After 24 years, Sabrina M reveals secret relationship with late heartthrob Rico Yan

BY ROBERT REQUINTINA

  

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AT A GLANCE

• Sabrina M made the revelation during the press conference for the upcoming movie "Manang" held in Quezon City on Thursday, July 6. But Sabrina M clarified that Rico and Claudine Barretto were no longer in a relationship when she came into the picture.

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Sabrina M

It happened 24 years ago but for the first time, former sexy star Sabrina M revealed that she and the late Kapamilya heartthrob Rico Yan were in a secret relationship for more than two years.

Sabrina M made the revelation during the press conference for the upcoming movie "Manang" held in Quezon City on Thursday, July 6. But Sabrina M clarified that Rico and Claudine Barretto were no longer in a relationship when she came into the picture.

"Ang image ni Rico Yan is wholesome. Ako nagpapasexy ako nuon sa movies So kung nagkaissue kaming dalawa, maraming masasabi sa akin. So better kung nagkaroon man kami ng relasyon, itinago na lang namin yun," she said.

Sabrina. who now has a family of her own, described her relationship with Rico as intimate.

"Napakabait ni Rico Yan. After Claudine, naging kami ni Rico Yan. Matagal kaming nagkarelasyon. Taon. Noong nag-uumpisa na yung tsismis sa akin, dinudurog na agad ako. Rico Yan yan eh? Bakit siya pumatol sa isang sexy star? Bakit siya pumatol sa isang hubadera? Pero believe ako kay Rico dahil hindi siya mapanghusga. Pinagtatanggol pa niya sa ibang tao. Sinasabi niya kilala ko si Sabrina M, kaya huwag ninyo siyang i-judge," she said.

Sabrina M said that she met Rico when she guested in the ABS-CBN noontime show "MTB."

These days, Sabrina admitted that she still visits the gravesite of Rico. "Hindi madalas pero dumadalaw ako. Pag nasa area ako, dumadalaw ako."

Rico Yan (News5)

She also said that she went to the wake of Rico. "Nanduon ako ng burol at libing. Noong ipapasok na yung casket niya sa tomb, inabutan pa ako ni Bobby Yan ng bulaklak para ibigay kay Rico. Alam ni Bobby na naging kami. Napakabait naman nila."

On their secret dates, Sabrina said: "We're discreet. Secret. Nagpupunta siya sa bahay at minsan naman nagpupunta ako sa condo niya. Minsan sa resort. Kilala na rin ako noon at Rico Yan na siya. More than two years kami."

When Rico passed away, they were still in a relationship, she added. She also said that she was proud to be the girlfriend of Rico. "Crush ko na siya noon pa."

Sabrina M insisted that Rico already split with Claudine when they became an item.

"Matagal ko rin pinag-iisipan kung pupunta ba ako sa burol niya or hindi. Baka ma-issue kasi. Pero may nagsabi sa akin pumunta raw ako para respeto lang sa kanya. Dahil naging kami naman daw.

"May mga incidents nuon na nakahiga lang ako at umiiyak tapos unti-unti nagbibihis ako. Then nasa kotse ako. Sabi ko mommy huwag na tayong pumunta. Biglang nangamoy ng bulaklak sa kotse. Sabi ng mommy ko, ayan, ayaw mo kasing pumunta. Sabi ko sige na nga pupunta ako. Biglang nawala yung amoy," she added. "Nagpaparamdam siya. Dumadalaw siya sa panaginip. Parang andyan lang siya sa tabi ko."

"Alam po ni Claudine na naging kami. Pero never pa namin pinagusapan po. Wala namang problem kasi noong naging kami, wala na sila ni Claudine. Hindi ko naman inagaw si Rico sa kanya noong sila pala," she said. "Nagkaroon sila ng movie na 'Got To Believe' pero wala na sila nun. Kami na nun at alam ko meron na ring iba si Claudine noon," she said.

Sabrina M added: "Napakabait talaga niya. Mapo-fall ka talaga sa kanya. Mararamdaman mo sa kanya na tutoo siya. Kung gaano siya ka sincere sa'yo."

Asked if she had a child with Rico, Sabrina M answered: "Wala eh. Sayang."

