pinay<3pinoy

(CNN Philippines) Metro Manila — The country logged 156 new COVID-19 deaths on Saturday, pushing the death toll to 20,722, according to the Department of Health.

This is the fourth time in a row this week that there were at least 150 daily fatalities recorded. The death toll is now 1.7% of the number of cases.

The DOH daily bulletin counted 1,216,582 cases in total after 7,443 more people got infected. Of this total, 4.4% or 53,614 are active or currently ill cases, with at least 93.1% experiencing mild symptoms, 2.3% without symptoms, 1.8% in severe condition, 1.4% in critical condition, and 1.28% in moderate condition.

The recovery number also jumped to 1,142,246 or 93.9% of the COVID-19 tally after 7,533 more people were cleared of the coronavirus.

Of the newly reported deaths, the DOH said 91 were previously tagged as recoveries. It also deleted 15 duplicate cases, including 14 survivors.

The DOH said the total excludes data from two laboratories that failed to submit their reports on time. These laboratories contributed about an average of 0.3% of samples tested and 0.7% of positive individuals in the past 14 days, the agency added.

The daily positivity rate or rate of individuals who tested positive was at 12.5% based on 46,442 tests done as of May 27. The rate continues to stay at the 11-13% range which has been recorded daily since May 5. The recommended percentage is below 5%, according to the World Health Organization, as high rates may mean high transmission and more undetected cases… Read More

(BusinessWorld) Budget carrier AirAsia expects domestic operations in the Philippines to be below 25% of pre-pandemic levels until at least September while the population awaits widespread vaccination against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

The airline company posted an 87% revenue decline to RM298 million (P3.4 billion) in the first quarter compared to the same period last year, AirAsia Group Berhad said in a press release on Thursday.

Month-on-month operations in the Philippines has improved with a 57% increase in passengers in March, although this was lower than the 85% increase seen by AirAsia Malaysia.

AirAsia said that it is aiming to raise RM 1 billion (P11.57 billion) under a Danajamin financing scheme in Malaysia, and to raise new capital in both Indonesia and the Philippines.

The airline added that it expects COVID-19 vaccine rollout in most of the markets it operates in.

“This is expected to deliver a huge boost for air travel demand for our key ASEAN markets, on top of strong pent-up demand. We are also keenly exploring opportunities to gain market share, particularly in Indonesia and the Philippines,” the company said.

“Once borders are lifted, our robust business model provides confidence for a fast and strong recovery in our overall performance given our low-cost model and dominant positioning in ASEAN.”

Philippines AirAsia, Inc. recently said that it is eyeing travel incentives for fully vaccinated individuals to help stir up demand. .. Read More

(PepPh) Nasorpresa si Jasmine Curtis-Smith sa natuklasan sa kanyang nabiling condominium unit dahil may tumira na rito bago pa man siya makalipat.

Sa kanyang Instagram kahapon, May 23, nag-upload si Jasmine ng mga larawan at videos kung saan nilinis ng isang cleaning company ang kanyang unit.

Dito ikinuwento ng 27-year-old Kapuso actress na nabili niya ang condo unit noong mga 20 taong gulang lamang siya.

Hindi raw ito nagamit ni Jasmine ng halos dalawang taon dahil hindi niya alam kung paano i-handle ang bago niyang property.

Sabi niya, “Moved into my studio unit a week before lock in started.

“Many many many thanks to @bbcleaningco for disinfecting and cleaning my new city sanctuary!

“Story of this unit… purchased this as an investment almost 6-7 years ago. Wasnt able to utilize it for a year and a half after turnover because of my lack of knowledge in property handling!”

Noong lilipat na raw si Jasmine, natuklasan niyang may tumira na raw sa kanyang unit.

Nagkasira-sira na rin daw ang ilang bahagi ng condo. May mga naiwan pa raw na mga boteng walang laman.

At higit sa lahat, ninakaw raw ng hindi niya kilalang mga tao ang kalan at mga handle ng cabinet sa kanyang unit.

Lahad ni Jasmine, “I was about to move in after that year and a half but when I got to the unit, it was LIVED IN.

