MANILA, Philippines --- More than 3,000 farmers and their dependents may avail themselves of scholarships in entrepreneurial courses under the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, following a partnership between the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the skills development agency. Under the agreement, training on entrepreneurial courses such as baking, dressmaking and automotive mechanic are offered. DAR information officer Richard Gallardo said farmer-beneficiaries which include their spouse and children and their dependents may go to their provincial or regional DAR offices to inquire and apply....Keep on reading: Free tech-voc training offered to over 3,000 farmers, dependents

MANILA, Philippines --- Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Tuesday urged the public to immediately seek treatment once they experience symptoms of dengue to help curb the number of deaths due to the mosquito-borne disease, which remains to be the highest throughout Southeast Asia. Duque said that although the increase in the number of dengue cases in the country is not as deeply concerning as that of its neighbors, the Philippines «continues to have the highest case fatality rate» at 0.3 percent. Apart from the Philippines, a dengue epidemic is also being experienced in Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Singapore and Indonesia. As of July 27, the Department of Health (...Keep on reading: PH has highest dengue fatality rate in SEA

MANILA, Philippines --- Former Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chair Sixto Brillantes Jr. on Tuesday led the filing of a petition to formally oppose Duterte Youth's latest list of nominees that still included the controversial former National Youth Commission chair Ronald Cardema as its first nominee, despite his disqualification. Cardema's wife, Ducielle Marie, was named as the party list group's second nominee. Brillantes, along with lawyer Emil Maranon, represented the petitioners belonging to the youth sector in asking the poll body to reject the withdrawal and the substitution of a new set of nominees last week by Duterte Youth, and said that the proadministration party list...Keep on reading: Ex-Comelec chief blocks Cardema bid as Duterte Youth rep

MANILA, Philippines --- Amid the debate over the morality of police accepting gifts and gratuities, Interior Secretary Eduardo Ao on Tuesday maintained that selfless public service should be its own reward. «The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) believes in the sanctity of the government bureaucracy as an institution for the selfless delivery of service to the people because public service is a reward in itself,» Ao said in a statement. However, should unsolicited and unconditional gifts be given to Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel, Ao said he allows acceptance provided they are of small or insignificant value. Personally, he said, he has always re...Keep on reading: Año says public service ‘its own reward’

The University of Hawaii (UH) Manoa, the flagship campus of the UH System, offers a BA degree in Filipino and Philippine Literature, an in-depth study of the languages and literatures in the Philippines. The public coeducational research university has so far graduated at least 50 students since the course opened in 2003. Filipino is a global language, and the scholarship surrounding it outside the Philippines was pioneered by Teresita V. Ramos. It took decades for this lady from Pampanga to develop the program from the time she joined the UH faculty in 1970. Ramos taught high school English after graduating cum laude from the University of the Philippines College of Education....Keep on reading: Championing Filipino as a global language

College of St. Benilde encountered stiff resistance from a lowly foe on Tuesday before gutting out an 82-77 win over Arellano that raised the Blazers' impressive opening run in Season 95 of the NCAA men's basketball tournament to five games. Seldom-used guard Robi Nayve gave the Blazers the breathing room they needed by swishing consecutive threes that created the separation needed as Benilde reclaimed a piece of the elimination round lead with idle defending champion San Beda. Nayve's back-to-back threes near the end of the third finally disentangled the Blazers from a stubborn Arellano side, which suffered its sixth defeat in seven outings. In the first game, Mapua leaned ...Keep on reading: Blazers claim piece of lead, carry streak into killer stretch

Federal Land chair Alfred Ty said Manila had never seemed as beautiful as when he viewed it from The Peak of the Grand Hyatt. Chair of Bonifacio Landmark Realty Development Corp., a subsidiary of Federal Land that developed the five-star hotel in partnership with Orix of Japan, Ty was looking out from the top floor of arguably the tallest building in the country. After the sun had set, the evening became a nightscape glittering with lights viewed from the 60th story. The reality of traffic, the high-density population crammed into tight spaces, and the teeming mass of people were far removed while one lounged in the private speakeasy, or enjoyed the open-air deck. These real...Keep on reading: The real Manila inspires Japanese designer

