Philippines News

While mothers are considered modern-day heroes, the never-ending battle of trying to move Heaven and Earth for their children can take a toll on their personal lives and overall well-being.

For Mary Rose Villacastin Maghuyop, the experience of motherhood took her on a whole new beautiful journey of self-discovery and sacrifice.

An artist and a mother of two beautiful daughters, Mary Rose’s journey of motherhood has its own flair and color. She works as an artist, architect and a school administrator. Juggling these tasks as a mother is already as tough as it sounds. However, to Mary Rose, motherhood is amplified in the work that she does.

“Motherhood made me more conscious about the work or art I was doing — the quality, relevance, significance — so I could pass on the love and passion or at the very least, nurture appreciation and support within my children, and by extension, the children in school,” said Mary Rose.

Working also as a director, stage performer, writer and illustrator, Mary Rose’s artistic prowess has taken her to great heights and has allowed her to continually work as an artist, lending her artistic flair to the Cebuano art scene.

“I am always involved in something creative and artistic in school where I teach and plan most of the events. But as full scale productions go, my latest directorial job was ‘The Children of Fatima’ for the Archdiocese of Cebu for the consecration of the Capelinha de Cebu in San Remigio in 2022. As to my latest stage performance as an actor, it was in Monsignor Ancajas’ production, a monologue meant to be part of a Lenten Recollection, ‘Claudia Procula’ in April 2023,” she said.

However, as much of a trooper Mary Rose is an artist, her role as a mother can be incredibly challenging. Balancing her work as an artist, mother and teacher, Mary Rose had quite a lot on her plate but she was able to overcome the obstacles she faced along the way by having her children close to her.

“It’s not a problem now with the girls in college, although some issues recur but these are usually settled by talking or letting time heal. When they were in preschool to junior high school, it wasn’t much of a problem either because we were in one school — they were students, I was a teacher. So we had similar schedules and saw each other most of the day and night. I saw them grow up and this is a blessing my husband and I treasure so much.”

Mary Rose’s love of the arts has greatly influenced her children as her two daughters, Mayumi and Soleil, are also performers and members of the internationally renowned Mandaue Children and Youth Chorus under the baton of Dennis Gregory Sugarol. She is proud to mention that her eldest, Mayumi, is graduating Magna Cum Laude from Silliman University with a degree in Performing Arts Major in Speech and Theater.

“We support each other’s art and passion. My children know that the arts are a very important part of our lives and do what they can to share these with others,” Mary Rose said.

Motherhood is indeed a journey that is not easy to partake in. It is more than just raising children but it is also making the ultimate sacrifice of putting your children’s needs above others.

“Motherhood made me prioritize what I valued most and what I truly enjoyed.” S

New Zealand's health system now has thousands more health workers thanks to new visa pathways put in place by this Government, Immigration Minister Andrew Little says.

"A year on since the borders reopened more than 6300 overseas health workers have joined our health workforce through the Accredited Employer Work Visa scheme and the Green List Straight to Residence pathways.<

POLICE recovered a .45 pistol with two magazines and two live bullets when they raided a house in Sitio Pio Veloso, Barangay Antipolo, Medellin town, northern Cebu past midnight on Monday, July 3, 2023.

But the suspect, Reynante Eyac, 42, married, escaped arrest.

Police Major Timothy Jim Romanillos, chief of the Medellin Police Station, told SunStar Cebu that Eyac immediately fled after sensing the arrival of policemen.

The police were armed with a search warrant issued by Executive Judge Samson Troy Layese, of Bogo City Regional Trial Court branch 79 on June 27, 2023.

Eyac’s sister, Marylou and nephew, Eugene, watched the police search.

Romanillos said they received complaint from Eyac’s neighbors that the suspect was possessing an unlicensed firearm, which is a violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.

The neighbors also claimed that Eyac also made gun threats to them.

They, however, were afraid to file a lawsuit.

"As-in bugoy gyud, "bad boy" ilang tawag ani diri! Unya mahadlok man mga silingan," Romanillos said.

(As-in he is really naughty, they call him "bad boy" here! His neighbors are afraid of him).

The police are now preparing to file a case for illegal possession of firearm against the suspect.

Eyac was arrested on May 9, 2023 for grave threat, but later released after paying bail. (GPL, TPT)

Russian crude supplies reached latest peak in June, statistics have shown

Russian oil exports to India climbed to a new peak last month, having risen for ten consecutive months, data from commodities analytics firm Kpler showed on Monday.

