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By Sharlaine Kate Gumayat House Speaker Martin Romualdez on Friday, August 26, pledged open and transparent deliberations for the 2023 planned budget amounting to P5.268 trillion, the highest spending proposal ever sent to Congress. Photo Courtesy of BusinessMirror/PNA Romualdez referred to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) bill as a "unity national budget" during the deliberations of the House committee on appropriations, which shall fall under the General Appropriations Bill (GAB). “We will make sure that each bit of spending will contribute to our goal of reigniting the fires of our economic forges, and at least propel the country to reach economic growth at pre-pandemic levels,” he stated. The speaker also urged his colleagues to actively engage in crafting the national budget, which would be in accord with the eight-point economic agenda laid out in the government’s Medium-Term Fiscal Framework. The budget presents the top priority sectors of the Marcos admin...

Ni Nikki Coralde Matapos ang ilang linggong pagharang ng National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) sa website nito, inanunsyo ng Bulatlat na maaari na muling ma-access ang kanilang website sa isang pahayag na inilabas nitong Biyernes, Agosto 26. Photo Courtesy of Bulatlat/Politiko Ito ay nangyari isang araw matapos dumulog ang Bulatlat sa Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 306 para maghain ng indirect contempt laban sa NTC dahil umano sa tuloy-tuloy na pagpapatupad ng memorandum para harangan ang access sa website ng nasabing news outlet. “This is an initial victory for press freedom and the people’s right to access credible sources of information. The unblocking is an affirmation that in fighting back, we can regain our hard won rights,” pahayag ng Bulatlat. Matatandaang inutusan na ng Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 306 ang NTC na itigil ang pagpapatupad ng memorandum na naglalayong pigilan ang access sa website ng mahigit 20 na news outlets kabilang na ang Bulatlat. ...

Ni Manuel Arthur Machete Tinuldukan ng Gilas Pilipinas, sa pamumuno ni Jordan Clarkson, ang kanilang malamyang simula makaraang magtala ng 47-18 sa second half ng dwelo, daan upang makopo ng NBA star ang kaniyang unang panalo sa bansa, 84-46, sa Mall of Asia Arena noong Agosto 29. Photo Courtesy of FIBA Basketball Nagpaskil ang dating NBA Sixth Man of the Year ng 23 points, five rebounds, at six assist habang sumegundo naman si Adelaide 36ers center Kai Sotto ng game-high 16 markers at 13 boards para masikwat ang kanilang kaisa-isang panalo sa fourth window ng FIBA World Cup Asia Qualifiers. “(Once I stepped my shoe on the court), I can already feel the energy of the crowd,” pahayag ni Clarkson sa isang panayam ukol sa kaniyang unang laro sa Pilipinas. “I can’t wait to come back here again, play some more games ang get some wins.” Naging matikas ang simula ng unang quarter makaraang maangkin ng Fil-Am guard ang siyam na puntos matapos magpakawala ng 3/4 3FG, kabilang na ang three-...

By Lance Arevada During the Senate blue ribbon committee’s hearing on the alleged overpriced laptops on Thursday, August 25, former education secretary Leonor Briones went viral online for coming to the inquiry while riding a wheelchair, drawing flak and ridicule from netizens. Various posts have insinuated that by coming to the Senate in a wheelchair, the former head of the Department of Education (DepEd) is using the ‘formula’ of government officials accused of graft and corruption. Wheels of injustice pic.twitter.com/yRQtYH1ukd — Audie Gemora (@GemoraAudie) August 26, 2022 “She's wearing the corruption hearing starter kit,” a netizen said. While another user chided, “Oh dear. Everyone becomes a disabled person during investigative hearings.” However, Briones, who is turning 82 this October, has already admitted as early as 2017 that she is using a wheelchair whenever she travels due to the state of her knees brought by her advanced age. “It’s true that I use a wheelchair wh...

