A new name is set to grace the Light Railway Transit-1 Roosevelt Station in Quezon City, effective this upcoming Sunday.
Through Republic Act (RA) 11608, crafted by Senator Manuel “Lito” Lapid and endorsed by then-Senate President Vicente Sotto 3rd, Roosevelt Avenue in the initial legislative district of Quezon City will be rechristened as FPJ Avenue.
The initials “FPJ” pay homage to the late Fernando Poe Jr., renowned as “The King of Philippine Movies.” Despite his presidential bid in 2004, which he lost to eventual victor Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, he left an indelible mark on the nation. He passed away in December of the same year.
This Sunday, the renaming ceremony will be led by Senator Grace Poe, FPJ’s daughter, along with Sotto and Lapid. Esteemed attendees include Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, President and CEO Juan Alfonso of the Light Rail Management Corporation, and other company dignitaries.
The occasion will also feature a pop-up exhibit showcasing the life of FPJ, who attained the distinction of National Artist in 2012. Alongside this, a fresh plaque bearing the name of the late National Artist Fernando Poe Jr. will be unveiled, coinciding with his 84th birthday on August 20th.
Poe expressed, “I hope that each time commuters step onto this train, they remember FPJ. The spirit of public service always burned brightly within him. Providing passengers a secure and comfortable journey is a means of perpetuating his legacy.”
“Bestowing an FPJ Station is a splendid tribute to both FPJ and his followers,” added Poe. (ai/mnm)
MANILA – The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) fell to 6,200 level while peso gained on the last trading day of the week.
On Friday, PSEi closed to 6,290.27, down 74.70 points, a new nine-month low for the local stock market.
All Shares declined by 26.39 points, to 3,383.41, with all sectors ending in the red, except for Mining and Oil.
“Philippine shares continue to tumble as US OK equities dropped for the third straight day. Aside from this, there must have been some remaining pessimism from the previous GDP (gross domestic product) reading reflected in today’s session,” said Regina Capital Development Corp. head of sales Luis Limlingan.
Top gainer this day was Mining and Oil, gaining 24.04 points to 9,898.69.
The rest ended with decrements, with largest drop from Industrial, down by 118.09 points; Financials, down by 34.55 points; Property, down by 26.79 points; Services, down by 16.23 points; and Holding Firms, down by 13.32 points.
There were 104 firms that closed in the red territory, while 66 finished in the green. Fifty-seven firms were able to maintain their shares.
Meanwhile, the Philippine peso finished the week stronger at PHP56.18, gaining by PHP0.59 from PHP56.77 the previous day.
It kicked off the day on sideways at PHP56.65 from last day’s PHP56.67 opening.
Peso strengthened within the day to PHP56.14 and reached its weakest exchange rate at PHP56.65, bringing the average level for the day at PHP56.34 to the greenback.
Volume of trade climbed to USD1.46 billion from Thursday’s volume of USD960.55 million.
“For next week, the peso exchange rate could rate at the 56 to 56.60 level,” Ricafort said. (PNA)
MANILA – Six athletes will represent the Philippines in the World Para Powerlifting Championships from Aug. 21 to 30 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
This is one of the mandatory tournaments to qualify for the 2024 Paralympics in Paris, France.
Marydol Pamati-an (41kg), Achelle “Jinky” Guion (45kg), Denesia Esnara (55kg), Adeline Dumapong-Ancheta (+ 86kg), Romeo Tayawa (54kg) and Gregorio Payat Jr. (58kg) make up the national team which includes coaches Rico Canlas and Daisy Lipasana.
Pamati-an, Esnara, Tayawa, Payat and Canlas are scheduled to leave on Friday afternoon while Guion, Dumapong-Ancheta and Lipasana will leave on Saturday.
“We’ll do our best,” said Dumapong-Ancheta, the first Filipino to win a medal at the Paralympic Games when she got the bronze in Sydney, Australia (2000).
Most of the athletes going to Dubai are medalists in the 12th ASEAN Para Games held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia last June.