Daily shipments to the South Asian country surged to 2.2 million

"We believe that the bipartite mechanisms are still the best and most efficient way of increasing wages above the minimum wage levels," Labor Undersecretary Benedicto Bitonio Jr. said.

CEBU Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has defended her daughter, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco, whose department has drawn flak after a blogger exposed that the tourism video promoting the "Love The Philippines" campaign contains stock footage featuring clips from other countries.

In her statement posted on her official Facebook account on Monday, July 3, 2023, Garcia reacted to the series of Facebook post of blogger Sass Sasot who were one of the first to point out some video clips included in the new tourism video which were found to be from other countries.

Garcia thanked Sasot for pointing such errors that prompted an investigation by the Department of Tourism (DOT).

But Garcia was not pleased for Sasot's ensuing and continuing "brouhaha," which for her is too much.

"Dearest Sass, I love my daughter very much and will always stand up and speak out for her, if and when I believe she has been treated quite unfairly. I guess that’s what all mothers will do for their own children," said Garcia.

The governor, though, assured that she will not meddle on her daughter's work.

Garcia also posted on her Facebook page on July 2 a photo which is believed to be a tourism campaign of Switzerland, with a text "It's more fun in Switzerland."

Sasot, on her Facebook post on the same day, tagged Garcia and asked the governor for an explanation for "fixing something that is not broken," and further asked if the same is being applied in Cebu Province.

“Bilang government official po, pwede po bang pakiliwanagan kami kung anong morality and efficiency na you are fixing something that is not broken? Kayo po ba dyaan sa Cebu Province eh mahilig magkumpuni ng mga bagay na hindi naman sira?” reads a Facebook post of Sasot.

Sasot also mentioned in her post the similarity between Cyprus and the Philippines' tourism slogans.

She asked the governor if she was aware that the current tourism slogan of Cyprus is "Love Cyprus," having no difference from the country's "Love the Philippines."

“Aware po ba kayo Governor na ang pangkasalukuyang tourism slogan ng CYPRUS eh ‘Love Cyprus,’ tapos tayo eh ‘Love Philippines.’ Parang awkward no?” she asked. (GK Marie Dejacto, CNU Intern)

A House lawmaker is seeking the creation of a single industry authority within the Philippine bureaucracy that would regulate the railway industry and ensure its efficient management.

A DRUG den in Sitio Kalubihan, Barangay Busay, Cebu City was dismantled by the members of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Central Visayas (PDEA 7) and Mabolo Police Station 4 at 2:39 p.m. on Monday, July 3, 2023.

The operation also led to the arrest of Delfin Bontilao Laurnilla, 27, a waiter, Rafie Camacho Collantes, 30, a flower vendor in Carbon Public Market and Spencer Eslit Patalinghug, 32, who was reportedly in charge of the drug den.

The packs of suspected shabu, weighing 13 grams and valued at P88,400, were recovered by PDEA 7 agents.

The target of their operation, according to PDEA 7 spokesperson Leia Alcantara, was Patalinghug, who they monitored for two weeks. (AYB, TPT)

OPERATIVES of Carbon Police Station detained a guard from Cebu City Hall for attacking Mayor Michael Rama's staff.

The incident happened around 8:40 a.m. Saturday, July 1, 2023.

The guard was identified as Roger Pepito Canilio, 44, a GDS Security Agency employee who hails from Asturias town but currently resides in Purok 8, Barangay Kamputhaw in Cebu City.

Lemuel Sicab Felisario, 48, an Executive Assistant IV assigned to the mayor's office, was the person he struck. He hails from Sitio Tugop, Barangay Babag, Cebu City, although he currently resides in Apple One Banawa.

The two got into an argument over a parking issue, according to Police Colonel Ireneo Dalogdog, chief of the Cebu City Police Office.

The guard allegedly lost his composure and punched Felisario.

“Nahibal-an nato nga katong security guard ang cause diay sa ilang away, murag wala lang sila magka-intindihan. Pero isip usa ka gwardya dapat taas pud kag pasensya,” Dalogdog said.

(We found out that the security guard initiated the altercation. It seems that there was a misunderstanding. But as a guard, you have to be patient.)

A case of physical injury will be filed against Canilio.

The guard may also be stripped of his license if proven guilty. (AYB/TPT)

THE Land Transportation Office (LTO 7) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB 7) in Central Visayas will fine at least 13 bus firms for picking up passengers outside the Cebu South Bus Terminal (CSBT).

During a meeting at the Capitol last Friday, June 30, the bus operators asked for a chance and vowed not to repeat their mistakes.

