World Vision in the Philippines launches “Noche Buena” campaign to give joy to more children this Christmas

Christmas is truly in the air as World Vision in the Philippines kicks off its Noche Buena campaign for 2019, the child-focused organization’s annual initiative aimed at making Christmas celebrations more meaningful and joyful for the most vulnerable children and their families.

World Vision Ambassador Jasmine Curtis-Smith and Advocate Erwan Heusaff showed their support by teaming up in doing the Noche Buena with a Twist challenge. They produced an online vlog where they cooked their own version of one of the young Filipinos’ favorite Noche Buena dishes, Spaghetti. 

HPG Supports Angkas Pilot Run

Bares plan to help bikers, passengers for safer, more convenient transport

The Highway Patrol Group (HPG) has announced its support for the government-sanctioned pilot run of app-based motorcycle taxi service Angkas, saying it is strongly aligned with their mandate of helping Filipinos safely traverse the streets. 

In a press briefing held yesterday, HPG chief superintendent Roberto Fajardo said that the HPG’s mandate is to ensure the safety of the metro’s highways for the benefit of commuters and motorists alike and part of that mandate is to help ensure the smooth and safe flow of traffic in our streets. 

“We support Angkas, as well as all the transport operators legally franchised by the LTFRB, because it is a service that helps the commuters in safely going to and from their destinations,” Fajardo declared. “The HPG and Angkas have the same objective and therefore we need to support each other,” he added.

9th Jollibee Family Values Awards: Jollibee opens nominations for families with outstanding advocacies

In this day and age of social media where people have access to diverse news and content, it’s refreshing to see stories of families who genuinely care for the welfare of others. These families, guided by their Filipino values, dedicate their time and resources towards helping others and giving back to communities through various advocacies.

These generous acts of kindness, from one family to the rest of the community, are what the country’s leading fast-food brand, Jollibee, honors through the Jollibee Family Values Awards (JFVA). Now on its 9th year, the JFVA is a recognition program that celebrates the contributions of exemplary Filipino families and their advocacies.

Since its launch in 2011, the JFVA has been giving awards to outstanding families whose advocacy programs are guided by values such as generosity, compassion, love for community, and the environment, among others.

Brigada Eskwela: BAVI volunteers prepare five schools for class opening

BAVI president Ronald Mascariñas repaints a classroom
of the Punta Integrated School in Calamba City.

Bounty Agri Ventures Inc. (BAVI) employees recently took part in the Brigada Eskwela program of the Department of Education. The nationwide program encourages organizations to donate and lend a helping hand towards refurbishing public elementary and high school classrooms and facilities in time for the opening of classes.

At the Punta Integrated School in Calamba City, BAVI volunteers, led by president and general manager Ronald Mascariñas, partnered with parents of the students and other stakeholders in repainting the classrooms’ walls, ceilings, chairs and tables. The company behind the famous Chooks-to-Go oven-roasted chicken brand also donated gallons of paint and painting equipment.

Angkas Ready For Motorcycle Taxi Pilot Run

Angkas, the country's first app-based motorcycle ride-hailing service, is ready for its government-sanctioned six-month pilot run in Metro Manila and Metro Cebu with additional safety measures in place and a retraining of all its 27,000 biker-partners. 

In a press conference held yesterday, Angkas Head of Regulatory and Public Affairs George Royeca said that they are retraining their current biker-partners in preparation for the pilot run and in compliance with the directive and recommendations of the Technical Working Group (TWG) created by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to study the feasibility of motorcycle taxis.

Gov’t agencies, public sector urged to plant more trees during monsoon season

The Philippine Wood Producers Association (PWPA) is urging all stakeholders in the country anew to plant more trees during the rainy season so they can take advantage of the frequent rains, which are good for the growth of the seedlings.

“The rainy season creates an excellent environment for the seedlings to take root,” said PWPA Chairman Charlie Liu. “Seedlings which are planted during the rainy season can get the most benefit as they generally fare better when they are exposed to moderate temperature and a healthy amount of rainfall.”

SNAP, Lamut LGU ink agreement for Ifugao hydro project

Renewable energy provider SN Aboitiz Power (SNAP) and the Municipal Government of Lamut have recently signed a framework agreement for the proposed Alimit Hydropower Complex. The same framework agreement was concurred by the Lamut municipal council, through the issuance of Resolution No. 2019-18-041 endorsing the Alimit project.

With this, all four of the Local Government Units (LGU) hosting the Alimit Hydro, namely the Municipalities of Aguinaldo, Lagawe, Lamut, and Mayoyao, have signified their approval for what is set to be Ifugao’s first large-scale hydropower facility.

PH welcomes home Filipina ‘78° North’ Marathon finisher Elite Triathlete Joyette Jopson is First Filipina to run a marathon in the Arctic, finishing 1st in women’s category

Filipinos can celebrate another global victory as the country welcomes home elite Filipina triathlete and FWD Financial Wealth Officer Joyette Jopson, who overcame all odds and conquered the grueling 42-kilometer FWD ‘78° North’ Marathon held near the North Pole on April 16.  

