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AT LEAST 39 indigent students of the University of the Philippines Cebu High School (UPHS) will get free housing on campus soon.

Angat Buhay Foundation chairperson and the former vice president of the Philippines Leni Robredo led the ground breaking for the single-story female dormitory on Friday, July 21, 2023.

The foundation’s dormitory, the first of its kind in Cebu, will provide shelter to 39 UPHS indigent students and one house parent for free. The construction is expected to be finished in four to six months.

“Our dream is that this dormitory will help indigent students. Even though tuition is free, it would still be difficult if they had nowhere else to live,” said Robredo.

She disclosed that the beneficiary students will be chosen by the university’s high school department.

“So this is going to be a free dormitory for indigent students. Ang pipili po nito ay ang high school department. Ang pakiusap lang natin ay ang the most in need,” added Robredo. (The high school department will choose the beneficiaries and our only request is that the most in need will be included.)

The project’s construction will be funded by the foundation’s partner organization, such as the Australian Embassy, said Barry Codera, program manager for education of Angat Buhay.

Robredo said once the project is completed, she will look for other private partners who will help provide the needed equipment and furniture.

“When we inaugurate the dorm, we will also meet our other private partners who would help in setting up the dorm itself. Partners giving gadgets, the furnishings, and giving the kitchen equipment that is needed for the dorm,” she said.

Robredo also stressed the need to establish more dorms in other parts of the country in order to allow students who live in remote locations to attend school and lower the dropout rate in the Philippines.

The project has been suggested by Cebu Vice Gov. Hilario “Junjun” Davide III after noticing that many UPHS students are not from Cebu City.

“I know that UP is a public school and there are many students here who are not residents of Cebu so they need a place to stay here,” said Davide.

Other dormitories are set to be constructed in Calabangga town in Camarines Sur, Central Bicol State University of Agriculture, a high school in Pontevedra in Capiz, and in Sorsogon, which are also in partnership with the Australian Embassy. (Denise Mae Codis, CNU Intern)

INCREASING the seating capacity of the Carcar City Sports Center to 8,000 and preparing the accommodation of the contingents are among the organizers’ concerns for next month’s Pasigarbo sa Sugbo. Provincial Board Member Andrei “Red”Duterte, chairman of the PB committee on tourism, said they expect thousands of spectators to watch the cultural event that will be held in Carcar City in southern Cebu, which is why they are planning to rent additional bleachers. As for the contingents’ accommodation, the selection of schools that will house the contingents will be done through a raffle, he said. The PB committee already has a list of schools that contingents from the 50 municipalities and cities in the province may use. Carcar City Mayor Patrick Barcenas earlier said 23 schools had already been chosen to house the participants. “Naa na mi list sa mga schools sa Carcar. In fact, dili lang sa Carcar kay dili man ma-accommodate tanan... In fact, karon magbunotay na kung asa sila mo stay, para fair, mag draw lots,” Duterte said in a phone interview with Superbalita Cebu. (We already have a list of schools in Carcar. Since the schools in Carcar cannot accommodate all of them, schools outside of Carcar will be included. The schools where they will stay will be raffled off, to make it fair). Duterte said the neighboring towns of San Fernando and Sibonga were already informed that they may have to provide accommodations to some contingents. Last Wednesday, July 19, 2023, Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia visited the Carcar City Sports Center to check the preparations at the venue for the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo on August 27, 2023, including the stage and other areas that need to be fixed. The Provincial Government plans to rent bleachers to have up to 1,000 more seats since a lot of people are expected to watch the performances during the event. The Carcar City Sports Center has a seating capacity of only 7,000. “Magdugang mi og mga bleachers. We are looking to rent additional bleachers nga maka-accommodate og additional 500 to 1,000 so maximum capcacity of the sports center, if ever, would be 8,000,” Duterte added. (We will add bleachers. We are looking to rent additional bleachers that can accommodate additional 500 to 1,000 people to increase the maximum capacity to 8,000, if possible.) (ANV, TPT)

NG KHAI Development Corp. successfully held its B.E.A.T (Business, Education, Arts and Technology) 2023 Educational Summit in celebration of the business’ 30th anniversary on Thursday, July 20, 2023.

The annual summit aims to present the newest digital solutions in aiding schools and companies to develop and utilize artificial intelligence (AI) tools in a responsible way.

Threats

Company president Wilson Ng said different industries can overcome the threats posed by AI if people work together.

“Artificial intelligence is coming, and it looks like they may be smarter than us. But I think we know that as long as we work and sing together, we will overcome it,” he said.

Myles Ng, head of the company’s human resources office, said discovering these AI tools will be beneficial as long as people utilize them appropriately.

