ANYTHING GOES?

Originally used in the 19th Century as 'Everything goes', it simply means that one can do whatever one likes, without rules or consequences.

Anything goes? Yes, it seems so: illegal logging, natural disasters, improper disposal of garbage, climate change, melting icebergs, "my neighbor goes on burning rubber and plastic" (GRABE!), poisonous waste products ... !

Guys, when will you stop doing this? Or, are you waiting for the next tsunami and taifun taking away your family and all your belongings and properties?

Since years, I have on my desk a wonderful brochure entitled "Q&A Questions and Answers on YOUR ecosystem" - mentioning and explaining 365 (!) reasons to stand up for Mother Nature. And to be counted as "Barkada ng Kaliksan"! It's really a primer on environment care, produced by the Kinaiyahan Foundation, Inc. and BARog KA likupan DAbaw, Inc. (BARKADA) with a foreword by Elisea G. Guzon, former secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Even having the fumes of burned poison garbage in my nostrils (I usually enjoy writing my columns somewhere outside in my tropical green garden!) I still study this valuable brochure.

Yes, anything goes! It really seems true! Why should one think about the ecosystem and its structures? Or, solar-energy and life on earth and why should it be protected? The effects of global warming can be seen more and more, but deforestation and profits kill the thoughts and deeds about the value of forests and how to protect them!

Fertilizer and its problems are known, but who really cares? Pesticides and their problems are very well known too, but who really cares? Anything goes? How do we handle major consumers of water managing water resources? Are we overusing groundwater?

Climate change, greenhouse-effect, gases that pollute the atmosphere, acid rains, and biodiversity are foreign words to these people, who continue to destroy our globe and provoke the next natural disaster. The above-mentioned brochure, mentioning the Top 30 Environmental Issues in the 21st Century, is not the only written examination or rebuke. I wish and pray for many followers. For our next generations!

Sustainable consumption: Time to check buying habits

Jul 14, 2024 02:59 AM

  

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We are living amid a problem of unsustainable consumption, and its waste surrounds us, among them rolls of plastic, packaging material, and fashion clothing.

This problem became more apparent during the pandemic when online shopping became the only way to acquire goods.  After that, the door to reach consumers at all hours of the day was opened, and packaging – mostly plastics – that will keep the newness or freshness of a product, added to the waste generated by households. 

Sustainable consumption is Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) No.12, part of the 17 goals which aim to transform our world.  In 2015, all the countries in the United Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The goals are a “call to action to end poverty and inequality, protect the planet, and ensure that all people enjoy health, justice and prosperity.”

Sustainable consumption has become a major concern these days because of consumer behavior in online shopping. In June 2020, global retail e-commerce traffic reached a record 22 billion monthly visits and a staggering $26.7 trillion in sales, Earth.org said. What draws consumers to buy online are: price, speed, and convenience.

“By the end of this year (2023), Asia is set to account for 50 percent of the world’s total online retail sales, most of which take place in China, currently the world’s leading country by retail e-commerce sales. Singles’ Day, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday are just a few examples of the initiatives that push consumers to buy more and more goods,” the Earth.org article published in December 2023, “The Truth About Online Shopping and Its Environmental Impact,” said.

The problems brought by the convenience of online shopping are many.  The packaging of products contributes to CO2 emissions from producing plastics, polluting ecosystems and adding large amounts of waste to landfills.

The article cites specifics: “Three billion trees are pulped yearly to produce 241 million tons of shipping cartons, the forest conservation group Canopy found. And of the 86 million tons of plastic packaging produced globally each year, not even 14 percent is recycled.”

One area where unsustainable consumption is generating large amounts of waste is in fashion, specifically textile.  A recent report said that in China, the world’s largest textile producer and consumer, “more than 26 million tons of clothes are thrown away each year, according to government statistics. Most of it ends up in landfills.”

