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No expiry date in chasing dreams: Elderly mountaineer aims for Everest

Herbie G

01/04/2024 10:06

MOUNT FUJI SUMMIT. Elderly mountaineer Feliciano Legara Jr. unfurls the Philippine flag at Japan’s Mount Fuji on August 8, 2023. photo courtesy of Feliciano Legara GENERAL SANTOS, Philippines – A Filipino retiree’s desire to scale the world’s highest peak reflects his belief that age is never an obstacle to pursuing dreams and life’s aspirations. It’s not only about climbing mountains but also redefining the life and health of the elderly after retirement, according to 66-year-old Engineer Feliciano Legara Jr., who has made climbing mountains his career after retiring from work in December 2022. Legara has already reached the summits of the three highest mountains in the Philippines, Japan’s Mount Fuji, and most recently, Mount Jade (Yu-Shan), the highest peak in Taiwan and the highest in Northeast Asia. Legara made all these arduous minor and major climbs in the Philippines and abroad in less than two years, despite having no prior experience in mountain climbing before his first ascent. In conquering the 3,952-meter Mount Jade amid biting cold weather on March 19, Legara completed the second leg of his Asian Trilogy Peak Challenge. He was the only elderly person in a group of 19 young climbers who reached the peak of Mount Jade, known for its rugged Alpine terrain. Legara reached the peak of the 3,776-meter Mount Fuji on August 8, 2023. Despite his senior age, he arrived at the Fuji summit ahead of a group, half of whom failed to reach the peak. As the final leg of the trilogy challenge, Legara will climb the 4,095-meter Mount Kinabalu in Malaysia this May, en route to an icy trek to the 2,228-meter Mount Kosciuszko, Australia’s highest peak, this August. Should all the preparations go well, Legara said he hopes to see the Everest Base Camp (EBC), nestled at 5,364 meters high at the foot of the world’s tallest mountain, by October. He said trekking to the EBC alone would require great determination, sustained physical endurance, and mental resilience. “I anticipate it as quite challenging, but tremendously rewarding,” he said. Months before reaching the retirement age of 65 in 2022, a group of younger colleagues invited him to climb the 2,938-meter Mount Dulang-dulang in the Kitanglad mountain range in Bukidnon, considered by mountaineers as a major climb. Legara’s lack of mountaineering experience and scant knowledge of the dangers involved did not deter him from joining his younger colleagues in climbing the Philippines’ second-highest peak on September 29 and 30, 2022. After Dulang-dulang, Legara developed a keen desire to conquer mountains, including the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest. He said the Dulang-dulang climb exposed him to the incredible feeling of being on top of the world, boosting his confidence. “I thought that if I made it to the Philippines’ second-highest peak on my first attempt, maybe I could succeed in other major climbs,” Legara said. About five months after the Dulang-dulang climb, Legara gathered his gear and set out for his second major climb. This time, it was Mount Pulag, the Philippines’ third-highest at 2,928 meters, famous for its sea of clouds and a view of the Milky Way at early dawn. The Pulag climb in the Cordilleras was followed by an ascent on March 25, 2023, to the summit of the 2,954-meter-high Mount Apo, the country’s highest peak. Legara scaled smaller mountains in preparation for major climbs, like summiting Fung Wong Shan, Hong Kong’s highest peak before his Mount Jade ascent. Before his Mount Fuji climb, Legara had preparatory treks to Mount Mamuyao and other mountains in Luzon, even as Typhoon Egay battered the country, and then to Mount Takao in Hachiōji, Tokyo. In less than a year, the neophyte elderly mountaineer conquered the country’s three highest peaks, not to mention the treks on smaller mountains before embarking on major climbs. “After the major climbs in the Philippines, it became my dream to stand atop Mount Everest,” said Legara, who hails from Cotabato City but now resides with his family in Cagayan de Oro City. However, Legara said his family’s apprehensions, noting that “the risk is way too high for an elderly person like me.” Mountaineers, he said, always consider there is a 1% fatality rate and a 25% chance of failure. He recalled some difficulties due to extreme heat during a climb to Mount Batulao in Batangas, preparatory to the Mount Fuji ascent. A female climber perished at the summit during that climb due to heat stroke, leaving a grim reminder not to take things for granted, he added. In each of his climbs, Legara said he puts the same effort into preparations, whether it’s a major climb or a minor one. Legara’s family knows well his character of defying limits when he sets his mind to something, but his decision to pursue mountaineering came as a bit of a surprise. His engineer wife, Emedita, and their children were expecting him to pursue a lucrative business or go into farming. His daughter Erika Fille, an acclaimed data scientist, said the family discussed what her father would do after retirement. Out of the blue, Erika said, his father told them that he wanted to “climb mountains!” “Mountain climbing is a dangerous activity and too risky for elderly persons. But knowing him, he always has the determination to get what he wants,” Legara’s wife, Emedita, said. Legara’s daughter Erika has a deeper view of her father’s decision, saying it’s not just about climbing mountains. “It’s about a guy who’s been hustling since he was a kid,” Erika said. Legara sold newspapers when he was 10 years old to help provide for his family. His father died when he was five years old, and his mother made a living doing laundry. Unlike other retirees who opt to stay at home and rest, Erika said her father decided he has more mountains to conquer, both literally and figuratively, showing everyone that there is no expiry date in chasing dreams. “Keep climbing, Dad!” she quipped. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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COA flags Nabcor’s unfinished liquidation a decade since abolition