Pamati-an delivered one gold (total lift) and one silver (best lift). The native of Tagana-an, Surigao del Norte province also won bronze medals in Myanmar (2014), Singapore (2015), Malaysia (2017) and Indonesia (2022).
Guion of Sipalay, Negros Occidental province got two silver medals, duplicating her performance last year in Solo, Indonesia.
Dumapong-Ancheta of Kiangan, Ifugao province is a five-time ASEAN Para Games gold medalist. She bagged two silvers last year and two bronzes this year.
Tayawa of Kalinga province brought home two bronze medals while Esnara of La Trinidad, Benguet province won one bronze medal in the 2022 ASEAN Para Games. (PNA)
MANILA – De La Salle University banked on skipper John Mark Ronquillo’s brilliant game to pull off a 26-28, 25-18, 28-26, 25-21 win over the University of Santo Tomas in the V-League Collegiate Challenge men’s division at the Paco Arena in Manila on Friday.
Ronquillo finished with 23 attacks and four blocks while middle blocker Joshua Jamiel Rodriguez chipped in 12 points, including four blocks and three service aces as the Green Spikers claimed victory after one hour and 54 minutes.
Noel Michael Kampton and Vince Gerard Maglinao also contributed eight points each while Uriel Mendoza made six points.
“As I mentioned to them earlier, the trust that the coaches have bestowed upon them, that’s what they should bring to the court,” coach Jose Roque said after the match.
UST team captain Rainier Flor had nine attacks, three blocks and one service ace while opposite hitter Rey Miguel De Vega added 10 points, eight on attacks.
Sherwin Umandal came up with nine points and UAAP Season 85 MVP Josh Ybañez scored seven points despite playing only in the first two sets. (PNA)
MANILA – The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) World Cup 2023 will have all its referees trained and prepared to the utmost, as assured by a Pre-Competition Clinic (PCC) from Aug. 19 to 22 in Quezon City.
The training program hosted by Seda Hotel (morning sessions) and Victoria Sports Tower (afternoon sessions) will make sure that 44 game officials will be in tip-top shape and of sound mind with under a week to go before the world meet.
“Through our PCC, we hope that our referees will be equipped with everything they need to call games as correctly and fairly as possible,” FIBA Local Organizing Committee (LOC) Sports & Competition Head Eric Altamirano said in a news release on Friday.
FIBA Head of Refereeing Carl Jungerbrand and Refereeing Consultant Tomas Rimkus will join Altamirano in leading several seminars, drills, and practice games that aim to ready game officials both physically and mentally for the three-week long tournament featuring 32 teams.
After the four-day clinic, 11 referees will be assigned to each of the four venues: the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City/Philippine Arena in Bulacan (only for Opening Day), the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay, the Okinawa Arena in Japan, and the Indonesia Arena in Jakarta.
“I, along with the rest of the FIBA LOC, am looking forward to how our well-trained referees will help the FIBA World Cup 2023 go down in history as a record-breaking event,” Altamirano said.
Fans can be first-hand witnesses to the readiness of referees in the FIBA World Cup 2023 by availing of tickets for Smart Araneta Coliseum games at ticketnet.com.ph, as well as for SM Mall of Asia Arena games at smtickets.com.
3 female referees
For the first time in the history of the FIBA’s flagship event, three female referees, Amy Bonner, Blanca Burns and Jenna Reneau, have been nominated for the FIBA World Cup scheduled to tip off on Aug. 25.
The FIBA announced on Wednesday the selection of 44 referees who will be dispersed to various venues after a pre-competition camp in Manila to put the finishing touches on preparation for them.
The referees, with an average age of about 40, generally have more than 11 years of FIBA experience.
The 2023 FIBA World Cup will be held in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia, marking the first time in history that the event is hosted by multiple countries. (with reports from Xinhua/PNA)
BACOLOD CITY – The softbelles from Bago City, Negros Occidental, who brought honor to the country after winning the 2023 Junior League Softball World Series title in Kirkland, Washington on Aug. 5, returned to the province with a heroes’ welcome Friday afternoon.
Representing the Asia-Pacific Region, they defeated USA’s East Region, 3-0, in the finals of the 12-14 age category to bring home the Philippines’ second title in 20 years.
