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.
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.
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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;
We are deeply saddened by the deaths of the three fishermen, including the captain of the fishing vessel. The incident is still under investigation to ascertain the details and circumstances surrounding the collision between the fishing boat and a still unidentified commercial… pic.twitter.com/VKe1eUkiIy
— Bongbong Marcos (@bongbongmarcos) October 4, 2023
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 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:
#MyPhilHealth reiterates that its membership database is intact and unharmed by the cyberattack last Sept 22.
The Corporation urges the public to be cautious in opening malicious contents online and on social media. It is working with the authorities to catch the perpetrators. pic.twitter.com/bvxgBsJ7Q9
— PhilHealth (@teamphilhealth) October 3, 2023
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.”
BREAKING: 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.
Story soon on https://t.co/aKKwOvZ60i pic.twitter.com/5622F3JJJ4
— CNN Philippines (@cnnphilippines) October 3, 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.
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.”
It used to be that politicians were unfazed by imprisonment, a death sentence, and the idea of being assassinated. These days, they run away from a simple, standard, live political campaign debate. #NinoyAquinoDay 🎗️ pic.twitter.com/blHajkt6Or
— Gerry Cacanindin (@GerryCacanindin) August 21, 2023
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
Image: @HouseofRepsPH
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.
The MIF is envisioned to provide funding for the Marcos administration’s initiatives to sustain robust economic growth without the disadvantage of having to impose new taxes or incur more foreign debts. (2/3)
— House of Representatives of the Philippines (@HouseofRepsPH) July 18, 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.
Ancient Chocolate Hills! 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/iz9EVBiTZl
— Joketerte (@joketerte30) July 3, 2023
Mount Fuji in Japan as Mount Apo in the Davao Region, and Cotabato in Soccsksargen.
Mount Apo — DOT Philippines by Secretary Fiasco #PHDOTSecretaryResign #FrascoFiasco #FrascoResign #MarcosFakeEra #MarcosMagnanakawEra #PHDOTSecResign pic.twitter.com/2tw7F7bkBP
— Oryang (@OryangOryang) July 4, 2023
The Niagara Falls in Ontario, Canada, posing as the Maria Cristina Falls in Iligan City.
Magandang umaga. 😊
Nabisita nyo na ba ang "Talon Ng Maria Cristina"?😆😝
pctto pic.twitter.com/YkuHUeVwrF— yengie 💃🎗️💚💗 (@leeleefram) July 4, 2023
Of course they will include the Dolomite Beach, Manila, which uses the photo of Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Dolomite Beach, Manila
Love the Philippines pic.twitter.com/OaUbzyOVbB
— Duterte Watchdog presents: Sic semper tyrannis (@DuterteWatchdog) July 2, 2023
Then the iconic Binondo–Intramuros Bridge and San Juanico Bridge using the photo of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Califronia.
The iconic Binondo–Intramuros Bridge, Manila.
Love the Philippines! pic.twitter.com/APYG70wask
— Duterte Watchdog presents: Sic semper tyrannis (@DuterteWatchdog) July 2, 2023
San Juanico Bridge, Leyte/Samar
Love the Philippines https://t.co/7F0S4sjh3P pic.twitter.com/YaD7aDHPcj
— 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.
Ang ganda dito sa Intramuros! 🫢😂🤓 pic.twitter.com/kk0uDocD7M
— Chel Diokno (@ChelDiokno) July 3, 2023
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
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;
A reply by DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte to ACT and Piston pic.twitter.com/qaTA43kpgF
— DepEd (@DepEd_PH) March 6, 2023
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;
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
— Bongbong Marcos (@bongbongmarcos) February 25, 2023
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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.
LOOK: Mona Liza Visorde's statement of withdrawal states President Duterte will substitute her as PDDS' senatorial candidate in #Halalan2022. | via @InaReformina pic.twitter.com/A77IJZMMa9
— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) November 15, 2021
You can read the full report from ABS-CBN News.
