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Cebu Sun.Star
When love, religious differences collide
@ALEX: I read your article last week about the differences between relationships, and I wanted to share a personal situation my girlfriend and I are facing. We’ve been together for three years now, both in our thirties and with stable careers. As we’ve grown closer, we’ve reached a point where we are seriously considering marriage. However, there’s one significant challenge we’re struggling to resolve — we come from different religious backgrounds. While I won’t specify which ones, both of our families are deeply committed to their respective faiths, making it near impossible for anyone to compromise. Even in the venue of the marriage rites or which religion our children should adopt. Neither of us is giving in. It doesn’t help that whenever we consult elders, they would suggest one of us should convert to the other’s religion. I admire your reasonableness and the support you’ve provided as a virtual friend to many. Your insights could be valuable as we navigate this complex situation.
DJ: I greatly understand how religion unifies and strengthens a relationship. What saddens me is how it can also tear relationships apart. Opposite attracts but I’m glad you’re not putting a sock over your religious differences. Good job! Both of you are working through issues instead of rushing into decisions just for the sake of becoming mister and misses which can lead to regrets later on. Have you considered premarital counseling? Your elders have spoken. Seeking guidance from a neutral party can help facilitate conversations about important topics.
What made you say that you’re both standing your ground? Is there mutual respect? Sure, you grew up with different perspectives but neither belief system is inherently right or wrong. That’s just my opinion. How open are you for a religious mashup? If it’s a Venn diagram, focus more on where the overlaps are. I do know of certain denominations that hold a savage commitment to their faith. If you and your girlfriend fall in these types of groups, it looks like it’s going to be an uphill climb.
You mentioned your individual beliefs hold a fundamental place in each other’s lives. Thus, neither of you should cancel the other’s conviction. I was born and raised as a Catholic. But my upbringing took place in a culturally rich and religiously diverse environment. Early on, my parents taught me openness about different practices. Stereotyping often is but a result of lack of knowledge. And through time, I’ve seen how faith guides us in our individual journey. Pretty much like a GPS. Somehow, we still end up at the same destination. Can both of you support this vibe when it comes to raising your own kids? Are you cool about exposing them to both religions, freely exploring their beliefs?
If your families are deeply committed to their respective faiths, I hope you have open-minded friends. If there will be barriers, it helps to have people who can serve as translators. By now it’s clear I’m an advocate of inclusion. Given how complex our world has become, there’s a greater call to foster a sense of belonging particularly if you’re with the majority, to create a space where anyone can feel accepted and valued. Besides, welcoming people into our lives without judgement is part of loving and love is a core teaching to many religions.
Perhaps, this is you and your partner’s calling. Part of Cupid’s target. Love’s tag team. Think about it. Are you glowing up at honoring each other’s belief? If things are like looking for a needle in a haystack, do you still laugh while you’re searching? Even if faith has been a foremost part of you and your partner’s life, you can still slay the relationship. It’s like you prefer sunrise, she likes sunset and you have the whole day covered. A lifetime of disagreements, though, can be devastating. Heads up. It’s still ultimately up to you and her.
DJ: I greatly understand how religion unifies and strengthens a relationship. What saddens me is how it can also tear relationships apart. Opposite attracts but I’m glad you’re not putting a sock over your religious differences. Good job! Both of you are working through issues instead of rushing into decisions just for the sake of becoming mister and misses which can lead to regrets later on. Have you considered premarital counseling? Your elders have spoken. Seeking guidance from a neutral party can help facilitate conversations about important topics.
What made you say that you’re both standing your ground? Is there mutual respect? Sure, you grew up with different perspectives but neither belief system is inherently right or wrong. That’s just my opinion. How open are you for a religious mashup? If it’s a Venn diagram, focus more on where the overlaps are. I do know of certain denominations that hold a savage commitment to their faith. If you and your girlfriend fall in these types of groups, it looks like it’s going to be an uphill climb.
You mentioned your individual beliefs hold a fundamental place in each other’s lives. Thus, neither of you should cancel the other’s conviction. I was born and raised as a Catholic. But my upbringing took place in a culturally rich and religiously diverse environment. Early on, my parents taught me openness about different practices. Stereotyping often is but a result of lack of knowledge. And through time, I’ve seen how faith guides us in our individual journey. Pretty much like a GPS. Somehow, we still end up at the same destination. Can both of you support this vibe when it comes to raising your own kids? Are you cool about exposing them to both religions, freely exploring their beliefs?
If your families are deeply committed to their respective faiths, I hope you have open-minded friends. If there will be barriers, it helps to have people who can serve as translators. By now it’s clear I’m an advocate of inclusion. Given how complex our world has become, there’s a greater call to foster a sense of belonging particularly if you’re with the majority, to create a space where anyone can feel accepted and valued. Besides, welcoming people into our lives without judgement is part of loving and love is a core teaching to many religions.
Perhaps, this is you and your partner’s calling. Part of Cupid’s target. Love’s tag team. Think about it. Are you glowing up at honoring each other’s belief? If things are like looking for a needle in a haystack, do you still laugh while you’re searching? Even if faith has been a foremost part of you and your partner’s life, you can still slay the relationship. It’s like you prefer sunrise, she likes sunset and you have the whole day covered. A lifetime of disagreements, though, can be devastating. Heads up. It’s still ultimately up to you and her.
Categories: Philippines News
DSWD 7 expands programs on emergency response
THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 7 has delivered President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s mandate to the agency during his State of the Nation Address (Sona) a year ago, particularly on expanding programs on emergency response.
According to DSWD 7 Director Shalaine Lucero on Saturday, July 22, 2023, they’ve already prepositioned goods in different local government units (LGUs) in the region.
In his speech during his first Sona on July 25, 2022, Marcos ordered the agency to lead the initiative in assisting calamity victims.
Lucero said prepositioning goods was not previously possible after former president Rodrigo Duterte suspended the practice due to the alleged illegal distribution of relief items by erring politicians.
Lucero said it was during the time of former DSWD secretary Erwin Tulfo when they started prepositioning goods in different areas, focusing on placing more family food packs in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (Gidas).
Marcos had named Tulfo to head the DSWD, but the former broadcaster stepped down in December 2022 after the Commission on Appointments bypassed his appointment twice.
Tulfo was replaced by Valenzuela 1st District Rep. Rex Gatchalian last Jan. 31.
Stockpile
Lucero said they have considerably raised the stockpile of relief goods to provide sufficient food packs to families affected by typhoons, floods and other disasters.
