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Latest new from all over the Philippines.

Watch Former-President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte first appearance at the ICC

March 16, 2025

On 10 February 2025, the Office of the Prosecutor of the ICC applied for an arrest warrant against Mr Duterte for the crimes against humanity of murder, torture and rape. The Chamber assessed the material submitted by the Prosecution and found reasonable grounds to believe that Mr Duterte is individually responsible as an indirect co-perpetrator for the crime against humanity of murder, allegedly committed in the Philippines between 1 November 2011 and 16 March 2019.

The warrant of arrest against Mr Duterte was issued by the Chamber as “Secret” on 7 March 2025 and reclassified as “Public” on 11 March 2025. On 12 March 2025, Mr Duterte was surrendered to the International Criminal Court after being arrested by the authorities of the Republic of the Philippines in accordance with the warrant of arrest. He is currently in ICC custody.

The Philippines, an ICC State Party since 1 November 2011, deposited a written notification of withdrawal from the Statute on 17 March 2018. Under article 127 of the Statute, that withdrawal took effect on 17 March 2019. Nevertheless, the ICC retains jurisdiction over crimes allegedly committed in the Philippines while the country was a State Party to the Statute.

For the sake of transparency, ICC made all documents available online including the Warrant of Arrest, so we can be informed on all the things that the ICC is doing.

The Pre-Trial concluded by stating that the confirmation of charges hearing to begin on 23 September 2025.

Disney release official trailer of Live Action Lilo & Stitch

March 13, 2025

ʻOhana means family. Family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten. 💙

The film is directed by Dean Fleischer Camp with screenplay by Chris Kekaniokalani Bright. The film is based on Disney’s 2002 animated film of the same name.

Casts

  • Maia Kealoha as Lilo Pelekai
  • Chris Sanders as the voice of Stitch
  • Sydney Elizebeth Agudong as Nani Pelekai
  • Zach Galifianakis as Dr. Jumba Jookiba
  • Billy Magnussen as Agent Pleakley
  • Tia Carrere as Mrs. Kekoa
  • Hannah Waddingham as the voice of the Grand Councilwoman
  • Courtney B. Vance as Cobra Bubbles

The live action remake of Lilo & Stitch will be in theaters this May 23rd.

Philippine Airlines investing ₱10 million to support aspiring Women Pilots

March 12, 2025

Philippine Airlines (PAL) just announced that they will be investing ₱10 million to “support aspiring women pilots” thru their “Fly With Her” Program (the “Program”) in partnership with PAL Foundation. With the “Fly With Her” Program, PAL aims to close the gender gap in the aviation industry, specially within their ranks since there are currently over 80 women pilots fly for PAL, which is just 9% of our pilot roster.

Here’s the full text of PAL’s official statement;

MANILA, Philippines – Philippine Airlines (PAL) seeks to address the gender gap in aviation through its Fly With Her program, which helps women pursue their dream of flying for the nation’s flag carrier. It recently pledged P10 million to the PAL Foundation, which oversees the scholarship program for women pilots.

“As we celebrate International Women’s Day, we reiterate our support to women who dream of flying for and even assuming top positions in the PAL organization,” said Alvin M. Miranda, PAL Vice President for Marketing.

Apart from the P10 million pledge, PAL will release a film inspired by a real-life story of a young girl who dreamed of becoming a pilot.

“When little girls see women take on leadership roles, it inspires them to do the same and possibly go beyond,” said Lilybeth T. Ng, PAL Assistant Vice President for Pilot Affairs.

The gender gap in aviation remains significant, with only around 6% of pilots worldwide being women.

An Ally of Women in Aviation

PAL has long been a staunch supporter of women in the airline industry. In 1989, its very own Captain Aimee Carandang-Gloria became Southeast Asia’s first woman commercial airline pilot to fly a commercial flight. She broke barriers again in 1993, by becoming the region’s first woman airline captain. PAL continues to lead the way in opening doors for women in the male-dominated industry.

PAL continues to work for clearer and more inclusive skies in aviation, on the strength of its signature service of #CareThatComesFromTheHeart.