“Try it. Explore it. Encourage it. All of these tools can help us if we give it a try,” he said.

During his talk on “Tradition to Transformation: Unleashing the Power of Digital Innovation in Education,” Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) president Bernard Villamor stressed the value of digital information as AI becomes more widespread, and developing even the education sector.

“Digital information is no longer an option to education, but it’s a necessity,” he said. “The academe in the age of technology is not an alternative. An academe with good use of technology is transformative,” he added.

Villamor also talked about the university’s top digital transformations, as a trusted education provider that made the lives of the students, faculty and administrators easier.

Ethics

Department of Information and Communications Technology-Central Visayas (DICT 7) Director Frederick Amores discussed concerns on ethics in the use of AI in education, such as privacy, surveillance, bias and discrimination and autonomy.

While there are certain risks that have to be considered, he said AI also has benefits, and that its existence is not a threat and will definitely not replace people.

“It will not replace people. It will enhance productivity. Our goal is to use it and improve,” he said.

Legal framework

Amores also spoke about the legal framework of AI, House Bill 7396 or the “Act promoting the development and regulation of AI in the Philippines.”

“AI is a technology that is still in its infancy. We have an opportunity to develop it and make it a useful tool for improving productivity and our quality of life,” said Amores.

NG Khai Development Corp. partners including HP, Lenovo, Sophos, Samsung, Dell Technologies, Westcon Comsor, Holowits and E-Cloud Valley highlighted their technological innovations and how they can improve the educational sector.

The event concluded with a raffle draw where attendees received prizes such as flash drives, cable chargers, Dell monitors, Samsung smartphones, a LED TV and Chromebook.

The event was a two-day showcase of the latest and greatest technological innovations for the education and enterprise partners. (Camille Erika Butas and GK Marie Dejacto, CNU Interns)

The Cebu Provincial Board advised the public not to be easily deceived by “quick and easy” money offered by investment scammers.

PB Member Glenn Anthony Soco made this call through a resolution approved by the board during its regular session on Monday, July 17, 2023.

Soco urged the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to increase public awareness regarding the proliferation of investment scams that mostly target residents of mountain barangays.

In the resolution, the board member backed the SEC’s decision to alert the public on questionable groups that take the hard-earned money of Cebuanos.

“The proliferation and popularity of illegal investment activities, fraudulent machinations, and Ponzi schemes in Cebu Province are a cause for alarm for business and commerce. For several years, numerous reports of illegal activities had and are continuing to victimize the public on investments with unbelievable and impossible returns and profits,” Soco said in his resolution.

“It has always been our drive to protect the people’s hard-earned money. Beware of these fictitious, unscrupulous and dubious investment scams and money-making activities,” he added.

The SEC issued warnings to the public on how to identify investment scammers.

According to the department, it is important to know the name of the business and the opportunities it provides before engaging in financial transactions.

The investor must also be aware of the company’s address, landline number and SEC registration.

“Do not be tricked or tempted by offers of promissory notes or post-dated checks that will be issued in your favor to allegedly ensure the payment of earnings and the reimbursement of your investments,” according to the SEC advisory.

If a business does not give any information and is not registered with the SEC or does not have a license to operate, the SEC said the business is illegal.

The public is encouraged to check the SEC website, contact the Investor Protection Department at (888) 584-6337, or seek assistance from the police or the National Bureau of Investigation to ensure the transaction is lawful.

Soco urged the SEC to increase public awareness on illegal investment schemes by cooperating with the municipalities and the barangays, particularly those in the far-flung areas.

“The efforts must get as far as the farthest municipalities and far-flung mountain barangays. SEC is encouraged to design more exhaustive and intensive information dissemination wherein populace of a larger number can have access to or will be reached,” Soco said. (ANV, TPT)

There have been a lot of changes in the careers of my inner circle. Many of us are moving through the ranks, taking more responsibilities, or making the bold decision to move back to a career we had hit pause on.

One of my friends is coming back to the media after a year in the corporate world. In such a painful process, she has taught me a valuable lesson on how growth is not necessarily linear.

During a vacation, my friend told me that she felt the desire to go back to the media after a fulfilling career in corporate marketing.

She had fun and enjoyed working with the people in her office, but the time just came for her to pursue again her first love—journalism.

I asked my friend why she left the media only to come back, and she told me that before she moved jobs, she simply felt stuck and needed to grow elsewhere.

Right now, she has reached a certain maturity to go back to the industry she loved. In spite of her firm decision, there is still a gnawing fear of the unknown. She feared the judgment others would make of her.

