Philippines News

President Marcos leaves today for Malaysia for a three-day state visit upon the invitation of Malaysian King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah.

Oil companies are implementing another round of price hikes for gasoline, diesel and kerosene today.

Local air carriers welcomed the lifting of the mask mandate and other COVID-19 protocols after President Marcos ended the state of public health emergency on July 21.

Rallies by militant groups and supporters of President Marcos on the day of his second State of the Nation Address yesterday ended relatively peaceful, according to the Philippine National Police.

Vice President Sara Duterte has congratulated President Marcos for what she described as “inspiring” leadership as reflected in his second State of the Nation Address yesterday.

Still facing criticism over the controversial Maharlika Investment Fund, President Marcos reiterated yesterday that the country’s first sovereign wealth fund would be managed by professionals and insulated from politics.

The Philippines is pushing for stronger language in the Pandemic Treaty being negotiated to ensure developing countries retain the required number of health workers as the World Health Organization projects a global shortfall of up to 18 million health workers by 2030 and developed countries need to address the gap.

More than a political event, the State of the Nation Address is theater in the Philippines, where lawmakers display their fashion choices and attempt to make political statements while doing so.

The House of Representatives reopened yesterday its second regular session of the 19th Congress, with Speaker Martin Romualdez leading the unveiling of the historic “Digital Wall” that contains important details about the chamber.

As Congress began its second regular session yesterday, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri vowed to uphold the independence and transparency of the chamber, saying every bill would undergo quality control.

In January, Italy's right-wing government ordered state agencies to cease registration of children born to same-sex couples. Now they've taken it a step further: a state prosecutor in northern Italy has

Russia's lower house of parliament, the State Duma, adopted in final reading a law providing immunity for crimes committed "in the interests of the Russian state." The apparent objective behind the law, passed last Thursday, is to shield Russian military personnel, civilian offic

During his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. praised the significant improvement in the employment rate in the Philippines this year from the low numbers during the height of the pandemic.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was noticeably quiet regarding issues of human rights in his 2023 State of the Nation Address (SONA), leading groups to expect no significant changes under his administration.

THE University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Adelante beat the Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Wildcats 2-1 in the semi-finals of the CESAFI Esports League (CEL) Pre-Season Mobile Legends: Bang Bang tournament on July 22, 2023.

In Game 1 of the Best-of-3 series, the Wildcats gained the upper hand early in the match by securing first blood. Adelante overturned the situation by taking a 4-1 kill score lead. However, the Wildcats regained momentum, and tied the score (5-5). CIT-U used its momentum as leverage to win Game 1, with a final kill score of 17-12.

In Game 2, it was Reneir Frayles “Reigneir” Pañares who marked the first kill, giving an early advantage to USJ-R’s side. 10 minutes into the game, the Wildcats were leading in kills (10-13), USJ-R spun fate to their favor and ended the match with a victory despite CIT-U having a 17-12 kill score.

With the series tied, CIT-U’s gold laner, Dale, pulled off a surprise hero pick in game 3; picking Harith in the gold lane. Joseph “Wanji” Burgos secured the first blood for USJ-R, and the team managed to take two succeeding turtles—putting the Wildcats at a disadvantage. The Wildcats lost grasp of the game and eventually succumbed to a 24-12 loss.

USJ-R’s Jericho “Kazuki” Chua was hailed as the Most Valuable Player of the series.

Domination

The University of Cebu Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue (UCLM) Webmasters emerged victorious against the University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors in an epic clash held on the same day.

Forging ahead to Game 2 of the match, USC’s Zeke Swayze Himaya drew first blood, giving USC an early advantage. The match remained neck and neck with a kill score of 2-1 in favor of USC during the first five minutes. However, UCLM turned the tide at the 7:50-minute mark, securing a 3-2 kill score lead over USC.

As the game progressed, UCLM dominated the battlefield, widening the gap to an impressive 8-2 kill score by the 10-minute mark. Game 2 concluded with the victory from UCLM with a staggering 15-4 score, effectively tying the series, 1-1.

In the decisive Game 3 of the match, UCLM demonstrated a dominant start with Aming drawing first blood which swiftly secured a commanding 4-0 lead just three minutes into the game. Despite USC’s efforts to regain momentum around the 20-minute mark, UCLM managed to maintain their advantage, holding a substantial 28-10 lead.

In the final moments, UCLM showcased their strength with a remarkable rally against USC, culminating in a resounding 32-10 kill score, solidifying their victory in Game 3 and ultimately claiming the match, 2-1.

Adelante will battle the Webmasters for the “Mobile Legends” CEL Pre-Season Championships on July 29, 2023.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. promised in his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) to retrofit schools and facilities that can withstand strong typhoons entering the country and other climate phenomena as part of his broader agenda to build more infrastructure.

The 1st Inocentes Cabaron Summer Academic and Athletic Enhancement Program officially kicked off its sports program with a string of seminars last week in the small southern town of Moalboal, Cebu.

Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) athletic director Jon Inot and Department of Education Cebu City sports coordinator Francis Ramirez spearheaded the two-day seminar, which was well received with around 70 teachers from different public and private schools in Moalboal.

Inot taught the teachers to design their own sports programs, identify the challenges and find the solutions.

“The seminar was more of an interactive discussion; a guide for the teachers on how to plan, what to do and how to do it. There is no perfect formula on coaching and winning, but what I think is the most important thing is the mindset and the attitude of how one coaches. The purpose and the commitment to coaching is what I think is the X factor that makes one a good or even, better coach,” said Inot.

