Philippines News

Marcos did not cite specific arguments for or against the showing of the controversial scene nor comment on the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board’s order to blur the fictional map to avoid misinterpretations.

CEBU Governor Gwendolyn Garcia is asking the candidates for Pasigarbo sa Sugbo’s festival queen competition to limit their outfit to only five kilograms or less.

This came about as a result of observations that costume bearers found it difficult to dance and move around due of the weight of their costumes.

During a meeting with the mayors, choreographers, and provincial tourism officers at the Capitol on Thursday, July 13, 2023, Cebu Fifth District Board Member Andrei "Red" Duterte, chairman of the Committee on Tourism, said festival queen candidates often get weak easily and may even collapse because of their heavy attire.

Because of this, Garcia mandated that contestants for the festival queen competition and their costumes be weighed at the opening of One Cebu Expo.

"During the opening, i-weigh nato ang mga candidates so kahibaw nata unsay normal weight... you cannot add more than five kilos or 10 pounds," Garcia said on Thursday.

The candidates' frequently worn outfits are positioned with a steel rod so that the decorations are sturdy and not easily damaged.

Garcia advised the designers to use bamboo instead of a steel rod to make it lighter.

"Kana man gud uban ninyo design kabilya man gud inyo ibutang, karon mangita namo sa mga lightweight materials. Mag design man gud mo wala mo nag huna-huna sa nagdala, naghuna-huna mo sa pinakabongga. That affects your festival queen, so kung ato ning ma limit and sigurado nga i-limit. This is a challenge for you to look for more lightweight materials...kawayan ibutang," the governor said.

(Some of you used steel bars in your designs; now you look for lighter materials. When making a design, you don’t think of the wearer, but only its awesomeness. That affects your festival queen, so if we can limit and definitely limit it. This is a challenge for you to look for more lightweight materials like bamboo.)

In line with its desire to level up this year’s presentation, the Capitol will give a P2 million subsidy to every participating contingent from mainland Cebu and P2.5 million for those from surrounding islands.

The Pasigarbo Street Dancing and Grand Showdown Competition will showcase the different delicacies and tourist sites of the province.

Around 50 contingents coming from the different local government units in Cebu will join the event, which will be held on August 27 in Carcar City, southern Cebu. (ANV/TPT)

The Embassy of Japan, led by Ambassador Kazuhiko Koshikawa, on Thursday, marked the 70th anniversary of former president Elpidio Quirino's grant to pardon more than a hundred Japanese prisoners of war (POW) from World War II with a series of ceremonies and programs.

A MALL janitress in South Road Properties in Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City was detained after she was discovered stealing money from the donation box located at the supermarket section.

The event took place at 5:45 p.m. Thursday, July 13.

The suspect was identified as Christine Mae Tumamak, a 36-year-old single mother and MIMS Agency employee, who hails from Tabango, Leyte but currently staying in Barangay Pit-os, Cebu City.

Grevir Buyoc Ocubillo, a mall representative, said that the suspect entered the restroom after getting the money amounting P6,170 from the donation box.

But she was intercepted by a female guard who witnessed what she did.

Tumamak was turned over to Mambaling Police Station.

The money was also recovered from her possession. (AYB/TPT)

On Thursday morning, an opposition politician was found dead in his car with gunshot wounds in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of Congo's capital city. Cherubin Okende, 61, was a member of parliament and spokesman for the op

Tropical Depression Dodong has gained speed and continues to progress in a westward direction while moving over the coastal waters of Laoag, Ilocos Norte, state weather bureau PAGASA said.

OVER 70 residents of Lapu-Lapu City have volunteered to donate blood during the bloodletting activity conducted by the Philippine Seven Corporation (7-Eleven), in partnership with the Lapu-Lapu City Government, Subnational Blood Center for Visayas, and National Voluntary Blood Services Program, on Friday, July 14, 2023.

Most of the donors were aged 24 to 50 years old, although people as young as 16 were allowed to donate blood as long as they have their parent’s consent.

Delsie Dungog Salgado, Nurse II and a blood coordinator from Lapu-Lapu City Health, said the activity Friday aimed to gather 300 donors.

“We can help people who need blood. We do not only celebrate the 7-Eleven Day but we give importance to life,” she said in the vernacular.

She added that personnel from the Department of Health (DOH) collected and processed the blood, while the Philippine Red Cross was also involved.

Dr. Mar Carlo Alcontin, Medical Officer III from the DOH, stressed the importance of the activity, saying: “Kumbaga sa atong mga pamilya, patients or individuals na nanginahanglan og dogo, naa tay pundo aron sad makahatag ta dayon.”

(For our families, patients or individuals who need blood, we can easily give blood as we have stocks.)

