18 Mayo 2024, Sabado

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Lumpia Queen, 6 other Pinoys made Forbes’ 30 Under 30

By Cynthia Montojo

Forbes “30 Under 30 Asia,” chose seven Filipinos in  list  recognizes young entrepreneurs, leaders and trailblazers from across  Asia-Pacific region.

Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia Class of 2024 features 300 people all under  age of 30 who are leading  transformation of industries and finding innovative ways to navigate new business realities in the region.

Those in the list come across 10 categories covering The Arts (Art and Style, Food and Drink), Entertainment and Sports, Finance and Venture Capital; Media, Marketing and Advertising; Retail and Ecommerce, Enterprise Technology; Industry, Manufacturing and Energy, Healthcare and Science, Social Impact and Consumer Technology.

Of the seven Filipinos in the list, three are from  media, marketing and advertising category.

They are  23-year-old content creator Abigail Marquez, 27-year-old content creator Ramon Christian Larga, and 23-year-old internet artist Chia Amisola.

Marquez, popularly known as  Lumpia Queen, runs  cooking channel on TikTok with more than three million followers where she promotes all aspects of her nation’s food culture.

Larga,  licensed pharmacist, has nearly four million followers on TikTok with videos sharing his experiences and explaining how  ethical pharmacist helps take care of customers.

Amisola, for her part, is  founder of Developh,  nonprofit community  seeks to promote  use of technology as  tool for liberation rather than oppression.

Meanwhile, included in the arts category is 28-year-old Joshua Serafin,  artist based in Brussels who combines dance, music and theater with live performance, typically exploring concepts of cultural identity, transmigration and queer representation.

The 29-year-old Mikaela Reyes,  co-founder of Manila-based cross-border payment startup Parallax, was part of  finance and venture capital category. Launched in 2023, Parallax makes it easier and cheaper to move money around  globe using cryptocurrency and blockchain.

For  media, marketing and advertising category, 21-year-old Amanda Cua made  list. Cua is  founder of BackScoop,  newsletter on startup scene.

Also making it in  list under  entertainment and sports category is 25-year-old rapper Ezekiel Miller, who caught  attention of rap legends Dr. Dre and Eminem.

The 2024 list features  diverse set of listees, with 21 countries and territories represented across  Asia-Pacific region.

India had  most with 86 entries, followed by China and Japan at 32 each, Singapore with 27, Australia with 26 and Indonesia with 18.

Among those featured on this year’s list are K-pop girl band Ive; Singapore’s track and field athlete Veronica Shanti Pereira, Japan’s youngest mayor Ryosuke Takashima of Ashiya City, Maya Kale who cofounded Singapore-based supplements company Moom Health, and Indonesia’s Muhammad Agung Saputra, co-founder of SurplusIndonesia.

Forbes Asia said more than 4,000 candidates were evaluated by its team and  panel of independent expert judges on  variety of factors, including, but not limited to, funding and or revenue, social impact, scale, inventiveness and potential.

17 Mayo 2024, Biyernes

Happy 48th Anniversary Mariveles Baptist Church, Mariveles, Bataan

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Maute mother gets life for terror financing

By J.Lo

“After judicious review of  records and evidence of this case,  court finds  prosecution was able to prove elements of  crime of terrorism financing,” Taguig court has convicted  mother of siblings Omar and Abdullah Maute for financing  terror attacks in Marawi City.

In  decision promulgated recently, Taguig Regional Trial Court Branch 266 Judge Marivic Vitor sentenced Ominta Romato Maute, also known as Farhana Maute, to life in prison for terrorism financing.

Court  has found  Maute matriarch guilty of violating Republic Act 10168 or Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012.

She was ordered to pay  fine of P500,000.

In  39-page ruling,  Maute matriarch was charged with terrorism financing for “knowingly, willfully and unlawfully making available”  vehicle registered under her name to members of  terrorist group.

Court records showed on July 29, 2016, she allowed her Toyota Innova to be used by five terrorists: Mohammad Khayam Romato Maute, Omar Khayam Romato Maute, Abdullah Romato Maute, Mahater Romato Maute and Najib Pundug.

Authorities intercepted  vehicle on the same day and recovered several improvised explosive devices.

In convicting Ominta,  court said “element of willful intention in making available  property was present.”

Court  added  second element, in which  vehicle was made available to be used to facilitate  commission of any terrorist act, was likewise present.

“Evidently, Toyota Innova was made available to be used to carry out  attack committed by  terrorist organization, in this case,  Maute group,”  decision read.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla welcomed  conviction of  Maute matriarch, describing it as  “big win” in country’s fight against terrorism.

“We will never let terrorism prevail nor let it sow fear among our people… conviction exhibits our nation’s unity and resilience to fight  evils lurking in our society, we are committed to scoring more convictions, particularly on cases involving terrorism and terrorism financing,” Remulla said in  statement.