MANILA, Philippines --- The proposed provincial bus ban on Edsa was still riddled with flaws when the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) attempted a dry run of the policy last week, a Senate committee hearing concluded on Tuesday. After tracing the flaws to the agency's limited authority, lawmakers said they were considering reviewing the MMDA's powers and whether it was possible to expand its scope to include Mega Manila. For now, they will look at whether the MMDA «really has the power to implement policies such as the ban, and if [it does], if [this is a] valid exercise of [its] power,» said Sen. Grace Poe, chair of the Senate public services committee. Unpr...Keep on reading: Senators: Edsa bus ban proposal flawed

For three games in the PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals, the three-pointer became the weapon of choice of the winning team. But faced with the prospect of falling in a deep series deficit, San Miguel Beer turned to its anchor to hammer out a crucial 106-101 Game 4 victory. And Mark Dickel, the active consultant who runs the bench along with TNT head coach Bong Ravena, knows that with the race to the title trimmed to a best-of-three, the triple trend has ended and the goal for each team will be dictating pace. «Naturally the team who can play their style will win each game,» he added. The Beermen did so in the second half of Game 4 last Sunday, wielding the weapon that has helped th...Keep on reading: Style wars

MANILA, Philippines --- The Commission on Audit has lifted the notice of charge (NC) it earlier imposed on 13 mining companies engaged in black sand mining in Cagayan during the Aquino administration. In a decision dated June 11 but made public only on Tuesday, the COA lifted the P94.8-million NC it had imposed on the mining companies due to alleged tax deficiencies. «The issuance of the NC was premature considering that the auditors failed to consider the assessment period and assessment procedure of the BIR (Bureau of Internal Revenue),» the COA said. It explained that it was the BIR and not COA auditors that was in charge of collecting taxes The case stemmed from the disco...Keep on reading: Cagayan black sand miners win COA tax case

MANILA, Philippines --- After its success in North America, anti-abortion film «Unplanned» will debut to Filipino audiences on Aug. 21. The news was announced Tuesday during the movie's press conference and advance screening, which was attended by lead actress Ashley Bratcher and producer Mike Manhardt. «Unplanned,» which premiered in the US last February, is based on the «pro-life transformation» of a former abortion clinic director named Abby Johnson. «Portraying Abby Johnson is a huge responsibility. To be able to tell the powerful story of her transformation was such an honor,» Bratcher said during the press conference. The actress also explained the reason behind sha...Keep on reading: Anti-abortion film ‘Unplanned’ to screen in the PH

Coco Gauff will get a chance to try for an encore: The 15-year-old from Florida received a wild-card entry Tuesday for the U.S. Open's main draw. It will be Gauff's second Grand Slam tournament. She made a magical run to the fourth round at Wimbledon last month after getting a wild card into the qualifying rounds there. Ranked just 313th at the time, Gauff became the youngest player to qualify for Wimbledon, upset five-time champion Venus Williams in the first round and wound up losing at the All England Club to eventual title winner Simona Halep. Gauff is currently No. 140 in the WTA rankings. Age restrictions set up by the women's professional tour limit the number of t...Keep on reading: 15-year-old American Coco Gauff gets US Open wild-card entry

  Dora and the Lost City of Gold Directed by James Bobin; stars Isabela Moner, Madeleine Madden, Eugenio Derbez A teen explorer and her new friends search for her missing parents and try to solve the mystery of a forgotten land. Hollywood Reporter's Todd McCarthy describes the film as «squeaky clean and unhip to an unusual degree, its commercial success resting all but exclusively on a built-in fan base.» But New York Post's Sara Stewart says, «Disney, take note: This is how to do a winning live-action update of a cartoon.»     After the Wedding Directed by Bart Freundlich; stars Julianne Moore, Michelle Williams, Billy Crudup In this ...Keep on reading: OPENING THIS WEEK: August 14, 2019

  Some of the stars of the recently concluded «Game of Thrones» series participated in a panel discussion at the San Diego Comic-Con, answering fan questions about their characters and how they ultimately ended up.   Maisie Williams, on her young warrior character Arya not getting together with erstwhile lover Gendry (Joe Dempsie), reiterated during the discussion, «Arya's always been a lone wolf, like a misfit in her own family. I don't think being with a partner is what would make her feel the most at home or the most fulfilled.»   In the finale, Arya left the oft-embattled land of Westeros for parts unknown, leaving behind her family and her ex. The a...Keep on reading: Maisie Williams speaks on hotly debated ‘GoT’ topic

