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July 16, 2023 5:45 PM

The two nations have kept up their close military ties, as they cast a wary eye on the US.

I’ve written about this topic a few times a decade ago, when the Azkals went mainstream and I told myself I won’t entertain this one again. But again, it seems, Filipinos need some reminders. When the Filipinas lineup for the World Cup was announced, there went the old argument—they’re not homegrown, they’re not Filipinas, and we should have a national team of pureblooded Filipinas.

(Insert expletive) the hypocrisy!

Why do I think they are hypocrites? It’s simple. They get to share their vitriol online, they have that luxury because of our economy, an economy that was boosted by $36.14 billion from remittances from OFWs in 2022 alone. That’s P2 trillion if you convert it, almost half of the P5.2 trillion national budget of the country for 2023.

Why am I citing that? The foreign-born Filipinos whom a sector of the sports community criticizes or call as non-homegrown are the children or grandchildren of the Filipino Diaspora. Take away that P2 trillion in the economy, what are we?

It’s just saying, you can feed us. You can support my lifestyle. But don’t you dare represent us.

What is a pure Filipino anyway? Or what is it when you say, he or she doesn’t look like a Filipino? Heck, most of our movie stars or noontime show hosts don’t look like our next-door neighbors, does that mean they aren’t Filipinos? Where’s the outcry?

They can’t speak Tagalog? More than half the country isn’t comfortable speaking in Tagalog, does that mean we aren’t Filipinos?

The Filipinos are everywhere. Both the men’s and women’s national team have acknowledged this trait unique to the Philippines—that everywhere they go, there is a Filipino community, even in North Korea.

Every Filipino family has a relative based abroad. But when it comes to the national teams, we are only supposed to only consider Filipinos here?

Isn’t that a one-step forward, a thousand steps backward kind of thinking?

Our women’s national team is in the world cup. THE World Cup and instead of celebrating, some of our kababayans are asking, “Why don’t they look like me? Why do they have non-Filipino surnames?”

Ironic for a country named after the former king of Spain and whose citizens, during the Spanish era, were forced to adopt Spanish surnames.

Am I right Juan dela Cruz?

Let’s end this homegrown nonsense. This insecurity. This crab mentality.

Because if you really think hard about it, it’s all about jealousy. Most of the guys who want homegrown players in the national team? They’re insecure that the children of overseas OFWs are playing in the national team.

They’re insecure that the OFWs have improved their lives when they left the country.

“It should have been me” is what they really mean when they ask those questions.

The women’s national team, like the rest of the other national teams, is a team of Filipinos!

Period.

July 16, 2023 5:25 PM

Tokyo is baking in 40 deg C heat, as floods inundate northern Japan.

In a resolution in late March that was made public over the weekend, the Supreme Court said Reyes failed to show proof that the Puerto Princesa City Regional Trial Court abused its jurisdiction in ordering that his trial continue.

July 16, 2023 5:00 PM

Individuals do not forfeit their privacy rights when they get married, the court ruled.

By ignoring the growing consensus coalescing around the Philippine victory in the West Philippine Sea arbitral ruling, the Chinese government further isolates itself from the international community.

The world has spoken: the territorial claims embodied in the so-called “9-dash line” have no basis in history or international law. Despite the name, the South China Sea is not Chinese, and the Chinese government has no special authority therein, other than as provided for in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos).

China’s call for the rest of the world to stay out of the territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea and respect its “territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests” is the height of hypocrisy, as the Chinese government itself all too willingly violates the sovereignty, rights, and interests of other claimant countries when it thinks it can get away with it.

As to the alleged “mastermind” of the arbitration case, I strongly urge the Chinese Embassy to at least show some basic courtesy to the Philippines, their host country, before deciding to release inflammatory statements on a day the Filipino people are celebrating a great victory. This is an affront to the Filipinos who stood up for ourselves, and had the heart, courage, and fighting spirit to take China to court.

If China keeps ignoring the arbitral ruling, the Marcos administration should seriously consider reviewing our national policy toward China.

“No destructive tsunami threat exists based on available data,” Phivolcs said. 

In 2003, Hambali was arrested in Thailand and handed over to US authorities. He was then sent to CIA black sites where he was allegedly tortured, before being transferred to Guantanamo Bay where he remains awaiting trial.

PREPARE to be amazed as we delve into the realm of sheer audacity and incompetence that has unfolded before our very eyes. Behold, the grand reveal of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) logo disaster and the “Love the Philippines” campaign debacle. Brace yourselves for a journey through the corridors of power where lack of respect and a stunning disregard for the Filipino people take center stage.

Grab your popcorn and witness the spectacle of those who believe they can pull the wool over our eyes because, apparently, they think we, the Filipinos, are all a bunch of gullible fools.

