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Ni John Emmanuell Ramirez PHOTO: MarketWatch Pagkabili sa Twitter sa halagang 44 bilyong dolyar, ipinangako naman ni Elon Musk, pinakamayamang bilyonaryong entrepreneur, na maitataas ang free speech at authentication ng mga user sa platform, kung saan ikinabahala ng mga kritiko ang mataas na potensyal na paglaganap ng disimpormasyon at harassment sa social media network. “The extreme antibody reaction from those who fear free speech says it all,” banat ni Musk sa mga bumabatikos na kritiko, kung saan nilinaw niya na mariin lang niyang kinokondena ang censorship na labas sa batas.  “If people want less free speech, they will ask government to pass laws to that effect. Therefore, going beyond the law is contrary to the will of the people,” diin ni Musk sa kanyang tweet. Matatandaan sa TED2022 Conference noong Abril 15, noon pa ma’y naniniwala na si Musk na dapat sumunod ang Twitter sa batas ng mga bansang pinag-ooperahan nila upang hindi makontrol ang kalayaan nilang magpahayag. "It...

By Daine Mariel Chua PHOTO: Atty. Vic Rodriguez/Facebook Despite the suspension of his Facebook account, Atty. Victor Rodriguez, spokesman of presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., will pursue advocating the candidate’s messages through other media platforms in preparation for the upcoming 2022 elections in May. In a statement, Rodriguez claimed that Meta, the parent company of Facebook, suspended his account on Monday, April 25, due to the fact that he is in favor of the late dictator’s son, Marcos. He, however, showed that the suspension of his account would not stop him from supporting Marcos and stated his will to continue disseminating information from the candidate through other social media platforms. He previously used his Facebook account to merely upload photos, videos, and campaign schedules of UniTeam, an alliance composed of Bongbong Marcos and Sara Duterte-Carpio tandem’s supporters, implying established support for the party. His plan about extending to o...

By Justine Juyad PHOTO: NBA New Orleans Pelicans stunned the top-seeded Phoenix Suns anew, 118-103, in Game 4 after a strong second half led by Brandon Ingram to tie the series at two games apiece, inside Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Sunday evening (Monday morning, PH time). The one-time All-Star continued his hot streak as he posted his third straight 30-point output along with four rebounds and five assists to help his team avoid a 3-1 hole. "Brandon is playing some of his best basketball of the season, and he’s doing it on the biggest stage. It’s great to see," Pelicans head coach Willie Green on Ingram's spectacular playoffs performance. The 6-foot-8 forward scored 18 in the third quarter alone to power their second-half storm where they outscored Booker-less Suns, 35-23 before finishing it off in the final canto. Jonas Valanciunas also provided an impact especially in the paint, collecting 26 points, 15 rebounds, four assists, three blocks, and two steals. Th...

By John Carlo Ayende PHOTO: Rappler The Far Eastern University Tamaraws overcame a zero-field goal third quarter to stun the De La Salle University Green Archers with a 67-62 squeaker and solidified their UAAP Season 84 Final Four spot at the Mall of Asia Arena today. The Tamaraws were 3-6 at one point this season, but the Morayta-based squad crawled their way back into the playoff picture as they extended their winning streak to three and improved their record to 6-6. FEU’s crucial victory also prevented the Green Archers from securing their berth in the Final Four and only trailed the Tamaraws by 1.5 games in the standings, falling to a 7-5 record. RJ Abarrientos fueled the Tamaraws’ offense in the first half, scoring 13 of his 21 markers in the opening quarter and helping FEU establish an early 16-point advantage, 42-26. The Green Archers refused to wave the white flag and caught the Tamaraws freezing in the cold, building a 16-0 run to tie the game at 42 apiece via Bright Nwankwo’s...

By Marjoe Toquillo PHOTO: Inquirer Holy Angel University’s Valiant Esports left a marvelous impression after trouncing Far Eastern University- Manila’s Tams FX with a 2-0 drubbing at the play-ins first week of Alliance Games 2022 on the MLBB Category, Sunday. Stepbro peaked with his stellar performance at the two games of the event with “Wanwan” on the first and “Beatrix” on the second. The Valiant MVP ended both games with an overall KDA score of 20/1/8, Hero Damage of 119552, and teamfight participation of 63%. Valiant started the match by sustaining a 7-nil killscore for 6 minutes. The spree only ended when Tams FX’s MADBOY with his “Karrie'' slayed Waterpauls’ “Baxia” at the 6:16 mark. Eros with his “Selena” also played a vital role in keeping the lead of Valiant with his efficient map rotation and superb “Abyssal Arrow” precision. After claiming the Lord at the 9:20 mark, Valiant pressured mid-lane while the Lord was on the bottom lane. Valiant ensured that no time would b...

