Rica Peralejo talks about ‘religiosity’ after viral Halloween costume

By Cynthia Montojo

“Halloween has become wholesome in some ways, especially so for  kiddie parties and village trick or treating…so many kids now adults have had  best memories and family time every Halloween because spirit has become so childlike,” Rica Peralejo shared her thoughts on “religiosity” and “fear mongering” after some internet users called her out for wearing costumes for Halloween. 

Rica  posted  photo of her with her husband, pastor Joseph Bonifacio and their two kids in their Halloween costumes. 

They were wearing attires from popular games and graphic novels, including Saitama from “One Punch Man,” Super Mario, Ninjago and Geometry Dash. 

One internet user wrote  Christians should not be involved with Halloween. 

Rica replied “if you mean halloween to be demonic practices and evil stuff ofc no one should…but if by halloween we mean big costume part with treats for kids, like  whole day candy affair, then I don’t see why not.” After several other exchanges on her Instagram post, she posted  lengthy explanation on how she sees Halloween on her Instagram Stories. 

She also talked about how fear mongering has become rampant, especially among Christians. 

“Fear mongering amongst Christian circles is so bothersome…so mamy parents have come up to me saying they were told not to for all sorts of things,” Rica said. 

She recalled  parent who was told  when they participate in Halloween activities, they “align with  devil” and that her kids would suffer demonic things.

“All I can say is that if this is true, then Satan should have won by today cause every year, we celebrate Halloween and people dress up all sorts of things and I still see no sign  devil has overcome…so many people who also trick or treated as kids are fine today…many of them strong believers,” Rica pointed out. 

Rica asked if people realize  their actions and thoughts “imply arrogance and pride” over their belief that they hold  one truth and correct answer. 

“Dunno also said  how people are not realizing they have sinned and not by condemning that which God does not condemn…they have played God and judge and wow their words, too… in their anxiety, they have resorted to blatant disrespect and calling of names and heckling. ..how is that Christian and godly at all?” she added. 

Actress  also noted  instead of condescenion and self-righteousness, people should be loving as more people can be reached when they do  opposite. 

She also talked about how these actions were seen as stumbling block by some, but Rica disagreed. 

“That’s enlightenment cause it’s about time that religiosity and fear mongering continues unchallenged every Halloween… I am not saying everyone must practice but it is wrong to say everyone shouldn’t join  wholesome and redeemed versions of Halloween traditions… wrong…you have no monopoly of revelation…no monopoly of conviction…and  real scary thing here is your (sic) playing God, actually…ito pala ang tunay na horror story,” she said. 

Rica quipped about attending her Instagram “Ted Talk” and shared  online users are free to take  screenshot of her lengthy IG Stories. 
Rica  wrote it for those who cannot find  words for their convictions. 

“We had amazing Halloween…it has been totally healing for me who never had much of  childhood…let that be  testimony of God’s redeeming love,  knows no bounds,” she wrote. 

Jpn to give Ph free military equipment

By Nidz Godino

“Among specific issues to be discussed are  West Philippine Sea, trade and investment, and Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA)…they will also exchange views on major regional, international, and United Nations issues affecting the region and  world,”  Presidential Communications Office said  Japanese government will give Philippines free defense equipment. 

According to multiple reports, Japan will give small patrol boats and radars to  Philippines as  part of its Government Security Capacity Development Assistance (OSA) program to keep China in check in  West Philippine Sea.

OSA program aims to enhance  military capabilities of similar nations through defense equipment provision and infrastructure development promotion.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is  meet with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr..

Department of Foreign Affairs said  two leaders will discuss “multifaceted and dynamic cooperation on political and security cooperation and economic and people-to-people relations.”

“Among  specific issues to be discussed are  West Philippine Sea, trade and investment, and Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA)…they will also exchange views on major regional, international, and United Nations issues affecting the region and  world,” the Presidential Communications Office said. 

ODA is  program  seeks to help developing countries with supplies, civil engineering and other assistance. It is  non-military-related program like OSA.

