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(SunStar) WITH just over two months before Election Day, a group of Ilocanos pressed the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Friday, March 4, to resolve its petition to disqualify presidential bet Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. from running in the May 9 polls.

In a four-page Urgent Motion to Resolve, the petitioners, composed of members of Pudno Nga Ilokano (pure Ilocanos), asked the Comelec 2nd Division to resolve the disqualification case, which was filed last December 7.

“Petitioners implore the Honorable Commission to resolve the petition with utmost urgency given its impact on the coming national elections,” said the petitioners.

“Wherefore, petitioners most respectfully pray that this Honorable Commission resolve the petition in this case soonest,” the group added.

The Ilocanos said this is because Comelec rules provide that if the petition cannot be decided before the completion of the canvass, the votes cast for the respondent may be included in the counting and in the canvassing… Read More

(GMA News) Several presidential candidates have joined radio, online forums, and the Commission on Elections (Comelec)’s e-rally channel to discuss their campaign platforms ahead of May 2022 polls.

According to Mark Salazar’s “24 Oras” report, labor leader Leody de Guzman participated in a radio and online forum to discuss his platforms on Friday.

Dr. Jose Montemayor Jr. attended a worship service in Pampanga on Thursday. He also filed a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the mandatory vaccination and “no vaccine, no ride policy” before the Angeles City Council.

Montemayor’s running mate and vice presidential candidate Rizalito David joined Comelec e-rally and explained the powers of corporations, which can also be done by the local government units (LGUs).

“Napakarami pong magagawa kung ang mga LGUs ay matututo na isagawa yung corporate powers nila by putting up local government corporations,” David said.

(There is so much that can be done if LGUs learn to exercise their corporate powers by putting up local government corporations.)

Former Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales said quality education system would lead to the betterment of the country… Read More

(CNN Philippines) Metro Manila — The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) said it will temporarily suspend applications to its scholarship program for incoming first-year college students due to “budget inadequacy.”

In a memorandum dated Feb. 21 and released to the public on Thursday, CHED relayed that it had to halt applications to the CHED Scholarship Program for academic year 2022-2023 since its 2022 budget for student financial assistance programs (StuFAPs) was not enough.

CHED chair Prospero De Vera also instructed regional offices to disseminate the information to prevent the spread of fake news that would confuse applicants.

The memorandum refers to the full and half scholarships under the State Scholarship and Private Education Student Financial Assistance.

They are intended for students entering first year college with a general weighted average of at least 96%, or its equivalent, for full merit program and 93% to 95%, or its equivalent, for half merit program.

These students must enroll in private higher education institutions, state universities and colleges or accredited local universities and colleges.

The assistance covers tuition and other school fees, a stipend and book/connectivity allowance per semester… Read More

(BusinessWorld) OVER 47,000 tourists arrived in the Philippines since the reopening of borders on Feb. 10, with foreigners comprising more than half, according to the Department of Tourism (DoT).

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said in a briefing on Thursday that 47,715 international visitors were recorded to have entered the country as of Feb. 28.

Of the total, 45% or 21,409 were balikbayans or returning Filipinos, and 55% or 26,306 were foreign tourists.

“We didn’t expect that there would be (foreign) tourist arrivals because normally, the tourists would arrive during the winter months or school break in their countries,” Ms. Puyat said.

Americans topped the list, followed by nationals from Canada, United Kingdom, South Korea, Australia, Vietnam, and Germany.

The tourism chief added that many hotels are already fully-booked and have been rehiring former employees who were laid off due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

“We talked with different hotels and local government units of various tourist destinations. They said that many employees are being rehired because many tourists are already going to the destinations or the hotels. Many hotels are fully-booked already. This is a good sign, and they are rehiring,” Ms. Puyat said… Read More

(GoodNewsPilipinas) Filipina health scientist Lorie Neuberger-Castillo has been featured in Research Luxembourg’s “Be brave: Women [& girls] in Science” campaign as a microbiome specialist who works with the genetic material of all the microbes that live on and inside the human body.
Neuberger-Castillo is among the six women of science in Luxembourg whose inspiring stories were showcased in the video series to inspire young girls to pursue their passion for science.