Dwight de Leon

01/04/2024 8:00

Graphics by Alyssa Arizabal/Rappler MANILA, Philippines – The National Agribusiness Corporation (Nabcor), a government agency whose abolition was approved by the late former president Benigno Aquino III in 2013, has yet to complete its plan for liquidation more than a decade later. The Commission on Audit (COA), which flagged the delay, warned that continuing inaction by Department of Agriculture (DA) officials may lead to the loss of Nabcor’s remaining assets, as well as the non-enforcement of notices of disallowance covered by notices of finality of decision (NFD). State auditors said the agency had 158 total disallowances with corresponding NFDs as of end-2023, and those transactions were worth P406.25 million. DA Assistant Secretary for Consumer Affairs Genevieve Velicaria-Guevarra, the chairperson of the technical working group of the DA’s transition management committee, assured COA it will ramp up efforts to expedite the closing of Nabcor’s book of accounts. It was in 2013 when the Governance Commission on GOCCs recommended the abolition of Nabcor for operating at a loss for numerous years. The agency was also linked to the multi-billion-peso fraud in relation to the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) and the Malampaya Fund scams. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Marcos appoints Rommel Francisco Marbil as new PNP chief

Jairo Bolledo

01/04/2024 9:43

Police General Rommel Francisco Marbil Screenshot MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appointed Police General Rommel Francisco Marbil as the new Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, a day after he named an officer-in-charge (OIC) to take the place of retired police general Benjamin Acorda Jr. As announced during the change of command and Acorda’s retirement ceremony on Monday, April 1, Marbil will be the new head of the 232,000-strong police force. Prior to his appointment, Marbil was the head of the PNP’s Directorate for Comptrollership. Marbil, 55, will retire on February 7, 2025 after he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 56. This will be barely three months before the mid-term senatorial and local elections. Marbil is Acorda’s classmate; they both belong to the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Sambisig Class of 1991. Marbil once headed the Eastern Visayas regional police – the home turf of House Speaker Martin Romualdez, the President’s cousin. Incidentally, Romualdez is an honorary member of PMA Class 1991. The new PNP chief also served as head of the PNP Highway Patrol Group. In December last year, a photo stating that Marbil will replace Acorda made the rounds of social media. This prompted the PNP to issue a statement dispelling the information. Marbil is Marcos’ third PNP chief and the 30th top cop since the national police’s inception in 1991. The announcement surprised not a few. On Sunday, March 31, Malacañang appointed Police Lieutenant General Emmanuel Peralta as acting PNP chief. Marbil’s appointment thus overwrote Peralta’s appointment, since the latter’s designation was effective “until a replacement is appointed or until otherwise directed by this [Malacañang] office.” There was an expectation that Peralta would serve at least for months, like previous PNP OICs. However, Peralta served as acting PNP chief for less than 24 hours. This was quite unusual since the last two PNP OICs – retired police generals Archie Gamboa and Vicente Danao – served at least for several months. Gamboa was OIC for around three months and was eventually appointed PNP chief by former president Rodrigo Duterte. He served for almost a year before retiring in September 2020. Danao, meanwhile, served for over three months. He was designated OIC on May 5, 2022 or a few days before the 2022 elections, and remained in the post until Marcos appointed retired police general Rodolfo Azurin Jr. as his first PNP chief in August 2022. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. Congratulations to Police General Rommel Francisco Marbil as the new Philippine National Police (PNP) chief. He has two huge problems to solve: 1) the capture of Pastor Quiboloy and 2) the discipline of police officials who did not follow the anti-drug policy of PBBM. Good luck, General Rommel Francisco. How does this make you feel?

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Brimming with confidence after All-Star onslaught, Perez flaunts range in San Miguel rout

delfin.dioquino editor

31/03/2024 20:17

ATTACK. CJ Perez in action for the San Miguel Beermen in the 2024 PBA Philippine Cup. PBA Images MANILA, Philippines – A sterling performance in the PBA All-Star Game has CJ Perez convinced he can also do damage from beyond the arc. Known as a fierce slasher, Perez flaunted his range on the way to a season-high 32 points as San Miguel stayed unbeaten in the PBA Philippine Cup following a 116-102 win over Phoenix at the Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, March 31. Perez drained a season 4 three-pointers and added 5 assists, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals in an all-around effort that powered the Beermen to a 3-0 start in the prestigious All-Filipino tournament. It was an impressive follow-up to his outstanding showing in the All-Star Game, where Perez erupted for 39 points after going 7-of-11 from four-point distance – a gimmick that the league added to the midseason spectacle. “He realized that he is a shooter after the All-Star Game. I guess the four-point shots gave him the confidence to shoot threes now,” said San Miguel head coach Jorge Gallent. “Definitely, he is a slasher. He is quick and everything. But the only thing he needs is confidence in his three-point shot, which is here already. He is going to be a hard guy to stop.” Perez did not take long to heat up from three-point country, draining a pair of triples and finishing with 10 points in the opening quarter as the Beermen grabbed a 27-23 lead. Brimming with confidence, Perez scattered 12 points – including his last three-pointer – in the final period to help San Miguel pull away for good. “I get my rhythm when I attack the rim. But just like coach said, I should just be confident when I shoot threes. Now, they’re falling. Hopefully in the coming games, I’ll make them again,” said Perez. Jericho Cruz and Terrence Romeo backstopped Perez in scoring with 17 and 16 points, respectively, while June Mar Fajardo put up 13 points and 12 rebounds for his 11th straight double-double and 14th overall this season. Don Trollano chimed in 10 points and 5 rebounds in the win. Jayjay Alejandro and seldom-used rookie Matthew Daves fired 13 points apiece to pace the Fuel Masters, who fell to 1-4 as they hobbled with injuries. Already without star guard Tyler Tio (ankle) and big man Raul Soyud (hamstring), Phoenix missed the contributions of veteran RR Garcia, who saw action for just under a minute after dislocating his shoulder. Jason Perkins tallied 11 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists in the losing effort, while Javee Mocon (12), Kent Salado (10), and Ricci Rivero (10) all scored in twin digits. San Miguel 116 – Perez 32, Cruz 17, Romeo 16, Trollano 10, Tautuaa 8, Lassiter 6, Brondial 6, manuel 4, Enciso 3, Teng 1, Ross 0. Phoenix 102 – Alejandro 13, Daves 13, Mocon 12, Perkins 11, Salado 10, Rivero 10, Tuffin 9, Muyang 6, Jazul 5, Verano 5, Manganti 4, Camaco 2, Lalata 2, Garcia 0. Quarters: 27-23, 49-45, 86-75, 116-102. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Marcos appoints Rommel Francisco Marbil as new PNP chief