The report further said that “textile waste is an urgent global problem, with only 12 percent recycled worldwide, according to fashion sustainability nonprofit Ellen MacArthur Foundation. Only one percent— are recycled into new garments; the majority is used for low-value items like insulation or mattress stuffing.

The problem has been traced to the fast fashion trends and the convenience and speed of online shopping. 

In 2019, the UN Environment launched the Sustainable Consumption and Production Hotspots Analysis Tool that allows countries to see “hotspots” of unsustainable practices in consumption and production. The online application analyses the environmental and socio-economic performance of 171 countries over the past 25 years to provide scientific evidence of areas where improvement can be made, the UN agency said.

We need to stem the tide of unsustainable consumption by reshaping the buying habits of consumers who need to be engaged into becoming responsible stewards of the earth’s finite resources.
 

Flood swamps Mindanao

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By KEITH BACONGCO

DAVAO CITY – Several provinces in Mindanao were flooded on Friday, July 12, and left some road networks temporarily impassable following heavy rain in the last two days.

One of those severely affected was Maguindanao del Norte and parts of Lanao del Sur due to flashflood triggered by heavy rains amid the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) since July 10. 

RESIDENTS cross a damaged bridge in Barangay Kidayan, Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat on Satuday, July 13. The bridge linking the towns of Kalamansig and Palimbag was damaged due to flooding caused by heavy rains. (Photo courtesy of Sukelco Lebak-Kalamansig)

Reports showed that at least five persons were reportedly killed in the flashflood while seven others remain missing as of Saturday morning, July 13.

The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Rapid Emergency Action on Disaster Incidence (READi) disclosed that 19 individuals were injured in the flashflood. 

It added that the flooding also affected at least 4,000 residents in Matanog, Maguindanao del Norte.

A portion of the Narciso Ramos National Highway in Balabagan, Lanao del Sur, which links the towns within BARMM and to Zamboanga Region, was temporarily closed to traffic as of 6:40 p.m. on July 12. As of 11 a.m. on July 13, the highway remains closed to traffic.

The severe flooding also affected the neighboring town of Kapatagan in Lanao del Sur.

The highway linking Wao town, also in Lanao del Sur, and Kalingangan in Bukidnon province, was also temporarily closed at 9:45 p.m. on Friday due to a landslide.

It was cleared and declared passable at 1:30 a.m. on July 13, according to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office of Lanao del Sur.

On Friday evening, the PDRRMO issued an orange warning over Lanao del Sur, which means there could be about 75,000 to 150,000 drums of rain per square kilometer in the province.  

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) issued a weather advisory at 11 p.m. on July 12 stating that the southwest monsoon will bring heavy to intense rains (100 to 200 millimeters) over BARMM, Zamboanga Peninsula, Sultan Kudarat, Misamis Occidental, and Lanao del Norte until Saturday night.

Severe flooding and landslides were reported in some barangays in the coastal towns of Lebak, Kalamansig, and Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat province on Friday.

As of 10 a.m., the Department of Public Works and Highways-12 reported that the Kalamansig-Palembang Road remains unpassable due to landslides and damaged bridge in Barangay Santa Clara in Kalamansig.

The Kalamansig-Lebak Road, which was briefly closed on Friday night, is now passable after the DPWH cleared the road of debris following a landslide in Barangay Bolebak on Friday.

In the neighboring province of Sarangani, some rice farms in Kiamba were swamped by floodwaters since Friday due to heavy rains.

In Zamboanga City, the local government reported on its Facebook page that about 3,000 individuals from 11 barangays were evacuated to higher grounds due to severe flooding on Friday.

At 6:34 a.m. on Saturday, the city government announced that flights to the city have been suspended due to flooded runway.

On Friday evening, some areas of Cotabato City were also submerged in floodwater.

These severe weather disturbances took place just as PAGASA issued a La Niña alert on Friday stating that its climate monitoring and analyses suggested a 70 percent chance of La Niña forming in August-September-October (ASO) 2024 season and is likely to persist until the first quarter of 2025.