By Crisdenmar Dela Cruz PHOTO: Tiebreaker Times Jerom Lastimosa gave Adamson a huge lift in the fourth quarter as the Soaring Falcons snapped the historic eight-game winning streak of UP Fighting Maroons, 66-58, in the UAAP S84 Men's basketball eliminations on Thursday at the MOA Arena. Adamson nearly squandered a 17-point lead but managed to hold on as third-year guard Lastimosa launched eight of his 13 points in the final frame, including the stepback triple that put Adamson ahead for good, 62-57, with 23.3 seconds left. He also had five rebounds, four assists, two blocks, and a steal as the Soaring Falcons grabbed their third straight victory. After multiple heartbreaking losses in the first round, Adamson is now knocking on the door of the Final Four, entering a three-way tie at fourth place with NU and FEU. “I was observing the other team nung kumakanta sila nung school hymn and in my mind, mag-isa ako doon parang wow. Puro nalang ako wow doon sa kabilang side because we were ...

By Monica Chloe Condrillon PHOTO: Viva Pinas “Kakampinks” remained unfazed as an estimated 150,000 Cebuanos stood tall to support Leni Robredo and Kiko Pangilinan’s bid for presidency and vice presidency in the upcoming national polls on May 9. This took place even after Cebu’s dominant and Garcia-led political party, One Cebu, backed the opposing UniTeam's Bongbong Marcos and Sara Duterte’s tandem last week. The CeBOOM: Cebu Leni-Kiko Grand People’s Rally 2.0 held on April 21 gathered a crowd with a final count of over 150,000 attendees in the eight-hectare Mandaue City North Reclamation Area, according to local Philippine National Police and the event organizers. Cebu’s crowd escalated during the tandem’s second rally on the island. It grew from more than 10,000 Kakampinks during the first rally held in University of Southwestern PHINMA last February 24, to a fifteen-fold increase in the recent CeBOOM. Cebuano supporters also held a Bangkaravan Fluvial Parade for Leni-Kiko that w...

Ni Cherry Babia PHOTO: CHOS PH 'Walang patawad.'  Nanindigan si Manila Mayor Isko Moreno sa paghimok niya kay presidential aspirant Leni Robredo na bawiin ang bid nito sa pagkapangulo sa kabila ng samu't saring batikos at hindi pagsang-ayon ng ilan sa mga kapartido nito sa naganap na kontrobersiyang Easter Press Conference. Ayon kay Moreno, hindi siya hihingi ng tawad kay Robredo dahil 'honest opinion' niya ito.  "I don’t apologize for something I believe that is fair. I don’t say sorry for something I did that was within reason,” ani ng alkalde. Inulit pa ni Moreno ang sinabi niyang panghihikayat kay Robredo na tumigil at bumaba na sa pagtakbo nito bilang pangulo at bigyan ng pagkakataon ang ilan pa sa mga tumatakbong pangulo na maaaring makatalo sa dating senador na si Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos. "Vice President Leni, be a hero, withdraw, give chance to the other candidates," aniya. Dagdag pa rito, sa isang ambush interview ni Moreno, sinab...

By Daine Mariel Chua PHOTO: UNTV Despite prevailing as the top presidential choice, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. sought security on votation during his campaign on Monday, April 18, expressing concern regarding the controversies of unmatched actual vote results and pre-shaded ballots on the conducted absentee voting overseas. In his campaign in Cebu Province, Marcos together with his running mate, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, expressed using their stage in promoting “vote protection” among their people when asked by the reporters. “Nothing new really. It hasn’t changed. We continue to strengthen our organization. We are teaching our people vote protection. We’re at that stage,” he answered when asked a question about his “game plan” since there was only a few weeks remaining before the campaign period ends. Although leading in the latest Pulse Asia pre-election survey released on April 6, whereas Marcos was declared as the top presidential choice with a 56% rating leading...

By Irish Medalla Cartoon by Sofia Dominique Mamaril As we welcome the upcoming 2022 Philippine National elections on May 9th, it is significant for Filipinos to be more educated in terms of the emphasis of responsible voting and applying it in today’s modern society. Henceforth, many of them remain careless about politics, and choose not to vote in any elections even though they are already eligible. We all know that voting has been truly important because it allows every qualified individual to select candidates that will run the whole country and at the same time, fix our country’s political system and government issues. On the other hand, not all civilians are interested and dedicated to it. Which makes it disappointing, for we believe that they are our hope towards a progressive future. As reported by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), 52% of the registered voters for the nearing election are Filipino youths, this shows how active these young people are, amidst different crisis...

