Sunday, January 10, 2021
VP Robredo says 'supportive' of ABS-CBN franchise bills
Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday said she is supportive of filing measures that would grant ABS-CBN a franchise.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III last week filed a bill seeking to give a fresh franchise to ABS-CBN while Batangas 6th District Rep. Vilma Santos-Recto said she would do the same at the House of Representatives.
"Supportive ako, at tingin ko iyon iyong tamang paraan, iyong paghain ni Senator Tito Sotto saka ni Congresswoman Vilma Santos-Recto ng pag-approve ng panibagong franchise para sa ABS-CBN," Robredo said in her weekly radio show.
(I'm supportive and I think this is the right way, the filing of Sen. Tito Sotto and Cong. Vilma Santos-Recto, to approve a new franchise for ABS-CBN.)
"Kung mayroong kasalanan o mayroong pagkukulang ang ABS, panagutin. Pero kung wala naman, huwag naman sana. Ito, Ka Ely, hindi kasi ito parusa lang sa ABS, eh. Parusa ito sa lahat na umaasa sa ABS-CBN."
(If ABS-CBN has any wrongdoing, then let them pay for it. But if there's none, let us not punish them because it also punishes everyone who depends on the network.)
The Vice President said giving ABS-CBN a franchise would help disseminate information in far-flung areas. After the denial of its franchise in July, the network shuttered 53 regional television and radio stations across the country, on which the public relied for information especially during typhoon season.
"Sa kaiikot namin sa maraming mga lugar, grabe iyong epekto sa kanila—lalo sa malalayo, grabe iyong epekto sa kanila ng pagsasara ng ABS-CBN, dahil maraming malalayong lugar, Ka Ely, na ABS-CBN iyong may presence, at ABS-CBN iyong inaasahan nila para sa information," she said.
(Everywhere we went, especially in far-flung areas, the shutdown gravely affected them because they only rely on ABS-CBN for information.)
Robredo also called for "fair" proceedings.
"Maraming, maraming mga maliliit na mga nagtatrabaho sa ABS na sobrang kawawa na nawalan ng trabaho. Sana sa pag-file nito hindi kasama iyong mga personal na galit," she said.
(There are many small employees in ABS-CBN who lost their jobs. I hope that there's nothing personal in the filing of this bill.)
"Sana very fair iyong prosesong mangyari. Kasi, gaya ng sabi ko, hindi lang ito dine-deserve ng mga taga-ABS, pero dine-deserve ito ng mga communities na nawalan talaga ng source of news saka entertainment noong nawala lalo na iyong mga ABS-CBN regional offices."
(I hope the process will be very fair. Because like I said, ABS-CBN does not only deserve this but also the communities that lost their source of news and entertainment with the shutdown of ABS-CBN regional offices.)
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/10/21/vp-robredo-says-supportive-of-abs-cbn-franchise-bills
Indonesia's deadliest air crashes
The crash of a Sriwijaya Air Boeing 737-500 about four minutes after it took off from Jakarta Saturday is the latest in a series of air accidents to rock Indonesia.
The Southeast Asian archipelago relies heavily on air transport to connect its thousands of islands but has suffered a string of deadly plane crashes in recent years.
The aviation sector is expanding fast as its economy booms but there are concerns airlines are struggling to find enough well-trained personnel to keep up with the rapid growth.
Once banned from European airspace over safety fears, the EU removed all Indonesian airlines from its safety blacklist in 2018 following improvements.
Here are the worst aviation disasters in the nation's history:
NORTHERN SUMATRA
The worst disaster in Indonesia's aviation history left 234 dead in 1997. An Airbus A-300B4 operated by national carrier Garuda Indonesia crashed in a smog-shrouded ravine in North Sumatra, just short of Medan's airport.
LION AIR
A Boeing 737 MAX 8 from budget airline Lion Air crashes off the coast of Indonesia in October 2018, killing 189 passengers and crew members.
Investigators cite problems with the plane's anti-stall system as one of the contributing factors.
JAVA
In 2014, an AirAsia plane plunged into the Java Sea during stormy weather, killing 162 people. The plane was flying from the Indonesian city of Surabaya to Singapore.
MEDAN DISASTER
A Mandala Airlines domestic flight crashed shortly after take-off in 2005 into a densely populated suburb in Medan, a city of two million on the island of Sumatra, killing at least 150 including passengers, crew and people on the ground.
MILITARY FAMILIES
In June 2015 an Indonesian military plane crashed shortly after takeoff, also coming down in a residential area in Medan, killing around 122 people on board, many of them servicemen and women and their families. Around 20 people were also killed on the ground and several housing blocks torn apart.