Pitcher Erica Arnaiz, who led the team with 85 strikeouts, said she is glad to be home and grateful for the grand welcome accorded to them.
“We didn’t expect to become champions but with God’s help, we did it,” she said.
They swept their first six matches to arrange a championship showdown with the team from Milford, Connecticut.
Arnaiz said determination, hard work and discipline were the keys to their victory.
Head coach Francis Fuentes said he is thankful to bring the championship back to the Philippines after two decades as he acknowledged the support of the city government of Bago, led by Mayor Nicholas Yulo.
From Bacolod-Silay Airport, a motorcade took the team to the capitol for a courtesy call on Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson.
“I congratulate them. It shows that we Filipinos can compete in the international level,” Lacson said.
The team then continued with the motorcade going to the Bago City Community Center.
Upon arrival in Manila on Wednesday, the team paid a courtesy call at the Senate, where they were honored through a resolution.
Senate Resolution 723 sponsored by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri stated that the Junior League world champions “deserve praise, recognition and commendation for bringing pride and inspiration to the Filipino people and for showing to the world the unrelenting spirit of Filipinos.”
“We are immensely proud of our girls for not only representing Asia-Pacific and the Philippines but also Negros Occidental as well. They remain undefeated in their whole junior league run,” Zubiri said. “We salute the whole team for putting Negros Occidental back on top of the softball scene.”
On Thursday, the team was welcomed by officials of the Philippine Sports Commission, led by Chairperson Richard Bachmann and Women in Sports Oversight Commissioner Bong Coo, at Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila.
In a statement, Michael Zialcita, district administrator of Little League Philippines, lauded the country’s Junior League world champions for “achieving a remarkable milestone in their softball journey.”
Arnaiz and her teammates Thereze Francine Fuentes, Ann Dyana Buenafe, Icelle Tanaman, Ashley Ortiz, Froline Manalo, Christine Jane Caracas, Daniela Bejos, Audrie Sarsona, Marie Antoinette Sicapore, Nice Lobrido and Casandra Sumatra are students of Ramon Torres National High School. (PNA)
ANKARA – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday signed bills to extend martial law and general mobilization for another 90 days, until Nov. 15.
The law becomes effective as of Aug. 18 when the term of the previously announced marital law and general mobilization ends.
Zelenskyy submitted two draft bills on July 26 to the Verkhovna Rada, or parliament, on extending martial law and mobilization. The parliament approved them on July 27.
Martial law was first declared by Zelenskyy immediately after the start of the Russia-Ukraine war on Feb. 24, 2022 and has been extended several times.
Ukraine’s upcoming parliamentary elections were scheduled to take place in October 2023. However, the country’s constitution prohibits holding elections during martial law.
The ongoing Russia-Ukraine war has killed over 9,000 civilians and wounded more than 15,700, according to the latest UN figures.
Around 4 million non-EU Ukrainians currently have temporary protection status in the bloc countries. (Anadolu)
ROME – Pope Francis on Thursday renewed his call for an end to all conflict as the Vatican observed the 150th anniversary of the national pilgrimage to the Marian Sanctuary of Lourdes in France.
In his message, the Holy See has invoked the Virgin Mary to intercede so that “much-desired peace may be established wherever the noise of arms is heard”.
He urged that the mother of Jesus “awaken … genuine sentiments of fraternal love, so that societies grow harmoniously in respect for others, safeguarding their dignity and rights, and so that no one is left by the wayside.”
Pope Francis asked the Virgin Mary to comfort all who suffer, are ill, alone, marginalized or exiled, and offered special closeness to the sick and disabled people among the faithful from France and all over the world gathered in Lourdes.
The pope also spared a thought for families, and especially parents, “who bear the daily burden of a heavy responsibility”, and young people, “so rich in potential, but often worried about their future, or unfortunately already hindered by many constraints”.
He also had a special mention for the elderly, who are “rich in their experience and wisdom” but are “too often, abandoned and neglected”. (ANSA)
MANILA – BMI, a unit of Fitch Solutions, has cautioned the Philippine central bank on the timing of cutting policy rates.
