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Posts tagged as “National”

76 more OFW arrived from Lebanon who – DMW

October 21, 2024

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

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.

Sandiganbayan dismisses P276-M ill-gotten wealth case vs Marcoses   

October 7, 2024

Rappler;

The anti-graft court Sandiganbayan has dismissed a 37-year-old ill-gotten wealth case against the Marcos family, citing the defendants — which includes Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and wife Imelda — “can no longer be afforded a fair trial” in a “chronology of events” that have contributed to an “inordinate delay.”

Associate Justice Geraldine Faith Econg wrote the 30-page resolution, dated October 4, 2024, noting that the defendants “can no longer be afforded a fair trial.” Associate Justices Edgardo Caldona and Arthur Malabaguio concurred.

So the SC dismisses the case because it was delayed for too long?!

Marcos signs law imposing 12% VAT on Netflix, Spotify, other digital services   

October 2, 2024

JM Chavaria, writing for Yugatech;

In a move aimed at bolstering government revenue, the Philippines has introduced a 12% value-added tax (VAT) on digital services offered by foreign firms. This includes popular platforms like Netflix, Spotify, YouTube, and Amazon, among other digital service providers (DSPs) — which have previously enjoyed tax exemptions.

Duey Guison, of Unbox.ph explains “Republic Act 112023, all services provided by resident and non-resident digital service providers regardless if they have a physical presence in the Philippines are subject to an additional 12% VAT. The law also adds a new provision to the Tax Code, where ‘”digital services delivered by foreign digital service providers are considered performed or rendered in the Philippines if the digital services are consumed in the Philippines.’”

The law does not only cover streaming service but basically “most” online service like ecommerce, digital platform or online merchant that caters to the Philippine market even if the company does not have any physical store or office in the Philippines.

In a press release, “Senate President Francis “Chiz” G. Escudero said the bill imposing a 12-percent value-added tax (VAT) on digital transactions will level the playing field for local and foreign digital service providers (DSPs), streamline tax administration and shore up government coffers by at least P80 billion in revenues.”

“Digital service is defined as any service supplied over the internet or other electronic network with the use of information technology and where the supply of the service is essentially automated. These include online search engines, online marketplace or e-marketplace, cloud service, online media and advertising, online platform, or digital goods.”

The law basically covers every companies doing online transaction.

PhilHealth to abolish single confinement policy by end of September   

September 11, 2024

Kaycee Valmonte, writing for Rappler;

The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) will soon scrap its single confinement policy.

PhilHealth President Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. told a Senate panel on Tuesday, September 10, that they are committed to making the changes needed “before month-end.”

This is great news to all PhilHealth members.

This means that if a patient was confined due to diarrhea in September and had PhilHealth cover the expenses, the patient has to shoulder the fees if another bout of diarrhea strikes again in October.

Some patients were supposedly told to lie in order to have their hospital bills covered by the state insurer. A mother named Elena Abilar, through a video presented to the Senate panel, recounted her experience with the single confinement rule when her son had pneumonia and had to be hospitalized twice.

PhilHealth did not need to create the “Single confinement policy” in the first place.

Breaking – Police capture Apollo Quiboloy   

September 8, 2024

Herbie Gomez, writing for Rappler;

Police finally captured fugitive doomsday preacher Apollo Quiboloy ending a grueling manhunt inside the vast Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) property in Davao City.

Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos announced in a Facebook post on Sunday, September 8, the arrest of 74-year-old Quiboloy’s who deems himself as the “appointed son of God” and “owner of the universe.”

After a 4-month hunt and 2,000 police later, Apollo Quiboloy is now in the police custody. BBC “In 2021, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) charged Mr Quiboloy with sex trafficking of children, fraud and coercion and bulk cash smuggling.”

Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. also posted on his facebook account “NAHULI NA PO SI APOLLO QUIBOLOY.”

OCD: 15 dead due to Enteng   

September 4, 2024

ANNA FELICIA BAJO, writing for GMA Integrated News;

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) on Wednesday said 15 people were reported dead due to the impact of Severe Tropical Storm Enteng.

This was disclosed by OCD Director of Operations Service Cesar Idio during a situation briefing presided over by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in Camp Aguinaldo.

