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 By Gywneth Morales PHOTO: KoreaBoo It's official! After months of denial, agencies of both Crash Landing on You (CLOY) lead stars Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin confirmed they are dating, as reported by Soompi. "Actors Hyun Bin and Son Ye Jin met through their projects, and after the end of their drama, their positive feelings towards one another developed into a romantic relationship," Hyun Bin's agency VAST Entertainment stated Meanwhile, Son Ye-jin's agency MS Team Entertainment said, "The two of them got to know each other through their acting projects, and after the end of their drama, they developed an interest in each other and ended up dating.” To recall, South Korean media outlet Dispatch reported Friday that the two have been dating for eight months already. Crash Landing On You revolves around a billionaire heiress who accidentally crash lands into North Korean territory and falls in love with a captain of the North Korean army. It aired from D...

  By Gwyneth Morales Partners who met through dating apps are found to be more committed — in contrast to beliefs that these platforms are intended for casual encounters —  a new study has found. Photo Courtesy of Unsplash Researchers from Switzerland's University of Geneva (UNIGE) studied a sample of 3,235 adults from the 2018 family survey data who were in a relationship and had met their partner in the past 10 years. Couples who met on dating apps were more motivated to live together than other lovers, a researcher at the Institute of Demography and Socioeconomics in UNIGE's Faculty of Social Sciences revealed in a statement. "The study doesn't say whether their final intention was to live together for the long- or short-term, but given that there's no difference in the intention to marry, and that marriage is still a central institution in Switzerland, some of these couples likely see cohabitation as a trial period prior to marriage," Gina Potarca sa...

  By Gwyneth Morales and Archie Villafllores It's finally the end of the year — the most-awaited day of everyone as we hope that it will also mark the finish line of this whole roller coaster ride. Here's a recap of 20 news stories that either made us laugh, cry or enraged in 2020.  1. Taal Volcano eruption 2. Kobe Bryant's death 3. Philippines' first COVID-19 case 4. ABS-CBN shutdown 5. Debold Sinas' mañanita 6. Debold Sinas' promotion 7.  Villar's remark on frontliners  8. Villar's remark on farmers 9. Anti-Terrorism Act's railroading 10. Real-life Jumanji 11. Kid's multiple food delivery orders 12. PhilHealth alleged corruption 13. Duterte's pardon to Pemberton 14. Manila Bay's white dolomite sand 15. Briones' victory vs. COVID-19 remark 16. Baby River's death 17. Typhoon Ulysses' onslaught 18. Softdrink brand's weird ad 19. Pfizer vaccine procurement mess    20. Vaccination of Duterte's security, military The year ...

 By Archie Villaflores  PHOTO: Manila Bulletin For Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, health care workers in the country have already recovered from the mental stress brought about by serving at the frontline in the fight against COVID-19. "Tingin ko naman, ramdam ko, correct me if I'm wrong, mukhang maayos naman sila, mukhang they have recovered from the extreme stress that in the early stage of the pandemic they had to suffer," Duque said in a briefing on Thursday. The health chief inspected the New Year's Eve preparations of the Quirino Memorial Medical Center. Moreover, Duque said that it would best if the health workers themselves would be asked of their mental health condition for managing the pandemic. As of December 20, more than 13,000 health workers in the Philippines had contracted COVID-19 and at least 76 succumbed to the viral respiratory illness. Amid the pandemic, some frontliners in the country had lamented the delays in the release of the...

Nina Gwyneth Morales at Archie Villaflores LARAWAN MULA SA: ABS-CBN News Maaaring sa kulungan ang bagsak ni ACT-CIS Rep. Eric Yap, isang malapit na kaibigan ni presidential son Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte, kung mapapatunayang sangkot siya sa mga di umano'y anomalya sa Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), ayon mismo kay Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte. "By calling up [PACC] commissioner Greco [Belgira]... that simple call can send you to jail. Ano 'yan e, punishable by Republic Act No. 3019 [o] Anti-Graft Law," babala ni Duterte sa isang press briefing nitong Lunes. Isa si Yap sa siyam na mga mambabatas na idinawit ng Pangulo sa di umano'y mga iregularidad sa mga proyekto ng DPWH base sa isinumiteng report ng Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC). "Congressman Eric Yap, ACT-CIS Partylist, legislative caretaker of Benguet — alleged rigging of bid through his agent. Exerting influence in choosing his district engineer to be able to control the aw...