In a commentary released Friday following the announcement of the Monetary Board on Thursday to maintain policy rates, BMI said rate cuts should be considered only when food prices have already stabilized.
Likewise, BMI added that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) should only continue with interest rate reductions when major central banks across the world have also eased their monetary policy, which is seen to be happening by the second quarter next year.
“With clear risk to inflation outlook and the external sector under pressure, policymakers will likely keep financial conditions very restrictive for a while longer. This feeds into our expectations for rate cuts to materialize only in Q2 2024,” BMI noted.
BMI’s inflation forecast for the country is at 4 percent by the end of 2023.
However, risks to inflation remain high with the onset of El Niño, which is seen to intensify between the fourth quarter of 2023 and the first quarter of 2024, which could threaten food prices.
The depreciating peso is also seen to be a risk to inflation as the country is a net importer.
The peso has already weakened by 1.9 percent against the US dollar year-to-date.
“Policymakers will be cautious about exacerbating further weakness in the peso, especially given that the US Federal Reserve has not completely closed the door on further tightening–a key risk that we have been highlighting,” BMI said.
On Thursday, the Monetary Board kept its benchmark interest rate at 6.25 percent.
The BSP has maintained its policy rates for three months after increasing rates by a cumulative 425 basis points from May 2022 to March 2023. (PNA)
TACLOBAN CITY – A PHP110 million Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Eastern Visayas regional office will rise at the Government Center in Palo, Leyte, an official announced Thursday.
CHED Regional Director Maximo Aljibe said in a press briefing procurement process will start soon after the issuance on Wednesday of the special allotment release order for the project.
“This is going to be the biggest CHED regional office building in the country. Each floor of the three-story building will have an area of 900 meters,” Aljibe added.
House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and Tingog Partylist pushed for the funding of the project, he said.
The official is eyeing to complete the construction of the new building within two years.
The CHED in Eastern Visayas is currently holding office inside the Eastern Visayas State University campus in this city.
Meanwhile, 11 public and private tertiary schools will join this year’s Eastern Visayas Collegiate Athletic Association (EVCAA) basketball tournament.
This is the second season of the EVCAA since 2019 since it was suspended in 2020 due to pandemic restrictions.
The event will open on September 6 and 7, while the rest of the games will be held during weekends until November 18.
Opening and championship rounds will take place at the Tacloban City Convention Center.
“The first season proves the success that there were plans to continue this sports event select the best players from college school. The pandemic forced every one of us is to reevaluate the necessity of sports in the wholistic development of our students, particularly its health benefits,” Aljibe said.
Participating teams are from Biliran Island Province State University, Eastern Samar State University, Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU), Leyte Normal University, Northwest Samar State University, Remedios T. Romualdez Medical Foundation (RTRMF), Samar State University, St. Paul School of Professional Studies (SPSPS), Southern Leyte State University (SLSU), University of Eastern Philippines, and Visayas State University.
Of the 11 schools, only RTRMF and SPSPS are privately owned, and the rest are state-run universities and colleges. All government tertiary schools joined the first season in 2019 except SLSU.
Each team will have 15 players. The champion will receive PHP100,000 cash prize, while the first and second runner-ups will get PHP70,000 and PHP50,000, respectively.
The team from EVSU was the overall champion during the first season of the basketball tournament in April 2019. (PNA)
MANILA – Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. on Friday ordered the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) to implement stricter rules and guidelines for the accreditation of all volunteer fire brigades.
“Ang sabi ko kay Chief (BFP chief Fire Director Louie Puracan) ay i-review ang present guidelines sa accreditation, lalo na ang qualification ng driver (no record on reckless driving, accidents, use of drugs, etc). Dahil nga ‘pag may emergency, mabilis ang takbo ng mga sasakyan at baka makaaksidente (I told the chief (BFP chief Fire Director Louie Puracan) to review the present guidelines on accreditation, especially the driver’s qualification (no record on reckless driving, accidents, use of drugs, etc). Because when there is an emergency, the vehicles are moving fast and may cause accidents),” Abalos said in a statement.
