"The medical community appeals for a return to enhanced community quarantine in Mega Manila from August 1 to 15 to recalibrate strategies against COVID-19."
The Philippines has overtaken China in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases, data from the Department of Health and World Health Organization showed yesterday.?
Militant lawmakers yesterday pushed for a congressional investigation on the Interim Reimbursement Mechanism of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. , which was identified as the source of corruption in the agency.
President Duterte unveiled yesterday a P20-billion plan to provide free vaccines for at least 20 million poor Filipinos who would be prioritized once the vaccine becomes available, he hopes by yearend, even as he chided critics who claim that his administration has no credible roadmap to address the coronavirus pandemic.
After strengthening their healthcare capacity and strictly enforcing health standards and quarantine rules, the cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu Lapu – all in Cebu province – will be under general community quarantine beginning today, from the stricter modified enhanced community quarantine in the last two weeks.
The Philippine economy is beginning to recover, with prices of goods “relatively low” and the peso emerging as Asia’s strongest, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said yesterday.
The De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde will hold a five-day training program next week to prepare college educators to adjust to an online learning environment for the upcoming school year.
The government has ordered private and public hospitals to increase the number of beds allocated for coronavirus patients as the number of cases continued to increase in recent weeks, reaching more than 85,000 by the end of July.
More than half of working Filipinos feel “comfortable” going to work in case the community quarantine ends, according to a recent mobile phone survey by the Social Weather Stations.
The country’s recovery policy requires a patient to be “clinically recovered”—or resolving symptoms or no longer experiencing coronavirus-related symptoms—and to complete a14-day quarantine. A physician’s assessment is also needed for a person to be tagged as recovered after the isolation period.
As the government relentlessly pushes for the reopening of the economy amid the COVID-19 pandemic, a national survey has found that only a little over half of working Filipinos would be comfortable returning to work even if lockdown measures were to be lifted.
Duterte, who is pinning hopes on coronavirus vaccines developed by Chinese pharmaceutical firms, asked the public for patients, saying he hopes the situation would return to normal by December.
"We can definitely start on August 24 with our blended learning approach. For months now, we have been conducting dry runs and simulations in all districts using different approaches," Briones said in Filipino.
Metro Manila, the epicenter of the nation’s coronavirus outbreak, will remain under general community quarantine despite spike in infections that is straining the metropolis’ health system.
Metro Manila, the epicenter of the nation’s coronavirus outbreak, will remain under general community quarantine despite spike in infections that is straining the metropolis’ health system.
Consumers have until the end of September to settle their water bills, which means that no disconnection of services should happen in the next two months.
(Updated 7:39 p.m.) The coronavirus pandemic has killed more than 667,000 people worldwide since it emerged in China late last year, with nearly 17.02 million infected.
“More than half of the subregion’s countries are vulnerable because of weak health systems, including Myanmar, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, the Philippines and Timor Leste,” the UN policy brief said.
Police Gen. Archie Gamboa, the chief of the Philippine National Police, added that Ecleo’s arrest should send the chilling message to all other fugitives: “You can run but you cannot hide from the PNP.”
“The designation of QRS, or the PNP’s COVID Focal Persons, in every barangay in the country will help strengthen our fight to prevent the spread and further transmission of the coronavirus by making sure that the minimum health standard protocols would be properly and strictly enforced down to the barangay level,” said PLt. Gen. Elezar.
The National Library of the Philippines last week pushed for the creation of public libraries in every local government unit before the House Committee on Basic Education and Culture.
A Baguio court ordered the transfer of three Philippine Military Academy cadets who are facing criminal charges over the fatal hazing of Cadet 4th Class Darwin Dormitorio in 2019 to its city jail.
"Unfortunate" incidents like the controversial birthday party of National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas should not be highlighted that much while authorities are imposing pandemic lockdowns, an official said Thursday.
The Department of Foreign Affairs on Thursday reopened its main office along Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City after conducting an assessment of its public health and safety measures.
According to Magalong, urban centers such as Metro Manila should be tracing an average of 30 to 37 close contacts per patient but LGUs are currently tracing an average of eight.
"PNR’s categorical answer to the PCUP letter openly published to the public is “NOTED”. We have taken note that they have made their position known to PNR," he said.