AIR FORCE FIRE
In 1991, an Air Force plane crashed in East Jakarta minutes after take off when an engine caught fire, killing 135 people according to reports. Those who died included 121 airmen, 12 crew and two people on the ground. One passenger survived.
RIVER CRASH
In 1997, a Silk Air flight crashed into a river near the Indonesian city of Palembang while on its way to Singapore from Jakarta. All 104 passengers and crew were killed in what was investigated as a possible pilot murder-suicide.
NEW YEAR'S DAY CRASH
An Adam Air plane plunged into the sea off Sulawesi island on New Year's Day 2007, killing all 102 people on board. The airline was later banned from flying. Indonesian authorities said the pilots lost control after becoming preoccupied with malfunctioning navigational equipment.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/01/10/21/indonesias-deadliest-air-crashes
DOLE undersecretary dies of cardiac arrest due to coronavirus
By Ferdinand Patinio
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Undersecretary Joji Aragon passed away on Sunday. She was 58.
The late labor official succumbed to cardiac arrest due to the dreaded coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
“Please join us in praying for the eternal repose of the soul of Undersecretary Joji Aragon, head of the advocacy/productivity/legislative cluster of the Department of Labor and Employment,” the department said in a statement.
“The entire DOLE family, headed by Secretary Silvestre Bello III, grieves her untimely demise,” it added.
According to DOLE, Aragon was believed to have contracted the virus last month.
“It is believed that she contracted the virus following a procedure she underwent in the second week of December last year,” the statement added.
“DOLE and I lost a Jewel,” Bello said via text message when asked about his reaction on the death of Aragon.
The need to extend Bangsamoro transition
Saturday, January 9, 2021
Friday, January 8, 2021
Duterte lets 5 franchise bills lapse into law
President Rodrigo Duterte has let 5 franchise bills lapse into law, according to the government's journal.
The 5 laws extend by 25 years the operating licenses of the following firms, as shown on the Official Gazette:
Republic Act 11512 - Caceres Broadcasting Corp
Republic Act 11513 - Century Communications Marketing Center, Inc
Republic Act 11514 - Tandag Electric and Telephone, Inc
Republic Act 11515 - Davao Light and Power, Inc
Republic Act 11516 - Negros Broadcasting and Publishing Corp
Bills are enacted into law when they are approved by both houses of Congress and signed by the President. The Chief Executive may veto a bill, but the House of Representatives may overturn a presidential veto by garnering a two-thirds vote, said the Official Gazette.
If the President does not act on a proposed law submitted by Congress, it will lapse into law after 30 days of receipt, it added.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/08/21/duterte-lets-5-franchise-bills-lapse-into-law
Cityhood: Cordova mayor not losing hope
Cordova, Cebu Mayor Mary Therese “Teche” Sitoy-Cho is not losing hope that the town will soon become a city.
Cho, in her second State of the Municipality Address last Saturday, said she aspires for the conversion of the coastal town into a highly-urbanized city.
“As I always say every year, our ultimate prayer is that in the not so distant future, we will celebrate our foundation day, not as a municipality anymore, but as a city hopefully. I always look forward to the day when I stand here in front of you to deliver the State of the City of Cordova Address. This is a dream no more. There is no stopping Cordova. We will be a city and together, we continue to soar higher and higher as far as our wings can take us,” the second-termer mayor said.
At present, the town is not yet qualified to become a city in terms of population, land area and income.
But once the town’s reclamation project and the third bridge are done, lawyer Jessica Banzon-Natadsaid said these will create economic boom in the town.
“So, we are towards that direction nga hopefully mahimo na gyud nga siyudad ang Cordova,” Natad, the town’s information and tourism consultant, told The FREEMAN.
Moreover, the mayor said 2020 was a “very challenging” year as most of the town’s resources were focused on fighting against COVID-19.
“We really do not know what will happen (this year). But we are ready. We should be ready. Our resources may be limited but we can do this. COVID or no-COVID, the fact remains that Cordova is one of the fastest growing municipalities in the Philippines. After the completion of the Sto. Nino Bridge, we shall be directly linked to Cebu City and our growth will be unstoppable,” she said.
For social services, Cho said the town has created the Child Rights Protection Unit and has allocated funds for the implementation of sustainable livelihood programs for the marginalized women, all out efforts to serve all those that were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, among others.
For health services, on the other hand, the town has acquired accreditation from the DOTS-PCB for its main health center and of its birthing center; and expansion of laboratory, dental and medical services.
She also reported that the town received donations of emergency vehicles from the Cebu Korean Association.
