TODAY’S GOD’S MESSAGE

Psalm 16:8

⁸ I keep my eyes always on the Lord.
    With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

19 Agosto 2024, Lunes

Happy third birthday with father God Cynthia Lopez

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‘Waste segregation in DepEd curriculum’

By J.Lo

“We started with three schools, but we will expand to reach most of these LGUs ,local government units in all  public schools…we are now expanding it to  other public elementary and high schools,” Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST) director Francis Macatulad pushed for  inclusion of waste segregation and use of environment-friendly products to be part of  curriculum of  Department of Education (DepEd).

Three schools in Manila, Parañaque and Pasay City are  pilot areas in  teaching on importance of preserving  environment, according to Macatulad.

He stressed  memorandum of agreement (MOA) has been signed with Manila, Parañaque and Pasay LGUs to incorporate  conservation of natural resources and proper waste disposal in the curriculum.

“Modules are designed to simplify  concept of circularity for schoolchildren and highlight  importance of preserving  environment… learning materials emphasize simple acts such as properly segregating waste and choosing environment-friendly products go  long way toward sustainability,” Macatulad said.

He added that under  MOA, ASSIST would provide training and teaching materials to  teachers in  three schools.

“We want  sustainability of  project where we provide training to teachers and they can continue teaching  next batch of students until end of the year and most importantly, we also monitor  cascading of learnings from teachers to students…we want to reach as many as possible…we actually have partnerships with various schools around Manila Bay…we will work with  DepEd and representatives of  LGUs,” Macatulad said.

Meanwhile, Circular Explorer project manager Christine Bellen  targets at least 10 schools this year to be covered by project.

“We will provide  resources and  teachers can work within their pace how they will roll it out,” she stressed.

University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UPMSI) is working with  groups in  effort to rehabilitate Manila Bay.

Circular Explorer,  solar-powered operated vessel, had collected at least 40,000 kilos of marine litter as of  end of last month, about 40 percent plastic, as part of joint rehabilitation efforts by government and private sector, according to Bellen.

She noted  UPMSI scientists gather information about marine pollution in Manila Bay using oceanographic sensors and  microplastic collector.

She added  Circular Explorer serves not only as  trash boat, but also as  research vessel.

“Every Monday and Wednesday are dedicated for our scientists,” Bellen said. 

19 Agosto 2024, Lunes

Happy third birthday with father God Cynthia Lopez

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GMA probe formal complaint fr Sandro Muhlach vs 2 contractors

By Cynthia Montojo

“GMA Network has  received  formal complaint from Sparkle artist Sandro Muhlach against two GMA independent contractors, Jojo Nones and Richard Cruz,” GMA said. 

GMA Network received  formal complaint from Sparkle actor Sandro Muhlach regarding  incident involving two of its independent contractors.

In  statement released earlier,  network  had already initiated its own investigation prior to receiving  formal complaint. 

“Recognizing  seriousness of the alleged incident, GMA Network had already initiated its own investigation event before receiving  formal complaint, Network assures  public and all stakeholders of its commitment to conducting this investigation with  highest standards of fairness and impartiality, ” it stressed. 

GMA  will investigate the case with “fairness and impartiality.” 

“Respecting Sandro’s request for request for confidentiality,  investigating body will withhold all details of  formal investigation until its conclusion,” it said. 

Niño Muhlach recently penned  cryptic post amid  issue surrounding  GMA-7 artist and independent contractors. 

In his Facebook account, Niño wrote: “INUMPISAHAN NYO, TATAPUSIN KO!”

Niño is the father of Sandro.  

19 Agosto 2024, Lunes

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Darren Espanto rushed recovery of appendicitis

By Cynthia Montojo

“From airport to  hospital, sabi sa inyo grabeng plot twist ang nangyari sa akin e,” Darren Espanto shared on his Instagram Stories  saddened to cancel his upcoming shows, but he had to because he had to undergo surgery for appendicitis. 

The singer shared his scary health update on his Instagram Stories. 

“Appendicitis suddenly hit during my flight back to Manila,” he stressed. 

Darren revealed that he was supposed to do his hosting duties for Saturday airing of noontime show “It’s Showtime.” 