“Every day there are reports of 20 dying today, the next day 30, 40... We need to talk about how we can live and by discussing death penalty, do we need to talk about death again?”
“Urban poor communities are in the epicenter of the crisis. The government must have clear policies, programs and projects to help the poorest of the poor. Nothing of these did we hear from the SONA of the president.”
Media outfits under AlterMidya trooped to the Commission on Human Rights on Thursday to file complaints alleging rights violation perpetrated by state forces.
In a letter addressed to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the Democratic senators also sought to know how the government of President Donald Trump will counter these “serious, ongoing abuses.”
The COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on the livelihoods of people rendered many vulnerable Filipinos more vulnerable to exploitation, the Commission on Human Rights said on the observance of World Day against Trafficking in Persons.
Earlier this week, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. tweeted that "Sabah is not in Malaysia" when the US Embassy posted about donations for Filipino repatriates coming from "Sabah, Malaysia."
MANILA, Philippines — Manila Water Co. Inc. and Maynilad Water Services Inc. have to explain within the week the high water bills that over 400 customers have been complaining about since June, the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage Services – Regulatory Office (MWSS-RO) said in a statement issued on Wednesday.
The MWSS-RO issued a Notice to Explain to the two water concessionaires over “the alarming number of complaints escalated to the agency by their customers,” MWSS Chief Regulator Patrick Ty said.
According to Ty, the complaints centered on a surge in both companies’ pricing of water services — which should have not happened as MWSS-RO supposedly installed measures to avoid “bill shock” after billings for the months of March and April were foregone temporarily due to the COVID-19 lockdown imposed on Metro Manila.
The lockdown prompted utility firms to refrain from dispatching personnel to read consumption meters. Instead, the firm resorted estimates of the average consumption of each customer.
“As evidenced by the surge of billing complaints monitored and investigated by the agency, both Concessionaires have been ordered to explain their noncompliance,” Ty said.
Last May, the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) found itself in hot water as consumers posted on social media photos of absurdly high electric bills — leading a group to question whether the company was taking advantage of the quarantine.
One source told INQUIRER.net that her house in Quezon City was billed for over P1,000 even if he had been staying at his mother’s place during the lockdown.
Meralco refuted some of the social media posts, saying that the photos had been altered. But it vowed to check meters properly once they could resume operations.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro "Teddy Boy" Locsin Jr. committed another diplomatic faux pas on Twitter, inciting a foreign ministry to summon the Philippines' representative.
Citing the flood of volunteers her office received, the vice president stressed: “Malinaw sa akin, hindi pasaway ang Pilipino, kundi laging handing tumulong sa kapwa."
There will be no declaration of victory for Malacañang this time as it admitted that the Philippines won't beat a University of the Philippines prediction that it would have 85,000 coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases by the end of the month.
President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to announce on Thursday the updated quarantine classifications of areas, a day after the number of confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases breached 85,000 as predicted by experts.
The Supreme Court ordered Philippine courts to temporarily suspend transfer of convicts to Bureau of Corrections facilities, from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.
“It seems that ABS-CBN has a poor appreciation of meekness as a virtue and now it is even offering or agreeing in any case to allow the government to run its facilities for education,” Santos said.
Beijing gave its assurance after President Rodrigo Duterte mentioned in his fifth State of the Nation Address that he “made a plea” to Chinese President Xi Jinping to prioritize the Philippines when providing a COVID-19 vaccine.
Known internet personalities and influencers are taking their opposition to the anti-terrorism law outside their social media circles all the way to the highest court of the land.
"Pinatitingkad ng krisis ang potensyal ng social media at ng influencer culture para maging makatao at makatotohanan, kahit pa litaw pa rin ang katotothanan gaya ng ibang anyong media, may digmaan at agawan para sa pagpapahayag ng pinakatunay na bersyon ng daigdig.”
"Generally, there were a lot of them because they were going around and inspecting quarantine areas...If we look nationwide, there are so many lands owned by the Philippine National Police where there are squatters [and] we know that a video would speak a thousand words that's why we will investigate on what happened during the confrontation," Gamboa said.