The inspiring women in the video series are working across various fields in science and are Ph.D. candidates, science communicators, lab specialists, professors, and more.

The Filipino scientist’s story is the second video in the series launched by the institutions of Research Luxembourg in collaboration with the Ministry for Equality (MEGA) in Luxembourg in February 2022.

Neuberger-Castillo started her professional career in the Philippines 16 years ago. Now a microbiome specialist at the Integrated Biobank of Luxembourg (IBBL) of the Luxembourg Institute of Health, she is responsible for microbiome DNA sequencing and bioinformatics analysis.

An alumna of the University of Santo Tomas, Neuberger-Castillo graduated with honors from Griffith University in Brisbane, Australia with a Masters in Clinical Microbiology… Read More

(PEP.ph) Love at first sight ang naramdaman ni Mike Rivera nang mapuntahan ang lupang tinitirikan ngayon ng kanyang container van house sa Calamba, Laguna.

“Raw land. As in, bukid ito, e. Farmland. As in walang kalye, walang tubig, walang kuryente,” paglarawan ni Mike sa panayam ng Summit OG.

Nasa gitna man ng bukid ang kanyang bahay, tanaw naman mula sa third-floor deck ang napakagandang view ng Mount Makiling.

“But when I saw the place, when I saw the view, I fell in love. Wow, ganda. I guess mukhang nakita ko na yung gusto ko.”

Bago siya nagdesisyon na magpatayo ng container van house sa paanan ng bundok, “700 feet above sea level,” nakatira si Mike sa Makati City.

Hindi raw siya nagtataka kung bakit, sa kanilang apat na magkakapatid, ang tatlo ay nakatira sa Calamba.

“Between living there [city] and living here [Calamba], it’s a world of difference.

“Kasi doon mainit. Puro semento. Di fresh air,” aniya ukol sa siyudad.

“Unlike dito, malamig. So anlayo talaga, and then super tahimik.”

Kaya naman ibinenta na nila ang kanilang properties sa siyudad at nagpasya si Mike na manirahan na rin sa probinsiya… Read More

(GMA News) Passenger capacity in MRT3 will be increased to 100% from 70% starting March 1 when the National Capital Region is downgraded to Alert Level 1 from Alert Level 2.

MRT3 carries 1,182 passengers each train set or 394 each wagon, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said Monday. Each train set is composed of three wagons.

“Ang pagtataas ng kapasidad ng mga tren ay bilang tugon ng pamunuan ng MRT-3 at Kagawaran ng Transportasyon sa pagtaas ng demand sa pampublikong transportasyon sa pagbubukas ng mas maraming establisimyento sa Metro Manila,” the DOTr said on Facebook.

(The increase in train capacity is due to the expected increase in demand for public transportation amid the opening of more establishments in Metro Manila.)

The DOTr reminded passengers that minimum public health standards will still be strictly observed, which means talking, eating, drinking and answering phone calls will remain prohibited inside the trains.

Passengers are still required to wear face mask while wearing of face shields will remain voluntary, the DOTr said… Read More

(CNN Philippines) Metro Manila — Nine presidential candidates tried to win over the public’s votes as they shared their platforms and stands on pressing national issues during the CNN Philippines Presidential Debate on Sunday.

Questions on corruption opened the discussion, with candidates saying they would stamp out the practice. Asked which government agency they would probe first, almost all of them pointed to the Bureau of Customs.

Their COVID-19 pandemic plans and accomplishments were also placed under the spotlight. The candidates vowed that if elected, healthcare workers would receive higher pay and incentives.

The presidential bets likewise presented proposals to improve infrastructure and agriculture, and stressed the need to invest in these sectors… Read More