  Nina Gwyneth Morales at Archie Bergosa LARAWAN MULA SA: Rappler Umapela nitong Miyerkoles ang Philippine Medical Association (PMA) na huwag na raw sana palakihin pa ang isyu sa pagpapabakuna ng iilang sundalo nang walang abiso sa Food and Drug Administration (FDA). "Sana hindi na palakihin ang mga issues kasi habang lumalaki ang mga issues mawawalan ng kumpiyansa ang mga tao na magpabakuna," ani PMA President Dr. Benito Atienza. Matatandaang nagulat ang publiko matapos kinumpirmang naturukan na ng bakuna ang mga miyembro ng Presidential Security Group (PSG) at ilan pang kalihim. Base sa listahan ng priyoridad na inilabas ng gobyerno, dapat na unahin ang health workers sa pagpapaturok habang panlima naman ang mga sundalo kung sakaling maaprubahan ng FDA ang bakuna. Subalit giit ni Atienza, hindi na ito dapat maging isyu dahil sa pamahalaan naman daw nanggagaling ang proseso. "Ang nangyayari naman ay procedural issues eh, na sila rin ang gumagawa," aniya. ...

 By Elyjah Rosales PHOTO: ABS-CBN News As the Philippines started vaccination not following their “priority list,” neighbor country Singapore began their Pfizer-BioNTech prompt today on healthcare workers first. The 46-year-old nurse served as the first-ever recipient of such in the whole Asia following their country’s quick response. "I feel very grateful and thankful for being the first to be vaccinated in Singapore," told National Center for Infectious Diseases senior staff nurse Sarah Lim. The country also seeks to acquire enough doses for its 5.7 million people during the third quarter of 2021. It is remembered that Singapore is also the first country to approve Pfizer among all testing sites. Meanwhile, Filipino "priority" frontliners and senior citizens have to lash out the officials before explaining why the "list" turned "jumbled." “Dapat lang na priority ang mga health workers at mga nurses kasi kami ang naka-expose sa matin...

  By Elyjah Rosales FDA Director-General Eric Domingo (PHOTO: Manila Bulletin ) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reiterated that the government should have followed their process in administering the donated Chinese COVID-19 vaccine to soldiers. FDA Director-General Eric Domingo, accordingly, explained that if this was done, they could have issued a “special permit” for Sinopharm first. "Halimbawa, mayroon talagang pangangailangan, there’s a situation where you need access to investigational products, you can ask for compassionate special permit," Domingo said. He also added that this would give them a chance to “check the source, kung sino ang mag-iimport and we can monitor to whom they are given to and kung ano ang magiging outcome ng paggamit,” earlier on. This statement came after Malacañang has reported the usage of such on the military alongside the members of the Presidential Security Group (PSG). RELATED ARTICLE: ABS-CBN News DISCLAIMER

  By Archie Villaflores and Gwyneth Morales DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III (PHOTO: Rappler ) The Department of Health (DOH) deserves a 9 out of 10 score in its COVID-19 response efforts this year, the agency's chief Francisco Duque III pronounced despite criticisms on how the administration is handling the pandemic. "Nakita ko on the ground (I saw on the ground) and with my interactions, my endless meetings with my DOH team, I would give them 9 to 10 in terms of great effort, the sincerity to contribute to the national government’s pandemic response, said Duque on Wednesday. “Not only to contribute, but having led the COVID response in every aspect of our 5-point strategy against COVID-19,” he added. However, Duque admitted the agency had missteps and mistakes. “Pero yang mga pagkakamaling iyan ay nagsilbing leksyon para lamang mas maging matagumpay ang tugon sa COVID-19.,” he said during the virtual briefing. The health secretary also pointed out that it is impos...