Sabrina M also recalled her term of endearment with Rico was "hon," short for honey.

Rico died in Palawan on March 29, 2002. He was 27. Sabrina M said that she did not go to Palawan when she heard about the demise of her former boyfriend. Instead, she waited for his body to be brought to Manila.

"Manang" is produced by Teresita Pambuan under TTP Productions. It is directed by Romm Burlat.

Aside from Sabrina M, "Manang" also stars Julio Diaz, Janice Jurado, Tess Tolentino, Carl Vincent Cruz, and more.

El Niño intensifying: PAGASA sees increasing probability of ‘moderate to strong’ event in late 2023 or early 2024

BY ELLALYN DE VERA-RUIZ

  

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AT A GLANCE

• A weak El Niño is comparable to a person having a low-grade fever, a moderate El Niño is similar to having a moderate fever, and a strong El Niño is comparable to having “convulsions.”
• There is an 86 percent chance that the El Niño will become a moderate event around November-December 2023 or January 2024.
• Meanwhile, there is a 56 percent chance that the El Niño will become strong by December 2023 or January-February 2024.
• The effects of El Niño on the country may last longer during a strong event.

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The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the El Niño climate phenomenon may intensify in the coming months and reach a “moderate to strong” level by the end of 2023 or early 2024.

Ana Liza Solis, chief of PAGASA’s Climate Monitoring and Prediction Section, said in a televised public briefing on Thursday, July 6, that there is an 86 percent chance that the El Niño will become a moderate event around November-December 2023 or January 2024.

Meanwhile, there is a 56 percent chance that the El Niño will become strong by December 2023 or January-February 2024.

(PIXABAY)

PAGASA confirmed the presence of “weak” El Niño conditions over the equatorial Pacific on July 4.

According to Solis, a weak El Niño is comparable to a person having a low-grade fever, a moderate El Niño is similar to having a moderate fever, and a strong El Niño is comparable to having “convulsions.”

When an El Niño is strong, the sea warms up significantly, causing the country to experience warmer temperatures and less rainfall than it would during a weak or moderate event, she explained.

This also means that the effects of El Niño on the country may last longer during a strong event.

Solis warned that the country may experience a dry spell or drought due to lower rainfall forecast for the coming months.

There is also an increasing possibility that air temperatures will be warmer particularly next year, she said.

‘Habagat’ may still bring some rains

Solis said most of the country may still experience some rains from the southwest monsoon, also known as the habagat, which will last until September.

During this period, there are still tropical cyclones, other rain-bearing weather systems, and the habagat, which can be sometimes enhanced by cyclones, she pointed out.

Solis said there may still be 10 to 14 cyclones that may enter or form within the country’s area of responsibility until the end of the year—two to four in July, two or three in August, two or three in September, two or three in October, one or two in November, and one or two in December.

She noted that although there are tropical cyclones that may not make landfall, some of them can intensify the effects of the southwest monsoon, also known as “habagat,” which may cause rains over the western parts of the country.

However, there are early manifestations of El Niño conditions during the habagat season, one of which is the decrease in the country’s cyclone activity, she added.

Only three tropical cyclones have affected the country so far this year. These are cyclones Amang, Betty, and Chedeng.

There has been no tropical cyclone recorded in the country so far this July, but based on PAGASA’s climatological record, two to four typhoons may enter or form within the Philippine area of responsibility this month.

Solis said the widespread effect of El Niño, manifested by drier and warmer conditions, may be felt as early as October.

Urgent action required to prevent impact of climate change on health: WHO expert

 

BY XINHUA

Jul 6, 2023 09:09 AM

  

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COPENHAGEN, Denmark-- The "triple threat" of climate change, pollution and loss of biodiversity to health must urgently be addressed, said World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Europe Dr. Hans Kluge on Wednesday.

At the 7th Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health in Budapest, Hungary, Kluge emphasized that an estimated 1.4 million deaths annually in the European region are attributable to environmental risk factors, and nearly half of these are caused by air pollution.

Last summer was "the hottest ever recorded in Europe," and more than 20,000 people died as a result of extreme heat, Kluge said.

"We are moving far too slowly, seriously jeopardizing our ability to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030," he stressed, adding that 77 million people in the region still lack access to safe drinking water.