He was not able to join his co-hosts because of his medical emergency. “To the producers of the shows I was supposed to be part of in the next few days, I am so sad to have to cancel so last minute,” he said. 

Darren hopes to work with them in another project and thanked them for understanding. 

Among  events he was supposed to attend were  Tandaya Festival for  Samar Day Celebration, August 11. 

Darren’s agency, Star Magic, released  statement that informs  public about his non-attendance to the event due to his condition.

19 Agosto 2024, Lunes

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US court favored Pacquiao in case vs sports management firm

By J.Lo

“Mr. Attar did not believe anyone at Paradigm had  manager’s license in 2019… Mr. Attar testified that he did not personally have and that no one at Paradigm had  promoter’s license in 2019, 2020 and 2021,” California court has ruled  “void”  contract entered by Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao and  sports management company, ending three-year legal battle between  two sides. 

In  decision dated August 12, 2024, Superior Court of  State of California judge Walter Schwarm said contracts entered by Pacquiao and Paradigm Sports Management are “illegal,” a year after attorneys of  eight-division champion filed  motion stating that Paradigm was not properly licensed as manager under California law. 

Decision  said  Paradigm chief executive officer Audie Attar “testified he did not believe he had  manager’s license for boxers in  State of California in 2019, and he did not recall if he had such  license in 2020 and 2021.” 

Citing  certificate of non-licensure dated April 18, 2023,  decision also stated California State Athletic Commission certified  Attar was licensed as  manager from April 14, 2016 to April 30, 2017, but his “license expired after he did not complete  required annual renewal.” 

“Court finds for Mr. Pacquiao on declaratory relief cause of action and declares  contract void due to illegality,” decision read. 

Pacquiao’s lawyer, Atty. Jason Aniel, said  their camp is “pleased” with the decision.

“After hearing Paradigm Sports Management’s objections to  tentative decision,  court decided  contract that Paradigm sought to enforce Mr. Pacquiao was illegal as Paradigm was not properly licensed,” he said in  statement. 

“This decision negates jury’s findings back in May of 2023…we thank  court’s time and effort in this matter… Mr. Pacquiao thanks his fans for their patience while  court fully resolved all  legal issues,” he added.

MP Promotions president Sean Gibbons, for his part, also lauded  decision. 

“Manny Pacquiao has finally proven innocent…he did nothing wrong as  Superior Court of California has already announced its final statement of decision declaring contract offered by Paradigm was void due to illegality.” 

Last year,  US jury ordered Pacquiao to pay $5.1 million to Paradigm , $3.3 million for Pacquiao’s alleged breach of contract and $1.8 million for breach of implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.

But after  couple of weeks, camp of the boxer filed  motion stating that PSM was not properly licensed as  manager under California law.

19 Agosto 2024, Lunes

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‘Hidilyn Diaz law’ revived at Hse after Carlos Yulo’s Olympic victory

By J.Lo

“A 12-year-old Carlos Yulo once gave  interview where he said his dream was to win  gold medal for Philippines in  Olympics…took him more than  decade to reach that goal in  grandest manner possible,” Rep. Joey Salceda (Albay, 2nd District) said as millions in pledges pour in for Carlos Yulo’s double-gold victory at  2024 Paris Olympics,  House ways and means committee  swiftly passed  bill seeking to exempt his and other athletes’ financial rewards from taxes and other fees. 

Still-unnumbered substitute bill amends Republic Act 10699 or National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act to grant tax exemptions for all incentives, rewards and other forms of donations to national athletes “who compete or win” in select international sports competitions.

Measure  consolidates several House bills, including House Bill 421, refiled by committee chairman  Salceda  in  19th Congress. 

Earlier  version of  bill dubbed  “Hidilyn Diaz Law” was approved by  lower chamber in  18th Congress in 2021 but failed to clear  Senate. 

Bill  was filed after Filipina weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz snagged  gold medal at 2020 Tokyo Olympics , first athlete from  Philippines to win gold at  Olympics.

In his sponsorship speech, Salceda pushed for  bill to exempt not just  cash prize handed out to winning athletes but also  donations that go to their training one year before  competition.

“What that teaches us is that  prize is never won on the day of  competition itself, but years before,” Salceda stressed.

Proposed  law also makes  tax exemption for athletes’ cash incentives retroactive to January 1 of this year. 

