An intoxicating love

You’re so intoxicated with each other. You tell your friends (and each other) how it’s so different with this person. They are unlike anyone you’ve ever met. They’re so special, so unique. You’re moving too fast but neither of you care. You love each other, you’re together and you don’t want anyone else. Within a couple months you’ve integrated fully into each other’s lives and you absolutely love it. You’re drunk, you’re wasted, high, intoxicated. You just know that this feeling will never end, it will last forever and you will die in a blissful, blurry euphoria of each other’s love. Until it all comes crashing down.

US musician and author Ted Gioia argues in his excellent book Music: A Subversive History (2019): “At every stage in human history, music has been a catalyst for change, challenging conventions and conveying coded messages – or, not infrequently, delivering blunt, unambiguous ones. It has given voice to individuals and groups denied access to other platforms for expression. Pop music has often been dismissed as “lightweight” given its young audience, simple snappiness and mainstream status, but those elements are really where its strength is concealed. Pop songs don’t originate themes of mental wellbeing, equality, liberty, activism – but they do transmit them to the broadest platforms possible”.

Snap the radio on, zip to any station, and what are you likely to hear? Love songs. Songs of new love, songs of disappointed love, songs of grateful love, songs of crazy love. I still remember my time as a radio host in Davao City several years ago playing the Hits of the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. Nothing has changed. Times change, but through history the flow of love songs is a constant.

Plenty of people are surprised or even shocked to find an explicit love song in the bible – complete with erotic lyrics. But “Song of Songs” is exactly that. It shows no embarrassment about lovers. Consequently, intermittent attempts have been made  to rule “Song of Songs” out of the bible. It’s like making it “for adults only”. Imagine, my dear reader, in 16th century Spain for instance, professor Fray Luis de Leon was dragged out of his classroom and taken to jail for four years. His crime? He translated “Song of Songs” into Spanish.

If you start reading “Song of Songs”, you will find out that this book conveys a very different atmosphere from most modern love songs and pop music. Since love songs are always popular, many people approach “Song of Songs” with great expectations. However, readers often find the book much different from what they had expected. One is the poetic imagery. Second: “Song of Songs” is hard to follow. One part  doesn’t seem connected to the next.

Try to explore the “Song of Songs”. One thing is for sure. You’ll learn a lot about the love between God and His people. 

DG senior reporter accepted to media fellowship for humane drug policy

Daily Guardian senior reporter Joseph Bernard Marzan

Daily Guardian senior reporter Joseph Bernard Marzan has been accepted to the first batch of Media Fellows for Humane Drug Policy 2023.

The fellowship is a project of the Drug Policy Reform Initiative (DPRI), a network of advocates advancing humane drug policies in the country

Nineteen (19) journalists will undergo training in covering issues surrounding drugs, drug use, drug policies, and related issues with the aim of putting an end to stigma and harm for people whose lives include drugs. The media fellows, chosen from a large pool of nationwide applications, are the following:

Karlston Lapniten

Multimedia Journalist

Philippine Daily Inquirer, Cordillera Administrative Region

Liana Apostol

Freelance Journalist

Metro Manila and Pampanga

Carmela Reyes-Estrope

News Correspondent, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Bulacan

Editor-in-Chief, News Core, Bulacan

Mike Navallo

Reporter

ABS-CBN News, Metro Manila

Marc Jayson Cayabyab

Print Reporter

Philippine Star, Metro Manila

Jacob Lazaro

Reporter

Philippine Daily Inquirer, Metro Manila

Paul Icamina

Reporter

Malaya Business Insight, Metro Manila

Noel Talacay

Reporter

PTV4, Metro Manila

Faith Argosino

Multimedia Reporter

IQUIRER.net, Metro Manila

Rambo Talabong

Freelance Journalist, Metro Manila

Kaycee Valmonte

Reporter

Philstar Online, Metro Manila

Ghio Ong

Reporter

The Philippine Star, Metro Manila

Totel De Jesus

Freelance Writer/Editor, Metro Manila

Jinky Lou Tabor

News Stringer, GMA 7 Bicol Region and Basilan

Station Manager, Bicol Star Teleradyo, Catanduanes

Joseph Bernard A. Marzan

Senior Reporter

Daily Guardian, Western Visayas Region

June Joseph Perez

News Anchor

Sibya TV, Cebu

Angelica Saniel

News Editor

MyTV Cebu, Region 7

Nef Luczon

Reporter/Regional Bureau Chief

Philippine News Agency, Northern Mindanao

Misel Miral-Galve

Radio Anchor & Special Projects Head

DXDC 621 RMN Davao, Davao City

“The media plays a crucial role in shaping public opinion and policy,” said Atty. Kristine Mendoza, DPRI’s lead convener. “This fellowship is a continuing conversation with the Fourth Estate to uphold journalistic integrity and ethics in ensuring that their reporting does no harm to people whose lives include drugs and instead empowers communities by amplifying their stories,” she added.