This bold move from someone I’ve always looked up to for being strong-willed and decisive left a great impression on me with my own decisions.

Another friend of mine is also making another bold career move, moving back to a company she left more than a year ago to take a higher position.

Moving between competing companies and taking on new challenges can only be admirable.

This year, I moved jobs three times in the same company. I moved between the newsroom and marketing within a span of seven months, back and forth, like a lost puppy.

While feeling lost, I almost moved to a different company in a totally different industry having been initially enticed by a pretty decent offer.

I eventually turned it down as I settled on a different position in SunStar.

My indecisiveness has made me doubt my capabilities and wonder if I would ever get back on track.

Listening to my friend, who moved through the waves of her career with such grace and finesse, still admitting to the fear of the unknown has given me a sense of hope.

It’s okay that I’m still figuring things out. It’s okay to settle down for a while only to move again.

Right now, I think I feel more settled and stable in what may be a job for the long haul. I really hope so.

If you feel stuck, take the next opportunity to grow elsewhere. At the end of the day, you will always find your way home no matter how far you’ve gone.

So are you making the right career decision? Maybe, maybe not. What is important is to make that decision to grow continuously as you move through life.

It will be scary, but it will be fine.

Western Visayas pride UBUNTU captured Davao Agilas, 71-67, in a nerve-wracking basketball tourney in Spring Rain Global’s (SRG) 6th Missions Cup Championship, Thursday, July 20, 2023.

Loud roars from the crowd reverberated at Capitol Parish Gym, N. Escario St., Cebu City after a fiery first half emerged as both teams were not willing to give up the basket in the first two minutes of the first quarter.

However, Davao Agilas soared with a three-point lead, 16-13, against UBUNTU then secured the first half with a one-point lead, 34-33.

But a sudden turn of events refluctuated the Agilas in the second half as Johnrey Jakosalem, shooting guard, scored 25 points with an assist from teammate Junisio Nicario, center, who garnered 23 points that led them to their purposeful victory, 71-67.

“We helped each other to get our championship,” said Jovenal Ropero, head coach of UBUNTU.

He added that the team will utilize their P1 million prize money to help sick and elderly priests in their diocese.

Cash prizes were also awarded to the other teams with a consolation prize of P150,000.

Survivors Clergy Region 8, who placed third, won P200,000; second place, Agustinos Recoletos Mission in Asia and Africa won P400,000; and first place Davao Agilas won P600,000.

Meanwhile, Dr. Glenda M. Antonio, founder, president, and chief executive officer of SRG, expressed her gratitude after a successful three-day-event comeback, when operations ceased during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.

“It is fulfilling that we have developed a platform for the priests to enjoy and promote a cause after we stopped [during the pandemic],” Antonio said.

She added they will open invitations starting at the end of the year to begin the new season of Spring Rain Global Mission Cup 2024. (Denise Mae Codis and Erica Abella, CNU Interns)

At least 26 people were killed and about 80 are believed to be still missing after a landslide on Thursday in Irshalwadi, about 60 kilometres from Mumbai.

Not all skinny people are skinny because they eat less. Many factors determine body shape and size. Genetics figures significantly. One’s metabolism or how one’s body processes and stores energy also plays a crucial role.

Some are metabolically lucky. They’ve simply won the genetic lottery. But some are simply metabolically healthy. They’ve actually done something to get to where they are today.

They eat well. They exercise regularly. They get enough sleep. They know how to manage their stress levels. In brief, they lead a healthy lifestyle.

Not all chunky people are chunky because they eat a lot. Some are the size and shape they are due to genetics, prevailing medical conditions and medications taken. One’s age, sex, ethnicity, family and medical history, even personal circumstances also matter.

Some factors are beyond our control while some factors are not easy to control. Whatever circumstances we are in and whatever genetic predispositions we are born with, however, we can still work on the other factors within our control.

Our eating habits, our lifestyle choices as well as the levels of physical activity we choose to engage in are crucial in managing our metabolism and reducing our risk for disease.

But skinny doesn’t always mean healthy. Chunky doesn’t always mean unhealthy.

The number on the scale represents the weight of our body which is composed of bone, muscle and fat. If we are big-boned and muscular, we are bound to be heavy. Are we necessarily unhealthy? No.

Most of us obsess about excess body weight, but it’s excess body fat we should be concerned about and more importantly, it’s location and composition. In particular, we should focus on abdominal fat.

Subcutaneous fat is the fat that rests between our skin and stomach muscles. It’s the fat we see and feel and call our love handles.

Visceral fat is the fat that rests under the muscle wall and sits around our organs. It’s the fat that is hidden and the fat we should be wary of. In excess, this fat raises our risk for diabetes, cancer, dementia and cardiovascular disease.

