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Tiffany Geluz Mula sa murang edad, malaki na ang gampanin ng panitikan sa paghulma ng pananaw ng mga kabataan. Ito ang nais na makamit ng “Isang Kaibigan”, ang bagong pambatang libro na inilabas ng Pangalawang Pangulo na si Sara Duterte na naglalayong hikayatin ang mga bata na magbasa. Ngunit, tila ba’y isa lamang itong maagang pangangampanya ng awtor at pagpapakilala sa mga kabataan na balang araw ay magiging botante.  Halos dalawang buwan mula nang bumaba bilang kalihim ng Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary, inilunsad niya ang P100 milyon programang Pagbabago Campaign, A Million Learners and Trees na kinabibilangan ng librong umiikot sa tema ng pagkakaibigan. Ang programang ito ay naglalayon na makapamahagi ng isang milyong bag na naglalaman ng mga school supplies, dental kit, at isang milyong punla upang makabawas sa pinansyal na hamon ng mga estudyante habang tumutugon sa programa ng klima sa pamamagitan ng pagtatanim ng mga puno. Ang libro ay tungkol sa isang kuwago na ...

Kimberly Capuyan The Philippines and Vietnam announced the signing of a defense cooperation agreement between capital cities, Manila and Hanoi, amid shared concerns about maritime security over the South China Sea last August 30.  Vietnamese Defense Minister General Phan Van Giang went to Manila to discuss with his Philippine counterpart, Gilberto Teodoro, the strategic partnership between the two countries, according to a Presidential Communications (PCO) press release. Phan also paid a courtesy call to President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. before the signing of a letter of intent on enhanced cooperation in humanitarian assistance and disaster response, and on military medicine. ”The Philippines and Vietnam have enjoyed good relations and we have continued to progress in those relationships, whereas before comprise only with our diplomatic connection,” Marcos said. He also reiterated the possibility of trade partnerships, and strengthening the relationship between the neighboring countr...

Justin James Albia at Elgin Ryan Nilayan Lubos ang pamamayani ng talento ng Pilipino sa pandaigdigang entablado ng musika nang  umusbong na ang Pinoy Pop (P-Pop). Ngunit bago pa man sila marinig sa buong mundo, nauna nang namayagpag  ang  mga mang-aawit kagaya nina Regine Velasquez, Sarah Geronimo, Lea Salonga, Morissette Amon at iba pang may malaking kontribusyon sa industriyang ito. Sadyang kilala na ang Pilipinas bilang bansa ng mga mang-aawit. Ika nga ng ilan, kapag humawak ng mikropono ang Pinoy, tapos na ang laban. Kaya sa paglitaw ng mga grupong ito na nagpakilala muli sa bansa at sa ating wika, bagong henerasyon na ang kumikilala sa tinig ng mga Pinoy. Dahil dito, unti-unting napapansin ng buong mundo ang potensyal ng mga P-Pop groups na hindi lamang bumibida sa kanilang mga natatanging talento sa pagsayaw at pagkanta, kundi pati na rin sa masining na paggamit ng wikang Filipino. Ang pagsasama-sama ng makabagong tunog, kahusayan sa pagtatanghal at ang pagmamahal s...

Cartoon by Jascyl Jee Hugo Sayson

Tiffany Geluz  In a matter of few months, the real identity of Guo Hua Ping, or suspended Bamban Mayor Alice Guo, sparked confusion regarding her birth certificate, citizenship, and passport. Photo Courtesy of Philippine STAR/Inquirer/ABS-CBN News. Not long ago, Guo left the country for Malaysia on July 18, Singapore on July 21, and Indonesia on August 18. According to the requirements of these countries, visas are not needed to enter and only a passport is required. She was able to escape despite all of these, but now she was called back to the Philippines. Her ongoing legal cases and guilty charges could be complicated as some complaints call for Guo to be deported, while others prescribe that she stay in the Philippines and serve her sentence in the country. Until more information on all of her cases is obtained, it is unknown what the implications are for her and whether she needs to stay or go.  Legal charges  An arrest warrant has already been issued by th...