But according to Sugbo News, Capitol’s online news portal, LTO 7 officer-in-charge Glen Gelario and LTFRB 7 Director Eduardo Montealto Jr. were determined to punish the erring bus companies, including Yelyel Express, Showbox Bus Line, EDC Liner, Yeoman, Jegans Liner, Vallacar Transit, JRK South Transport, Corominas Bros. Bus Line, JBH Trans, Chan Transit, Calvo Bus Lines, Pioneer Trans and Jhade Trans.

The two government officials instead asked the operators to put their request in writing.

Penalties for the violation range from P5,000 for the first offense, P10,000 and 30 days suspension for the second offense, and P10,000 and cancellation of franchise for the third offense.

Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia had already warned the operators that it is strictly forbidden to pick up passengers outside the CSBT.

But the CCTV camera caught the buses picking up passengers outside the terminal.

The Cebu Provincial Government noticed that picking up passengers in the middle of the road will put the lives of passengers in danger and create traffic. (ANV/TPT)

THE Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) seized illegal drugs worth more than P7 million during a one-day Regional Simultaneous Anti-Criminality and Law Enforcement Operation that started from midnight on June 28, 2023 until noon on June 29.

According to CCPO Chief Colonel Ireneo Dalogdog, more than one kilogram of suspected shabu with a standard drug price of P7,506,384 were seized and 40 drug personalities were arrested.

A total of 57 gamblers were also detained in 35 anti-gambling operations.

The CCPO also arrested 42 individuals as part of their campaign against wanted persons, 23 of them were placed on the most wanted list. (AYB, TPT)

The OVP resorted to reimbursements due to its decision to immediately open satellite offices even without equipment, the Commission on Audit said. Sara Duterte launched these offices on the first day of her term as vice president.

More than 50 asylum seekers, most of whom have disabilities, are being warehoused in a former care home in Essex, England, without access to adequate support and services.

The UK government opened the site, which can

MINGLANILLA Mayor Rajiv Enad has imposed a 15-day preventive suspension without pay against municipal assessor Melanie Vargas.

Enad, through an executive order, formed three new teams that started spreading out Monday, July 3, 2023, to inspect establishments and speed up reassessment.

Minglanilla, through Municipal Administrator Junrie Bragat, expressed its commitment to comply with the directive of the Provincial Government on the reassessment, and that the Municipal Government will facilitate a “deliberate expeditious approach without compromising the effectiveness and efficiency of the outcome.”

Enad also asked Vargas to explain within five days the reason for the low percentage in the increase of real property values, and why she only inspected 10 establishments, even if Minglanilla has thousands of registered businesses.

The mayor’s decision is fully supported by the Minglanilla Municipal Council, which approved a resolution authorizing Enad to create task forces and to conduct investigation on the municipal assessor for gross neglect of duty as council members denounced the assessor’s inaction.

Earlier, Governor Gwendolyn Garcia called out the Task Force of Minglanilla after receiving reports that among all local government units in Cebu, Minglanilla has practically the lowest increase on the reassessment and reappraisal of valuation of real property improvements, despite having a large number of commercial establishments and light industries in its territory.

Enad said the result shocked him, and that this is “not acceptable.”

He said he only learned about the matter from the meeting that was aired live on Facebook last June 26, 2023. This is because in their weekly department heads meeting every Monday, the assessor had said that they have complied with the mandates of the Provincial Government and they submitted their reports on time. The assessor did not mention that there were only able to reassess and reappraise 10 establishments.

Garcia had issued Executive Order 37, series of 2022 on the reassessment of values of properties. The Provincial Board also approved Resolution 1778-2022 and Ordinance 2022-06 on the matter.

Enad had said he was dismayed and disappointed by the development, seeing as how Vargas should be aware that timely and correct valuation of improvements would contribute to the efficient and effective enforcement, assessment and collection taxes. (PR)

Based on initial reports, the victim was sexually assaulted and “attacked with a bladed weapon” along Ylanan Street near the far-end of the UP Baseball Field, UP Diliman Chancellor Carlo Vistan told Philstar.com in a phone call.

LISTED company Aboitiz Equity Ventures (AEV) on Monday, July 3, 2023, denied that it bought a majority stake in the low-cost carrier AirAsia Philippines and that developments such as this will be properly disclosed first by them through official channels.

“We would like to clarify and state that this information is not true and accurate. At this time, we are actively verifying the sources that led to the publication of this article and have requested that the article be taken down,” AEV said in a statement.

