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(Manila Bulletin) A comfortable and beautiful home is an ultimate dream for many Filipino families. Today, the first batch of homeowners of Terraces at Tradizo Enclave in Imus, Cavite realized that dream when they received the keys to their new home during a turnover ceremony and blessing of homes organized by Elanvital.

Apple Belza, who is originally from Novaliches, decided to buy a unit at Terraces at Tradizo to reconnect with her family members who are already living in Cavite. “I love spending time with my family, but the travel time to and from Novaliches and Cavite had always been a factor. So, when I saw that a good property in Cavite was being built, I grabbed the opportunity to invest in it. I knew this decision was also an investment for more quality time with the family,” she said.

For James and Celia Serdoncillo, Cavite has always been home. That is why investing in another property in the area was almost automatic for them. They chose Terraces at Tradizo for its accessibility and valuable features as the unit will be a nest where their visiting relatives from the US and the UK can stay comfortably. “We want them to feel like they are on a staycation every day, as they surely missed being in the Philippines. This home will give them good memories of their short vacation here,” they shared… Read More

(Inquirer.net) MANILA, Philippines — Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said Tuesday that the country should remain under Alert Level 1 instead of the so-called Alert Level 0 in order to prevent a possible spike in COVID-19 cases.

“We should remain under Alert Level 1. Many countries are still experiencing surges because they dropped all restrictions,” Año said in a text message to INQUIRER.net.

“While we are able to enjoy 100% economic activities, we still have to adhere to the minimum public health standards and continue the vaccination until we have inoculated the target population,” he added.

Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Romando Artes earlier said mayors in the capital region are “ready and willing” to implement Alert Level 0 if it will be ordered by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID).

Artes said there is still “no definite decision” from the Metro Manila Council on possibly downgrading the alert level status, and that they are still waiting for guidelines from the IATF so they can discuss it in the council.

Before this, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the government’s pandemic managers will discuss the guidelines for a possible Alert Level 0, which could end most, if not all, of the health emergency restrictions in the country… Read More

(Bulatlat) Should we just hang on and allow the “forces of the free market to do their thing” like we are told?

Nearly three decades ago, neoliberal apologists, multilateral creditors, and the big oil companies peddled the lie of the Oil Deregulation Law that the so-called free market will ensure reasonable pump prices for the benefit of all. Today, that free market is telling the jeepney drivers, farmers and fishers, ordinary motorists, and households to endure the most significant oil price hikes in the country’s history.

As the oil firms, economic managers, and energy officials have been telling the public for the past 26 years, these price adjustments are warranted. The crisis in Ukraine jolted world oil prices that have already been on a steady upswing since last year. A month before the conflict, crude oil prices as measured by the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) index for global benchmark spot prices were 62 percent higher already than its level a year ago… Read More

(TheSunDaily) MANILA: An offshore earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.4 jolted Occidental Mindoro province in the Philippines at dawn on Monday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said.

The institute said the quake, which occurred at 5.05 am local time (2105 GMT Sunday), hit at a depth of 29 km, about 110 km northwest of Lubang town, reported Xinhua.

The tremor was also felt in Metro Manila, Batangas province, and several areas in the main Luzon island, the institute added.

The institute said the tectonic quake would trigger aftershocks but not cause damage.

The Philippines has frequent seismic activities due to its location along the Pacific Ring of Fire, characterised by active volcanoes and frequent earthquakes… Read More

(GMA News) A COVID-19 survivor remembered his mother who passed away two years ago when the pandemic was first declared.

COVID-19 survivor JP Bernardo shared his journey almost two years ago on “24 Oras” after his mother succumbed due to suspected COVID-19 complications.

He said that he was not able to see his mother during her last moments.

“Tuwing maalala ko yung mommy ko talaga in a way bumabalik yung pain noong nangyari kasi sa totoo lang hindi madali. Unang una nawalan ako kasi. Na experience ko noong time na yon na pinandirihan ka pinagusapan ka ng mga tao,” Bernardo said in Lei Alviz’s “24 Oras Weekend” report on Saturday.

(Every time I remember my mommy, the pain comes back because it was not easy. First of all, I lost her. Also, I experienced being shunned, people were talking behind you [because I got COVID-19].)

Bernardo said what he went through made him stronger today.

“Yung pain siguro ng pagkawala ng pinakamamahal kong ina pero yun nga kinonvert ko na lang siya sa something positive na yun nga gamitin natin siyang inspirasyon yung mga kamag-anak nating nawala,” he added… Read More

(Manila Bulletin) Maria Torres-Springer, the Los Angeles-born Filipina-American deputy mayor of New York who was put in charge of ensuring the economic recovery of the city in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, is looking forward to reconnecting with her roots.

During a meeting with Consul General Cato early last month at the New York City Hall, the deputy mayor said she had been away for a long time, expressing her willingness to serve as resource person in future collaborations with the Philippine Consulate General as a way for her to connect with the Filipino community.

As deputy mayor for Economic and Workforce Development, Torres-Springer is considered to be one of the most powerful Filipino-Americans in the US Northeast. She was among the first officials to be appointed by New York City Mayor Eric Adams after he won his election bid in December… Read More

(The Manila Times) CANDIDATES running in the 2022 elections should dial down their rhetoric against China. Many political aspirants apparently assume that taking a tough stance against the Chinese will endear them to more voters. Perhaps. But they may wish to consider that being cool-headed statesmen may actually be more appealing given the human tragedy now unfolding in Eastern Europe.

For faraway Ukraine, the global economic consequences of the conflict there are palpable. Pump prices are soaring, and unless they go down soon, the cost of food, electricity and many other basic goods are likely to go up, as well.

Of course, aggression deserves condemnation, although pinning the blame is not the argument here. The point is that war exacts a heavy toll, especially on women and children, and the impact is felt far away from the conflict area. Hopefully, the fighting will not spread to the rest of Europe, and that peace in Ukraine can be restored soon… Read More

(Manila Bulletin) The Philippines is “more than prepared” to accept refugees from Ukraine should the ongoing armed conflict in Eastern Europe escalate further, Communication Secretary Martin Andanar said.

Andanar made the statement after the Philippine Ambassador to the United States of America Jose Manuel “Babes” Romualdez said President Duterte has supposedly allowed American troops to use the country’s facilities.

In an interview with CNN Philippines, Andanar said that while he was not privy to the conversation between Duterte and Romualdez, he was sure that the President was ready to accept Ukrainians in the country… Read More