“One bag of blood can save three lives,” said Melvin Ygoña, regional HR generalist.

He said 7-Eleven is the primary sponsor of the event as part of its nationwide anniversary celebration.

“Nag hatod ra man unta ko sa akong bata diri sa basketball court unya nakakita man ko ani, ni try ko og pa screening nya naka pasar, maong nag pa kuha na lang ko,” said Filomeno Tumabiene, a resident of Barangay Babag 2.

(I was just sending my child here at the basketball court and then I saw the activity. I tried and passed the screening, so I donated blood.)

He added that he can help save lives by participating in the activity. He hoped that the bloodletting activity will continue in the future.

A teenager, who asked not to be named, said: “Nalipay ko na naka donate ko. Kana bitaw na feeling na mo uli ka na satisfied.”

(I am happy that I donated blood. You know that feeling of satisfaction.)

The bloodletting activity will also be held in Olango Island on July 21, 2023, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Organizers said the donor must have enough sleep for at least six hours or more, must not take antibiotics within the week, and must be weighing 50 kilograms or above. (Judie Liza Alantoson, CNU Intern)

Bilateral trade between Moscow and Beijing exceeded $114 billion between January and June, data has revealed  

Russia has become one of China's top-five trading partners for the first time, as the two countries continue to boost cooperation at an unprecedented pace. 

Trade turnover between Moscow and

TWELVE of the 101 dogs that were rescued from an abandoned house in the mountain barangay of Adlaon in Cebu City have survived, said the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries on Friday, July 14, 2023.

Dr. Jessica Maribojoc, head of DVMF, said that eight of the 12 dogs were already adopted by some residents, while the remaining four are also candidates for adoption.

“Naa pay upat (dogs) nahabilin. Ang duha is adoptable na gyud ni sila kay nalahi man to sila. So hangtud sa naay mu-adopt, it’s up to them na gyud kung maka survive sila or dili,” she said.

(There are four (dogs) left, two of them are adoptable because they were separated. So until someone adopts, it's really up to them if they can survive or not. )

She stressed that two of the four dogs will be placed under observation.

“With regard sa duha (dogs), adto na namo siya gi insert sa atong rehab (rehabilitation). If di gihapon sila muduol sa atong mga caretakers, nya based sa atong assessment, of course, possible nga candidate pud sila for euthanasia,” Maribojoc said.

(With regard to the two (dogs), we have already included them in our rehabilitation. If they still do not approach our caretakers, based on our assessment, of course, it is possible that they are also candidates for euthanasia.)

It was reported in June this year that 29 dogs had passed away naturally, while the remaining were candidates for euthanasia.

Maribojoc said she is hoping that the remaining four dogs will survive until they will be fit for adoption.

She assured that the case against the couple who abandoned the animals was already processed and they are just waiting for the decision from the prosecutor's office.

The couple, Lorna Oberes and her partner Edwin Casas, and their unidentified caretakers were charged before the prosecutor’s office for allegedly committing cruel acts against animals. (Kimberly Goc-ong, CNU Intern)

THE bodies of two minors who vanished on Thursday, July 13, 2023, while swimming off Barangay Panadtaran in San Fernando town, southern Cebu, were found early on Friday, July 14.

Jozel Apao, 13, and Frances Ramayrat, 16, both residents of Barangay Tungo in the said municipality, were identified as the victims.

They were discovered floating near the area where they swam.

According to Rommel Pinatil, head of the San Fernando Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (SFDRRMO), they received reports about the drowning incident past noon on Thursday.

Pinatil said the fishermen were already searching for the victims when they arrived at the area past 1 p.m.

The members of the Bureau of Fire, Coast Guard and Bantay Dagat and barangay tanods also helped in the search and rescue effort, which had to be stopped around 6 p.m. due to big waves and murky waters.

Jozel's mother, Michelle Apao, complained that the rescue team lacked equipment when they got to the scene.

She said one of the members of SFDRRMO even told her to go to the police station to report the incident even though they are the ones having the capability to contact the police using their portable radio.

The victims' families also expressed dissatisfaction with the SFDRMMO for failing to look after them while they awaited word of their sons' whereabouts throughout the search and rescue effort.

When questioned about the allegation, however, Pinatil claimed to be unaware of it and asserted that in times of emergency, they will respond immediately, carry equipment, and contact the police, firemen, barangay tanods and the members of Bantay Dagat for assistance.

He did, however, acknowledge that they, like other agencies, lack equipment, so they look for solutions to the issue so they can perform their task.

“Nanghawa mi dinhi gabii naman. Unsa may pasabot ninyo pagabihian mi ninyo dinhia? Wala naman mi mahimo kay tungod sa bawod sa dagat unya ngit-ngit sad. Dili nalang diay mi mo uli sa among balay aron magpahuway?” Pinatil answered.