Visceral fat is roughly 10 percent of our total body fat. So, in general, the more belly fat, the more visceral fat. The best way to avoid having excess visceral fat is to keep abdominal fat in check by living an active lifestyle, eating a healthy diet, getting enough sleep and managing stress levels.

While chunky people can have a lot of visceral fat, so can skinny people. What you see is not always what you get. Your metabolic, heart and lung fitness rather than your size, shape and weight, are better indicators of your health.

Being skinny doesn’t give you license to eat whatever you want or to sit on your chair for however long you want. Skinny doesn’t mean healthy. Chunky doesn’t mean unhealthy. It’s not about being skinny or chunky. It’s about being fit, strong and healthy.

July 22, 2023 7:45 PM

The landslide occurred on Thursday night in the remote mountain hamlet of Irshalwadi.

The countdown for Cebu Marathon 2024 started Wednesday, July 19, 2023, as representatives from the Cebu Executive Runners Club (CERC) unveiled the many firsts athletes and participants will experience on Jan. 14, 2024.

John Owen Zaldarriaga Pages, CERC representative and Cebu City Sports Complex (CCSC) chairman, announced during the launching Wednesday, July 19, the new race distances and surprises they have prepared exclusively for the runners participating in Cebu Marathon 2024.

“Let’s start with our distances. We are making it different. We are going to have four distances starting, of course, with 42K and instead of the 21K, since it’s 2024, we are going to have a 24K,” said Pages.

He added that to pose an extra challenge to the runners, the events’ organizers have changed the usual 10K and 5K to 12K and 6K, accordingly, to complete the new four offered race distances.

Among the many firsts, Pages also mentioned their partnership with Salt Plus Fin, a local sportswear brand in Cebu, where all registered participants will receive jerseys.

Also, finishers of the 42K and 24K races will get a towel and medal at the finish line, similar to Ironman events where towels are handed out after the race.

Registration and rates

Online registration is ongoing at its official website: cebumarathon.com.ph.

Meyrick Jacalan, a CERC representative, said an early bird rate will be granted until Sept. 30, 2023. It will be open to all race distances.

Jacalan added that the early bird rates will start at P1,999 for 42K, P1,799 for 24K, and P799 for both 12K and 6K.

On Oct. 1, regular charges will start at P2,499 for 42K, P2,299 for 24K, and P999 for both 12K and 6K.

Special freebies will also be given to runners, such as medals, towels and t-shirts, while the first 1,024 registrants of the 42K and 24K categories will be given free premium visors.

Routes

Familiar but this time a brand-new series of routes will serve the marathoners, said Pages.

For the 42K distance, runners will be treated to a combination of iconic spots in Cebu, from Plaza Independencia, Colon Streets, Magellan’s Cross, Fuente Osmeña, to the Capitol and Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX).

The CERC board also decided to unfold the routes as early as possible to give a head start for attendees to train in advance.

They will start the marathon at 12:24 a.m. to avoid the traffic congestion and to allow marathoners to begin their race in comfortable weather.

The organizers chose to launch the event six months prior to allow the participants to have a longer time to prepare themselves for the competition.

Easy in mind, hard in reality

Jesse Taborada, president of CERC, said many marathoners underestimate the demands of joining a marathon—it takes long training, discipline and a diet check.

“If you cut corners, you may have problems and difficulties along the way, not to mention the accidents that can come along the way,” said Taborada.

Kats Cajucom of AIA Vitality, a major partner of the Cebu Marathon organizer, also shared her advice to the participants with regard to an athlete’s food intake.

“It takes longer to prepare and it really requires discipline to run a marathon, not only physically but mentally and even the food that you eat,” said Cajucom.

“I think in the training you really learn how to be disciplined,” she added.

In the same way they are preparing for the event, she urged the participants to have month-long preparation to at least train their body to become accustomed to longer distances. (Denise Mae Codis and Claudine Flores, CNU interns)

EIGHT-DIVISION world champion Manny Pacquiao will be back in the ring in a legend vs. legend boxing exhibition against Muay Thai superstar Buakaw Banchamek sometime next year.Pacquiao went to Thailand on July 20, 2023 and met with Buakaw to formally announce their boxing exhibition bout.

The 44-year-old Pacquiao officially retired from boxing in 2021 following a unanimous decision loss to Yordenis Ugas in a World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight fight in Las Vegas.

However, Pacquiao never fully left boxing and fought famous South Korean Youtuber DK Yoo in a charity exhibition last year in South Korea late last year. Pacquiao beat Yoo by unanimous decision.