She said they have prepositioned 46,000 food packs in 57 of the 132 LGUs in Central Visayas, adding that they took into account the archipelagic setting of the region to explain how they came up with the numbers.
She said LGUs are supposed to share prepositioned food packs with nearby areas that also need them.
Aside from prepositioned goods, Lucero said they also have food packs on standby that are easily accessible when disasters strike.
Lucero said the region needs at least 50,000 food packs, but they have around 60,000 on standby at all times.
She assured that if there is a need to respond to a disaster, the agency can immediately attend to the call, saying that “if there is an LGU that needs help, we are ready to respond swiftly.”
She also identified the cities of Canlaon and Guihulngan, both in Negros Oriental, as Gidas due to the threat of Mt. Canlaon and the ongoing skirmishes between the military and rebels, respectively.
Warehouses
She said they have warehouses in Cebu, Bohol and Negros Oriental, which are manned by well-trained supervisors to manage the appropriation of goods to avoid spoilage.
Lucero said they also make sure goods that are given to calamity victims are fit for human consumption.
She said boxes containing food packs are printed with the expiry date.
The director added that the rice they use is of good quality, and can last up to a year in storage.
To make sure that food packs don’t go to waste, the LGUs can distribute them as part of their food-for-work program three months before their expiry date.
According to Lucero, an average food pack usually contains six kilos of rice, eight sachets of coffee, eight packs of instant noodles, three cans of sardines and three cans of corned beef, and is worth around P550.
She said a food pack can sustain a family of five for two days.
According to DSWD 7 Director Shalaine Lucero on Saturday, July 22, 2023, they’ve already prepositioned goods in different local government units (LGUs) in the region.
In his speech during his first Sona on July 25, 2022, Marcos ordered the agency to lead the initiative in assisting calamity victims.
Lucero said prepositioning goods was not previously possible after former president Rodrigo Duterte suspended the practice due to the alleged illegal distribution of relief items by erring politicians.
Lucero said it was during the time of former DSWD secretary Erwin Tulfo when they started prepositioning goods in different areas, focusing on placing more family food packs in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (Gidas).
Marcos had named Tulfo to head the DSWD, but the former broadcaster stepped down in December 2022 after the Commission on Appointments bypassed his appointment twice.
Tulfo was replaced by Valenzuela 1st District Rep. Rex Gatchalian last Jan. 31.
Stockpile
Lucero said they have considerably raised the stockpile of relief goods to provide sufficient food packs to families affected by typhoons, floods and other disasters.
She said they have prepositioned 46,000 food packs in 57 of the 132 LGUs in Central Visayas, adding that they took into account the archipelagic setting of the region to explain how they came up with the numbers.
She said LGUs are supposed to share prepositioned food packs with nearby areas that also need them.
Aside from prepositioned goods, Lucero said they also have food packs on standby that are easily accessible when disasters strike.
Lucero said the region needs at least 50,000 food packs, but they have around 60,000 on standby at all times.
She assured that if there is a need to respond to a disaster, the agency can immediately attend to the call, saying that “if there is an LGU that needs help, we are ready to respond swiftly.”
She also identified the cities of Canlaon and Guihulngan, both in Negros Oriental, as Gidas due to the threat of Mt. Canlaon and the ongoing skirmishes between the military and rebels, respectively.
Warehouses
She said they have warehouses in Cebu, Bohol and Negros Oriental, which are manned by well-trained supervisors to manage the appropriation of goods to avoid spoilage.
Lucero said they also make sure goods that are given to calamity victims are fit for human consumption.
She said boxes containing food packs are printed with the expiry date.
The director added that the rice they use is of good quality, and can last up to a year in storage.
To make sure that food packs don’t go to waste, the LGUs can distribute them as part of their food-for-work program three months before their expiry date.
According to Lucero, an average food pack usually contains six kilos of rice, eight sachets of coffee, eight packs of instant noodles, three cans of sardines and three cans of corned beef, and is worth around P550.
She said a food pack can sustain a family of five for two days.
Categories: Philippines News
DICT 7 promotes disaster preparedness, provides app to improve gov’t service
THE Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) 7 has submitted a list of achievements one year since the agency was ordered by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to help enable the public and private sectors to achieve their mandates using technology.
DICT 7 Director Frederick Amores said their core focus is to improve infrastructure and awareness, and strengthen economic industry and opportunity while being a world-class service provider.
Satellite communication
He said they tapped the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices of Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental and Siquijor for capacity and capability building activities and training, and set up very small aperture terminals (VSATs), which enable satellite communications and data transfer from and to everywhere around the world; deployed satellite phones; and introduced an IP radio system and basic networking; among others, at local government units (LGUs).
He said they’ve been working with LGUs to help them prepare for faster communication accessibility during disasters.
He said 10 percent of the LGUs in the region already have VSATs.
He said the agency’s ICT Literacy and Competency Development Bureau, which is tasked to capacitate the public with ICT literacy, has been implementing programs and conducting trainings to equip individuals with the necessary information and skills for ICT competency, particularly on managing Bitcoins and cryptocurrencies through Bitskwela.
Business permit licensing
He said they also developed the Integrated Business Permit Licensing System (iBPLS), an online application that helps LGUs expedite the processing and issuance of business permits, building permits, certificates of occupancy and barangay clearances.
He said one of the main goals of Marcos’ administration is the digitalization of the bureaucracy.
“The DICT has developed a system [iBPLS] for them to use, free of cost,” he said.
As of now, 41 of 132 LGUs in the region have adopted the system, he said.
“Local governments have the option to either make their own just like what Cebu City did. The most important is they are able to deliver their services digitally,” Amores said.
As part of the National Broadband Plan, DICT 7 has connected 81 agencies in Cebu to the government network, providing high-speed broadband connection.
Other achievements:
Installed 137 free wifi in the region;
Connected with several government agencies to train cyber warriors to provide cybersecurity;
Showcased start-ups, business process outsourcing and ICT development in the countryside; and
Partnered with the Department of Trade and Industry and Department of Science and Technology for a start-up program.
“DICT is relatively a small department compared to other offices. We have to leverage what we have. We can move by partnering with other organizations, local governments, other government agencies in growing up our programs... So I think the mindset should be collaboration, the national government collaborating with the local government, other agencies, private organizations. We have so many examples here of collaborations with the private sector to achieve common goals,” Amores said. (Claudine Flores, CNU Intern)
DICT 7 Director Frederick Amores said their core focus is to improve infrastructure and awareness, and strengthen economic industry and opportunity while being a world-class service provider.