Meanwhile, Ramirez gave some vital information on the second day of the seminar. He discussed the changes of Palarong Pambansa structure and also gave them advice on which sport can give them more individual medals.

On the other hand, University of Cebu (UC) and SHS-AdC coach Sai Bacalso and Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas’ Reynaldo Cañete also had seminars with local basketball coaches and referees.

Bacalso updated the barangay-based coaches with the new trend in basketball, a zone-free style of play in his two-day seminar.

Cañete, in the meantime, imparted his knowledge on the Moalboal-based referees, which will be officiating the inter-barangay league.

“I am very thankful to Mr. Bacalso and Canete for sharing their knowledge with our officials and I am confident that the two seminars will have a major impact in our local basketball community,” said Mayor Cabaron.

The 1st Inocentes Cabaron Summer Academic and Athletic Enhancement program is a summer sports and academic program that also includes sports like chess, arnis, volleyball, badminton, tennis, table tennis, sepak takraw and dancesports. (EKA)

Brian Harman won the British Open last weekend with a virtuoso putting performance for the ages. His rock solid confidence drew praises from his chief rivals, including Padraig Harrington.

“He’s a very tough, experienced character,” said Harrington, the two-time Open champion, of Harman. “He is not one to back out when he is ahead.”

“He can’t be chased with his lead of six strokes,” said John Rahm, the 2023 Masters champion. “He won’t slow down.”

And yet, before Sunday’s victory, Harman was practically a nobody. Although he’s had Top 10 finishes in 50 tournaments since he turned pro in 2009, he only has two wins before the Open—the 2014 John Deere Classic and the 2017 Wells Fargo.

Then Harman made a big bang of sorts when he finished second four shots behind multi-titled Bruce Keopka in the 2017 US Open in Erin Hills, Wisconsin, jumping from No. 26 to No. 10 in the world rankings.

But Harman would struggle again.

He missed the cut this year in the Masters and the PGA, halting the slump somewhat by finishing a modest tie for 43rd in the 2023 US Open.

Still, it delights him that his perseverance had given him $29 million in total earnings. And his purse from his six-shot win on Sunday was a whopping $3 million.

“I’ve always had a self-belief that I could do something like this,” said Harman, whose 13-under total dusted off four pursuers (Straka, Day, Kim and Rahm) who all eventually tied for second at 7-under at Royal Liverpool in Hoylake, England.

Harman, a clean-shaven, 5-foot-7 American, from Savannah, Georgia, stunned the field with birdies from miles away to keep his hottest chasers at bay, bundling his birdies in back-to-back fashion: 14 feet on 6 and 24 feet on 7.

He sank a scorching, downhill birdie from 40 feet on 15 after a blistering birdie on 14 for a massive six-shot margin that all but wrapped up the most revered major with three holes left to play.

“I’m 36 years old,” said Harman, who closed out with a steady one-under 70 and was never seriously threatened to become only the third lefty to win a Slam after Phil Mickelson and Mike Weir.

“The game is getting younger. These guys can hit it a mile. They are all ready to win.” He was ready to win, too—aided by a big heart that never skipped a beat all four days.

Brian Harman won the British Open last weekend with a virtuoso putting performance for the ages. His rock solid confidence drew praises from his chief rivals, including Padraig Harrington.

“He’s a very tough, experienced character,” said Harrington, the two-time Open champion, of Harman. “He is not one to back out when he is ahead.”

“He can’t be chased with his lead of six strokes,” said John Rahm, the 2023 Masters champion. “He won’t slow down.”

And yet, before Sunday’s victory, Harman was practically a nobody. Although he’s had Top 10 finishes in 50 tournaments since he turned pro in 2009, he only has two wins before the Open—the 2014 John Deere Classic and the 2017 Wells Fargo.

Then Harman made a big bang of sorts when he finished second four shots behind multi-titled Bruce Keopka in the 2017 US Open in Erin Hills, Wisconsin, jumping from No. 26 to No. 10 in the world rankings.

But Harman would struggle again.

He missed the cut this year in the Masters and the PGA, halting the slump somewhat by finishing a modest tie for 43rd in the 2023 US Open.

Still, it delights him that his perseverance had given him $29 million in total earnings. And his purse from his six-shot win on Sunday was a whopping $3 million.

“I’ve always had a self-belief that I could do something like this,” said Harman, whose 13-under total dusted off four pursuers (Straka, Day, Kim and Rahm) who all eventually tied for second at 7-under at Royal Liverpool in Hoylake, England.

Harman, a clean-shaven, 5-foot-7 American, from Savannah, Georgia, stunned the field with birdies from miles away to keep his hottest chasers at bay, bundling his birdies in back-to-back fashion: 14 feet on 6 and 24 feet on 7.

He sank a scorching, downhill birdie from 40 feet on 15 after a blistering birdie on 14 for a massive six-shot margin that all but wrapped up the most revered major with three holes left to play.

“I’m 36 years old,” said Harman, who closed out with a steady one-under 70 and was never seriously threatened to become only the third lefty to win a Slam after Phil Mickelson and Mike Weir.

“The game is getting younger. These guys can hit it a mile. They are all ready to win.” He was ready to win, too—aided by a big heart that never skipped a beat all four days.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in his second State of the Nation Address on Monday expressed optimism over the “great rebound” of the Philippines’ tourism sector.