Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson. File Photo

By Eugene Y. Adiong, Manila Times

March 14, 2023 

BACOLOD CITY: Checkpoints may scare away tourists, especially foreigners, Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson claimed on Monday.

"I understand that there are more security checkpoints in Negros Oriental. This is not good for tourism, especially for foreigners," Lacson said.

The governor added that Filipinos "understand checkpoints but foreigners don't like it."

Police and military checkpoints were established 21 areas in the island to heighten security and help pursue the suspects behind the assassination of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo who remain at large.

"Basically, the instructions of the President was to suppress criminal activities and impunity in Negros Oriental," said Lacson, adding that the Philippine Army sent reinforcements in the province.

"This is the judgement call of Defense Secretary Carlito Galvez to carry out the order of the President. Hopefully, they can resolve the issue on the suspects that have not been arrested yet. It would be good if they could be identified as to their whereabouts and arrested."

He also said that the sooner the security forces apprehend the suspects "the better for the island."

"Negros Occidental is open for tourists. We just have to be prepared, especially resort owners to accept more visitors," he said.

Meanwhile, Maj. Cenon Pancito, acting spokesman of Special Joint Task Force Negros (SJTFN), said that a ceremonial send-off of troops from the 11th, 62nd, 94th, 7th, 79th and 15th Infantry Battalions was held on Sunday in Siaton, Negros Oriental, following the activation of the task force for the security operations in the second and third districts of Negros Oriental.

The SJTFN is composed of the Army's 302nd and 303rd Infantry Brigade, and six of its Army battalions, as well as PNP Special Action Force and other police units.

On the other hand, Lt. Col. Roderick Salayo, 11th Infantry Battalion commander, said troops were deployed in the third district of Negros Oriental, including Basay, Bayawan City, Santa Catalina, Siaton, Dauin, Zamboanguita and Bacong areas.

"Seaports as well as airports will also be covered," Salayo said.

The Philippine National Police has also deployed additional Special Action Force troopers to augment local police units.

Salayo allayed fears that their additional tasking will compromise their anti-insurgency operations.

Davao Oro declares state of calamity

By Ruth Palo

March 14, 2023 

DAVAO CITY: The province of Davao de Oro has been placed under a state of calamity due to the extensive damage from the series of earthquakes that hit the province last week.

In a resolution passed on Saturday, March 11, through a special session, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan said the declaration would allow the provincial government to immediately address the needs of its residents displaced by the earthquakes.

Based on Section 21 of Republic Act 10121 or "Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010," at least 30 percent of the local disaster risk reduction management fund "shall be allocated as Quick Response Fund or standby fund for relief and recovery programs in order that situation and living conditions of people in communities or areas stricken by disasters, calamities, epidemics, or complex emergencies, may be normalized as quickly as possible."

Based on the latest situational report of the Provincial Risk Reduction Management Council, a total of 194,057 households or 229,647 families were affected by the series of strong quakes.

It also reported that the recent earthquakes left an estimated damage of P265 million to infrastructures.

A magnitude 5.3 earthquake rocked Davao de Oro and neighboring provinces last March 6 while two more strong tremors ranging from magnitude 5.6 to 5.9 were reported the following day with epicenters in the municipality of New Bataan in said province.

Currently, all the concerned agencies are in close coordination to address the need for potable water to nine evacuation centers situated in the towns of Maco, Nabunturan, and New Bataan.

PH cyberattack defense now more robust --- PBBM

BY ARGYLL CYRUS GEDUCOS

Mar 13, 2023 11:15 AM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• President Marcos described the signing as "important" in the country's continuing efforts to protect itself against cyberattacks, noting that businesses, which he likened to wars, will now happen in cyberspace.

• Under the MOU, the NGCP will provide technical assistance to the NICA, especially on energy-related security issues, that will significantly contribute to the latter's endeavors in cybersecurity.

• Featured photo: President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. (Noel Pabalate)

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The Philippines now has better defenses against any attack on its cybersystems following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that would assist its premiere intelligence agency, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said.

Marcos said this as he witnessed the signing of the MOU between the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) and National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) in Malacañang on Monday, March 13.