This was due to further cooling of the sea surface temperatures (SSTs) across the central and eastern equatorial Pacific (CEEP), it added.

“With this development, the DOST-PAGASA ENSO Alert and Warning System is now raised to La Niña alert,” PAGASA said.

“The country may experience a higher chance of increased convective activity and tropical cyclone occurrence which may bring above normal rainfall over some parts of the country in the coming months. Potential adverse impacts may include floods and landslides over vulnerable areas, with varying magnitude.”  

 

LPA outside PAR may develop into a tropical depression within 24 hours --- PAGASA

BY

Jul 14, 2024 05:58 AM

  

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The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Sunday, July 14, monitored a low pressure area (LPA) outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

Photo credit to MB Visual Content Group

"At sa kasalukuyan, may binabantayan rin tayong low pressure area sa labas ng ating Philippine Area of Responsibility (Currently, we are monitoring a low-pressure area outside of our Philippine Area of Responsibility)," PAGASA Weather Specialist Daniel James E. Villamil said in the latest weather report.

Villamil explained that as of 3 a.m., the said LPA was last observed at a distance of 885 kilometers (km) west of Central Luzon. 

"Within the next 24 hours, there is a high chance that this low-pressure area will develop into a tropical depression," he said in a mix of English and Filipino, clarifying that "we do not expect direct impacts from this weather disturbance on our country."

In the following days, PAGASA expected this LPA to generally move northwestward towards Vietnam.

Meanwhile, the state weather bureau is currently monitoring a cloud cluster in the eastern part of Mindanao.

"In the coming days, these cloud clusters may also develop into a low-pressure area that could bring rains to the eastern part of Visayas and Mindanao," Villamil said. 

 

'Habagat'

The southwest monsoon or 'habagat' remained the dominant weather system in the country, continuing to affect the western parts of Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

"Due to the habagat, we will also experience rains in large parts of our country, particularly across Mindanao and the western sections of Southern Luzon and Visayas," the weather specialist said.

Meanwhile, according to PAGASA's 24-hour public weather forecast, Metro Manila may experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms due to "habagat."

PAGASA said locals may experience possible flash floods or landslides during severe thunderstorms.

BINI drops new summer banger 'Cherry On Top'

Serving eye-popping visuals in new music video

Jul 14, 2024 08:09 AM

  

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BINI

The nation’s girl group BINI brings a delightful addition to their bubblegum discography with the new summer banger “Cherry on Top,” now available on music streaming platforms worldwide. 

Its music video features BINI members Aiah, Colet, Maloi, Gwen, Stacey, Mikha, Jhoanna, and Sheena in eye-popping visuals dancing through a carefree summer vibe sound. 

As of writing, “Cherry on Top” is on Spotify New Music Friday charts in Korea, Australia & New Zealand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, and the Philippines.  The song also topped iTunes Philippines while its music video immediately became no. 1 on Trending for music on YouTube Philippines. 

“Cherry on Top” follows the group’s “Talaawaran” EP drop last March, which features hit songs “Karera,” “Salamin, Salamin,” and “Pantropiko.” 

After their sold-out three-day concert held at the New Frontier Theater, BINI has embarked on their “BINIverse” tour across the country this July to be followed by their North American tour next month.   

The pop octet, formed by ABS-CBN’s “Star Hunt Academy,” recently debuted on the Global Top Artist Chart on Spotify, becoming the first-ever Filipino artist to achieve this. Labeled the next pop sensation out of Asia, BINI has already received the prestigious Rising Star Award for Women in Music from Billboard Philippines, Rolling Stone’s “Ones to Watch,” MTV Asia's Artist Spotlight title, and one of Teen Vogue's 2024 Girl Groups to watch.

Fans can now listen to BINI’s “Cherry On Top” here: https://orcd.co/bini-cherryontop and watch the official music video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wufUX5P2Ds8.