Jairo Bolledo

01/04/2024 9:43

Police General Rommel Francisco Marbil Screenshot MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appointed Police General Rommel Francisco Marbil as the new Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, a day after he named an officer-in-charge (OIC) to take the place of retired police general Benjamin Acorda Jr. As announced during the change of command and Acorda’s retirement ceremony on Monday, April 1, Marbil will be the new head of the 232,000-strong police force. Prior to his appointment, Marbil was the head of the PNP’s Directorate for Comptrollership. Marbil, 55, will retire on February 7, 2025 after he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 56. This will be barely three months before the mid-term senatorial and local elections. Marbil is Acorda’s classmate; they both belong to the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Sambisig Class of 1991. Marbil once headed the Eastern Visayas regional police – the home turf of House Speaker Martin Romualdez, the President’s cousin. Incidentally, Romualdez is an honorary member of PMA Class 1991. The new PNP chief also served as head of the PNP Highway Patrol Group. In December last year, a photo stating that Marbil will replace Acorda made the rounds of social media. This prompted the PNP to issue a statement dispelling the information. Marbil is Marcos’ third PNP chief and the 30th top cop since the national police’s inception in 1991. The announcement surprised not a few. On Sunday, March 31, Malacañang appointed Police Lieutenant General Emmanuel Peralta as acting PNP chief. Marbil’s appointment thus overwrote Peralta’s appointment, since the latter’s designation was effective “until a replacement is appointed or until otherwise directed by this [Malacañang] office.” There was an expectation that Peralta would serve at least for months, like previous PNP OICs. However, Peralta served as acting PNP chief for less than 24 hours. This was quite unusual since the last two PNP OICs – retired police generals Archie Gamboa and Vicente Danao – served at least for several months. Gamboa was OIC for around three months and was eventually appointed PNP chief by former president Rodrigo Duterte. He served for almost a year before retiring in September 2020. Danao, meanwhile, served for over three months. He was designated OIC on May 5, 2022 or a few days before the 2022 elections, and remained in the post until Marcos appointed retired police general Rodolfo Azurin Jr. as his first PNP chief in August 2022. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. Congratulations to Police General Rommel Francisco Marbil as the new Philippine National Police (PNP) chief. He has two huge problems to solve: 1) the capture of Pastor Quiboloy and 2) the discipline of police officials who did not follow the anti-drug policy of PBBM. Good luck, General Rommel Francisco. How does this make you feel?

Rappler

https://www.rappler.com/philippines/marcos-jr-appoints-rommel-francisco-marbil-new-pnp-chief/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_medium=Social&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3ehns9rRb5IembTTQt3osUxA2ANxywroC2kvXSk4Y8cdNka2FGUxlM3dE_aem_NR-kccnNrH4L1qwsbSNosg

Jerusalem wrests WBC minimumweight crown from Shigeoka in Japan

delfin.dioquino editor

31/03/2024 20:55

CHAMPION. Melvin Jerusalem wins the WBC minimumweight belt. Sanman Boxing Facebook page MANILA, Philippines – Melvin Jerusalem knocked down Yudai Shigeoka twice and escaped with a split decision to become the new World Boxing Council minimumweight champion on Sunday, March 31, at the International Conference Hall in Nagoya, Japan. Using counter rights, Jerusalem decked Shigeoka in the second round and again in the sixth to earn the nod of two judges who both scored the 12-rounder 114-112 and negated the 113-114 decision handed out by the third judge. Trailing, 73-77, after eight rounds, Shigeoka worked hard behind combinations to take the next three. Although tiring in the last round, Jerusalem wisely used snappy shots and held on to Shigeoka to raise his record to 22-3 with 12 knockouts and end the Filipinos’ string of defeats in Japan, including those of Marlon Tapales in December and Jerwin Ancajas and Jonas Sultan in February. Shigeoka tasted his first defeat after eight wins spiked by five knockouts. Well-prepared by trainer Michael Domingo, Jerusalem also came through with body shots that stopped Shigeoka’s repeated assaults in the third and fourth rounds. The 30-year-old Jerusalem, pride of Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, is one of the stalwarts of Sanman Promotions headed by JC Manangquil, who predicted that his ward would upstage Shigeoka. Earlier, Jake Amparo failed in his first world title crack when he got floored by Ginjiro Shigeoka with a wicked body shot in the second round. Amparo, a last-minute replacement for compatriot ArAr Andales, dropped to 14-6-1 with 3 knockouts. In retaining the International Boxing Federation minimum crown, Ginjiro climbed to 11-0 with 9 knockouts. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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New career high: Kai Sotto erupts for 28, but Yokohama falls to Tokyo