Abalos said members of volunteer fire brigades must also undergo seminars and examinations on emergency driving.
The order came after a 62-year-old woman was killed and eight others were injured after they were accidentally hit by a responding volunteer fire truck in Tondo, Manila last Monday.
The driver of the responding fire truck was identified as Rodolfo Pineda, 27, who is currently under police custody and is facing charges of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide, physical injuries and damage to property.
Abalos said volunteer fire truck drivers should also undergo drug test and neuropsychiatric exams to ensure that they are fit to drive a fire truck during such precarious situations.
He added that the BFP should enforce stringent rules to ensure that firetrucks of volunteer fire brigades are mechanically safe, sound and suitable for operation.
The DILG chief also said that BFP should also continuously require fire brigades to undergo training on fire prevention, fire suppression, and other related skills.
Abalos, meanwhile, offered his condolences to the family of the victim who died in the incident and asked the concerned volunteer fire brigade association to extend appropriate assistance to those injured. (PNA)
MANILA – An elderly American citizen of Filipino descent was among the fatalities in the deadly wildfires that ripped through the Hawaiian coastal town of Lahaina, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed on Friday.
DFA Undersecretary Jose Eduardo de Vega identified the victim as 79-year-old Alfredo Galinato.
“The DFA confirms the death of a Filipino national in the Hawaii wildfires. He was a naturalized US citizen originally from Ilocos,” he said in a text message.
“The Philippine Consulate in Honolulu is assisting the family who are all based in Hawaii,” he added.
In a GoFundMe page, Galinato’s son Joshua said the wildfire, described as the deadliest in Hawaii, also razed their family home in Lahaina.
“Our Dad, Alfredo Galinato, was one of the many thousand others who have fallen during the most deadliest fires in all of the US. We are grateful to finally hear about our Father’s remains but saddened that he has not joined us in safety,” he wrote.
“It’s with an extremely heavy heart that my Mother and brothers lost everything in this fire including the entirety of our home that my parents worked very hard on,” he added.
Citing the 2020 US state census, the DFA said there are about 388,000 individuals in Hawaii who identify themselves as Filipino or part-Filipino.
Of this number, about 200,000 have parents who are both Filipinos but only 16 percent are Philippine passport holders.
As of Aug. 18, the death toll from the blaze has reached 111 people and is expected to climb as search operations continue. (PNA)
MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Friday said it would deploy 4,400 personnel to secure the country’s hosting of the 19th International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Basketball World Cup 2023 which kicks off on Aug. 25.
In a Laging Handa briefing, PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said they have undertaken “soft deployments” particularly at the airports and billeting areas as participants and delegates have started arriving in the country since Thursday.
“All systems go we are expecting a crowd on August 25 when the FIBA Basketball World Cup opens. Right now, the PNP is still doing contingency planning, but these are only minor details because our security preparation and deployment for the opening of the FIBA Basketball World Cup is in place,” she said.
Fajardo also said personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine Coast Guard, Red Cross, Department of Health, and force multipliers would also be deployed.
She also said a sufficient number of personnel would be deployed in the accommodation areas of athletes and staff.
“Expect there will be a volume of people. We will place sufficient personnel to ensure the safety and security of not only our participants and delegates but also our audiences who will watch the games,” she said.
The Philippines, Japan and Indonesia are co-hosts in the Aug. 25 to Sept. 10 tournament, dubbed the Olympics of Basketball.
The Philippines will host 15 other nations in the group phase at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan; Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City and the SM Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena in Pasay City.
The Philippine Arena will host the opening ceremony and two matches, including the Philippines-Dominican Republic game, while the MOA Arena will also hold two games on Aug. 25.
The final phase will also be played at the MOA Arena.
32K cops to secure school opening
Meanwhile, Fajardo said the PNP will deploy 32,000 cops nationwide for the security preparations for the opening of classes in public schools on Aug. 29.
Police assistance desks would also be deployed near school premises, aside from patrols in school vicinities to serve as a lookout for drug traffickers, muggers, and violent street gangs who may infiltrate the ranks of students.
Private schools may opt to open their classes not later than the last day of August as stated under Republic Act 11480, or the “Act to lengthen the school calendar from 200 days to not more than 220 class days.”