The COVID-19 task force spokesman was unwilling to divulge if, or how, lockdown restrictions might be changed come August, instead he said "we have to rely less on community quarantine classifications."
"In line with the 2016 decision of the Arbitral Tribunal, they affirmed that Beijing's maritime claims are not valid under international law," the joint statement read.
“Senior citizens tend to have higher prevalence of various medical diseases and comorbidities. Moreover, they are less economically active compared to younger age groups. Thus, this projected increase in the number of senior citizens entails greater support needed in terms of healthcare and income security for the elderly,” PIDS said.
"In line with the 2016 decision of the Arbitral Tribunal, they affirmed that Beijing's maritime claims are not valid under international law," the joint statement read.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros filed a resolution seeking "a special audit on all government spending related the COVID-19 response," which was also signed by Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto, Senate Finance Committee Chair Sonny Angara, Sen. Panfilo Lacson, and minority Senators Franklin Drilon, Francis Pangilinan, and Leila de Lima.
President Duterte wants new water concession agreements, presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said yesterday, after the President threatened to expropriate the water concessionaires.
Phillippine Health Insurance Corp. president Ricardo Morales has defended the adoption of the Interim Reimbursement Mechanism, which is said to be one of the sources of corruption in the embattled agency.
The country’s telecommunications companies should take President Durterte’s threat of “expropriation” seriously and “shape up,” Senate President Vicente Sotto III said yesterday.
Malacañang yesterday disputed claims that President Duterte had failed to discuss a concrete pandemic recovery plan in his fifth State of the Nation Address, saying those who hold such a view may be “deaf.”
Lawmakers yesterday welcomed the possible partnership of the government and ABS-CBN for the broadcast of educational materials in the implementation of the distant learning program for the upcoming school year amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The spokesman for Vice President Leni Robredo has expressed dissatisfaction over the fifth State of the Nation Address of President Duterte on Monday, saying it seemed to have been written prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"It may also be inquired that if ABS-CBN's title was indeed for 'provisional reconstitution,' it should explain why said administrative remedy was not even annotated in said owner's duplicate title," he said.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that hospital bed occupancy for COVID-19 was already at 52.3% while occupancy for non-coronavirus beds was at 50%
“The police commanders were already instructed to coordinate with the City and Municipal Local Government Operations Officers in order to start the coordination between the PNP and the Punong Barangays for interoperability in the enforcement of quarantine rules,” said Eleazar.
Former adviser to the COVID-19 task force Tony Leachon on Tuesday said he expected more from President Rodrigo Duterte's penultimate State of the Nation Address Address.
Malacañang Tuesday lashed back at critics of the government's pandemic response as it maintained that the number of infections in the country is not yet alarming.
Thousands of stranded Filipinos who sought the government’s “Hatid Tulong” program flocked to the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex over the weekend, raising concerns on the failure to impose physical distancing at the stadium.
A group of students and youth leaders from Cebu on Tuesday assailed the constitutionality of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 before the Supreme Court, the 20th legal challenge the contentious law is facing.
PDEA Director General Wilkins Villanueva said the absence of death penalty enabled drug peddlers to continue their illegal activities even in detention.
Also missing from his annual speech were clear plans to protecting the environment, save for saying the rehabilitation of Boracay showcased his administration’s “resolve to safeguard the environment.”
After testing positive for COVID-19 on Monday, Senate Majority Leader Miguel Zubiri took a confirmatory test and on Tuesday announced that he was cleared of the disease.
Members of the opposition slammed yesterday President Duterte’s call to revive the death penalty and his statement that he was “inutile” and “cannot do anything” in the face of China’s aggression in the South China Sea, parts of which the Philippines also claims.
Self-confessed K-pop fan Liza Soberano recreated the look of Blackpink’s Jennie Kim for her latest vlog episode.
The actress showed her attempt — including her struggles — in a video released yesterday, July 25 on her YouTube channel.
Among Jennie’s looks in the music video, Soberano chose to recreate the one in the teaser poster, where Jennie had the front of her hair in blonde streaks while the rest of it was black and tied up. The makeup stood out because of the red eyeshadow that faded into her cheeks.
As Soberano did her makeup on her own, she discussed too how she got into K-pop, revealing that she first got into it when she was in sixth grade until first year high school. Some of the groups she liked were 2NE1, Super Junior and Girls Generation.
