An Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) was arrested by Taif Police for promoting methamphetamine or commonly known as shabu, Saudi General Security reported via their official twitter account (@security_gov) on Sunday, July 9, 2023. The OFW was transferred to appropriate authorities in order to make the legal actions against him.
Department of Tourism (DOT) headed by Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco have been in the hotseat lately because of the new promotional video that they released contains stock footage from different countries posing as a tourist spot in the Philippines.
Of course, a number of netizen including politician in the Philippines are critical of this blunder, prompting DOT to terminate the contract with the DDM. With all these development, social media users are trolling DOT by posting tourists spots of other countries adding the name to that of the Philippines tourist destinations.
— Ate Czarot, a different Filipino (@smurfette017) July 3, 2023
Facebook user Jenny Ranoco made her bucketlist that includes Aurora Blvd. in Cubao, Enchanted Kingdom, Eastwood, Mall of Asia and the famous Bangui Winmills in Ilocos Norte.
And last but certainly not the least, Atty. Chel Diokno jesting that his photo in the Roman Colosseum is the Intramuros in Manila.
Then this IG post of Tricia Robredo with her sisters and mother Atty. Leni Robredo, the post includes the hashtag #iykyk, which stands for “if you know, you know.” The photo was taken in Budapest, Hungary and we Matthias Church as their backdrop.
These posting may appear to nothing more than jokes for their face value, but I’m hoping that Tourism Dept. (DOT) and the country in general will be able to recover from this fiasco and move on and improve their campaigns in inviting tourists in the country.
I’ll more than happy to see a promotional video similar to this video that Tiktok user Josh Chua created;
It’s finally here, Meta has officially launched Threads, the company’s version of twitter and will compete not only with twitter but with Bluesky, another twitter rival backed by Jack Dorsey, who is the co-founder and former CEO of Twitter.
Threads will use your Instagram account for login and will support posting up to 500-character text, photos, and up to 5 minutes videos. Threads is available on iOS and Android in 100 countries, except in EU, since the company needs to iron out the local data privacy regulations.
To signup for Threads, users must have an Instagram account, where their username and verification status will carry over. Threads users can then customized their profile independently.
Under the hood, while it is currently using Instagram infrastructure, Threads will soon offer support for ActivityPub — the same decentralized social networking protocol used by Mastodon and other federated apps. Once ActivityPub takes effect, Threads will be able to widen its reach, as Mastodon’s ecosystem engages 1.7 million active users.
Meta timed the launched of Threads, specially now that Twitter have imposed a number of restrictions including rate-limit and limiting access of twitter account on TweetDeck to verified users only.
This is not the first time that Meta/Facebook tried to copy twitter, in the early days of Facebook, the company took inspiration from twitter the hashtag, verified accounts, Vine, followers and real-time conversation, among others. It’s still too early to know if Threads will be successful in taking the air out of twitter’s space but if the Elon-led twitter continue to implode, Thread may become the twitter replacement.
After being traded to the Washington Wizard for Bradley Beal, Chris Paul is yet again part of another trade with the Golden State Warriors, that will send Jordan Poole, Ryan Rollins and two draft picks to the Wizards.
This was reported by ESPN Adrian Wojnarowski and Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Warriors receive:
Chris Paul
Wizards receive:
Jordan Poole
Ryan Rollins
2030 first-round pick (protected)
2027 second-round pick
Stylistically, Paul plays a slower kind of basketball, which is different style from the the “fast pace and spaced the floor” that the Warriors are playing. Also, it does not address the “size” factor that the GSW need in order to content in the West, specially with now NBA Champs Denver Nuggets.
If Golden State does keep Chris Paul for the season, they will have at least 3 months to retool and fit Paul into their system or the Warriors to adapt to CP3’s kind of the basketball.