  The followers of Korean heartthrob Choi Woo-sik remember him for his roles in «Train to Busan,» «Okja» and his award-winning turn in «Set Me Free.» But fans and film buffs alike should make a beeline at the box office for Woo-sik's latest film, Bong Joon-ho's «Parasite,» when it begins its theatrical run in the Philippines today.   After all, it isn't every day that the winner of the Cannes festival's coveted Palme d'Or---the first Korean film to accomplish such a feat---is shown in local theaters. So, after that «in-house food-only» debacle, we tip our hat to SM Cinemas and its programmers for this taste-elevating exclusive treat for Pinoy moviegoers.   ...Keep on reading: Charismatic con artists in Palme d’Or-winning drama

MANILA, Philippines --- Building intermodal transport terminals within Metro Mania and putting up elevated walkways were just some of the suggestions lawmakers made in an effort to solve the worsening traffic along the capital's busiest thoroughfare. On Tuesday, the Senate Committee on Public Services conducted a hearing regarding the implementation of the provincial bus ban as well as on other traffic problems gripping Metro Manila. Sen. Grace Poe, chair of the public services committee, said the hearing would serve as «an opportunity to clarify things before it gets messy.» Sen. Grace Poe, chair of the public services committee, said the hearing would serve as "an opportun...Keep on reading: Intermodal terminals, elevated walkways seen to unclog Edsa

MANILA, Philippines --- Police have identified the suspect in the death of a Chinese man who fell from a six-story building in Las Pias City. Col. Simnar Gran, chief of the Las Pias City Police Station, told INQUIRER.net that the suspect, Li Yun Xiang was tagged in the death of 27-year-old Yang Kang, who was handcuffed and fell to his death on Aug. 9. According to Gran, CCTV footage helped police identify Xiang, supervisor of Kang in the call center where they reportedly worked. They found compared the CCTV image with the photo on the suspect's passport, Gran said in a phone interview. Gran said investigators were coordinating with the Bureau of Immigration to determine wheth...Keep on reading: Suspect in death of Chinese man in Las Piñas identified

MANILA, Philippines --- A magnitude 4.1 quake hit Leyte on Tuesday night, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported. Phivolcs said the quake, which was of tectonic origin, was recorded at 7:20 p.m. and was located 12 kilometers northeast of Ormoc City. Intensity IV was reported in Ormoc City and Albuera town in Leyte. Phivolcs said no aftershocks and damage are expected following the quake which had a depth of 5 kilometers. /atm...Keep on reading: Magnitude 4.1 quake jolts Leyte

MANILA, Philippines---F2 Logistics got back on track after rolling past Cignal, 25-18, 25-14, 25-22, in the Philippine Superliga All-Filipino Conference Tuesday at Malolos Sports and Convention Center in Bulacan. Kalei Mau led the way for F2 with 16 kills, two aces and two blocks while Mary Joy Baron contributed 14. The Cargo Movers rebounded from a dismal week where they suffered two consecutive defeats at the hands of Petron and PLDT. Wrapping up the preliminaries in second place with a 12-2 record, F2 takes on No. 7 Sta. Lucia in the knockout quarterfinals. Cignal, which drew 14 points from Rachel Anne Daquis, slid to fifth place and will face No. 4 Generika in the playoff...Keep on reading: PSL: F2 Logistics ends slump with beatdown of Cignal

New research in United Kingdom has found that children who start puberty later may have an increased risk of bone fractures and osteoporosis later in life. Carried out by researchers at the University of Bristol, the new study looked at data gathered from 6,389 children taking part in Children of the 90s, a longitudinal research program carried out by the university which has followed thousands of children since their birth in the early 1990s. The participants underwent six repeated bone density scans between the ages of 10 to 25 years to assess if there was a relationship between the timing of puberty and bone density throughout adolescence and into early adulthood. ...Keep on reading: The age you hit puberty could impact bone strength later in life

MANILA, Philippines --- The following local government units have suspended classes for Wednesday, August 14, due to bad weather: Benguet Entire province, except Itogon - pre-school to senior high school, public and private Itogon town - all levels, public and private [Please refresh for updates. ] /atm...Keep on reading: #WalangPasok: Class suspensions for Aug. 14, Wednesday