Faithful invited to rosary fluvial procession for peace

Jul 12, 2024 08:17 PM

  

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Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas is inviting the Catholic faithful to join the rosary fluvial procession for peace in the country particularly in the West Philippine Sea on July 16, Tuesday, to coincide with the Memorial of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

Archbishop Socrates Villegas (Photo courtesy of CBCP)

The rosary fluvial procession will follow the 6 am holy mass and will take off from Barangay Cato in Infanta, Pangasinan. Apart from the holy rosary, the participating vessels will also carry an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary, said Archbishop Villegas in a Veritas PH post Friday, July 12.

The Church leader, likewise, thanked all those who are participating in the 50-Day Rosary Campaign launched by the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan on June 27, to pray for peace in the WPS. 

"I am grateful for the heartwarming response to our appeal to pray the rosary starting June 27 until August 15 for peace in our country especially on the West Philippine Sea which is west of our dear Pangasinan province. A nation at prayer is a nation at peace,” the prelate said.

“After the 6 a.m. mass, by the sea coast, we will pray the rosary on the shore while a few of our boat riding brothers and sisters will sail offshore praying the rosary too, each boat carrying a venerated image of Our Lady. We will also install prayer banners on which are printed the image of Our Lady to float over the sea as an act of trust and gesture of trust in her loving protection,” Archbishop Villegas said in a statement.

Those who will not be able to personally join the fluvial procession may still participate through spiritual unity or solidarity in praying the rosary on July 16 at 7:30 in the morning, the archbishop said.

“We will pray for both China and the Philippines. We will pray not just for protection from conflict but to make all of us, Chinese and Filipinos together, as peacemakers. Beyond human ideologies and political parties, the peoples of China and the Philippines belong to the same human family.”

1,000 families flee Zamboanga City flooding

Juli 13, 2024 11:28 AM

  

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By LIZA JOCSON

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Over 1,000 families have evacuated due to heavy monsoon rains which pummeled this city since Friday night, July 12.

RESCUE teams from the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office conduct rescue operations in Barangay San Jose Gusu, Zamboanga City.  (City Hall PIO) 

Among affected barangays were San Jose Gusu, Talisayan, San Roque, Ayala, Baliwasan, Tumaga, Pasonanca, Tetuan, and Sangali.

Profiling and needs assessment are being conducted to determine the number of families affected.  

The City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office activated its Emergency Operation Center on Friday night as it launched rescue operations together with the Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Fire Protection, police and military units, and volunteer groups in flooded barangays. 

The City Social Welfare and Development Office initially provided food packs, sleeping, and hygiene kits to families staying at different evacuation centers. 

Mayor John Dalipe and House Majority Leader and Zamboanga City Rep. Mannix Dalipe visited evacuation centers to provide hot meals and food packs to flood victims.

Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils have established community kitchens in affected areas.

Offices and agencies of local and national governments are in close coordination to continuously monitor affected communities for continuous rescue operations and relief efforts.

Mayor Dalipe  advised the public to remain alert and vigilant as inclement weather continues here.

La Niña alert raised: PAGASA warns of potential impact

 Jul 12, 2024 06:57 PM

  

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The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) raised the La Niña alert on Friday, July 12, due to an increased likelihood of La Niña development in the coming months.

PAGASA’s ENSO (El Niño Southern Oscillation) Alert System had been under a La Niña watch since March before being upgraded to a La Niña alert.

According to PAGASA's latest assessment, there is a 70 percent probability that La Niña conditions will develop during the August-September-October 2024 season and may persist into the first quarter of 2025. 

On July 9, PAGASA initially projected La Niña conditions to develop by the last quarter of the year but now anticipates its arrival earlier than expected.

The central and eastern equatorial Pacific (CEEP) region is currently experiencing ENSO-neutral conditions, where neither El Niño nor La Niña exists. 