"Action needs to be taken by governments. Action needs to be taken by partners. Action needs to be taken by all of us as individuals," said Kluge.

July Agricultural Festivals

BY JAZZMINE QUIAMBAO

Jul 6, 2023 10:31 AM

  

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July is Nutrition Month! Every July, schools and organizations all over the country create programs to celebrate and appreciate the healthy food available to us.

It’s also a month where different areas of the Philippines celebrate the abundance of their local specialty. Here are the agricultural related festivals for the month of July.

Lubid Festival | Malilipot, Albay
July 8-16

In Albay, lubid, or rope, is usually made from abaca. The municipality of Malilipot is the region’s provider of abaca hemp, and a festival was established to celebrate the town’s specialty.

The festival lasts for a few days and is filled with various activities. However, the highlight of the festival is the street dance parade which the locals call “Sayaw Paralubid.” Dancers are dressed in colorful abaca costumes, and liven up the streets with their talents.

Sayaw Paralubid is one of the highlights of the Lubid Festival. (CG Photography via Malilipot Tourism / Facebook)

Sinarapan Festival | Buhi, Camarines Sur
2nd Week

Buhi, Camarines Sur is home to one of the smallest fishes in the world. It’s the Mistichthys luzonensis, or sinarapan. It thrives in Lake Buhi, and the Sinarapan Festival was made to showcase the locals’ pride in their local fish.

The Sinarapan Festival was first held in 2005 and is annually celebrated during the second week of July in San Buenaventura, Buhi. During the festival, dancers adorn themselves in costumes that represent the town’s culture and perform exciting street dances. The festival also holds a Sinarapan Cookfest where cooks of the town showcase unique ways of preparing Sinarapan.

Sinarapan is the pride and main source of livelihood of Buhi, Catanduanes. (Free2barredo / Wikimedia)

Kinis Festival | Panganiban, Catanduanes
July 25

Kinis is a type of crab known to be the most delectable in Catanduanes, and Panganiban known to be the province’s major supplier of this crab.

As the “Kinis Capital of Catanduanes,” Panganiban holds a festival every 25th of July to celebrate their local specialty that gives nutrition and livelihood to the people.

A float parade is held on the streets, which feature the town’s Princess of Crab and street dances with the crab as the highlight of their costumes and props. The town also holds an eat-all-you-can foodfest of their seafood menu, especially their steamed and cooked crab.

Performances of the Kinis Festival are accompanied by crab-themed props and costumes. (LGU Panganiban, Catanduanes / Facebook)

Libon Paroy | Libon, Albay
July 19-25

Libon is known as the “Rice Granary of Albay,” which is indicative of the town’s main source of livelihood and specialty. Rice is locally called “paroy,” and Libon celebrates a festival annually to give thanks to an abundant harvest.

Libon Paroy is celebrated with the typical festivities such as street dances and parades, but it also includes sports fests, a competition for the longest tilapia and corn grill, and more.

As the Rice Granary of Albay, Libon holds an annual festival to celebrate the harvest of paroy. (Libon Albay Rising / Facebook)

While Nutrition Month is typically understood to raise awareness and appreciation for healthy foods, festivals in July can shed light on the nutritiousness of different local specialties that you just have to try.

Nevertheless, make sure to always have a healthy food trip!

Cayetano rallies support for ‘Love the Philippines’ tourism campaign

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano rallied the public to move forward and join hands in promoting the country amid the controversy surrounding the new tourism branding campaign called ‘Love the Philippines.’

 This after the Department of Tourism (DOT) on Monday terminated its contract with an advertising agency that was found to have used stock footage taken from foreign countries in promoting tourism in the Philippines.

 “Issues have been brought out and discussed, mistakes have been acknowledged both by the DOT and the advertising agency. Isn’t the purpose of criticism to correct? So mission accomplished!” Cayetano said in a post on his official Facebook page on July 5, Wednesday.

The senator commended the country’s vibrant democracy for enabling the exposure of such issues to light, causing both the DOT and the ad agency to acknowledge both their mistakes.

He however said there needs to be a balanced view in this issue where partisan and political interests may be present.