Pacquiao is arguably one of the best boxers in history. He’s boxing’s only eight-division world champion. Pacquiao won world titles at flyweight, super bantamweight, featherweight, super featherweight, lightweight, light welterweight, welterweight and light middleweight.

In a storied career that spanned almost three decades, Pacquiao has been im many memorable fights. He has fought the best of the best, the likes of Floyd Mayweather Jr., Juan Manuel Marquez, Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, Oscar dela Hoya, Miguel Cotto, Rocky Hatton and Shane Mosley.

Pacquiao finished his career with a record of 62 wins, eight losses and two draws with 39 wins by knockout.

Like Pacquiao, Buakaw is also considered one of the best in his sport, Muay Thai.

Buakaw is a two-time Omnoi Stadium champion, Lumpinee Stadium Toyota Marathon champion, Thailand Featherweight titleholder, two-time K-1 World MAX champion and 2011 and 2012 Thai Fight tournament winner.

Buakaw last fought in Muay Thai on May 6 in Rizin 42 in Japan, wherein he fought Rukiya Anpo to a draw. He also entered bareknuckle boxing and knocked out Erkan Varol in BKFC Thailand last year.

Buakaw has a kickboxing and Muay Thai record of 240 wins, 24 defeats and 14 draws with 73 victories by knockout. (EKA)

After President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. lifted the state of public health emergency, Joey Concepcion, the founder of Go Negosyo, lauded the silver lining that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

July 22, 2023 7:10 PM

A panel says Japan needs to raise wages, eradicate harassment and jettison “outdated” bans on tattoos and hair colour.

MORE than P11 million worth of illegal drugs were confiscated and two drug suspects were arrested in separate anti-criminality operations in the cities of Cebu and Talisay on Friday, July 21, 2023.

First to fall was Janjan Lasco Bicada alias Butoy, 31, a high value individual in the regional level who hails from Calderon Street, Sitio Bato, Barangay Ermita, Cebu City.

The Mambaling police carried out the raid at 10:10 p.m. in Sitio Ibabao, Barangay Mambaling, which led to the capture of Bicada and the discovery of alleged shabu weighing 110 grams and valued at P748,000.

According to Police Major Jonathan Bethooven Taneo, chief of the Mambaling Police Station, Bicada was previously detained for the same offense.

At 10:33 p.m., more than a kilo of suspected shabu were seized by the operatives of the Provincial Intelligence Unit of Cebu Police Provincial Office and Talisay City Police Station during a drug bust in Lower Kabanayan, Sta. Lucia Road, Barangay Bulacao, Talisay City.

The target of the operation was Jonathan Clemente Mendo alias Atan, 27, a resident of Hawod Compound in Barangay Bulacao.

Seized from him were four big packs of alleged shabu weighing 1.520 kilos with a street value of P10,336,000.

The operation was witnessed by the barangay officials and some media personnel. (AYB, TPT)

A WOMAN, her daughter and a relative landed in the hospital after their motorcycle was hit by a mini dump truck along the national highway in Barangay Cantuod, Balamban town, midwest Cebu at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 22, 2023.

The victims were identified as Jonesa Cereño Sorela, 32, her daughter Princess Lee, 8, and her relative Anilyn Garcia Sorela, 21.

The Isuzu Elf mini dump truck (KAJ 7211) was driven by Dionesio Hermino Alinghawa Jr., 28, single, a resident of Barangay Singsing of the said municipality.

Lieutenant Colonel Glenn Hife, chief of Balamban Police Station, told SunStar Cebu that the mini dump truck was heading north when it lost its brakes, causing Alinghawa to swerve to avoid hitting a car parked by the side of the road but instead colliding with the motorcycle from the opposite direction.

Due to the impact, the victim were thrown off the motorcycle.

They were brought to Balamban District Hospital for medical attention.

Alinghawa was taken to the Balamban Police Station where he was placed in jail, while the authorities prepared charges against him. (GPL, TPT)

‘Australians can be proud that this ship … is being commissioned here for the first time in … history’, Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles said. It reflects ‘our shared commitment to upholding the rules-based order’, he added.

Progressive groups slammed the Philippine National Police after authorities blocked a delegation of protesters  ahead of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s State of the Nation Address due to the "unworthiness" of a 16-foot effigy.

July 22, 2023 5:15 PM

Critics say carbon capture and storage has not lived up to its promise and is not a reliable climate solution.

The Philippines has been nominated as the “most desirable country” at the 22nd Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards in the United Kingdom.

The animal, which was being presented as evidence, escaped from its handler and caused mayhem as court staff tried to tempt it down from a tree.