She also revealed that she stopped listening to K-pop when she moved from Pangasinan to Manila because she got busy with school and acting. Then she learned of Blackpink in 2018, thanks to a cousin, and she went into a “black hole” of K-pop.
Soberano gave tips to achieve the look, like using a lighter foundation since Kim had fairer skin, and giving a more natural look to her brows the way Kim does hers.
Image: screengrab via YouTube/Liza Soberano
She said that to get the red under the eyes, makeup artist Mickey See advised her to use lipstick instead of eyeshadow. After selecting the shade she felt matched Kim’s look, she dabbed it under eyes and spread the lipstick with a brush.
As for the hair, Soberano put on a wig with the help of Andie, the sister of her boyfriend Enrique Gil. She capped off the video with a photoshoot and channeled Kim’s fierceness.
The result: a look that any Blink would be proud to achieve. JB
Festival-goers at the Glastonbury Festival of Music and Performing Arts in Somerset, South West England, on June 28, 2019. Image: AFP/Oli Scarff via AFP Relaxnews
While the coronavirus pandemic has put the live music industry on hold, music festivals are filling the void left by the cancellation of their 2020 editions with a series of art exhibitions.
Although the 50th-anniversary edition of the Isle of Wight festival did not take place as scheduled in June, Masterpiece Art will pay tribute to the legendary British festival in the upcoming exhibition “Wight Spirit, 1968-70”.
The presentation, on view from July 27 through Sept. 5 at the London gallery, will display sculptures, films and photographs of popular icons connected to the festival’s decades-long legacy.
Among them are a selection of behind-the-scenes images by late British photographer and former BBC cameraman Charles Everest, some of which have been seen in public before.
Everest captured now-iconic musical performances by Jimi Hendrix, Miles Davis, Joni Mitchell and Jim Morrison during the third edition of Isle of Wight, which attracted an estimated 600,000 people.
British sculptor and guest curator Guy Portelli will also display his latest work “Wight Spirit”, which features the handprints of musicians who performed at the music festival from 1968 to 1970.
“The Isle of Wight Festival is Europe’s Woodstock. You could argue it has more significance, and yet it isn’t venerated in the same way,” Portelli said in a statement, adding that he hopes that the exhibition will “help redress that.”
Innovate to survive
Meanwhile, the V&A museum celebrated the heritage of Glastonbury with a seven-day online celebration, which coincided with the June weekend the festival was due to celebrate its 50th anniversary.
Nostalgic festival-goers had the opportunity to discover a collection of posters, programs, interviews, photographs, backstage passes, as well as a seven-minute soundscape created by sound designer Gareth Fry to recreate “the side of Glastonbury enjoyed by its guests but not covered by TV channels.”
At the time, the London institution also issued a callout to members of the public to provide their Glastonbury-related memories, which will feed into a bigger V&A project mapping the festival’s history.
These initiatives arrive at a time when the detrimental effects of the global coronavirus pandemic on the music industry are loudly heard.
Industry experts and analysts have projected that the live concert business could stand to lose billions in reaction to coronavirus-induced lockdowns.
Glastonbury organizers Michael and Emily Eavis recently told The Guardian that the fate of the British music festival was seriously compromised if its 2021 edition was also canceled due to coronavirus.
“We have to run next year, otherwise we would seriously go bankrupt … It has to happen for us, we have to carry on. Otherwise, it will be curtains. I don’t think we could wait another year,” Michael Eavis told the publication. RGA
Billie Eilish with her awards during the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards on Jan. 26, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. Image: AFP/Getty Images for the Recording Academy/Alberto E. Rodriguez
Grammy Award-winning artist Billie Eilish revealed that she will be dropping a fresh track titled “my future” this Thursday, July 30.
The 18-year-old singer made the announcement on her Instagram page yesterday, July 25, while posting a photo of herself wearing a black face mask, gray hoodie and sweatpants.
The song follows her latest release “No Time to Die” last February, which serves as the theme song for the upcoming James Bond film of the same name.