The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) just announced the result of the Architects Licensure Exam held in NCR, Baguio, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Legazpi, Lucena, Pampanga, Tacloban, Tuguegarao and Zamboanga this June 9 and 11, 2023. The Architects licensure exam have a passing rate of 61.12%, 2,924 passed out of 4,784 examinee.
PRC also announced that schools/ universities with high passing rate, lead by UP Diliman with 100% passing rate and PUP in Sta. Mesa with 89.47% passing rate. You check the top 5 universities below.
The top 10 examinees are as follows, which
Here’s the complete list of successful examinees;
The dates and venue for the oathtaking will be announced by PRC at a later day.
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) just announced the 21-man pool for the Gilas Pilipinas Mens basketball for FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023. The pool is a mix of old and new, as well as PBA and international players.
Below is complete list of Gilas Pilipinas Men pool for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023:
The team will be lead by Gilas Headcoach Chot Reyes. FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 will be held in 3 locations; Philippines, Indonesia and Japan. Gilas Pilipinas is part of Group A that includes Angola, Dominican Republic and Italy, their games will be in the Philippines at the Smart Araneta this 25th of August.
Riyadh Air unveil the first of two design of their fleet which blend of cutting-edge technology and timeless elegance. The name Riyadh Air can be seen across the plane and features a lavender colors with stripes design.
We are delighted to unveil the first of two #RiyadhAir livery designs, a perfect blend of cutting-edge technology and timeless elegance.
Public Investment Fund (PIF) first announce Riyadh Air in March of this year, explaining that the airline is expected to add US$20 billion to non-oil GDP growth, and create more than 200,000 direct and indirect jobs.
Saudi Astronaut Ali Alqarni who went to the International Space Station (ISS) last 22nd of May via Axiom Space’s Ax-2 mission, just a picture of Riyadh from the International Space Station (ISS). The image is a photo of a shining Riyadh at night. Astrounaut Ali Alqarni also shared a picture of the flag of Saudi Arabia inside the ISS.
لاح لي وجه الرياض في مرايا السحب 🌌 مساكم الله بالخير ياهل الرياض! هذه صورة التقطناها من محطة الفضاء الدولية للعاصمة 🛰#نحو_الفضاء
The Saudi Crew are currently conducting educational outreach and conduct innovative research experiments while in orbit. The Axiom Space’s Ax-2 mission crew are currently in orbit and are scheduled to return early June 2022.
The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) has announced that launching of “The Philippine Gazette” – a free newspaper that will cover the projects and programs of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.
PCO added that the publication will be available in LRT-2 stations Recto, Cubao, and Santolan, and PNR Tutuban stations and at the Manila North Harbor Terminal at Victory Liner Terminal in Pasay. The Philippine Gazette will be a release monthly and its first issue was released yesterday Wednesday, May 24, 2023.
The Axiom Space’s Ax-2 mission crew checks in before their long flight to the International Space Station. The 4-man crew is composed of Saudi Nationals Rayyanah Barwani and Ali Alqarni joined by Americans commander Peggy Whitson and pilot John Shoffner.
Rayyanah Barwani, who is the first Arab woman to reach orbit, graduated from the University of Otago, New Zealand with a BA in biomedical sciences, and obtained a master’s degree in biomedical sciences from Alfaisal University.
Ali Alqarni graduated from King Faisal Air Academy with a BA in aeronautical science and obtained a diploma in aeronautical science from Vance Air Force Base in the US. He is a captain in the Royal Saudi Air Force with more than 12 years of experience as a jet pilot.
Mission commander Peggy Whitson is the most experienced, having three previous trips to the ISS under her belt and 665 days in space. John Shoffner will serve as the pilot of the Dragon crew vehicle. The Axiom Space’s Ax-2 mission crew is scheduled to reached the ISS on Monday morning at around 9:16AM ET and they will be in orbit for 10 days.
Axiom Space’s Ax-2 mission is the second all-private human spaceflight mission to the International Space Station. The Ax-2 crew will participate in educational outreach and conduct innovative research experiments while on the orbiting laboratory.
