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(CNN Philippines) Metro Manila — Metro Manila mayors will not recommend an easing or extension of the COVID-19 quarantine status in the region, leaving the decision instead to the Inter-Agency Task Force, an official said Wednesday.

“The Metro Manila council will defer to the decision of the Inter-Agency Task Force on the next community quarantine status to be implemented in the National Capital Region,” Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MADD) chairman Bencher Abacus said in a media briefing, as he underscored the importance of balancing economic and health factors.

The country’s capital is currently under the strictest enhanced community quarantine (ECU) until August 20 amid the spike in coronavirus cases and the threat of the highly contagious Delta variant.

San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora told CNN Philippines earlier in the day that local chief executives had a hard time deciding on their final recommendation due to these factors.

“It’s the first time we had an ECQ with the Delta variant. This has really further complicated the situation,” he said. “It’s very difficult at this point because if you allow ECQ to continue, the businesses will really suffer. If you open up at this point, more people will die. That’s really the situation now. It’s very hard to make a decision.”

Abalos vowed that whatever quarantine classification is imposed, LGUs will be ready to ramp up COVID-19 testing, isolation, and vaccination efforts.

“Ito po ang mako-commit ng mayors: One, hindi kami titigil sa pagba-bakuna. Number two, we will make sure na ang testing namin kumpleto. Number three, ‘yung ating isolation facilities, binibilang namin araw araw, ilan pa ba,” Abalos said.

[Translation: This is something the mayors can commit: One, we will not stop with the vaccination. Number two, we will make sure that our testing is complete. Number three, we’ll constantly check the status of our isolation facilities.]

President Rodrigo Duterte will still make the final decision as to what happens to Metro Manila after the ECQ status lapses on Friday.

Will there be new ‘ayuda’ if ECQ extended?
Abalos pointed out that one of the main concerns about a possible ECQ extension was if the national government can still afford to provide a new round of cash aid.

“Ang tanong, kung mag-ECQ pa for another two weeks, I’m not sure about the ayuda. Baka wala nang ibigay ang national (government),” the MMDA chief said.

[Translation: The question is, if we extend the ECQ for another two weeks, I’m not sure about the cash aid. Maybe the national government won’t be able to provide anymore.]

The Department of Budget and Management earlier told CNN Philippines that it is looking for more funds for additional cash aid in case Metro Manila and select provinces are placed under a longer lockdown.. Read More

(PepPh) Sa pamamagitan ng palitan ng text messages, napag-usapan namin ni John Estrada ang lumalaking isyu nila nina Derek Ramsay at Ellen Adarna.

Sinagot ni John ang isyung walkout umano ni Ellen sa sitcom nilang John en Ellen, na hindi raw totoo.

Pero pagdating sa kanila ni Derek, nahahalata ko noon pang may tampuhan talaga sila.

Ayaw lang talaga niyang magsalita.

Kinulit ko ulit si John nang nagsalita na si Derek sa YouTube channel ni Ogie Diaz, pero nakiusap siyang huwag na siyang hingan ng statement tungkol dito.

“Alam mo naman ako, Gorgs, hindi talaga ako nagsasalita kapag may isyu, di ba?

“May mga isyu naman ako nun, nagsasalita ba ako? Nagpapa-interview ba ako?” balik-sagot sa akin ni John.

Sandali kaming nagkausap ni John sa telepono nitong Miyerkules ng gabi, August 11.

Hindi niya itinangging nalungkot siya dahil umabot sa ganitong sitwasyon ang mahigit anim na taong friendship nila ni Derek.

Iniisip na lang daw niyang nangyayari ito sa ibang magkakaibigan. Kaya mas mabuting manahimik na lang daw siya.

“Basta para sa akin, kaibigan pa rin ang turing ko sa kanya,” makahulugang pahayag ni John.

Nakita raw niya kung gaano kamahal ni Derek si Ellen. Inuunawa na lang daw niya ang lahat na nangyayari.

“I wish them well. Gusto ko naman, Gorgs, masaya lang sila. Everybody happy!

“Okay na yun. Ayoko na magsalita, ha?” natatawang pahayag ni John at pinapatigil na niya ako sa pagtatanong.

Ayaw na rin akong sagutin ni John tungkol sa isyung balak ni Ellen na i-complain ang buong production ng John en Ellen sa IATF dahil sa nilabag diumano na safety protocols.

Haharapin daw nila ito sakaling may dumating na ganung reklamo.

“Basta, ayoko nang lumaki pa ito. I’d rather not say a word… Lest it be blown to unmanageable proportions.

“Gusto ko lang magpasalamat sa lahat na nagpadala sa akin ng messages, saka yung iba pang mga nagbigay ng magandang comments sa akin,” dagdag na pahayag ni John… Read More

(The Manila Times) NEW TEAM-UP ON GMA Jennylyn Mercado confirms on Instagram that she will be working on a series with Xian Lim. INSTAGRAM PHOTOS/MERCADOJENNY
XIAN Lim and Jennylyn Mercado confirmed in their respective social media accounts that they will work together, for the first time, on a teleserye. This will also be Lim’s first major project with GMA after his transfer from ABS-CBN.

