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(Inquirer.net) Senator Imee Marcos on Friday urged President Rodrigo Duterte to immediately assign a special envoy to China amid the ongoing tensions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), naming the President’s daughter – Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte – as the best choice for the post.

In a statement, Marcos, a known administration ally who backed Malacañang’s policy of avoiding confrontation with China, said that the appointment of Mayor Duterte was a “very Asian strategy that will lend a personal touch to bilateral talks and also ensure a frank discussion of developments with the President.”

“Diplomatic protests are certainly in order, but constant confrontation delays consensus and is really not the Asian way of solving disagreements,” argued the senator.

Marcos also recommended a “verbal ceasefire” between the two countries, adding that the government can take the bilateral and multi-stage negotiations to the next level.

“Besides agreements between member states, the whole ASEAN must also propel a joint Code of Conduct with China to its completion. It’s been almost 20 years since it was proposed and only general terms have so far been agreed [upon]. Let’s finish it ASAP!” Marcos said.

The senator further recommended the expansion of the policy in pursuing shared interests with other countries, citing the joint naval anti-terrorism force with Malaysia and Indonesia after the Marawi Siege.

“The emphasis of foreign policy is to pursue shared goals rather than just unilateral interests, if harmony is to be achieved,” Marcos ended.

On Friday, the Department of Foreign Affairs has announced that it filed two new diplomatic protests against China after 160 Chinese vessels were spotted in Philippine waters.

The DFA said the presence of these vessels in the West Philippine Sea “blatantly [infringed] upon Philippine sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction.”

The new diplomatic protests were in addition to the daily protests being filed by the DFA against the continuing presence of Chinese vessels in Julian Felipe Reef… Read More

(Smart Parenting) Last month, Jake Ejercito went to Siargao for the first time. Not only was he able to experience “island life” with daughter Ellie, the actor also met her family during his stay there.

“Actually what happened was, si Ellie was in Siargao, with her mom, with Andi. And then wala naman, hindi naman siya vacation trip. Actually more on daddy duty siya kasi I went there just to pick her up,” Jake shared in an interview with Cinema News.

The dad explained that it was Andi Eigenmann who asked if he could fly out with Ellie from Siargao since their daughter would be staying with him for a while in Manila.

“Kasi nga considering si Andi may bagong baby, she has Lilo also. Mahihirapan siya kung siya pa ang magdadala dito kay Ellie. So nakiusap sa akin si Andi, kung puwede ko sunduin si Ellie and that’s what I did,” Jake said.

He stayed in Siargao for four days and three nights and he was also able to meet the newest addition to the ‘Happy Islanders’ household as well as Andi’s fiancé, Philmar Alipayo.

“Si Lilo na-meet ko na dito sa Manila, and then the youngest, si Koa, I met there in Siargao and also Philmar. It was also [the] first time na I met hime when I was there,” he explains.

All-grown-up Ellie
Since it was his first visit to Siargao, Jake asked his daughter to take him around the island. He documented it in an Instagram post where he wrote, “found me an angel for a tour guide.”

“I asked her to show me kung saan siya nagpupunta every day, kung saan siya naglalaro, kung saan siya kumakain. So ‘yun ang mga inikot namin while I was there,” the dad said.

In a previous interview, Jake admitted that he dreads Ellie approaching her teenage years. He tells Cinema News that Ellie now refuses to be called “Princess… Read More

(Pep.Ph) Stay-at-home mom Aleli Villanueva proves that it’s possible to make your kids’ birthday celebrations memorable without spending a lot of money.

She tells PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) in an interview via Facebook Messenger that she started making do-it-yourself (DIY) birthday parties for her kids in 2016, when her husband’s work took them to the province.

She explains, “Kadalasan sa mga barrio kami na-a-assign. Walang malls, restaurants, kahit fast food chains. Malayo na kami sa city kaya need umisip at gumawa ng something special para maging special ang araw ng kids.

“Gusto ko sila mabigyan ng beautiful memories at happy childhood kahit paano, nang hindi gumagastos ng malaki. So nag-DIY ako.”

Armed with creativity, love for crafts, and thrifting, Aleli starts preparing for each party months in advance.

The stay-at-home mom who is currently based in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya with her family explains, “Pinapanood ko paulit-ulit iyong movie. Example, Disney movies. Inaaral ko ang theme na gagawin (story, characters at color theme at font) ‘tapos iisip ng food na puwede, iyong nakikita sa animation.”

She is meticulous when it comes to the details as she says, “Paying attention sa details para talagang themed. Tumitingin din ako ideas sa internet ‘tapos nilalagyan ko ng sariling touches.”.. Read More

(GMA News) A fifth shipment of COVID-19 vaccines manufactured by China’s Sinovac arrived on Thursday.

The 500,000 doses brought to 3,525,600 the number of anti-COVID-19 shots which arrived in the Philippines.

The batch on board a Philippine Airlines is the third Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine shipment paid for by the national government.

Of this number, 3 million doses are Sinovac while the rest are AstraZeneca donated by global effort COVAX facility.

Based on Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) evaluation, Sinovac has the following varying efficacy rates:

65% to 91% among healthy individuals aged 18 to 59,
50.4% for health workers, and
51% to 52% on senior citizens or those aged 60 and above.
AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, on the other hand, has an efficacy rate of 70% after the first dose based on FDA evaluation.

The 70% rating increases after the second dose is administered four to 12 weeks after.

Sinovac and AstraZeneca are given in two doses… Read More

(GMA News) The Philippines will deploy additional assets to the West Philippine Sea (WPS) to assert the country’s territorial claims in the disputed area and prevent illegal fishing, among other incursions.