 By Girald Gaston PHOTO: Rappler Reigning two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo might not have gotten his stroke, but the whole Milwaukee Bucks took charge to set a record of 29 triples in rout of Miami Heat, 144-97, Tuesday night at American Airlines Arena, Miami. Bucks proved that don't just rely on their best player as they broke the previous record of 27 by Houston Rockets on 2019 in night where Antetokoumnpo tallied his worst output in over three years. Milwaukee fielded 13 players and 12 of which made at least one 3-pointer — the only player who didn't get onto it is their main man, who tallied just nine markers. His streak of 108 consecutive regular-season games with double-digit scoring has ended. It was the first time since Feb. 13, 2017. Khris Middleton had four treys on his way to game-high 25 points, Jrue Holiday swished six 3's in his 24-point night and Donte DiVincenzo was 5-for-6 from deep to finish with 17 markers. Bucks' Sam Merrill got the 28t...

 By Deighton Acuin and Archie Villaflores PSG Commander Jesus Durante (PHOTO: Asian Journal ) President Rodrigo Duterte's security personnel administered the coronavirus jabs among themselves, without any help of medical experts, the Presidential Security Group (PSG) chief said Wednesday.  “We vaccinated ourselves. It’s so easy,” PSG Chief Colonel Jesus Durante admitted in an interview on ANC’s “Headstart.”  Asked if Durante himself inoculated the vaccine to the PSG officials, he added: “As I’ve said, we vaccinated ourselves. It is within our command.”  “We’ve done our research. For now, we’ve found the appropriate vaccine for us, which I could say is a traditional vaccine, so we took the risk,” Durante further said. Meanwhile, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año bared that a Cabinet official and a number of PSG members already received vaccine shots. However, the country's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said there a...

By Girald Gaston Hawks star Trae Young and Pistons big man Mason Plumlee (PHOTO: Texas News Today ) Trae Young and Bogdan Bogdanovic anchored the Atlanta Hawks over Detroit Pistons, 128-120, to continue their great start at the young NBA season, Monday night at State Farm Arena, Atlanta. Young tallied 28 points, while Bogdanovic supported with 17 markers for Atlanta, who debuted at their home and were able to go up to 3-0 slate for the first time since 2016-2017. The Hawks soared high to record great numbers from the distance, scoring 20 triples with an accuracy of 47.6 percent. Their last conversion from beyond-the-arc was in the 1:47 mark of final frame, when Young splashed a right wing special to extend its deficit to 10, 122-112. Detroit's Jerami Grant was able to reply with his own trey to trim the lead to five, 122-117, with 65 ticks left. Atlanta's John Collins and his point guard star were enough as they calmly sank the next six attempts from the stripes to secure...

 By Gwyneth Morales PSG Chief Jesus Durante (PHOTO: Daily Tribune ) The Presidential Security Group (PSG) admitted Monday that they have been inoculated against COVID-19 to keep President Rodrigo Duterte 'safe' despite having no approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This was after Duterte claimed in their meeting with Cabinet officials on Saturday that some of the military officers have already received the vaccine. "We did it not for personal agenda but on a greater pursuit that is even way beyond our mission of protecting our President," PSG commander General Jesus Durante said. "As the unit primarily tasked to protect and secure the highest official of the land, the PSG will have to ensure that the President is safe from all threats, including COVID-19," he added. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) also confirmed some of its members were already vaccinated. “Per our inquiry, members of the Presidential Security Group (PSG)...