Under Department of Education Order No. 10 issued May 9, all incoming learners enrolling in Kindergarten and Grades 1, 7, and 11 in public elementary and secondary schools shall pre-register or participate in the early registration to enable necessary preparations and adjustments of plans for School Year 2023-2024. (PNA)
MANILA – An investigation body has been formed to “determine the ultimate facts” surrounding the escape of New Bilibid Prison (NBP) detainee Michael Cataroja and who should be held responsible for it.
In a statement Friday, Bureau of Corrections (BuCor)Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. said lawyer Ferdinand Balduman, the acting chief of the agency’s Intelligence and Investigation Division, was designated to coordinate the inquiry and ensure that “all angles surrounding the escape of Cataroja will be investigated by the Board of Inquiry so as not to leave any stone unturned.
Cataroja was reported missing on July 7 and was even thought to be dead after bones were discovered in a septic tank inside the NBP compound in Muntinlupa City.
Further forensics tests showed the bones were actually of a chicken leg.
On Thursday, BuCor announced that Cataroja was captured by the Angono police at his residence in Sitio Minahan Bato, Barangay San Isidro after receiving a tip from a concerned citizen.
Cataroja underwent inquest proceedings before the Rizal Prosecutors’ Office on Friday before he was turned over to the BuCor
Angono police chief Maj. Lauro Moratillo told Radyo 630 that as per Caratoja’s account, he faked a gate stamp pass, mingled with other inmates’ visitors and casually walked out of the NBP compound.
Cataroja, 25, has already served four years of a 10-year sentence for violation of the anti-fencing law. He also has pending car theft cases. (PNA)
MANILA – Nine officials at the Philippine Ports Authority’s (PPA) Port Management Office Bohol ((PMO Bohol) have been sacked after they were caught having a party and drinking alcohol inside the port’s multi-purpose hall on Wednesday.
In a statement on Friday, the PPA said an investigation of the office’s surveillance video revealed PMO Bohol employees, officials, members of the port police, and a guest band joining the party led by Acting Port Manager Lord Tyrone Agaton.
Those sacked include Agaton, PMO Bohol Port Services Division Manager Julius Jumangit, lawyer Sherlito Columnas Jr. from the legal department, Safety Officer Romeo Cabading II, and port police officers Edcel Epan, Victor Cagulada, Mary Maricka Aguirre, Meljann Oronan, and Emily Ross Tubio.
PPA General Manager Jay Santiago said the individuals failed to show respect to office facilities and abused their power as government officials.
“Wala puwang sa pamahalaan ang mga opisyal na ginagawang inuman ang opisina, kahit birthday o anumang okasyon (There is no place in the government for officials who hold drinking sessions at the office, whether for birthdays or any other occasions),” Santiago said.
He emphasized the PPA’s resolve in ensuring proper monitoring of the 130 PPA ports nationwide.
“Patunay lamang ito na hindi tayo nagpapabaya sa ating tungkulin na ayusin ang pantalan at mga kawani nito (This proves that we are committed to our responsibility of putting our ports and its personnel in order)” he said.
According to PPA Special Order No. 589-2023 issued on Friday, Agaton has been reassigned back to his previous position as a principal engineer at PMO Western Leyte/Biliran.
His position as the acting port manager at PMO-Bohol will be taken over by Jon Gabriell Manansala, the current acting port manager at PMO Bataan/Aurora.
The special order also named Jenneliza Rebong as Manansala’s replacement at PMO Bataan/Aurora. (PNA)
MANILA – Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda is planning to take the opportunity in promoting the Philippine publishing industry and highlight the country’s culture and arts.
Legarda has been invited to be the guest of honor at the Frankfurter Buchmesse (FBM) 2025, the largest book fair in the world.
“As a guest of honor, we will be in a unique, prominent position in the global arena to show our publishing industry’s creativity and intellectual prowess. I have worked tirelessly for this, together with then NBDB (National Book Development Board) Chair Neni Sta. Romana Cruz and Board Members Karina Bolasco and Ani Almario. After eight years, since I learned about this Fair and its importance in 2015, we have worked tirelessly, and now we have finally clinched that honor and distinction,” Legarda said on Friday, being the keynote speaker of the Philippine Book Festival in Davao.