LGU execs raps for BSKE interference

By J.Lo

“These local government officials have meddled during voting,  counting of votes and even during  canvassing,” Commission on Elections (Comelec)  Chairman George Garcia said at  press briefing Comelec is set to file charges against local government officials who interfered and  delays  barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE).

He added: “these people are trying to influence outcome of  elections and even  members of  electoral board,  barangay board of canvassers…  need to investigate them and file appropriate cases, they will do this again in  next midterm elections and  next after that,  BSKE…so we just cannot let them get away with this.”

He said  Comelec would call for  meeting and instruct  deputy director for administration and deputy director for operations to gather all reports nationwide concerning local politicians who interfered in  counting, canvassing and even in  proclamation of candidates, as well as those who caused delay.

“We would like to also find out what happened to  teachers who backed out suddenly and did not serve during election day, as well as PNP personnel who weren’t able to serve as substitute of  said teachers,” Garcia said.

He have no plans of filing cases or bringing to jail any teacher.

“We will not file cases against  teachers, especially those who withdrew prior to  elections since it’s an absolute right to refuse to serve on election day, but those who suddenly backed out during election day, we just want to know why you refused to turn over  election paraphernalia to  ones who replaced you,” said Garcia.

Comelec also said  in  next few weeks or months, it will file cases against those who have threatened or caused violence against teachers, personnel as well as Comelec officials and employees.

Meanwhile, Philippine National Police (PNP) has denied reports personnel withdrew or backed out as special board of election inspectors (SBEI) during  barangay polls.

“With due respect to  Commission on Elections, we don’t know what information reached them, but as far as  PNP is concerned,  none of our police personnel withdrew,” PNP public information office chief Col. Jean Fajardo said at a press briefing in Camp Crame..

Situation  in Tineg, Abra, where teachers reportedly paused  election proceedings around 9 in the morning on election day, citing security concerns, involved teachers who claimed  police could not protect them.

However, local election officers intervened and insisted  elections proceed, Fajardo said. By 1 in the afternoon on the same day,  election had resumed and  police were present.

Fajardo explained  police were not present inside  polling centers but were situated in  vicinity of the precincts.

Delay  in  election process, Fajardo said, resulted from  teachers’ temporary halt, possibly due to confusion about distance between  location and their original posts.

More voters participated in this year’s BSKE,  Comelec said.

2023 barangay polls had  voter turnout of 75.76 percent or 3,614,800 actual voters out of 4,771,373 registered voters.

As for youth voters, it recorded  76.08 percent turnout or 1,258,644 actual voters out of 1,654,373 registered voters.

Earlier, Garcia said they target to reach at least 75 percent voter turnout for BSKE 2023.

Initial  voter turnout for  Oct. 30 BSKE is higher than that in  2018 polls.

Comelec records showed barangay elections in 2018 saw  71.20 percent voter turnout or 40,890,372 actual voters out of 57,429,273 registered voters.

2018 data also showed  Sangguniang Kabataan elections had  65.51 percent turnout or 13,529,267 actual voters out of 20,651,711 registered voters. 

Israel vowed to allow Pinoys leave Gaza – FMJ

By Nidz Godino

“They have  commitment to allow Filipinos cross  Egypt by today or tomorrow… they promised us… Saturday at  latest,” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Israel authorities have agreed to allow Filipinos in Gaza to leave  besieged territory through  Rafah border crossing to Egypt.

Speaking to reporters at Malacañang, FMJ said Filipinos would be able to leave Gaza by today, Saturday, but admitted  certain “complications” could affect their repatriation.

FMJ, citing information from Israeli Ambassador Ilan Fluss, said Israel Foreign Minister Eli Cohen made  commitment to Philippine Ambassador Junie Laylo during  meeting .

Rafah crossing is controlled by Egypt. It is  only border exit in Gaza not controlled by Israel. It was recognized in  1979 Egypt-Israel peace treaty.

Personnel from Philippine embassy in Cairo are waiting for Filipino repatriates from Gaza at the Rafah crossing, FMJ said.