Satellite communication
He said they tapped the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices of Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental and Siquijor for capacity and capability building activities and training, and set up very small aperture terminals (VSATs), which enable satellite communications and data transfer from and to everywhere around the world; deployed satellite phones; and introduced an IP radio system and basic networking; among others, at local government units (LGUs).
He said they’ve been working with LGUs to help them prepare for faster communication accessibility during disasters.
He said 10 percent of the LGUs in the region already have VSATs.
He said the agency’s ICT Literacy and Competency Development Bureau, which is tasked to capacitate the public with ICT literacy, has been implementing programs and conducting trainings to equip individuals with the necessary information and skills for ICT competency, particularly on managing Bitcoins and cryptocurrencies through Bitskwela.
Business permit licensing
He said they also developed the Integrated Business Permit Licensing System (iBPLS), an online application that helps LGUs expedite the processing and issuance of business permits, building permits, certificates of occupancy and barangay clearances.
He said one of the main goals of Marcos’ administration is the digitalization of the bureaucracy.
“The DICT has developed a system [iBPLS] for them to use, free of cost,” he said.
As of now, 41 of 132 LGUs in the region have adopted the system, he said.
“Local governments have the option to either make their own just like what Cebu City did. The most important is they are able to deliver their services digitally,” Amores said.
As part of the National Broadband Plan, DICT 7 has connected 81 agencies in Cebu to the government network, providing high-speed broadband connection.
Other achievements:
Installed 137 free wifi in the region;
Connected with several government agencies to train cyber warriors to provide cybersecurity;
Showcased start-ups, business process outsourcing and ICT development in the countryside; and
Partnered with the Department of Trade and Industry and Department of Science and Technology for a start-up program.
“DICT is relatively a small department compared to other offices. We have to leverage what we have. We can move by partnering with other organizations, local governments, other government agencies in growing up our programs... So I think the mindset should be collaboration, the national government collaborating with the local government, other agencies, private organizations. We have so many examples here of collaborations with the private sector to achieve common goals,” Amores said. (Claudine Flores, CNU Intern)
Categories: Philippines News
Councilor: Road recovery, widening to address traffic congestion
IN A bid to address the worsening traffic congestion, the Cebu City Government has launched a comprehensive Road Recovery Program, along with several road widening and opening projects.
The Road Recovery Program, spearheaded by the city’s Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW), focuses on rehabilitating and improving existing roads to ensure smoother traffic flow, said Cebu City Councilor Jerry Guardo during SunStar’s online program “Beyond the Headlines” on Monday, July 17, 2023.
The program includes repairing potholes, resurfacing damaged roads and improving road markings and signage for better visibility.
The City has also identified the urgent need for diversion roads to divert traffic away from heavily congested areas.
Guardo said one of the major projects under the Road Recovery Program is the construction of diversion roads, which will provide motorists with alternative routes.
He added that the DPWH is working closely with urban planners and engineers to identify suitable locations for these diversion roads, ensuring they effectively alleviate traffic congestion.
Simultaneously, the City has initiated road widening projects to accommodate the growing number of vehicles.
Guardo said widening existing roads will not only increase their capacity but also enhance safety by providing additional lanes for motorists. To ensure the success of these projects, the local government has allocated funds for road infrastructure development.
The funds will be utilized for road repairs, widening and the construction of diversion roads, said Guardo. (Juralyn Beso Baldomaro NWSSU intern)
The Road Recovery Program, spearheaded by the city’s Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW), focuses on rehabilitating and improving existing roads to ensure smoother traffic flow, said Cebu City Councilor Jerry Guardo during SunStar’s online program “Beyond the Headlines” on Monday, July 17, 2023.
The program includes repairing potholes, resurfacing damaged roads and improving road markings and signage for better visibility.
The City has also identified the urgent need for diversion roads to divert traffic away from heavily congested areas.
Guardo said one of the major projects under the Road Recovery Program is the construction of diversion roads, which will provide motorists with alternative routes.
He added that the DPWH is working closely with urban planners and engineers to identify suitable locations for these diversion roads, ensuring they effectively alleviate traffic congestion.
Simultaneously, the City has initiated road widening projects to accommodate the growing number of vehicles.
Guardo said widening existing roads will not only increase their capacity but also enhance safety by providing additional lanes for motorists. To ensure the success of these projects, the local government has allocated funds for road infrastructure development.
The funds will be utilized for road repairs, widening and the construction of diversion roads, said Guardo. (Juralyn Beso Baldomaro NWSSU intern)
Categories: Philippines News
How sustainability is stylish
Fashion has long been associated with glamour, luxury and excess. However, there has been an increasing trend toward sustainable fashion in recent years. Claudia Bezza-Yeung’s Santorini Cruise Collection launched in May is a perfect example of how fashion can be both stylish and environmentally friendly.
The collection showcased on a runway at the Kandaya Resort in Daanbantayan, Cebu was a breath of fresh air in the world of fashion. Inspired by the picturesque island of Santorini, her designs exude elegance, sophistication, and a touch of Mediterranean charm. Bezza-Yeung’s designs were not only stunning but also made from sustainable materials. From organic cotton to recycled fabrics, every piece in the collection had an eco-friendly touch.
The color palette chosen for this collection is worth noting. Soft pastels, such as pale blues and pinks, are juxtaposed with bold pops of color like romantic pinks and vibrant yellows. This combination creates a visually striking contrast that adds depth and interest to each look.
What set this debut apart was not just the attention to detail but also the use of sustainable materials in terms of production practices. Bezza-Yeung ensured that her garments were ethically made, with fair wages and safe working conditions for all involved. This commitment to sustainability extended beyond just the clothes themselves; even the packaging was eco-friendly, using recycled materials and minimal waste.
In addition to being environmentally conscious, Claudia’s designs were also versatile and timeless. The pieces could easily transition from day to night or from beachwear to evening wear. This versatility is essential in promoting sustainability as it encourages consumers to invest in pieces that can be worn for years rather than discarded after one season.
“The collection, as with all our pieces, is made from discarded fabric that we source from China and Dubai,” shared designer Claudia Bezza Yeung. “The fabrics for this collection were acquired at different times, and were kept in storage since the pandemic, and it was only recently that they all came together with this vision: Santorini!”
