Bishop: Unite in prayer against atheistic China“China is a threat,” Catholic Archbishop Socrates Villegas warns. Wikipedia photo Archbishop Socrates Villegas: “If God is with us, no power can prevail against us”The prelate enumerates China perils:• “It maintains agents capable of espionage and subversion. • “Not only are our maritime zones usurped and fishermen evicted from fishing grounds, our marine environment is wrecked as China converts features into militarized islands. • “The possibility that the government has been infiltrated by persons on Beijing’s payroll puts our country’s sovereignty and independence on the line. Do not cower in fear lest our sacred rights be trampled on.”* * *Catch Sapol radio show, Saturdays, 8 to 10 a.m., dwIZ (882-AM).

Pinoys losing creativity? We want to believe that Pinoys are tops in creativity. Then the Koreans came around with better stories, better production values and even Pinoys were binge watching Korean telenovelas. I still believe that Pinoys are very creative but that natural creativity must be nurtured or it will be lost. The PISA test on creativity released last Tuesday has depressing news.

ONE could reasonably ask, "What does India's election have to do with us?" The lessons include inclusive growth, minority rights and sacrifice among the underdogs are often critical to curbing the majority. Well, elections can be curious and unpredictable, especially when done in India's way, which was over a couple of months and not a day. Wonder why PNoy's party hasn't won an election since the midterm of his presidency? His party won less seats that they could by not contesting seats where there was a stronger opposition candidate than that of Congress.

Why teachers want the next DepEd secretary to stay above politicsPupils line up as they wait for their face-to-face classroom assignments at Malanday Elementary School in Marikina. Her background is not appropriate and she is too divisive to mobilize broad public support for education reforms,” Arguelles added. The teachers’ union publicly traded barbs with Duterte in 2023 after the group criticized the department’s efforts to address classroom shortages — a legitimate concern that has been the problem of nearly every DepEd secretary. Sara’s exit from DepEd opens doors for teacher unionsVladimir Quetua, ACT chairperson, said that the next DepEd secretary should be principled and capable of building consensus among teachers and students. The country “needs a DepEd Secretary who listens well, values democratic consultation and practices democratic leadership,” Quetua added.

The eligible elderly can head to eight additional locations to receive assistance with setting up their JoyYou Card so that they can continue to enjoy their travel discounts. The government announced today that it will set up eight temporary application service centers across Hong Kong to assist residents aged 60 or above to apply for the JoyYou Card so that they can continue to enjoy the HK$2 rides. Starting from August 25 this year, all Hong Kong residents aged 60 or above must use a JoyYou Card to enjoy the HK$2 Scheme. As for eligible persons with disabilities aged below 60, they can continue to enjoy the HK$2 Scheme using the Personalised Octopus encoded with "Persons with Disabilities Status" and need not apply for a JoyYou Card. The locations of the eight temporary application service centers can be found here.

Further diversifying and elevating the city's entertainment options with the first Dolby Cinema in Macau and Hong KongMACAU SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 20 June 2024 - Melco Resorts & Entertainment has announced the grand opening of Studio City Cinema will take place on June 26. Studio City Cinema will be the first Dolby Cinema® in Macau and Hong Kong and will be housed within Studio City's recently added USD 1.2 billion complex designed by renowned architecture firm Zaha Hadid Architects. Melco aims for Studio City Cinema to further diversify and elevate the integrated resort's electrifying array of entertainment options, and deliver the most extraordinary cinematic experiences to citizens, tourists and movie enthusiasts alike. AdvertisementMr. Kevin Benning, Senior Vice President, Property General Manager of Studio City, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, said, "We are thrilled to announce June 26 as the official opening date of Studio City Cinema. The Company also majority owns and operates Studio City ( www.studiocity-macau.com), a cinematically-themed integrated resort in Cotai, Macau.

A 54-year-old woman caught dengue fever from a mosquito bite during her bus ride from her Tin Shui Wai home to her workplace at the Hong Kong International Airport. Long Win Bus said it has already inspected bus stops and bus compartments with officers from the CHP, and the company has already stepped up mosquito control efforts. Talks have been held in collaboration with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department at the Tin Shui Community Center. Free dengue fever antibody tests have also been conducted for residents with relevant symptoms. Wong also said the dengue fever infections recorded overseas have increased significantly this year, therefore Hongkongers should be on high alert and apply mosquito repellent while traveling abroad.

The “aging” rice stocks to be sold are those that have been in storage or warehouses for three to six months, the DA said in a statement on Wednesday. “There are two approaches: first, if certain provisions of the RTL (Rice Tariffication Law) will be amended and second, if an executive order will be issued allowing the DA to do this (import rice) under the Price Act. “A dry run of the cheaper rice program is already underway in select Kadiwa centers, and has been well-received by potential beneficiaries,” the DA said. Thus, the DA said it needs to import 363,697 MT of rice to augment national buffer stocks, while the NFA would procure 559,535 MT of palay from local farmers, as required by law. “The estimated cost of securing rice buffer stocks to cover 19 days of national consumption is at least P28.39 billion,” the DA said.