Remulla also commended  prosecution panel  handled case “for working up  sweat to make sure justice is served.”

17 Mayo 2024, Biyernes

Happy 48th Anniversary Mariveles Baptist Church, Mariveles, Bataan

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RTWPB working on pay hike petitions’

By J.Lo

“Review has already started…we don’t need to be ordered…we have  mandate and we are obliged to perform our responsibility,” Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma told reporters different Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards (RTWPBs) have started  review of existing minimum wage rates in their respective regions.

“Even without  order process has started in all regions…we are looking into it and gathering information that will lead to public consultation,” Laguesma said.

During the Labor Day celebration in Malacañang, Laguesma said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.directed all  RTWPBs to start  review of existing wage rates.

Laguesma explained  RTWPBs are authorized to start  review 60 days before  expiration of  one-year effectivity of  last wage order.

“Sixty days before it lapses, there’s  pending adjustment…as to how much, that will be determined by members of  RTWPBs,” he noted.

Department of Labor and Employment-National Capital Region (DOLE-NCR) director Sara Mirasol said they will start  review and conduct  public consultation within  month and workers can expect  possible pay hike.

Mirasol said  RTWPB in NCR has not received any formal petition for salary hikes, but they will conduct  review and public consultation. “We are discussing it this month…we are not saying there’s something to be expected, but we will seriously consider increasing  minimum wage,” Mirasol added.

She noted  effectivity of  last wage order in NCR was July 16, 2023. “It’s nearing  anniversary date so we can already conduct consultation even without  petition,” she said.

Laguesma noted  wage orders issued by RTWPB not only benefit minimum wage earners but also those receiving higher pay due to wage distortion. But those receiving higher than minimum wage can opt to negotiate with their employers for  salary increase.

To commemorate Labor Day, thousands of workers took to streets and pushed for  immediate passage of pending measures granting  P150 legislated wage increase.

Workers  insisted increase given by RTWPBs is inadequate to enable workers to cope with rising prices of essential commodities.

They also claimed  existing wage rates are discriminatory, since existing daily pay in some regions is lower than others.

17 Mayo 2024, Biyernes

Happy 48th Anniversary Mariveles Baptist Church, Mariveles, Bataan

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HEADLINES

PhilHealth defends share rates

By Nidz Godino

 “We are just implementing the law… we are ready to implement whatever will be mandated by our laws,” Philippine Health Insurance Corp.(PhilHealth) vice president for corporate affairs Rey Baleña said PhilHealth’s implementation of  current contribution rates is in line with  provisions of  Universal Health Care (UHC) law.

Defending its current contribution rates, PhilHealth said  existing premium contribution rates are based on what is mandated by law.

Marikina 2nd District Rep. Stella Quimbo earlier saw  need to “re-calibrate  premium rates,” adding that  “premium rates are simply too high.”

He clarified, though, that PhilHealth is ready to work with lawmakers in amending  law, especially if rates are seen as “too high.”

“We leave it to  wisdom of Congress to amend  contribution rates as they deemed it fit, we have and will always support all efforts towards making  UHC Law more responsive to  needs and situation of the people,” said Baleña.
    Baleña revealed that PhilHealth is already in the process of enhancing about 8,000 benefit packages  included acute stroke, high-risk pneumonia and hemodialysis.

Under  UHC Law,  premium rates of PhilHealth are mandated to increase annually from 2020 to 2024. Currently, PhilHealth’s premium rate stands at five percent, and will continue to be at that level until 2025.
   Earlier, Quimbo called for  lowering of  PhilHealth premium rates saying premium rates are simply too high for its members.
  She said  state-run health insurer “is earning too much because  premium rates are high, but those who pay  premiums  workers  are at  losing end.”

17 Mayo 2024, Biyernes

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FMJ forms govt lands master list body

By Nidz Godino

“To ensure  efficient and effective allocation and utilization of land resources for  country’s national development goals, it is necessary to consolidate  comprehensive list of all government lands,” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.has formed  interagency body tasked to create  master list of all lands owned by  government to ensure efficient and effective utilization of land resources for country’s development.

Under Administrative Order 21, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on April 30, Inter-Agency Coordinating Council will be chaired by Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development and co-chaired by  Department of Agrarian Reform.

Members of the council are  Office of the Executive Secretary,  Departments of the Interior and Local Government; Agriculture; Justice; and Information and Communications (DICT); Office of the Solicitor General; Land Registration Authority, and  Commission on Higher Education.

DENR-Land Management Bureau will serve as  coordinating council’s secretariat.

Within 60 days from  effectivity of implementing guidelines of  order, all national government agencies and instrumentalities, including government-owned or controlled corporations and existing government bodies with functions related to land identification and inventory, are to prepare and submit to  coordinating council  complete inventory of all lands or inventories in their possession, as may be applicable, AO 21 read.