“They have been waiting for  long time at the crossing,  Rafah crossing… they are ready when  time comes for  Filipinos to cross and be taken and sent home,” FMJ said.

FMJ said complicating  situation was  reluctance of Filipinos with Palestinian spouses to leave war-ton enclave, now surrounded by Israel troops preparing for ground attack.

“Of course, they don’t want to leave their Palestinian husbands, they don’t want to leave their children…so, these are  problems  we are facing,” FMJ said.

He said  Philippines has also offered assistance to Thais, Vietnamese and other nationals from Southeast Asian countries stranded at  crossing and wanting to get out of Gaza.

“And it looks like we are  ones there first because presence of Filipinos in the area is much higher than others…so that is  latest news from our Secretary of  DFA,” FMJ said, referring to Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo.

“And I hope this will happen so we can repatriate all those who want to leave and bring them back home to safety,” FMJ said. 

At  briefing, Fluss said Israel’s commitment is only to Filipinos and not to their Palestinian spouses.

“We’re talking only about Filipinos… we said  we will facilitate their exit today and tomorrow, from our side, we’ll do our best to facilitate  safe exits of  Filipinos and we do our efforts that it will happen today or tomorrow, we will do everything from our part in order to facilitate safe exits of  Filipinos that are in Gaza, we have to remember that we are in war…there are also other players in this complicated situation such as  UN, such as Egypt, certainly from  Israeli point of view, we will do everything we can in order to facilitate  safe exit of the Filipinos from Gaza, ” he told reporters at online briefing.

Fluss  is also taking steps to safeguard Filipinos living in Israel, “same as we do to our own citizens.”

As  situation in  Middle East becomes more volatile, House Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan said FMJ should now appoint a permanent Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) secretary,  post vacant following  death of secretary Susan “Toots” Ople on Aug. 22.

Currrently, Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac leads department as officer-in-charge.

Meanwhile, six more overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Lebanon arrived at  Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 on board Emirates Airlines flight EK 336.

Cacdac, OWWA administrator Arnel Ignacio and Kabayan Partylist representative welcomed  six OFWs. Last week, four Filipino workers arrived from Lebanon. Cacdac said 33 more OFWs also wished to be repatriated from Lebanon.  Certain  Clarita from Echague, Isabela  decided to leave her employer of 23 years as tension arising from  Israeli-Hamas war has become more palpable in Lebanon. “Situation there has gone worse… I felt I might get stuck if war between Israel and Lebanon erupts again,” she said.

DMW said two more batches of OFWs from Israel are scheduled to come home next week.

Cacdac revealed  fifth batch of 23 OFWs and  sixth batch of 27 more are set to arrive from Israel in two separate flights on Monday and Tuesday, respectively.

He said 119 OFWs in Israel have been brought home already.

According to DMW,  total of 178 OFWs in Israel have requested for repatriation.                     

“There is big chance  they can still go back to Israel…for now, let us give OFWs  chance for reunification with their respective families,” he said.

DMW said there are around 30,000 OFWs based in Israel. 

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FMJ, Kishida inked talks for security aid program

By Nidz Godino

“This OSA will further enhance  military capacities of our countries, including  Philippines, shares common security concerns with Japan,” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said in  joint press conference with Kishida Japan has launched its first-ever overseas security assistance program, with Philippines as  first recipient.

Details of official security assistance (OSA) program will still have to be finalized, but it was officially launched with  exchange of notes last night witnessed by FMJ and visiting Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at Malacañang.

Two countries are also set to begin negotiations for  so-called reciprocal access agreement (RAA),  legal cover for  holding of military exercises and other security activities between  two countries.

Initial  grant of 600 million yen (about P235 million) will be provided under  OSA, with exchange of notes signed by Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo and Japanese Ambassador Koshikawa Kazuhiko.

RAA is similar to  Visiting Forces Agreement  Philippines has with  United States and Australia. It will be  third RAA for Japan after similar arrangements with Australia and  United Kingdom went into force this year.