Apple just announced that the Apple Online Store is now available in Vietnam.
Vietnam’s Apple Online Store will offers a wide range of Apple products and accessories, with shopping assistance from Apple’s team of experts, no-contact delivery, trade-in program, build-to-order Mac options, and up to 24 months of financing for your Apple device. The Apple Online Store will also offer students a special pricing for their Mac or iPad, and receive discounts on accessories as well as AppleCare+.
The store is available in both Vietnamese and English, allowing customers to order a wide range of Apple products on the web.
Former VP Leni Robredo just launched TAYO ANG LIWANAG coffee table book. The TAYO ANG LIWANAG coffee table book, as Rappler describes it, a “390-page book, Tayo Ang Liwanag: Journeying Through People’s Campaign, is being launched on the first anniversary of the May 9, 2022 elections where Robredo lost to Ferdinand Marcos Jr.”
You can watch the book launch from the video here;
The book will be available in soft and hardbound book, it will cost ₱1,000 and ₱2,499, respectively. It’s now available for pre-order and part of the proceeds will go to Angat Buhay NGO, which Ms. Robredo chairs.
Apple has announced that it will be opening two new retail store in India. The Apple BKC in Mumbai will start operating this 18th April, then Apple Saket in Delhi on the 20th April. The new two new retail stores were opened 20 years after Apple entered the Indian market.
Even though India is the second largest market for Internet and smartphones in world, Apple is limited to the high-end of the market, specially for smartphones that are priced way below the price range of Apple in country.
You can read the full text of Apple’s announcement below;
Today Apple announced it will open its doors to customers at two new retail locations in India: Apple BKC in Mumbai on April 18, and Apple Saket in Delhi on April 20. These new retail locations mark a significant expansion in India that will offer great new ways to browse, discover, and buy Apple products with exceptional service and experiences for customers.
The barricade for Apple Saket was revealed this morning and features a unique design that takes inspiration from Delhi’s many gates, each signifying a new chapter to the city’s storied past. The colorful artwork celebrates Apple’s second store in India — located right in the nation’s capital. Beginning April 20, customers will be able to stop by to explore Apple’s latest product lineup, find creative inspiration, and get personalized service and support from the store’s team of Specialists, Creatives, and Geniuses.
In celebration of the first Apple Store opening in India, Apple BKC announced a special Today at Apple series — “Mumbai Rising” — running from opening day through the summer. Bringing visitors, local artists, and creatives together, these sessions will offer hands-on activities with Apple’s products and services that celebrate the local community and culture in Mumbai. Customers can explore the “Mumbai Rising” sessions and sign up at apple.com/in/today.
Ahead of opening day, customers are invited to download custom Apple BKC and Apple Saket wallpapers, specially curated playlists on Apple Music to move to the sounds of Mumbai and Delhi, and visit apple.com/in/retail/bkc and apple.com/in/retail/saket to learn more about the upcoming openings in India. Apple BKC opens Tuesday, April 18, at 11 a.m. IST, and Apple Saket will open for customers April 20 at 10 a.m. IST.
After a slow start, Steph Curry and the Warriors just secured another win to keep them out of the Play-in tournament.
Both team played little to no defence in the first half, OKC was able to score 79 points in the first two qtr, while the GSW scored 69 points. Warriors Coach Steve Keer have nothing but praises for OKC during the Postgame Interview.
In the second half, Golden State;’s defense improved by limiting the Thunder to just 27 points in the 3rd and 19 in the 4th qtr, while maintaining offense. Even thought the Warriors are without Klay Thompson, Steph Curry, who scored a team high of 34 points, with six 3-pointers, had a lot of help most notably from Jordan Poole, scoring 30 points, on a 42% field goal and making five 3-pointers, then there’s Moses Moody, who contributed 13 points from the bench, Draymond Green chipped-in 17 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists and a pair of blocks and steals.