As for economic services, the mayor said that she will continue working on this with the goal of “promoting economic development in the town through doable programs and projects.”
“Our real estate tax collection has also been increasing and this means we still have budget for upcoming development projects,” the mayor said.
For infrastructure projects, the mayor cited several road development projects, such as acquisition of lot and road right-of-way; and construction/repair/rehabilitation of public buildings, among others.
The funds for the infra projects were sourced locally.
For Peace and Order, Cho said the Philippine National Police has strengthened the implementation of intensified motorcycle patrolling against crimes transgressions in order to reduce crimes.
It also launched the Kabataan Kontra Droga at Terorismo and organized and trained the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team. — KQD
Mayor Sitoy-Cho aspires cityhood: There is no stopping Cordova
Cordova Mayor Mary Therese “Teche” Sitoy-Cho of Cebu province expressed optimism that the town will soon become a city.
In her recent second State of the Municipality Address, Sitoy-Cho said she hopes that the coastal town will be converted into a highly-urbanized city.
“As I always say every year, our ultimate prayer is that in the not so distant future, we will celebrate our foundation day, not as a municipality anymore, but as a city hopefully,” according to her.
“I always look forward to the day when I stand here in front of you to deliver the State of the City of Cordova Address. This is a dream no more. There is no stopping Cordova. We will be a city and together, we continue to soar higher and higher as far as our wings can take us,” she added.
The municipality is currently not yet qualified to become a city in terms of population, land area and income.
https://visayas.politics.com.ph/mayor-sitoy-cho-aspires-cityhood-there-is-no-stopping-cordova/
Thursday, January 7, 2021
Challenged Faith: Walk In Obedience
Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word. Psalm 119:67
Have you ever cried out, "Lord, I just can't handle this!"? Maybe you have never said those words audibly, but you have felt that way in your heart. Eventually it happens to everyone. I have suggested some guidelines that can help you when you feel like crying out, "Lord, I can't handle this."
Guideline #1: Strengthen your faith by going to the Word of God, which cannot fail.
Guideline #2: When your faith is challenged, refuse to relinquish what you know to be true.
Guideline #3: When your faith is challenged, turn to the Lord, but do not turn on the Lord.
There are two other guidelines which can help. Let me give them to you: Guideline #4: When your faith is challenged, walk in simple obedience, taking one step at a time. An aspect of the fourth guideline is to let someone else help you when you feel that you cannot handle it. It is hard admitting that things have gotten you down, but you have to do that. In almost every church or fellowship there are missing bodies who hurt, and hurt deeply. These people did not have the courage to say, "I need help!"
Have you ever noticed the number of times in the New Testament that the word, "one another" is used? We are told to "pray one for another," "bear one another's burdens," "encourage one another," and certainly to "love one another." There are well more than 40 others. It is so much easier to criticize each other for our apparent weakness than to lift up each other.
When you are down spiritually, listen to the testimony of others who have been where you are, and realize that God plays no favorites. Just as He met them, He will meet you as you let Him.
Then a word about the last guideline. Guideline #5: When your faith is challenged, kneel and look up into the face of Jesus. Certainly you do not understand why some things happen: why your mate walked out, why your business collapsed, why your best friend deserted you. But what you do not understand is not as troublesome as what you do understand. You do understand that God wants you to forgive, right? You do understand that God wants you to trust Him and to keep your eyes on Him, right? You do understand that God wants you to be faithful to your wife or husband as to Himself as well.
It is so easy to let what you do not understand keep you from doing what you clearly do understand. Our faith is usually challenged by hindrances which become stumbling blocks or stepping stones.
In the city of Copenhagen is a museum where you will find many of Bertel Thorvaldsen's beautiful works of art. There is one in particular which I like, depicting Jesus with arms outstretched as He says, "Come unto Me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." On a certain occasion a great art critic came to see the work, and standing at a distance he viewed the image with disdain.
He turned to walk away as a little boy said, "Mister, let me show you how to see Jesus," and he took him by the sleeve and tugged at him to follow. At the foot of the cross the lad knelt and motioned for the critic to do the same. Kneeling reluctantly with the boy, he looked up into the face of Jesus and saw the full beauty of Thorvaldsen's work. When your faith is challenged, kneel and look up into His face. It is the only way to cope.
Resource reading: Philippians 4:1-9
https://www.guidelines.org/devotional/challenged-faith-walk-in-obedience/
GMA allots P20 billion for 3-year capex
GMA Network Inc. has earmarked more than P20 billion for its capital expenditures and content cost in the next three years as it goes full blast on content production and digital TV expansion.