Overall, Claudia Bezza-yeung’s Santorini Cruise Collection Seaside Debut was a testament to how fashion can embrace sustainability without compromising on style or quality. By using eco-friendly materials and ethical production practices while creating beautiful designs that stand the test of time, Bezza-Yeung has set a new standard for the fashion industry. It is a reminder that fashion can be both glamorous and sustainable, and that we all have a role to play in making the industry more environmentally friendly.
The collection showcased on a runway at the Kandaya Resort in Daanbantayan, Cebu was a breath of fresh air in the world of fashion. Inspired by the picturesque island of Santorini, her designs exude elegance, sophistication, and a touch of Mediterranean charm. Bezza-Yeung’s designs were not only stunning but also made from sustainable materials. From organic cotton to recycled fabrics, every piece in the collection had an eco-friendly touch.
The color palette chosen for this collection is worth noting. Soft pastels, such as pale blues and pinks, are juxtaposed with bold pops of color like romantic pinks and vibrant yellows. This combination creates a visually striking contrast that adds depth and interest to each look.
What set this debut apart was not just the attention to detail but also the use of sustainable materials in terms of production practices. Bezza-Yeung ensured that her garments were ethically made, with fair wages and safe working conditions for all involved. This commitment to sustainability extended beyond just the clothes themselves; even the packaging was eco-friendly, using recycled materials and minimal waste.
In addition to being environmentally conscious, Claudia’s designs were also versatile and timeless. The pieces could easily transition from day to night or from beachwear to evening wear. This versatility is essential in promoting sustainability as it encourages consumers to invest in pieces that can be worn for years rather than discarded after one season.
“The collection, as with all our pieces, is made from discarded fabric that we source from China and Dubai,” shared designer Claudia Bezza Yeung. “The fabrics for this collection were acquired at different times, and were kept in storage since the pandemic, and it was only recently that they all came together with this vision: Santorini!”
Overall, Claudia Bezza-yeung’s Santorini Cruise Collection Seaside Debut was a testament to how fashion can embrace sustainability without compromising on style or quality. By using eco-friendly materials and ethical production practices while creating beautiful designs that stand the test of time, Bezza-Yeung has set a new standard for the fashion industry. It is a reminder that fashion can be both glamorous and sustainable, and that we all have a role to play in making the industry more environmentally friendly.
Categories: Philippines News
Dormitory for indigent students to rise in UP Cebu High School campus
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)
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)
Categories: Philippines News
Capitol mulls renting bleachers to get 1,000 more seats for Pasigarbo
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)
Categories: Philippines News
Ng Khai’s education summit tackles AI
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 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)
Categories: Philippines News
PB issues warning amid rise in investment fraud
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)
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)
Categories: Philippines News
Are you making the right career decision?
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.
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.
Categories: Philippines News
UBUNTU snatches wings of Agilas in SRG Missions Cup 2023
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)
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)
Categories: Philippines News
Getting the skinny
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.
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.
Categories: Philippines News
Offering new surprises, 2024 Cebu Marathon registration now open
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)
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)
Categories: Philippines News
Pacquiao faces Muay Thai legend Buakaw in exhibition
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)
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)
Categories: Philippines News
Over P11 million shabu seized in cities of Cebu, Talisay
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)
Categories: Philippines News
3 hurt in Balamban road accident
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)
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)
Categories: Philippines News
Extreme heat could drive tourists away
AS EARLY as now, tourism stakeholders will need to think of ways to spare destinations and businesses from the rising heat index caused by climate change that may result in the loss of tourism attractiveness.
Antonio Gabriel La Viña, associate director at Manila Observatory, warned tourism players on Thursday, July 20, 2023, of the soaring temperature now experienced globally that could prompt a shift in tourist habits, picking cooler destinations instead.
67 degrees Celsius
La Viña said countries all over the world are already experiencing intensifying hot temperatures, whose impact and mitigation are something that the Philippines has not meticulously studied yet. He cited, for instance, the escalating heat in the Middle East, which has gone up to 67 degrees Celsius, double the temperature of Cebu.
“We have to expect and prepare for the worst,” said La Viña, who was one of the speakers during the first day of the Tourism Summit held in SM Seaside City Cebu. The Tourism Summit is one of the activities of the Cebu Business Months organized by the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Building code
“If we don’t do something about this, then in 20 years, easily we will also reach 60 or even 70 degrees Celsius. And you can’t wait for that to happen to change your building codes, and transportation networks, even the poor will have aircon facilities and so will all schools,” said La Viña.
As for tourism, La Viña, known for his climate change and environmental expertise, urged stakeholders to prepare ahead as it may take 10 to 20 years to put up infrastructure that would respond to what looks like the biggest impact of climate change.
“It is not storms, not even floods because we are beginning to manage that. Drought and water are also problems in Cebu, but I know lots of thinking has been going on about how to deal with these. But the pure high temperature?... This is something that we did not anticipate 20 years ago,” he said.
Citing the sixth assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, La Viña said global warming of 1.5 degrees Celsius and two degrees Celsius will be exceeded during the 21st Century unless deep reductions in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse emissions occur in the coming decades. The report warned that if global warming transiently exceeds 1.5 degrees Celsius in the coming decades or later, then many human and natural systems will face additional severe risks.
People living in coastal areas will be severely affected as well as industries like agriculture, fisheries and biodiversity, compromising livelihoods which may lead to more social conflicts. Workability and livability will also be affected in South Asia like in Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan where extreme heat and humidity are observed.
Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam in Southeast Asia will have extreme increases in heat and humidity by 2050 and extreme precipitation events.
This year’s highest heat index of 50 degrees Celsius scorched Legazpi City, Albay on May 12, according to Pagasa. Cebu also had its highest heat index recorded on March 31 at 41 degrees Celsius.
With the onset of the rainy season, Pagasa suspended its daily issuance of head index information on June 2 and announced that its daily monitoring will resume on March 1, 2024, which coincides with the hot and dry months in many parts of the country.
La Viña said there is still time to do things properly to lessen the impact of climate change on destinations and tourism businesses. He enjoined all tourism stakeholders to look at their respective business operations and see which processes they can turn green and transition to cleaner energy.
“We need to reduce emissions,” he said. He also suggested embarking on nature-based solutions that emphasize biodiversity and food security when dealing with climate change.
La Viña also warned of overdevelopment as this could lead to the depletion of natural resources. Proper waste management could also help mitigate the impact of climate change. (KOC WITH CNU INTERN KATE ANGEL LEDUNAS)
Antonio Gabriel La Viña, associate director at Manila Observatory, warned tourism players on Thursday, July 20, 2023, of the soaring temperature now experienced globally that could prompt a shift in tourist habits, picking cooler destinations instead.