 Ni Gwyneth Morales Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque (LARAWAN MULA SA: Inquirer.net ) Nilinaw ng Malacañang nitong Lunes na hindi ipinagbabawal ng batas ang pagpapabakuna laban sa COVID-19 kahit na hindi pa ito aprubado ng Food and Drug Administration (FDA). "Ang bawal po ay iyong distribution at pagbebenta," ani Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque. Sinabi ito ni Roque matapos umamin ang militar na tinurukan na ng bakuna laban sa COVID-19 ang mga miyembro ng Presidential Security Group (PSG). Inihayag pa ni Roque na isa itong mensahe na hindi na raw dapat pang mainip ang publiko dahil "nandito na ang bakuna." Dagdag pa niya, tanggapin na lamang ng mga Pilipino na ligtas na sa COVID-19 ang mga sundalo dahil nabakunahan na ito. "Huwag n'yo naman pong ipagkait sa mga sundalo kung nagkaroon sila ng proteksyon," aniya pa. Nang tanungin kung maaaring mag-import ng bakuna ang publiko para sa personal use, sinabi ni Roque na marapat na kaunti ...

  Ni Gwyneth Morales PNP Chief Debold Sinas (LARAWAN MULA SA: ABS-CBN News ) Itinanggi ni Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Debold Sinas nitong Lunes ang mga kumalat niyang larawang nagpapakitang dumalo umano siya sa isang Christmas party. "Negative po. Fake news po ‘yun. ‘Yung video na ’yun, alam ko retirement ng kaklase ko doon sa Tuguegarao just before (the COVID-19 pandemic). Alam ko January pa ‘yun. Wala po kaming Christmas party. Siguro may mga tao talagang walang magawa sa buhay," ani Sinas sa isang press conference. Dagdag pa niya, ginagamit lamang ang mga tao ang kanyang larawan upang batikusin siya. Galing sa screenshots ng video ang nag-viral na mga larawan na kung saan masayang sumasayaw si Sinas habang nakasuot ng bughaw na pantaas. Matatandaang sumikat ang hepe noong Mayo matapos niyang nilabag ang quarantine protocols dahil sa pagdausdos ng mañanita para sa kanyang 55th kaarawan. Ngunit, pinatawad siya ni Pangulong Rodrigo Durerte at sina...

 By Elyjah Rosales, Gwyneth Morales, and Archie Villaflores Health Secretary Francisco Duque III (PHOTO: ABS-CBN News ) Health Secretary Francisco Duque III remained silent regarding President Rodrigo Duterte's statement about "many" Filipinos taking a Chinese COVID-19 vaccine. In Duterte's press briefing with the Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) and health experts, Duque confessed his knowledge about the Sinopharm vaccination activities is also limited. "Hindi po ako makapagsalita nang kumpleto patungkol dito dahil iyon lang din pong narinig niyo ang narinig ko," told the one who 'dropped the ball' as per Senator Ping Lacson. Prior to this, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. aired China has sent him a complaint about such presence in the country. Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, accordingly, has already conducted an investigation in Binondo after reports have pointed there. To date, the probes in Binondo and Makati tallied no arrests so f...

By Raymond Lumagsao Cartoon by Yanmar Barrera   Due to the widespread outrage following the brutal caught-on-video murder of mother and  son, Sonya Gregorio, 52, and Anthony Gregorio, 25, in Tarlac on December 20, government personalities joined forces in defending the Philippine National Police (PNP) and deemed the crime involving Police Senior Master Sergeant Jonel Nuezca an isolated case. Apparently, this year alone despite restricted mobility, acts of brutality dragging a number of police ranks have been reported. Could their solidified denial still carry weights enough to earn public trust? “The sin of Nuezca is not the sin of the entire Philippine National Police,” Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Ano said on Monday adding that policemen “place their lives on the line as frontliners in our COVID response.” PNP Chief Police General Debold Sinas also distanced their institution from the fatal shooting assuring the public that "in no way will such incident af...