Ni Roland Andam Jr. PHOTO: ABS-CBN SABAY-SABAY na itinama ng netizens ang kontrobersyal na pahayag ng aktres at kilalang Marcos supporter na si Toni Gonzaga-Soriano ukol sa napipintong “comeback” umano ni presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. sa Malacañang na kanyang tahanan.  Sa ginanap na grand campaign rally ng UniTeam ng tambalang BBM-Sara Duterte sa Cebu noong Lunes, Abril 18, ipinagsigawan ni Gonzaga na kaunting panahon na lamang umano ang nalalabi at balik-Malacañang na ang anak ng dating diktador. Hindi naman ito nakalusot sa mga Pilipino at agarang inalmahan ang nasabing pahayag ni Gonzaga sa social media. Bagaman may katotohanang minsang namalagi sa Malacañang ang anak ng diktador na si Marcos Jr., maging ang kanyang buong pamilya, ang palag ng netizens: “ninuma’y walang personal na nagmamay-ari sa Malacañang bilang tahanan.” Ito anila’y pansamantalang tirahan lamang at opisina kung saan nagtatrabaho ang sinumang naluluklok na pangulo ng Pilipinas. Isa sa...

By Eden Eve Lacea PHOTO: Rappler Less than three weeks before the national elections on May 9, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) First Division turned down the last active disqualification case against the late dictator's son Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.  In a poll body released to the media on Wednesday, April 20, First Division commissioners Socorro Inting, Aimee Ferolino, and Aimee Torrefranca-Neri unanimously voted to ax the disqualification case filed by “Pudno nga Ilocano” (The Real Ilocano) due to “lack of merit.” The said petition was filed way back December 7, 2021 by Margarita Salonga Salandanan, Crisanto Ducusin Palabay, Mario Flores Ben, Danilo Austria Consumido, Raoul Hafalla Tividad, Nida Mallare Gatchallan, and Nomer Calulot Kuan, who all sought to stop Marcos’ presidential race due to his failure in filing income tax returns (ITRs) from 1982-1985 back when he was a vice-governor turned governor of Ilocos Norte. However, a much prolonged decision w...

Ni Winlei Kim Castro PHOTO: The Associated Press Tuloy pa rin ang misyon ng Philadelphia 76ers na tapusin ang 39-taong pagkauhaw sa NBA title. Ninamnam ng fourth-seeded 76ers ang kanilang 2-0 serye bentahe sa Eastern Conference first round matapos dominahin muli ang Toronto Raptors, 112-97, Martes sa Wells Fargo Center. Sapat ang 31 puntos at 11 rebounds na iniukit ni Kia MVP Finalist Joel Embiid sa loob ng 37:14 minutong paglalaro upang dominahin ang Game 2. Nagtarak ng 27-12 run ang 76ers bunga ng siyam na puntos ni James Harden, susi sa 67-52 kalamangan sa pagtatapos ng ikalawang kwarter. Lumobo pa hanggang sa 29 puntos ang kalamangan dulot ng 15-2 bomba ng 76ers na tumapos sa ikatlong kwarter, 95-71. Sa simula ng ika-apat at huling kwarter,  sinubukang ibaba ng Raptors ang kalamangan, 86-97, via 14-2 surge ngunit hindi ito umubra nang bumawi ng 8-0 run ang 76ers at hindi na lumingon pa. Sa kabilang banda, nanguna si OG Anunoby sa opensa ng Raptors ngunit kapos ang kaniyang 26 p...

By Girald Gaston PHOTO: USA Today After squandering a huge lead down the stretch, Jayson Tatum saved the day for the green and white. The Boston Celtics saw its 15-point lead disappear, but the late game heroics of Tatum propelled them to victory against the gritty Brooklyn Nets, 115-114, in Game 1 of their 2022 NBA Eastern Conference First round series, Sunday (Monday PH time) at TD Garden. Tatum scored the final two of his 31-point masterpiece at the buzzer, as he spun for a layup off a Marcus Smart dish to turn the chaotic final possession to a nail-biting win.  Celtics decided not to use its final timeout, and it was Jaylen Brown who first orchestrated the play as he drove to the middle to find Smart at the left wing, which then pumped fake his way to elude two defenders en route to a Tatum game-winner. It was Tatum’s first career buzzer-beater in the playoffs, and first for the franchise as well since Paul Pierce did it in 2010 against the Miami Heat. “I thought Marcus Smart w...