  MANILA, Philippines - The alleged female «suicide bomber» who arrived in the country has no criminal records, no holdings from the Interpol as well as in the Intelligence Community, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said as it announced that the woman, her mother and Sri Lankan fianc were cleared of any terror links. NBI Deputy Director Ferdinand Lavin said the only information mentioning Victoria Sophia Sto. Domingo as a terrorist was the email sent purportedly by her father to various Intelligence offices identifying his wife and daughter, her Sri Lankan fianc Mark Kevin Samhoon as terrorists. Sto. Domingo appeared before the NBI on July 22 and executed her...Keep on reading: NBI clears 3 earlier tagged as suicide bombers of terror links

A taxi driver was arrested for lying and claiming he was kidnapped, making up a story that he was forced to spend a day's profits in a strip club. The man told police in Fuengirola, Spain, that a customer robbed and held him at knifepoint, as per The Olive Press last Tuesday, Aug. 6. He then claimed that he was made to drive to a strip club, where he was supposedly forced to pay for prostitutes and consume drugs. The driver added that he was forced to go to a friend's house to sell a motorbike. After the sale, he returned to the club to use the earnings for intercourse with the prostitutes. The driver further claimed that the supposed kidnapper locked him in a garage for hours...Keep on reading: Taxi driver fakes kidnapping after spending income at strip club

  HONG KONG - Hong Kong's airport canceled all remaining flights for the second day after protesters took over terminals in the afternoon.Citing serious disruption of airport operations, the airport authority said all departure flights had been cancelled. It advised all passengers to leave the terminal buildings as soon as possible. In an earlier press statement Tuesday, Hong Kong International Airport said all check-in service for departure flights had been suspended since 4:30 pm. More than 300 flights were cancelled as of 3:30 pm Tuesday as thousands of protesters occupied the airport's main terminal for the fifth consecutive day. After filling up two separate arriva...Keep on reading: Hong Kong airport cancels flights for 2nd day as protesters pour in

  MANILA, Philippines --- The government may not be able to ban marine survey ships to sail into Philippine waters after all. Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. backtracked on his previous remarks that he would «universalize» the restriction on marine survey ships following recent sightings of Chinese vessels sailing through the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ). READ: Locsin 'will universalize ban' on survey ships 'by adding China' «I am reliably informed that under UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) we cannot ban marine surveys but that marine surveys need our permission to be conducted,» Locsin said over Twitter on Tuesday....Keep on reading: PH can’t ban marine survey ships – Locsin

MANILA, Philippines --- Following the sharp rebuke to the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) for the traffic on Edsa, Malacaang has asked the public to give the agency a chance.   «Hindi naman pupuwede rin na hindi maapektuhan ang publiko habang nag-eeksperimento ka. Let's give them a chance,» Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a Palace briefing on Tuesday.   «Pagbigyan na muna natin ang MMDA. Walang may gustong maabala sa Edsa,» Panelo added.   He cited that the Philippines loses billions due to the traffic congestion in Metro Manila.   "Lahat tayo naabala, in fact, we're suffering by so much (sic) millions. Billions ...Keep on reading: Palace: Give MMDA a chance

        MANILA, Philippines--- Amending the anti-terror law might face rough sailing in the Senate if the period of detention for suspected terrorists would be extended to 60 days or two months, SenatorPanfilo Lacson saidonTuesday.   The proposalto extendthe jail period of arrested terror suspects from the existing 36 hours or three dayswas raised by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana during the hearing of the Senate committee on national defense with finance.   READ: DND wants terror suspects detained for 60 days for case build-up   «Medyo mahirap ipasa,» Lacson, chair of the defensecommittee, said in an interview afte...Keep on reading: Lacson: Expect ‘rough sailing’ in bid to prolong jail period of terror suspects

MANILA, Philippines -- The story of how one brave pit bull almost died protecting her owner's family from a snake quickly went viral online on Wednesday, August 7. In a Facebook post, netizen Meg Saab shared her appreciation for her dog, «Brave Tasha» after it almost lost its life while battling with a snake that slithered into their Batangas home.   https://www.facebook.com/jherlet.orzo/posts/701956340253144   Meg said Tasha, who has been part of their family for the past 8 years, has always been a good dog to the point that she is even willing to sacrifice her life to protect her owner's family.   "Muli pinakita mo ang wagas na pagmamahal mo di lang ...Keep on reading: FB post on brave pit bull that almost died protecting owner’s family from snake goes viral