The National Task Force (NTF) on the WPS issued the statement just two days after President Rodrigo Duterte said he wanted to be friends with China and was “not so much interested in fishing” because there’s not enough fish to quarrel about in the area.

The statement also came amid the continued presence of Chinese vessels in the Julian Felipe Reef, a boomerang-shaped feature located 175 nautical miles of Bataraza, Palawan and clearly within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

“In compliance with the directive of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to sustain our sovereignty patrols in the WPS, increase safety of life at sea operations and intensified operations against illegal, unreported, unregulated fishing, the NTF-WPS has coordinated for the deployment of more assets under the control of its Area Task Forces (ATF),” the NTF-WPS said in a statement.

“To augment the vessels and aircraft currently under the control of the ATFs, the government has deployed four Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessels, one PCG aircraft, five Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessels, as well as Philippine National Police – Maritime Group’s high speed tactical watercraft and rubber boats,” the NTF-WPS added.

The PCG also constructed five lighthouses on the islands of Pag-asa, Patag, Panata, Parola, and Likas.

The Navy, on the other hand, has provided desalination and solar powered lighting facilities for these features in support of law enforcers stationed at the detachments.

As it is, the NTF-WPS reported that the ATF-West maintains nine island detachments in the municipality of Kalayaan with the biggest contingent at Pag-asa island.

Likewise, the ATF-West covers the Malampaya Gas Field and the resource-rich Recto Bank.

The Pag-asa island also hosts the Rancudo Airfield built in 1978.

The ATF- North, on the other hand, covers Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal), the islands north of Cagayan, Batanes province, the Philippine Rise and the latter’s Extended Continental Shelf. The ATF-North also maintains detachments on the islands of Batanes.

“The Armed Forces of the Philippines, through the Western and Northern Luzon Commands, continues to support law enforcement and sovereignty patrols of the BFAR, PCG and PNP, utilizing Philippine Navy and Philippine Air Force maritime and air assets under its disposal,” the NTF-WPS pointed out.

“The NTF-WPS is resolute in upholding Philippine sovereignty over our territory as mandated by the Constitution, and protecting our sovereign rights over our exclusive economic zone in accordance with international law,” the NTF-WPS added… Read More

(SPIN.ph) PLANS may not have panned out the way he wanted to, but Kai Sotto remains eternally grateful for the brief run he had with NBA G League Ignite.

The 7-foot-3 center admitted that he has learned a lot in his time with the select team despite being unable to join the squad in the NBA G League bubble in Orlando.

“My biggest takeaway is just to learn the environment of being a professional at a young age,” he said on Wednesday in a roundtable discussion hosted by Smart.

“As expected, nung simula, di ko inexpect na ganung karami yung matututunan ko. Di lang sa loob ng basketball court, pero mas marami akong natutunan outside the court. Wala akong specfic answer, pero marami talaga akong natutunan. Ang pinakamalaki kong natutunan ay pagiging pro at a young age.”

Sotto linked up with the groundbreaking program last year as its first international signing, where he rubbed elbows with top high school prospects led by Jalen Green and Jonathan Kuminga.

The young bloods were able to train for a number of months and got a huge veteran presence with the arrival of head coach Brian Shaw and 14-year NBA veteran Amir Johnson.

Unfortunately, Sotto’s decision to honor his national commitment cut his run with Ignite short as he chose to head back to the Philippines in February, the same time when the team was entering the bubble.

The two parties eventually decided to mutually part ways in March, even before the Filipino prodigy could log a single second in the developmental league… Read More

(Cosmopolitan Philippines) I’ve already confessed in a previous article that I’m obsessed with scented candles. I have no intentions of stopping myself from collecting more, especially when I think I have found the most unique and special scent I’ve found. I never thought a balikbayan box-scented candle would ever be invented!

I’ve always looked forward to opening balikbayan boxes from my U.S.-based relatives. Of course, the contents were cool but what I liked about it most was the collective scent of the soaps, socks, and cute clothes. I remember sniffing the items every now and then, LOL! The scent reminds me of my relatives’ care for me and my siblings. We didn’t need to ask for anything, my uncle, aunt, and lola knew what we would love!

Back to the candle! The scented candle I’m talking about is from Casa Ancheta. According to their post, the Amoy Balikbayan Box soy wax candle is “Amoy fabcon, amoy sabon. Amoy damit at delatang naka-kahon.” The brand also revealed that the scent was inspired by a client’s request to make a solid perfume. It’s available on Shopee for P530 per jar… Read More

(GMA News) Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, said a nurses’ group, has called for mass hiring of nurses and health workers will be “studied with primary consideration on budgetary allocation.”

In a statement, the Filipino Nurses United (FNU) said Duque had no concrete response when they asked him during a dialogue on Monday regarding its call for mass hiring of health workers.

However, the group said Duque assured them that a follow up meeting will be called so as to provide them with updates on the progress of the release of benefits such as the performance-based bonus, meals, accommodation and transportation allowance, special risk allowance, and the active hazard duty pay.

Duque told the nurses a request for the budget that would be allocated for the proposal has already been submitted to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

Meanwhile, FNU said Duque also promised health workers to do a follow up with the DBM regarding the proposal to increase the hazard pay to P5,000 per month and the special risk allowance to P15,000 per month.

“While we found the dialogue generally cordial and hopeful, we need to be more vigilant to make sure that the promises and long-awaited benefits will truly be realized,” FNU said.

Earlier this month, FNU renewed its call for increased protection of health workers amid the rising cases of COVID-19 in the country… Read More