Their training will commence on April 20. They will also undergo coaching sessions with their fellow journalists, drug policy experts, and advocates until May 2023. A seed grant will also be made available for data-gathering and publishing of their respective work.

“Putting People First – Media Fellowship for Humane Drug Policy” is open to media practitioners who wish to strengthen their skills and knowledge when covering stories on drugs using the lens of harm reduction – the belief that approach to drug use should be grounded on human rights, health, and justice; and telling stories about people who use drugs should be without stigma and discrimination.

Mendoza said that the Media Fellowship will help shape conversations surrounding drugs and drug use towards compassion and empowerment. She said that they hope to engage more journalists to end the perpetuation of harm and stigma for people and communities whose lives include drugs.

The fellowship, which runs from April to May 2023, is open to Filipino editors, reporters, photojournalists, anchors and news managers in the country who want to pursue empowering stories of communities and persons involved in drug issues.

Successful applicants will be given a seed grant that ranges from P15,000 to P30,000 for the data-gathering and publishing of work.  Media Fellows will also receive training, coaching, and feedback sessions with their peers and advocates.

The Media Fellowship is being conducted with the help of Gugma PR, a public relations group helping advocates build impact through communications.

Marcos directs gov't agencies to comply with EU standards on seafarers' certification

BY BETHEENA UNITE

Apr 11, 2023 1:00 PM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. directed government agencies to address issues on maritime education in the country

• It is a move to maintain the European Union recognition of Filipino seafarers after 10 years

• The Philippines' compliance to the European maritime standards was finally recognized by the EU after 16 years

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President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has ordered maritime and education agencies to ensure compliance with training, education and certification standards of the European Union in order to ensure the global  recognition of Filipino seafarers' certificates.

President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. (Photo courtesy of Yummie Dingding/PPA Pool)

After acknowledging the "good decision" of the European Commission to recognize the country's standards of training certification and watchkeeping (STCW) for seafarers, he directed his administration to "move forward" and address lingering maritime education issues.

"We reported to him the continuous recognition by the European Union of the Certificate for seafarers issued by MARINA (Maritime Industry Authority) and the President acknowledged the good gesture and good decision of the European Union because that would mean continuous employment for around 50,000 seafarers in Europe," Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista said on Tuesday, April 11.

"We also talked how we will move forward considering that there are still some issues that we need to address," Bautista added.

Marcos led a multi-sectoral meeting in Malacañang on Tuesday.

According to MARINA Administrator Hernani Fabia, there are various issues that the government must address which were also the concerns stated by independent evaluators.

Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairperson J. Prospero De Vera III said the government must focus on three matters in order to address the issues on maritime education standards.

"We have an enhanced curriculum that has been put together by MARINA, CHED, and the maritime higher education institutions, we must make sure it is implemented correctly, so the enhanced curriculum satisfies compliance with standards of the STCW," he said.

De Vera further said that they must be able to monitor maritime schools, and make sure that they have the necessary equipment, competent teachers, good facilities so that the intended competencies and outcomes can be measured correctly and satisfy the standard of the European maritime safety standards.

He added that the government must make sure that all the requirements to produce a good seafarer are there including shipboard training "so that we make sure that at the end of the whole process, we produce seafarers that are up to the international standards."

"That means we have a lot of work to do in monitoring and evaluating all the maritime education institutions in the country," he said.

De Vera also bared that CHED and MARINA need more personnel in order to monitor all maritime schools around the country.

"Kailangan namin ng dagdag na tao kasi marami (We need more people because there are many schools). That's why kami ni Secretary Bautista we have to look for additional allies to help monitor compliance kasi hindi naman ganun kadami ang staff ng CHED, hindi rin ganun kadami ang staff ng MARINA (because CHED and MARINA do not have many personnel) and the schools are located all over the country," the CHED chairperson said.