She said this should translate to tangible, economic impact such as an increase in the number of actual book exports, in sales of translation rights and other derivative rights, and will expand opportunities internationally for Philippines writers, book designers, artists, and comics illustrators.
“All these while we establish, strengthen, and expand our ties to our networks of publishers and cultural institutions across the world,” Legarda said.
Legarda, who has been pushing for this distinction as guest of honor at FBM since 2016, noted that the book fair is also seen as a significant boost to the country’s reputation, which will result in an uptick in tourism numbers, along with positive branding of growing exports from the country’s creative industry, such as film, music, architecture, among others.
Held annually in Frankfurt, Germany, the Frankfurt Book Fair remains to be the most important marketplace for publishers, authors, literary agents, media professionals, illustrators, and book and trade associations to negotiate their publishing and licensing rights.
It has attracted over 4,000 exhibitors across 100 countries and is seen as a convergence of political, cultural, and economic significance.
Before the Philippines’ bid to be the guest of honor at the FBM, Indonesia, in 2015, is the only ASEAN country that has become guest of honor. (PNA)
MANILA – The Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan has confirmed that the original image of San Jacinto de Polonia is missing and has been switched with another image.
In a circular released on Friday, Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas informed the faithful that the original image of San Jacinto de Polonia in the said parish has indeed been changed with another image.
“The team has concluded based on empirical data that the current image in the side retablo of the said parish church is different from the available photos of the image of the saint available from the parish archives particularly the slant of the head,” said the circular dated Aug. 17.
“Based on the chronology related to the repainting project of the image, the switching of images could have happened between the 17th of August to the 23rd of September, 2016,” it added.
The team was composed of Bishop Fidelis Layog, Fr. Rafael Cruz and Fr. Melquiades Serraon.
The archbishop also ordered the parish priest to find the missing image while commending the people who reported the missing image to the Church.
“I have mandated the parish priest to explore all means to recover the missing image of San Jacinto de Polonia in the parish church,” he said.
Villegas appealed to those who have knowledge about the missing image to return it to the parish where it rightfully belongs.
“Let me also appeal to those who have lent cooperation to the switching of the images to listen to the voice of conscience and restore the image to its rightful owner, the Catholic Church,” he said.
The archbishop also reminded the Catholic faithful and San Jacinto devotees in the parish of certain Catholic teachings pertaining to the matter that images of saints do not have intrinsic spiritual powers.
“Images, created by artistic hands, are only reminders of the holiness of God and the saints. We do not pray to images, but to the saints whom the images represent. More important than having images of saints is the imitation of their virtues,” he said.
“The Church is a patron of the arts and a custodian of history. The Church encourages artists to use arts to praise God, keeping in mind that beauty is godly. The preservation of historical records and the promotion of culture is part of the Church’s mission, too,” Villegas added.
He also reminded the people about one of the Ten Commandments is “Thou shall not steal”.
“Stealing is taking or keeping something that is not yours. All stolen things must be returned to the rightful moral owner; otherwise, the keeper of the stolen object lives in sin,” the Catholic prelate said.
“We also sin against this commandment by willfully cooperating in the act of taking or keeping stolen objects,” he added.
Villegas is hoping that the image will be returned soon to its parish.
“Time and events will tell if we will succeed in recovering the image of San Jacinto de Polonia. It is indeed a demand of Catholic morality that the image be returned,” he said.
But let us not get distracted by the missing image. Let us focus more on the missing life of virtue in our society and in the family which is but a symptom of the missing life of virtue in each one,” the Lingayen-Dagupan archbishop added. (PNA)
MANILA – The Quezon City government, in partnership with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), on Friday held its first-ever overseas job fair for its residents.
Over 3,000 land-based and sea-based employment opportunities from various licensed recruitment agencies were offered during the job fair at Quezon City Hall Risen Garden.