Prior to approving  provision, Salceda sought Department of Finance’s official position on the matter, quipping: “Please accept  retroactivity…nakahihiya kay Yulo kung babawasan mo yung ibibigay ni Manuel . Pangilinan] and Ramon Ang (It’s embarassing to Yulo if you will deduct the rewards from Manuel  Pangilinan and Ramon Ang.”

Representative from DOF  will accept  provision making  tax exemptions retroactive to January 1.

Both  DOF and Salceda also agreed to keep  taxes in place for donations with  commercial aspect.

Besides exempting donations one year before  athletes join  competition, House ways and means chairperson also proposed to make donations through  Philippine Sports Commission or  Philippine Olympic Committee tax-free regardless of the time that has passed.

“At the proper time, that can be introduced in plenary, but let me emphasize this once again: it is mere tokenism, it is mere public relations, to ride  bandwagon when victory has already been achieved…what we need to incentivize is  investments being made on athletes who are still working on winning medals for the country,” Salceda said.

Current  National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act provides  default 20% discount for national athletes in transportation services, hotels and restaurants, and  purchase of medicine and sports equipment, among others, regardless of winning any international competition.

Lower  chamber is set to award Yulo with P3 million in cash incentives for winning  gold medal in  floor exercise finals, and then another P3 million for topping vault exercise finals. 

Riding on high of Yulo’s historic back-to-back win in men’s gymnastics, House Speaker Martin Romualdez  vowed to study  possibility of increasing government benefits to medalists in  Olympics, including granting them monthly pensions for life.

Romualdez said  lifetime monthly pension would honor Filipino athletes’ contributions to the country even after retirement.  

In March, House youth and sports committee began its deliberations on House bill that provides retired Filipino Olympians with lifetime monthly pension of at least P15,000.

International Olympic Committee,  governing body of  Olympic Games, has long been concerned about  career transition prospects of competing athletes. 

In  white paper published on its website,  Olympic committee described how all athletes must eventually prepare to transition away from their elite sports career, especially as “athletes will have little to no experience of  full-time job,” and some may have “missed out on college or university due to your sporting commitments.”

l9 Agosto 2024, Lunes

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Headlines

No to e-sabong revival – solons

By Nidz Godino

“We have just defeated  enemy with  POGO ban, and now some are considering resurrecting e-sabong, far worse because it directly targets our kababayans from all walks of life,while we badly need revenues,  choice should not be between devil and  deep blue sea…we want our revenues coming from legitimate, legal, and sustainable sources,” Sen. Joel Villanueva saying e-sabong is worse than Philippine offshore gaming operators, senators are opposing proposals to revive online cockfighting to make up for  forgone revenues due to ban on POGOs.

Villanueva  said e-sabong is far worse than POGOs, as it directly targets all kinds of Filipinos, and with 34 online cockfighting aficionados missing since 2022 and believed to have been murdered.

Villanueva earlier filed Senate Bill 1281, seeking to prohibit all forms of online gambling in the country, as Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) officials raised  possibility of implementing better e-sabong or online sabong operations.

“No matter how you look at it,  social costs of gambling overshadow  intended benefits,” he said.

Sen. Imee Marcos has opposed .. proposed revival of online cockfighting. “I was really surprised. E-sabong is gone. Pogo is gone, and suddenly there’s remote sabong again…we need to stop this.”

During  public hearing at House of Representatives, PAGCOR chairperson Al Tengco believes  agency can implement better e-sabong operations,initiative generated over P6 billion in revenues a year before it was banned during  Duterte administration.

Tengco made  response after Agusan del Sur Rep. Alfelito Bascug asked him in  hearing if , PAGCOR is still considering reviving e-sabong after it was stopped, until  better set of framework and regulations are formulated.

Senate committee on public order investigated case of 34 missing sabungeros in 2022, but failed to establish their whereabouts.

Villanueva also called on law enforcement agencies, including  Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, to apply the same rigorous measures against e-sabong as they have with POGOs to prevent its resurgence.

Even during  height of their operations, senator said POGOs did not prove to be  viable solution to  government’s revenue needs, as collections accounted for only  small portion of taxes.

Similarly, prior to e-sabong ban in May 2022,  Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) reminded operators to pay their tax obligations after  Senate inquiry found them earning billions from online “talpak” or betting.