delfin.dioquino editor

31/03/2024 20:28

KAIJU. Kai Sotto in action for the Yokohama B-Corsairs in the Japan B. League. Yokohama B-Corsairs Facebook page MANILA, Philippines – After seeing his eight-game streak of double-digit scoring performances snapped, Kai Sotto bounced back big and delivered his finest game yet in the Japan B. League. Pitted against one of the top teams in the league, the 7-foot-3 Gilas Pilipinas big man stepped up to the plate and erupted for a new career-high 28 points on an ultra-efficient 12-of-15 field goal clip on Saturday, March 30. His high-scoring explosion, however, wasn’t enough as the Yokohama B-Corsairs suffered an 81-75 loss to the Alvark Tokyo. Coming off a lackluster 7-point outing in their 80-64 loss to the Fighting Eagles Nagoya last Wednesday, March 27, Sotto went to work for the B-Corsairs early and quickly poured in 8 of his 12 first half points in just the first seven minutes of the ball game. 1Q🔥#カイ・ソット のダンク💪💥⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯📡#バスケットLIVE で配信中！https://t.co/1xTGUAyuUN#ビーコル #FlyTheFlag #Bリーグ#KaiSotto #bcor #Bleague pic.twitter.com/aBlFBKbKvf With Yokohama trailing 33-39 at halftime, Sotto once again took over in the third period and unloaded 8 more points to give the B-Corsairs a 51-47 lead with 2:03 remaining in the quarter. 3Q🔥#河村勇輝 & #カイ・ソット のホットラインで逆転❤️‍🔥⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯📡#バスケットLIVE で配信中！https://t.co/1xTGUAyuUN#ビーコル #FlyTheFlag #Bリーグ#KaiSotto #bcor #Bleague pic.twitter.com/2o4jTWUQGD It was a tight battle between the two teams in the early goings of the final frame, and with Yokohama up 66-65 with 4:17 left to play, Tokyo suddenly went on a decisive 8-0 blast to pull away from the B-Corsairs and hand them their 26th loss in 47 matches. Sotto, who eclipsed his previous career-high of 26 points, also tallied a team-best 6 rebounds and a +/- of +8 in close to 28 minutes of action as Yokohama’s starting center. Like Sotto, Dwight Ramos saw his efficient performance go down the drain as the Levanga Hokkaido fell to the Osaka Evessa, 96-74. Ramos connected on 7 of his 10 attempts from the field to wind up with 17 points, along with 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks. Matthew Wright and RJ Abarrientos likewise scored in double figures, but their respective teams fell. Wright recorded 13 points, 3 rebounds, and 5 assists in the Kyoto Hannaryz’s 64-56 loss to the Saga Ballooners, while Abarrientos came up with 10 markers, 1 board, 3 dimes, and 1 steal in the Shinshu Brave Warriors’ 76-69 defeat at the hands of the Fighting Eagles Nagoya. Thirdy Ravena, meanwhile, had a forgettable outing for the San-En NeoPhoenix as they bowed to the Sendai 89ers, 82-75. Thirdy finished with just 3 points on a dismal 1-of-8 shooting with 1 rebound and 5 assists in the loss. Ray Parks was the only Filipino import in Division 1 to score a victory on Saturday as the Nagoya Diamond Dolphins got the better of the AJ Edu-less Toyama Grouses, 102-85. Parks produced 5 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal in the dominant win. Over in Division 2, Kiefer Ravena’s Shiga Lakes and Roosevelt Adams’ Yamagata Wyverns both emerged triumphant on Saturday. Kiefer put up 14 points, 3 rebounds, and 6 assists in Shiga’s 78-70 win over the Bambitious Nara. Adams, meanwhile, registered 7 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, and 2 blocks in Yamagata’s 93-86 victory against the Koshigaya Alphas. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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LIST: April 2024 special non-working days in PH provinces, cities, towns

Miriam Grace Go

26/03/2024 20:09

Pangasinan image from provincial government; Antipolo and Mountain Province images from Shutterstock MANILA, Philippines – This is a compilation of special non-working days in various localities in the Philippines for April 2024, as proclaimed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Bookmark this page for possible additional announcements from Malacañang. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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COA flags Nabcor’s unfinished liquidation a decade since abolition