In June, Mercado hinted on her Facebook page that she might have a project with Lim, posting individual photos of them with the caption, “What do you think? #JenXi”. Then on Sunday, Mercado took to Facebook again to share an edited photo of the two and wrote, “Abangan. #LoveDieRepeat”.

On Monday evening, Mercado posted on Instagram that she attended a virtual story conference for a project titled “Love. Die. Repeat.” Mercado also posted a screenshot of their Zoom call, which included Lim.

Not long after Mercado’s post, Lim also uploaded the Zoom photo on Instagram Stories, along with the script of the pilot episode.

Other attendees of the story conference were their co-stars Gardo Versoza, Mike Tan, Kim Domingo, Samantha Lopez, Valerie Concepcion, Victor Anastacio, and Lui Manansala. GMA Entertainment Group Program Manager Ayalexi Dedicatoria, executive producer Joy Lumboy-Pili, and other members of the project were also present.

“Ulan” and “On Vodka, Beers, and Regrets” director Irene Emma Villamor was also present in the Zoom call. Later on, she was confirmed to be the series director. Villamor and Mercado previously worked together on the series “Love You Two,” in which the actress was paired with Gabby Concepcion.

Meanwhile, this is Lim’s first major project for the network, having spent much of his career in ABS-CBN. Lim is currently under Viva Artists Agency. When he was starting out, Lim appeared in two episodes of the network’s anthology series “Maynila.” Recently, Lim also appeared on one of GMA’s specials in partnership with an e-commerce platform… Read More

(CNN Philippines) Metro Manila — President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday asked for more COVID-19 vaccines from the United States, adding that the government is ready to pay for fresh supply.

“I am just asking America to give us more, kung mayroon lang sila (only if they have)… If there is an excess of supply, pakitulong naman dito sa bayan ko (please help my country),” he said during his late-night address on Monday.

“We have the money,” the President added. “We buy, we do not ask. We have saved money for this event.”

So far, the Philippines has received over 42 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, including more than three million doses of the Moderna vaccine donated by the U.S. through the COVAX facility.

China has also donated coronavirus doses to the country, including one million shots of Sinovac vaccine. The Asian superpower has committed to donate more to the Philippines, which it has done “with no strings attached,” according to Duterte.

Meanwhile, the chief executive reiterated his appeal to all Filipinos to get vaccinated to protect themselves from the virus as the country records more cases of the more transmissible variants.

“Itong virus na ito (This virus) will just circulate in the air for years, so itong (this) mask, limited social contacts natin nandiyan na iyan (will be always there),” Duterte said.

“The virus is here to stay and it will change your life at least forever until mawala ito (it disappears),” he also said. “And it will continue to claim lives.”

The Department of Health has recorded more cases of the dreaded Delta variant and the country’s first case of the Lambda variant.

READ: DOH: Pregnant woman from Western Visayas first Lambda variant case

Amid new fears on the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines against these variants, infectious disease expert Dr. Edsel Salvaña presented data on the matter, noting that all vaccines remain to be highly effective against contracting severe case of COVID-19 regardless of the variant.

However, efficacy decreases in preventing clinical disease — specifically when one gets infected by the Delta variant, Salvaña explained.

Meanwhile, there is only a slight decrease on the vaccine’s efficacy against the Lambda variant based on preliminary data, he added.

Currently, the government has fully vaccinated over 12.5 million Filipinos, still far from the target of immunizing at least 70 million individuals to achieve herd immunity… Read More

(BusinessWorld) PHILIPPINE health authorities on Sunday said they have detected the first case of the Lambda coronavirus variant that is more contagious and resistant to vaccines.

The patient was a 35-year-old woman who did not show symptoms and who had since recovered, the Department of Health (DoH) said in a statement.

The agency was tracing people who had close contact with the patient, who became well after being isolated for 10 days, it said.

“This variant of interest has the potential to affect the transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 and is currently being monitored for its possible clinical significance,” DoH said.

Lambda is a variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. It was first detected in Peru in December. It is said to be more contagious than the original strain from Wuhan China. It is also more resistant to vaccines, according to studies.

DoH also reported 182 more infections from the Delta coronavirus variant from India, 41 from the Alpha variant from the UK, 66 from the Beta variant first detected in South Africa, and 40 from the local P.3 variant.

The Philippines now had 807 Delta, 2,232 Alpha, 2,483 Beta and 347 P.3 variant cases, it said.