Aside from being the newest voice behind a James Bond theme, the young artist made history at the Grammy Awards last January as well. Eilish became the youngest singer to win the awards for best record, best new artist, best song and album of the year. She is also the first person to sweep all four accolades in one go since Christopher Cross did the feat back in 1981.
Meanwhile, Eilish released a short film titled “NOT MY RESPONSIBILITY” last May. The production shows the singer reciting a monologue while she strips from a black hoodie down to her bra before slowly submerging herself in water. She also headed the project to speak out against body shaming.
Along with Eilish, other artists such as Taylor Swift have also been working on new music amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Swift surprised her fans by dropping a whole new album titled “folklore” last Friday, July 24. JB
Alice Dixson finally broke her silence on an urban legend that involves her, a mall and a half-snake, that has been in the rumor mill for decades.
The actress aired her side in a vlog on YouTube yesterday, July 25, where she stressed, “Nothing really happened.”
According to the myth, a “taong ahas” (snake man) lives in Robinsons Galleria and that he is the twin of Gokongwei scion Robina. Dixson was allegedly in a fitting room of Robinsons Galleria when the floor opened up and she fell into a trap with the snake creature.
The story has since had several mutations, but according to Dixson, “Nothing really happened in the way the urban legend or the myth dictates.”
“Kunwari, hindi naman ako nahulog sa trap door. Hindi naman ako tumakbo sa corridor
palabas papuntang hotel.”
(I did not fall into a trap door. I did not escape though a corridor going to a hotel.)
“Hindi din naman ako nabayaran ng 850 million [pesos], at hindi rin nangyari iyong na-cut iyong pagsasalita ko sa isang TV show when I was trying to explain myself,” she said.
(I was not paid off P850 million and I was not cut off in a TV show when I was trying to explain myself.)
“I made [a] promise to a dear friend — I said I would tell my side of the story this year at dahil [30-year] anniversary na (and because it is the 30-year anniversary already) this month, it is NOW time,” she wrote in the caption on YouTube.
Dixson confirmed that there was an instance in her younger years when she visited Robinsons Galleria. It was a movie night and she was asked to change her outfit, so she went to a restroom outside the department store on the fourth floor.
“Natatandaan ko nga may nag-uusyoso sa labas and for some reason, while I was inside the bathroom, I said, ‘Tuklaw! Tuklaw!’” she said.
(I remembered there were people watching outside and for some reason, while I was inside the bathroom, I said, “Snake bite! Snake bite!”)
“Now, I don’t really know kung bakit ko iyon ginawa. Siguro kasi, I was just being funny? I was trying to get a laugh sa mga kasamahan ko? I was being young and silly.”
(Now, I don’t really know why I did that. Maybe because I was just being funny? I was trying to get a laugh from my companions? I was being young and silly.”
“And also because iyong time na iyon, iyong kasamahan ko sa pelikulang ‘Dyesebel’ (in 1990) na si Richard Gomez, he had a movie that came out called ‘Tuklaw’, at uso iyon noon.”
(And also because at that time, Richard Gomez, who was with me in the movie “Dyesebel”, had a movie that came out called “Tuklaw” and that was in then.)
“A few days later, lumabas iyong balita or gossip na kinakagat ako o kinain ako ng malaking sawa sa loob ng mall,” she recalled. “Lumabas pa ito sa headline ng tabloids and news.”
(A few days later, the news or gossip that I was bitten or eaten by a big snake inside the mall came out. This even came out in the headlines of tabloids and news.)
She said a representative from the mall reached out to her but she “dismissed it and went on with my business.”
However, her supposed run-in with the half-snake took a life of its own, such that her own Filipino-Chinese friends believed the Gokongweis had a snake offspring.
Dixson speculated that a mass communication course in one school could have spread the story.
She said the curriculum “had a particular project to disseminate information, to see how far, how convoluted, and how long information could spread. And I believe they used this story.”
The actress also surmises that her silence was a “contributing factor” in the rumor growing bigger.
She defended her choice to stay silent, saying that she would rather not comment on something false.
“I didn’t really feel the need to talk about it or defend myself. In fact, nakalimutan ko (I forgot it) until recently.”
Dixson said another theory on why the urban legend has gone on for so long is that there is supposedly truth to it. But she argued that if it were true, someone should have stepped forward about it.