The win moves the Warrior in the 5th place, two place above the 7th place and out of the play-in tournament, and just 1 game ahead of the LA Clippers and Lakers, who are currently in the 6th and 7th place, respectively.
After scoring 21 points in the first half, OKC Superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished the game with 32 points, making only 11 points for the rest of the game. Rookie Jalen Williams added 19 points but the Thunder still lost their third game in a row and fourth out of five.
OKC will visit Utah for their last two games of the season, as they try to salvage their season to be in the play-in tournament.
Golden State Warriors will be at Sacramento on Friday night, which can be a preview in the 1st round of the playoffs between the 6th and 3rd seed of the Western Conference.
Steph Curry (34 PTS) & Jordan Poole (30 PTS) Combine For 64 Points
Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Susan Ople has ordered the closure of a maritime consultancy firm JCB-Success Maritime Consultancy Services, a maritime consultancy firm in Sta. Cruz, Manila.
The closure of the firm came after Manuel Jericho L. Ramos, one of the victims, complained that the firm was able to deliver their promised deployment after asking “him and three other applicants to pay P75,000 each as placement fee and encouraged to convince other colleagues to apply for positions offered by JCB.”
In addition to the filed complain, JCB is operating without any permit from the DMW. JCB operations is to offer jobs as deck seafarers, able engine seafarers, oilers, engineers, and yacht stewards. When a potential applicants/victim submitted the requirements like Seafarer’s Identification and Record Book (SIRB), passport, resume, skill certifications, etc. They (victims) are then referred to an “international manning agency” for deployment. This is where the applicants are duped in “gettug” an offer and deployment, this is where the collection of fees are initiated.
It was determined that even those unqualified applicant were “promised jobs.”
JCB claimed that they have been deploying applicants since November 2022.
With its closure, JCB-Success Maritime Consultancy Services, its owner, employees, and officers will be included in the DMW’s list of persons and establishments with derogatory records. They will be barred from participating in the government’s overseas recruitment program.
The DMW will file illegal recruitment cases against the firm’s owner and officers.
Under Republic Act No. 8042, as amended by Republic Act No. 10022, any act of hiring Filipino workers, undertaken without license or authority from the DMW, is considered illegal recruitment.
Illegal recruitment victims may contact the DMW’s Migrant Workers Protection Bureau directly through their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/airbranch/ or email them at airbranch@dmw.gov.ph.
Pepsi has unveil a new logo for its iconic global brand. The last time the company redesigned its logo was 14 years ago and it was at that time the company adopted their “globe” logo.
The new logo looks like a combination of the logos that the company used in the 80s and 90s, but with more emphasis on the word “Pepsi” with the white stripe in between a more vibrant red and blue wave.
New versus old Pepsi logo.
The company said that the new logo will represent’s the company’s “most unapologetic and enjoyable qualities, and will span across all physical and digital touchpoints, including packaging, fountain and cooler equipment, fleet, fashion and dining.”
“Pepsi is an iconic brand that is constantly evolving with the times, as it has been a staple in pop culture and disrupted the category for the past 125 years,” said Todd Kaplan, Chief Marketing Officer – Pepsi.
Pepsi will roll out the new look in North America this fall in time for its 125th anniversary, and will launch the new look globally in 2024.
You can read the full text of Pepsi’s Press Release here.
In connection to the MIAA’s announcement regarding the terminal changes for domestic and international flights. Philippine Airlines (PAL) made their own announce regarding the new terminal assignment.
In a nutshell, all PAL flights to and from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Phnom Penh, and Singapore will depart from and arrive at Terminal 1, then All other PAL international flights, as well as all domestic flights, depart from and arrive at NAIA Terminal 2.
Travel Advisory
CHANGES IN PAL’S MANILA (NAIA) TERMINALS
Vietnam, Cambodia and Singapore flights will use NAIA Terminal 1 from April 16, 2023.
