‘GOCCs cut down losses, post higher income in 2022’The photo of the Commission on Audit's office in Quezon City taken on Aug. 17, 2021. MANILA, Philippines — Government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) seem to be bouncing back from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic after they were able to significantly cut down losses and post higher income in 2022, the Commission on Audit (COA)’s latest report showed. The “comprehensive loss” for 2022 was computed based on the CPSEs’ total losses of P206.26 billion less their total net income of P60.78 billion. Still, the audit report showed the CPSEs’ P1.73-trillion total income in 2022 was higher than the P1.49 trillion posted in 2021 and P1.27 trillion in 2020. The COA said the CPSEs’ total income for 2022 included P1.42 trillion service and business income, P275.30 billion gains, P36.66 billion other non-operating income, and P310.5 million shares, donations and grants.

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos on Wednesday night admitted that he made two of the "most difficult phone calls" he has had to make as the country's leader. It was when he phoned the families of two Filipinos who died in the war between Israel and Hamas militants. DIFFICULT CALL President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. talks to the families of two Filipinos who were killed in the war between Israel and Hamas militants on Wednesday night, Oct. 11, 2023, in what he described as "two of the most difficult phone calls he has had to make" as the country's leader. PHOTO COURTESY OF BBM'S FACEBOOK PAGE"Last night, I made two of the most difficult phone calls I've had to make as President. The nation is one in grieving with the families of the Filipinos who were killed in the attacks on Israel," Marcos said in a statement posted on his social media on Thursday.

Israel regains control of the Gaza strip from the Hamas militants after an assault in early October. Meanwhile, attacks from the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah against Israel have also started. Israel Ambassador to the Philippines, Ilan Fuss, echoed his country's goal of a strong and decisive end to the war. He extends his condolences to two Filipinos who were killed during the attacks. VIDEO AND INTERVIEW BY EZRAH RAYAGet the latest newsdelivered to your inbox Sign up for The Manila Times newsletters By signing up with an email address, I acknowledge that I have read and agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

DOE: Israel conflict won’t affect oil pricesPalestinians inspect the damage following an Israeli airstrike on the Sousi mosque in Gaza City on October 9, 2023. MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Energy (DOE) does not expect the attacks on Israel to have long-term effects on oil and gas prices, unless the conflict escalates. Abad said based on the first two trading days of the week, global oil prices have actually gone down. But the crude oil price is a benchmark for Malampaya price. So if crude oil prices increase, then Malampaya price will follow.

At least four people were killed and about 80 injured as an express train derailed in the Indian state of Bihar on Wednesday, a district official told Reuters. Twenty-one coaches of the North-East Express train, which runs from Delhi to Assam, derailed at the Raghunathpur railway station in Bihar’s Buxar district around 9:35 p.m. (1605 GMT) on Wednesday, said Tarun Prakash, general manager of East Central Railway. ADVERTISEMENTREAD: India’s worst train crash in decades kills at least 288Three coaches overturned, a police official said. In June, India experienced its worst train crash in two decades in Odisha, which resulted in the death of at least 288 people. READ: Hours after deadly train crash, Greece agonizes over what went wrong

Study shows girls fare better than boys in schoolPhase III implementation of the Longitudinal Cohort Study on the Filipino Child was launched by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), in partnership with the Australian government, United Nations Children’s Fund, National Economic and Development Authority and University of San Carlos-Office of Population Studies (USC-OPS). MANILA, Philippines — Girls fared better and are more likely to be on track with their schooling than boys, according to a study on Filipino children ahead of International Day of the Girl Child on Oct. 11. The study is a timely reminder of the importance of investing in the health, education and well-being of adolescent girls, UNFPA country representative Dr. Leila Joudane said Tuesday. They pointed out that girls fared better during the first six years of the study. In terms of education, at age 16, girls are more likely to be on track with their schooling than boys (85 percent of girls vs. 75 percent of boys).

["Tips for making academic meetings valuable and productive" (insidehighered.com)] With such impositions on their time, faculty members would have meager time left for research and academic-related endeavors such as service-learning and community engagement. Were those meetings productive? ["Making Meetings Productive: Adding 'Meeting Skills' To Your Leadership Credentials" (corporate learning network. Productive meetings ensure accurate information dispersal to move the organization toward its vision and mission. In these pandemic times, "remote workforce realities need productive meetings."

