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(The Manila Times) COMMISSION on Elections Commissioner George Garcia is calling on Congress to enact a law that will keep a tight watch on social media during election campaign periods.

Garcia said he was exasperated over the mushrooming of online trolls during the last elections that freely churned out lies and vitriol.

In a little over a decade, troll farms have risen to dominance and become the propaganda tool of choice for influencing voters. They are considered as a prominent feature in what experts describe as the “disinformation ecosystem.”

It is not difficult to explain the rise of trolls and bots in the Philippines. The country is, after all, the social media capital of the world. Eighty million Filipinos immerse in social media four hours a day. Its popularity has made it a hotbed for groups whose specialty is to manipulate, distort and weaponize information.

Trolls are the undisputed experts in this craft. Molding data into propaganda is what they’re good at

Their expertise is in great demand every time an election rolls in. Candidates have come to realize that they need a strong social media presence to boost their chances of winning… Read More

(Jounal Online) The supplies of blood dramatically decreased during the pandemic in many countries including the Philippines, according to the Philippine Red Cross Cavite Chapter. With the restrictions lifted, mobile blood donations are gradually being held again this year in response to the growing need for blood reserves.

Last May, the Philippine Red Cross Cavite Chapter and New Heaven New Earth (NHNE) Church of Jesus Philippines kicked-off the “Life-ON: Life Sharing Blood Donation Campaign”. A total of 65 bags of blood were collected during the first wave of donations held in Silang, Cavite.

The campaign was first launched by the headquarter church of NHNE in South Korea, participated by over 18,000 church members and NGO volunteers, the largest group blood donation recorded in the country. This resolved the national blood shortage that has been ongoing since the beginning of this year, according to the Blood Management Center of the Korean Red Cross.

During the early stage of COVID-19 when there was no vaccine available yet, the recovered members from the group also participated in the nationwide blood plasma donation drive while suffering from the aftereffects of COVID-19. The collected 6,000 plasma donations were used for the development of a treatment for the severely infected patients… Read More

(PNC) We’re at the Westin Resort where the Taste Buffet is featuring a Filipino lunch and dinner every Thursday in celebration of Philippine Independence.

Sheena Tiamzon-Bocatija, Assistant Director of Sales & Marketing Westin Resort stated, “For the entire month of June, we’re featuring a Filipino lunch and dinner buffet every Thursday. And on June 12th, which is the actual Independence Day, we’re featuring a special Filipino brunch.”

Philippine Independence Day or Araw Ng Kalayaan, is a national holiday in the Philippines on June 12th, which commemorates the declaration of Philippine independence from Spain in 1898.

The buffet features a traditional and authentic style of Filipino street food.

On my plate right here I have pusit, kare kare, chicken inasal, and you can’t forget the BBQ Pork Skewers.. Read More

(Epoch Times New York) Philippines has summoned a senior Chinese Embassy official to protest the Chinese coast guard’s alleged “harassment” of a Taiwanese vessel in the South China Sea, the Department of Foreign Affairs said on May 31.

The department stated that the Taiwanese vessel, dubbed the RV Legend, was conducting a marine scientific research activity with Filipino scientists on board in the disputed sea, a local news agency reported on Tuesday.

The summoning of a Chinese official happened on April 13, it stated, adding that detailed reports of the incidents are being reviewed for the filing of appropriate diplomatic action.

“The Department of Foreign Affairs notes that only the Philippine Coast Guard has enforcement jurisdiction over these waters. The presence of foreign vessels following tracks that are neither continuous nor expeditious, that are not consistent with Article 19 of UNCLOS on innocent passage, are against the interests of the Philippines,” it added.

The statement came days after U.S.-based research organization Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) reported that Chinese vessels have made “three rounds of coercion in Philippine waters” since March.

“In three separate incidents over the last two months, Chinese law enforcement vessels have challenged marine research and hydrocarbon exploration activities within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea,” the report reads.

The Philippines lodged yet another diplomatic protest against China on May 30, this round against Beijing’s unilateral imposition of a fishing ban in the South China Sea, which Filipinos refer to as the West Philippine Sea.

The fishing ban took effect on May 1 and is expected to last until Aug. 16… Read More

(The Royal Gazette) A Filipino support group called for unity and understanding within Bermuda’s Filipino community after the outcome of their homeland’s presidential election.