Dwight de Leon

01/04/2024 8:00

Graphics by Alyssa Arizabal/Rappler MANILA, Philippines – The National Agribusiness Corporation (Nabcor), a government agency whose abolition was approved by the late former president Benigno Aquino III in 2013, has yet to complete its plan for liquidation more than a decade later. The Commission on Audit (COA), which flagged the delay, warned that continuing inaction by Department of Agriculture (DA) officials may lead to the loss of Nabcor’s remaining assets, as well as the non-enforcement of notices of disallowance covered by notices of finality of decision (NFD). State auditors said the agency had 158 total disallowances with corresponding NFDs as of end-2023, and those transactions were worth P406.25 million. DA Assistant Secretary for Consumer Affairs Genevieve Velicaria-Guevarra, the chairperson of the technical working group of the DA’s transition management committee, assured COA it will ramp up efforts to expedite the closing of Nabcor’s book of accounts. It was in 2013 when the Governance Commission on GOCCs recommended the abolition of Nabcor for operating at a loss for numerous years. The agency was also linked to the multi-billion-peso fraud in relation to the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) and the Malampaya Fund scams. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Marcos appoints Rommel Francisco Marbil as new PNP chief

Jairo Bolledo

01/04/2024 9:43

Police General Rommel Francisco Marbil Screenshot MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appointed Police General Rommel Francisco Marbil as the new Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, a day after he named an officer-in-charge (OIC) to take the place of retired police general Benjamin Acorda Jr. As announced during the change of command and Acorda’s retirement ceremony on Monday, April 1, Marbil will be the new head of the 232,000-strong police force. Prior to his appointment, Marbil was the head of the PNP’s Directorate for Comptrollership. Marbil, 55, will retire on February 7, 2025 after he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 56. This will be barely three months before the mid-term senatorial and local elections. Marbil is Acorda’s classmate; they both belong to the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Sambisig Class of 1991. Marbil once headed the Eastern Visayas regional police – the home turf of House Speaker Martin Romualdez, the President’s cousin. Incidentally, Romualdez is an honorary member of PMA Class 1991. The new PNP chief also served as head of the PNP Highway Patrol Group. In December last year, a photo stating that Marbil will replace Acorda made the rounds of social media. This prompted the PNP to issue a statement dispelling the information. Marbil is Marcos’ third PNP chief and the 30th top cop since the national police’s inception in 1991. The announcement surprised not a few. On Sunday, March 31, Malacañang appointed Police Lieutenant General Emmanuel Peralta as acting PNP chief. Marbil’s appointment thus overwrote Peralta’s appointment, since the latter’s designation was effective “until a replacement is appointed or until otherwise directed by this [Malacañang] office.” There was an expectation that Peralta would serve at least for months, like previous PNP OICs. However, Peralta served as acting PNP chief for less than 24 hours. This was quite unusual since the last two PNP OICs – retired police generals Archie Gamboa and Vicente Danao – served at least for several months. Gamboa was OIC for around three months and was eventually appointed PNP chief by former president Rodrigo Duterte. He served for almost a year before retiring in September 2020. Danao, meanwhile, served for over three months. He was designated OIC on May 5, 2022 or a few days before the 2022 elections, and remained in the post until Marcos appointed retired police general Rodolfo Azurin Jr. as his first PNP chief in August 2022. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. Congratulations to Police General Rommel Francisco Marbil as the new Philippine National Police (PNP) chief. He has two huge problems to solve: 1) the capture of Pastor Quiboloy and 2) the discipline of police officials who did not follow the anti-drug policy of PBBM. Good luck, General Rommel Francisco. How does this make you feel?

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LIST: April 2024 special non-working days in PH provinces, cities, towns

Miriam Grace Go

26/03/2024 20:09

Pangasinan image from provincial government; Antipolo and Mountain Province images from Shutterstock MANILA, Philippines – This is a compilation of special non-working days in various localities in the Philippines for April 2024, as proclaimed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Bookmark this page for possible additional announcements from Malacañang. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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[Newsstand] The Marcoses’ three-body problem