In coordination with  DICT,  council will study, formulate and implement  digitalization of  master list,  order stated.

According to Marcos,  creation of  master list of all government lands will boost  administration’s Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028.

He said one of the key strategies identified in  PDP 2023-2028 to establish livable communities “is  creation of  database containing  complete inventory of idle government lands.”

TODAY’S GOD’S MESSAGE

Romans 11:33

Doxology

³³ Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and^[a] knowledge of God!
    How unsearchable his judgments,
    and his paths beyond tracing out!

Footnotes

1. Romans 11:33 Or riches and the wisdom and the

17 Mayo 2024, Biyernes

Happy 48th Anniversary Mariveles Baptist Church, Mariveles, Bataan

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supports International Nurses’ Day

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NTF-ELCAC stays

By Nidz Godino

“People who used to clash with  government, instead of fighting with them, we are helping them and it had  huge effect on reducing internal security threat… because of  NTF-ELCAC,” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. rejected calls to abolish  government’s anti-insurgency task force, saying it has lessened security risks posed by communist rebels and has provided assistance to those who abandoned  armed struggle.

New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Karapatan have asked Marcos to scrap  National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) after  Supreme Court ruled  red-baiting, known in the Philippines as “red-tagging,” vilification, labelling and guilt by association threaten  person’s right to life, liberty, or security.

HRW described  NTF-ELCAC as “abusive” and accused  task force of promoting  practice of red-baiting. Karapatan, meanwhile, claimed  anti-insurgency task force has engaged in “rampant and unmitigated fabrication of lies” to quell dissent and has “driven  rampant and unmitigated attacks on individuals and organizations.”
But Marcos believes there is no reason to terminate  NTF-ELCAC,  formed through Executive Order No. 70 signed by former president Rodrigo Duterte in 2018.
“Fastest answer to that is no, we will not abolish  NTF-ELCAC…we are going to finish its activities because  few barangays have yet to be covered…some returnees have yet to receive help,” he added.

Marcos said  government still needs  task force, noting that government promised aid to former insurgents.
In an earlier statement,  National Security Council said NTF-ELCAC has been  “game changer” in  fight against  communist rebels.
“Because of  NTF,  NPA ,New People’s Army has been strategically defeated with its last remaining nine weakened guerrilla fronts with around 1,000 remaining armed members scattered in remote areas…peace is finally within our reach,” council said.

17 Mayo 2024, Biyernes

Happy 48th Anniversary Mariveles Baptist Church, Mariveles, Bataan

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supports International Nurses’ Day

happy Birthday Andrea Mae Sebugan, more birthdays to come

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FMJ forms govt lands master list body

By Nidz Godino

“To ensure  efficient and effective allocation and utilization of land resources for  country’s national development goals, it is necessary to consolidate  comprehensive list of all government lands,” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.has formed  interagency body tasked to create  master list of all lands owned by  government to ensure efficient and effective utilization of land resources for country’s development.

Under Administrative Order 21, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on April 30, Inter-Agency Coordinating Council will be chaired by Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development and co-chaired by  Department of Agrarian Reform.

Members of the council are  Office of the Executive Secretary,  Departments of the Interior and Local Government; Agriculture; Justice; and Information and Communications (DICT); Office of the Solicitor General; Land Registration Authority, and  Commission on Higher Education.

DENR-Land Management Bureau will serve as  coordinating council’s secretariat.

Within 60 days from  effectivity of implementing guidelines of  order, all national government agencies and instrumentalities, including government-owned or controlled corporations and existing government bodies with functions related to land identification and inventory, are to prepare and submit to  coordinating council  complete inventory of all lands or inventories in their possession, as may be applicable, AO 21 read.

In coordination with  DICT,  council will study, formulate and implement  digitalization of  master list,  order stated.

According to Marcos,  creation of  master list of all government lands will boost  administration’s Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028.

He said one of the key strategies identified in  PDP 2023-2028 to establish livable communities “is  creation of  database containing  complete inventory of idle government lands.”

16 Mayo 2024, Huwebes

Happy 48th Anniversary Mariveles Baptist Church, Mariveles, Bataan

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Archipelagic, oceanic university,10^th in UP system

By Nidz Godino

“It will become  10th UP university in our system… initiative aims to enhance existing program offerings, introduce digital ad virtual platforms and develop transdisciplinary courses,” University of the Philippines system president Angelo Jimenez announced during  National Higher Education Day Summit in Pasay City new university is currently in the works.

Jimenez said  university is laying  groundwork for what could be  10th university in  UP System by connecting  marine and ocean programs in UP Diliman and UP Visayas.

He added that  pooling of programs in Marine Science Institute of UP Diliman and  Fisheries and Oceans Program of UP Visayas would give birth to “archipelagic and oceanic virtual university.”