67 degrees Celsius
La Viña said countries all over the world are already experiencing intensifying hot temperatures, whose impact and mitigation are something that the Philippines has not meticulously studied yet. He cited, for instance, the escalating heat in the Middle East, which has gone up to 67 degrees Celsius, double the temperature of Cebu.
“We have to expect and prepare for the worst,” said La Viña, who was one of the speakers during the first day of the Tourism Summit held in SM Seaside City Cebu. The Tourism Summit is one of the activities of the Cebu Business Months organized by the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Building code
“If we don’t do something about this, then in 20 years, easily we will also reach 60 or even 70 degrees Celsius. And you can’t wait for that to happen to change your building codes, and transportation networks, even the poor will have aircon facilities and so will all schools,” said La Viña.
As for tourism, La Viña, known for his climate change and environmental expertise, urged stakeholders to prepare ahead as it may take 10 to 20 years to put up infrastructure that would respond to what looks like the biggest impact of climate change.
“It is not storms, not even floods because we are beginning to manage that. Drought and water are also problems in Cebu, but I know lots of thinking has been going on about how to deal with these. But the pure high temperature?... This is something that we did not anticipate 20 years ago,” he said.
Citing the sixth assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, La Viña said global warming of 1.5 degrees Celsius and two degrees Celsius will be exceeded during the 21st Century unless deep reductions in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse emissions occur in the coming decades. The report warned that if global warming transiently exceeds 1.5 degrees Celsius in the coming decades or later, then many human and natural systems will face additional severe risks.
People living in coastal areas will be severely affected as well as industries like agriculture, fisheries and biodiversity, compromising livelihoods which may lead to more social conflicts. Workability and livability will also be affected in South Asia like in Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan where extreme heat and humidity are observed.
Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam in Southeast Asia will have extreme increases in heat and humidity by 2050 and extreme precipitation events.
This year’s highest heat index of 50 degrees Celsius scorched Legazpi City, Albay on May 12, according to Pagasa. Cebu also had its highest heat index recorded on March 31 at 41 degrees Celsius.
With the onset of the rainy season, Pagasa suspended its daily issuance of head index information on June 2 and announced that its daily monitoring will resume on March 1, 2024, which coincides with the hot and dry months in many parts of the country.
La Viña said there is still time to do things properly to lessen the impact of climate change on destinations and tourism businesses. He enjoined all tourism stakeholders to look at their respective business operations and see which processes they can turn green and transition to cleaner energy.
“We need to reduce emissions,” he said. He also suggested embarking on nature-based solutions that emphasize biodiversity and food security when dealing with climate change.
La Viña also warned of overdevelopment as this could lead to the depletion of natural resources. Proper waste management could also help mitigate the impact of climate change. (KOC WITH CNU INTERN KATE ANGEL LEDUNAS)
Categories: Philippines News
MCIA to develop India, US markets
THE operator of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) is eyeing direct connectivity between Cebu and destinations like the United States and India.
Athanasios Titonis, Aboitiz InfraCapital (AIC) chief executive officer assigned to MCIA, on Thursday, July 20, 2023, named India as an upcoming market for MCIA, describing the most populous country with 1.42 billion in population as a market with “huge potential.”
Country mission
In fact, in August 2022, MCIA, GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corp. (GMCAC) in partnership with the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority, the Civil Aeronautics Board, and local carriers Cebu Pacific Air and Philippine Airlines went to India for a country mission.
MCIA, the second busiest airport in the country, is currently being jointly managed by AIC and GMCAC.
As of June 2023, MCIA recorded 3.757 million domestic passengers and 1.081 million foreign passengers.
India is the 12th source market for the Philippines. Beaches in Cebu are the top draw for Indian tourists.
Besides India, Titonis said they are also looking at developing the US market, following the entry of United Airlines, which is going to offer daily nonstop flights between Manila and San Francisco beginning in October this year.
The US is one of Cebu’s tourist source markets alongside South Korea, China and Japan.
Athanasios Titonis, Aboitiz InfraCapital (AIC) chief executive officer assigned to MCIA, on Thursday, July 20, 2023, named India as an upcoming market for MCIA, describing the most populous country with 1.42 billion in population as a market with “huge potential.”
Country mission
In fact, in August 2022, MCIA, GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corp. (GMCAC) in partnership with the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority, the Civil Aeronautics Board, and local carriers Cebu Pacific Air and Philippine Airlines went to India for a country mission.
MCIA, the second busiest airport in the country, is currently being jointly managed by AIC and GMCAC.
As of June 2023, MCIA recorded 3.757 million domestic passengers and 1.081 million foreign passengers.
India is the 12th source market for the Philippines. Beaches in Cebu are the top draw for Indian tourists.
Besides India, Titonis said they are also looking at developing the US market, following the entry of United Airlines, which is going to offer daily nonstop flights between Manila and San Francisco beginning in October this year.
The US is one of Cebu’s tourist source markets alongside South Korea, China and Japan.
Categories: Philippines News
Single-use plastics, dumpsites,poor waste handling cause ocean pollution, health risks
AN INTERNATIONAL organization dedicated to ocean preservation disagrees with a report that points to the Philippines as the source of one-third of the world's plastic waste that ends up in the oceans, but admits that the country has a solid waste management problem that contributes a sizable amount of pollutants to the waters—pollutants that kill marine life and also pose risks to human health.
The group also warned about the consequences of not acting, with the volume of solid waste to grow as the population rapidly increases by a projected 25 million people in a little over two decades.
Liza Osorio, acting vice president of Oceana Philippines, said the report published by the scientific online publication Our World in Data in May 2021 that the Philippines is responsible for one-third of the plastics that wind up in the ocean, is inaccurate and far from the data that most environmental groups follow.
Osorio, a lawyer, added that a separate study by Ocean Conservancy that also puts the Philippines and other Asian countries in a bad light as top waste contributors to the oceans was retracted on July 10, 2022, seven years after the publication of the report.
Overproduction
While she agreed on the concerning amount of plastic garbage around the world, Osorio said the research ignored the overproduction of plastic from Global North countries, which even the United States-based Ocean Conservancy now agrees with.
The Global North encompasses the rich and powerful regions such as North America, Europe and Australia.
However, Osorio said that on an individual level, the Philippines still needs to improve its waste management as she considers it concerning.