DAILY TALLY
The Health department reported 14,749 coronavirus infections on Sunday, the second-highest tally since the pandemic started last year, bringing the total to 1.74 million… Read More

(GMA News) More children are now getting hospitalized with COVID-19 at the San Lazaro Hospital, according to a report on “24 Oras Weekend” on Sunday.

Dr. Rontgene Solante, chairman of the Adult Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine unit of the San Lazaro Hospital, said this may be caused by the highly transmissible Delta variant.

“Compared natin last year or last March, kaunti lang talaga ang mga bata. Ngayon, nadadagdagan na. Most of the symptoms are very mild lang so they have cough, fever, except for one, which was the youngest I think 3 months old which was more or less severe form of COVID,” Solante said.

(Last year or last March, very few kids were taken to hospital. But now, there are a lot more. Most of the symptoms are very mild, so they have a cough, fever. Except for one case, which was the youngest I think. A three-month-old who more or less has a severe form of COVID.)

“The transmissibility has now extended not only for adults but also to younger age groups. And most of the sources of these younger age group are also coming from their parents or from their caretakers,” he added.

Earlier, the Department of Health said an increase in COVID-19 infections in the country has been recorded in all age groups and not just among children.

The DOH issued the statement amid concerns over the reported increase in the number of children contracting COVID-19.

Dr. Jocelyn Eusebio, chief of the Philippine Pediatric Society, said children have strong resistance against COVID-19 but they could still be more vulnerable against the more transmissible Delta variant… Read More

(CNN Philippines) Metro Manila – As a student, raising your hand during a recitation is an act of courage for you to fulfill the expectations of your teacher and classmates.

On one occasion, a curious high school student named Gary Bejino randomly volunteered himself when his Physical Education teacher asked their class who among them are interested to learn swimming.

“Nagtaas naman ako ng kamay, pero ang alam ko is yung langoy dagat lang. Trip ko lang din yun eh,” said Bejino, who resided at that time with the Father Monti Foundation in Novaliches, Quezon City.

[Translation: I raised my hand, but the truth is I only know leisure swimming. It just wanted to try it back then.]

Little did Bejino know that his random raising of hand will be the start of his career, where he will eventually bring honor to the country.

After training for months, the then 15-year-old Bejino immediately competed for the National Capital Region (NCR) in the 2012 Palarong Pambansa for persons with disabilities, where he harvested three gold medals in the 50-meter breast stroke, back stroke, and freestyle events.

His winning performance in Palaro reached the Philippine Sports Association for the Differently Abled (now Philippine Paralympic Committee) and the national sports association gave him a spot in the national team for the 2013 Asian Youth Para Games in Malaysia, where he won a silver medal in the 100-meter freestyle event.

“Dapat hindi ako yung kukunin kasi dapat yung taga Region 9 yata yun, kasi mas mababa yung time niya kesa sa akin. Kaso gahol na sa oras so nag-decide si Coach Tony (Ong) na sa NCR na lang kumuha ng ipapadala sa Malaysia. Ako po yung napili ni Coach Tony,” the now 23-year-old Bejino recalled.

[Translation: I should not have been the one picked to join the national team because it should be from Region 9, since he has a faster time than me. But time was running out so Coach Tony (Ong) decided to pick a swimmer from NCR to be sent to Malaysia. I was the one chosen by Coach Tony.]

From then on, Bejino gave more pride to the country by collecting medals in the ASEAN Para Games and the Asian Para Games. In the 2018 Asiad alone, he clinched a silver in the 200-meter individual medley event and two bronzes in the 100-meter backstroke and 100-meter freestyle categories.

Bejino’s pool performance in the 2018 Asian Para Games in Indonesia was used as basis for his qualification to his first ever Paralympics in Tokyo, Japan this August… Read More

(GMA News) The Philippine General Hospital (PGH) on Saturday said it will temporarily stop accepting non-COVID-19 patients, while the Pasay City General Hospital’s emergency room shut its doors completely after its COVID-19 confirmed ward occupancy rate reached 90%.

“Upang mapagtuunang mabuti ang pag-aalaga sa mga may COVID, kami ay pangsamantalang hindi muna tatanggap ng mga pasyenteng may ibang medikal na karamdaman na wala namang COVID,” the PGH said in an advisory.

(So we can better take care of COVID-19-positive individuals, we will temporarily stop accepting patients with other medical conditions that are not positive for the illness.)

The hospital also announced that it needs to expand its facilities in order to accommodate the rising number of COVID-19 patients.

“Humihingi kami ng inyong paumanhin at pang-unawa upang lalo pa naming matugunan ang pangangailangan ng dumaraming bilang ng atin mga kababayang may COVID (We apologize and ask for your understanding that this is to better care for the needs of the rising number of patients with COVID-19),” it said.

“Agaran po namin kayong aabisuhan sa oras na lumipas ang bugso ng bilang ng mga kaso ng COVID upang kayo ay muling paglingkuran (We will immediately issue an advisory once the surge in number of cases stops),” it added… Read More