By Andreah Dianne Cartagena The Philippine National Police (PNP) spoke up about the recent series of kidnappings in the country, saying there is no connection to all the reported cases, as different groups and motives caused this. Photo Courtesy of AP/Gerard Carreon/Rappler “Itong mga insidente na ito ay masasabi natin na hindi naman talaga ito gawa ng isang grupo ng isang tao, yung mga nahuli nating suspek at mga kasong ito ay kanya-kanyang silang may personal na motibo,” PNP Spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said during an interview at Teleradyo on Friday, August 26. On Monday, August 29, PNP Chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. ordered an investigation of viral social media posts on abductions. The PNP also stated that an alleged white van and serial killer are not behind the previous rise in kidnappings and killings. Despite some false rumors circulating on social media, Fajardo still emphasized how social media helps raise awareness among citizens. According to Fajardo, Azurin has ordered t...

By Chanyel Fritz Tome An "aesthetic" classroom greets students in Masbate on the first day of classes in the School Year 2022-2023. Photo Courtesy of Sue Ellen Palingayan Complete with lights and pinkish themes, Teacher Sue Ellen Palingayan ensured that her students' second home was just as cozy as their own homes through posters, plants, and furniture as if they had never left their rooms.  "All I ever wanted was a cozy second home for students," the schoolteacher stated in her Facebook post. "I was teary-eyed when I finished everything." The teacher acknowledged her friends for helping her aesthetic endeavors by donating the things she needed to make the classroom pleasant and cozy.  "[I am] so thankful for all of you," she said.  Teacher Sue gave her students free tumblers and masked laces on the first day of school.  The School Year 2022-2023 began on Monday, August 22, and was marked with controversies surrounding the Department of Educa...

By Basti Vertudez “This move seems to be a political statement from the Marcos Jr. administration that they do not care about history, and that they are hell-bent on doing whatever it takes to conceal the truth from the Filipinos.” Photo Courtesy by Politiko / NCCA This was the take of Gabriela Party-list Representative Arlene Brosas as key government agencies for preserving Philippine history and culture face possible massive budget cuts under the proposed 2023 national budget. In an interview with ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo on August 26, Brosas questioned the plan of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration to protect history after reducing the sector’s budget for the next year. "So iniisip nga namin na 'ano ba ito, ano ang direksyon ng Marcos administration sa pag-preserve ng ating history?' Parang balewala sa administration 'yung mga ahensya na talagang nangangalaga sa ating kultura at sa arts,” the party-list lawmaker stressed, slamming the president. In the 2023 ...

By Jillian Marielle Tiraña Tropical Storm ‘Florita’ recorded further damages during its exit from the Philippine area of responsibility on Thursday, August 25. Photo Courtesy of DOST-PAGASA/ABS-CBN News ‘Florita’, internationally known as Ma-on, caused heavy rain and flooding primarily in Northern Luzon in the span of two days earlier this week. More than 3,600 families or over 12,127 people from villages in Cagayan province retreated to evacuation centers as some towns remain flooded up to a foot deep. Meanwhile, 199 families in Central Luzon have also evacuated, according to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) regional office. A total of four Florita-related deaths have been confirmed as of Thursday; Francis Bitanga, a farmer from Barangay Wagud in the Kalinga province, was hit by a falling tree, teacher Romeo Sison Jr. from San Roque High School drowned, and earlier this week, Oliver and Myrna Corpuz from Quirino died after their bus tipped over a slippery road i...

By Xy Aldrae Murillo Following the chaos from the opening day of the department’s educational assistance program launched last August 20, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), along with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), have agreed that only applicants registered online or through QR codes are permitted to receive the said assistance. Photo Courtesy of DSWD/Sec. Erwin Tulfo (Facebook)/The Philippine STAR According to DSWD Secretary Erwin Tulfo, walk-in transactions are no longer allowed for students who aim to seek financial aid. "That is the difference now, we will only cater to those already registered online or have acquired QR code. We will no longer accept walk-ins to avoid what happened on the first day of roll-out," Tulfo said. “Aside from online, puwedeng QR code, puwedeng text kung hindi smartphone ang gamit nila, sasagutin naman namin. There is no more reason na sabihin nilang wala kaming cellphone. Tapos ‘yung mga anak nila...