“We have poor waste management practices. Even though we throw it (waste) away and we segregate at our houses, it ends up in the dumpsites that are not managed properly and these are usually found in waterways and coastlines," Osorio told SunStar Cebu on June 6, 2023, as the Philippines celebrated Environment Month.
Osorio also said the country’s efforts to eliminate the use of single-use plastics, which contribute largely to the solid waste that the country produces, is not given much effort.
Open dumpsites
She said the major source of leaked garbage after collection is open dumpsites which are typically near waterways. When solid waste reaches the bodies of water, it is called marine debris.
Section 37 of Republic Act 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, prohibits the operation of dumpsites.
"No open dumps shall be established and operated, nor any practice or disposal of solid waste by any person," the law states.
However, there are still a number of dumpsites operating in the country. There are only a few sanitary landfills in existence, the only kind of disposal facility permitted by law.
Sanitary landfill
Sanitary landfills are a sort of disposal site where waste is kept away from the surrounding area. Typically, this is done by burying the trash in a sizable pit that is walled with clay or thick plastic. To stop waste-generated liquids from seeping into the ground, it frequently includes a network of pipelines.
According to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), 233 open dumpsites were still operating in the country as of January 2021.
The regions with the most number of open dumpsites are Western Visayas with 48 dumpsites, Mimaropa with 35, Central Visayas with 27, Bicol Region with 23, and Davao Region with 20.
Meanwhile, there are already 189 established sanitary landfills in the country.
Solid waste generation
Citing the audit report issued by the Commission on Audit last May 2 about the government’s solid waste management implementation, Osorio said the country generated 16.63 million metric tons of solid waste in 2020.
This was an 83 percent increase from the 9.07 million metric tons of solid waste generated in the country in 2000.
This figure is projected to increase steadily in the next two decades with the rapid increase in population, economic growth and industrialization, she said.
The population of the Philippines was 117,419,140 as of July 18, 2023, based on Worldometer elaboration of the latest United Nations data.
The population of the country is expected to reach 142 million by 2045, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
The PSA said this equates to 49 million people added to the country's population between 2010 and 2045, corresponding to an average annual growth rate of 1.21 percent.
In 2021, the average Filipino generated 0.4 kilos, or close to half a kilo, of solid waste every day, according to the DENR.
Marine debris
According to Osorio, around the world, there are around 14 million tons of plastic added to the plastic waste in the oceans every year, with 80 percent or 11.2 million tons being marine debris that goes deep down and the rest remaining on the surface water.
"Poor management practices in the country because this is really the root cause of plastic leakage in the country that ends up as marine plastic debris," she said.
Marine debris, often known as marine litter, is human-made trash that has been intentionally or unintentionally dumped into a sea or ocean. Floating maritime debris tends to build near the centers of gyres and along coastlines, where it frequently washes ashore and becomes known as beach litter or tidewrack.
She said the Philippines contributes around 0.25 up to 0.75 metric tons of marine plastics every year.
"If we think about it, we contribute barely one percent or less than one percent of the total marine plastics. That is the data we rely on," she said.
Injures and kills
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States, marine debris injures and kills marine life. It also interferes with navigation safety and poses a threat to human health.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), microplastics from marine debris have been found in tap water, salt and other drinks, which are present in all samples collected in the world's oceans.
It said the chemicals used in the production of plastic products are known to be carcinogenic and to affect the body's endocrine system, causing developmental, reproductive, neurological, and immune issues in both humans and wildlife.
IUCN also said marine debris is consumed by marine species. These contaminants enter their digestive systems and accumulate in the food web over time.
The transfer of pollutants between marine organisms and people via seafood consumption has been identified as a health risk.
Lack of management
"You tend to ask 'Why are there many plastics in the oceans? Do we necessarily throw our garbage there?' But no, it really is because our solid waste management, landfills and dumpsites are not managed properly, and we are not managing plastics well," she said.
Osorio said aside from managing solid waste, the country also needs to work on its extreme usage of single-use plastics.
According to her, a person uses a single plastic for an average of only 12 minutes and immediately throws it away.
"In fact, there is a study that says that we generated a total of 164 million plastic sachets, 45.2 million plastic labo or thin-film bags, and 48 million shopping bags daily," she said.
Single-use plastics
Osorio hopes the National Government will take steps to eliminate the usage of single-use plastics, such as by using alternative shopping bags.
Republic Act 11898, or the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Act of 2022, requires large-scale companies to establish a mechanism for the recovery of their plastic packaging.
Osorio believes that big companies have the burden to collect the plastics; however, she said "the law is not fully implemented yet by these billion-dollar companies, but on a staggered basis.”
She said the problem with the EPR Act is that this does not cover micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) but only the large companies.
"This is not the silver bullet. This is not the answer to our problems, but it can be part of the solution as well, if it is done and fully implemented properly and efficiently," she said.
She believes that the problem of plastic waste can be ended by stopping the use of single-use plastics, which can be started by banning the unnecessary single-use plastics, including drinking straws, coffee stirrers, plastic utensils, thin-film shopping bags, styrofoams, water bottles and plastic cups.
Not enough
Osorio lauded the initiatives of local government units (LGUs) to ban single-use plastics; however, she believes this should be implemented at the national level.
"The problem is not having a national policy, which is supposed to be done by the National Waste Commission, headed by the DENR, to set these national guidelines," she said.
"There are variations of these local ordinances, these local initiatives. They are not the same," she added.
Citing data from the DENR, she said only 315 LGUs in the country implement an initiative against the use of single-use plastic; however, it is not uniform.
"There are different forms of implementation. There are two days in a week, one day in a week," she said, adding that implementing it as a national policy will encourage more LGUs.
According to the PSA, there were 33 highly urbanized cities, 108 component cities, five independent component cities and 1,488 municipalities that comprised the LGUs in the country, as of 2020.
The group also warned about the consequences of not acting, with the volume of solid waste to grow as the population rapidly increases by a projected 25 million people in a little over two decades.
Liza Osorio, acting vice president of Oceana Philippines, said the report published by the scientific online publication Our World in Data in May 2021 that the Philippines is responsible for one-third of the plastics that wind up in the ocean, is inaccurate and far from the data that most environmental groups follow.
Osorio, a lawyer, added that a separate study by Ocean Conservancy that also puts the Philippines and other Asian countries in a bad light as top waste contributors to the oceans was retracted on July 10, 2022, seven years after the publication of the report.
Overproduction
While she agreed on the concerning amount of plastic garbage around the world, Osorio said the research ignored the overproduction of plastic from Global North countries, which even the United States-based Ocean Conservancy now agrees with.