Starting April 16, 2023, Philippine Airlines flights to and from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Phnom Penh, and Singapore will depart from and arrive at Terminal 1 of Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), along with PAL flights to the United States, Guam, Canada and Bali.
All other PAL international flights, as well as all domestic flights, depart from and arrive at NAIA Terminal 2. Please see the full list below.
Please check the flight terminal assigned to your flight before proceeding to the airport, to ensure a hassle-free departure and arrival.
Shuttle buses between Terminals 1 and 2 will be available for PAL passengers arriving in either terminal and connecting to a flight in the other terminal. Passengers of other airlines may use the shuttle buses provided by the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA).
The transfer of these additional routes to Terminal 1 is part of a terminal reassignment initiative of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) to ease congestion and improve passenger convenience at all terminals.
Complete List of PAL flights and corresponding Manila terminals:
From April 16, 2023:
T1 – NAIA TERMINAL 1 – Departures and Arrivals:
Vietnam – Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Phnom Penh
Singapore
Bali
Middle East – Dubai, Doha, Dammam, Riyadh
Canada – Toronto, Vancouver
United States – Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Honolulu
Guam
T2 – NAIA TERMINAL 2 – Departures and Arrivals:
All PAL Domestic Flights
Australia – Brisbane, Sydney, Perth, Melbourne
Bangkok
Korea – Seoul (Incheon), Busan
Japan – Fukuoka, Tokyo (Haneda), Tokyo (Narita), Osaka (Kansai), Nagoya
Mainland China – Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Jinjiang, Xiamen, Hong Kong
Jakarta
Kuala Lumpur
Macau
Port Moresby
Taipei
If your flight is departing on or before April 15, 2023, these are the NAIA terminals in use at present:
MANILA DEPARTURES and ARRIVALS (until April 15, 2023 only):
• NAIA Terminal 1 – for PAL International flights to/from the United States and Guam, Toronto, Vancouver, Doha, Dubai, Riyadh, Dammam and Bali.
• NAIA Terminal 2 – for all PAL domestic and international flights, except flights to/from the United States and Guam, Toronto, Vancouver, Doha, Dubai, Riyadh, Dammam and Bali.
Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) just announced the second phase of its Schedule & Terminal Assignment Rationalization (STAR) program in April.
In their announcement, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2 will only be for all domestic flights. While Terminals 1 and 3, are now assigned for international flights, since there are wider selection of food and retail stores, and duty free shopping for passengers.
MIAA also said that “under the new scheme, Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine (CIQ) will be deployed in Terminals 1 and 3.
Here are the dates to remember for the MIAA Schedule & Terminal Assignment Rationalization (STAR)
April 16
Jetstar Japan, Jetstar Asia, Scoot, China Southern Airlines and Starlux Airlines will be transferred to Terminal 3.
Philippine Airlines (PAL) flights to and from Singapore, Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi, and Phnom Penh will be transferred to Terminal 1.
June 1
Ethiopian Airlines and Jeju Air will transfer to Terminal 3.
June 16
All international flights of Philippine Airlines will move to Terminal 1.
July 1
This will be the third phase of STAR, all domestic flights of Philippines AirAsia will be operated from NAIA Terminal 2.
Domestic operations of Cebu Pacific will remain in Terminals 3 and 4.
Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) kicked-off their Schedule & Terminal Assignment Rationalization (STAR) program in December 2022. where they reassigned PAL flights to and from the United States, the Middle East, Canada and Bali to Terminal 1.
This is what MIAA General Manager Cesar Chiong said regarding the STAR Program;
With this move, we expect a significant increase in Terminal 2’s capacity from 7.5M to 10M passengers a year, 20 to 25% more than its current rate.
The STAR program is a well-studied undertaking. We met with affected airlines and stakeholders to make sure they come up with their readiness plan as part of these changes. We advised them to get in touch with their affected passengers so they can inform them of the new terminal assignments.