Explained PH Staffers Sinong mapalad? Sino ang kaawa-awa? The once lighthearted TikTok trend, “Danas,” has evolved into a poignant reflection of the harsh realities faced by students in State Universities and Colleges (SUCs). Photo Courtesy of UPLB Perspective/Koosh Garcia. Inspired by Nora Aunor’s iconic song “Kahit Konting Awa,” the trend that was popularized by Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) student Ice Neo ( @iceeneo on Tiktok ) was initially aimed to poke fun at the campus life of PUPians. As the trend gained momentum, it quickly became a platform for students to share their genuine struggles and frustrations. From flooded streets and overcrowded classrooms to sudden brownouts and course enlistment website crashes, the “Danas” trend revealed the underlying challenges that SUC students face daily. Humorous as it sounds, one cannot help but wonder: Are these challenges merely inconveniences, or do they significantly impact students’ academic performance and overall ...

Kimberly Capuyan The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) announced on August 28 the launch of a one-year Master in Nursing Education (MNE) program for the academic year 2024-2025 with partner schools, University of the Philippines (UP) Manila - College of Nursing and UP Open University. This pioneering initiative is intended to cater the growing demand for qualified nursing faculty in the Philippines, as issued in CHED’s Memorandum Order No. 5, s. 2024. “This is our response to President Marcos’ directive to increase the number of qualified nursing faculty in the country,” CHED Chairman Prospero de Vera III said in a press conference. De Vera cited Marcos’ order to address the shortage of nurses in the Philippines due to migration last 2023. Registered nurses with at least one year of clinical experience may take the new MNE program. De Vera said they “enhanced” the curriculum in line with the recognition of prior learning (RPL) or the clinical experience of practicing nurses. “That ...

Gab Ibis The Department of Health (DOH) reported two new mpox cases on August 28, raising the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 14 since July 2022.  Photo Courtesy of The Business Standard/The Guardian. The new cases were detected in the National Capital Region (NCR) and Calabarzon, both involving the milder MPXV Clade II strain of the virus. The 13th case involved a 26-year-old female from NCR, who began experiencing symptoms on August 20. Her initial symptoms included rashes on her face and back, accompanied by fever.  By August 23, the patient noticed additional rashes on her pubic area, arms, and torso, along with a sore throat and swollen neck lymph nodes.  She is currently recovering at home under close monitoring by local health authorities. The 14th case is a 12-year-old male from Calabarzon.  Like the 13th case, he had no recent travel history and is also recovering at home under close observation. The DOH has informed the local government un...

The embers crackle softly, signaling the close of an unforgettable adventure. 🔥 As the College of Engineering at the University of the Philippines Diliman prepares to wrap up its annual Engineering Opening Week, affectionately dubbed Cozy Week: Pag-uwi sa KalEng'ga ng Tahanang Sambayanan this year, all eyes are on the much-anticipated Fireside Festivities: CulmiNight Celebration set to take place on August 29, 2024, at the iconic Ang Bahay ng Alumni in UP Diliman. This year's Opening Week ingeniously weaves the concept of 'home' into every event,  reminding both fresh faces and seasoned students that the College of Engineering is more than just a place to learn; it’s a haven, a new ‘Kaleng'ga’—a word that carries with it the essence of care, protection, and community. The week has been an invitation to find home within the people, the experiences, and the shared journey that the college offers. Cozy Week has been packed with memorable events designed to foster cama...

Kimberly Capuyan Alice Guo has allegedly “escaped” the Philippine jurisdiction without immigration traces through a small white boat, according to a confession by her sister, Sheila Guo, during a Senate hearing, August 27. During the Senate’s subcommittee on justice and human rights hearing, Shiela revealed how they managed to leave the country despite an outstanding arrest warrant and lookout bulletin. The hearing was presided over by Sen. Risa Hontiveros to discuss the cancellation of the dismissed Bamban mayor’s Philippine passport and her “illegal” exit from the country. “We rode a boat in the sea,” Shiela said in Filipino. “I don’t know the place,” she added. The Bureau of Immigration (BI) earlier said that the Guos left the country without passing through proper immigration channels after checking the manifests of commercial and private planes, ships, and boats. “Chineck natin for the whole month of July, iniisa-isa natin. Hindi pa tayo tapos, manual po ‘yan nationwide. Wala po t...