BIR and PAGCOR also failed to withhold 20 percent tax from winnings of online sabong operators since virtual cockfighting began in 2020.

In  separate Senate hearing in February 2024, PAGCOR admitted  e-sabong continues despite  prohibition. It was also found during  hearing that 789 e-sabong operations are still active, defying  ban.

“Similar to POGOs, e-sabong has brought social costs – worse, it destroys Filipino families, plunges individuals into severe debt, and even forces some to commit theft and crimes to fund their gambling habits,we cannot simply turn  blind eye to  suffering of our people who have become victims of  pitfalls of gambling….money should not be our only consideration;  welfare of our people must come first,” Villanueva said.

TODAY’S GOD’S MESSAGE

1 John 5:12

¹² Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

l8 Agosto 2024, Linggo

Happy third birthday with father God Cynthia Lopez

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Aspirants file your certificate of candidacy on October 1-8,2024

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Chavit offers P5-M reward to Carlos Yulo, family

By J.Lo

“Reward is  recognition for Yulo’s exemplary performance in  Paris Olympics and more so to  unity of  Yulo family and Yulo’s partner,” former Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis Chavit Singson has offered  P5-million reward to two-time gold medalist Carlos Yulo and his family.

According to Singson’s  press release,  reward “shall be accepted by  Yulo family and Carlos’ partner as  united front.” 

Olympian is currently dating TikToker and content creator Chloe San Jose. 

Describing Singson as  man with “deep respect for family values,”  press statement said  reward is not only offered for  Olympian’s historic feat but also as  tribute to Yulo’s family. 

Accordingly, for Singson,  family is  foundation of  person’s success and  embodiment of values  transcend generations.

“In offering this reward, I hope to send  powerful message success of  individual is never solely their own; it is shared by those who stand by them, offering love, guidance, and unwavering support.”

Singson  hopes his gesture will “inspire” other families to “cherish their unity and support each other in both triumph and challenge.” 

l8 Agosto 2024, Linggo

Happy third birthday with father God Cynthia Lopez

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Yulo ready to share, teach, coach

By Cynthia Montojo

“After po ng career ko, gusto ko rin po pumasok sa coaching and help other kids…hindi ko pa sya iniisip sa ngayon pero in the future, ‘yun po ang gusto kong gawin,” Carlos Yulo etching history in Paris Olympics is just  beginning  ultimate dream for  Philippine golden boy is to help produce more gold medal-potential gymnasts through  dedicated academy down the road.

Some are saying it should be named  Carlos Yulo Gymnastics Academy, similar to the recently launched Hidilyn Diaz Weightlifting Academy in the name of the country’s first Olympic gold medalist.

But Yulo said championing gymnastics and other sports will have to be more than that.

“Marami pa pong aspects para matulungan yung mga atleta…sana i-introduce more sports sa schools, then later on kung gusto talaga nila ituloy, nandiyan naman po yung PSC at POC para mag-accommodate ng athletes,” Yulo said, noting Japan as  perfect model example.

Yulo trained for  majority of his career in Japan under  watch of his former mentor Munehiro Kugiyima, and he could only marvel at  topnotch Japanese sports culture from  grassroots to  collegiate level.

“Siguro po sa knowledge lang tayo kulang sa sports…sa Japan po, grabe ‘yung culture ng sports nila…mas maganda na naglalaro ang mga kabataan ng kahit anong sports, gymnastics man po, athletics o basketball…gusto ko pong mag-encourage na mapalawak pa po ‘yun,” he said.

Meanwhile, there is  plan for Gymnastics Association of the Philippines to hire  foreign coach with options from Japan, Bulgaria and Australia to bolster Yulo’s program for  2028 Los Angeles Games.

“I have to see who is the best coach and there are so many who now want to coach Carlos after Paris Olympics,” said GAP president Cynthia Carrion.

This is to max out Yulo’s potential at  prime age of 24, with  massive harvest of medals still waiting to be won.

After that,  academy could be next for Yulo.

“Yes po, pangarap ko po ‘yun pero for this time, focus po muna ako sa gymnastics career,” said Yulo, who’s warmly welcomed by young gymnasts from all over the country in an Eat Bulaga guesting at the TV5.