While we are planning for a seamless transition, there could be some minor inconveniences during this period hence our appeal for understanding as this is part of our strategic program to improve the overall experience of our customers.
Philippine Embassy in Riyadh just announced that their Ramadan schedule will be from 10:00 AM until 3:00 PM, the Ramadan Schedule is expected to start this 23rd of March until 21st of April. The agency also posted contact details that OFW can call incase of emergencies or urgent inquiries.
I embedded their post below for additional details.
His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Prime Minister and Chairman of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) just announced the launching of a new national airline Riyadh Air. Wholly owned by PIF, Riyadh Air will leverage Saudi Arabia’s strategic geographic location between the three continents of Asia, Africa and Europe, enabling Riyadh to become a gateway to the world and a global destination for transportation, trade, and tourism.
Riyadh Air will be chaired by His Excellency Yasir Al-Rumayyan, Governor of PIF, while Tony Douglas, will be its Chief Executive Officer. Douglas brings more than 40 years of experience in the aviation, transportation and logistics industries.
The newly established airline is expected to add US$20 billion to non-oil GDP growth, and create more than 200,000 direct and indirect jobs.
Ramadan, one of the Five Pillars of Islam, is just less than 10 days away and all workers in both public and private sector will have shorted working hours.
As announced by Saudi’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD), the working hours in the public sector will reduced to 5 hours a day, from 10 AM to 3 PM, while those working in the private sector, it will have a 6 hours workday, flexible time from 9 to 10 in the morning and 3 to 4 in the afternoon.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection and community.
A newly discovered species of cockroach in Singapore have been named after a Pokémon. The name of the roach is Nocticola pheromosa first discovered during an insect survey in 2016 at a nature reserve to uncover the diversity of insects in Singapore. The cockroach was name after the Pokémon, Pheromosa.
In an article on Lee Kong Chian Natural History Muse (LKCNHM), Cristian Lucañas of the University of Philippines Los Baños, Museum of Natural History, and Foo Maosheng of LKCNHM, published a paper describing a new species of delicate cockroach, Nocticola pheromosa. The Pokémon Pheromosa was inspired by the freshly-moulted American cockroach, because of its pale body. The new species, together with the other cockroach under the Nocticola species, shares a similar features with Pheromosa such as their elongated appendages, reduced coloration and fast speed.
What an exciting catch for these two Bug Catchers and for entomological research! pic.twitter.com/fuuWyNrYZu
— Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (@lkcnhm) March 8, 2023
Both Cristian Lucañas and Etymologist Foo Maosheng share the same sentiments regarding people’s perspective on cockroaches and naming the new cockroach after a Pokémon will “change people’s perspectives on cockroaches and realise their value as part of a richer biodiversity.”
Foo also noted that “of attention is often given to other insects like butterflies, beetles and bees that are deemed more charismatic in nature. Cockroaches, on the other hand, face an ongoing stigma as pests that are viewed as off-putting. However, this delicate cockroach is not one to be overlooked! In fact, one might even appreciate how cockroaches administer their own kind of care to the environment—some assisting pollination while others facilitate nutrient cycling in the ecosystem.”
Department of Information and Communications technology (DICT) just announced that there have been a significant increase in the number of subscribers registering their SIM cards since the implementation of the SIM Registration Act. To date, a total of 44,298,445 subscribers registered their SIM cards, 26.22% of 168,977,773, which is the total number of mobile subscribers subscriber in the country.
Here’s the breakdown of all the registered subscribers;
Smart Communications – 22,673,630 registered or 33.35% of their 67,995,734 subscribers subscribers
Globe Telecom – 18,280,107 registered or 20.80% of their 87,873,936 subscribers
DITO Telecommunity – 3,344,708 registered or 25.52% of their 13,108,103 subscribers.
