for Senior Citizens (NCSC) to make it appear official or legitimate.

She pointed out that as of today, the bill amending Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens Program into the Universal Pension Program that will then cover both pensioners and non-pensioners still has not been approved in the House of Representatives.

The universal social pension is a proposal that states that all senior citizens, regardless of their financial situation or economic class, are entitled to a monthly stipend.

"The program's implementation has not yet been transferred from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to the NCSC. Thus, submitting the senior citizen data form is not required in order to qualify for the Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens Program," San Jose said.

The National Commission for Senior Citizens recently released a public advisory aimed at cautioning senior citizens on rumors and disinformation pertaining to various issues.

"These issues include the distribution of social pensions to indigent senior citizens, as well as the transfer of functions and duties of senior citizen-related benefits and programs from the DSWD to the NCSC," San Jose explained.

In an official statement, NCSC Chairman Franklin Quijano also explained that while it is factual that Republic Act (RA) 11916 mandates a 100 percent increase in the monthly pension of indigent senior citizens — from P500 to P1,000 — it would still need to be funded by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and could only go into effect once the Bureau of the Treasury has allocated the necessary funds.

PH hot, humid as 2 LPAs dissipate

Guests cool off at an indoor pool resort in in Del Monte Avenue in Quezon City on Sunday, May 07, 2023.  PHOTO BY ISMAEL DE JUAN

By Arlie O. Calalo

The country will be hot and humid in the next 24 hours except in some areas where there will be occasional downpour and thunderstorms, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services (Pagasa) said on Monday.

The two low pressure areas (LPAs) being monitored outside and inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) have dissipated, weather specialist James Daniel Villamil told The Manila Times.

"So it would be again a generally fair weather condition all over the country except for scattered rain showers and thunderstorms during late afternoon or nighttime in some areas," Villamil said.

He said the easterlies, winds coming from the Pacific Ocean that bring warm and humid temperature, are affecting especially the eastern section of the country.

Metro Manila will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rain showers and thunderstorms.

LTO to launch electronic version of driver's license

BY AARON RECUENCO

May 8, 2023 10:08 AM

  

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The Land Transportation Office (LTO) is set to launch an electronic version of driver’s license in what it described as a continuing effort to digitalize all its services.

In partnership with the the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the digital license will serve as an electronic alternative to the physical driver's license card, according to LTO chief JayArt Tugade.

"The advantage of the digital license is that motorists can present it to law enforcement officers during apprehension. It is equivalent to presenting the physical driver's license," said Tugade.

“We also appreciate the way the super app functions similarly to a wallet, containing all government IDs, among other things, within your mobile device,” he added.

The digital license is part of the agreement between the LTO and the DICT in March this year that focuses on enhancing the digitalization of systems and processes within the LTO, ultimately improving its overall efficiency and effectiveness.

The digital license, according to Tugade, will be integrated into the "super app" currently being developed by the DICT. 

He explained that the digital license aims to replace the Official Receipt (OR) as temporary driver's license currently printed on paper.

“The public will be able to utilize the digital license for various transactions with the agency, including license and registration renewals as well as online payments,” said Tugade.
 
Amid concerns on the security of the digital license, Tugade assured the public that the existing security features of the driver's license would be integrated into the digital version, in addition to the “super app's” security measures.

By simplifying the transactions in the LTO, Tugade said this would help in finally convincing its clients not to tap the services of the fixers.

And in digitalizing more LTO services, he said this would ultimately aid the agency in eradicating corruption.

‘Dangerous’ heat experienced in 15 areas on May 7

BY ELLALYN DE VERA-RUIZ

May 7, 2023 06:12 PM

  

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Fifteen locations had heat indices above the “danger” threshold on Sunday, May 7, according to the monitoring of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

PAGASA defines the heat index as the measurement of how hot it feels when relative humidity is factored in with the actual air temperature.

The areas with the highest heat indices observed on Sunday were Dipolog, Zamboanga del Norte (45°C); Daet, Camarines Norte (44°C); Legazpi City, Albay (44°C); Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Sur (44°C); Aparri, Cagayan (43°C); Iba, Zambales (43°C); Infanta, Quezon (43°C); Masbate City, Masbate (43°C); Roxas City, Capiz (43°C); Catarman, Northern Samar (42°C); Dagupan City, Pangasinan (42°C); Laoag City, Ilocos Norte (42°C); Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Pasay City (42°C); San Jose, Occidental Mindoro (42°C); and Sinait, Ilocos Sur (42°C).

PAGASA said heat indices between 42°C and 51°C carry impending “danger” as “heat cramps and heat exhaustion are likely” and “heat stroke is probable with continued activity.”

(PAGASA)

Based on PAGASA’s data, the highest heat index recorded since March 1, 2023, was 49℃ on April 16 in Guiuan, Eastern Samar.

In the next 24 hours, PAGASA said the Kalayaan Islands will have cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms due to a low pressure area.

It warned of moderate to occasional heavy rains that could cause flooding or landslides in the Kalayaan Islands.

Meanwhile, the rest of the country will continue to experience partly cloudy to cloudy weather with isolated rain showers or localized thunderstorms due to the easterlies.

Romualdez sees influx of foreign tourists; here's why

BY ELLSON QUISMORIO

May 7, 2023 12:08 PM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• House Speaker Martin Romualdez believes that there could be an  influx of foreign tourists to the Philippines thanks to  the World Health Organization's (WHO) lifting of its Covid-19 global health emergency declaration, as well as the easing of travel restrictions by several countries

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Boracay, arguably the crown jewel of Philippine tourism. (Unsplash)

House Speaker Martin Romualdez is prodding authorities to prepare for a possible influx of foreign tourists to the Philippines in the coming days.