By Denzel Jed Gaddi Flawless no more. Onic Philippines pulled off the upset axe to code Blacklist International’s first season defeat, 2-0, while Omega Esports swept gritty Nexplay EVOS in Week 3, Day 1 of the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League (MPL) Philippines Season 10, Friday. Photo Courtesy of Moonton On what was expected to be an easy Enhanced Lord takedown for Blacklist, Kenneth “Nets” Barro (Bruno) kicked his way onto a defenseless top lane inhibitor turret split-push to steal game one. France “Super Frince” Ramirez’s Faramis and Salic “Hadji” Imam’s Valentina rendered an immortal teamfight frenzy, however Kiel “Oheb” Soriano (Claude) kept his Blazing Duet intact, gunning his way onto two kills, and the momentum after Faramis’ Cult Altar expired. Both went on a lengthy Lord dance, eventually ending in an Onic wipeout but Nets marched onto the top lane, destroying the inhibitor turret.  Hadji and Edward “Edward” Dapdap (Esmeralda) tried to contest, but it was a li...

Ni Leira Frane James Aranas pasok sa semi-finals ng APF Asian 9-Ball Open sa Singapore matapos talunin ang kababayang si James Bongay nitong Sabado, Agosto 27. Photo Courtesy of Asian Pool Federation Nakuha ni Aranas ang sunod-sunod na walong puntos na nagbigay ng 8-0 lead sa kanilang race-to-11 battle. Hindi man naipasok ni Aranas ang 5th ball sa rack 9, bumawi naman ito at naging matagumpay sa pagkuha ng tempo ng laro at tapusin ang nasimulang paglupig sa kababayan. Bigong tumuloy sa rack no.10 ang swerte ni Bongay ng mabigo siyang makapagpapasok ng kahit anumang bola sa corner pocket.  Isinarado ni Aranas ang laban sa 11-2 matapos makuha nito ang huling rack. Si Aranas din ang pangalawang Pilipinong aarangkada sa semi-finals ng nasabing patimpalak.  Nakagawa ng five breaking rounds si Aranas nang hindi nakuha ni Bongay ang 1st ball-rack no. 1, 5th ball-rack. no. 2, 6th ball-rack no.6, 2nd ball-rack no. 8, at 1st ball-rack no. 10. “I have known him since I was young. We came...

By Kezo Andre Javier More than one month into the new administration, there have already been significant changes in how the government handles public affairs. The new set of officials brings with them new ideas on public administration, especially concerning the country’s economy. But despite this seemingly radical shift, the same old problem persists – inefficient management of the government worsening social issues instead of solving them. And while the administration has the luxury of time to offer their way out of these problems, the same cannot be said for the ordinary Filipino struggling to make ends meet every single day. Cartoon by Maurice Gimena During a Senate inquiry, Health Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Maria Rosario Vergeire disclosed that more than 20.66 million vaccine doses were wasted mostly due to expiration as of August 12, equivalent to 8.42 percent of total procurement. Using P500 per dose as a baseline, Senator Risa Hontiveros said that this wastage cost around P10.33...

By Sandra Cabangon Risky. Historic. Exciting. Foreboding. China didn’t fall short of broadcasting the negative repercussions of visiting Taiwan. Even the President said that the military thought it wasn’t a good idea right now. Despite these, US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi persisted. She went to Taiwan and expressed America’s ironclad determination to preserve democracy as the world is made to choose between democracy and autocracy — an act that provoked the Chinese government.  ‘Those who play with fire will perish by it,’ China’s President Xi Jinping once said to US President Joe Biden. Now, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi calls Pelosi’s visit ‘manic’ and írrational’. Meanwhile, Taiwan calls Nancy Pelosi a friend of the country, honoring her even with a civilian award.  President Tsai Ing-wen calls Pelosi "Taiwan's most devoted friend". In an interview with Taiwanese sales manager Eric Liu, he said, "It's unprecedented for Taiwan and my generation of Taiwanese....