Know more about the Fly with Her Program and PAL’s advocacy towards women in aviation by visiting https://www.philippineairlines.com/FlyWithHer

For those interested to joint the “Fly With Her” Program you can visit the FLY WITH HER PROGRAM for details like Eligibility Criteria, Selection Process and, where and how to apply.

Breaking: Former-President Rodrigo Duterte arrested in ICC Probe

March 11, 2025

Former-President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested as soon as he returned from Hong Kong aboard a commercial flight landing at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 on Tuesday, March 11. Duterte spent the weekend in Hong Kong campaigning to the Filipino community.

Rodrigo Duterte was arrested because of the warrant issued by ICC, which is in connection to the Former-President’s drug war, that killed as many as 27,000 suspects.

You can follow this breaking news from Rappler.

NLEX Toll prices to increase beginning March 2nd 2025

March 1, 2025

North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) just announced that they’re increasing the toll rates this Sunday, March 2, 2025. In their official announcement, “Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) has authorized NLEX to adjust its toll by ₱5.00 in the open system and ₱0.72 per kilometer in the closed system effective March 2, 2025.”

NLEX added that “under the new toll fee matrix, motorists traveling anywhere within the open system will pay an additional ₱5 for Class 1 vehicles (regular cars and SUVs), ₱13 for Class 2 vehicles (buses and small trucks), and ₱15 for Class 3 vehicles.”

“Those traveling the full length of NLEX between Metro Manila and Mabalacat City will pay an additional ₱57 for Class 1 vehicles, ₱142 for Class 2 vehicles, and ₱171 for Class 3 vehicles.”

“The open system runs from Metro Manila in the cities of Navotas, Valenzuela, and Caloocan to Marilao, Bulacan, while the closed system covers the portion between Bocaue, Bulacan, and Sta. Ines, Mabalacat City, Pampanga, as well as Subic-Tipo.”

You can read the full text of NLEX announcement here or from their social media accounts (embeded below);

Marikina City to hold its first Car-Free Sundays start March 2nd

March 1, 2025

Heads-up to all motorist headed to Marikina, since the City is holding its first ever car-free Sunday starting this March 2nd, 2025. A section of the Gil Fernando Avenue will be closed to vehicles from 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM this coming Sunday, March2, 2025.

Marikina’s car-free Sundays is similar to what Makati City is doing along Ayala Avenue and Quezon City along Tomas Morato Avenue.

In an article by Climate Change Commission, “Car-free zones also encourage physical activity, offering residents a safer, cleaner environment for walking and cycling. With fewer cars on the streets, the risk of road accidents decreases, and the air becomes more breathable, reducing the occurrence of respiratory diseases. Promoting active lifestyles has long-term benefits in addressing obesity and other health conditions tied to inactivity.”

Other Metro Manila Cities implementing Car-Free Sundays are “Roxas Boulevard and Intramuros in Manila, People’s Streets in Pasig, Fifth Avenue in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, Ayala Avenue in Makati, Greenfield District in Mandaluyong, Spectrum Midway in Filinvest, Muntinlupa, and the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City“

Luka lead the Lakers to win over Nuggets (123 – 100)

February 23, 2025

Luka Doncic lead the Lakers to finally break the Nuggets winning streak. Luka score a team high of 32 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists. LeBron James, Austin Reaves, and Rui Hachimura added a total of 69 points, scoring 25, 23, and 21 points, respectively.

The Lakers built a 14-point lead by the end of the 1st quarter, but the Nuggets cut it to just one point by the start of the 3rd. Then, Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura led the Lakers to a 26-point lead.

The Nuggets lead by Aaron Gordon with 24 points, followed by 19 points by Jamal Murray and a triple-double 12 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists by Nikila Jokic.

The Lakers host the Mavericks, in a much anticipated match this Tuesday night and the Nuggets will visit Indiana on Monday evening.

Saudi Government officially uveil the currency symbol for Saudi Riyals

February 23, 2025

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has officially unveil the symbol for the Saudi Riyals.