Implications

La Niña, characterized by cooler-than-average sea surface temperatures in the CEEP region, is expected to influence weather patterns in the Philippines and globally.  

PAGASA warned of an increased likelihood of heightened convective activity and tropical cyclone occurrence that may result in above-normal rainfall over some parts of the country in the coming months.

It noted that this could potentially lead to adverse impacts, such as floods and landslides in vulnerable areas, which may vary in severity.

PAGASA advised all concerned government agencies and the general public to stay updated and take necessary precautionary measures to mitigate risks associated with La Niña-related weather events.

The STANDS - An INQUIRER Sports Newsletter

 

July 12, 2024

It was quite the performance for Gilas Pilipinas during the Olympic Qualifying Tournament. (FIBA PHOTO)

Hey there sports fan, Before we dive into one national team, let's check up on the problems brewing beneath the surface of another. It isn't quite the controversy just yet, but already, there were some grumblings heard when Chery Tiggo kept standouts Eya Laure and Jennifer Nierva from practicing with Alas Pilipinas, the country's women's volleyball national team. Talks are being held to clarify the situation, but there is a hanging sanction that teams face if they withhold players from the national program. If you ask me, it's a sanction worth studying as far as other professional sports are concerned.  For now, Gilas Pilipinas is encountering no problems of that nature. The 12 players Tim Cone picked for the squad are still committed to the program and Cone has said he is committed to those 12. His only worry now is getting the injured standouts back to full health. Gilas was undermanned when it participated in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Latvia recently, but even that did not stop the national squad from shocking the world No. 5 hosts—and the world, for that matter. That win was certainly a great headline to wake up to (or stay awake for). The Philippines even moved to within two wins of ending a long string of missed Olympic stints in basketball when it snatched triumph in defeat, advancing to the semifinals of the OQT despite losing a close decision to Georgia. Gilas eventually lost to Brazil in the semifinals, but the Nationals had made their mark in the tournament by proving that Philippine basketball is truly world-class.

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Former La Salle standout Thea Gagate, to no one's surprise, was the No. 1 pick of the inaugural PVL Rookie Draft. (MARLO CUETO)

Meanwhile... …It's not like ZUS Coffee said anything differently. The team had been vocal about their choice for the No. 1 overall pick in the PVL Draft and made good on that by selecting Thea Gagate. The middle blocker out of La Salle's vaunted volleyball program, however, admitted that she still had butterflies in her stomach on selection night. She later voiced her excitement over being given the chance to breathe life into a club that was stranded at the bottom last season. For more volleyball stories and our coverage of the Rookie Draft, check out this menu. Speaking of volleyball, do you know how many of the 12 teams currently in the PVL have won championships already? Answer is at the end of this email. What we're up to next: We will begin our coverage of Team Philippines to the Paris Olympics over the weekend so watch out for that. There's also the opening of the PVL Reinforced Conference to look forward to. We've had dispatches from the PBA Rookie Combine and you can follow our coverage of the PBA rookie draft across all our platforms. Number of the Week: 1972 Last time the Philippines competed in the basketball event of the Olympics.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK “It’s, kinda like a ‘now we know’ moment—[that] now, we know we can compete.” —Tim Cone, Gilas Pilipinas coach, on the natiomal team's performance during the Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

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Three. That's the answer to the trivia question above. Think you can ace the rest of our weekly sports quiz? head over to our Viber community and try the test out! Buy the Inquirer at newsstands, subscribe to our digital edition, Inquirer Plus, visit our online site and follow us on socials (Twitter: @inquirersports; FB: facebook.com/inquirersports) for more stories and updates—or to send us questions or suggestions of stories you'd want to read. See you next Friday! Francis Francis T. J. Ochoa is the Sports Editor of the Philippine Daily Inquirer. For comments, suggestions and questions, hit him up on Twitter (@ftjochoaINQ).