This, as the House leader pointed to the World Health Organization's (WHO) lifting of its Covid-19 global health emergency declaration, as well as the easing of travel restrictions by several countries, including the United States and Japan.

Romualdez said these developments could result in freer travel and more tourists visiting the Philippines.

“Let the concerned government agencies and sectors of the economy prepare for this possibility, which will benefit tourist destinations and local communities,” said the Leyte 1st district congressman.

Philippine tourism was brought to its knees in early 2020 as the Covid-triggered lockdowns meant that travel was impossible. The sector has managed to partially recover, thanks to mass vaccination.

The Speaker in particular urged the Department of Health (DOH) and the government’s Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF), which manages the country’s response to the pandemic, to prescribe minimum health protocols that would be consistent with the WHO decision to scuttle its global health emergency declaration.

At the same time, he asked the DOH to continue encouraging people to avail themselves of free Covid-19 vaccination the government is offering.

Romualdez reminded the public “to wear a face mask when needed, wash your hands, isolate when sick, observe physical distancing, and get vaccinated” to avoid contracting Covid-19.

He noted that although most of the population already had their primary shots, many still have yet to receive their first and second booster shots.

Romualdez also asked local officials to continue monitoring the situation in their respective areas and immediately take the necessary measures whenever there is a spike in Covid-19 cases.

“Let us promptly attend to those needing help so that this virus does not infect more people and lead to more deaths,” he said.

Miss World Philippines 2021 Tracy Maureen Perez expresses interest in joining showbiz

BY ROBERT REQUINTINA

May 7, 2023 02:44 PM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• Perez, who finished in the top 12 of the Miss World 2021 beauty pageant in Puerto Rico, revealed that she's already taking acting lessons, although she also dreams of becoming a host in a TV program.

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Miss World Philippines 2021 Tracy Maureen Perez

Miss World Philippines 2021 Tracy Maureen Perez has expressed interest in joining show business following her successful stint in pageants.

"It's one of the possibilities. I won't deny that. Isa yun sa mga na-realize ko actually that being Miss World Philippines can open so many opportunities for me and hindi ko talaga puwedeng baliwalain yung opportiunity na yun. I'm very much willing to take that step. Hindi natin alam kung ano ang mangyayari but again anywhere I go I always put my best foot forward, and I will do my best," said Perez during the launch of Beauty Wise at Luxent Hotel in Quezon City recently.

Perez, who finished in the top 12 of the Miss World 2021 beauty pageant in Puerto Rico, revealed that she's already taking acting lessons, although she also dreams of becoming a host in a TV program.

"If I were given the chance I would really love to be a TV host like a noontime show host but at the same time, I've tried taking acting lessons already. It's so different and it's so much fun. So tignan po natin at gusto ko rin siyang ma try kasi we should never stop learning and trying new things kahit na ano man ang age natin. Just go out there and live our lives," Perez also said.

Tracy and Beauty Wise CEO Abdania Galo (left)

Perez, 30, admitted that she was happily in a relationship with a non-showbiz guy.

On showbiz crushes, Perez said that she admires Robert Downey Jr., John Lloyd Cruz, Jericho Rosales, and Joshua Garcia.

Perez was introduced by Abdania Tapulgo Galo as the latest celebrity ambassador of Beauty Wise products. Galo, 18, is the country's youngest chief executive officer of a company.

Galo said that she dreamed of joining show business but growing up he changed her mind.

Tracy (right) and Abdania

"Actually as a kid, it's really my dream (to join showbiz) pero growing up, naging inspiration ko ang mom ko. She's so into business, and I'm watching her every day, doing struggles and inspiring me a lot. And that's something I am willing to learn," Galo also said.

"Being a young CEO has a great responsibility. The feeling is really mabigat to the point na mahuhulog na yung puso mo. You haver a great responsibility and that's what I'm looking for," Galo added. "I used to try other products and nag-explore talaga ako. Walang bagay sa skin ko. But ever since I tried Beauty Wise products, one year na ako and last year lang ako nagstart, and here I am. I'm flawless."

Asked about the wisest advice from her mom, Galo said: "My mom told me to learn and learn and try my best. If you don't try your best, magpapakita yung results. So mom said, 'gusto mo ba talaga yan?' And then I said, 'oo gusto ko ito.' She also told me to explore. My mom is so adventurous and I kept exploring until I found out na gusto ko talaga maging CEO. It's something I can be proud of. It's something I have been waiting for a long time."

Abdania Galo (Facebook)

Perez was also asked about the wisest thing about beautiful.

"I try to think myself as beautiful and use it anyway now na hopefully ma encourage and ma-inspire ko rin yung mga bata. Hindi ako maputi. Usually when we talk about skin care, usually maputi at makinis. I think I am one of the few endorsers na proud morena. I'd like to see these children, especially sa probinsya, Pumunta ka sa probinsya halos lahat morena. So gusto kong tumingin sila sa akin at tumingin sila sa TV at sabihin nila morena siya pero maganda siya. Pero gusto kong ma-realize nila na maganda rin sila," the beauty queen said.

It took Perez a long time to realize that she's beautiful. "Personally nagagandahan din ako sa mestiza kaya naman gandang-ganda ako kay Iya noong nakita ko sya the first time. Pero it took me a lot of validations from my friends and the industry na maganda pala ako."

Perez tried three times before she became Miss World Philippines. "Beauty is subjective, at dapat magsimula yun sa sarili ninyo. Hopefully, you start telling yourselves that hey I'm beautiful, and I'm capable of doing anything with my life."