Meanwhile, 15 were wounded and 21 are still missing, Idio said.

This is just sad.. specially if you know that there are things that our Government can do to prevent this from happening.

House budget hearing: Sara Duterte’s DepEd accused of ‘rigged bidding’ for laptops   

September 3, 2024

Dwight de Leon, writing for Rappler;

House lawmakers moved on Monday, September 2, to compel the Department of Education to release all bidding documents in relation to the DepEd Computerization Program in 2022 and 2023, when Vice President Sara Duterte was still head of the agency.

Play VideoHouse budget hearing: Sara Duterte’s DepEd accused of ‘rigged bidding’ for laptops
Batangas 2nd District Representative Gerville “Jinky” Luistro introduced a motion to issue a subpoena duces tecum to DepEd, which the appropriations committee approved without objections.

Sara Duterte-led DepEd built only 192 of 6,300 target classrooms in 2023 – COA   

September 3, 2024

Bonz Magsambol writing for Rappler;

A Commission on Audit (COA) report showed that the Department of Education (DepEd), under the leadership of Vice President Sara Duterte in 2023, was able to build only 192, or just 3%, of the 6,379 target classrooms.

“Only 192 (3.01 percent) out 6,379 classrooms were completed/constructed in CY 2023 due to realignments because of modifications in the projects’ design. A total of 4,391 classrooms are still under construction, and 550 are yet to undergo various stages of procurement,” the COA report said.

Welp!

United States, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom and Japan express their concern and support to the Philippines regarding Chinese Coast Guard “deliberately” ramming the BRP Teresa Magbanua

September 3, 2024

Australia

New Zealand

United States

Japan

UK Ambassador Laure Beaufils

Elon Musk endorses Trump for President After Failed Assassination Attempt

July 14, 2024

Elon Musk, the Billionaire businessman and investor known for his space company SpaceX and electric automotive company Tesla, Inc’, as well as a high profile purchase of Twitter, now known as X, have openly said that he endorses Trump for President. He made the announcement in a tweet following a failed assassination attempt while campaigning in Pennsylvania.

In a follow-up tweet, Musk said, “Last time America had a candidate this tough was Theodore Roosevelt.”

.

It’s also worth noting, that Elon Musk donated an undisclosed amount of money to the pro-Trump America PAC. Even though President Joe Biden is favored to win the coming US Presidential Election, Trump’s failed assassination will be an interesting twist and could be crucial to his bid to return to the oval office.

NPC launches “Na-leak ba ang PhilHealth Data ko?” Portal

October 14, 2023

In the wake of the PhilHealth Hacking, Philippines’ National Privacy Commission (NPC) launches the “Na-leak ba ang PhilHealth Data ko? Portal. The “Na-leak ba ang PhilHealth Data ko? Portal is a tool to check if your personal data is included in the PhilHealth cyberattack last Sept 22.

NPC explained that “Na-leak ba ang PhilHealth Data ko? Portal is a “simplified database search portal designed to help individuals verify the status of their personal information in light of the recent incident involving the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) database, purportedly exfiltrated by the Medusa Ransomware Group, and posted online on October 5, 2023. As of October 13, 2023, the initial batch of data available on the portal pertains to individuals aged 60 years and above, containing an estimated 1 million records out of 8.5 million senior citizens.”

To access the “Na-leak ba ang PhilHealth Data ko? database search tool, visit: https://philhealthleak.privacy.gov.ph, then just provide your PhilHealth Identification Number (PIN) to know if you are part of the leaked database.

Malacañang release official Philippine Holiday for 2024, sans EDSA People Power Revolution

October 14, 2023
Malacañang just release the official Philippine Holiday for next year, 2024. It’s the usual list of Holidays except that EDSA Revolution Anniversary was removed from the list of Special Non-working holiday which is celebrated every February. Malacañang explained that the EDSA People Power Revolution commemoration was removed, since the event has “minimum socioeconomic impact” as it falls on a Sunday. Malacañang moved the commemoration of the EDSA People Power Revolution Anniversary to Feb. 24 this year in lieu of Feb. 25, via Proclamation No. 167, as a special non-working day, to be consistent with holiday economics.
20231011-PROC-368-FRM
The People Power Revolution, also known as the EDSA Revolution or the February Revolution, was a series of popular demonstrations in the Philippines, mostly in Metro Manila, from February 22 to 25, 1986. There was a sustained campaign of civil resistance against regime violence and electoral fraud. The nonviolent revolution led to the ousting of Ferdinand Marcos and his family, including the current President of the Philippines, Ferdinand “Bong Bong” Marcos Jr., who was already in his late 20s at that time, ending of his 20-year dictatorship and corruption, and the restoration of democracy in the Philippines.