Ni Cyrus Jacinto Pinutol ng Philippine Women’s Volleyball Team ang apat na taong pananahimik ng bansa sa Pool Bracket ng AVC Cup for Women, matapos paluhurin ang Iranian Spikers, 25-19, 25-22, 20-25, 25-14, sa PhilSports Arena, nitong Miyerkules. Photo Courtesy of Philippine National Volleyball Federation Sumandal ang Pilipinas sa 21 big points ni Jema Galanza nang magpalasap ito ng 20 attacks at 1 block, habang umagapay naman sa pagkapanalo ng bansa ang pinagsamang pwersa ng 23 points nina Tots Carlos at Michele Gumabao. Mula sa pag-kambiyo ng Iranian Natives sa gitgitang 3rd set, binulabog ng Pilipinas ang floor defense nito sa ika-apat na kanto, matapos igarahe ang 17 attacks at 4 blocks, sapat upang ibalaho ang kanilang puntos at tuluyang itakas ang laro. ”We play with no pressure but with pride for the Philippines… ilalaban namin ito hanggang sa dulo," wika ni Gumabao matapos ang laban. Bitbit ang mainit na tagpo mula sa 1st set, bumwelo ang Iran matapos mauna sa 2nd technica...

By Justine Juyad Gilas Pilipinas youth failed to book a slot in the World cup as they suffered elimination with a 99-83 loss to Lebanon in the 2022 FIBA Under-18 Asian Championship quarterfinals on Wednesday, August 24, 2022. Photo Courtesy of FIBA Asia With only top four going to the big stage, Gilas will miss their second straight FIBA U19 World Cup as they lost their fourth game in four days after sweeping the group stage against Syria, Qatar and Chinese Taipei. Their main guy, Mason Amos, who was leading the tournament in scoring with his 24.4 points per outing, was only limited to 11 points, 7 rebounds, and two assists, making it difficult for Gilas to fire back against a hot-shooting opponent. The Gilas youth had a nightmare start as they only shot 11-of-35 in the first half while Lebanon already draining threes early that led to a lopsided half, 35-53. The young Filipinos opened the second half aggressively as they trimmed the gap to 13, 44-57, but the young Lebanese squad kept ...

Ni Winlei Kim Castro Inokupahan ng Gilas Pilipinas U18 ang silya sa unahan ng Group C matapos mag-ukit ng 84-73 come-from-behind na panalo kontra kapwa undefeated team, Chinese Taipei sa FIBA U18 Asian Championship, Martes, sa Azadi Basketball Hall sa Tehran, Iran. Photo Courtesy of FIBA Asia Mula sa dikdikang third quarter, sinimulan ng Gilas Pilipinas U18 ang huling kanto sa maiinit na tres na hatid ni Mason Amos, dahilan para makuha ang tempo ng laro at sa huli ay makumpleto ang sweep sa kanilang grupo. Sumapat ang 28 puntos, anim na rebounds, at tatlong assists ni Mason Amos upang pangunahan ang Gilas Youth, 13 sa kabuuang puntos niya ay nakolekta ng Filipino-Aussie sa ikaapat na kwarter. Pinanipis ng Gilas Pilipinas U18 ang 10-point lead na kalamangan ng Chinese Taipei, nang maglista ng 12-3 clutch run bilang panapos ng ikatlong kwarter at maitabla ang iskor sa 60. Nag-ambag naman si James Nacua ng 16 markers habang tig-siyam naman ang isinumite ni Joshua Coronel at Seven Gagate p...

Ni Jan Paolo Pasco Selyado na ang tiket ng Gilas Pilipinas Youth patungong quarterfinals matapos gapiin ang Qatar, 77-61, at manatiling walang talo sa dalawang laro sa Group C ng 2022 FIBA Under-18 Asian Championship na ginanap sa Azadi Basketball Hall sa Tehran, Iran, Agosto 22. Photo Courtesy of FIBA Asia  Pinangunahan ni Filipino-Australian forward Mason Amos ang opensa ng Pilipinas nang kumana siya ng 19 points, 12 mula sa second half, kasama ang seven rebounds upang muling magposte ng convincing victory matapos ang 112-48 dominasyon kontra Syria sa kanilang unang laban. Mula sa dikitang iskor na 34-35 sa first half, nagpakawala ng matinding 32-14 run ang Gilas Youth sa pamumuno ni Amos upang tuluyang agwatan ang Qatar at itala ang pinakamalaking kalamangan sa pagtatagpo, 66-49, na may 6:15 minuto pang nalalabi sa fourth quarter. Sa pangunguna ni go-to-guy Mohammed Hashim Z Abbasher, pilit pa ring kumayod ang Qatar sa huling dalawang minuto ng sagupaan matapos ibaba ang kalaman...