In their announcement, DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy thank the public for their cooperation in the SIM Card registration “The Department has been actively working with the PTEs to ensure that all SIMs are registered and verified. This initiative is in line with the government’s efforts to improve national security and curb the rising incidents of fraudulent activities, including scams and identity theft”
DICT Undersecretary and Spokesperson Anna Mae Lamentillo echoed the same sentiments and added the need to create a safe digital environment for everyone, to protect everyone’s personal information from being used in any illegal activity. Lamentillo said ““We appreciate the public’s cooperation in complying with the SIM registration process. With only a few weeks left before the April 26 deadline, we urge unregistered citizens to take the necessary steps to comply and to avoid any inconvenience. We assure you that your safety and security are our top priorities,”
For those who have not register, you can visit the official link of your respective provider to register your SIM Cards;
If you’re in Riyadh, KSA you can checkout Bubble TEA, a milktea shop that started as a home business and now a full blown business with 4 partners around the country. Their shop in Riyadh is located in the Sulimaniyah district, less than 1 km from Prince Sultan Medical City.
There is currently a week-long transport strike in the Philippines due to the government transport modernization program to phaseout dangerously dilapidated and old passenger jeepneys and vans with modern vehicles. The strike not only affected workers but students as well and forced schools to conduct online classes this week.
In a social media post, Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte slams PISTON and ACT for supporting the week-long transport strike and calling it “communist-inspired.” VP Duterte pointed out that the strike “will hurt our learners, and the inconvenience that it may cause comes with an enormous price deleterious to learning recovery efforts — and this is a price that learners will have to pay.”
She added that “If you (PISTON and ACT) cannot understand our position, or refuse to understand our position, or even pretend not to understand our position, this is only because of your unbelievable propensity to push a hardline agenda that punishes the general public.”
The week long nationwide transport strike launched by various Philippine transport groups is their way to protest against the government transport modernization program, even with the promised government financial aid, a majority of drivers could not afford to purchase new passenger jeepneys due to the high price of the modern/new passenger jeepneys.
Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) just announced the Mechanical Engineering Board Exam Results. Out of the 6,070 examinee, 3,774 passed that exam, which is a 62.17% passing rate.
The top performing University is University of Science & Tech of Southern Philippines Cagayan De Oro with 100% passing rate, followed by Iloilo Science and Tech. University with a 97% passing rate.
The top 10 examinees are as follows;
Reynell Villanueva Sanchez, Rizal Technological University – 94.90%
Mark Francis Manalad Sedano, Technological University of the Philippines – Manila – 94.30%
Jhon Maghanoy Crispino, Technological University of the Philippines – Manila – 93.95%
Nikko Perez Martirizar, Iloilo Science and Tech. University – 93.50%
Laurence Lee Pajarillo, Mindanao State University – Gen. Santos City – 93.35%
Jayson Patrick Buenaventura Bantog, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila and Eunice Durango Santiago, Rizal Technological University – 93.25%
Jann Marino Lloren Labiano, Polytechnic University of the Philippines – Main – Sta. Mesa and Kyle Clouie92.90%
Sescon Meseños, Polytechnic University of the Philippines – Taguig – 92.90%
Neil Bartolome Piquero Maglinte, Central Mindanao University – 92.80%
Jerson Cervantes Ocera, Technological University of the Philippines – Visayas – 92.70%
James Estabillo Nuval, Polytechnic University of the Philippines – Main – Sta. Mesa and Karl Andree Baconga Olaivar, Xavier University – 92.65%
PRC encourages board passers to register and sign in the Roster of Registered Professionals.
The date and venue for the oathtaking ceremony of the new successful examinees in the said examinations WILL BE ANNOUNCED LATER.
Here’s the full text of the Official Mechanical Engineering Board Exam Results;
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud announced in a royal decree that the Kingdom will celebrate March 11 every year as a special day for the Saudi flag named “Flag Day”.