(It was already night when we left here. What do you mean letting us stay here until the evening? We were powerless to act because of the big waves and then it was dark. Don't we just go home and rest?). (BBT, TPT)

NIKKI De Moura, 19, a Filipino-Brazilian model from Cagayan de Oro City in Northern Mindanao, was crowned the Miss Grand Philippines 2023 during the pageant held at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay Thursday night, July 13, 2023.

De Moura bested 29 other candidates from different parts of the Philippines.

Other title holders were Herlene Budol of Angono, Rizal; Michelle Arceo of Bagumbayan, Quezon; and Francine Reyes of Tarlac City.

Budol was crowned Miss Philippines Tourism 2023, Arceo was Reina Hispanoamericana Filipinas 2023, and Reyes was named Miss Eco Teen Philippines 2023.

First runner-up was Shanon Tampo of Caloocan City, and second runner-up was Charie Sergio of Caluya, Antique.

The other ladies who made it to the Top 10 were Dayanara Maurer (Pampanga, Skin Element ambassador), Rona Lalaine Lopez (Pangasinan), Aeroz Ganiban (Nueva Ecija), and Maria Gail Tobes (Northern Samar, Miss Bench Body).

De Moura, as this year’s Miss Grand Philippines, will compete for the Miss Grand International title in Vietnam on October 25, 2023.

De Moura is not new to pageantry, as before her Miss Grand Philippines stint, she was named Miss Teen Philippines 2019 at 15 years old.

The Filipino-Brazilian beauty queen also has a rich background in modeling.

She was the youngest girl at 17 who joined the SupermodelMe Revolution Season 6, which is an Asian-based modeling competition show.

Her extensive experience in modeling and pageantry became her strength and power throughout the Miss Grand Philippines 2023 pageant, as she garnered special titles, such as Miss Photogenic, Miss Bench, Skin Elements Ambassador, and Miss Philippine Airlines.

In her message, De Moura said: “Coming from Mindanao, where the stigma of no peace often characterizes our identity. I am angry. No, I am infuriated by violence and war and that is a pointless disregard to not only human life but human dignity.”

She emphasized the importance of stopping war and violence and moving forward to peace-making, peacekeeping, and peace building.

Asked what slogan she would create if given the chance to promote the Philippines, De Moura answered: “It would be to Love the Philippines. I think being a Brazilian and Filipina, makes me love both cultures, both heritage and two different traditions and so I am proud to say that I love the Philippines despite having its flaws.”

Warm greetings poured in for the newly crowned Miss Grand Philippines from her friends and family from Cagayan de Oro who described De Moura as “humble,” “goofy,” “talkative,” and “spontaneous lady.”

Budol, in the question and answer portion, used an interpreter to help her translate her answer into English.

She was asked about her take on the most urgent problem in the Filipino youth sector and how she plans to address it.

“Para sa akin, ang pinakamalubhang problema ngayon ng mga kabataan ay ang edukasyon. Dahil ang kailangan ng mga kabataan ngayon ay edukasyon para mamulat sa kinabukasan at naniniwala pa rin po ako sa kasabihan na ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan at para maging pangdayo tayo, taas noo dahil Pilipino tayo kagaya ko, maliit lang ang bansa ko pero pinagmamalaki ko,” she said.

(For me, the most serious problem facing young people today is education. Because what the young people need today is education to be aware of the future and I still believe in the saying that the youth is the hope of the motherland and for us to be able to compete in the international scene, we must be proud as Filipinos like me. My country is small but I'm proud of it.)

All of the winners in the pageant received their corresponding cash prizes, a management contract with ALV Pageant Circle, and movie deals with Octo Arts Films and ALV Films. (Erica Abella, CNU Intern)

FARMERS and suppliers from Barangay Cabadiangan, Liloan in northern Cebu can now experience faster and safer travel after the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) built a P14.9 million farm-to-market road in the area.

The newly concreted 824-meter-long road gives farmers more convenient access to transport their fresh produce to market centers in Liloan and Consolacion, as well as major cities like Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu, the DPWH said in a statement last week.

The department cited barangay resident Ma. Sandra Dellera as saying the road has not only sped up residents' delivery of various products to buyers but also provided the barangay's students with a safer and easier route to school.

The road was built by the DPWH Cebu 5th District Engineering Office. (CTL)

The Commission on Audit has recommended to the University of the Philippines to blacklist a PLDT subsidiary that has yet to complete the multi-million eUP project, which remains unfinished nearly six years past the deadline.

SEVERAL vendors at the Carbon Market Cebu’s (CMC) interim building expressed their gratitude after a foul smell that has been bothering them for almost a week has been finally addressed by the administrator and private contractor and market developer Megawide Construction Corporation.