The Philippine Star on Monday reported that the Aboitiz Group controls AA Com Travel Philippines Inc., the firm that bought a 60 percent stake in AirAsia Philippines in June, according to multiple sources.

The report added that an industry source said the Aboitiz Group made the buyout in support of its proposal to rehabilitate and upgrade the airports in Albay and Bohol.

AirAsia Philippines in a separate statement denied the report.

“It has come to our attention that a leading news organization published an article today stating AirAsia Philippines is now majority owned by the Aboitiz Group. We hope to clarify that this statement is not true and accurate,” the AirAsia said.

But the Malaysia headquartered firm said Capital A companies, including AirAsia, are “fostering strong relationships with the Aboitiz Group and the Mactan-Cebu International Airport.”

“We remain committed to engaging in fruitful discussions with various stakeholders who share our vision of democratizing air travel in the Association of Southeast Nations,” the airline said.

Capital A Capital A Berhad of Malaysia is formerly AirAsia Group. (KOC)

THE municipality of Bantayan on Bantayan Island in northern Cebu warned its residents not to consume the puffer fish during its peak breeding season in July and August to prevent food poisoning.

According to Allan Poquita, regional director the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), eating puffer fish is dangerous especially when it is prepared by a non-expert.

"Wala na siya'y hazard but ang hazard ana kung kaunon na nimo ang puffer fish kay poisonous na siya tungod sa iyang toxic bag," Poquita said on Monday, July 3.

(When not swallowed, puffer fish is not dangerous; the danger comes from its toxic bag).

A puffer fish has a toxic bag that can poison if consumed, according to Poquita.

Among its likely victims are children, the elderly and those with illness.

"Matangtang na siya kung expert ka pero dili gyud mi mo-recommend ana kay makahilo man gyud na ilabi na nga inig prepare ana matuslokan na iyang toxic bag mosagol sa meat mao na'y maka disgrasya," Poquita said.

(It can be removed if you're an expert, but we don't advise it because it's really poisonous, especially when its toxic bag is cut during preparation and mixes with the meat, leading to an accident).

If somebody really wanted to taste the puffer fish stew, Poquita recommended them to let a professional prepare it.

According to the Bantayan local government, most of the fish vendors will show their customers how to prepare puffer fish.

Some people particularly like the puffer fish stew when it is made with libas, a type of tree whose somewhat sour leaves are used to season meat, fish, and vegetables. (ANV, TPT)

The Department of Tourism on Monday terminated its tourism branding campaign contract with DDB Philippines, the contracted agency behind the newly launched “Love the Philippines” rebranded campaign of the country.

By Senator Francis N. Tolentino

OVERSEAS Filipino workers (OFWs) now have brighter hopes of participating in the 2025 midterm elections as Comelec approved last May the conduct of internet voting. OFW voter turnout in the last May 2022 elections was only at 38 percent, which when translated to numbers is only around 626,000 out of the 1.6 million registered OFWs. As voting is both a right and an obligation, the choice of our OFWs should thus form part of the Filipinos' collective decision come May 2025.

We understand the challenges of our OFWs in exercising their rights to suffrage while working in a foreign land. The consulates are sometimes really distant from the migrant workers’ place of work or residence. Not so many OFWs get lucky to be allowed by their employers to leave work in order to cast their votes. For our seafarers who stay at sea for prolonged periods of time, it has always been difficult to find the opportunity to come to polling places to vote. Online voting will surely address most, if not all, of these concerns. Increased participation of OFWs in the May 2025 polls will mean their amplified voice, their more active involvement in the selection of leaders upon whom the Filipino nation will rely for positive direction and national growth.

The Commission on Elections affirmed that new legislation is no longer required to implement internet voting as this is well within the purview and power of the Comelec to explore varying methods of automated polls to ensure that all votes are tallied and results are truly reflective of the people’s choice.

While electronic voting requires highly sophisticated cyber defense technology and such other means to safeguard our OFWs’ votes, the establishment of this system is necessary to guarantee that our modern-day heroes -- our bagong bayani -- are able to choose leaders who will not only ensure their safety and welfare abroad, but will likewise work for reforms so that they will no longer have to leave home to build a brighter future for their families.

(Bangkok) - Cambodia commune election results in 2022 showed numerous and significant irregularities that raise concerns for the July 23, 2023 national elections, Human Rights Watch said today. A systematic analysis of ballot forms in Phnom Penh suggests that election fraud and vote tampering may have occurred, and that ballots across the capital were not properly counted