RAA, he said, “we are cognizant of  benefits of having this arrangement, both to our defense and military personnel, and to maintaining peace and stability in our region.”

Kishida said Japan is deepening its security cooperation with  Philippines in light of  “increasingly severe and complex international situation.”

“We share  serious concerns about  situation in  East China Sea and  South China Sea..and  attempt to unilaterally change  status quo by force is unacceptable.”

Under  OSA, Japan is providing  Armed Forces of the Philippines with coastal surveillance radar system for  Navy, maritime  patrol vessels along with other equipment  can promote safety and security in  South China Sea.

“Maritime domain awareness capability of  Philippines’ Department of National Defense will be enhanced,” Japanese Cabinet Secretary for Public Affairs Noriyuki Shikata told media.

Other candidate countries for Japan’s OSA are Malaysia,  Kishida will be visiting after his brief trip to  Philippines, as well as Bangladesh and Fiji, Shikata said.

“We think this will be conducive to our broader national security efforts, we are doing this for defensive purposes and for regional stability,” he said.

Transport Secretary Jaime Bautista, whose department has jurisdiction over  Philippine Coast Guard, said  government is considering acquisition of five 97-meter patrol vessels for  PCG from Japan under concessional terms.

Five  will be as large as two biggest vessels of PCG, Bautista told media.

Shikata said  idea for  OSA,  security counterpart of Japan’s official development assistance, germinated within past two years under Kishida’s leadership. Japan is the largest source of ODA for  Philippines.

National  security strategy of Japan under Kishida has evolved amid  emerging security environment that has become “more complex and challenging,” Shikata said, and  OSA “makes sense.”

Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva cited  significance of Kishida’s visit in  interview with reporters via Zoom.

“Japan is here providing coastal radar systems and patrol vessels to  Philippines to bolster our surveillance capabilities starting now… they provided assistance, they sponsored our personnel’s trip for technical assistance and training…so that’s what we see… big thing, especially with  challenges we are facing in WPS,” Villanueva said, referring to  West Philippine Sea.

“If you recall, in February of this year,  Japanese Prime Minister pledged to provide us roughly P250 billion in aid over  next two years,” Villanueva added.

Congress will convene in joint session today for Kishida’s address  first ever by  Japanese prime minister before  Philippine Congress.

After his two-day visit to Manila, Kishida will fly to Malaysia.

In post on X,  PM’s Office said Kishida’s visit to  Philippines and Malaysia and his meetings with  leaders of  two countries were aimed at “strengthening cooperation and deepening collaboration for Commemorative Summit for  50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation in December this year.”

Like Philippines, Japan also has  territorial dispute with China over  Senkaku Islands in  East China Sea.

FMJ  undertook official visit to Tokyo on Feb. 8-12 this year, sealing $13 billion worth of agreements seen to yield thousands of jobs for Filipinos. 

TODAY’S GOD’S MESSAGE

2 Corinthians 3:6

⁶ He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Doctors in Gaza cross border to Egypt

By Nidz Godino

“There are 45 Filipinos arriving from Israel on Nov. 6, and that is good news,” Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said two Filipino doctors were able to leave Gaza Strip and cross  Rafah border to Egypt.

DFA said as Philippine authorities renewed their appeal to Tel Aviv and Cairo for  safe passage of Filipinos across  only border exit not controlled by Israel.

De  Vega said doctors Darwin dela Cruz and Regidor Esguerra, who are working with Doctors Without Borders, crossed  Rafah border to Egypt while 115 more Filipinos in Gaza expressed readiness to be repatriated.

De Vega said six Filipinos from Lebanon were scheduled to return to Philippines today, while 45 Filipinos from Israel were set to arrive in Manila on Nov. 6.

DFA  is taking some time to secure permission from relevant authorities for Filipinos to exit Gaza as  territory remains under total blockade.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and  Philippine ambassadors in Israel, Egypt and Jordan have been working closely with authorities in Israel and Egypt for  exit of more Filipinos.