As of Friday morning, July 14, 2023, the septic tank has shown no signs of overflowing despite the heavy rainfall the previous days.

“Karon buntag wala na gyu’y baho, pasalamat gyud mi nga gi-mano-mano og habwa nila gabie,” said a 52-year-old lady vegetable vendor and member of the United Vendors Organization of Carbon Market (UVOC) on Friday.

(This morning, there hasn’t been a foul smell, we are thankful that they manually drained it [septic tank] last night).

She, however, requested anonymity.

In line with the problem, the Carbon market’s management wants to strictly enforce the Oplan Disiplina program by punishing the violators to prevent similar incidents from occurring again.

“Karon ra gyud na sya nahitabo na ingon ana. Kana di nila tarungon og labay ang basura mao na ilang gi-declog,” said a lady market supervisor who refused to be named.

(Instances like this just happened now. They do not properly throw their garbage, that’s why they are declogging.)

“Mao na di gyud malikayan nga naa gyu’y basura sama sa bottled water, napkin, tissue sa drainage,” she added.

(It is inevitable that there are garbage such as bottled water, sanitary pads, and tissue in the drainage.)

However, this does not prove that the garbage around the area is from the vendors of CMC, since they implement proper waste management in the interim building.

She added that garbage pick-up is being monitored from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily.

On the other hand, there has been no further damage observed in the property and Megawide has not yet released their official statement on the septic tank issue.

CMC urged everyone from the Carbon community to practice proper garbage disposal and to avoid littering in the area to maintain cleanliness.

According to CMCs official Facebook page, violators will be made to pay fines between P500 and P2,000.

A citation ticket will also be issued to those who are caught not throwing their trash in the provided trash bins.

The Cebu City Police Office also conducts a 24/7 patrolling around the market. (CNU Interns Denise Mae Codis and Miguel Angelu Lumen)

The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Karim Khan, announced on Thursday that his office is probing recent atrocities in Sudan's Darfur region as part of its ongoing Darfur investigation, underscoring the gravity of current abuses.

"Targeting civilians, individuals, targeting their homes, targeting their businesses, intentionally target

Tropical Depression Dodong continues to keep its strength as it moves into the vicinity of the Cagayan area, the state weather bureau said. 

The Quezon City Police District announced on Friday that they have arrested another suspect connected to the shooting incident that targeted photojournalist Rene Joshua Abiad and his relatives.

THE Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP)-Mandaue’s male dormitory is expected to move entirely to its new location in September this year.

Superintendent of Mandaue City Jail and attorney Jonathan Baltar stated on Friday, July 14, that although they were meant to move in by June, it has been postponed to September due to ongoing construction.

"Wala paman na install ang gipa request naku sa LGU (local government unit) nga mezzanine floor nga mao ila higdaan, unya on process pa sad ang embankment or tambak nga yuta para dili magbaha. At the same time mag-install pa hopefully masugdan karun katapusan ang admin office kay ug gi transfer last June, very congested ang PDLs (persons deprived of liberty) kung gamitun namu ang ubang selda as office ug clinic," Baltar explained.

(The LGU has not yet erected the mezzanine floor I requested, and work is still being done to build an embankment or mound of land to prevent floods. When we use other cells as offices and clinics after our transfer in June, the PDLs become quite crowded).

The new Mandaue City Jail is located in Sitio Dungguan, Barangay Basak.

Of its 1,549 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs), at least 1,015 have already been transferred to the new facility, while 534 remain in the old one. (HIC)

The number of traditional jeepneys and UV Express services consolidated under cooperatives and corporations stood virtually unchanged since February 2022 — with many at risk of not meeting the December 31 deadline as part of the state's PUV modernization program.

AT LEAST four families or 17 individuals were evacuated in Sitio Langub, Barangay Buhisan, Cebu City due to a landslide caused by downpour on Thursday, July 13, 2023.

In a phone interview, Harold Alcontin, head of Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CCDRRMO), said the landslide occurred around 6 a.m. and none were hurt during the incident.

Alcontin said that two houses were damaged because of the sustained cracks. The foundation of the houses also collapsed.

The affected families were evacuated to the barangay hall and were provided food and non-food items by the Department of Social Welfare Services (DSWS).

Alcontin said that residents nearby were advised to be vigilant because the incident might happen again any time.

"Unstable pa gyud unya nag sige tag uwan uwan. As of now, wala pa tay gipabalik," he said.

(The area is still unstable because we keep on experiencing rains. As of now, the affected families are not yet allowed to go back to their respective houses.)

He also said that officials and responders of Barangay Buhisan are still monitoring the area, especially with the current weather conditions.

Buhisan was identified as a landslide-prone area. (Camille Erika Butas, CNU Intern)