“Once a wrong is exposed (or explained) and mistakes are acknowledged and remedied, do we keep pounding on it, shooting ourselves in the foot in foreign media… or do we come together and, with the corrections, promote the beauty of our country and people?!” he said.

Cayetano said in promoting tourism in the Philippines, part of the draw should be the country’s number one asset: the Filipinos.

“GOD created such a beautiful country, such talented people! Yes, beautiful mountains, hills, valleys, islands, beaches, modern cities etc., yet  our number one asset is our people!” he said.

“The problem is not many people around the world know much about the Philippines! Yet many love the Filipinos! With more than 10 million Filipinos abroad, the first insight about the Philippines comes from the Filipino!” he added.

The senator warned against the prevalence of fake news that similarly penetrated social media platforms during the country’s successful hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian Games in 2019, which he headed as Chairman of the Philippine SEA Games Organizational Committee.

“Remember the allegation that kikiam (pork) was served to Muslims during the SEAGames? It turned out to be fake news! It was chicken sausage! We found out there was a big PR firm launching the attack. It all turned out to be fake news, a political agenda packaged as constructive criticism,” he explained.

He said this fake news hurt the Philippines, and the country’s hosting scared off many sponsors due to the negative news in Southeast Asian countries.

At the end of his post, Cayetano expressed confidence in Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco’s handling of the tourism campaign issue.

“I know the DOT Secretary, she listens! She cares about people’s views and ideas! Let’s try communicating, not for her but for the country which we all claim to love,” he said. 

“Let’s go to the next phase! Support DOT, promote the Philippines!” he added.

The future of mango cultivation: Advancements and innovations

BY JAMES TABABA

  

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Efficient mango farming is essential for maximizing yields and ensuring sustainable agricultural practices. Enrico Batungbacal, owner of Batungbacal farm and one of the mango producers in Zambales, has made substantial investments in revolutionizing traditional mango farming methods. Through innovative approaches and cutting-edge technologies, Enrico has transformed his orchard through irrigation systems, chemical product application, and tree pruning techniques. These investments hold the promise of increased productivity, reduced labor requirements, and improved sustainability within the mango farming industry.

READ: Fruitful heritage: Family-owned farm in Zambales still produces mangoes after 35 years

The orchard sprayer is attached to the back of the tractor. (Batungbacal Farm)

Revolutionizing irrigation systems

Enrico invested a significant amount of resources to acquire the knowledge of proper mango farming techniques, aiming to optimize their production systems. In 2018, substantial investments were made, the first being a transition to a new irrigation system. They opted for a pressurized drip irrigation system with fertigation, which not only provided irrigation for the mango trees but also allowed for fertilization through the same system. This shift represented a considerable improvement compared to the previous manual method, which involved drilling holes beneath the tree canopy, placing the fertilizer, and covering it up. 

With the new system, they had a single mixing tank where the fertilizer was diluted, and a venturi system that facilitated the delivery of the fertilizer through the irrigation system. The liquid form of the fertilizer offered advantages by enhancing nutrient uptake in the trees. Additionally, instead of applying fertilizer all at once, it could now be administered gradually every two weeks, tailored to the tree's requirements. This newfound flexibility allowed for fertilizer application even during the flowering and fruiting stages, precisely when the trees needed it most.

Streamlining chemical product application

Enricos’ second improvement centered around the application of chemical products. In the Philippines, the prevalent approach involved using a power sprayer, hose, and spray gun. However, due to their orchard-type system, they were able to procure an orchard sprayer from Italy. This sprayer, which was attached to a tractor, traversed the rows of trees, efficiently distributing the required products. The use of this sprayer provided both safety and efficiency advantages. Operators remained secure inside the tractor, while the trailer carrying the orchard sprayer was situated far from the operator at the rear. The efficiency gains were significant, reducing the number of people required for the spraying program from 24 to just one person for every 6,000 mango trees. 

Using an orchard sprayer is an efficient way to apply flower inducer, foliar fertilizers, and pesticides in large mango farms. (Batungbacal Farm)

Spraying was typically conducted in the early morning around 5 a.m. or during the late afternoon when the sun was rising or setting, respectively. These time periods were selected as the stomata of the leaves remained open, and wind conditions were minimal. Occasionally, spraying was performed in the afternoon to effectively target specific insects that emerged at dusk. The entire process was swift, taking only two hours. For instance, if they initiated spraying at 5 PM, they would typically conclude by 7.