GMA said a huge portion of capex budget is allocated for content production and post-production.
The company will also construct a new building and state-of-the-art studios inside the GMA Network complex in Quezon City.
The three-year budget likewise covers the continuing expansion of its digital terrestrial television reach and various projects in the regions to further strengthen the network’s presence nationwide.
As part of its digital expansion, the company said it plans to officially unveil early this year a mobile digital TV receiver called GMA Now, which will enable viewers to watch TV on the go for free with bonus interactive features.
GMA said while it was not spared from the global crisis last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was able to recover airtime sales during the second half of the year.
GMA also enjoyed strong demand for its DTT receiver called GMA Affordabox which was launched in June last year.
The company earlier said it was expecting to sell over 600,000 Affordabox units in 2020.
“Surpassing seven decades is no easy feat for our company especially during an exceptionally challenging year in 2020, but we are very proud of what we have achieved so far through our people’s dedication and our commitment to Serbisyong Totoo,” GMA Network chairman and CEO Felipe Gozon said.
“We wholeheartedly thank all our Kapuso for their unrelenting support to GMA. Rest assured that your Kapuso Network will continue to provide only the best for our viewers,” Gozon said.
Aside from its programs on main channel GMA-7 and on GMA News TV, the network also offers viewers a variety of content through its digital channels such as Heart of Asia, Hallypop, and DepEd TV.
“As it continuously strengthens its content across all platforms, GMA Network remains steadfast in ensuring the timely delivery of relevant news and information during these trying times, as well as bringing world-class entertainment to Filipinos here and abroad,” it said.
https://www.philstar.com/business/2021/01/07/2068648/gma-allots-p20-billion-3-year-capex
Wednesday, January 6, 2021
Challenged Faith: Turn Toward God
From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. Psalm 61:2, KJV
Henrietta Mears, an outstanding Christian leader whose life inspired thousands of men and women, used to say that a college student who gave up his faith had not lost his or her faith. She contended that the person never had any faith to begin with. Life has a way of challenging the foundation of your faith, whether it is by circumstance or factors over which you have no control, and you cry, "Lord, I just can't handle this!" When your heart cries out in pain, there are some things you must do to undergo spiritual rehabilitation.
First, go to the Word of God and identify with men and women whose faith has been tested as yours has. Guideline #2: Refuse to relinquish what you know to be true. This is a matter of telling your emotions where to get off, and to hold on to certain facts which you know are true regardless of how you feel. Do not depend on your feelings to remind you of God's love when you are angered by the circumstances of life.
Now Guideline #3: When your faith is challenged, turn to the Lord but do not turn on the Lord. The preposition makes all the difference in the world. I have often thought of the words of David in Psalm 61, who cried out, "When my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the rock which is higher than I!" When I cannot handle things, I cry out, "Lead me to the Rock, Christ Jesus, who can lift me up and plant my feet on solid rock."
When Stanley Collins was felled with a heart attack, he thought of the conferences where he was booked to speak, and the writing commitments which were before him. In his heart he cried out, "Lord, why me?" Back from the deep recesses of his heart came a small voice, "Why not you?" One of the things which causes many Christians‑‑ maybe you too‑‑to cry out, "Lord, I can't handle this!" is the mistaken idea that God has exempted us from the problems of life‑‑arthritis, colds, financial problems and personal problems‑‑so when they confront us we forget that He promised to walk with us even through the valley of the shadow of death. That is when we need to take that problem to the Lord and tell Him how we feel in no uncertain terms. It is your attitude that makes all the difference in the world.
In John, Chapter 11, there is a story of two sisters whose brother had died, and when Lazarus was placed in a tomb they both felt that Jesus had let them down. Four days later, Jesus showed up‑‑but too late (so they thought). When they saw Him, both sisters spoke the same words, but with a different attitude of the heart. They both said, "Lord, if only you had been here our brother would not have died!" When Martha spoke these words she spoke in defiance as she went out to meet the Master; but when Mary spoke them she fell at His feet and sobbed them from a broken heart.
When you fall at His feet and pour out your heart, it is then that you hear His voice and feel the touch of His hand. In many homes around the world are small figurines from Italy, reproductions of the Masters; but what most do not realize is that they are made of finely ground marble (dust reshaped into images of the originals). When life grinds you down and you cry out, "Lord, I just can't handle this," let the Master put the pieces together in His image. It is truly amazing what God can do with the broken pieces which you thought were worthless.
As the songwriter put it, "He made something beautiful of my life...."
Resource reading: Philippians 3
https://www.guidelines.org/devotional/challenged-faith-turn-toward-god-2/