Dami nangyayari🤸🏻♂️
Pero gaya ni Mareng Taylor: I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling ‘22💖🎼🎶
Chill lang tayo🧘♀️ pic.twitter.com/kV0A9L8sWl
— Leni Robredo (@lenirobredo) November 13, 2021
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
As if it was a twist in a movie, Davao Mayor Sara Duterte has filed her certificate of candidacy for the Vice President for the coming 2022 Election. She is the substitute candidate of Ms. Lyle Fernando Uy who filed to run for Vice President under Lakas-CMD party.
After filing her candidacy, Davao Mayor Sara Duterte will be an adopted/guest candidate of Bongbong Marcos Jr.’s Partido Federal and will serve as her running mate for the coming national election. The two candidate previously met in Cebu during the birthday celebration of Cong. Yedda, wife of House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez.
Both Ms. Anna Capela Velasco and Ms. Lyle Fernando Uy have withdraw their candidacy as Lakas-CMD President and Vice President, respectively, to give way to Sara Duterte’s VP bid.
You can read more about this on CNN Philippines – Sara Duterte runs for vice president in 2022 as substitute
After announcing his retirement from Politics last October 2021, President Rodrigo Duterte will now run for Vice President and as the running mate of his longtime aide Sen. Bong Go, who withdrew his VP candidacy and refiled to run for President.
Both President Duterte and Sen Bong Go will be running under the Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan (PDDS) party due to the unresolved issue with PDP-Laban party.
You can read more from PTV.
BASAHIN: Buo ang suporta ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa pagtakbo ni presidential aspirant Sen. Bong Go sa pambansang halalan.
(1/3) pic.twitter.com/tORjlM0WcX
— PTVph (@PTVph) November 14, 2021
Unang naghain si Go ng kanyang kandidatura sa pagka-bise presidente noong Okt. 2 sa ilalim ng ruling party na PDP-Laban. Kanya itong binawi kahapon (Nob. 13) at naghain ng certificate of candidacy para sa pagka-pangulo sa ilalim ng partidong PDDS.
(3/3)
— PTVph (@PTVph) November 14, 2021
Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) just release the new Resolution No. 148A, that list down the countries that are considered as “Green,” “Yellow,” and “Red.”
Travelers that are coming from countries in the “Green-list” means that all travelers that are fully vaccinated can enter the Philippines without the need to undergo facility-based quarantine. They just need to present a negative RT-PCR test taken 72 hours before their departure from the country of origin. Travelers are are also instructed to monitor (and report) any covid-19 related symptoms in the next 14 days.
For fully vaccinated Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) and non-OFWs that did take the RT-PCR test before their flight, will have the option to take the RT-PCR test upon arrival with the caveat of being quarantined in a facility until a negative results come out.
For the unvaccinated or partially vaccinated Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) and non-OFWs, they need to undergo facility-based quarantine and will take the swab test on the fifth day and will be released once they get a negative result. Foreign nationals need to arrange their own hotel reservations for six days quarantine.
Countries that are in the “Green-list” are as follows;
| American Samoa | Kuwait | Saint Barthelemy |
| Bhutan | Kyrgyzstan | Saint Pierre and Miquelon |
| Chad | Malawi | Saudi Arabia |
| Mainland China | Mali | Senegal |
| Comoros | Marshall Islands | Sierra Leone |
| Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) | Montserrat | Sint Eustatius |
| Falkland Islands (Malvinas) | Morocco | South Africa |
| Federated States of Micronesia | Namibia | Sudan |
| Guinea | Niger | Taiwan |
| Guinea-Bissau | Northern Mariana Islands | Togo |
| Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region of China) | Oman | Uganda |
| India | Pakistan | United Arab Emirates |
| Indonesia | Palau | Zambia |
| Japan | Paraguay | Zimbabwe |
| Kosovo | Rwanda |
Travelers from or have been to “Red-listed” countries 14 days before arrival are not allowed to enter the Philippines regardless of vaccination status. However, Filipinos nationals are exempted if they arrive via government and non-government-initiated repatriation, as well as those from Bayanihan Flights.