MEMBERS of the Esperanza Farmers Marketing Cooperative (EFMC) are thankful that the Department of Agrarian Reform in Surigao del Sur (DAR-SDS) assisted them in securing a marketing agreement with the Carmen local government unit (LGU). "The agreement was signed on June 14, and we are assured of marketing our rice products to the employees of the Carmen LGU," said Crispin Dales, the manager of EFMC. With the agreement under PAHP, we can expand our market and ensure good income for the cooperative," Dales said. In a separate interview, Yolanda Diaz, the municipal agrarian reform officer, said that EFMC received a P300,000 project package to boost farm productivity and marketing operations. Aside from PAHP, the EFMC is also a beneficiary of DAR's Climate Resilient and Farm Productivity Support Program when the group received farm machines and equipment last year.

Lawmaker urges an investigation after it was announced on Tuesday that the Tung Cheong Street Swimming Pool will be closed for renovation due to a collapsed ceiling, despite its recent opening. The LCSD announced yesterday (June 18) that the Tung Cheong Street Swimming Pool located in Tai Po will be temporarily closed starting July 2 for renovation work, which is expected to be completed by the end of October. During the closure period, members of the public can use the swimming facilities at Tai Po Swimming Pool and Tai Po Long Mei Beach in the same district. According to information, the Tung Cheong Street Recreation and Sports Building was put into service on August 15, 2022, and the Tung Cheong Street Swimming Pool on the first floor of the building was put into service on August 22. Facilities include a 25-by-25 meter training pool, a 25-by-10 meter swimming pool, and a *whirlpool *.

SINCE fiction is a hot topic these days, please allow me to introduce the new Philippine books of fiction forthcoming or recently published by Penguin Random House, the world's biggest trade publisher. Hotshot journalist and novelist Marga Ortigas returns with "God's Ashes: Apocrypha," following her successful novel, "The House on Calle Sombra." This anthology is a collection of unpredictable stories of various genres — fantasy, science fiction, crime, horror and the supernatural. Hidden within a network of intimate relationships, Jaime, Jun, Ria and Maya try to forge an extraordinary family as they discover that secrets also have their own joys. These Filipino-written books of fiction are now available or are forthcoming from the website of Acre Philippines, the distributor of Penguin SEA books in the Philippines.

Willie Mays, the electrifying "Say Hey Kid" whose singular combination of talent, drive and exuberance made him one of baseball's greatest and most beloved players, has died. The Giants retired his uniform number, 24, and set their AT&T Park in San Francisco on Willie Mays Plaza. AdvertisementNew York Giants' Willie Mays poses for a photo during baseball spring training in 1972. AP PHOTO New York Giants' Willie Mays poses for a photo during baseball spring training in 1972. "Willie Mays wasn't just a singular athlete, blessed with an unmatched combination of grace, skill and power," Obama said Tuesday on X.

July 17 to 23 is now the Philippines' National Disability Rights WeekFile photo shows a PWD in crutches. MANILA, Philippines — July 17 to 23 is now officially declared as the "National Disability Rights Week" in the Philippines. The Presidential Communications Office on Wednesday announced that July 17-23 will be commemorated every year as the national disability rights week as part of the government's commitment to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCPRD). The proclamation calls on all government agencies and instrumentalities, including government-owned or controlled corporations, state universities, and colleges, to observe National Disability Rights Week. Local government units, non-government organizations, and the private sector are also encouraged to participate.

A female worker of a To Kwa Wan restaurant was hospitalized on Wednesday morning with a meat grinder after having her hand caught in the machine. The Fire Services Department responded to the emergency by sending firefighters with rescue cutters after receiving a call regarding the accident at around 9 am. The firefighters were unable to dismantle the meat grinder on site after several attempts, with the woman required to be sent to hospital with the machine still attached to her. Sources said the woman, in her 50s, was cleaning the machine this morning at Hon Po Restaurant. It is believed that the machine was yet to be switched off during the process, leading to the accident.

Most Asian markets advance after latest Wall St recordPedestrians walk past an electronic board displaying the numbers of the Tokyo Stock Exchange share price in Tokyo on June 17, 2024. Tokyo stocks opened lower on June 17 as a higher yen and falls in two of the three main US indexes weighed on the market. And one analyst predicted it could even hit $5 trillion in the coming year, according to Bloomberg News. The rally on Wall Street spilled over into Asia, with tech firms among the big winners. "The data clearly reflects a shift in US consumer behaviour, which is becoming more conservative, feeling the pinch from higher interest rates, curbing wage increases and a depletion of savings," said Rodrigo Catril of National Australia Bank.