In a press release by Saudi Central Bank (SAMA);

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, approved today, February 20, 2025, the Saudi riyal symbol; a historic move that will reinforce the Saudi currency’s identity.

The Governor of the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA), H.E. Ayman M. Al-Sayari, extends his profound appreciation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and HRH Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, for launching the Saudi riyal symbol.

Al-Sayari noted that this decision reinforces Saudi Arabia’s financial identity, locally, regionally, and internationally. He indicated that the implementation of the new symbol will be gradual for financial and commercial transactions, with coordination across all relevant entities.​​​

Saudi Riyal Symbol

The agency explained that “the Saudi riyal symbol, developed to the highest technical standards, embodies the Kingdom’s rich cultural heritage, carrying the name of our national currency “Riyal” in a design derived from Arabic calligraphy. The symbol will streamline the representation of the Saudi riyal in local, regional, and international contexts, making it suitable for use in referring to the Saudi riyal in all financial and commercial transactions.”

Before the announcement of the Saudi Riyals symbol, SAR, SR or the Arabic equivalent ريال or الريال السعودي, is the one being used.

Secretary Enrique A. Manalo to visit Munich, Germany, London and UK to talk about Regional Developments and Strengthen Bilateral Relations

February 13, 2025

Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique A. Manalo will travel to Munich, Germany, and London, UK, from February 14-19, 2025. His trip focuses on discussions with international partners regarding regional issues and strengthening bilateral ties, particularly concerning the rules-based international order and the rule of law.

In Munich (February 14-16), Secretary Manalo will participate in the 61st Munich Security Conference (MSC), a leading international security forum. He will lead a roundtable discussion on “Making Waves: Maritime Tensions in the Indo-Pacific” on February 15th. He also plans to meet with several counterparts on the sidelines of the MSC, including the US Secretary of State and the European Commission’s Vice-President and High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

Following the MSC, Secretary Manalo will travel to London for bilateral meetings with UK officials. He will also engage with Asia House, a think tank connecting businesses and governments, and participate in a dialogue with Chatham House, a prominent international affairs think tank.

These visits are significant, occurring after the Philippines’ 70th anniversary of relations with Germany in 2024 and preceding the 80th anniversary of diplomatic ties with the UK in 2026.

Watch this Nike Super Bowl Ad Featuring Women Basketball stars Caitline Clark, A’ja Wilson, Sabrina Ionescu and Juju Watkins

February 10, 2025

There’s one guarantee in sport. You’ll be told you can’t do it. So do it anyway.

You can’t win. So Win.

Here are the athletes featured in the ad (alphabetically);

  • Indiana Fever Guard Caitlin Clark
  • American Gymnast Jordan Chiles
  • New York Liberty Guard Sabrina Ionescu
  • USC Guard JuJu Watkins
  • Portland Thorns Forward Sophia Wilson
  • Las Vegas Aces Center A’ja Wilson
  • Barcelona Midfielder Alexia Putellas
  • American Sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson
  • Belarusian Tennis Player Aryna Sabalenka

Looks like Women’s sports is on the rise!

ABS-CBN statement on House Bills 11252 seeking to grant ABS-CBN a franchise

January 8, 2025

Here’s the full text below;

While we were not aware of Rep. Joey Salceda’s filing of a bill to grant a broadcast franchise to ABS-CBN today, we are deeply grateful for his support and belief in ABS-CBN’s contributions and mission to serve the Filipino public.

We would also like to express our sincerest thanks to Reps. Gabriel Bordado Jr., Arlene Brosas, France Castro, Raoul Manuel, Johnny Pimentel, and Rufus Rodriguez, who have previously filed similar bills.

Cong. Joey Salceda files a House Bill 11252 to ABS-CBN franchise

January 8, 2025

Albay Rep. Joey Salceda has filed House Bill 11252, which seek to renew the franchise of ABS-CBN, almost 5 years since the House of Representatives under the Duterte administration revoked the media giant’s bid to renew its franchise.

The bill states;

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), during House deliberations on the ABS-CBN franchise in the previous Congress, certified that the franchise grantee did not violate ownership restrictions and did not have pending tax liabilities.