President Bongbong Marcos Jr. Release Statement regarding the Death of 3 Fishermen near the Bajo de Masinloc

October 4, 2023

President Bongbong Marcos Jr. has released a statement regarding the death of 3 Fishermen near the Bajo de Masinloc. In his statement, the incident is still under investigation and that the commercial vessel that rammed the fishing boat of the 3 fishermen are still unidentified. He is also asking to “allow the PCG to do its job and investigate, and let us refrain from engaging in speculation in the meantime.”.

Here’s the statement that was published on X, formerly twitter;

It can be recalled that last Monday, October 2nd, three Filipino fishermen died because an unidentified commercial vessel rammed their fishing boat near the Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal). You can read Rappler’s full report on the incident.

PhilHealth issue another “Urgent Notice to the Public” in connection to the Cyberattack last Sept 22.

October 3, 2023

PhilHealth has once again release an announcement that they are calling “Urgent Notice to the Public,” this is in connection to the Cyberattack that was made last Sept 22. The health agency reiterates that no member information have been taken and that membership database is intact and unharmed by the cyberattack last Sept 22.

They later reminded the public to be cautious in opening malicious contents online and on social media, which I suppose, is directed to PhilHealth’s employees. The agency is also working with the authorities to catch the perpetrators.

PhilHealth is currently working with multiple agencies that includes Department of Communication Technology (DICT), National Privacy Commission (NPC), Philippine National Police Cybercrime Division, Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) and the National Bureau of Investigation(NBI) to identify the perpetrators of the hacking.

Here’s the announcement by PhilHealth:

PhilHealth previously posted a Urgent Notice to the Public explaining what information have been compromised in the cyberattack that happened last Sept 22. Below are compromised PhilHealth member’s information;

  • Name
  • Address
  • Date of Birth
  • Sex
  • Phone number
  • PhilHealth ID number

The Health agency also recommended a number of steps that affected PhilHealth Members can take as a precaution.

The hackers demanded a ransom of $300,000 or approximately P17 million as payment to decrypt the files but according to a report by CNN Philippines, “The DICT confirms that some PhilHealth data affected in the Medusa ransomware attack have been published in the dark web after the deadline to pay ransom money to hackers lapsed.”

DICT official statement on PhilHealth Ransomware Attack

September 30, 2023

Following the PhilHealth ransomware attack last September 22, 2023, Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has released an official statement.

Here’s the full text of DICT’s statement;

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), through its Cybersecurity Bureau, proactively responded to address a ransomware attack that targeted the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) last September 22, 2023.

Upon learning of the breach, the DICT Cybersecurity Bureau’s National Computer Emergency Response Team (NCERT) went to PhilHealth Head Office and implemented critical security measures which included the disconnection of workstations from the network, prompt coordination with PhilHealth to gauge the extent of the attack, and collection of relevant logs for thorough analysis.

As of September 25, 2023, PhilHealth’s critical web services are only accessible via their IP addresses and currently ongoing comprehensive security scanning. Efforts to restore the functionality of PhilHealth’s DNS server are underway.

The DICT condemns the ransomware attack carried out against PhilHealth in an attempt to illegally access the information of its members. We shall continue to investigate and monitor the acquired logs from PhilHealth’s affected systems. An extensive checklist has been prepared by the DICT to benchmark PhilHealth’s readiness to get their systems online.

The DICT is committed to ensuring the full restoration of security and stability in PhilHealth systems and to safeguarding government systems and infrastructure from malicious cyber threats.