Under the MOU, the NGCP will provide technical assistance to the NICA, especially on energy-related security issues, that will significantly contribute to the latter's endeavors in cybersecurity.

In his speech, the President described the signing as "important" in the country's continuing efforts to protect itself against cyberattacks, noting that businesses, which he likened to wars, will now happen in cyberspace.

"That is why we are continuing to shore up our defenses when it comes to cybersecurity," Marcos said.

"This is an important day because now we have made robust the defenses against any possible attack on our power systems, on any other of the elements in our everyday lives that require power, and, for that matter, that require the exchange of secure information amongst ourselves in society," he added.

President Marcos thanked the NGCP for taking on this initiative as it addressed concerns that the involvement of foreign entities in the Philippines' power transmission system would threaten the country's security.

"This is a very good step towards answering that challenge. It is but one step because we are continuing to do this-- not only with NGCP-- but we are developing our cyber systems," he said.

"We are developing our cyber systems so that we are secure and so that the data that we need to collect and to disseminate is available to us and we are able to do and handle that data in a secure fashion without the risk of it being used, somehow, against the Philippines," he added.

According to the President, the MOU between NICA and the NGCP will clarify the requirements of the Philippines' intelligence services to ensure that the country is safe and secure.

He said there would be more similar partnerships to help sectors that could be assessed at risk regarding cybersecurity. However, those that we will be done "quietly."

"But, nonetheless, it is something we must continue to develop, and it is a good development," Marcos said.

"It is a good signal to all of us who have concerns in this regard that we are doing many things to make sure that the Philippines remains secure, that the Philippines remains in accordance with international law, and that the Philippines and its people can rest assured that their territory, their data, their personal information will not be used against us and that they can feel secure," he added.

The MOU was signed by NGCP president and chief executive officer Antony Almeda and NICA chief Gen. Ricardo de Leon.

Based on its website, the NGCP is a privately owned corporation taking the lead in the operations, maintenance, and development of the country's state-owned power grid, which is an interconnected system that transmits gigawatts of power from where it is made to where it is needed.

On the other hand, the NICA, as the government agency mandated to direct, coordinate, and integrate all government activities involving national intelligence, commits itself to providing the NGCP with intelligence that will aid in protecting power transmission assets operated and maintained by the NGCP across the country. 

Meet the young women of ABS-CBN Music

BY MANILA BULLETIN ENTERTAINMENT

Mar 14, 2023 09:49 AM

  

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The young women of ABS-CBN Music

Brave, empowered, and unique.

These words describe today’s young Kapamilya singers who are gradually carving a name in the industry with their talent, ingenuity, and musicality.

Meet some of the talented artists from the ABS-CBN Music roster who use their music to support their fellow women:

Angela Ken

Angela Ken

Discovered on TikTok with her then unfinished song “ Ako Naman Muna ” that eventually
turned out to be a massive hit upon release, Angela Ken is one of the fastest-rising artists
today because of her relatable and empowering songs. Last year, she was also able to
showcase her versatility in the iWantTFC Originals series “Lyric and Beat.”

Belle Mariano

Belle Mariano

Belle Mariano has fully blossomed from being a timid child star to a young superstar that
she is now with hit movies, series, and music in her portfolio. Her single “ Sigurado ,” one of
the tracks in her debut album “daylight,” already earned 25 million Spotify streams, and
fans can look forward to more of her songs this 2023.

CESCA

CESCA

Star Pop recording artist CESCA released her debut EP “Travel” last year, taking listeners on
a journey of leaving own’s bubble to boldly take risks and face hardships. Her soothing voice
now shines in “Kung Makakapili Lang,” one of the theme songs of ABS-CBN’s hit series
“Dirty Linen.”

Cool Cat Ash

Cool Cat Ash

Cool Cat Ash, named PMPC Star Awards for Music 2021 Novelty Artist of the Year and 2022
Rock Artist of the Year, actually started in the music industry when she was just five years
old. Today she is also a songwriter, music producer, sound engineer, DJ, and film scorer
who is currently studying Music Production at Berklee College of Music in Boston. She also
co-founded a female-led music production company, Aunorable Productions, with her sister,
Marion Aunor. She has just released a song called “Changes” about embracing constant
changes in life, including the good, the bad, and everything in between.