Million-peso logo: Putting the ‘pro’ in ‘profoundly absurd’

Hold on to your aesthetic sensibilities, folks, as Pagcor’s new logo steps into the spotlight. It’s a visual feast—of disappointment. Prepare to be dazzled by its tackiness, imbalance and utter lack of artistic appeal.

But wait, there’s more! This piece of design wizardry comes with a mind-boggling price tag of P3,035,714.28. Yes, you read that right—your hard-earned money was spent on this monument to bad taste. Bravo to the decision-makers who managed to extract every last centavo from our wallets in exchange for an eyesore we’ll forever remember.

Printplus Graphic Services: The fairy godmother of Barangay-level design

Let’s take a moment to appreciate the genius of Printplus Graphic Services, the virtuoso graphic design company that came out of nowhere. Newly registered for PhilGEPS with a red-flagged status, this extraordinary enterprise focuses its creative talents on, wait for it, the Barangay level.

Move over, world-class agencies! We have found the hidden gem that no one knew existed until a month ago. With a non-existent website and a Facebook page boasting a whopping 39 followers, Printplus Graphic Services is clearly the go-to choice for all your multi-million peso design needs. Who needs credentials when you can have a virtually unknown entity at the helm?

‘Love the Philippines’ campaign: Lesson in authenticity... or lack thereof

Get ready to embark on a journey through the captivating landscapes of the Philippines... or not. Brace yourselves for the shocking revelation that four scenes in the “Love the Philippines” campaign video were, in fact, from stock footage.

Who needs real footage shot in our own breathtaking country when we can just pull a fast one with generic imagery? Kudos to the brilliant minds behind this campaign, who clearly believe that the beauty of the Philippines can be faked without anyone noticing. We applaud your creative use of taxpayer money—P49 million well spent... or not.

A salute to incompetence and disrespect

Ladies and gentlemen, these astonishing shenanigans epitomize the pinnacle of incompetence and disrespect for the Filipino people. Our esteemed leaders seem to think that they can treat us like mindless pawns, easily fooled and manipulated. The audacity is truly awe-inspiring. It’s as if they believe we’re living in a parallel universe where logic and reason have no place, and they can get away with their brazen schemes unscathed.

Rise up, demand accountability and reclaim our dignity

It’s high time we reminded our esteemed leaders that they are public servants, entrusted with the responsibility to act in the best interests of the Filipino people. Transparency must not be an afterthought or a fleeting promise; it must be the cornerstone of their actions. We demand a system that selects contractors based on merit and expertise, not personal connections or favors. We deserve campaigns that truly celebrate the beauty of our nation, shot within our borders and showcasing our authentic culture.

As we bid farewell to the saga of the pricey logo and exotic tourism misadventures, let us not forget the lessons learned. We, the Filipino people, will no longer tolerate being treated as pawns in their game of deception. It’s time to hold those in power accountable, to demand integrity and to rebuild the trust that has been shattered. Replace the sarcasm with genuine pride.

Hello, everyone! Today, July 17, is celebrated as World Emoji Day! So get your mobile phones out, and start flooding your friend’s inbox with a ton of fun emojis—just kidding.

What is an “emoji”

According to a definition by Merriam-Webster, an emoji is “any of various small images, symbols, or icons used in text fields in electronic communication (as in text messages, email, and social media) to express the emotional attitude of the writer, convey information succinctly, communicate a message playfully without using words, etc.”

For today, we would like to play a game with everyone. Here are seven sets of emojis. Try to guess what these stand for (clue, they all have a relation to Cebu). To be able to answer them, don’t take them too literally.

Are you ready to play? Here we go!

Clues:

Happy World Emoji Day!

Malaysia ranked first in a list of the 10 safest places to retire in Asia, based on the country’s peace index score and average monthly cost of living, according to US-based financial services corporation Nasdaq.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Ricky Reli, officer-in-charge of the Leyte police, relieved Police Staff Sergeant Rhea May Baleos and her husband Police Staff Sergeant Ver Baleos of their duties.

July 16, 2023 2:45 PM

India will also propose withholding taxation be de-linked from the excess profit tax principle.

July 16, 2023 2:35 PM

Dr Yellen said she was “eager” to work with China on areas of mutual interest.

July 16, 2023 2:30 PM

The country is experiencing record rainfall in some parts.

He’ll be ‘sorely missing’ his 14 million followers on Facebook, a platform he often used to spread vitriol, after quitting over a row with Meta.

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s frequent stops in India – her third trip in nine months – signal the importance Washington places on that relationship at a time of tensions with China.

Japan is hoping to boost cooperation in hydrocarbon and decarbonisation, and environmentally friendly energy technologies, with Middle East countries.

The memorandum said the new campaign is “characterized by a principled, accountable and dependable government.”

July 16, 2023 11:15 AM

Five bodies of people trapped under a tunnel submerged by heavy rains were pulled out on Sunday.