Remembering Ninoy Aquino Jr. – Four Decades After His Sacrifice

August 21, 2023

A little background
Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. was a Filipino politician who served as a senator of the Philippines and governor of the province of Tarlac. He was a leading politician from the opposition and was critical of then President Ferdinand Marcos. His arrest on the evening of September 22, 1972, signaled the implementation of then President Ferdinand Marcos’ Proclamation Number 1081 that placed the Philippines under martial law. In November 1977, a military court convicted him of murder and subversion charges and sentenced him to death. He went on a 40-day hunger strike to profess his innocence.

In 1980, he suffered a heart attack and was brought to the hospital. In a surprise visit, then First Lady Imelda Marcos told him he could seek treatment in the United States. While in Boston, Massachusetts with his family for three years, he delivered lectures that focused on his advocacy for the Philippines’ return to democracy. The text of the statement he had prepared to deliver upon his return to the Philippines later became available. He dared Marcos to “order my immediate execution or set me free.” He said, “national reconciliation and unity can be achieved but only with justice, including justice for our Muslim and Ifugao brothers.” He proposed that “the workingman must be given his just and rightful share of his labor, and to the owners and managers must be restored the hope where there is so much uncertainty if not despair.” He said that subversion could not be stopped with repression but with “a more equitable distribution of wealth, more democracy and more freedom.”

The Assassination
On August 21, 1983, Ninoy Aquino was assassinated on the tarmac of Manila International Airport upon his return from self-imposed exile in Boston. His death galvanized the political opposition and led to the EDSA People Power uprising in 1986. His widow Corazon became the 11th President of the Republic. The Filipino people ratified a new Constitution in 1987 to enshrine the restoration of democracy.

Today marks the 40th death anniversary of Ninoy Aquino. It is fitting that the country’s principal gateway to international travelers has been named after him. In 2004, the date of his assassination, Aug. 21, was declared a national holiday (Republic Act 9256). Ninoy Aquino’s spirit continues to shine as a beacon of hope, reminding us that the struggle for a better future is worth every effort.

Ninoy Aquino’s legacy is one that will always be remembered by Filipinos around the world. His courage and sacrifice inspired millions to fight for democracy and freedom in their own countries. As we commemorate his death anniversary today, let us remember his words: “The Filipino is worth dying for.”

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. signed the Maharlika Investment Fund (R.A. 11954) into law

July 18, 2023

The controversial R.A. 11954 or more popularly know as the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) a.k.a. the Maharlika Wealth Fund (MWF) have been signed into by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. The signing was made with fellow lawmakers at Malacañang Palace Tuesday morning, 18th July 2023.

via PNA;

In a keynote speech, Marcos said the MIF is designed to drive economic development in the country.

“The MIF is a bold step towards our country’s meaningful economic transformation. Just as we are recovering from the adverse effects of the pandemic, we are now ready to enter a new age of sustainable progress, robust stability and broad-based empowerment,” Marcos said.

“We now have an available fund that will provide us the seed money for investments and to attract other foreign investments and for us to be able to participate in those operations, in those investments without additional borrowings,” he added.

Following the signing of RA 11954, Marcos said his administration would “go out to the world and do the changes that are necessary for the Philippines to become an investment-friendly nation.”

“The fund will fail if we do not make money on the fund. It’s that simple… That is why we put up a Maharlika Fund so as to be able to give us the capacity and the ability to join in those investments, be part of that,” he said.

The gist of Maharlika Investment Fund (R.A. 11954) is that the fund will be used to invest in assets to provide the government with a long-term source of income, as well as ease the burden on the national budget by providing additional funding for other priority projects of the government. The law will establish the Maharlika Investment Corp. (MIC), which will act as the “sole vehicle for the purpose of mobilizing and utilizing the MIF for investments in transactions in order to generate optimal returns on investments (ROIs).”

The MIF is expected to have at least PHP75 billion in paid-up capital this year, source of the funds will be PHP50 billion from the Land Bank of the Philippines and PHP25 billion from the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP).

The law prohibits government agencies and GOCCs that provide for social security and public health insurance to contribute to and invest in the Fund. These agencies includes the Social Security System, Government Service Insurance System, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, Home Development Mutual Fund, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, and Philippine Veterans Affairs Office pension fund.

