Samantha Lopez wins at ASEAN Excellence Achievers Awards 2021
Samantha Lopez wins at ASEAN Excellence Achievers Awards 2021MANILA, Philippines — Actress Samantha Lopez was recently awarded Outstanding Female TV Personality of the Year at the recently concluded ASEAN Excellence Achievers Awards 2021 held at the Grand Ballroom of Okada Manila. She is best remembered as Gracia, “Eat Bulaga's” Showdown Girl, before she first flew to New York in 2002. For Samantha, the award can be considered an answered prayer more than just a fitting validation of her worth as an actress and performer. Samantha counts herself as one of the lucky few who kept their showbiz careers afloat during the lingering pandemic. For 2022, the Kapuso actress looks forward to keeping herself busy with two teleseryes: “First Lady” with Gabby Concepcion and Sanya Lopez, and “Love Die Repeat” with Xian Lim and Jennylyn Mercado.
Source:Philippine Star
January 08, 2022 04:14 UTC
Asian markets mixed as attention turns to US jobs
UPWARD TREND People walk by an electronic stock board of a securities firm in Tokyo on Friday, Jan. 7, 2022. Asian markets are mostly higher after more declines in big technology stocks pulled major indexes lower on Wall Street. Tokyo and Taiwan declined but other regional markets advanced. And Wall Street extended losses on Thursday, though the selling was less severe. "Oil has rallied in recent weeks as financial markets have dismissed Omicron, rightly or wrongly, as a temporary aberration," said Oanda's Jeffrey Halley.
Source:Manila Times
January 08, 2022 04:01 UTC
Restrictions on unvaxxed residents set nationwide
Mr. Duterte issued the order after Metro Manila mayors agreed to pass ordinances requiring unvaccinated residents to stay home unless going out for essential goods and services or reporting for work. Barangay officials could arrest those who refuse to follow their orders, Mr. Duterte said. Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez assured the country’s largest business group that the government would not implement hard lockdowns, but instead restrict the movement of the unvaccinated. “We are happy that the government is no longer imposing hard lockdowns as a safeguard measure against increasing Omicron cases. Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana denied rumors circulating on social media that Mr. Duterte would impose martial law to contain the latest surge in COVID-19 cases in the country.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
January 08, 2022 03:41 UTC
World passes 300 million COVID-19 cases as Omicron breaks records
PARIS, France – The total number of COVID-19 cases registered worldwide passed 300 million on Friday, with the Omicron variant’s rapid spread setting new infection records in dozens of countries over the last week. Even as it spurred the world to record 13.5 million cases in the last week alone — 64 percent higher than the previous seven days — the global average of deaths dropped three percent. However with a global average of two million new cases being detected daily, experts warn the sheer numbers threaten to overwhelm health systems. World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that Omicron should not be categorised as mild, as it “is hospitalising people and it is killing people”. Men’s tennis world number one Novak Djokovic has been at the centre of his own controversy after being dramatically refused entry to play in Australia due to his vaccine status.
Source:Philippine Daily Inquirer
January 08, 2022 03:34 UTC
What really tripped up Novak Djokovic?
Novak Djokovic FILE PHOTOSYDNEY: Tennis superstar Novak Djokovic's Australian visa disaster may be down to a subtle but important difference in the Covid-19 vaccination rules for either playing in the Australian Open or getting into the country. The nine-time Australian Open champion was dramatically stripped of his entry visa and placed in a government detention center in Melbourne this week, sparking an outcry from his fans and family. It is now emerging, at least from the Australian government's perspective, that Djokovic failed to meet the stricter Covid-19 vaccine requirements for foreign nationals coming into Australia. It has not been confirmed that Djokovic actually used a previous infection as his reason for not being double-vaccinated. That is because Tennis Australia based its exemptions criteria on the Atagi guidelines that apply to Australians at home.
Source:Manila Times
January 07, 2022 22:13 UTC
Valenzuela shutters store selling fake paracetamol
Valenzuela shutters store selling fake paracetamolThe FDA warned the public to be wary of fake paracetamols, which can be distinguished from authentic ones which are lighter in color. MANILA, Philippines — The Valenzuela City government yesterday announced it would crack down on stores selling fake medicines amid a rise in demand due to the surge in COVID-19 cases. The city government said it shut down a sari-sari store in Barangay Malinta after it was reportedly found to be selling counterfeit Biogesic tablets. In its bulletin last Wednesday, Valenzuela recorded 36,745 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 35,073 recoveries, 850 deaths and 822 new cases. City Ordinance 0959 bars unvaccinated residents from leaving their homes unless it is to avail themselves of essential goods and services.
Source:Philippine Star
January 07, 2022 17:15 UTC
Suzuki Philippines rolls out sweet new deal for Suzuki Carry
TO start the year right, Suzuki Philippines Inc. put in additional incentives to new customers of Suzuki Carry. Each Suzuki Carry purchase in 2022 includes free periodic maintenance service coupons for three years. These new purchase mechanics are applicable to all new Suzuki Carry units purchased within the said time frame mentioned to all 73 dealerships nationwide. Customers will need to present these, together with the warranty booklet, to any dealer service advisor during the receiving of units for service at any Suzuki authorized dealer. For daily updates on Suzuki, like Suzuki Auto Ph Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SuzukiAutoPh or follow it on Twitter at https://twitter.com/SuzukiAutoPh and Instagram at @suzukiautoph.