Advancing tree pruning techniques

Another equipment that had been acquired was an orchard pruner, designed specifically for tree pruning. By maintaining their trees at a smaller size, they found it much easier to manage them compared to maintaining century-old, towering trees. The smaller tree sizes facilitated improved sunlight and chemical penetration, with nutrients having a shorter travel distance for uptake. Harvesting became a simpler task, and overall tree management was more convenient.

The orchard pruner for maintaining the mango trees small. (Batungbacal Farm)

Interestingly, in other countries, Enrico shared that orchard trees were progressively becoming smaller. Globally, orchards were shifting towards high-density planting, where trees were positioned closely to one another but were intentionally kept small, typically between 2 to 3 meters in height. Apart from the enhanced production system, this approach resulted in a doubled yield. While the global average for mango yield per hectare stood at around 12 tons, in the Philippines, it was a mere 4 tons per hectare, and in Zambales, an even lower 2 tons per hectare. However, with high-density farming, farms were able to achieve remarkable yields of 30-50 tons per hectare, although with an approximate density of 600 trees per hectare. Considering their farm had 6,000 trees spanning 120 hectares, implementing high-density farming on just 10 hectares could effectively double their yield.

Motivated by these prospects, he planned to start with one hectare, learning and assessing the compatibility of this system with Carabao mangoes. The high-density farming technique demonstrated great potential not only for mangoes but also for other orchard fruits such as avocados, oranges, and more. The question that often crossed his mind was why this technology was not more widely practiced or explored, given its existence for several years.

Challenges in manpower acquisition and the shift to mechanization

The acquisition of manpower has become increasingly challenging as the standard of living in the province has improved. “The younger generation has shown less interest in pursuing careers in farming,” Enrico said.

3 years old mango producing flowers for high density mango planting. (Batungbacal Farm)

 In light of these circumstances, the decision to transition to mechanized operations has proven to be timely. Operating the machinery and irrigation systems requires specific skills, and as a result, Enrico now offers higher compensation to attract and retain qualified personnel. This issue of labor scarcity is not unique to the mango industry but is prevalent across the entire agricultural sector. The ongoing urbanization of towns has led to an abundance of alternative job opportunities outside the realm of farming.

Enrico expressed his firm determination to embrace these changes because “We need our farm to catch up with technology to keep efficiency,” he said. The farm was actively preparing to adopt these innovative techniques, setting the stage for a future of improved productivity and sustainability.

In the next article, Enrico will share his insights for building a successful farming business.

Photo courtesy of Batungbacal Farm

Ara Mina fulfills dream project after 30 years

BY ROBERT REQUINTINA

Jul 6, 2023 08:32 AM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• It's my dream project after 30 years. I've been watching Oprah since I was a teenager. I said I wish I had a show like that. I was still young and then I was busy with movies. This is special to me because I want to share many things with people.

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Ara Mina (Net25)

Actress-businesswoman Ara Mina is also on cloud nine these days after she finally fulfilled one of her showbiz dream projects after 30 years.

For the first time, Ara will debut as a magazine talk show in the weekly program "Magandang Araw" on Net25 which will premiere on Saturday, July 15, at 3 p.m.

"It's a travel magazine show. May pagka-reality rin. I can tackle anything like yung mga side ng artista na hindi alam ng tao like mga talent nila. Meron din health, beauty, wellness, fitness, and motherhood. May D.I.Y. din. It's a co-production," she said.

Ara, 44, revealed that Oprah Winfrey was her peg in fulfilling her talk show project.

"It's my dream project after 30 years. I've been watching Oprah since I was a teenager. Sabi ko sana magkaroon ako ng ganung show. Bata pa ako nun at saka puro movies ako nun. This is special to me kasi marami akong gustong i-share sa tao," she said.

(It's my dream project after 30 years. I've been watching Oprah since I was a teenager. I said I wish I had a show like that. I was still young and then I was busy with movies. This is special to me because I want to share many things with people.)