 By Deighton Acuin United States President-elect Joe Biden (PHOTO: News Week ) The United States may face "devastating consequences" if outgoing President Donald Trump continues to block the passage of coronavirus economic relief bill, President-Elect Joe Biden warned on Saturday. Biden made the statement as millions of Americans saw jobless relief benefits expiration as Trump threw package into doubt — demanding legislators more than triple of a current $600 direct payments. “This abdication of responsibility has devastating consequences. Today, about 10 million Americans will lose unemployment insurance benefits,” Biden said. The measure is wrapped up with a huge amount of $1.4 trillion, without signing, the government will be forced under shutdown on Monday midnight. “In just a few days, government funding will expire, putting vital services and paychecks for military personnel at risk,” Biden said. “In less than a week, a moratorium on evictions expires, putting...

 By Rjay Zuriaga Castor The pot with cocks ( PHOTO:   Thodoris Thou ) Far beyond the traditional terracotta pots, a Cyprian sculptor figuratively creates an eccentric "Adam", a male genetilia flower pot. Thodoris Thou (Greek word means "gift of god"), born in Cyprus but now living in a remote Grecian island in the Mediterranean Sea, is a self-taught sculptor and ceramist. In a magazine "Boys with Plants", he shared that his inspiration comes from Greek mythology, modern pop culture and nature, noting his passion about gardening. "I've been working with clay since 2006, and in the last few years, have managed to set up a small workshop in Nicosia. For the last two years I've focused on the 'Adam' pot," Thodoris said. "It started as a very personal project, that our body is basically a container. A vehicle that we have on this Earth, and through it you are born and grow into everything we want and love, like a plant growing in ...

By Raymond Lumagsao When we are confronted with no better chance, we are forced to love the less and worse, sometimes with corresponding conditions. We are compelled with the idea that when we disregard an opportunity, it may not end up working, we have only expedited losing our stint for an admired choice. It’s actually insane when we attempt to adapt to a situation that’s not parallel to our inner desires. Somehow it means discovering what else we are capable of. Don’t be too hard on yourself for letting go of a chance you are too weak to grab. PHOTO: Unsplash.com Everyone is heading to unique destinations, the time spent in the journey doesn’t matter. What count are the stories it creates making it in the end. Inevitably, you suddenly became skeptical about your plans. You would feel burdened realizing you have become brittle to the things you genuinely love. You would wonder, could someone really survive the demanding waves of unforeseen misfortune? One must have the story now and ...

A film review by Raymond Lumagsao Let’s cut to the chase. Antoinette Jadaone’s brand new creation “Fan Girl”, also among entries for the Metro Manila Film Festival this year, is more than Paulo Avelino’s frontal nudity scene.  PHOTO: Scoutmag.ph There are heavy aspects to unpack after watching the film but for the most part, idolatry as its main course has not been confined in such lame focus. The coverage of Jadaone’s lens in writing and directing a coming of age story that is daring, disturbing yet true to the core, is not completely a surprise but only a dynamic of her wide craft mastery.  Jane (Charlie Dizon), 16, is a die-hard fan of Paulo Avelino played by himself. In her desperate desire to exclusively meet her most admired idol, she ended up sneaking behind the actor’s pickup truck following a wrapped up mall show for a movie promotion. Hidden under posters and fans’ presents, Jane successfully concealed herself without Avelino noticing initially. Joining the actor ret...

 By Girald Gaston Former NCAA MVP Sudan Daniel (PHOTO: Inquirer Sports ) San Beda's MVP and host of various Philippine 3x3 event Sudan Daniel has passed away after suffering an asthma attack on Saturday at Calatagan, Batangas. Daniel celebrated the holidays with his former Red Lion teammates Anthony and David Semerad. He was rushed out to Calatagan Medicare Hospital after the attack, but pronounced dead on arrival. In early years in the country, Sudan proved that Daniel and lions really have a deep connection. He had a succesful run with the Mendiola-based team. The American had a fruitful career in the NCAA, as he debuted on the 85th season and was awarded as Rookie of the Year. On the next season, he propelled the Frankie Lim-coached San Beda squad to an 18-0 slate en route to championship. He won both MVP and DPOY plum on that year. He suffered an ACL tear on his third year, and missed the whole 87th season as they failed to defend their crown. After his collegiate car...