Source:Manila Times
January 07, 2022 17:11 UTC
Volleyball star Alyssa Valdez positive for COVID-19; POC resets assembly
It's time to swap out the oldies with fresh KN95s, Japanese workwear masks, and variety packs with tie dye, camo, and beyond. Ah shit, here we go again. Back to the masks, baby—which, for the record, (begrudgingly)...
Source:Philippine Star
January 07, 2022 15:48 UTC
Jones All Day serves up good times and good vibes
Jones All Day is an all-day dining space serving scrumptious breakfast, brunch, lunch, snacks, and dinner options. After the success of the Farmer's Table, Tagaytay's dining destination borne out of the pandemic, Raintree Hospitality Group is once again proving that there's nothing like great food to bring people together. Seasoned restaurateurs Annabella and Martin Wisniewski worked closely together with Raintree corporate chef Kalel Chan to develop the concept for Jones All Day, an all-day dining space serving scrumptious breakfast, brunch, lunch, snacks, and dinner options for everyone. One of its signature dishes is the Jones Seafood Tower. Jones All Day Bistro & Bakery is located at the ground floor of Serendra Piazza, Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.
Source:Manila Times
January 07, 2022 13:38 UTC
Covid case sends kindergarten students and teachers into quarantine
Teachers and students of a Tuen Mun kindergarten were quarantined on Friday after a student there tested positive for the coronavirus. The school - Shun Tak Fraternal Association Tuen Mun Leung Lee Sau Yu Kindergarten had earlier suspended classes on Tuesday after the parent of a kid there tested positive for the coronavirus. The kindergarten today said one of their students in class 2A contracted the coronavirus. All of the student’s classmates and teachers will be required to undergo 21 days of quarantine. The school also added today that classes will be suspended until further notice.
Source:The Standard
January 07, 2022 12:39 UTC
21,819 new COVID-19 cases, highest since September 2021
21,819 new COVID-19 cases, highest since September 2021Patients and their companions crowd outside Amang Rodriguez Medical Center in Marikina City as they wait to be admitted to the hospital on Monday, Jan. 3, 2022 as the Philippines records a sharp increase in COVID-19 cases at the start of the year. MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health on Friday logged 21,819 new COVID-19 infections — the highest single-day tally since September 18 last year — pushing the total to 2,910,664 cases. 63% cases from Metro ManilaOf the new infections logged on Friday, 63% or 13,634 were traced to Metro Manila. The DOH bulletin showed that 32% of ICU beds, 35% isolation beds and 31% of ward beds across the country are currently being used. In Metro Manila, where majority of the new cases are traced, 48% of ICU beds, 47% of isolation beds and 59% of ward beds are in use.
Source:Philippine Star
January 07, 2022 10:30 UTC
Senate and House on lockdown until January 16
Senate and House on lockdown until January 16MANILA, Philippines (Updated 4:34 p.m.) — The House of Representatives will remain on lockdown until next week amid increasing COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila and nearby provinces, Speaker Lord Allan Velasco (Marinduque) said Friday. Related Stories Omicron fears prompt House lockdownThe House has been on lockdown since January 4. With the extension of House lockdown, work will resume on January 17, Velasco said. Velasco also said House Secretary Mark Llandro Mendoza was already instructed to ensure strict implementation of the lockdown. Senate goes on lockdownSenate President Tito Sotto III on Friday afternoon said the chamber will also go on lockdown next week, until January 16 after 46 employees tested positive for COVID-19.
Source:Philippine Star
January 07, 2022 09:48 UTC
Globe to sustain hefty investments in cybersecurity
Globe to sustain hefty investments in cybersecurityMANILA, Philippines — Telco giant Globe Telecom Inc. would sustain its multi-billion dollar investment in cybersecurity, which has become more important amid the proliferation of spams and hacking during the pandemic. “We have been investing this much without any promise of ROI (return of investment),” Bonifacio said. Parts of those investment were used to build what Bonifacio said could be the largest cybersecurity team in the country. Bonifacio said Globe has increased its cybersecurity and privacy manpower to “almost a hundred people,” growing by 5.8x from just 18 people before he joined the telco company. This year alone, the Ayala-led telco successfully intercepted close to 71 million spam messages.
Source:Philippine Star
January 07, 2022 09:31 UTC
Think tank sees Robredo as more 'market-friendly' president than Marcos Jr.
Think tank sees Robredo as more 'market-friendly' president than Marcos Jr.MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo will likely be a more "market-friendly" president than Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., a Japan-based think tank said in its monthly report. Robredo and Sen. Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan got a score of five in national experience and business friendliness categories. However, the two were rated between one to zero based on national experience, and zero in business friendliness. "Political uncertainty will also likely grow, considering Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s large poll lead over VP Leni Robredo. Meanwhile, Duterte topped the vice presidential survey will 45%, followed by Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III.
Source:Philippine Star
January 07, 2022 09:09 UTC