FANA

FANA

The former “Idol Philippines” season 1 contestant FANA is out to make a name for herself
not only with her edgy musicality but also with her wit as she joins the cast of the newest
iWantTFC Originals series “Teen Clash.” Last year, she lent her voice to the alternate song
“Sa Dulo,” one of the soundtracks of “The Broken Marriage Vow.”

Janine Berdin

Janine Berdin

“Tawag Ng Tanghalan” season 2 grand champion Janine Berdin made waves in 2022,
capping off the year by gracing a billboard in Times Square in New York as the cover of
Spotify’s EQUAL playlist. She also launched her debut album, “WTF i actually wrote these
songs” with six relatable tracks she penned herself. This month, she happily shared that she
has fulfilled her dreams of having her own band. She is also set to release a new single,
“bntp,” on Friday (March 17).

Maymay Entrata

Mamay Entrata

From her “PBB” days to becoming the ‘Amakabogera’ that she is today, Maymay Entrata has
evolved to become a successful P-pop soloist. Her “Amakabogera” music video has
generated over 20 million views on YouTube to date and she even got a nomination from no
less than MTV Europe Music Awards for Best Asia Act in 2022. Recently, her “ Puede Ba ”
music video already hit over 1.1 million views on YouTube.

Trisha Denise

This talented but low-key singer-songwriter has written many songs for her fellow
Kapamilya singers, such as Belle, Maymay, and Moira dela Torre. Trisha Denise’s album
“Piece of the Puzzle,” showcased her artistry while also giving inspiration to her listeners.
She recently sang “Hindi Pa Natin Alam,” a collaboration with Benedix Ramos and one of the
theme songs of the iWantTFC Originals “Tara G.”

Vivoree

Vivoree

The former “Pinoy Big Brother: Lucky 7” housemate has turned a new leaf in her career
upon the release of her solo single, “ Matapang ” that speaks of becoming fearless with one’s
feelings. Vivoree is also set to work with some of the most talented female songwriters and
producers this year for her much-awaited coming-of-age EP.

Zachary

Zachary

Last year, Zachary debuted with her alluring sounds “ dahan-dahan ” followed by “RBND.”
This time, listeners can expect more modern pop and R&B songs from this young Filipino-Canadian songstress that promise to dwell on real experiences and sentiments of today’s youth.

Check out the music of Angela, Belle, CESCA, Cool Cat Ash, FANA, Janine, Maymay, Trisha
Denise, Vivoree, and Zachary. For more details, follow Star Music on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram,  Tiktok , and YouTube.

BIR honors top tax paying celebs of 2022

BY STEPHANIE BERNARDINO

  

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Several celebrities were recently honored during a ceremony hosted by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in a Quezon City mall recently.

This, for being among top tax paying personalities of 2022.

Among those cited were Coco Martin, Kathryn Bernardo, Daniel Padilla, Anne Curtis, Willie Revillame, Jed Madela, and Bugoy Drilon.

Also making it to the BIR list of top tax paying celebrities were Liza Soberano, Vic Sotto, Judy Ann Santos, Sarah Geronimo, Maja Salvador, and Michael V., among others.

In his speech, Daniel thanked the agency for the recognition.

"Maraming-maraming salamat po sa award na ito at maraming-maraming salamat sa dami naming binayaran na tax," he quipped.

Kathryn, on the other hand, said: "Hopefully, this would inspire everybody to do our responsibility bilang Pilipino na magbayad ng tax."

Anne echoed the same thing.

"I just wanna say that now I am a mother, I think it's so important that we lead by example to the future generations and encourage others to think about the progression of our country as well for the future generations that have yet to come," she said. "So, let's all lead by example and support the BIR and let's pay everything on time."