The Global North encompasses the rich and powerful regions such as North America, Europe and Australia.
However, Osorio said that on an individual level, the Philippines still needs to improve its waste management as she considers it concerning.
“We have poor waste management practices. Even though we throw it (waste) away and we segregate at our houses, it ends up in the dumpsites that are not managed properly and these are usually found in waterways and coastlines," Osorio told SunStar Cebu on June 6, 2023, as the Philippines celebrated Environment Month.
Osorio also said the country’s efforts to eliminate the use of single-use plastics, which contribute largely to the solid waste that the country produces, is not given much effort.
Open dumpsites
She said the major source of leaked garbage after collection is open dumpsites which are typically near waterways. When solid waste reaches the bodies of water, it is called marine debris.
Section 37 of Republic Act 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, prohibits the operation of dumpsites.
"No open dumps shall be established and operated, nor any practice or disposal of solid waste by any person," the law states.
However, there are still a number of dumpsites operating in the country. There are only a few sanitary landfills in existence, the only kind of disposal facility permitted by law.
Sanitary landfill
Sanitary landfills are a sort of disposal site where waste is kept away from the surrounding area. Typically, this is done by burying the trash in a sizable pit that is walled with clay or thick plastic. To stop waste-generated liquids from seeping into the ground, it frequently includes a network of pipelines.
According to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), 233 open dumpsites were still operating in the country as of January 2021.
The regions with the most number of open dumpsites are Western Visayas with 48 dumpsites, Mimaropa with 35, Central Visayas with 27, Bicol Region with 23, and Davao Region with 20.
Meanwhile, there are already 189 established sanitary landfills in the country.
Solid waste generation
Citing the audit report issued by the Commission on Audit last May 2 about the government’s solid waste management implementation, Osorio said the country generated 16.63 million metric tons of solid waste in 2020.
This was an 83 percent increase from the 9.07 million metric tons of solid waste generated in the country in 2000.
This figure is projected to increase steadily in the next two decades with the rapid increase in population, economic growth and industrialization, she said.
The population of the Philippines was 117,419,140 as of July 18, 2023, based on Worldometer elaboration of the latest United Nations data.
The population of the country is expected to reach 142 million by 2045, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
The PSA said this equates to 49 million people added to the country's population between 2010 and 2045, corresponding to an average annual growth rate of 1.21 percent.
In 2021, the average Filipino generated 0.4 kilos, or close to half a kilo, of solid waste every day, according to the DENR.
Marine debris
According to Osorio, around the world, there are around 14 million tons of plastic added to the plastic waste in the oceans every year, with 80 percent or 11.2 million tons being marine debris that goes deep down and the rest remaining on the surface water.
"Poor management practices in the country because this is really the root cause of plastic leakage in the country that ends up as marine plastic debris," she said.
Marine debris, often known as marine litter, is human-made trash that has been intentionally or unintentionally dumped into a sea or ocean. Floating maritime debris tends to build near the centers of gyres and along coastlines, where it frequently washes ashore and becomes known as beach litter or tidewrack.
She said the Philippines contributes around 0.25 up to 0.75 metric tons of marine plastics every year.
"If we think about it, we contribute barely one percent or less than one percent of the total marine plastics. That is the data we rely on," she said.
Injures and kills
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States, marine debris injures and kills marine life. It also interferes with navigation safety and poses a threat to human health.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), microplastics from marine debris have been found in tap water, salt and other drinks, which are present in all samples collected in the world's oceans.
It said the chemicals used in the production of plastic products are known to be carcinogenic and to affect the body's endocrine system, causing developmental, reproductive, neurological, and immune issues in both humans and wildlife.
IUCN also said marine debris is consumed by marine species. These contaminants enter their digestive systems and accumulate in the food web over time.
The transfer of pollutants between marine organisms and people via seafood consumption has been identified as a health risk.
Lack of management
"You tend to ask 'Why are there many plastics in the oceans? Do we necessarily throw our garbage there?' But no, it really is because our solid waste management, landfills and dumpsites are not managed properly, and we are not managing plastics well," she said.
Osorio said aside from managing solid waste, the country also needs to work on its extreme usage of single-use plastics.
According to her, a person uses a single plastic for an average of only 12 minutes and immediately throws it away.
"In fact, there is a study that says that we generated a total of 164 million plastic sachets, 45.2 million plastic labo or thin-film bags, and 48 million shopping bags daily," she said.
Single-use plastics
Osorio hopes the National Government will take steps to eliminate the usage of single-use plastics, such as by using alternative shopping bags.
Republic Act 11898, or the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Act of 2022, requires large-scale companies to establish a mechanism for the recovery of their plastic packaging.
Osorio believes that big companies have the burden to collect the plastics; however, she said "the law is not fully implemented yet by these billion-dollar companies, but on a staggered basis.”
She said the problem with the EPR Act is that this does not cover micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) but only the large companies.
"This is not the silver bullet. This is not the answer to our problems, but it can be part of the solution as well, if it is done and fully implemented properly and efficiently," she said.
She believes that the problem of plastic waste can be ended by stopping the use of single-use plastics, which can be started by banning the unnecessary single-use plastics, including drinking straws, coffee stirrers, plastic utensils, thin-film shopping bags, styrofoams, water bottles and plastic cups.
Not enough
Osorio lauded the initiatives of local government units (LGUs) to ban single-use plastics; however, she believes this should be implemented at the national level.
"The problem is not having a national policy, which is supposed to be done by the National Waste Commission, headed by the DENR, to set these national guidelines," she said.
"There are variations of these local ordinances, these local initiatives. They are not the same," she added.
Citing data from the DENR, she said only 315 LGUs in the country implement an initiative against the use of single-use plastic; however, it is not uniform.
"There are different forms of implementation. There are two days in a week, one day in a week," she said, adding that implementing it as a national policy will encourage more LGUs.
According to the PSA, there were 33 highly urbanized cities, 108 component cities, five independent component cities and 1,488 municipalities that comprised the LGUs in the country, as of 2020.
Categories: Philippines News
Dann Diez and SEED4Com: Empowering communities for a greener future
A dedicated advocate for environmental sustainability, Dann Diez is making a profound impact in Cebu through his organization, Sustainable Energy and Enterprise Development for Communities (SEED4Com).
Diez has been at the forefront of eco-driven initiatives, championing renewable energy, education, the environment, and responsible entrepreneurship.
With the upcoming ninth year of National Cleanup Day, Diez reflects on the milestones, challenges, and successes that have shaped their journey towards a greener and more sustainable future.