Mayor Joy Belmonte said the goal of the overseas job fair is to provide numerous opportunities abroad for aspiring migrant workers while ensuring their well-being through safe, orderly, and fair migration.
“Sa pamamagitan ng DMW na nagbigay ng mga lehitimong recruitment agencies, mas protektado ang kapakanan ng ating mga kababayan na makikipagsapalaran sa abroad (Through the DMW, which provided legitimate recruitment agencies, the welfare of our countrymen who will venture abroad is better protected),” she said.
Meanwhile, the Migrant Resource Center (MRC) under the city’s Public Employment Service Office (PESO) will also conduct an awareness campaign to encourage all those who aspire to work abroad to actively engage in the Pre-Migration Orientation Seminars.
Belmonte said the seminar is an initial intervention for future overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) as they embark on their migration journey.
Pre-Migration Orientation Seminars prepare future migrants for the challenges that they will encounter abroad and help them better adapt to the new environment that they are about to face once they leave the country.
PESO manager Rogelio Reyes said the collaboration between the city government and the DMW is part of a memorandum of agreement signed earlier this year to strengthen the full protection, promotion, and realization of the rights of OFWs, particularly women, and their families.
The MOA also aims to develop further services and programs that are appropriate, effective, and efficient for residents who wish to work abroad, including those who are now working in another country.
The city government said a total of 598 applicants submitted their documents to the 19 recruitment agencies that participated in the job fair.
Among the positions offered for sea-based applicants include seaman, laundry attendant, bartender, carpenter, chef de partie, butcher, electrician, makeup specialist, wardrobe attendant, and steward, among others.
Meanwhile, destination countries for land-based applicants include Australia, Canada, Germany, Guam, Japan, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Latvia, New Zealand, Oman, Poland, and Qatar. (PNA)
President Marcos has voiced support for the reassessment of the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL), also known as Republic Act 11203. The aim is to reinstate the authority of the National Food Authority (NFA), particularly in light of concerns about rice supply and the recent surge in prices. This sentiment was conveyed by a high-ranking official from the Department of Agriculture (DA) on Friday.
The primary goal of the tariffication law is to bring down domestic rice prices to levels that are affordable for a larger portion of the population. Additionally, it seeks to enhance the functionality and efficiency of the domestic market by reducing or eliminating government intervention.
Illustrative images depict laborers hired by rice dealers unloading sacks of rice along Dagupan Street in Tondo, Manila on Friday, August 18, 2023. These visuals challenge the notion of a widespread rice shortage in the country today. (BENJAMIN CUARESMA/AI/MNM)
ILOILO CITY — University of Iloilo’s (UI) Javen Pareja bested his twin brother Jansen in the men’s kickboxing 57-kilogram finals of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) Games Visayas Leg here at SM Iloilo on Thursday, Aug. 17.
Setting aside the family love, Javen won via unanimous decision and topped the Army bracket of the tournament organized by Sen. Francis Tolentino, Philippine Sports Commission, Commission on Higher Education, Department of National Defense and Armed Forces of the Philippines.
“Proud po ako sa kanya, maganda po ang naging laban kahit medyo nagkailangan noong una. Kasi nga magkapatid kami. Pero kailangan naming galingan para mabigyan namin ng magandang laban ang mga nanonood,” Javen said.
“Ang mahalaga po nalagpasan namin ng maayos, walang masamang nangyari sa dalawa, at natuto po kaming dalawa,” he added.
In the men’s 63kgs class, Klier Abueva of Bohol Northern Star College beat UI’s Ross Marc Serra for the gold in Army bracket, while Roberto Pedriques of Abuyog Community College (57kgs), James Ayalin of Western Visayas State University (60kgs), and University of Negros Occidental’s Nelson Alcon (63.5kgs) also ruled their respective categories.
Meanwhile in boxing, Army cadet Romeo Calupos downed Rowen Espartero via unanimous decision in the 48-51kgs event.
In Air Force, Klent Brian Pareno faces Renz Louie Puyong (54-57kgs), Love Heart Marino tacklesJenel Castilla (51-54kgs), and Ranie Camangan takes on Russel Edullantes (54-57kgs). (AI/MNM)