The non-renewal of the franchise, however, cost some 11,000 direct jobs. This representation also argued that the information asymmetries that resulted from the loss of an information source caused thousands of new COVID-19 infections during the critical 2020 period.

Prior to the rejection of the franchise renewal, some 36% of Filipinos derived their news and entertainment from the channel. ABS-CBN’s extensive regional network reach was also the source for news and updates on impending disasters, making the channel crucial then to disaster risk reduction strategies at the local level.
Given the merits of renewing the franchise, as well as the clarifications made by government agencies over certain allegations against the grantee, this representation urges Congress to reconsider the non-renewal of the franchise by the previous Congress.

It remains to be seen if the current House of Representatives under Marcos Jr. Admin will grant ABS-CBN to renew its franchise.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas unveil Philippines First Polymer Banknote Series

December 19, 2024

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has officially unveil the country’s first polymer banknote series. The new polymer banknote series will include denominations of ₱500, ₱P100 and ₱50, which will enter circulation in the first quarter of 2025.

BPS explained that the new Polymer Banknote Series will feature “country’s heroes and natural wonders, the polymer series highlights the Philippines’ rich biodiversity.”

BSP emphasizes the practical benefits of polymer banknotes, including enhanced resistance to counterfeiting and improved durability. These features ensure that the new notes are not only aesthetically significant but also cost-efficient and secure.

You can watch this 3:30 mins video (below) on the features of the new polymer banknote series;

The ceremony was lead by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. at the President’s Hall in Malacañang Palace.

Third impeachment complaint filed against Vice President Sara Duterte

December 19, 2024

Fr. Joselito Sarabia explains why they filed the impeachment.

Here’s the official statement of House Secretary General Reginald S. Velasco on the second impeachment complaint filed against VP Sara Duterte;

The filing of impeachment complaints underscores the seriousness of the allegations and highlights the vital role of Congress in upholding transparency and accountability in government. The House is committed to performing its Constitutional duty with fairness, impartiality, and respect for the rule of law.

As for the first impeachment complaint, you can read this article from Rappler.com, it also embed the entirety of the complaint;

The document listed four grounds for her removal in office, each with their own articles for impeachment.

Among the issues raised against her are her supposed failure to account for the public funds she oversaw as head of the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education, her alleged ill-gotten wealth, her inaction during the onslaught of a super typhoon in the Philippines, her silence during instances of Chinese aggression in the West Philippine Sea, and her supposed public threats against top officials, among others.

You can also read this PNA article regarding the first impeachment complaint filed against Vice President Sara Duterte.

‘Every Filipino life is worth saving’: How PNoy stopped Mary Jane Veloso’s execution in 2015

December 18, 2024

‘EVERY FILIPINO LIFE IS WORTH SAVING’

Former Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Jose Rene Almendras reveals how the late former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III went to extraordinary lengths to save Mary Jane Velos just hours before her scheduled execution in 2015. #AtTheForefront

Just in case people forget or have amensia, this is where the foundation was formed that made it possible for Mary Jane Veloso to return home to the Philippines.

Apple to open its first retail store in Saudi Arabia

December 9, 2024

Apple announced plans to expand in Saudi Arabia, starting with the launch of an online store in summer 2025 and opening physical stores in 2026, including a flagship location in Diriyah, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The expansion includes existing investments in the country, including the Apple Developer Academy in Riyadh, which opened in Riyadh in 2021 in partnership with the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Tuwaiq Academy, and Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University. The program has trained nearly 2,000 aspiring feamale coders, designers, and entrepreneurs. Apple hosted the country’s first coed Apple Foundation Program. A monthlong course for students from across the country to learn the fundamentals of coding and app development, with a focus on gaming. Apple plans to further expand the coed Foundation offerings, with the next cohort planned for spring 2025.

Apple has emphasizes its commitment to Saudi Arabia, highlighting investments, job creation, and the growth of the app economy, with developer earnings increasing up over 1,750 percent since 2019. Apple Pay is also gaining traction in the country, with Riyadh being the first city in the Middle East to offer Express Mode for transit payments.