Following  advisory that  limited number of evacuees may finally be permitted to exit Gaza via  Rafah border crossing, Manalo wrote to  foreign ministries of Israel and Egypt requesting  necessary permits for  safe passage of Filipinos.

Egypt allowed opening of  Rafah border for wounded Palestinians and foreign nationals.

Increase  from 78 only Filipinos who earlier requested for repatriation. There are  total 134 Filipinos in Gaza.

“We are waiting for Israel’s Authority for  Filipinos to be allowed in,” De Vega said .

DFA said 60 Filipinos are waiting to cross  Rafah border between Egypt and Gaza.

On November 1, Egyptian authorities allowed 500 foreigners and dual citizens to pass through Rafah. These include two Filipino doctors from Doctors Without Borders (MFS).

“Doctors Without Borders is in charge of them… 2 have crossed…they will be staying in Arish,  town closest to  border and soon they will be going to Cairo,” De Vega told media.

Two  doctors will not be returning to  Philippines and will be deployed elsewhere, according to De Vega.

Meanwhile, Rafah crossing is only border crossing where civillians can be evacuated from Gaza after  Israeli blockade on Israel and  West Bank.

On October 30, 60 Filipinos from Israel have successfully returned to the country making it  fourth batch of Overseas Filipino Workers to be repatriated.

Kapuso unveils new-gen Sang’gres of Encantadia Chronicles

By Cynthia Montojo

GMA Network  revealed Bianca Umali, Faith Da Silva, Angel Guardian and Kelvin Miranda leads cast of Sang’gre: Encantadia Chronicles.

New  generation of Sang’gres has been formally introduced.

Faith will play  role of Sang’gre Flamarra,  new keeper of “Brilyante ng apoy.”

Sang’gre Deia, daughter of Amihan and new keeper of  “Brilyante ng hangin,” will be played by Angel.

Kelvin is starring as  Encantadia Chronicles  spinoff of Encantadia, hit GMA 2005 fantasy drama  stars Sunshine Dizon, Iza Calzado, Karylle and Diana Zubiri as  Sang’gre sisters Pirena, Amihan, Alena and Danaya.

In 2016,  show got  reboot starring Glaiza de Castro, Kylie Padilla, Gabbi Garcia and Sanya Lopez as Pirena, Amihan, Alena and Danaya. Encantadia Chronicles is still directed by Mark Reyes and is slated to air next year, 2024.

Bianca was earlier introduced as  daughter of Danaya and  new keeper of “Brilyante ng Lupa”.

John Lloyd Cruz’ affair with Isabel Santos

By Cynthia Montojo

“Napadpad ako sa pag-e-explore ng art, so gallery nila ‘yung una kong napasok,” Actor John Lloyd Cruz has finally confirmed  artist Isabel Santos is his girlfriend. 

John Lloyd  met Isabel during his showbiz hiatus while he began venturing into  arts. 

He, however, said  they have known each other for  long time, but  romance just evolved during his showbiz hiatus. 

“Matagal na kami magkakilala, we were talking before but hindi nag-evolve into something ideal for us at that time, mula noon, present na rin siya sa buhay ko, ” he said.

Romance rumors between  two began when Isabel posted  photo of  man taking care of her dogs in November 2021. 

Isabel also posted  photo of John Lloyd in  art gallery. Another post showed her in lockdown quarantine with an unidentified man seemed to resemble John Lloyd.

John Lloyd’s ex-partner Ellen Adarna revealed last May  she already met Isabel. 

“Yes, just ‘hi, hello.’ ‘Di ba, sinusundo ni John Lloyd si Elias…’pag sinusundo ni John Lloyd, then I’ll bring him to  car and then she was there,” Ellen said.

DOH urged to procure monovalent XBB vac

By Nidz Godino

“Though COVID is now illness no longer different from  other diseases  Department of Health (DOH) is monitoring, it will still be good to have  monovalent XBB vaccine to protect  senior citizens and those with comorbidities,”  Infectious disease expert Dr. Rontgene Solante is urging government to procure  latest COVID-19 vaccine for  country’s vulnerable population.