Upon arrival in the country, they are required to undergo facility-based quarantine for 10 days then must have a negative RT-PCR test on the seventh day, they must complete the 14-day quarantine period and will be under strict symptom-monitoring by the Bureau of Quarantine (BoQ).
For transit travelers, they will not be considered a traveler from that (red-listed) country, since they did not leave the airport or having been cleared for entry by immigration authorities. Transit travellers are still be required to follow the protocols prescribed under their vaccination status.
Faroe Islands and The Netherlands are the only countries on the red list.
As for fully-vaccinated travelers coming from countries in the “Yellow-list” they need to undergo facility-based quarantine and will take the swab test on the fifth day and will be released once they get a negative result. Then home-quarantine for 10 more days. Foreign nationals need to arrange their own hotel reservations for six days quarantine.
For travelers who are unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or those who do not have a verifiable vaccination status, they need to undergo facility-based quarantine and will take the swab test on the seventh day and will be released once they get a negative result. Then home-quarantine for 7 more days. Foreign nationals need to arrange their own hotel reservations for 8days quarantine.
IATF said “All other countries/territories/jurisdictions not otherwise listed” under the “Green” or “Red” list are “Yellow-listed”.
The new classification of “Green,” “Yellow,” and “Red” shall be effective from November 16, 2021 until November 30, 2021.
You can click on the link to read the full text of IATF-EID RESOLUTION NO. 148-A.
Just hours after resigning from Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP), Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte joins Lakas-CMD party and took oath today, November 11,2021 at 6:00 PM. The oath taking took place at the farm of Sen. Bong Revilla in Cavite.
Currently, Lakas-CMD Presidential candidate is Ms. Anna Capela Velasco and Ms. Lyle Fernando Uy for Vice President. The arrival of Sara Duterte, it she can substitute either Ms. Velasco or Ms. Uy to run for the two highest political position in the country.
BREAKING: Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte has joined the Lakas-CMD party. She took her oath at 6 p.m. at the farm of Sen. Bong Revilla in Cavite. | @xianneangel
📷: Office of House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez pic.twitter.com/eYDTYZew5i
— CNN Philippines (@cnnphilippines) November 11, 2021
You can read the full report from CNN Philippines – Sara Duterte resigns from HNP, joins Lakas-CMD
Just two days after withdrawing her candidacy for the reelection, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte resigned from the political part Hugpong ng Pagbabago.
In her two-sentence hand-written resignation letter, she said;
It is with profound sadness that I hereby tender my resignation from our beloved party.
My support will always be with you and I will always be grateful for all the things you have taught me.
Here’s the actual hand-written resignation letter as received by Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP), as shared by ANC Alerts;
BREAKING: Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has resigned from her regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago | via @RG_Cruz12479 pic.twitter.com/cnAn4LLXHf
— ABS-CBN News Channel (@ANCALERTS) November 11, 2021
What happens next will be all speculation, since she can join his father at PDP-Laban to substitute Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa as the Presidential candidate for the coming election or join Bongbong Marcos Jr. political party, Partido Federal ng Pilipinas to be his running mate as the Vice President.
Everything should be clear by Monday, November 15, the deadline of substitution of candidates for the coming national 2022 elections.
President Duterte just signed Executive Order No. 151 (EO 151), which is the adoption of Alert Level System (ALS) for COVID-19 Response for the whole country.
In the EO, the rollout of ALS will be in 4 phases. The pilot areas where ALS is already implemented will be consider as the first phase and other regions will follow in the succeeding phase.
Here is the breakdown of the phases;
Phase 1 – NCR, Region 3, 4-A, 6, 7, 10 and 11
Phase 2 – Region 1, 8 and 12
Phase 3 – Region 2, 5 and 9
Phase 4 – Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Region 4-B, Region 13 (CARAGA) and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM)
The shift to Phase 2 can be done anytime after the effectivity of the EO, as determined by Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases but will not be later than the end of the November 2021. The next phase will then take place every week until it covers the whole country.
The guideline for the implementations of ALS in Pilot area and its amendments will be approved by the IATF once the EO is in effect. For regions not under the ALS, Community Quarantine will still be implemented.