Miriam Grace Go

01/04/2024 9:00

The success of the Marcos-Duterte electoral alliance in 2022 was so massive it could be said that the political equivalent of Newton’s law of inertia applied to it. A body moving at constant speed in a straight line will continue moving at constant speed in a straight line unless a force acted upon it. The alliance – if all went well, if the different parts moved at the same speed and kept to the same line – had a lock on the 2028 presidential election, which in our part of the universe determines other political possibilities. And then a force acted upon it. Now the alliance has descended into a war of the dynasties, between the Marcoses and the Dutertes, and an opening is starting to form, not necessarily for the political opposition but perhaps for a political third force led by someone like the populist, and popular, Senator Raffy Tulfo. But the reality of politics has always been messy; perhaps Newton’s laws of motion cannot really explain it. For some analysts, the break between the Marcoses and the Dutertes was inevitable; inertia was never an explanation. But some politicians believed in the alliance, and continue to do so even in the middle of the dynastic war; the law of action and reaction governs their pragmatic attempts to end it. Another way to look at the political situation today, to understand the “chaos” affecting the political class, is to borrow the theory at the heart of the popular Netflix series, 3-Body Problem, based on Cixin Liu’s The Three-Body Problem trilogy. What is the three-body problem? The character Wang Miao explains: “It’s actually pretty simple. The reason why the sun’s motion seems patternless is because our world has three suns. Under the influence of their mutually perturbing gravitational attraction, their movements are unpredictable – the three-body problem. When our planet revolves around one of the suns in a stable orbit, that’s a Stable Era. When one or more of the other suns move within a certain distance, their gravitational pull will snatch the planet away from the sun it’s orbiting, causing it to wander unstably through the gravitational fields of the three suns. That’s a Chaotic Era. After an uncertain amount of time, our planet is once again pulled into a temporary orbit and another Stable Era begins. This is a football game at the scale of the universe. The players are the three suns, and our planet is the football.” (This excerpt is of course from the Ken Liu translation.) The three suns in the second Marcos administration are President Marcos, his older sister Senator Imee Marcos, and his cousin Speaker Martin Romualdez. We can measure their gravitational pull on the planet of Philippine politics according to three factors: the scale of rehabilitation of the Marcos legacy and name, the question of presidential succession, and the choice of primary geopolitical partner. There must be other criteria, but I suggest that these three form the core. These describe their hold on their moons, account for the difference in their orbits – and explain why the Stable Era promised by the UniTeam’s unprecedented victory has deteriorated into a Chaotic Era. I think that President Marcos understands his election in 2022 as a completion of the task his family imposed on him since at least 1995, the first time he ran for national office; he has rehabilitated the Marcos name simply by winning the office his father held for 20 years. His election created the minimum condition of rehabilitation – that the public regard his father no longer as a dictator but as “just another” president, the first Marcos – and I think he is happy to claim the win. Senator Marcos’s definition of rehabilitation is much broader. She wants public opinion to reflect how she thinks of her father, as a great man wronged by history. She wants to restore her father to an imagined gallery of greatness, and this requires nothing less than a repudiation of the Edsa People Power uprising. (On rereading, I see that my July 2022 column “The four REs of the Marcos restoration” actually tracks Imee’s position more closely than her brother’s.) For Imee, it is not enough for the first Marcos to be seen as just another president. Speaker Romualdez’s idea of rehabilitation is just as expansive, but in a different direction. He expects it to cover not only the Marcoses but the Romualdezes too. For him, the true measure of rehabilitation is if another member of their extended family succeeds his cousin. His reading has disturbed others in the political class, even those who warmly welcomed the return of the Marcoses to Malacañang, because it unnecessarily tests the boundaries of political power. One may be willing to concede power to a family for six years, but 12? Marcos continues to keep his personal relationship with his vice president warm, even in the face of outright hostility and insolent language from his predecessor the former president and the two Duterte sons. I think he is pragmatic enough to accept a Duterte as a successor, if that is the way his political interests lie; at the same time, he cannot but be open to a Romualdez or a Tulfo, for the same reason. But it seems clear that his influential wife’s counsel is what he will keep. This sub-factor is a particular sticking point with other members of the political class, especially the Dutertes. Imee Marcos was one of Rodrigo Duterte’s original supporters in his long-shot campaign for the presidency in 2016, and was instrumental in convincing Duterte’s more popular daughter Sara to run as Bongbong Marcos’s running mate in 2022. As I see it, she wants her family to honor the explicit or implied agreement with the Dutertes that made the UniTeam tandem possible in the first place: Support Sara for president in 2028. While her definition of political rehabilitation is maximalist, her understanding of the dynamic of presidential elections is much more pragmatic. She sees Sara as still the candidate to beat in 2028 AND also the president who can consolidate the gains of the Marcoses best. From all indications, Speaker Romualdez wants to become the next president. He may still run for a third term as representative of the 1st District of Leyte next year, but his long-term strategy may likely involve a Senate run in 2025. A strong showing would place him in strong contention for 2028. (See Gloria Arroyo in 1995, or Grace Poe in 2013.) The ongoing campaign to raise his profile in different congressional districts is an expensive signal; to give only one example, the constituency-serving facility set up on Kamuning Street in Quezon City, while ostensibly an alliance between the district representative and his wife Yedda Romualdez’s Tingog party-list group, features only one larger-than-life image: his. Before Marcos came to power, I thought he would continue moving in the direction set by President Duterte’s pivot to China; his family’s historical ties with Chinese leadership weighed heavily in my estimate. Instead, he has firmly redirected Philippine foreign policy back to Washington DC and the Western alliance. This must stem in part from the recognition that there is an international aspect to the project of rehabilitation; in his view, the course of cleaning up the family name runs through key Western capitals. Senator Marcos would favor a return to the Duterte China-first policy. The language she used in presenting her seven-point plan in September 2022 as Senate foreign affairs committee chair speaks of “engagement” with Beijing, but her remarks since then suggest collaboration rather than engagement, to the extent that today she is seen as the principal non-Duterte defender of China. (She resents this perception.) Romualdez has controversially accompanied the President on many of his foreign travels, in part to assert his idea of “legislative diplomacy” and his ideal of Congress as a full partner of the Executive in foreign policy. But he shares the pro-Western view of his cousin, Ambassador to the United States Babe Romualdez; donated $2 million to fund a Tagalog course in Harvard University; has consistently supported the strengthening of Philippine-American ties. As president, he would likely deepen the Philippine partnership with the United States. In the last two years, the three suns have each increased in mass. Romualdez’s Lakas-CMD is now the largest single party in Congress, and he has proved that he can make Congress jump through hoops. Imee has reinforced her ties with the Dutertes, who have been welcoming former allies (such as former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez) back into the fold; at the same time, she has leaned into her role as a dependable source, “good copy,” for the media. The President remains buoyed both by constant travel and the warm welcome of Western allies; the scope of influence of his wife Lisa Araneta Marcos has also widened. As a result, their “mutually perturbing gravitational attraction ” has also grown. The turmoil within the ruling coalition includes many celestial anomalies: a stealthy two-pronged campaign to change the Constitution; open conflict between the Senate and the House; a tightening of the net around key Duterte allies; the suddenly more substantial shadow of the International Criminal Court looming from The Hague; even more aggressive interventions by Beijing in the West Philippine Sea; ever closer ties with Washington, Tokyo, Canberra, London. All this instability can be explained simply. There are three competing centers of gravity within the extended Marcos family. – Rappler.com Veteran journalist John Nery is a Rappler columnist, editorial consultant, and program host. His In the Public Square streams on Rappler platforms every Wednesday at 8 pm. Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. If I could add to the growing “mutually perturbing gravitational attraction” and “many celestial bodies,” how would Digong, Sara Duterte, Quiboloy, Tulfo, USA, and China be represented? Are they moons that are orbiting their corresponding suns? How about the Filipino People? Are they the humankind who will bear what such “chaos” brings? How does this make you feel?

