pinay<3pinoy

(PhilStar) Many things feel like starting over as we continue to move forward and attempt to rebuild after the global pandemic. While a large part of the population wants to feel like we can just “pick up where we left off,” the truth is, things have changed irrevocably. If we don’t recognize that as we move forward, we will not use what we have learned these past two years to improve.

It’s disheartening, but not surprising, to see that the Philippines has continued slipping on the global index of Economic Freedom. We’re now at 80th place out of 177 countries from 73rd previously. As such, we are at the bottom tier of “moderately free” economies. This is something worth improving as we begin to reopen the country and entice foreign investment and businesses.

These past two years have been very challenging for everyone. Businesses have had to find ways to stay afloat, and people have focused on survival more than anything else. The challenge is that now that we are slowly emerging and trying to find the path forward, is that survival should no longer be the driving concern. Instead, sustainability has to come into play… Read More

(HeadTopics) Former Marikina City Vice Mayor ang congressional candidate in the May 2022 elections Dr. Jose Fabian Cadiz has died, his family announced on Sunday, Feb. 20.

By Khriscielle YalaoFormer Marikina City Vice Mayor ang congressional candidate in the May 2022 elections Dr. Jose Fabian Cadiz has died, his family announced on Sunday, Feb. 20.(Photo courtesy of Doc Fabian Cadiz Facebook Page / MANILA BULLETIN)Cadiz, 61, reportedly suffered a heart attack at a canteen where he went to drink and rest after biking the slopes of Sitio Boso-Boso in Antipolo, Rizal early Sunday morning.

He was rushed to the Antipolo City Medical Center System Annex III at Sitio Cabading, Antipolo but was declared dead on arrival.Cadiz’s family thanked those who expressed their sympathies to them.Cadiz served as vice mayor of Marikina City from 2010 to 2019.. Read More

(CNN Philippines) Metro Manila — The Department of Foreign Affairs has accused the European Parliament of attempting to influence the outcome of the May polls after the latter adopted a resolution against reported human rights abuses in the country.

In a strongly worded statement issued Sunday, the DFA called the resolution “unfair” and “baseless,” as it maintained the Philippines upholds the rights of its citizens.

“We condemn the misguided attempt of the European Parliament to interfere in the Philippine electoral process through its resolution raising already discredited allegations of human rights violations in the thin hope of heavily influencing the outcome in favor of its choice,” the DFA said.

The European Parliament adopted the motion on Thursday with 627 votes in favor, 26 against, and 31 abstentions. It cited alleged human rights violations targeting suspected drug offenders and red-tagging activities against activists and critics of the Duterte administration… Read More

(GMA News) Vice presidential aspirant and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte on Thursday said they are hoping to have the support of her father, President Rodrigo Duterte, for her tandem with presidential aspirant and former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

But Sara said they will also respect her father’s decision, citing that he is the President after all.

“’Yan ang gusto naming lahat na makita yung suporta ni Pangulong Duterte para sa UniTeam. But of course, he is the President so he is allowed to do and to say kung ano yung gusto niya and we will respect his decision,” the Davao City mayor responded to a question by GMA News’ Sandra Aguinaldo.

(That is what we all want to see President Duterte’s support for UniTeam. But of course he is the President so he is allowed to do and to say what he wants and we will respect his decision.).. Read More

(SunStar) AFTER nearly a week of being at the 2,000 level, new coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases reported by the Department of Health (DOH) has dropped to the 1,000 range on Saturday, February 19, 2022.

Based on the Saturday case bulletin, the DOH said 1,923 new Covid-19 cases were recorded, bringing the total cases in the country to 3,650,748.

The positivity rate in the Philippines stood at 7.9 percent among the 27,761 tested samples on February 17.

The DOH also reported 198 additional deaths, raising the total mortalities to 55,607 or a case fatality rate of 1.52 percent.

The health department also reported 5,158 additional recoveries, bringing the total to 3,532,608 survivors.

The DOH said the recovery rate stood at 96.8 percent.

Less deaths and recoveries, the country recorded 62,533 active Covid-19 cases.

Majority of the active cases, with over 57,000, were mild cases followed by more than 2,800 moderate cases… Read More

(Fox News) Tough-talking Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has confirmed rumblings that he will run next year for vice president, in what critics say is an attempt at an end-run around constitutional term limits.

Duterte, who is notorious for his vulgar rhetoric and crackdown on illegal drugs, which has killed thousands of mostly petty suspects, said in comments broadcast Wednesday that he will run for vice president to “continue the crusade.”

“I will run for vice president,” he said. “I’m worried about the drugs, insurgency. Well, number one is insurgency, then criminality, drugs.”

The Philippines has been struggling through the COVID-19 pandemic, with rising infections and death rates and a slow vaccination rollout, but Duterte’s popularity ratings have remained high.

Polls suggest that running Duterte in tandem with his daughter, Sara Duterte, currently the mayor of Davao City, as the presidential candidate would be a strong pairing, said Manila-based political analyst Richard Heydarian.

The idea of the two running together has been discussed since 2019, he said, though Duterte advisers have reportedly said that he has suggested he might not run for vice president if his daughter decides to announce a bid for president… Read More

(GMA News) Six Filipinos in Ukraine were repatriated on Friday amid reports of a possible Russian invasion.

In a tweet, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Sarah Lou Arriola said the plane carrying the Filipino nationals arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3.

“Four of the six returning Filipinos boarded their flights from Kyiv while the other two took their flight from Lviv,” she said.

Arriola said the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Philippine Embassy in Poland assisted the repatriates.

Approximately 380 Filipinos are living in Ukraine, most of whom are in Kyiv and located far from the eastern border near Russia.

The DFA earlier said it was in close coordination with its diplomatic posts in the region regarding repatriation arrangements.

Russia has deployed around 100,000 troops along Ukraine’s northern, eastern and southern borders, with the United States warning that Russian President Vladimir Putin could attack anytime.

In response, the US has poured in military hardware in Ukraine and contributed to the buildup of NATO forces in Eastern Europe in anticipation of a Russian invasion… Read More

(SunStar) FOUR former policemen who were accused in the murder of former Calbayog City mayor Ronaldo Aquino surrendered to police on Tuesday, February 15, 2022.

Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief General Dionardo Carlos said Wednesday, February 16, that Shyrille Tan, Harry Sucayre, Edsel Omega and Neil Cebu surrendered to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Detective Special Operations Unit.

They are now detained at the Detective Special Operations Unit custodial facility.

The surrender came a day after Presiding Judge Cicero Tuazon Lampasa of eight Judicial Region, Regional Trial Court Branch 32 of Calbayog City, Samar issued an arrest warrant against the accused.

They were facing charges for the murder of Aquino, his security escort Rodeo Stario, driver Dennis Abayon and passerby Clint Paul Yauder, as well as frustrated murder of the mayor’s personal security aid Mansfield Labonite during an ambush on March 8, 2021 along Laboyao Bridge in Barangay Lonoy, Calbayog City… Read More