Shekinah Jedidiah Alima Vice President Sara Duterte sparked heated discussions and refused to cooperate on answering inquiry questions during The House Committee on Appropriations’ hearing for her proposed 2025 budget on August 27. Photo Courtesy of Rappler/The Manila Times. Duterte, who was invited by the house to defend her proposed P2.037 billion 2025 budget, stood firm on dodging questions necessary for the hearing committee to fulfill their roles. “Magsasayang tayo ng oras dito,” Duterte stressed. “This is an important part of the budget briefing…kasama po ito, ang pagtatanong at pakikinig sa sagot po ninyo ay napaimportanteng input po sa aming trabaho,” Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo replied. Duterte also asked her to cease presiding over the hearing, and asked for someone else to replace Quimbo, which is the first time in history. “I request that the chairperson of the finance committee preside over this hearing," Duterte said. Quimbo who serves as the senior vice chairperson ...

Kimberly Capuyan Supreme Court (SC) Spokesperson Camille Sue Mae Ting admitted on August 17 the issuance of a Temporary Protection Order (TPO) for the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) but clarified that this “does not deter” the arrest warrant against fugitive preacher Apollo Quiboloy. Photo Courtesy of YouTube/The Supreme Court of the Philippines/Philippine STAR. “The PNP was ordered to remove all forms of barricades, barriers, and blockades that bar access to and from the [KOJC] and JMCFI compound and hinder petitioners’ religious, academic, and proprietary rights,” Ting said. “This does not deter the service of the warrant,” she added. Davao City Regional Trial Court Branch 15 issued the TPO after 2,000 personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP) raided the 30-hectare KOJC compound to serve arrest warrants on Quiboloy and five others last August 24. Judge Mario Duaves issued the order after KOJC lawyer Israelito Torreon filed a petition for the writ of amparo against Interior Se...

Margie Markland The Philippines' export sector could face risks as concerns mount over a possible economic slowdown in the United States (US), according to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA). Photo Courtesy of NEDA. Worries of a potential US recession heightened after July 2024 unemployment data showed an increase to its highest level in the past three years. In a press briefing on August 24, NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan warned that, while uncertain, a potential slowdown could affect the country. “Of course, it will affect us. No country will be spared from a hiccup that comes from the biggest economy in the world. Our exports can suffer,” Balisacan said. He added that the slowdown could have indirect effects on various channels such as exchange rates and interest rates. Preliminary data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed the US was the largest destination of Philippine exports in June 2024, with a 16% share amounting to $897.80 million. In the ...

Gab Ibis As urbanization and industrialization continue to shape the Philippines, a new environmental crisis has emerged, threatening the very ground beneath our feet. Photo Courtesy of University of the Philippines. A comprehensive study conducted by experts from the University of the Philippines has revealed alarming rates of ground subsidence across major metropolitan areas in the country, from Metro Manila to Legazpi City. Led by Alfredo Mahar Francisco Lagmay, the team analyzed ground movement from 2014 to 2020 using an interferometric synthetic aperture radar, or InSAR, which found that some areas sink by as much as 109 millimeters per year. In the Greater Manila Area, subsidence rates are highest in industrial zones, particularly in Bulacan, Cavite, and Laguna. These areas, characterized by large factories and economic zones, require substantial water for their operations, leading to excessive groundwater extraction. As a result, the ground is slowly collapsing under the weight ...

Cartoon by Daiven Monforte

Gab Ibis   The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) shared the government’s strategic plans in response to the growing threat of climate change, during a recent interview in Malacañang Insider last August 23.   Photo Courtesy of Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation/DENR. DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga revealed three key measures the agency is focusing on to address the pressing environmental challenges.   “The first step is updating our Greenhouse Gas Inventory [or GGI],” Loyzaga said.   This initiative is essential to track and manage emissions that contribute to global warming.   With the GGI, the government aimed to maintain an accurate picture of the nation’s carbon footprint and identify areas that require immediate attention.   Loyzaga also mentioned the importance of the Nationally Determined Contribution Implementation Plan (NDCIP) as the second pillar of the government’s climate strategy. “This plan provides a fram...