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Gilas Women exit FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup after quarterfinal loss to Chinese Taipei

delfin.dioquino editor

31/03/2024 15:44

ATTEMPT. Camille Clarin in action for Gilas Women 3x3 in the 2024 FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup. FIBA MANILA, Philippines – Gilas Women 3×3 ran out of gas in the FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup in Singapore and saw their unbeaten run come to a halt in the quarterfinals following a 19-9 defeat to Chinese Taipei on Sunday, March 31. Winning all five of their games from the qualifying draw to the pool stage, the banged-up Filipinas failed to advance as they struggled to keep in step with the bigger Taiwanese. Mikka Cacho bravely played through a right knee injury and joined hands with Camille Clarin and Kaye Pingol to steer Gilas Women to a 5-4 lead before Chinese Taipei turned the tides. The Taiwanese uncorked an 9-1 run to build a commanding 13-6 lead as they pounced on the Filipinas’ shooting woes, with Kuo Hung-Ting and Chen Yu Chieh scoring 4 and 3 points, respectively, during that crucial stretch. Kuo and Chen finished with 8 points each to propel Chinese Taipei to the final four. Clarin paced Gilas Women with 3 points and 5 rebounds, while Cacho tallied 3 points as she played sparingly due to her injury. Kaye Pingol scored 2 points and Jhazmine Joson got limited to 1 point after missing all of her five attempts from two-point distance. Joining Chinese Taipei in the semifinals are New Zealand, Australia, and Mongolia. While the Filipinas reached the knockout round, Gilas Men ended their campaign without a win after bowing to Australia and Japan in the pool stage. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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LIST: April 2024 special non-working days in PH provinces, cities, towns

Miriam Grace Go

26/03/2024 20:09

Pangasinan image from provincial government; Antipolo and Mountain Province images from Shutterstock MANILA, Philippines – This is a compilation of special non-working days in various localities in the Philippines for April 2024, as proclaimed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Bookmark this page for possible additional announcements from Malacañang. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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100 and counting: Ginebra turns back Magnolia for Clasico milestone

delfin.dioquino editor

31/03/2024 22:37

PHYSICALITY. Christian Standhardinger in action for Barangay Ginebra in the 2024 PBA Philippine Cup. PBA Images MANILA, Philippines – At long last, Barangay Ginebra breached the century mark in wins in its storied Clasico rivalry with Magnolia. Heroes were aplenty as the Gin Kings notched their 100th victory against the Hotshots, 87-77, to get back on track in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum on Easter Sunday, March 31. Stanley Pringle fired a season-high 17 points, Japeth Aguilar posted a near-double-double of 16 points and 9 rebounds, while Maverick Ahanmisi chimed in 16 points and 4 assists to help Ginebra improve to a 3-1 record. Christian Standhardinger (11 points, 14 rebounds, 7 assists) and Jamie Malonzo (11 points, 9 rebounds, 3 steals) also delivered as all of the Gin Kings’ starters scored in double figures. “It is great to finally get that one. [Magnolia] handled us pretty well so it is really sweet to come out and get this one and get that 100th,” said Ginebra head coach Tim Cone. The Gin Kings’ 100th win in Clasico matches took over a year in the making since they clinched victory No. 99 when they disposed of the Hotshots, 99-84, to advance to the finals of the Commissioner’s Cup in December 2022. Magnolia owned the last two Clasico encounters, crushing Ginebra in a 118-88 blowout in the Governors’ Cup last season and completing a sensational 93-91 comeback from 26 points down in the Commissioner’s Cup this season. A third straight loss seemed imminent when the Gin Kings trailed 53-47 midway through the third quarter before they hit their stride, ending the period on a 13-3 run highlighted by a booming LA Tenorio triple for a 60-56 lead. The starters put the finishing touches, with Ahanmisi nailing a three-pointer left to make it 84-75 and Standhardinger sealing the deal with a free throw and a layup inside the final 40 seconds. “I just want to say I liked what our guys did. We came from that tough loss against Meralco. We were kind of embarrassed out there and they really showed that they care,” said Cone. “They care about their fans, they care about their performance, and they came in here and I thought they were really locked in. This is the way we expect to play and hope to play all the time.” Ian Sangalang topscored for the Hotshots with 17 points, Jio Jalalon netted 15 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals, while Paul Lee tallied 12 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists. Mark Barroca and Abu Tratter added 11 and 10 points, respectively, for Magnolia, which slipped to 1-1 but still holds the upper hand in Clasico battles with 104 victories. Barangay Ginebra 87 – Pringle 17, M. Ahanmisi 16, J.Aguilar 16, Malonzo 11, Standhardinger 11, Onwubere 8, Tenorio 5, Pinto 3, David 0. Magnolia 77 – Sangalang 17, Jalalon 15, Lee 12, Barroca 11, Tratter 10, Abueva 4, Mendoza 3, Corpuz 3, Laput 2, Escoto 0, Ahanmisi 0, Reavis 0, Eriobu 0. Quarters: 17-18, 37-40, 60-56, 87-77. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Christian churches pray for Easter hope despite problems under Marcos

