More news about how the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines is being handled by the public and the government.
Baguio is advising residents to return to basic COVID-19 health protocols "as a precaution against flu amid the colder weather."
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1260953 |
The City Health Services Office (CHSO) here on Tuesday urged residents to revisit the basic health and safety protocols observed during the Covid-19 pandemic as a precaution against flu amid the colder weather.
"We urge the public to reactivate previous practices such as masking up if a person is exhibiting symptoms like coughing or having colds, especially while indoors," Dr. Celia Flor Brillantes, city health officer, told the Philippine News Agency.
Residents were also advised to stay home when sick, wash their hands often, observe coughing and sneezing etiquette, and disinfect frequently touched objects like doorknobs, tables and toys, among others.
Brillantes also said it is advisable for residents, as well as tourists visiting the city, to wear warm clothing, especially in the evening and early morning to avoid getting colds that may develop into flu.
Boosting the immune system by avoiding alcoholic drinks and smoking, and making oneself healthy through balanced diet will also help prevent being infected with the flu virus, she added.
The CHSO issued the advisory following the reported increase in influenza-like illnesses (ILI) and laboratory-confirmed influenza among children in various regions that, according to Brillantes, may be linked to colder temperatures.
“As the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of the Philippines (PIDSP) reported, the pattern aligns with the expected seasonal rise in influenza activity during the latter months of the year,” she said.
The weather bureau last week announced the termination of the southwest monsoon (habagat) season, signaling the transition to the northeast monsoon (amihan) season, which is marked by colder temperature.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) earlier said Baguio could experience a single-digit lowest temperature during the cold season.
Colder weather does not cause the flu. Do people not know this? Also, these so-called COVID-19 health protocols are actually a part of basic everyday hygiene.
The DOH claims the rise in flu cases in seasonal and no lockdown is happening.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2025/10/17/no-lockdown-rise-in-flu-like-cases-part-of-seasonal-trenddoh |
Amid heightened public concern over rising flu-like infections, the Department of Health (DOH) clarified on Friday, Oct. 17, that there is no lockdown being planned, describing the situation as part of the usual influenza-like illness (ILI) surge during the rainy months.
“There is no planned lockdown. That is fake news. What we have is the seasonal respiratory illnesses,” DOH Secretary Ted Herbosa said during a press conference at the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI).
Herbosa dismissed rumors circulating online about a supposed government-imposed lockdown due to a “flu outbreak,” saying that no such outbreak exists.
“So it’s not a flu outbreak, we do not have a flu outbreak. It’s our ILI season. What is ILI? Influenza-Like Illnesses,” he explained.
He noted that ILI includes a range of common respiratory infections that typically surge during the wet season.
“It includes illnesses such as cough, colds, flu, and others similar to these that spread quickly during the rainy season,” he said.
Herbosa underscored that the health department is closely monitoring the situation.
“The DOH is monitoring that. We know many people are getting sick,” he added.
Earlier, the DOH reported that ILI cases in the country are eight percent lower this year compared to the same period in 2024.
Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo, the spokesperson of the DOH, said a total of 121,716 ILI cases were logged nationwide from Jan. 1 to Sept. 27, which is lower than the 132,538 cases registered during the same period in 2024.
The fact that people would even suggest a lockdown is imminent reveals how fearful some are about what could potentially happen again.
The Department of Trade and Industry has decided to postpone the implementation of the mandatory Trustmark requirement for online businesses.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1261107 |
Senator Bam Aquino on Thursday welcomed the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) decision to postpone the implementation of the mandatory Trustmark requirement for online businesses, calling it a welcome relief for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
He said the DTI’s move would ease the compliance burden on small online sellers and give them more time to prepare for future digital trade regulations.
The DTI earlier announced that the Trustmark requirement would remain voluntary until the end of the year while it conducts further consultations with industry stakeholders before issuing a final policy.
Aquino, who earlier urged the agency to review the measure, said the mandatory Trustmark would have added to the challenges faced by small entrepreneurs trying to recover from the pandemic.
The Trustmark is a digital badge that serves as government recognition for online merchants and platforms that comply with standards of trustworthiness, safety, and fair e-commerce practices.
Aquino also called on the DTI to step up its campaign against online scams, especially during the Christmas season.
“We are urging the DTI to intensify its campaign against scams on online selling platforms, which are expected to increase this holiday season,” he said.
He reminded consumers to remain vigilant and verify the legitimacy of online sellers before making purchases.
A review on the registration for the E-Commerce Philippine Trustmark (Trustmark) has been set for early 2026 after the call for businesses to apply voluntarily for the online badge has received criticisms.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), in a press release on Thursday, reiterated that registration for the Trustmark remains voluntary until the end of 2025.
“The agency also reminds the public that, while it remains voluntary, all existing laws related to e-commerce continue to be strictly enforced,” it said.