Here’s the full text of the royal decree;
The decree said that this is based on the value of the national flag extending throughout the history of the Saudi state since its founding in 1139 AH corresponding to 1727 AD, which symbolizes the testimony of monotheism (There is no God but Allah) in its middle which is the message of peace and Islam on which this blessed state was based; and the sword symbolizes strength, dignity, the height of wisdom and status. For nearly three centuries, the flag is a witness to the country’s unification campaigns waged by the Saudi state, and the citizens of this country have considered it as a banner of pride and lofty out of belief in the great importance of the flag as a manifestation of the state, its strength, sovereignty, and a symbol of cohesion, coalition and national unity.
Whereas, the 27th of Dhu al-Hijjah 1355 AH corresponding to March 11, 1937 AD, is the day when the Founder late King Abdulaziz endorsed the flag in the form that we see today fluttering with its great connotations that refer to monotheism, justice, strength, development and prosperity.
At the MWC in Barcelona Spain, Nokia just unveil a new logo that will coincide with the company rebranding, placing more emphasis on being a “business technology company.”
In a blogpost by Pekka Lundmark, Nokia President and CEO said;
We are updating our strategy, and, as a key enabler, we are also refreshing our brand to reflect who we are today: a B2B technology innovation leader pioneering the future where networks meet cloud. Here is why we have chosen to do that now.
Even though they are no longer in the smartphone business, the company still very much involved in the mobile space thru their networking equipment and the licensing of its many patents. The company is also a big believer in 5G.
Lundmark ended his announcement with the rebranding of the company focusing on networking, innovation, collaborative partnerships and technology leadership.
Our new visual identity captures Nokia as we are today, with renewed energy and commitment as pioneers of digital transformation.
We built on the heritage of the previous logo, but made it feel more contemporary and digital, to reflect our current identity.
The brand was launched today at MWC Barcelona and it is now being rolled out across our sites and assets. The website has a new look and feel already – as you can see – and Nokia sites will begin transforming soon.
But this isn’t just about what we look like. It’s about our strength in networking, innovation, collaborative partnerships and technology leadership. It’s about our value propositions in current and prospective markets.
And most of all, it’s about our people.
In my view Nokia has the best, most talented and inspiring people in the business. Every day I feel privileged to work alongside them.
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This is Nokia, but not as the world has seen us before. Our new brand signals who Nokia is today. We’re unleashing the exponential potential of networks and their power to help reshape the way we all live and work. https://t.co/lbKLfaL2OI#NewNokiapic.twitter.com/VAgVo8p6nG
On the 37th Anniversary of EDSA revolution a.k.a. People Power Revolution, President Ferdinand “Bong Bong” Marcos Jr. posted a message on his personal social media account, offering a “hand of reconciliation.”
He said;
As we look back to a time in our history that divided the Filipino people, I am one with the nation in remembering those times of tribulation and how we came out of them united and stronger as a nation.
I once again offer my hand of reconciliation to those with different political persuasions to come together as one in forging a better society — one that will pursue progress and peace and a better life for all Filipinos.
I once again offer my hand of reconciliation to those with different political persuasions to come together as one in forging a better society — one that will pursue progress and peace and a better life for all Filipinos. pic.twitter.com/Ar5gbuP1bP
The 1986 Edsa People Power Revolution is known around the world as a bloodless revolution where millions of Filipinos gathered along the main arteries of Metro Manila which led to the ouster of former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. due to fact that the Philippines have been under martial law for 14 years and the poverty rate rose from 41% in the 1960s to 59% right before he was removed from power.
During the 14 years of being under Martial Law, there have been 3,257 known extrajudicial killings, 35,000 documented tortures, 77 forced disappearances, and 70,000 incarcerations.
It was the assassination of Benigno Aquino Jr. that triggered the uprising of the Filipino and led to the 1986 Edsa People Power Revolution and the rest as they say is history.
For more reading regarding 1986 Edsa People Power Revolution, you can go here, here and here.