The Philippines' compliance with the European maritime standards was finally recognized by the EU after 16 years.

Fabia clarified that the recognition of the Philippine government by the European Commission "is a normal recognition that means there is no condition."

"It is a regular recognition issued by EC and we have a clean slate to start with. But then the recognition is good for 10 years, subject to reassessment and monitoring by the EMSA. That's why we have also to conduct regular training and capacity building for our stakeholders and marine personnel," Fabia said.

Japan, PH, US to keep peace, stability – envoy

DAY OF HEROES President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. leads the 81st commemoration of the Araw ng Kagitingan in Mount Samat, Bataan on Monday, April 10, 2023. PHOTO BY RENE H. DILAN

By Bernadette Reyes

JAPAN, the Philippines and the United States have become "trusting partners" working closely to preserve peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, Japanese Ambassador to Manila Koshikawa Kazuhiko said on Monday during the 81st commemoration of the Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) at the Mount Samat National Shrine in Pilar, Bataan.

Also at the event were President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Cabinet secretaries, senators, Bataan Gov. Jose Garcia, US embassy officials, and World War 2 Filipino veterans.

Japan and the US were bitter enemies during that war, with Philippine troops fighting alongside American soldiers.

Japan has since become one of the US' closest allies in Asia.

Koshikawa voiced hope that relations between the three countries achieve "greater heights," as he noted Marcos' earlier remarks that Japan is "a most reliable partner in times of crises and of prosperity."

He also conveyed his condolences to the victims of the "fierce battle" that took place in Bataan during WW 2 and offered his respects to the war veterans who contributed to the peace and security being enjoyed by Filipinos today.

Koshikawa "expressed the deep remorse felt by the Japanese people due to the country's past actions and concurrently affirmed their best wishes for everlasting peace and determination in upholding a law-based global order," the Japanese embassy said in a statement.

He also stressed that Japan seeks to "prevent a repeat of the tragedies of war for the sake of future generations, amid the increasingly tense international security environment."

Koshikawa said Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Marcos have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen cooperation in a wide range of areas during the President's official visit to Japan in February.

Proof of that commitment is the fifth meeting of the Japan–Philippines Maritime Dialogue (JPMD) held last March 29 in Tokyo and attended by Japan's National Security Secretariat, the National Ocean Policy Secretariat, the Ministry of Defense, and the Japan Coast Guard and their Filipino counterparts.

The Japanese side was headed by Hayashi Makoto, Ministry of Foreign Affairs deputy director general of the Southeast and Southwest Asian Affairs Department.

The Philippine side was headed by Maria Angela Ponce, assistant secretary of the Maritime and Ocean Affairs of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

The two sides discussed the latest developments in the seas surrounding their countries, and ways to strengthen cooperation in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and the Luzon Strait, the embassy said.

Japan has been locked in a dispute with China over the Senkaku islands in the East China Sea.

The Philippines, meanwhile, has been protesting the incursions of Chinese naval ships in Philippine-controlled islets in the South China Sea.

The Japanese embassy said Tokyo and Manila both affirm the "importance of rules-based, free and open maritime order," and continue to work together toward the realization of a free and open Indo-Pacific, it said.

The Japan-Philippines Maritime Dialogue was formalized in light of the Japan-Philippines joint statement of June 2009, the embassy said.

The first meeting was held in Tokyo on Sept. 9, 2011, the second in Manila on Feb. 22, 2013, the third in Tokyo on June 11, 2019, and the fourth in a teleconference format on Oct. 22, 2021.

Tropical Cyclone Amang Tracker

BY ELLALYN DE VERA-RUIZ

Apr 11, 2023 08:13 AM

  

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This image from PAGASA shows the track and intensity forecast for tropical depression Amang as of 2 a.m., Tuesday, April 11, 2023.

5 a.m., April 11

The center of the eye of Amang was estimated 475 kilometers east of Virac, Catanduanes, packing maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 55 kph.

It was moving west-northwestward at 20 kph.

Signal number 1 has been raised over Catanduanes, the northern part of Eastern Samar, and eastern part of Northern Samar.

2 a.m., April 11

The low pressure area (LPA) east of Catanduanes developed into a tropical depression and was given a local name “Amang.” 

It is the first cyclone to form inside the country’s area of responsibility this year. 

