The end is near?
The end is near? After two years, we are hoping and praying that the end is near. There are scientists who say this may be the beginning of the end. Still, others say it is too early to declare an end, given the ability of the virus to mutate. It will be tragic to fall victim to the virus now that the end is so near.
Source:Philippine Star
February 04, 2022 05:17 UTC
COA confirms Quezon City has complete 2020 audit documents, belies fake news
COA confirms Quezon City has complete 2020 audit documents, belies fake newsMANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Audit has confirmed that the Quezon City government has completed its documents for the year 2020, in line with the P479-million payment for the city’s procurement of relief packs. The COA likewise acknowledged that the documents were in full compliance with audit standards, and no irregularities were flagged. It was later determined that the COA was not, in fact, investigating nor reprimanding the Quezon City LGU, but merely requesting for pending documentation to complete their year-end audit. “With this COA certification, I hope we can finally put these ridiculous accusations to rest,” noted Pia Morato, spokesperson for Mayor Joy Belmonte. “I’m not sure what the good congressman was thinking when he made these allegations, because they are so easily verifiable as fake.
Source:Philippine Star
February 04, 2022 01:42 UTC
God of Wealth spotted driving taxi
Passengers got more than they bargained for when confronted with a taxi driver dressed up at the God of Wealth, otherwise known as Caishen. The blessings "kung hei fat choy" and "all is well" that passengers had no choice but to eyeball for the duration of their rides were intended to pass on the driver's blessings. After one passenger posted a picture of the decked-out taxi online, it went viral. One netizen commented that the taxi driver "should hand out money" to the passengers. Another wrote that the passenger should pay extra for the themed ride.
Source:The Standard
February 04, 2022 01:20 UTC
I wear the sweatpants, you dress up for the ball
I slept in them, did online workouts in them, walked the dog in them, and did food runs in them. Twists of fate bring together Marion Brook (Louisa Jacobson) and Peggy Scott (Denée Benton) in New York City in 1882. "The Gilded Age's" first episode, "Never the New" is set in 1882 in New York City. Who knows, 2022 might be the year I celebrate the release of "Andor" in front of my computer while wearing a ball gown. New episodes of The Gilded Age are released every Tuesday on HBO, Downton Abbey is on both HBO Go and Netflix.
Source:Manila Times
February 03, 2022 22:05 UTC
De Lima asks to 'urgently' see ailing mom via video call
De Lima asks to 'urgently' see ailing mom via video callSen. Leila De Lima, the detained senator and known critic of the Duterte administration, has asked the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court to let her see her ailing mother through a video conference within the day. MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Leila de Lima asked a regional trial court Thursday to let her speak with her 89-year-old mother, who tested positive for COVID-19, through a video conference within the day. De Lima's mother, Norma Magistrado, previously tested positive for the virus on Jan. 10, 2022. De Lima said earlier on Facebook that her mother is in "critical condition" at a local hospital in Iriga City. De Lima has been critical of President Rodrigo Duterte's "war on drugs" and the extrajudicial killings that allegedly happened in the implementation of the anti-drug campaign.
Source:Philippine Star
February 03, 2022 21:25 UTC
Why aren’t there Korean-made vaccines yet?
ADVERTISEMENTAccording to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, there are currently seven other local companies in the process of developing COVID-19 vaccines. Industry workers and experts point to a lack of experience and support in vaccine development as a reason for Korea’s relative slowness. Another official at a company trying to develop a COVID-19 vaccine said there was a lack of follow-up support from the government since. “There are no Korean-made vaccines approved yet because we have neglected the basic science on how to make vaccines,” Kim said at a forum hosted by the Korea Science Journalists Association in September. The budget jumped to 546 billion won this year to support the development of COVID-19 vaccines and treatments.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
February 03, 2022 20:41 UTC
Three teens arrested for driving without license when none admits to being the driver
Three teenagers and an adult were arrested for driving without a license after the vehicle they were on flipped over in Sau Mau Ping early on Thursday. He was unconscious when being rushed to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Yau Ma Tei, and was admitted in serious condition. As all four have left the badly damaged vehicle before police arrival, and none of them willing to admit being the driver, police arrested all four of them for driving without a license, driving an unlicensed vehicle and driving without third-party insurance. The 17-year-old young man was also arrested for drunk driving as he was not able to pass the alcohol test, police added. According to a bystander, the vehicle was traveling down the slope at extremely high speed with four passengers on board.
Source:The Standard
February 03, 2022 18:39 UTC
'Ofalsa et Sunico' – an online fundraising concert for scholars
Multi-awarded, international concert pianist and music author, Raul SunicoIn the last two years of lockdown, the Friends for Cultural Concerns of the Philippines (FCCP) has been hard-pressed to raise funds to continue supporting its 28 student-artist scholars. Athena Marsha MacatangayDonna Klariz BaluyutOther FCCP scholars who will participate in this online production are sopranos Athena Marsha Macatangay and Donna Klariz Baluyut. The organization assumed a new name: Friends for Cultural Concerns of the Philippines while retaining the acronym FCCP. Unfortunately, due to this pandemic the FCCP could not hold its traditional annual fundraisers, preventing the acceptance of new scholars. The FCCP's main objective for now is to ensure the continuity of support to the existing 28 scholars until they graduate.