BEFORE taking up a workable strategy for banishing officious stock phrases from our written and spoken English, I am first presenting a chart of the most irksome 33 stock phrases that creep into our memos and reports, with us not even realizing it. In 2013, while running a series of columns discouraging the use of very officious stock phrases in English, I received a very illuminating response from a Tanzania-based Forum member, Mwita Chacha:He wrote:"I agree that the best way to effectively get our ideas across is by making our sentences as precise as possible. In degree of formality, the English language register has six categories: very formal, rigid, bureaucratic language; formal, ceremonious, carefully precise language; neutral, objective, impartial language; informal, casual language; very informal, very casual language; and intimate, very personal and private language. It just so happens that over the centuries, the legal profession has developed a variety of English that's pejoratively called legalese, an officious language that can be roughly classified between very formal and formal language. Read this essay and listen to its voice recording in The Manila Times: "Avoiding very officious stock phrases in our English – 2"Next, Oct. 19, 2023: Using appositives for texture and depthVisit Jose Carillo's English Forum, http://josecarilloforum.com.

THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Wednesday said it is ready to evacuate Filipinos who were affected by the ongoing war between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group, Hamas. At a Palace press conference, AFP Spokesman Medel Aguilar said two C-130 and one C-295 aircraft were placed on standby and ready for deployment should the Philippine government need the military to bring home distressed overseas Filipinos in the conflict area. Aguilar said the AFP will send the aircraft to two identified "airports of embarkation" where the overseas Filipinos could gather and be fetched. Authorities confirmed that at least two Filipinos have been killed amid the ongoing conflict between Israeli forces and the Hamas group. Data from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said that there were more than 30,000 Filipinos in Israel and over 100 in the Gaza Strip.

Seventeen-year-old boy Matthew Tsang Hin-chit from Diocesan Boys’ School was completely naked when he was found in a bush near Lo Shu Tin in Shatin, according to rescuers. It was learned that there was no response from Tsang when rescuers shouted his name before they located him. Rescuers then asked why he stayed near a stream, and Tsang replied, "Because I have water to drink here." The Fire Services said they faced enormous challenges during the rescue operation due to the uncertainty of Tsang's route and the extreme weather including the typhoon. (Updated at 7.41 pm)Also read: Diocesan Boys' School student missing for 7 days found alive in Shatin

Stacy ShiVolunteers handed out green ribbons in Central yesterday to mark World Mental Health Day after four-years' absence due to the pandemic. The campaign, organized by Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Anxiety Support HK, aims to foster awareness for people struggling with mental health. People were encouraged to don a touch of green or simply wear the green ribbons to show their support of the cause. According to Mental Health Hong Kong, one in every seven people experiences a common mental disorder at any given time. Meanwhile, the Department of Health yesterday encouraged the public to support World Mental Health Day by understanding mental health issues, accepting people with mental health needs and building an inclusive society.

PHOTO FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESSParis has hosted the Summer Olympic Games twice in 1900 and 1924. Paris' first hosting of the Olympic Games in 1900 was part of the Exposition Universelle (World's Fair). An Olympic documentary, "Olympic Century," described the first Paris Olympics as being "in shambles" and is only notable for the inclusion of women to the program for the first time. Paris bid for the Olympic Games in 1992, 2008 and 2012, but lost out to Barcelona, Beijing and London, respectively. In 2015 Paris bid again to host the Olympic Games.

A 58-minute delay for a blood transfusion severely damaged her brain from oxygen deprivation, leading to her vegetative state. "This is a civil case and the settlement means that the authority will compensate for clinical liabilities in this medical blunder," the father said. When asked if he was satisfied with the settlement, he said: "No amount of money would ever make me satisfied. He noted that the settlement could probably fund Chau's future medical expenses but he was more concerned that Chau's daily life and after-life arrangements would be left unattended. I don't know if I can hug Tin-yu eight or 10 years from now," the teary father said.

Flower prices seen to go upVendors prepare bouquets and other flower arrangements at the Dangwa Flower Market in Manila on Oct. 26, 2021 for people who will visit their departed loved ones at various cemeteries before All Souls' Day. Ela-Mar Flower Shop manager Alvin Esteban and Joji’s Flower Shop owner Jinky Berdin told The STAR that many farmers were affected by typhoons, resulting in the wholesale price of flowers declining. Esteban explained that the prices of flowers and flower arrangements will depend on the supply from Baguio City, where flower plantations were destroyed. “We are just starting to recover (after the COVID-19 pandemic), but recently, the flowers (prices) went up after flower plantations (in Baguio City) were destroyed,” he said, noting that ready-made flower arrangements are currently sold for as low as P100 to P400. If there is big demand but the supply is limited, that’s the time there is an increase in the prices,” she explained.

State of warAt least once in your lifetime, you must visit Israel, according to a tourism marketing slogan of the country. There’s also the fascinating history of the Jewish state – how people fleeing centuries of murderous persecution culminating in the Holocaust carved a prosperous nation out of forbidding desert. Being aware of the history of the Palestinians, I also sympathize with their aspiration for their own state. For those with no emotional attachment to the conflict, the bigger concern is the impact of the war on already elevated fuel prices. “Stop the war” and “war is hell” may seem like melodramatic slogans mouthed by pot-smoking peaceniks, but not in this case.