The law mandates the Commission on Audit to conduct a special audit of the MIC’s books and accounts every five years. All MIF and MIC documents will also be open, available, and accessible to the public, as may be allowed by law, in both English and Filipino.

Social Media users trolls DOT by posting tourists spots from other countries then swapping its name to that of the Philippines

July 6, 2023

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.

The Pyramid of Egypt as Chocolate Hills of Bohol.

Mount Fuji in Japan as Mount Apo in the Davao Region, and Cotabato in Soccsksargen.

The Niagara Falls in Ontario, Canada, posing as the Maria Cristina Falls in Iligan City.

Of course they will include the Dolomite Beach, Manila, which uses the photo of Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Then the iconic Binondo–Intramuros Bridge and San Juanico Bridge using the photo of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Califronia.

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;

@txcjosh Not an ad but this is how I fell in love with the Philippines. #tourismphl #djiglobal #DJIPhilippines #DJIJosh #philippines #fyp #foryou ♬ original sound – Joshua Chua

Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte slams PISTON and ACT for supporting “communist-inspired” transport strike

March 6, 2023

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.”

Here’s full test of VP Duterte’s message;

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.

PRC: Mechanical Engineering Board Exam Results with 62.17% Passing Rate

March 5, 2023

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;

  1. Reynell Villanueva Sanchez, Rizal Technological University – 94.90%
  2. Mark Francis Manalad Sedano, Technological University of the Philippines – Manila – 94.30%
  3. Jhon Maghanoy Crispino, Technological University of the Philippines – Manila – 93.95%
  4. Nikko Perez Martirizar, Iloilo Science and Tech. University – 93.50%
  5. Laurence Lee Pajarillo, Mindanao State University – Gen. Santos City – 93.35%
  6. Jayson Patrick Buenaventura Bantog, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila and Eunice Durango Santiago, Rizal Technological University – 93.25%
  7. Jann Marino Lloren Labiano, Polytechnic University of the Philippines – Main – Sta. Mesa and Kyle Clouie92.90%
  8. Sescon Meseños, Polytechnic University of the Philippines – Taguig – 92.90%
  9. Neil Bartolome Piquero Maglinte, Central Mindanao University – 92.80%
  10. Jerson Cervantes Ocera, Technological University of the Philippines – Visayas – 92.70%
  11. 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;

President Bong Bong Marcos Jr. posted a message of “reconciliation” on the 37th anniversary of EDSA Revolution

February 25, 2023

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.

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.

PRC releases 2022 Philippine Nurse Licensure Examination Results

December 1, 2022

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) just released the result for the 2022 Philippine Nurse Licensure Examination which was held has November 12th and 13th. In a nutshell, 18,529 out of 24,903 examinees passed the exam, a 74.4% passing rate.

Here’s the official announcement from PRC;

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announces that 18,529 out of 24,903 passed the Philippine Nurse Licensure Examination given by the Board of Nursing in Manila, Baguio, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Koronadal, Legazpi, Lucena, Pagadian, Pampanga, Rosales, Tacloban, Tuguegarao and Zamboanga this November 2022.

The members of the Board of Nursing who gave the licensure examination are
Elsie A. Tee, Chairman; Carmelita C. Divinagracia, Elizabeth C. Lagrito, Zenaida C. Gagno, Marylou B. Ong, Merle L. Salvani and Leah Primitiva S. Paquiz, Members.

On January 9 – 13, January 16 – 20 & January 23 – 27, 2023, registration for the issuance of Professional Identification Card (ID) and Certificate of Registration will be done on-line. Please go to www.prc.gov.ph and follow instructions for initial registration. Those who will register are required to bring the following: downloaded duly accomplished Oath Form or Panunumpa ng Propesyonal, notice of admission (for identification only), 2 pieces passport sized pictures (colored with white background and complete name tag), 2 sets of documentary stamps and 1 piece short brown envelope. Successful examinees should personally 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 examination WILL BE ANNOUNCED LATER.

Top 10 Performing Schools/University in the November 2022 Philippine Nurse Licensure Exam

Performance of Schools in the November 2022 Philippine Nurse Licensure Exam in Alphabetical Order

Top 10 Examinees in the November 2022 Philippine Nurse Licensure Exam

Complete list of Passer in the November 2022 Philippine Nurse Licensure Exam

344 Distressed OFW repatriated from Saudi Arabia

August 28, 2022

More than 300 distressed Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) arrived from Saudi Arabia.