Here’s How to Charge your Electric Vehicle ‘E-nywhere’ in the Philippines at SM Supermalls

BY INIGO ROCES

Mar 24, 2023 09:51 AM

  

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Above: SM rolls out
the biggest chain of E-Vehicle Charging Stations in the Philippines with over
27 malls nationwide. (Photo taken at SM
Mall of Asia, with a Porsche Taycan plugged in)

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The shift from petrol to fully-electric vehicles is already beginning as more and more brands start to offer fully EVs in their lineups. The perks have never been better, too, as these cars are now exempted from number coding.

For those early adopters who are already enjoying the perks of owning an electric vehicle, SM Supermalls has an added treat. The mall chain has already rolled Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations in multiple locations nationwide.

*The roll-out of* the mall’s EV Charging Stations is in line with SM’s Green Movement to reduce carbon footprint in the Philippines. SM encourages its mall goers to use an E-Vehicle when visiting its malls. (Photo taken at SM Southmall, with an Audi e-tron SUV plugged in.)

As the first mall brand to introduce the EV Charging Stations in parking areas, SM has expanded to 27 locations in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, offering the largest distribution of E-Vehicle Charging Stations in the Philippines. This is hoped to give shoppers and travelers an easy and convenient way to recharge their vehicles in an SM mall.

*SM City Baguio launches the fast charging station that could power up your vehicle in under an hour. Present in the launch were (from left): Michael Jason* Pena, and Engr. Marc Janssen Pe from SM City Baguio; Mr. Mike De Joya, President of Emicor Inc.; Dr. Pepita S. Picpican, Asst. Regional Director of the DOST; Engr. Doy Tabilog from the Baguio City Mayor’s Office; Domingo Gomez, Rona Vida Correa, and Jed Reyes of SM.

In line with SM’s Green Movement to help limit the carbon footprint in the Philippines, these charging stations encourage even more people to make the shift to sustainable mobility. By deploying charging stations in more SM malls throughout the country, owners of these vehicles will no longer have to contend with range anxiety or the fear of running out of battery before arriving at your destination.

*Car owners can* charge all the way in Visayas and Mindanao, with stations present in Cebu, Seaside City, CDO Updtown, CDO Downtown, and Lanang. (Photo taken at SM City Cebu with an Audi e-tron GT plugged in.)

When taking your electric vehicle around the city or even out of town, simply plan your trips around SM malls to be sure you’ll have a place to charge. Being available in South Luzon, North Luzon, Metro Manila, customers can enjoy a leisurely lunch in Sky Ranch Tagaytay and dessert all the way in SM City Baguio. The charging stations are also present in Cebu, Davao, CDO, and other convenient locations.

*Car drifter, Ashley Sison, happily tries out the EV Charging Station in SM City Clark.*

Each SM mall will have at least one Wallbox Pulsar Plus AC charger with a charging power of up to 7.4kW and a 5-meter integrated charging cable. These charging stations are compatible with all CCS Type 2 electrified cars currently being sold such as Audi e-tron sedan and SUV, all BYD EVs, BMW  iX and iX3, Chery Tiggo 8 PHEV, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Honqi E-HS9, Jaguar iPace, Kia EV6, Mercedes Benz EQC and EQS, Porsche Taycan, Volvo Twin Power (T8) models, Weltmeister W5, and Japanese vehicles like the Nissan Leaf and Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. Car owners with other e-vehicles can also bring their Type 1 adaptors to plug into the Type 2 charger.

Charging is as easy as 1, 2, 3!

Step 1: Remove the charger from the charging station. Most malls use the
Wallbox Type 2 Charger, but customers may also bring an adaptor for a Type 1
Charger. (Photo from SM City Sta. Rosa)

Step 2: Plug the charger into the car
and wait for the indicator in the E-Vehicle to turn green. (Photo from SM Megamall)

*Step 3: Leave your car to charge for* FREE and enjoy the mall amenities, restaurants and leisure activities! (Photo from SM City BF)

The charging stations open when the mall opens, meaning they are operational from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Best of all, charging your electric-vehicle at SM is FREE. So plug in your vehicles and spend time at SM malls catching a movie, eating at a restaurant or shopping while your vehicle is charging. When you return, you can rest assured that you’ve added many more kilometers of driving to your battery.