Jopson becomes the first Filipina to run a marathon in the Arctic, enduring the freezing temperatures of Longyearbyen in Svalbard, a Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic Ocean, just 1,050 kilometers away from the North Pole. Jopson—triathlete, 2014 Ironman 70.3 Philippines Filipino Elite Champion, and FWD Financial Wealth Officer—completed the race with an impressive time of 4 hours, 10 minutes, and 59 seconds—claiming a first-place finish in the women’s category and third overall. 

Senatoriables United To Support Angkas

In a rare event, several senatorial candidates from different political parties came together for the Angkas Safety Fiesta and collectively called for the resumption of the app-based ride-hailing service and pushed for the rights of motorcycle riders.

Senatoriables Grace Poe, Bam Aquino, Chel Diokno, Bato dela Rosa, and JV Ejercito all graced the Safety Fiesta to support Angkas’ efforts to propagate the proper safety training of motorcycle riders in the Philippines.

Search for the Happiest Pinoy names 10 category winners, P1 million awaits grand winner

After going through close to 800,000 applications in the last few months, the biggest edition of the Cebuana Lhuillier Search for the Happiest Pinoy has now come down to 10 individuals who are already winners in their respective categories.

Khaye Celine Maggay (youth), Francisca Tumampil (senior citizens), Fortunato Januto (overseas Filipino workers), Rodrigo Roble Jr. (lingkod bayan), Zaldy Bueno (professionals), (manggagawang Pinoy), Mark David Cerezo (entrepreneurs), Alfred Santos (employees), Jayson Dela Fuente (persons with disabilities), and Leovy John Terrado (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community) will each receive P50,000 and will go through a panel interview to determine this year’s Happiest Pinoy grand winner who will take home P1 million tax-free.

ACTS-OFW Party List supports the LGBT Anti-Discrimination Bill

In a recent meeting at Club Filipino, ACTS-OFW Party List Cong. Aniceto "John" Bertiz III reiterated their group's commitment for the passage of the Anti-Discrimination Bill in Congress. The said bill will protect the rights of lesbians gays, bisexuals, and transgenders in the workplace and in the schools, as well as the right to set up a business or practice a profession. It will also give them the equal rights that are the birth right of each and every Filipino.

Cong. Bertiz gave this commitment to some members of the LGBT community, particularly to those who attended the solidarity event. They gave the commitment after consulting with the group and with their many members overseas, some of whom are also LGBTs.

"We have Overseas Filipino workers who are also members of the LGBT community. We have seen how hard they work so they could provide for their families back home. The LGBTs are the bread winners and the backbone of their families. They have sent their brothers and sisters to school, and have taken care of their parents' medical needs. Therefore, we should give them the protection that is enshrined in the Bill of Rights of our Philippine Constitution.

For their part, Ladlad Chairman Professor Danton Remoto lauded this commitment from a party list whose focus is to have the best ethical practices in the overseas recruitment industry. "I am also an Overseas Filipino Worker teaching at a British university in Malaysia.  

I welcome the consultation done by ACTS-OFW Party List with us regarding LGBTQ rights. Fighting for the rights of our LGBTQ will always be a prime advocacy of Ladlad Party List." Professor Danton Remoto is running for Councilor of District 3, in Quezon City.

ACTS-OFW means "Alliance for Community Transformation and Service for Overseas Filipino Workers," which was founded in 2010. ACTS-OFW Party List pushed for the ten-year validity of our passport and the creation of 1,000 slots daily for OFW applicants. They also worked for the exemption of OFWs from the P550 airport terminal fee, among many other legislative measures to help our OFWs, dubbed the "unsung heroes of our country."

Laguna Governor Candidate ER Ejercito Releases Statement With Recent Case

OFFICIAL STATEMENT

Atty. LARRY GADON

Legal counsel of Gov. Emilio Ramon "E.R." Ejercito

GOV ER EJERCITO IS NOT DISQUALIFIED AND CAN RUN FOR GOVERNOR OF LAGUNA

THIS IS PURE POLITICAL HARASSMENT FROM NOYNOY AQUINO LOYALISTS

Pagsanjan, Laguna (April 5, 2019) - Former Laguna Governor Emilio Ramon "ER" Ejercito can run for governor of Laguna this 2019. He is he is not disqualified to run because the decision of the Sandigan Bayan is not final and executory.

He has paid a P30,600.00 BAIL and filed for a Motion for Reconsideration for at the Sandigan Bayan. The case will be appealed to the Supreme Court and may be reversed with finality. The social media "fake news" and rumors that "Gov ER Ejercito is perpetually disqualified to run for Governor of Laguna and to hold public office, and will be jailed for a period of six to eight years" is not true and pure black propaganda being circulated by paid media.