By Zanti Alfonso Gayares Cartoon by Brandon Jon Delos Santos This year’s election is indeed crucial in the climate urgency. It will encompass the next six years of environmental actions, maybe for better or for worse. With this, political candidates must have their share of environmental platforms to let people scrutinize who’s plans are fit to assure a greener future for the country. More so, with the recent calls and campaigns related to the environmental crisis, we are expected not only to delete unread emails to reduce carbon footprints and to plant trees around communities. But also, to select leaders who understand climate change and who can weather the storm in this prophesied catastrophic doom. Recently, the campaign for #LetTheEarthBreathe surfaced on the internet following the arrest of scientists while conducting their peaceful rallies and climate strike to compel governments and leaders to act on the environmental crisis. This is rooted in the initial report released statin...

Now in its second season, iRead @Home continues to touch young lives and unfold their dreams through promoting reading literacy even from the comfort of children’s homes.  With hopes to further promote reading among children, the UPLB Development Communicators’ Society (UPLB DCS) is set to launch the official website of its online reading literacy advocacy, iRead @ Home, on April 11. This year’s second installment will also push through on April 27, 2022. In 2010, iRead started as an annual reading literacy and awareness campaign of UPLB DCS to encourage students to develop a habit of reading by themselves. During face-to-face classes, the organization and volunteers visit elementary schools in Laguna and teach Grade 1 students basic reading and writing skills.  Since the pandemic forced schools to implement online and modular learning, the physical conduct of the campaign was also put on hold. However, the organization has continued its mandate to promote reading literacy wi...

By Ryann Yap PHOTO: New York Post “Point God” Chris Paul piloted the fourth quarter for the Phoenix Suns to foil a potential comeback from the New Orleans Pelicans, 110-99, in the 2022 NBA Western Conference Playoffs Game 1, at Footprint Center, Sunday night (Monday on Philippine Time). Watching their lead deflate to six in the fourth, 87-81, the Suns found their antidote through Paul’s scorching offense to counter the major Pelicans run and seal the game. CP3 dropped 19 of his 30 points in the last quarter, with 10 assists and three rebounds shy of a triple-double, on top of 12-of-16 shooting in the field and his 4-of-6 makes from beyond the arc. Devin Booker added 25 points and eight assists while Deandre Ayton’s 21 points plus nine rebounds contributed to end the Pelicans’ resurgence hopes and gain a 1-0 series advantage for Phoenix. “Just sort of taking what the defense gives us, when Book [Booker] is not in there, we always try to find other ways to score,” Paul said after being a...

By Rex Neil Falogme PHOTO: Amanda Westcott/SHOWTIME Errol "The Truth" Spence Jr. secured a 10th-round TKO victory against former Manny Pacquiao conqueror Yordenis Ugas to unify his WBC, IBF and WBA welterweight titles inside AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Sunday (PhST). Spence landed heavy shots after another, shutting Ugas' right eye down enough to force the ringside doctor to stop the match with 1:44 minutes in the tenth round. “I didn’t have any doubts at all. I believe in myself 100%. I train 100%, and I knew I would come through," said Spence Jr., who was bound to fight Pacquiao in the latter's farewell bout until Ugas replaced him due to an injury. "I didn’t want a tune-up fight or fight someone I knew I could beat. I wanted someone that can bring the best out of me, and I know Ugas could bring the best out of me,” he added. The two champions started aggressively in the first round, with Spence connecting a quadruple jab and Ugas answering bac...

By Deighton Acuin PHOTO: Twitter Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno claimed that there are groups urging him to withdraw his presidential bid and instead be appointed as the secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). “Alam ito ng mga group chat ng mga dilawan o pinklawan. They continue to send the message that on May 1, I will withdraw, and I will be appointed as secretary of DILG. How persistent they are? If I may borrow Sen. Ping Lacson’s word, ‘hinuhubaran kami’,” Moreno said during a joint press briefing with Senators Ping Lacson, Tito Sotto, and former defense chief Norberto Gonzales held in Manila Peninsula Hotel. “Hindi kami mabili, ang binibili, tao namin. May bumili sa mga tao ni Senator Ping. May bumili sa mga tao namin, at it seems isang kulay lang lahat ng ito. Iisa ang gumagalaw sa aming lahat,” he added. Lacson says he’s ‘hijacked’ by Partido Reporma Meanwhile, Senator Panfilo Lacson said he had the same experience with Moreno, citing the sudden switc...