Latest California storm turns deadly, breaks levee

WET WHEELS Cars are partially submerged in floodwaters in Watsonville, California on Saturday, March 11, 2023. AP PHOTO

March 13, 2023 

 By Agence France-Presse 

PAJARO, California: Another powerful storm pummeled California overnight into Saturday, forcing thousands to evacuate and killing at least two people, while causing a levee to give way in coastal Monterey County.

"We were hoping to avoid and prevent this situation, but the worst-case scenario has arrived with the Pajaro River overtopping and levee breaching at about midnight," Luis Alejo, a Monterey County supervisor, said on Twitter on Saturday.

Residents told Agence France-Presse (AFP) they were alerted by local fire officials in the middle of the night that they needed to evacuate.

"Just the noise of the fire department — their sirens and all — woke us up," said Moses, a resident of the area for about 20 years who preferred to give only his first name.

He said officials later came and knocked on his door multiple times, but that he decided to wait until 5 a.m. to make a decision.

After returning home from surveying the flooding, Moses said water was beginning to cover his street.

"That's when I told my wife: 'Hey, we got to get out of here,'" he added.

The area remained under a flood warning on Saturday afternoon, the National Weather Service said.

On Friday night, state emergency services director Nancy Ward announced that the storm had already claimed at least two lives.

Images posted on Twitter by the state's National Guard account showed guardsmen rescuing residents trapped in their cars by high water.

At least one road was washed away in Santa Cruz County, just north of Monterey.

Residents in several towns, mostly in the north, have been ordered to evacuate.

An unusually intense and seemingly endless series of storms has battered California for weeks.

The latest storm was expected to dump as much as 9 inches (23 centimeters) of rain on already saturated ground.

Part of a powerful atmospheric river, known as a "Pineapple Express" — for the warm, subtropical moisture it brings from Hawaii — this latest storm will speed the melting of the enormous snowpack that has built up in higher elevations.

The resulting runoff threatens to aggravate already serious flooding.

In Pajaro on Saturday, the fire department and national guard used drones to survey the flooded areas, checking for people stranded in their homes, AFP reporters saw.

Two cousins, Angel Martinez and Christian Garcia, waded through the water carrying a plastic bag of food salvaged from the kitchen.

They told AFP their neighborhood was a "wreck," with water 3-feet (1-meter) deep in their backyard.

They were only able to grab cellular phone chargers, some blankets and a first aid kit when they hastily evacuated.

US President Joe Biden on Friday approved an emergency declaration that clears the way to expedite federal aid to the western state.

Biden called Gov. Gavin Newsom on Saturday to reaffirm full federal support for the impact of flooding and landslides on the state, a White House pool report said.

Newsom said California was "deploying every tool we have to protect communities from the relentless and deadly storms battering our state."

Storms in January were blamed for the deaths of 20 people.

Frasco couple gives off 'newlywed' vibes in Berlin

BY ELLSON QUISMORIO

Mar 13, 2023 07:36 AM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• It's easy to mistake Cebu 5th district Rep. Vincent Franco "Duke" Frasco and Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Frasco for newlyweds with the way they look at each other.

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It's already March, but it still feels like love month when you're around Cebu 5th district Rep. Vincent Franco "Duke" Frasco and his wife, Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Frasco.

Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Frasco gets 'interviewed' by Cebu 5th district Rep. Vincent Franco "Duke" Frasco in Berlin, Germany. (Facebook)

The couple always gives off "newlywed" vibes, as what can be seen in this recent Facebook upload from the Cebu congressman.

Apparently, Rep. Frasco was pretending to interview the tourism chief on the sidelines of the International Tourismus Borse (ITB) in Berlin, Germany.

(Facebook)

"It was also great to meet the Filipino community based in Germany during the Bisita Be My Guest launch," the House deputy speaker wrote in a separate post.

The Frascos have been married since August 2009. They have four children.

Learn to live by faith

By Fr. Roy Cimagala *

THAT gospel episode where Christ in the synagogue in Nazareth faulted the people for their lack of faith (cfr. Lk 4,24-30) reminds us that we have to learn how to live by faith, with our thoughts and intentions and everything in our interior world mainly inspired and directed by faith rather than just by our human estimation of things. We have to be wary of our tendency to literally disparage this divine gift of faith.