In a statement posted on the official Facebook page of Department of Migrant Workers (DMW);

the repatriation was arranged by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), an attached agency of the DMW. They arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on board PR8657.

Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Ople said “The DMW, through OWWA, will be extending the needed assistance to all our repatriated kababayan, including medical help and transportation,”

Sec. Ople added “among the repatriated workers are four OFWs with medical conditions and five suffering from mental illness. These OFWs have been provided with medical assistance. The OWWA is also helping one OFW from Iloilo who came home to attend to a tragedy within the family.”

Other OFWs will be quarantine in a hotel in Quezon City and will be tested for COVID-19. Once cleared, they workers will be provided transportation assistance by OWWA to be reunited with their families.

Source: Department of Migrant Workers FB page

These are the 12 new Senators for the 19th Congress

May 21, 2022

The Commission on Elections (Comelec), sitting as the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC), just officially named the 12 senatorial candidates who won a seat in the 19th Congress. The proclamation ceremony was held in Pasay City last Wednesday, May 18.

Here are the list of the 12 new Senators from 1st to 12th;
1st: Robin Padilla – 26,612,434
2nd: Loren Legarda – 24,264,969
3rd: Raffy Tulfo – 23,396,954
4th: Sherwin Gatchalian – 20,602,655
5th: Francis Escudero – 20,271,458
6th: Mark Villar – 19,475,592
7th: Alan Peter Cayetano – 19,295,314
8th: Juan Miguel Zubiri – 18,734,336
9th: Joel Villanueva – 18,486,034
10th: JV Ejercito – 15,841,858
11th: Risa Hontiveros – 15,420,807
12th: Jinggoy Estrada – 15,108,625

The new senators will serve for 6 years, from 2022 to 2028.

Source: Rappler

Faceshield no longer required for areas under Alert Levels 1 – 3

November 16, 2021

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea just released the memorandum (resolution no. 148-D) that the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) have been approved by the President to lift the mandatory use of faceshield for areas under Alert Levels 1 – 3.

The memo (image below) also states that those localities under Alert Levels 4, local gornment units (LGU) and private establishments are given the discretion to use or not to use facehshield.

For areas under Alert Levels 5, granular lockdown, hospitals and quarantine facilities, the use of faceshield is strictly enforced and mandatory.

To know more what Alert Levels is your area under, you can go here.

Faceshield have been the center of controversy and the topic of the current senate inquiry. For more about the Faceshield controversy, you can read the Rappler’s comprehensive report – Tale of pandemic face shields: Costly, overstocked, unauthorized gov’t buys.

President Rodrigo Duterte to run for Senator instead

November 15, 2021

In another twist in the Philippine Politics, President Rodrigo Duterte has filed his candidacy for Senator, instead of Vice President, which was previously reported here.

With this new development, Sen. Bong Go who is running for President will be without a running mate. Both President Duterte and Sen. Go will be running under the Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan (PDDS) party.

President Duterte will substitute Mona Liza Visorde, who withdrew her candidacy at the Monday, November 15, 2021.

You can read the full report from ABS-CBN News.

VP Leni Robredo dances to Taylor Swift’s 22 amid all the election drama

November 14, 2021
VP Leni Robredo dances to Taylor Swift’s 22 amid all the election drama

In her tweet (above) that’s full of emojis and a 34 seconds video, it clearly shows that VP Robredo is unfazed with all the development that’s happening between Bongbong Marcos Jr. and Sara Duterte, and the refilling of Sen. Bong Go and Presidete R. Duterte, for President and Vice President, respectively.

We can see VP Leni Robredo and a number of her supporters dances to Taylor Swift’s 22.

At the sametime, a video of VP Robredo was published on her Youtube Channel regarding choosing the right candidate this coming National 2022 Election.

Ano man ang takot mo, huwag mangamba. Pwedeng pumiling muli. Piliin ang mahal ka. Piliin ang pipiliin ka.

#PumiliMuli
#LeniKiko2022