Empowering last-mile communities
SEED4Com, founded in 2014, focuses on improving human conditions, empowering poverty-stricken areas, and promoting rural community development in the Philippines.
By addressing grassroots gaps and providing clean energy solutions, environmental protection, education, and entrepreneurship opportunities, SEED4Com uplifts last-mile communities, ensuring a more sustainable and prosperous future.
Catalyzing environmental action
One of SEED4Com’s flagship initiatives, National Cleanup Day, has become a significant environmental movement in the Philippines.
Since its inception in 2015, the initiative has mobilized nationwide participation, bringing together local governments, academic institutions, environmental groups, and civil society organizations.
National Cleanup Day goes beyond cleanups, incorporating waste audits, brand audits, and data collection to influence policymaking and legislation.
Milestones and achievements
Since its inception, National Cleanup Day has achieved significant milestones and received widespread recognition.
SEED4Com’s efforts were endorsed by the President, Vice President, Speaker of the House, and Senators of the Philippines.
The movement has inspired other countries to replicate the initiative, with the cleanup day being celebrated every 3rd Saturday of September.
Notably, SEED4Com played a pivotal role in institutionalizing citywide quarterly cleanups in Cebu City through their advocacy and collaboration with local governments. Furthermore, SEED4Com’s focus on empowering youth has led to the creation of eco-leaders, who have gone on to represent their communities at national and international levels.
Partnerships
SEED4Com’s partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Environmental Management Bureau (DENR EMB) has been instrumental in the success of National Cleanup Day.
The collaboration has ensured the formulation of guidelines, continuous improvement of the initiative, and alignment with international events.
By leveraging corporate social responsibility programs, SEED4Com engages local governments, academic institutions, companies, and industries in supporting the cleanup efforts.
Challenges
Organizing a large-scale volunteer movement poses challenges, such as planning, funding, and data management.
SEED4Com addresses these challenges by conducting training and workshops to equip eco-leaders for coordination.
Funding is sought through partnerships with companies, and continuous improvement is sought for data collection and reporting to facilitate better analysis and policy formulation.
Communities
SEED4Com engages and motivates volunteers through training, mentorship, and effective communication channels.
Social media campaigns, workshops, and environmental outreach programs play a crucial role in creating awareness and inspiring active involvement.
Sustainability
The National Cleanup Day has led to a positive shift in behavior among young people, with a growing adoption of reusable water bottles, eco-bags, and minimalist or zero-waste lifestyles.
The initiative has inspired local governments to implement ordinances on single-use plastics and establish barangay materials recovery facilities.
Although comprehensive statistics are challenging to gather, the increasing number of cleanups and inquiries from companies for environmental outreach showcase the initiative’s impact.
Through the remarkable efforts of Dann Diez and SEED4Com, communities in the Philippines are being empowered to embrace environmental sustainability.
The National Cleanup Day, SEED4Com’s flagship initiative, has become a catalyst for change, inspiring widespread participation, and positive environmental outcomes.
As they continue their journey, Diez and SEED4Com remain dedicated to building a greener future and nurturing a sense of responsibility towards the planet.
Diez has been at the forefront of eco-driven initiatives, championing renewable energy, education, the environment, and responsible entrepreneurship.
With the upcoming ninth year of National Cleanup Day, Diez reflects on the milestones, challenges, and successes that have shaped their journey towards a greener and more sustainable future.
Empowering last-mile communities
SEED4Com, founded in 2014, focuses on improving human conditions, empowering poverty-stricken areas, and promoting rural community development in the Philippines.
By addressing grassroots gaps and providing clean energy solutions, environmental protection, education, and entrepreneurship opportunities, SEED4Com uplifts last-mile communities, ensuring a more sustainable and prosperous future.
Catalyzing environmental action
One of SEED4Com’s flagship initiatives, National Cleanup Day, has become a significant environmental movement in the Philippines.
Since its inception in 2015, the initiative has mobilized nationwide participation, bringing together local governments, academic institutions, environmental groups, and civil society organizations.
National Cleanup Day goes beyond cleanups, incorporating waste audits, brand audits, and data collection to influence policymaking and legislation.
Milestones and achievements
Since its inception, National Cleanup Day has achieved significant milestones and received widespread recognition.
SEED4Com’s efforts were endorsed by the President, Vice President, Speaker of the House, and Senators of the Philippines.
The movement has inspired other countries to replicate the initiative, with the cleanup day being celebrated every 3rd Saturday of September.
Notably, SEED4Com played a pivotal role in institutionalizing citywide quarterly cleanups in Cebu City through their advocacy and collaboration with local governments. Furthermore, SEED4Com’s focus on empowering youth has led to the creation of eco-leaders, who have gone on to represent their communities at national and international levels.
Partnerships
SEED4Com’s partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Environmental Management Bureau (DENR EMB) has been instrumental in the success of National Cleanup Day.
The collaboration has ensured the formulation of guidelines, continuous improvement of the initiative, and alignment with international events.
By leveraging corporate social responsibility programs, SEED4Com engages local governments, academic institutions, companies, and industries in supporting the cleanup efforts.
Challenges
Organizing a large-scale volunteer movement poses challenges, such as planning, funding, and data management.
SEED4Com addresses these challenges by conducting training and workshops to equip eco-leaders for coordination.
Funding is sought through partnerships with companies, and continuous improvement is sought for data collection and reporting to facilitate better analysis and policy formulation.
Communities
SEED4Com engages and motivates volunteers through training, mentorship, and effective communication channels.
Social media campaigns, workshops, and environmental outreach programs play a crucial role in creating awareness and inspiring active involvement.
Sustainability
The National Cleanup Day has led to a positive shift in behavior among young people, with a growing adoption of reusable water bottles, eco-bags, and minimalist or zero-waste lifestyles.
The initiative has inspired local governments to implement ordinances on single-use plastics and establish barangay materials recovery facilities.
Although comprehensive statistics are challenging to gather, the increasing number of cleanups and inquiries from companies for environmental outreach showcase the initiative’s impact.
Through the remarkable efforts of Dann Diez and SEED4Com, communities in the Philippines are being empowered to embrace environmental sustainability.
The National Cleanup Day, SEED4Com’s flagship initiative, has become a catalyst for change, inspiring widespread participation, and positive environmental outcomes.
As they continue their journey, Diez and SEED4Com remain dedicated to building a greener future and nurturing a sense of responsibility towards the planet.
Categories: Philippines News
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