Price for the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y

November 9, 2024

Now that Tesla has opened its doors in the country, car buyers will surely have Tesla as their first option, specially if you compare its price with the Chinese brand EVs.

You can go to the Tesla Philippines website if you want to order your own Tesla. I personally would be getting the Long Range (AWD) variant of the Model Y.

via All Things EV;

Just like in other countries, you can order your own Tesla directly online, the company rarely sell thru a distributor or a reseller.

The Model 3 is the EV sedan, while the Model Y is the crossover EV that features the iconic “falcon-wing doors.” Both model will be available in 3 variant; the Rear–Wheel Drive, Long Range AWD and Performance AWD.

The base model for the Model 3 (RWD) will have an estimated range of 513kn, top speed of 201 km/h and with an acceleration of 0-100 km/h in 6.21 secs.

Model 3

  • Rear–Wheel Drive – ₱2,109,000
  • Long Range (AWD) – ₱2,489,000
  • Performance (AWD) – ₱3,099,000

The base model for the Model Y (RWD) on the other hand will have an estimated range of 455km, top speed of 217km/h and with an acceleration of 0-100 km/h in 6.9 secs.

Model Y

  • Rear–Wheel Drive – ₱2,369,000
  • Long Range (AWD) – ₱2,689,000
  • Performance (AWD) – ₱3,299,000

Jollibee to acquire Tim Ho Wan for ₱892.29M

November 6, 2024
Jollibee to acquire Tim Ho Wan for ₱892.29M

Jollibee Foods Corp. (JFC) to acquire full ownership and control of Tim Ho Wan, a Hong Kong-based dim sum restaurant.

In an article on BusinessWorld, the deal to acquire Tim Ho Wan is worth S$20.2 million or around ₱892.29 million, which is only for the remaining 8% participating interest held by the other investors in Tim Ho Wan (Titan Dining LP).

Before this transaction, Jollibee Worldwide Pte. Ltd. (JWPL), already owns 92% participating interest in Titan Dining LP, since January 2024.

Once done, the ownership and management of Tim Ho Wan (Titan Dining LP) will transfer to Jollibee Worldwide Pte. Ltd. (JWPL), the fast-food operator said in a statement to the stock exchange on Tuesday. Jollibee Worldwide Pte. Ltd. is a subsidiary of Jollibee Foods Corp. (JFC).

Orignated in Hong Kong, Tim Ho Wan, has around 80 stores across 11 countries and will be the Jollibee group’s flagship brand for high-end Chinese cuisine market.

Aside from Tim Ho Wan, Jollibee Foods Corps, also have other Chinese-Style Resto brands under its umbrella like Chow King, Panda Express, Hong Zhuang Yuan and Yonghe King.

Indiana Fever announces Stephanie White as new Head Coach

November 2, 2024
Indiana Fever announces Stephanie White as new Head Coach

Five days after parting ways with Christie Sides, the Indiana Fever announces that their new Head Coach will be Stephanie White.

She will inherit an up and coming Indiana Fever, lead by Caitlin Clark and last year’s Rookie of the Year Aliyah Boston.

An Indiana native, Stephanie White earn the moniker Indiana Miss Basketball at Seeger High School in West Lebanon, then in college while in Purdue, led the Boilermakers to the 1999 NCAA National Championship.

Stephanie White spent five seasons in the WNBA, the majority with the Fever, joining the team for their inaugural season in 2000. Her contributions to the franchise are significant, as she ranks among the top 20 in games played, assists, steals, and three-point field goals made.

Stephanie White is a seasoned WNBA coach, spending 17 seasons of experience as a player and coach in the league. She previously led the Indiana Fever, guiding them to the 2015 WNBA Finals and the 2016 playoffs. Her coaching journey also includes assistant roles with the Fever, Chicago Sky, and various collegiate teams, highlighting her diverse experience and strategic acumen.

In addition to their announcement, the Indiana Fever release a tribute video of Stephanie White’s basketball career.