The University of the Philippines Academic League of Chemical Engineering Students Inc. (UP ALCHEMES) , a duly recognized organization under the College of Engineering at the University of the Philippines - Diliman, is delighted to announce that the Chemical Engineering Licensure Examination Primer , widely known as ChEckBoard , will be returning this August with the theme, Reinforcing Foundations . In its thirteenth year of serving the chemical engineering community, the event will retain its online set-up via Zoom session and Facebook Live stream to accommodate the present health circumstances of the country. Aligned with its vision and the Alchemist value of genuine service, ChEckBoard 2022 aims to assist Chemical Engineering graduates and board exam takers through a comprehensive discussion of important rules and guidelines for their upcoming board examinations headed by the members of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) Board of Chemical Engineering . Besides that, inspir...

Ni Jea De Pablo Dismayado ang Pilipinas na magawa ang late game surge matapos agad nitong walisin ng Vietnam sa tatlong set 25-19, 25-17, 31-29, sa kanilang preliminary round sa 2022 Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Cup for Women na ginanap sa PhilSports Arena sa Pasig kagabi, Agosto 21. Photo Courtesy of Philippine National Football Federation Maagang nakalamang ang Pilipinas sa pagsisimula ng unang set, 7-2 dala ng atake ni Jema Galanza at Tots Carlos, ngunit hindi ito naging sapat para pakuin ang kalaban. Sunod-sunod na solidong palo galing sa kapitana ng Vietnam Tran Thi Thanh Thuy ang naging daan para maagaw ang unang set ng laban. Nagbabasakali naman ang Pilipinas na maangkin ang ikalawang set ngunit dismayado ito dahil sa bantay-saradong opensiba at walang pagaalinlangang depensa ng mga Vietnamese. Agad naman natambakan ang Pilipinas sa kalagitnaan ng ikatlong set, 11-17. Naidikit ni Carlos at Libero Kyla Atienza ang iskor sa 26-25. Hindi naging sapat ang ipinakita ng Pilipi...

By Albert Hans Lipura Two additional cases of monkeypox have been detected in the Philippines, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Friday, August 19, bringing the total number of confirmed monkeypox cases in the country to three. Photo Courtesy of Reuters/Philippine News Agency DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said that the two new cases, a 34-year-old and a 29-year-old, both Filipino nationals, had a recent travel to a country with known monkeypox infections but are not linked to the Philippines’ first monkeypox case reported last July 29. The country’s second case was tested and confirmed positive for the disease thru Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) by the DOH Research Institute of Tropical Medicine (RITM) on August 18. As of writing, no close contact has yet been identified. Vergeire stated that the patient is ready for discharge upon completing a 21-day home isolation period. Meanwhile, the third confirmed case tested positive for monkeypox o...

Ni Basti Vertudez Upang masiguro ang kaligtasan ng mga mag-aaral kasabay ng muling pagbubukas ng mga paaralan, pinag-aaralan na ng Department of Education (DepEd) ang permanenteng implementasyon ng ‘blended learning’ sa bansa bilang paraan ng pagkatuto sa papasok na taong pampanuruan. Photo Courtesy of Dany Pata (GMA News)/Manila Bulletin/DepEd Sa isang pagdinig sa Senado hinggil sa sistema ng edukasyon na ipatutupad ngayong taon, binigyang-diin ni Vice President at DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte nitong Agosto 19 ang pagsusuri na ginagawa ng kagawaran ukol sa naturang learning modality. “Consequently, as part of the transition to in-person classes, blended learning shall still be implemented, and we are continuing to study the implementation of blended learning as a permanent mode of instruction for basic education,” saad ng bise presidente. Sa konteksto ng DepEd, ang blended learning ay tumutukoy sa istilo ng pagkatuto na kung saan, ang mga estudyante ay mag-aaral sa pamamagitan ng trad...