Trade and Industry Secretary Cristina Roque said they decided to extend the voluntary registration, from an earlier deadline of Sept. 30, after learning the side of stakeholders during a meeting.
“We used this discussion to hear straight from our stakeholders and learn about their daily concerns. Taking their feedback into account means we can improve the Trustmark system to be more useful, fair, and helpful for both businesses and consumers. After all, our shared goal is to make e-commerce in the Philippines safer and more trustworthy for everyone,” she said.
Senator Aquino has welcomed the movie saying that it "would have added to the challenges faced by small entrepreneurs trying to recover from the pandemic." What that means he has left unsaid.
A Frenchman living in the Philippines to scuba dive. The lockdown put a stop to those plans and now he is a chocolatier.
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| https://www.brigadanews.ph/french-diver-turns-chocolatier-makes-filipino-inspired-bars-in-negros-oriental/ |
When the pandemic halted his diving career, Nicolas Astarie, a 39-year-old Frenchman living in Valencia town, Negros Oriental, surfaced into a different kind of adventure — one that began not in the sea, but in the soil.
In his Valencia-based chocolate brand Nico’s Cacao, Astarie turns locally harvested beans into artisanal creations that marry French craftsmanship and Filipino soul.
“I’ve always loved dark chocolate,” he told Brigada News FM Philippines on Friday, October 17. “But I never really thought about how it was made — until the pandemic gave me time to slow down and discover it.”
Astarie arrived in the Philippines in 2018, but when the global lockdown stopped the scuba industry, he began searching for meaning beyond the waves.
He said that his wife’s aunt handed him several cacao pods from her backyard. Curious, he cracked them open, roasted the beans, and made his first batch of chocolate.
“That small moment was the beginning of everything,” he said.
He studied chocolate-making online, practiced in his kitchen, and learned through countless failures.
But soon, he realized that true chocolate craftsmanship begins on the farm. “I wanted to understand cacao at its roots,” he said. “That meant visiting farmers, learning their process, and seeing how it connects to flavor.”
Across Negros, Astarie met farmers who sold wet beans cheaply, often skipping fermentation just to survive. He saw potential instead of problems. “Instead of walking away, I worked with them,” he said.
“We built fermentation boxes using local materials, improved post-harvest quality, and paid fair prices for good beans.”
“We built trust, and that trust made better chocolate,” he added.
Astarie treats chocolate-making like fine French winemaking. “I approach it the same way as a Grand Cru wine from Saint-Émilion — respecting the terroir, understanding how fermentation shapes flavor, and guiding each step with patience and intention,” he said.
His chocolate bars feature local ingredients like calamansi, chili, and crafted sea salt, showcasing bold Filipino flavors.
Even the packaging tells a story. He worked with a local artist to design wrappers that highlight tourist landmarks in Valencia and Negros Oriental.
“We wanted each bar to be not just a taste of the Philippines, but a visual journey through its landscapes and culture,” he said. “It’s our way of honoring local artistry and promoting regional pride.”
Astarie combines the precision of French technique with the soul of Filipino cacao. “France taught me structure and discipline,” he said. “But Filipino cacao taught me emotion. It’s wild, tropical, and full of life. You don’t control it — you honor it.”
Each bar of Nico’s Cacao captures the essence of Negros — earthy, fruity, and vibrant. “When people taste it, they taste Negros,” he said. “They taste resilience, warmth, and generosity.”
Astarie said that he partners directly with to farmers to ensure fair pay and consistent buying. He promotes regenerative farming, where cacao grows alongside bananas, coconuts, and native hardwoods — a system that restores soil health and strengthens communities.
“Healthy soil grows better cacao,” he said. “When the land thrives, people thrive too.”
“I’d rather grow slowly and stay true to my values than take shortcuts,” he said. “Negros teaches patience. Everything good takes time,” he added.
When asked about future plans, Astarie doesn’t talk about awards or exports. He talks about pride — in craft, in people, and in place.
“For the people of Negros, I want our chocolate to prove that world-class craftsmanship can grow here,” he said. “Young people don’t have to leave the island to create something extraordinary.”
He dreams of rewriting the story of Filipino cacao, long treated as a raw export rather than a refined ingredient. “Our cacao deserves recognition,” he said. “It has its own identity — tropical, bold, and deeply human.”
“I want people to taste honesty,” he said. “To feel the farmers’ dedication, the spirit of the land, and the soul of the Philippines.”
As the scent of roasted cacao filled his small working area, Astarie looked over rows of chocolate bars. “In the end,” he said, “my legacy isn’t about how much chocolate I make. It’s about how many lives it touches — and how every bite reminds the world that beauty can grow even in the quietest places,” he said.
And to think he learned the craft on Youtube.
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