Evelou Mosley, a founder of the Association of the Filipinos in Bermuda, said that it was “heartbreaking” to see the political divide in her country and called for unity regardless of political views.

She added: “Unity is a strength — when we focus on teamwork and collaboration, we all can achieve wonderful things.

“Disagreements should never diminish our respect for one another.

“For democracy, let us seek to express our thoughts without being disagreeable.”

Ms Mosley was speaking during a celebration to recognise the election of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr as the 17th president of the Republic of the Philippines and Sara Duterte-Carpio as the country’s 15th vice-president.

The UniTeam International Bermuda Chapter hosted the celebration, which saw dozens of people in attendance, at Astwood Park in Warwick last Sunday.

The Philippines’ election was held on May 9 and Mr Marcos and Ms Duterte-Carpio were declared the winners on May 25.

Mr Marcos is the son of Ferdinand Macros Sr, the country’s former dictator who ruled the Philippines for 21 years and was later accused of stealing at least $5 billion from the Central Bank of the Philippines.

His family’s legacy brought controversy to the younger Macros’s presidential campaign, with many claiming that Mr Marcos was attempting to whitewash his father’s rule.

Attendees of Sunday’s celebration were treated to traditional Filipino dishes, as well as several folk and modern dance routines… Read More

(Voice Of America) The Philippine government announced Tuesday a new diplomatic protest against China over disputes in the South China Sea, a long-thorny issue that has flared anew as the next Philippine president prepares to take office next month.

The Philippines has filed hundreds of diplomatic protests against Beijing in recent years for what it considers acts of aggression in the disputed waters, despite improved ties between Beijing and Manila under outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte, whose six-year term ends on June 30.

The territorial conflicts are among the key challenges President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will face when he takes office after his landslide electoral victory on May 9. He has said he will use diplomatic means with China over the issue, the same approach adopted by Duterte, who has been criticized for not taking a more aggressive stance against Beijing’s increasingly assertive actions in the resource-rich and busy waterway.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said Tuesday it filed a diplomatic protest over China’s imposition early this month of an annual fishing ban lasting three and a half months that covers areas in the disputed waters where “the Philippines has sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction.”.. Read More

(Interaksyon) MANILA — The Philippines on Tuesday said it had filed a diplomatic protest with China for unilaterally declaring a South China Sea fishing ban, and complained also of harassment and violations of its jurisdiction by Beijing’s coast guard.

The Department of Foreign Affairs in a statement accused the Chinese vessels of disrupting a joint marine scientific research mission as well as energy exploration activities at two sites in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

In another statement, it denounced China’s imposition of a fishing moratorium aimed at regenerating fish stocks, an annual ban that includes waters inside the EEZs of Vietnam and the Philippines.

China’s embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the Philippine statements, which referred to developments in March and April.

The foreign ministry said the coast guard’s actions were “not consistent with innocent passage and are clear violations of the Philippine maritime jurisdiction.”.. Read More

(SunStar) A YEAR after being declared the chocolate and cacao capital of the Philippines, the chocolate and cacao industry of Davao is poised to thrive further in the local and global market, but it will take some hard work and time.

Under Republic Act No. 11547 enacted on May 27, 2021, Davao City is officially the Chocolate Capital of the Philippines with over 100 homegrown chocolate processors in the city, while the entirety of Davao Region is the Cacao Capital of the Philippines with its hectares of cacao farms producing high-quality cacao beans.

Before the Covid-19 outbreak, Davao City produced 6,000 metric tons of cacao beans. In a span of two years, despite the global pandemic, the city was able to produce 7,000 metric tons.

Valente Turtur, executive director of the Cacao Industry Development Association of Mindanao Inc. (Cidami), said the increase in production is a good sign. However, it is still far from meeting the global demand.

“Malayo pa (It’s still far), we are way behind as far as demand is concerned. Based on our vision, we want to achieve 10,000 metric tons,” Turtur told SunStar Davao on May 27, 2022 at the launching of the Cacao Mindanao Chocolate Fair in SM City Davao.

According to Turtur, cacao plantations thrived in Davao Region in the 1970s but saw a slow decline that started during the late 1980s wherein other commodities, such as banana and coconut, took center stage.

Thus, the booming cacao and chocolate industry today is relatively young since it was not until the last decade, around the year 2011 or 2012, that the industry was revived… Read More