Jimenez said  premier state university plans to collaborate with other state universities and colleges, foreign universities with similar programs and various maritime industry stakeholders to craft curricula and roadmaps for research and innovation.

These will be aimed at developing “Blue Economy and Archipelagic Nation by 2050 in alignment with Pagtanaw 2050,” according to Jimenez, referring to  Department of Science and Technology’s foresight and strategic planning project.

Science, Technology, and Innovation or STI roadmap under Pagtanaw 2050 aims to make  country “prosperous, archipelagic, maritime nation characterized by  society that is inclusive, productive, sustainable, educated and healthy.”

As Philippine universities fell in  recent Asia university rankings, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called for  “comprehensive” and “all-encompassing” strategy to further improve state of tertiary education in the country.

In his speech at  National Higher Education Day Summit in Pasay City, Marcos lamented  exclusion of Philippine universities in this year’s Times Higher Education (THE) Asia University Rankings.

“Unfortunately, no Philippine university has reached Top 100, with  country’s top schools either dropping or maintaining their rankings… just goes to show that much work is still to be done…we must pursue  comprehensive and all-encompassing strategy that will turn this trend around,” FMJ said.

As of December last year, however, at least 81 higher educational institutions (HEIs) had been included in various world university rankings, which is higher than 52 in July last year, according to the President.

He emphasized  improving higher education and making it responsive to the present and future needs of society is “front and center” of his administration’s national development agenda.

“Giving  youth  right competencies and skills and training is  only way for them to prevail and to prosper in this highly competitive world, without  educated workforce that will implement them, any national economic blueprint will remain simply that blueprints…we will not have  means or  capacity or  labor force to be able to make those plans realities,” Marcos said.

Success  of  country’s development agenda relies heavily on  availability of  strong, resilient and skilled human resource, according to the Chief Executive.

He also assured his government remains committed to  continuing provision of free tertiary education in public universities and colleges for qualified students under  Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.

“We have allocated close to P134 billion for our state and local universities and colleges this year so that more students can receive free tertiary education and more families will be eased of  burden of having to pay for college,” Marcos said.

As of Jan. 4, there are 1,977 HEIs in the country. Of the figure, 113 are state universities and colleges, 137 are local universities and colleges, 1,714 are private HEIs and 13 are other government schools, Commission on Higher Education (CHED)-supervised institutions and special schools.

Ateneo de Manila University placed in  401-500 bracket based on  recently published THE Asia rankings.

UP placed in  501-600 bracket from last year’s 201-250.

De La Salle University remained in  501-600 bracket, while University of Santo Tomas entered  rankings in 601+ bracket, tied with Mapúa University.

16 Mayo 2024, Huwebes

Happy 48th Anniversary Mariveles Baptist Church, Mariveles, Bataan

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supports International Nurses’ Day

happy Birthday Andrea Mae Sebugan, more birthdays to come

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5 aliens arrested over abortion activities

By J.Lo

“shall be imposed in its maximum period, respectively, upon any physician or midwife who, taking advantage of their scientific knowledge or skill, shall cause an abortion or assist in causing the same,”Article 259, said  abortion practiced by  physician or midwife and dispensing of abortives, five foreign nationals allegedly involved in illegal abortion activities were arrested by law enforcement authorities.

In  press release BI nabbed  the three Vietnamese nationals and two Chinese nationals along Macapagal Boulevard in Pasay City.

One of the Vietnamese nationals, according to  BI, introduced himself as  doctor of  wellness center.

He was identified as 29-year-old Trinh Dinh Sang, who was employed at “wellness clinic” in the area.

According to BI’s intelligence division chief Fortunato Manahan Jr., authorities posed as clients for cosmetic treatments.

Upon confirmation of  presence of foreign nationals,  arresting officers implemented  apprehension against Sang and his cohorts.

Operations, carried out in collaboration with  Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission and Philippine National Police in Pasay City,  based on information indicating that Sang was involved in illegal activities, including cosmetic enhancements and abortion procedures.

Other  individuals apprehended are: Nguyen Duy Quynh, 67; Pham Thi Nhu Hieu, 28; Xie Jun, 36; and Zhai Jian Gang, 43.

Sang and the other foreign nationals are held at  BI’s facility in Bicutan while  pending resolution of deportation against them has been lodged.

Catholic-majority Philippines has  world’s most restrictive laws against abortion.  Revise Penal Code of the Philippines Article 256 states that any person who shall intentionally cause an abortion shall suffer:

“1. The penalty of reclusion temporal, if he shall use any violence upon  person of  pregnant woman.

2. The penalty of prision mayor if, without using violence, he shall act without  consent of the woman.

3. The penalty of prision correccional in its medium and maximum periods, if  woman shall have consented.”