It is plain and simple political harassment headed by incumbent Laguna Gov. Ramil Hernandez and his minion, Atty. Rodel Paderayon. This is due to the fact that Gov ER Ejercito has been overwhelmingly leading all the surveys in the Laguna gubernatorial race, and he is officially endorsed by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and Mayor inday Sara Duterte-Carpio of Hugpong Ng Pagbabago (HNP).

Again, Gov ER Ejercito is NOT DISQUALIFIED and CAN RUN for Laguna governor 2019 and can hold public office. The candidacy of Gov. ER Ejercito still stands. To reiterate without the pain of being redundant, Gov. ER Ejercito is not disqualified and can campaign for the Laguna gubernatorial post. The Supreme Court will be the final judge of Governor Emilio Ramon "ER" Ejercito's political career and NOT the Sandigan Bayan.

In truth and in fact, the same case has already been dismiissed by the Ombudsman but later reopened by the Sandigan Bayan in 2016 to harrass GoV ER Ejercito's political gubernatorial campaign in 2016 upon the strict orders of former President Noynoy Aquino. This 2009 case stems from the good intention of then Pagsanjan Mayor ER Ejercito to create an Accident Protection Assistance Program for tourists and boatmen who may get hurt while experiencing the two-hour boat ride of Shooting the Rapids to see the globally famous Pagsanjan Falls. This step intends to assure tourists and boatmen of a sustained rescue and medicai assistance program from the Local Government Unit of Pagsanjan, in case of accidents. During the term of Gov ER Ejercito as mayor of Pagsanjan, the town has been renowned as the tourist capital of Laguna.

On April 5, 2019, Sandiganbayan's Fourth Division ruled then-Pagsanjan Mayor ER Eiercito,

then-councilors Arlyn Lazaro-Torres, Terry! Gamit-Talabong, Kalahi Rabago, Erwin Sacluti and Gener Dimaranan, and private respondent Marilyn Bruel, guilty each for one count of violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, with the accessory penalty of perpetual disqualification from holding public office.

URCC Global's "Raw Fury" Rocks Cove Manila On April 27

URCC Global launches its biggest, most exciting, adrenaline pumping fight card, "RAW FURY," at Cove Manila on April 27, 2019, highlighted by the middleweight showdown between Chris Hofmann and Musa Conteh, as well as the featherweight bout between Mark Striegl and Shunichi Shimizu.

Founded by Filipino Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Alvin Aguilar, the Universal Reality Combat Championship (URCC) started the mixed martial arts (MMA) trend in the Philippines with its inaugural event at the Casino Filipino Amphitheater in Parañaque City on November 23, 2002, and has since become the breeding ground for world-class Filipino fighters who have charted their own respective legacies in the global MMA arena.

Earth Hour Philippines 2019 shines a light on plastic pollution

On the second year of the global #Connect2Earth theme of Earth Hour that calls for the urgent need to care for the Earth’s biological diversity, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines continues to focus on the issue of single-use plastics and how addressing it can help reverse the loss of nature.

Now on its 12th year, Earth Hour is considered as the world’s largest grassroots movement for the environment. What started out as a campaign to engage people and create significant environmental action against climate change has evolved into a platform that aims to raise awareness on the importance of biodiversity as a viable resource link that families, communities, nations, and future generations all depend upon. 

Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series Makes First Ever Philippine Stop to Kick off 11th Season

The biggest event of the season makes its highly-anticipated debut in the Philippines! Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series kicks off its 11th season in El Nido, Palawan, on April 12th – 13th, 2019. This year, the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series makes its regional debut in three brand new locations on its seven-stop global tour:

• April 13  – El Nido, Palawan, Philippines – (NEW)
• May 12 – Dublin, Ireland – (NEW)
• June 2 – Polignano a Mare, Italy
• June 22 – São Miguel, Azores, Portugal
• July 14 – Beirut, Lebanon – (NEW)
• August 24 – Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
• September 14 – Bilbao, Spain

Twenty-four (24) professional male and female cliff divers from eighteen (18) nationalities take off for the clear emerald waters of the Small and Big Lagoon in Miniloc Island, including record champions Rhiannan Iffland (AUS) and Gary Hunt (GBR). However, each stop will feature four (4) wildcard divers seeking to earn their way up the ranks.

Italian Contribution To Support Families Affected By Conflict In Marawi

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) welcomes a $240,000 contribution from the Government of Italy to help 6,500 displaced people in Marawi to rebuild their livelihoods and access nutritious foods.

The Government of Italy’s contribution to WFP will support families over three months, providing them with cash assistance in exchange for their participation in livelihoods projects focused on fisheries and farming,

“WFP is grateful to the Government of Italy for their continued generous support to our recovery operations to address the food security and nutrition needs of communities affected by the Marawi crisis,” said Stephen Gluning, WFP Representative and Country Director. “Thanks to Italian support, WFP will be able to provide conditional cash assistance to 6,500 beneficiaries, complementing the Philippine Government’s operations.”