She said that a few years ago, there were rumors that the snake man died in the mall. Shortly after, Robinsons Galleria reached out to her to participate in their digital ad campaign.
“Is this a coincidence?” she wondered. “Kayo na lang po ang magdecide kung anong paniniwalaan n’yo (You decide what you’ll believe).” JB
As of posting, President Rodrigo Duterte takes the podium to address Filipinos anxious for their lives and uncertain about their future as the virus continues to rage on. He is expected to unveil measures to revive the economy battered by the pandemic.
"Cursory examination showed that both of the victims sustained multiple gunshot sounds on the different parts of their bodies. Case held under investigation and follow up," QCPD told reporters.
Mathematics professor Guido David, a member of the UP OCTA Research group, relayed these amended figures after the country on Sunday logged over 2,000 coronavirus cases for the fourth consecutive day.
"In the face of an evolving enemy and a fluid battleground, Congress needs to continue to Adapt, Innovate, and Manage if we are to stay above water until a vaccine or a cure is found," he also said.
Groups from the sectors of health, labor, education, transport and youth participated in the protest action dubbed as “SONAgkaisa” to voice their criticism of the government’s handling of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis, the denial of a legislative franchise for media giant ABS-CBN and the enactment of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, which is feared to infringe on people’s fundamental rights.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said it is “not fair” to criticize his department for a supposed lack of transparency on the conditions in Philippine prisons.
Groups from the sectors of health, labor, education, transport and youth participated in the protest action dubbed as “SONAgkaisa” to voice their criticism of the government’s handling of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis, the denial of a legislative franchise for media giant ABS-CBN and the enactment of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, which is feared to infringe on people’s fundamental rights.
"If there are people who agree with what they're saying that they were raided, etcetera, then let them file the necessary and appropriate action," Gamboa said.
Senate President Tito Sotto said that "as best as possible," those invited to the hearings would be physically present as the Senate's offices are now equipped with the necessary partitions to maintain social distancing.
Eight to nine of the locally stranded individuals crammed at the Rizal Memorial Sports complex last weekend are suspected to have COVID-19, amid concerns of failure to impose physical distancing in the venue.
Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas, Metro Manila police chief, said four persons on board a jeepney with a red PISTON flag were apprehended near Quezon Memorial Circle Monday morning for allegedly violating the rule prohibiting traditional jeepneys on Metro Manila roads.
Senate Majority Leader Miguel Zubiri announced that the upper chamber on Tuesday afternoon would be passing the extension of the Bayanihan act or Bayanihan 2 on its third and final reading.
From July 3 to 6, the polling firm asked 1,555 adult Filipinos: “Since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, did your families receive help like money from any branch or agency of government?”
As it is, Philippine and foreign media can only rely on state-run coverage of Duterte’s SONA, which he will deliver amid growing dissent following his approval of the anti-terrorism law and shutdown of media giant ABS-CBN.
The latest updates on the spread of the novel coronavirus in the Philippines and enhanced community quarantine of economic center of Metro Manila and other areas across the country.
The Philippine Coast Guard has sent 25 medical technologists to attend to thousands of locally stranded individuals staying at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila and waiting to catch a ride back to their home provinces.
Various groups are all set to push through with their protest rally today in time for President Duterte’s fifth State of the Nation Address despite a stern warning from the Philippine National Police that they can be arrested for violation of quarantine rules on mass gatherings.
The number of confirmed coronavirus disease cases yesterday exceeded 80,000, with over 2,000 additional infections reported for the fourth consecutive day.
Measures to revive the pandemic-battered economy, and the bill that aims to help sectors affected by lockdown restrictions, are among the expected highlights of President Duterte’s fifth State of the Nation Address that he will deliver today before a limited live audience.
More overseas Filipino workers are coming home in a box from Saudi Arabia after succumbing to COVID-19 among other causes, the Department of Labor and Employment reported yesterday.
The Commission on Human Rights has called on the New Bilibid Prison leadership to be more transparent on the situation of reported high cases of deaths, allegedly due to infection from coronavirus disease among persons deprived of liberty.
Not even a P50-million minimum fine and possible jail time of eight to 12 years have deterred cigarette smugglers from plying their trade and depriving government of much-needed tax revenues.