*To encourage* more customers to change to E-Vehicles, SM gives dedicated parking at their EV Charging Stations and special deals for EV Owners through SMDeals.com. (Photo taken from SM City North EDSA with an Audi e-tron plugged in.)

To entice more car owners to join the green movement by switching to E-Vehicles, SM is also rewarding EV drivers with exclusive perks and discounts to enjoy while in the mall via SMDeals.com. Eager to start planning your next road trip with your electric vehicle? These are the SM malls where you can already charge your
electric vehicles.

Metro Manila	Luzon	Visayas	Mindanao
SM North Edsa	SM City Baguio	SM City Cebu	SM City CDO Uptown
SM Mall of Asia	SM Center Tuguegarao Downtown	SM Seaside City Cebu	SM CDO Downtown Premier
SM Southmall	SM City Clark		SM Lanang Premier
SM Megamall	SM City Trece Martires
SM Aura Premier	SM City Sta. Rosa
The Podium	Sky Ranch Tagaytay
SM City Valenzuela	SM City Naga
SM City Grand Central
SM Fairview
SM Manila
SM City San Lazaro
SM Bicutan
SM BF
SM Marikina
SM Sta. Mesa

Thanks to SM’s initiative of deploying electric vehicle charging stations, car owners can charge e-nywhere and help save the earth! For more information, visit www.SMSupermalls.com or follow @SMSupermalls on Facebook, Instagram and Tiktok.

A call to serve on Araw ng Kagitingan

BY MANILA BULLETIN

  

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What used to be commemorated as the Fall of Bataan is now observed as Araw ng Kagitingan or Day of Valor to honor the heroism of Filipinos who fought and died for their country and people. This year’s celebration was moved to Monday, April 10, as part of the government’s holiday economics program to incentivize Filipinos to help promote domestic tourism.

Last month, a unique image trended on Facebook and other social media platforms: Mt. Samat Cross in Bataan silhouetted by the setting sun as seen from Manila Bay.The snapshot of this natural phenomenon underlines the significance of Filipino heroism in the fields of battle.

Before its commemoration was modified, Day of Valor used to be observed as the Fall of Bataan. On April 9, 1942, the Japanese Imperial Army forced more than 76,000 soldiers (64,000 Filipinos, and 12,000 Americans) into the infamous Death march to Capas, Tarlac. According to historical accounts: “En route, thousands died from dehydration, heat prostration, untreated wounds, and wanton execution while walking in deep dust over vehicle-broken macadam roads, and crammed into rail cars for transport to captivity.”

The Mt. Samat Shrine, also known as Dambana ng Kagitingan or Shrine of Valor, is visible from across Manila Bay, because of its main feature, a 92-meter high cross that sits atop the 555-meter mountain in Pilar, Bataan. The cross was designed by National Artist for Sculpture Napoleon Abueva. On its bottom portion is Abueva’s Nabiag na Bato (literally, broken rocks) sculpture depicting Filipino heroes’ exploits dating back to Lapu-Lapu’s resistance to Magellan’s invasion, and the numerous revolts and insurrections during the Spanish and American colonial eras, and finally, the gallant stand of Filipino soldiers and guerillas in Bataan.

During the muted observance of the Philippine Quincentennial in 2021 that was dampened by the rampant coronavirus pandemic, a theme song entitled Bagani composed by Roel Rostata and performed by Anthony Castillo with the a capella group Pinopela, was chosen as the celebration’s official theme song.

‘Bagani’ is an indigenous word that refers to the peace-keeping force of native tribal warriors who defend their community, and protect the people’s lives as well as their properties. In the song’s lyrics, the Filipinos are branded as Bagani, not to engage in wars but to inspire them to be always of service to the community and country, even in small ways. Here are key excerpts:

“Tulungan ang kapwa’t bigyang halaga. Huwag hatakin nang pababa. Huwag sanang isipin ang sarili lamang/Pakisama’t bayanihan. Bagani ating lahi…Bayaning Filipino: Sa makabagong panahon, halina’t hawakan ang aking kamay. Sabay abutin natin ang tagumpay. Patuloy lang tayo sa pagpapanday. Tiwala sa Diyos ang sandata’t gabay.”

“Help and respect others. Don’t pull them down.  Look beyond yourself. Serve in the spirit of bayanihan. We are brave and we are peace-loving. Noble and heroic is our heritage. Now let’s join hands to reach the summit. We shall forge ahead with faith in God as our strength and guide.”

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