“There were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when the sky was closed for three and a half years and a severe famine spread over the entire land,” he said. “It was to none of these that Elijah was sent, but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon. Again, there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”

The reaction of his townmates to these words was one of fury. They even wanted to throw him from a cliff. That’s how bad we can also be with respect to our attitude toward being guided by faith. We prefer to think and live simply by ourselves, as if we can handle all the challenges and predicaments we can encounter in our life.

Living by faith is actually meant for all of us, since our life is a life with God. And living by faith is completely practicable, though it obviously would require a certain discipline. Yes, it will require a lot of effort and sacrifice, a lot of self-denial. But let’s also remember that there is also God’s grace given to us that would enable us to enter into the spiritual and supernatural dimensions of our life.

To live by faith means, first of all, that we believe that God is always with us. And he is not with us in a passive way, but is actually actively intervening in our lives. We should not question this basic truth about God and us since as Creator, God not only creates us but also keeps us in existence. 

And given the way we are, with our intelligence and will, plus his grace since we are God’s image and likeness, we are meant to have a personal and intimate relation and connection with God all the time. We are supposed to have an abiding sense of his presence in us, always discerning his promptings.

We are not making this up. We are not fantasizing here, although it’s true that feeling his presence and discerning his promptings will certainly require a lot of effort. That’s because God is way above our nature to comprehend. It’s like having a case of “being so near yet so far.” God is present everywhere. We can always connect with him anytime, but he also remains as the most mysterious of all the mysteries.

That is why we need to go through a certain plan of life that would help us establish and maintain this abiding and intimate relation with God, always conversing with him, referring things to him, asking him questions as well as for help and enlightenment, etc.

We have to study the doctrine of our faith, now clearly and authoritatively taught by the Church, and then avail of certain ascetical and spiritual practices, like regular meditations, contemplation, recollection, retreats, etc.

The ideal to pursue is that of becoming a true contemplative even while being in the middle of the world. A contemplative person is always in conversation with God in all the events of his day and of his whole life!

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

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

LPA enters, to bring rain in Mindanao

By Arlie O. Calalo

March 13, 2023 

A low pressure area (LPA) has entered the Philippines but it has a slim chance of escalating into a tropical depression, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Monday.

However, the LPA, last spotted some 630 kilometers east-southeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, will bring rain in the eastern side of Mindanao, forecaster Obet Badrina said.

"Based on Pagasa's forecast track the weather disturbance is unlikely to develop into a storm but we are still monitoring its movement," Badrina said.

The weather disturbance is affecting Caraga and Davao Region where overcast skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms may prevail in the next 24 hours.

Meanwhile, the northeast monsoon or "amihan" is bringing cloudy skies with rains in Cagayan Valley, Apayao, Aurora and northern Quezon.

Visayas and the rest of Mindanao will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.

The northeast monsoon is also affecting Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon where partly cloudy to cloudy skies with light rains may be experienced, Pagasa said.

What are some facts about the Philippines?

 

Ronna Lou

Philippine-Women.com Dating Coach and Matchmaking Consultant

Matchmaking Consultant2016–present

Studied Information Technology

Lives in Phoenix, AZ2017–present

The country is made up of 7,641 islands, making it the second-largest archipelago in the world.

The world's largest pearl was discovered in the Philippines, known as the "Pearl of Lao Tzu". It weighs 14 pounds and is valued at approximately $40 million.

The Banaue Rice Terraces in the Cordillera region of the Philippines are known as the "Eighth Wonder of the World." They were carved by hand over 2,000 years ago and cover an area of over 4,000 square miles.

It is home to the world's smallest monkey, the Philippine Tarsier, which can fit in the palm of your hand.

It is the only country in Asia that is predominantly Roman Catholic due to its Spanish colonial past.

It is the world's leading producer of coconuts and pineapples and is also a major exporter of bananas and mangoes.

The world's largest indoor arena is the Philippine Arena. It has a seating capacity of up to 55,000 people.

It is the first country in Southeast Asia to gain independence from a colonial power, which is the United States in 1946.

Hope this helps!

[photo edited from Canva]