  MANILA, Philippines --- The Philippine and Chinese governments will sign the loan agreement covering project management consultancy for the railway project that will run between Manila and Bicol during President Rodrigo Duterte's visit to China later this month, the Department of Finance (DOF) said. As for the initial phase of the Mindanao Railway Project in Davao Region, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia said last week that «it's scheduled for [financing by] China, as of now.» The National Economic and Development Authority-Investment Coordination Committee-Cabinet Committee (Neda ICC-CabCom) last month approved to more than double the project cost o...Keep on reading: PH, China to sign management consultancy loan for Manila-Bicol railway

  MANILA, Philippines -- The whole intersection of Aurora Boulevard and Araneta Avenue in Sta. Mesa, Manila, will be closed to all forms of traffic for a week, starting before midnight Thursday, August 15, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said.   The MMDA in a press conference on Tuesday said the closure of the intersection --- from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. the next day -- is for the construction of the Skyway connector which links the North Luzon Expressway to the South Luzon Expressway.   According to MMDA officials, the whole intersection which is near a shopping mall, will be closed to traffic.Light vehicles coming from Cubao going to Manila...Keep on reading: BREAKING: Aurora-Araneta intersection in Sta. Mesa to be closed overnight for a week

The NBA schedule is a little bit easier on players. Fans might be catching a break --- and some more sleep --- as well. The league announced its 2019-20 schedule on Monday, featuring another dip in back-to-back games for teams and a major change in the number of nationally televised games starting at 10:30 p.m. on the East coast. Golden State and the Los Angeles Lakers will start several games a half-hour earlier than usual, while broadcasters ESPN and Turner are going to earlier start times on many of their midweek doubleheader nights. Such a change has been on NBA Commissioner Adam Silver's mind for some time, especially since roughly half of the nation's television homes are ...Keep on reading: NBA 2019-20: Some tip-offs earlier, back-to-backs down again

MANILA, Philippines --- Senator Ronald «Bato» Dela Rosa recalled making a foreign terrorist suspect sing the Philippine national anthem who later ended cutting off peoples' heads.   And he blamed it to the existing Human Security Act, which allows the detention of terror suspects only up to 36 hours or three days.   Dela Rosa, a former police chief, narrated his own experiences during Tuesday's hearing on the bills, seeking to amend the law.   During the hearing at the Senate, the neophyte senator manifested his support on the proposal to extend the period of detention of terror suspects from the current three days to up to 30 days.   "When I w...Keep on reading: Dela Rosa regrets freeing foreign terror suspect due to anti-terror law

How would one feel living in a high-end and exclusive residence where modern comforts and premium experiences are within reach? Verano Greenhills gives a glimpse of this urban luxury through its newly opened showroom. Located at the ground floor of Richbelt Tower in Annapolis St., Greenhills, San Juan City, the showroom features a one-bedroom model unit, as well as a scale model of the property and artist renderings of the amenities. As the first and premier real estate development of Grand Taipan, Verano Greenhills will soon rise among San Juan City's select skyscrapers. "It has always been my lifelong dream to build developments that will provide first-rate quality living. Wit...Keep on reading: Verano Greenhills gives a glimpse of urban luxury

  MANILA, Philippines --- Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Tuesday said that a person's mere membership in the communist movement is not considered a crime.   The chief of the Department of Justice (DOJ) issued the statement as he rejected proposals to restore Republic Act 1700 or the Anti-Subversion Law.   «With all due respect to Sec[retary Eduardo] Ao, mere membership in the CPP (subversion) is not a crime... Being leftist is far from being terrorist,» Guevarra said.   "As long as activism remains in the realm of ideology, there is nothing to be alarmed about. But once it flows into overt acts that threaten the national security or at ...Keep on reading: DOJ chief: Mere affiliation to communist movement not a crime

ISABELA CITY, Basilan ---- Two explosions rocked Patikul town in Sulu Tuesday, August 13, hurting a soldier. Army Major John Arvin Encinas, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) spokesperson, identified the injured soldier as Army Corporal Rene M. Mediana, a K9 handler of the 43rd Infantry Battalion. Encinas said Mediana was hit in the second explosion. «He suffered multiple shrapnel wounds on the lower part of his body,» Encinas said. The first blast, from a suspected improvised explosive device, happened around 7:30 a.m. at Sitio Tibongtibong, Barangay Igasan in Patikul, some 30 meters from where security forces were stationed. The second explosion occurred an hour later...Keep on reading: Soldier hurt in Patikul, Sulu blast