“All the plastic sealing of my sinks, faucets etc were torn and with empty bottles, sachets and whatnot left behind! They even stole the range and cabinet handles that came with the unit.

“they changed security and managements a year or two after that incident, so I decided to keep it and not sell anymore.

“Afterall, I still am not that knowledgeable with property handling!

“Plus thought about how useful this place will be not just for me but for overseas family visiting in the future… Read More

(CNN Philippines) Metro Manila — Lucio ‘Hun Hun’ Tan III is named to another key position in the Tan family business: vice president at PAL Holdings.

The Philippine Airlines operator informed the Philippine Stock Exchange on Thursday the appointment of the third-generation Tan to the post, which took effect on May 26.

The grandchild and namesake of tycoon Lucio Tan, he is the son of former PAL Holdings president Lucio “Bong” Tan Jr. who passed away in November 2019.

Tan III’s appointment comes at a turbulent time for the airline operator as PAL struggles with limited flights in light of pandemic-induced travel restrictions.

PAL president and chief operating officer Gilbert Santa Maria told CNN Philippines earlier this month that they are “surviving with difficulty” amid these trying times.

“We’re managing liquidity, we’re trying to continue to get the forbearance from our lessors on the payments on the aircraft. We’ve returned some aircraft,” the flag carrier chief said.

PAL is also in the middle of a restructuring which includes cost-cutting efforts, added Santa Maria, also noting the airline’s transformation into a cargo carrier during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Last October, PAL announced up to 35% of its 7,000-strong workforce will be affected by job cuts under its recovery plan.

In late 2019, Tan III was also appointed president and chief operating officer of the family-led Tanduay Distillers and director of LT Group, MacroAsia, PAL Holdings, PAL and Air Philippines. He has a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering and master’s degree in computer science from Stanford University.

Shares of PAL Holdings finished trading on Thursday at ₱5.74, up 4.36% from the previous close… Read More

(GoodNewsPilipinas) Filipino American star athlete Jordan Clarkson has won the 2020-21 Kia National Basketball Association (NBA) Sixth Man Award.

The 6-foot-5 Utah Jazz guard was awarded for his contributions in a reserve role, the NBA announced on May 25, 2021. The award is Jordan Clarkson’s first Sixth Man honor, delivering the first win for the Utah Jazz club.

Clarkson reached the top of the ranking with 65 first-place votes worth 5 pts each), 25 second-place votes (worth 3 pts each), and 4 third-place votes(worth 1 pt each) for a total of 407 points from a global panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters.

Clarkson averaged over three 3-pointers per game, providing immediate offense off the bench. The hot-shooting guard averaged a career-high 18.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 26.7 minutes in the 2020-21 regular season, playing 68 of his 69 games off the bench… Read More

(BusinessWorld) SUPREME Court Associate Justice Marvic Mario Victor F. Leonen did not celebrate the dismissal of the impeachment complaint against him by the House of Representatives on Thursday, saying it was a waste of time and was ill-motivated to begin with.

“There is no victory to be celebrated by anyone. If anything, it should remind some not to waste our time and resources for narrow parochial selfish gains,” Mr. Leonen said in an e-mailed statement on Thursday.

“A dismissal on the basis of the mere face of the impeachment complaint affirms the baselessness of the grounds raised. It is an act that powerfully speaks for itself,” he added.

Mr. Leonen said the country’s leaders will eventually see the motives of those who filed the complaint and “(a)t the right time, they will do the right thing.”

He also told “the prime movers of this baseless complaint and those who have supported them” that he wishes them well, “and I wish that you will also find your own peace.”

The complaint was filed in Dec. 2020 by Edwin M. Cordevilla, secretary-general of the Filipino League of Advocates for Good Government. It was endorsed by House Speaker Lord Allan Jay Q. Velasco in March.

The House of Representatives dismissed the complaint for lack of authentic and verified documents supporting his alleged violations of the Constitution.