BYD Cars Philippines opens its first dealership in Central Luzon

October 22, 2024
BYD Cars Philippines opens its first dealership in Central Luzon

BYD Philippines just opened its first dealership store in Pampanga. BYD Pampanga is located along the Olongapo Gapan Road in the City of San Fernando, Capital of the province of Pampanga, the 4,000sqm facility is a showroom, test drive and service center rolled into one.

BYD Pampanga also has 3 charging stations, an ideal for those travelling in their BYD EVs then passing Central Luzon. The EV chargers of varies in capacity (7kW AC, 22kW AC, and 60kW DC) to cater to each customer’s charging needs.

For more information, you can go to their official FB page @bydpampanga or website BY Pampanga

BYD Pampanga is one of the 24 facilities nationwide that BYD Philippines plans to open by the end of 2024.

This article was originally published on allthingsev.net as BYD Cars Philippines opens its first dealership in Central Luzon.

76 more OFW arrived from Lebanon who – DMW

October 21, 2024
76 more OFW arrived from Lebanon who – DMW

Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) announce that seventy-six overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) with two dependents from Lebanon arrived safely at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in Pasay City on Sunday, October 20, 2024, aboard Emirates EK 334.

This batch of repatriation brings the total number of 636 OFWs and 32 dependents from Lebanon who have been repatriated under the government’s voluntary repatriation program.

Department of Foreign Affairs’ Level 3 travel advisory for Lebanon still stands even though the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel has escalated after “Hezbollah confirmed that its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, had been killed in an Israeli air strike on residential buildings in Beirut.”

DFA’s Level 3 travel advisory means repatriation is still voluntary for all OFW in the country.

Source: @dmw.gov.ph

Riyadh City as Seen on Space

October 19, 2024

European Space Agency;

Situated in the central region of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh serves as the nation’s legislative, financial, administrative, diplomatic and commercial hub, home to over seven million inhabitants.

Covering an area of around 1550 sq km, the city sits at approximately 600 m above sea level on the eastern part of the Najd plateau in the Arabian Peninsula. Like much of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh has a desert climate with extreme summer temperatures that can reach up to 50°C.

The image prominently features the city’s grid-like street system, which consists of square blocks measuring around two km one each side, forming an extensive network across the urban landscape.

Earth from Space: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

It’s hard to get lost when you know that you will always end up on same road if you keep turning right. Also, as beautiful as this picture, the photo of Riyadh at night that NASA released in 2012 is much dramatic and detailed.

PRC announces the October 2024 Physicians Licensure Examination Results

October 19, 2024

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) just release the result for the October 2024 Physicians Licensure Examination. Out of the 6600 examinee, 3845 passed the board exam, a 58.26% passing rate. PRC also said that they will release the result this Monday, October 21, 2024.

Top performing Schools with more than 100 examinees with at least 80% Passing rate;

  1. UP Manila – 96.97% Passing rate
  2. Cebu Institute of Medicine – 95.31% Passing rate
  3. St. Luke’s Medical Center College of Med – William H. Quasha Mem. Inc. – 95.19% Passing rate
  4. Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila – 95.16% Passing rate
  5. University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Mem Medical Center – 92.92% Passing rate
  6. UST – 89.29% Passing rate
  7. West Visayas State University – La Paz – 87.00% Passing rate
  8. Ateneoi School of Medicine and Public Health – 86.18% Passing rate
  9. Saint Louis Univerity – 83.23% Passing rate

Top 10 Examinees in the October 2024 Physicians Licensure Examination;

  1. Isaac Edron Jones Orig – Davao Medical School Foundation – 89.33%
  2. Rolter Lorenz Mispenas Lee – University of Santo Tomas – 89.25%
  3. Jerickson Rodney Ngo Cua – UP Manila – 89.17%
  4. Nijell Tui Potencioso – Cebu Institute of Medicine – 89.8%
  5. Kiel Christian Dimaculangan Alday – University of Santo Tomas – 88.83%
  6. Ryan Delfin Parungao Encarnacion – UP Manila – 88.33%
  7. Frances Dominique Velasco Ho – UP Manila – 88.00%
  8. Anne Corine Arellano Ramos – FEU Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation – 87.83%
  9. Christian Lloyd Ang Loo – Cebu Institute of Medicine – 87.75%
  10. Chelseah Denise Hernandez Torres – University of Santo Tomas – 87.67%

For the complete list of Physicians Licensure Exam passer, you can click here.