DOH earlier said there are no plans to procure  new batch of bivalent vaccines.

Solante  supports Health Secretary Ted Herbosa’s decision to stop purchasing bivalent vaccines.

“Current circulating COVID variants are  lineages of XBB and not BA.4, BA.5 anymore… bivalent vaccine will not produce antibodies specific against XBB, thus it can’t protect anyone exposed to XBB-related variants,” he noted.

Latest  Biosurveillance Report of  DOH showed from August 2023 onwards, XBB and its sublineages were  most detected variants, comprising 92.91 percent of samples sequenced with assigned lineages.

Government’s vaccination program should now focus on  elderly,  immunocompromised and those with comorbidities, Solante said.

“If we want to protect  vulnerable, we should get monovalent XBB variant-specific vaccines instead,” he added, noting  jabs should be made available for free.

Meanwhile ,Philippines has recorded over 18,000 typhoid cases this year, according to the DOH.

In its latest Disease Surveillance report,  DOH said 18,176 typhoid cases were reported from Jan. 1 to Oct. 7  39 percent increase compared to  13,117 recorded during  same period last year.

Cordillera Administrative Region recorded  highest number of cases at 2,962 followed by Northern Mindanao with 1,977 and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) with 1,593.

Compared to last year, Central Luzon recorded  highest increase in cases at 191 percent or from 345 to 1,005 cases.

Mimaropa posted an increase of cases at 153 percent or from 590 to 1,491 while Soccsksargen logged an increase of 125 percent or from 521 to 1,170.

Data from  DOH Epidemiological Bureau also showed  there were 64 deaths due to typhoid fever this year, while 58 died last year.

Central Visayas recorded  highest number of typhoid-related deaths with 11. This was followed by Cagayan Valley with 8 deaths while Western Visayas and BARMM recorded six deaths each.

Typhoid fever is  life-threatening infection caused by bacterium Salmonella typhi. It is usually spread through contaminated food or water.

As these developed Philippines has no plans of acquiring more COVID bivalent vaccines as it was found to increase antibodies for old strains of virus, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said.

Herbosa said  country has consumed all 390,000 bivalent vaccines that came from the Lithuanian government in June.

“Apparently, what was discovered was  bivalent is not as effective, because it increases your antibodies to  original, not later ones…so, it’s like 70 percent of  antibodies triggered or still  older ones, in that case, it doesn’t really protect you from the newer variant” Herbosa said.

Herbosa said US pharmaceutical company Moderna has released  new monovalent COVID shot targeting  XBB Omicron strain.

“They changed again their formula and created monovalent XBB…we will still think whether we will need that, depending on our increase in cases,” he said, referring to Moderna.

Herbosa said DOH has not recorded increase in  infection like Singapore, experiencing  surge in cases primarily driven by two variants – EG.5 and its sub-lineage HK.3 – both descendants of  XBB Omicron variant.

Herbosa said symptoms are still mild and there were no reported deaths because of new COVID strains.

“We have to watch out for it…we are hoping that the fact that most Filipinos are completely vaccinated against COVID, symptoms will be mild and this new variety is also like upper respiratory mild infection,” he said.

DOH’s epidemiology bureau has been monitoring increase of influenza-like illness, Herbosa said.

He said there are some schools  converted to online blended learning because some of  students contracted influenza-like ilnesses.

“It’s during  rainy season when respiratory illness increases because we need to close windows, we are in enclosed spaces and people can really get infected,” he said.

Herbosa reminded public, especially  elderly, to avail themselves of flu shots.

“It’s still flu season, get  flu shot…we have flu shots at DOH…if you are high risk, especially elderly and senior citizens, get your flu shots, let’s practice again things we learned during COVID like wearing  face mask if you have cough, colds or respiratory illness,” he said.

 Total  of 151,375 influenza-like illnesses have been recorded as of Oct. 13.

Figure  is 45 percent higher than 104,613 cases reported during  same period last year.