The salaries of social workers must be increased as they are the frontliners with the most number of “patients” in hospitals, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said yesterday.
There should be no more threats or denials of blunders in handling the COVID-19 crisis in President Duterte’s fifth State of the Nation Address, only a clear roadmap on how the country will fight the pandemic and help the economy recover.
"The change in messaging is stark: from PNP’s willingness to remind and assist protesters observe minimum health standards to express their opinion to a complete ban on mass gatherings," the commission's statement read.
"According to his directive... only the important things should be included in the state of the nation address because we are under a COVID-19 crisis," Andanar said.
It has been 131 days since enhanced community quarantine was first implemented in March, and though the Philippines is under the world's longest quarantine, thousands of coronavirus cases are still being recorded each day, with health authorities logging x more on Sunday, bringing the national caseload to x.
"The cops entered Fortaleza’s home, arrested her and confiscated the group’s flyers along with issues of the alternative news publication, Pinoy Weekly," the group's statement reads.
"Public interest in the face of alleged deaths of high-profile inmates due to COVID-19, necessitates disclosure of relevant information about their deaths—both in the interest of justice, as well as in crafting sensible ways forward in preventing further deaths in prisons and detention facilities," the commission said.
“folklore” the eighth record by Taylor Swift. Image: Republic Records via AP
In the years since Taylor Swift released her killer pop album “1989” in 2014, the singer has amped the production of her music, adding sounds including electronica, synth pop, R&B, dubstep, dance and even trap to her songs. Not everyone was ready for the rap style of “…Ready for It?” though it worked.
But while pop star Taylor, with all the bops and beats, is enjoyable and entertaining, her new singer-songwriter album is a welcomed return. In a time of madness, “folklore” feels like a moment to escape.
Her eighth record has a calmness and coolness reminiscent of the 2008 masterpiece “Fearless” and 2010’s charming “Speak Now”, as poetic lines about life are brought to life thanks to Swift’s sharp songwriting, with the light but piercing production doing its job by lifting the lyrics.
Swift is a grand storyteller, and “folklore” explores a lot. On some songs, she’s singing about life before she moved to Nashville as a teen to embark on her musical career. On other tracks, she’s telling the stories of others — doing it so well and vividly that you can paint the picture as the tracks play.
Frequent collaborator and one of contemporary music’s best producers, Jack Antonoff, assists on most of the album, while The National’s Aaron Dessner should be saluted for his massive contributions to the project. And epic vocals from Bon Iver match well with Swift’s soft tone on “exile”.
The 16 tracks weave into each other nicely, blending to make this folk-pop-country-Americana-guitar rock-singer-songwriter album work. Whatever the genre, “folklore” is first-class. CL
Mika Salamanca. Image: screengrab from Mika Salamanca’s YouTube channel
HONOLULU — Investigators with the Hawaii attorney general’s office arrested a 20-year-old woman after seeing videos of her dancing in a store and dining out when she was supposed to be obeying a traveler quarantine the state mandated to protect against the spread of the coronavirus.
Anne Salamanca arrived in Honolulu on July 6 and four days later, the Hawaii Tourism Authority learned she was out in public, in violation of the 14-day quarantine, the state said in a news release Friday.
The tourism authority informed attorney general special agents, who were shown videos of her dancing and dining.
The state’s news release said Salamanca is from Birmingham, Alabama. She’s also a “social media influencer” in the Philippines who goes by Mika Salamanca and arrived from Manila, KITV reported.
The Honolulu news station reported she apologized on social media, but she claimed law enforcement came to the house where she’s staying and told her if she had a negative COVID-19 test, she could go out.
“None of my investigators would convey that information, as it is incorrect,” Hawaii Attorney General Clare Connors said. “The fact Ms. Salamanca has so many followers makes her actions that much more dangerous and concerning. The spread of misinformation can have very severe consequences during an emergency situation like we are in now.”
Salamanca was arrested and released on $2,000 bail (over P98,600). She declined KITV’s request for comment.
The Associated Press couldn’t immediately reach her Friday. It wasn’t clear if she has an attorney. CL
Mel Gibson arrives at the 89th Academy Awards Nominees Luncheon in Beverly Hills, Calif. on Feb. 6, 2017. Image: AP/Jordan Strauss/Invision
LOS ANGELES — Mel Gibson spent a week in a Los Angeles hospital in April after testing positive for COVID-19, his representative said Friday.