Source:Manila Times
February 03, 2022 17:00 UTC
Taal Volcano records 152 volcanic quakes, ‘short-lived’ phreatomagmatic burst
Phivolcs said on Thursday that the 152 earthquakes include 33 volcanic tremor events with durations of one to two minutes, 114 low-frequency volcanic earthquakes, five hybrid events, and low-level background tremor that has persisted since July 7, 2021. “Based on ground deformation parameters from electronic tilt, continuous GPS and InSAR monitoring, Taal Volcano Island and the Taal region has begun deflating in October 2021,” it added. Alert level 2, which signifies increased unrest, is still raised over Taal Volcano. abcRELATED STORIESPhivolcs records very weak phreatomagmatic bursts at Taal VolcanoPhivolcs13 volcanic quakes recorded in the last 24 hours as Taal Volcano rumbles on — PhivolcsSubscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy PolicyInquirer calls for support for the victims of Taal volcano eruption Responding to appeals for help, the Inquirer is extending its relief to the families affected by the recent eruption of Taal volcano.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
February 03, 2022 15:25 UTC
Meralco unit to install solar project in Ajinomoto's Bulacan plant
Meralco unit to install solar project in Ajinomoto's Bulacan plantAPC President Tsutomu Nara, and Spectrum President and CEO Ferdinand O. Geluz during the contract signing of the solar project installation held in Makati City on February 3. MANILA, Philippines — Manila Electric Co.'s (Meralco's) wholly-owned solar power firm Spectrum has signed on Thursday a deal with food and seasonings manufacturer Ajinomoto Philippines Corp. (APC) Group to install a solar project of over 1,000 kilowatt-peak (kWp) in the latter's plant in Guiguinto, Bulacan. APC President Tsutomo Nara said this is the start of the group's expansion in its sustainability efforts. "APC Group considers this venture as a good investment in establishing a win-win solution as both our company and the Filipino society would benefit greatly from this endeavor," he said. The APC Group markets Ajinomoto products in the Philippines, including the Umami Seasoning, Crispy Fry Breading Mix, and Sarsaya Liquid Seasoning, among others.
Source:Philippine Star
February 03, 2022 08:55 UTC
Cold weather warning in force as mercury drops
The Cold Weather Warning is in force on Thursday, as temperatures around noon were two to three degrees lower than a day ago. Hong Kong Observatory said a cold winter monsoon is affecting Guangdong. It will be mainly cloudy and cold at night this afternoon and tonight, with temperature dropping to 12 degrees. It will remain cold in the morning, with relatively large temperature difference between day and night. It will be between 11 to 17 degrees on Friday, according to weather forecast.
Source:The Standard
February 03, 2022 05:13 UTC
DILG: 'Soft launch' of VaxCert already available for use
DILG: 'Soft launch' of VaxCert already available for useMANILA, Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government reminded the public that the VaxCert vaccination verification service is already up and free for use. In a phone call, Interior Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya told Philstar.com that VaxCertPH had already been approved for domestic use even if its opening launch was initially intended for overseas travelers. To recall, VaxCert PH was designed to address the lack of uniformity in certificates that indicate a person's vaccination status. "In the meantime, there's no problem anyway because either the VaxCert digital certificate or the local vaccination card is accepted by authorities," he added. "At least with this app, we can filter them out, and that's very important," he told Philstar.com in a phone call.
Source:Philippine Star
February 03, 2022 02:54 UTC
Stock Commentary: Citicore REIT offer goes on sale, my notes on the IPO
The offer period runs from February 2 through February 8, with payments for allocations requested through PSE EASy due by noon on February 8. PSE EASy maximum: The PSE approved a maximum PSE EASy subscription request of 392,000 shares, which at P2.55 per share is a P999,600 order. Dividends: The company dropped its offer price to P2.55/share to bump its implied 2022 dividend yield up to 7.0%. To get into the Filinvest REIT [FILRT 7.53 1.05%] range (5.80%), CREIT’s stock would need to jump to P3.10. The RL Commercial REIT [RCR 8.06 4.05%] and Megaworld REIT [MREIT 22.00 2.22%] level of around 4.30% would require CREIT’s price to hit around P4.22/share.
Source:Philippine Star
February 03, 2022 00:49 UTC
PSA amendments awaiting Duterte OK
MANILA, Philippines — A bill amending the Public Service Act (PSA) to ease foreign equity restrictions on public services will now only need the signature of President Rodrigo Duterte. In their respective sessions on Wednesday, the Senate and the House of Representatives ratified the bicameral conference committee report, which reconciled the conflicting provisions between Senate Bill No. She pointed to a provision prohibiting foreign state-owned enterprises from owning capital in any public service classified as a public utility or a critical infrastructure. ADVERTISEMENT“No person shall be deemed a public utility unless otherwise subsequently provided by law,” according to the measure. READ: Bill revising Public Service Act awaits final Senate nodATMSubscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
February 03, 2022 00:09 UTC
SIM registration bill just a step away from becoming law
MANILA, Philippines — A bill that would mandate the ownership registration of all SIM cards in the country now only awaits the signature of President Rodrigo Duterte. 5793, or the proposed SIM Card Registration Act. ADVERTISEMENTThe proposed law is seen to curb fraud and other crimes aided by SIM cards. READ: SIM card registration: Fighting cyber criminals or breaching privacy? The reconciled SIM card registration bill mandates all public telecommunications entities (PTEs) to register SIM cards as a prerequisite to their sale and activation.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
February 03, 2022 00:09 UTC