Eight New Electric Bus to arrive in Quezon City to provide Free Transport Services

October 17, 2024

Eight (8) new electric bus have been acquired by Quezon City to expand its bus fleet to provide free rides to residents and reduce air pollution. The new buses will join the existing fleet of gasoline-powered buses, which serve over 145,000 commuters weekly. This initiative aligns with the city’s broader goal of transitioning to electric vehicles and improving air quality.

This initiative aligns with the city’s broader push towards electrification to combat air pollution, as transportation accounts for 69% of particulate emissions (PM2.5). With Manila’s air quality exceeding WHO recommendations, the electric buses are an important step toward cleaner, healthier air for all.

The new electric buses join a fleet of over 100 gasoline-powered buses currently serving 145,000 commuters weekly. As part of its commitment to sustainable transportation, Quezon City aims to transition its entire fleet to electric vehicles, including e-trikes, in the near future. Charging infrastructure is already in place to support this transition.

Top gear Philippines reports that “The electric buses have a 41-passenger seating capacity, plus space to accommodate standing passengers. Safety features include handrails, fire suppression and emergency equipment, CCTV cameras, and smart TVs. For persons with disability, there are also wheelchair ramps to aid ingress and egress”

This initiative aligns with the city’s participation in the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, its commitment to the Paris Agreement, and its compliance with the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (EVIDA Law).

Source: Quezon City Local Economic Investment Promotions Office (LEIPOQC)

Law removing mother tongue in K-3 to improve education quality — Romulo

October 13, 2024

Giselle Ombay, GMA Integrated News;

House Basic Education Committee Chairperson and Pasig lawmaker Roman Romulo on Sunday said that the law discontinuing the use of the mother tongue as a medium of instruction from kindergarten to grade 3 could help improve the quality of education in the country.

I can list a number of countries that uses their “mother tongue” or “native language” as a medium of instruction and they are one of the places in the world that have “high quality of education.”

With Republic Act No. 12027, the medium of instruction shall revert to Filipino and, until otherwise provided by law, English.

Meanwhile, the regional languages shall serve as auxiliary media of instruction.

The best solution for this is to just give the teachers a very competitive compensation, a great career development and incentives if they stay in the profession.

Here’s a comparison, in Thailand in English teacher can earn an average salary of THB 35000 (Thai Baht) or around ₱60k per month, while in the Philippines, Filipino English teachers earn an average salary of ₱23,000 per month.

Classes and Government Work in Manila and Pasay Suspended

October 10, 2024

Malacañang suspends class and government work in the Manila and Pasay City from Monday to Tuesday, October 14th-15th, to give way to the opening of the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR) at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC).

The announcement was made via Memorandum Circular 66 issued by Malacañang.

Converge announces Netflix and Fiber X bundle

October 10, 2024

Converge, one of Philippines leading ISP, announced “the new Converge Netflix Bundle, where new and existing FiberX customers will be able to have both an internet and Netflix plan, all in one. The new offering aims to provide countless entertainment options and a better streaming experience for FiberX users.”

The new Converge Netflix Bundle will include a FiberX plan that offers 325 Mbps speeds, a Netflix subscription with a lock-in period of 36 months, a new WiFi-6 Next Gen Modem, and a Converge Xperience Box with Freemium Channels — all put together into one subscription for the convenience of the customer.

The new Converge Netflix Bundle starts at Php 1,798 per month, inclusive of a Converge FiberX plan with boosted speeds of 325 Mbps, a WiFi6 modem, a Converge Xperience Box, and a Basic Netflix subscription that can support one HD stream at a time. Customers can avail of more premium bundles that can support multiple devices streaming at the same time and can offer additional Boost Modes with speeds of up to 200 Mbps. For existing subscribers, the Converge Netflix Bundle is available as an exclusive add-on starting at Php 298 per month.