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Extending ECQ up to end of May too much

Seventeen metropolitan manila mayors are reportedly in agreement–they want to extend the enhanced community quarantine up to the end of May, citing the continued rise of COVID-19 cases. As of today, the Philippines had surpassed the 10,000 mark. Globally, more than 4 million people had reported infections. The World Health Organization expects this figure to further rise as the virus is just…

Film Review: The Post

The “Post” tells of the story experienced by owners and editorial members of the Washington Post during the tumultuous times under the Nixon administration. Directed by Steven Spielberg, the movie features Hollywood’s cinematic titans like Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep, Sarah Paulson and Bob Odenkirk (known for his role as Sam in Better Call Sam–a Netflix movie). It won several awards, including Best…

Who is really to blame for the loss of ABS-CBN 2?

Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano is on the warpath, blaming members of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) for the loss of ABS-CBN 2 on air. The NTC issued a Cease and Desist Order (CDO), effectively cutting ABS-CBN 2 on free television transmission. ABS-CBN 2’s franchise expired last May 4, 2020. A strict interpretation of the franchise law says it all—no bill, no franchise, hence, no…

Breastfeeding must continue despite COVID-19 pandemic, says WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) tries to allay fears that lactating mothers may somehow transfer the deadly corona virus to their babies thru breastfeeding. Latest medical research shows no basis to fear.

The novel coronavirus can only be transmitted thru exchange in bodily fluids. Hosts can only infect others thru respiratory droplets, close contact or fomites.

Philippine health authorities…

Cong Salo: Gov’t should prioritize maternal health

KABAYAN Partylist Representative Ron Salo urges government to prioritize maternal health as a crucial component in nation-building. An advocate of health rights, Salo expressed his concern after receiving reports that four out of ten women, especially those from the country’s workforce are considered under and malnourished.

“Maternal health is crucial to any developing country’s public health…

US GDP drops 4.8% as COVID-19 numbers rack up

The Gross Domestic Product of the world’s biggest economy slid 4.8% in the first quarter of this year, the biggest single drop since the Great Depression.  This ended the US biggest expansion in years and it may get worse as the numbers of COVID-19 infected persons rack up in the next few weeks.

And the Federal Reserve chief warns that the second quarter figures could even be uglier, with…

Trump fumes as surveys see impending re-election defeat

United States PRESIDENT Donald Trump WANTS TO SUE HIS re-election campaign Manager Brad Parscale after recent Republican-sponsored polls shows him losing in battleground states due to his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. After meeting Parscale for several hours though, Trump eventually withdrew his plan and decided to stick with his campaign manager.

A CNN source from the Republican camp…

Cong. Ron Salo urges bar passers to serve as legal frontliners during COVID-19 pandemic

Law professor and Kabayan partylist Congressman Ron Salo today urged recent bar passers to serve as the country’s legal frontliners especially now that the government is implementing rules to safeguard public health amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

” The people need the rule of law the most in times of crisis, especially during pandemics. The limits of laws are tested in life or death…

UN cites PH as one of 80 countries using COVID-19 pandemic for repression

The Philippines is one among 80 countries around the world which the United Nations Human Rights Commission says is using the COVID-19 pandemic as a pretense to oppress and suppress the rights of people. “Emergency powers should not be a weapon governments can wield to quash dissent or control the population”, tweeted United Nations Human Rights Commission Michelle Bachelet.

The following news…

UNHR CHIEF URGES GOVERNMENTS TO RESPECT HUMAN RIGHTS

GENEVA (27 April 2020) – As Governments face the formidable challenge of protecting people from COVID-19, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet has called on them to ensure human rights are not violated under the guise of exceptional or emergency measures.

“Emergency powers should not be a weapon governments can wield to quash dissent, control the population, and even perpetuate…

Duterte agrees on modified quarantine by May 15

Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte is thinking of partially lifting the enhanced community quarantine in the entire country by May 15. Calling it a “modified ECQ”, Duterte says he may allow opening sectors of the economy, especially the construction sector.

This is somewhat a stark departure from the highly pessimistic pronouncements made by Duterte last week. Presidential spokesperson…

AFP: Kanya West now a billionaire, says Forbes

Rapper Kanye West is now a billionaire thanks largely to the basketball shoes bearing his name that he developed with Adidas, Forbes magazine said Friday.

The rough figure of the wealth of Kim Kardashian’s hubby is $1.3 billion, the magazine said in announcing the musician is now on its list of people worth at least $1 billion.

The 42-year-old, Chicago-born rapper’s Yeezy footwear often sells for…

Film Review: The War by Ken Burns and Manila during World War Two

For those of us, especially in this administration who salivates for war, watch The War, a seven-part American television documentary miniseries about World War II now being shown over at Netflix.com. This film merited an entry into Cannes in 2007.

Produced by American filmmakers Ken Burns and Lyn Novick and written by Geoffrey Ward and voiced or narrated by Keith David, the film tells the…

NASA contributes expertise to COVID-19 fight

NASA has joined the fight against coronavirus (COVID-19) with efforts underway across the country to augment the national response, a few of which were highlighted in a media briefing today.

“NASA’s strength has always been our ability and passion – collective and individual – for solving problems,” said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. “All the work being done shows how NASA is uniquely…

Bill Gates: Anti-COVID 19 vaccine possible after 18 months

Philanthropist and Microsoft founder Bill Gates told CNN anchor Fareed Zakaria that the latest that the world would probably see an effective novel corona virus vaccine would actually be within the next 18 months, squelching rumors of a vaccine by December of this year.

Bill Gates and his foundation pledged 270 million dollars for the development of an anti-COVID 19 vaccine. Gates says the…

Scuff between foreigner and cop in Dasma Makati

The story about Jaime Parra, a foreigner living with his Filipina wife in posh Dasmarinas Village in Makati and the cop he had a scuffle with, is interesting. First, this happened shortly after President Rodrigo Roa Duterte toyed with the idea of imposing martial law in response to alleged attacks by Communist rebels against state troopers. And second, government announcement on the extension of…

Kim Jong Un’s Health: Its Implications to Regional Security

Instability would surely rock the foundations of the hermit state North Korea as reports of Kim Jong Un’s alleged demise go the rounds. A possible internal power struggle between Kim’s surviving sister and the newly arrested uncle may break the hold of the Kims and justify the entry of the strongest military figure in North Korea as Supreme Leader. Such a possibility would open North Korea to…