You can read the full text of Executive Order No. 151 below;
In a facebook post, Presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte confirmed that she will be withdrew her candidacy for Mayor of Davao City and said that her brother Sebastian Duterte, who is currently the Vice Mayor, will replace her to run as the new Mayor of Davao City.
She did not provide any reason as to why she withdrew her candidacy and there’s a speculation that she will be running for a much higher position this coming 2022 election.
It can be recalled that then Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte file his candidacy for reelection as Davao City mayor in October 2015 but withdrew his Mayor candidacy and filed as a substitute candidate for President instead.
In a facebook post, Department of Transportation (DOTr) is set to increase the seating capacity of road-based and rail transportation by 70% on November 4, 2021, and the plastic barrier will no longer be require in PUJs.
Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) approved DOTr’s proposal to increase the seating capacity of jeepneys and rail transport last Oct. 28th. The proposal was made after quarantine status in the NCR was downgraded from Alert Level 4 to a more relaxed Alert Level 3 last October 16 until October 31.
Here is DOTr’s announcement;
Last Friday, October 29, Pres. Duterte signed the Proclamation No. 1236, declaring the holidays 2022, which includes the regular, special non-working and working holidays for 2022.
Here are the lists of regular holidays, special non-working days and working days listed in Proclamation No. 1236;
Regular holidays
- January 1, 2022, Saturday – New Year’s Day
- April 9, 2022, Saturday – Araw ng Kagitingan
- April 14, 2022, Thursday – Maundy Thursday
- April 15, 2022, Friday – Good Friday
- May 1, 2022, Saturday – Labor Day
- June 12, 2022, Sunday – Independence Day
- August 29, 2022, last Monday of August – National Heroes’ Day
- November 30, 2022, Wednesday – Bonifacio Day
- December 25, 2022, Sunday – Christmas Day
- December 30, 2022, Friday – Rizal Day
Special non-working days
- February 1, 2022, Tuesday – Chinese New Year
- February 25, 2022, Friday – EDSA People Power Revolution Anniversary
- April 16, 2022 – Black Saturday
- August 21, 2022, Sunday – Ninoy Aquino Day
- November 1, 2022, Tuesday – All Saints’ Day
- December 8, 2022, Thursday – Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary
Special working days
- November 2, 2022, Wednesday – All Souls’ Day
- December 24, 2022, Saturday – Christmas Eve
- December 31, 2022, Saturday – last day of the year
The Proclamation No. 1236 also mentioned that the government will issue a separate proclamations declaring national holidays for the observance of Eid’l Fitr and Eid’l Adha, which are two Islamic holidays and are determined in accordance with the Islamic calendar or the lunar calendar.
You can read the full text of Proclamation No. 1236 below;
Source:@PiaRanada
Land Transportation Office (LTO) will start issuing driver’s license with 10-year, whether it’s for new drivers or those renewing their driver’s license. LTO started the started the new 10-year validity yesterday, October 28th.
According to LTO, driver’s who have not committed any traffic violations will be entitled to the 10-years validity, while those with violations will have 5-years validity.
The 10-years validity of driver’s license is included in a provision in Republic Act No. 1093, signed into law in 2017, which states;
Except for the student-driver’s permits, all drivers’ licenses shall be valid for five (5) years reckoned from the birthdate of the licensee, unless sooner revoked or suspended. Provided, however, That subject to Section 26 of Republic Act No. 4136, as amended by Batas Pambansa Blg. 398, any holder of a professional or nonprofessional driver’s license who has not committed any violation of Republic Act No.4 L36 and other traffic laws, rules and regulations shall be entitled to a renewal of such license for ten (10) years.
FACT: Nasa Guiness Book of World Records si Marcos for GREATEST ROBBERY of a gov't amounting to $5-10 billion.
Don't take my word for it. I-google nyo.
Paki-share para marami makaalam.
Please lang, pumili ng tama.#LeniKiko202
— Sonny Trillanes IV (@TrillanesSonny) October 27, 2021
In a tweet (embedded above), Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV warns voters against the Marcos family and Ferdinand Marcos Sr. in particular for holding the “Greatest robbery of a Government.”