The 64-year-old actor and director has completely recovered and is doing “great” according to the rep. He also said Gibson has tested negative “numerous times” since then.
Gibson is the latest in a long string of high profile figures to go public with coronavirus diagnoses and recoveries including Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson, George Stephanopoulos and the singer Pink.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and those with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness and even be fatal.
The U.S. has more than 4 million known cases of the coronavirus, with more than 140,000 deaths, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. CL
Uncle Roger (left) with BBC’s Hersha Patel (Image: Twitter/@hershapatel1)
Malaysian comedian Nigel Ng, who goes by Uncle Roger, has finally met with award-winning presenter and filmmaker, BBC Food host Hersha Patel, whose egg fried rice cooking session went viral for quite unfortunate reasons.
“Big development: uncle roger is now making a collab with egg fried rice lady@hershapatel1,” the comedian said in his retweet of Patel’s post earlier today, July 25.
“To all my new friends/haters@MrNigelNgand I have just had a lovely afternoon discussing my ‘crimes’ against rice… watch this space.. collab coming soon, give me a follow!#riceislife#uncleroger,” Patel, meanwhile, said in her tweet.
In the video, Uncle Roger revealed to fans that he just had dinner with Patel and asked netizens to stop bullying the cook.
“Hersha’s really good, she’s a great presenter, really funny, but don’t post anything mean on Instagram alright. Otherwise, Uncle Roger will come for you,” he said.
“Because whilst this guy’s blown up, like nobody’s business, I’ve been trolled!” Patel, meanwhile, stressed.
She then clarified, “Okay, I’ll just make a quick point. I was doing a job for the BBC, presenting their recipes. I know how to cook rice! And that’s all I’m saying about that.”
The two then told fans to wait for another cooking video, in which the two would collaborate for another rice-cooking session—only this time, Patel promised to show how she actually cooked proper rice.
Uncle Roger’s hilarious video reaction on how the BBC host cooks rice took the internet by storm as Asians all over the world relate to the comedian’s woes, all dying a little bit inside.
The comedian can be seen letting out his frustrations at Patel’s blunders, which include not washing the rice before cooking, using a teacup to measure her water-to-rice ratio (which actually rendered her rice soupy) and draining rice after cooking.
“Drai- what’s she doing?! Drain the ri- oh my God!” the comedian blurts out as Patel drains the wet, cooked rice through a colander. “You killing me, woman!”
Perhaps what triggered Uncle Roger the most, however, was when Patel instructed fans to wash the cooked rice by putting it under running tap water.
“What the- what the hell?! What the hell?!” the comedian yells. “Why you running water through rice?! You’re ruining the rice! First, you use colander to dry the rice and then you put water. Then why bother drying the rice.”
“Who cook rice like this? How did this woman get on BBC food?! They never asked Uncle Roger. Uncle Roger teach master class on making rice,” he jested.
Uncle Roger’s video, which was originally uploaded on his YouTube channel on July 8, now has over 2 million views on the platform while boasting around 8.7 million views on Twitter. /ra
Lara Quigaman (Image: screengrab from YouTube/The Alcaraz Family)
Actress and beauty queen Lara Quigaman is one glowing mom during her “dream” maternity shoot for her third baby.
After having two sons, and another child on the way, Quigaman and her husband, actor Marco Alcaraz, said that baby No. 3 will be their last, as per their YouTube channel The Alcaraz Family last Wednesday, July 22.
“As this will be our last pregnancy (Lord willing), we wanted to celebrate it and remember it by having this [photoshoot],” the couple said.
The actors showed the behind-the-scene footages of Quigaman’s photoshoot in Concept Room Studio in Pasig City. The shoot included three gorgeous gown changes for Quigaman for three different layouts, one of which featured Quigaman and Alcaraz in a dreamy floral forest.
Quigaman finally showed some of the final products of the shoot on her Instagram account yesterday, July 24.
The actress was all smiles as she donned a gold robe while caressing her baby bump. Quigaman added that she was in her 30th week of pregnancy.