Paterno Esmaquel II

31/03/2024 22:51

HAPPY EASTER! The National Council of Churches in the Philippines holds its 75th Ecumenical Easter Sunrise Service at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani, March 31, 2024. Angie de Silva/Rappler MANILA, Philippines – More than 400 Christians gathered at Bantayog ng mga Bayani, a memorial for victims of the Marcos dictatorship, to celebrate the resurrection of Christ in the face of the Philippines’ problems under the second Marcos presidency. The 61-year-old National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP), the largest alliance of Christian churches in this predominantly Catholic country, held its 75th Ecumenical Easter Sunrise Service at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani from 4:30 to 7 am on Easter Sunday, March 31. In this Easter service, various prayer leaders took turns in praying to the “God of freedom” for “genuine justice and peace,” for the safety of Filipino fishermen in the face of China’s bullying in the West Philippine Sea, and for assistance to migrants and workers. The prayers at the ecumenical service also sought to uphold the rights of indigenous people and cultural communities against “exploitative and oppressive systems,” to defend women “amid patriarchy and a feudal system,” and to open the eyes of Christians to “the realities of our LGBTQIA+ community.” NCCP, known for its activist stance, is at the forefront of fighting government abuses, such as the Duterte administration’s war on drugs. This comes at a steep price: its members have been red-tagged. “Talking about Jesus’ Lordship is about challenging the powers that are lording over us,” said NCCP chairperson Bishop Melzar Labuntog in his homily on Sunday. Labuntog, who is also the general secretary of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines, noted how Jesus “was killed because of His passion for a different kind of world.” In this world, he said, “the good news is proclaimed to the poor,” and there is freedom for prisoners and the oppressed, and recovery of sight to the blind. “To declare that Jesus is alive means that the hungry are given food, the homeless are being sheltered, the poor are being cared for,” Labuntog said. In an interview with Rappler, Labuntog said it was significant that the NCCP was holding its Easter service at Bantayog ng mga Bayani because it memorializes “heroes of the faith who have given their lives for a very worthy cause” during the Marcos dictatorship. Labuntog said that under the dictator’s son, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the nation’s problems still include poverty, low wages, and high prices of goods. Churches should stay involved in social issues like these because “God is involved in the lives of the people.” Also explaining why the NCCP chose to celebrate Easter at Bantayog ng mga Bayani, NCCP general secretary Minnie Anne Mata-Calub said that former NCCP members – such as their former general secretary, peace advocate Bishop La Verne Mercado – are among the names on the Bantayog wall of remembrance. The ambience of the Bantayog helps explain what Easter means for Christian churches, she added. “Easter, as the resurrection of Jesus Christ, also gives hope that in the middle of all the chaos and problems in our society, there is hope – because resurrection is hope for us,” she told Rappler in a mix of English and Filipino. Dr. Gay Manodon, deacon of the Episcopal Church in the Philippines, also said Easter means hope – which is important in the fight against amending the country’s Constitution. “Imagine giving 100% ownership of our land, communications, and education to foreigners,” she said in a mix of English and Filipino. “There is hope that this will not happen.” Bishop Dindo Ranojo, general secretary of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente or the Aglipayan Church, said in a separate interview that churches should not keep quiet on social problems, and should instead serve as “modern prophets” who give hope to people. When asked about the biggest challenges under the Marcos presidency, Ranojo said in Filipino: “First, we need to continue the peace talks, fight for the West Philippine Sea, boost our agriculture, and look after the welfare of citizens, workers, farmers, and most of all the indigenous people… because the environment is our capital for our a better future.” If given an opportunity to speak with Marcos, Ranojo said: “First, he should listen to the voice of the people. Second, he should pay attention to what is really happening and remedy the problems of our society.” Bishop Rex Reyes of the Episcopal Church in the Philippines said that Christ “is understood from a prophetic standpoint” by the NCCP. “You challenge the status quo, and the essence of Easter sunrise is to galvanize that mobilization,” Reyes said. Rappler asked Reyes, like Ranojo, about his message to Marcos if he gets the chance to address the President. “Ay naku (Oh my gosh), I wouldn’t know how to address that guy,” said Reyes, who was a high school student when the President’s father declared Martial Law. “Until this time, I am still reeling from the impact of that rule.” Reyes noted how the President “comes out with things that are similar to what his dad used,” like his slogan “Bagong Pilipinas” (New Philippines), which is similar to the “Bagong Lipunan” (New Society) of the Martial Law years. He also cited the President’s own version of his father’s Masagana 99 for boosting agriculture. “What the heck,” the bishop said. “I would think twice about addressing him. I don’t like to talk to him,” Reyes said. Toward the end of the interview, he pointed to the black marble walls where the names of Martial Law victims are inscribed at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani. “The fact that we celebrate this observance amid those great names there, is very important for me,” he added. “Those are heroes. Those are not just names,” the bishop said. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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