He added that “Don’t take my word for it. I-google nyo” referring to the conduct their own research regarding the issue.
In the Guinness World Records article;
The government of the Philippines announced on 23 Apr 1986 that it had succeeded in identifying $860.8 million (£569.5 million) salted away by the former President Ferdinand Edralin Marcos (1917–89) and his wife Imelda. The total national loss from November 1965 was believed to be $5–$10 billion.
Trillanes is running for Senator under the opposition standard-bearer Vice President Leni Robredo. He is also known as one of Duterte’s fierce critic even before he won he became the President of the country.
After more than a week of waiting, Presidential candidate Leni Robredo announced that the 12th member of her senatorial lineup will be Sonny Matula of Labor Party Philippines.
Sonny Matula will be running as an independent candidate and will included among the guest candidate in Robredo’s senatorial slate.
Maayong buntag kaninyong tanan!
Daghang salamat VP Leni sa pagsalig ug pagsagop sa boses sa mamumoo sa imong senatorial slate!
Giyahan kita sa Dios!
___________________
Robredo names Sonny Matula as 12th senatorial aspirant under her slate https://t.co/Ek1nePcCGB via @YouTube— Atty. Sonny Matula (@AttyMatula) October 23, 2021
Robredo’s senatorial lineup for the coming 2022 National Election will now compose of re-electionists, former opponents and long-time allies.
Here’s the complete list.
- Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV
- Senator Risa Hontiveros
- Senator Leila de Lima
- Humanrights lawyer Jose Manuel ‘Chel’ Diokno
- Former Ifugao representative Teodoro Baguilat Jr.
- Alex Lacson of Kapatiran Party
- Senator Richard Gordon
- Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri
- Sorsogon Governor Francis “Chiz” Escudero
- Senator Joel Villanueva
- Former Vice President Jejomar Binay.
- Labor Leader Sonny Matula
You can watch Leni Robredo’s announcement and why she choose Matula as one of her senators;
Presidential candidate Leni Robredo just announced her 11 senatorial candidates for the coming 2022 election.
The lineup is a mixed-bag of personalities coming from different parties and political background.
- Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV
- Senator Risa Hontiveros
- Senator Leila de Lima
- Humanrights lawyer Jose Manuel ‘Chel’ Diokno
- Former Ifugao representative Teodoro Baguilat Jr.
- Alex Lacson of Kapatiran Party
- Senator Richard Gordon
- Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri
- Sorsogon Governor Francis “Chiz” Escudero
- Senator Joel Villanueva
- Former Vice President Jejomar Binay.
Leni Robredo and her party is yet to announced their 12th candidate, who they are still ‘wooing’. The announcement was made with her Vice president aspirant Kiko Pangilinan and Senator Franklin Drilon, and streamed online.
In another plot twist, a long time Duterte ally Bato Dela Rosa has filed his COC to be the standard bearer of the Cusi-led PDP-Laban faction.
While filing his COC, it’s noticeable that Sen. Bato Dela Rosa is wearing a Hugpong ng Pagbabago party shirt instead of the PDP-Laban faction. ‘Hugpong ng Pagbabago’ is the regional party of Davao City mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.
Before taking a seat as a Senator om 2019, Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa is a long time PNP officer and served as the chief of the Davao City Police Office from 2010 to 2016, before being handpicked by then President-Elect President Rodrigo Duterte as the new PNP Chief on May 19, 2016.
Sen. Bong Go, who is also a long time Duterte associate, will be Sen. Dela Rosa’s running, while filed his COC earlier this week.
When asked if its possible that he gets substituted by re-electionist Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio as PDP-Laban's presidential bet, Sen. Bato Dela Rosa says, "Eh di mas maganda…this is a party decision, this is not my personal decision." | via @JohnsonManabat pic.twitter.com/M4rUFRHoa7
— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) October 8, 2021
It’s unclear if Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa will be the ‘real’ Presidential candidate of the Cusi-side of PDP-Laban or will later be substituted by Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte by November 15. I guess, we’ll just have to wait and see.