"Sobrang happy ako noong lumabas yung permit ng MTRCB. Iba yung feeling! Hands-on kasi ako pagdating sa editing, contents, scriptwriting. Halos lahat ng inputs meron ako," Ara added.

(I was very happy when the MTRCB permit came out. It was a different feeling! Because I am hands-on when it comes to editing, content, and scriptwriting. I have almost all the inputs.)

Ara said that she's happy her husband Philippine International Trading Corporation President and CEO Dave Almarinez has adjusted to her busy schedule in showbiz.

"Ako na ang nagrequest kay Dave na next year na kami magka-baby. Plinano namin na next year na kasi parang next year na talaga nakatadhana na magkaroon kami ng baby.

(I am the one who requested from Dave that we have a baby next year. We plan on having a baby next year because it seems like next year is really destined to have a baby.)

"Sabi naman niya, 'bigyan mo na ako ng date para magbakasyon naman tayo ng apat na araw bago tayo umariba muli sa trabaho. Itong July we will have a date.

(He said, 'give me a date so we can take a vacation for four days before we go back to work. This July we will have a date.)

"Hindi ko pa alam kung saan kami kasi mag-bi-birthday na rin siya. Sabi ko puwede bang two-in-one na lang. Alam mo na kapag may asawa ka na, anak, at business, nagtitipid na rin naman," Ara said.

(I don't know where we're going because it's his birthday. I said it was possible to just have a two-in-one (celebration). You know that when you have a wife, a child, and a business, you're saving too.)

Ara also revealed her other dream projects in showbiz.

"I want to have a Cinemalaya project. Hindi ko pa yun nagagawa. I think hindi ko pa talaga nagagawa in my entire career is rom-com. Parang Julia Roberts type. Pero bawal na ako sa kissing scene. Siguro dayain na lang. Gusto ko rin ng theater. It's part of your learning. You never stop learning kapag matagal ka na sa industriya," she said.

Ara Mina with husband Philippine International Trading Corporation President and CEO Dave Almarinez and daughter Amanda (Facebook)

(I want to have a Cinemalaya project. I haven't done that yet. I think I haven't really done a rom-com in my entire career. It's like a Julia Roberts type. But I'm not allowed to do kissing scenes. I also want to do theater. It's part of your learning. You never stop learning when you've been in the industry for a long time.)

Ara also said that she's willing to accept an international project even if the talent fee is not big.

"We can work it out naman kasi kung maganda naman yung role. Naging producer din ako so alam ko yung feeling nila. Lalo na ang local movie industry hindi pa bumabalik as before," she added. (We can work it out especially if the role is good. I was also a producer so I know how they feel.)

Ara also reiterated that her sexy roles in the movies are over. "Tapos na tayo sa mga sexy scenes. Baka sabihin ng iba si Ara walang pinagkatandaan. Ibigay na natin yun sa iba. Ibang chapter na tayo ngayon. We need to breakaway from roles. Pero depende kung pang-award ang role. Kung pang Oscars yun why not? Ngayong married na ako, lahat ng gagawin ko I consult with my husband. Supportive siya sa akin."

"I'm done with sexy scenes. Others might say I haven't matured as an actress. Let's give that to others. We are in a different chapter now. We need to break away from roles. But it depends if the role will give me an award like the Oscars. Then why not? Now that I'm married, everything I do I consult with my husband. He's supportive of me."

Ara also considers her husband Dave her lucky charm. "After ko mag-asawa ang dami kong blessing. Ang daming projects na dumarating. Usually pag nag-aasawa ka, lie low ka muna."

(After I got married, I got a lot of blessings. A lot of projects came. Usually, when you get married, you're not active in showbiz.) 

On finances, Ara said: "Tulungan kami. Nagbibigay siya ng money sa akin pero hindi naman ako nagbibigay sa kanya. One thing na maganda sa kanya is may kusa siya. Hindi ako humihingi ng allowance sa asawa ko. Kung ano ang ibinigay niya, I just accept it. That's why he loves me. He's very generous. I can say I'm happy and content with my life now."

(We help each other. He gives me money but I don't give him money. One thing that is good about him is that he is willing to give. I don't ask for an allowance from my husband. But if he gives, I just accept it.)