The complaint alleged that Mr. Leonen violated the 1987 Constitution by failing to submit his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) when he was with the University of the Philippines, and for his slow disposal of cases before the Supreme Court.

Deputy Speaker Rufus R. Rodriguez, during his manifestation on Thursday, said the complaint lacked the authenticated documents that are meant to determine its sufficiency in form. Most of the documents submitted were published newspaper articles.

“The complaint is beyond verifying because they are all hearsay. All of the documents are hearsay. All the attached in annexes are hearsay,” Mr. Rodriguez said.

Albay Rep. Edcel C. Lagman, for his part, said the supposed violations relating to the filing of SALNs cannot be impeachable as the allegations happened before Mr. Leonen’s appointment to the Supreme Court.

“Granting if this is true, it cannot be a ground for impeachment for the following reasons: one, the alleged failure was before Justice Leonen was appointed as Associate Justice in 2012. An impeachable incumbent official should be impeached for offenses done during his incumbency,” he said… Read More

(GMA News) Workers in quarantine and isolation facilities have been placed on the A1 priority list in the the government’s vaccination program against COVID-19, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said Thursday.

Puyat said vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said her request for the inclusion of frontline employees in accommodation establishments had been “favorably acted upon.”

The workers concerned have been placed under Priority Group A1.3.

Puyat said the vaccination of quarantine and isolation facilities workers would start “as soon as possible.” The vaccines which would be used would be “whatever is available.”

“Matagal na naming pinaglalaban masama sila sa A1. They are exposed to positive COVID cases every single day,” Puyat told GMA News Online.

[We have been pushing for their inclusion in A1 for a long time. They are exposed to positive COVID cases every single day.]

Galvez also said frontline workers involved in the government transport system, quarantine inspection, worker safety inspection, and other activities indispensable to the COVID response were placed under priority group A4.14.

Meanwhile, frontline workers in hotels and accommodation establishments were placed under Priority Group A4.6.

As of May 25, the Philippines has fully vaccinated over 1 million individuals in the country.

A total of 1,200,430 confirmed COVID-19 cases have also been reported, of which 1,131,942 have recovered and 20,379 have died… Read More

(PhilStar) MANILA, Philippines — The Quezon City government will roll out its “trash to cashback” program to promote solid waste management and encourage the public to recycle and adopt a more sustainable lifestyle.

First launched in March at the city hall, the program enables residents to trade recyclable materials for environmental points that may be exchanged for basic commodities such as rice, eggs, vegetables and other grocery items.

“Together with our partner, Basic Environmental Systems and Technologies (BEST), we are bringing this project down to the barangays to make it more accessible and convenient to residents who are willing to trade their trash into groceries. Hopefully, we can launch it by June in celebration of the Environment Month,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said yesterday.

The city government requested barangays to identify drop-off points in their areas where residents can bring their waste.

In addition to recyclable items such as metal, paper products and PET bottles, single-use plastics such as shampoo sachets and coffee packs will also be accepted at the drop-off points.

“Single-use plastics that we usually disregard are also included on the list of recyclables that can be traded for environmental points. This is part of our campaign to reduce plastic waste,” Belmonte said.

Residents are also allowed to donate their points to beneficiaries identified by the barangays.

Andrea Villaroman, head of the city’s Environmental Protection and Waste Management Department, said the chosen beneficiaries would receive groceries or “incentive bags” from BEST in exchange for the accumulated points donated by the residents.

“The incentive bag will include rice, vegetables and other essentials. We will ensure that these food packages and groceries will be given to those in need, especially the most vulnerable sectors,” Villaroman said.

Aside from barangays, city hall is also planning to introduce the program to commercial establishments such as malls, hotels and restaurants.

“We are also encouraging malls, hotels and restaurants to collect recyclables and donate their earned environmental points to the communities in their areas. They don’t have to bring their recyclables to the Quezon City hall. The city government and BEST will pick these at drop-off points,” Villaroman said.

To participate in the program, residents must register at bXTRA.com.ph.

Accumulated points are converted and may be used to redeem grocery items from the mobile redemption store or bXTRA outlet and food deliveries… Read More