Coronavirus Lockdown: Pandemic Babies, Unfinished Business, and More!

More news about how the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines is being handled by the public and the government. 

During the pandemic many businesses died, remade themselves, or were miraculously born from the ashes of Duterte's economically devastating lockdowns. DAILY by Bo's Coffee is a blend of the last two categories. 

https://pop.inquirer.net/362189/daily-by-bos-coffee-marks-4th-anniversary-at-new-qc-flagship-store-your-ultimate-grab-and-go-caffeine-fix-for-everyday-hustle

Have a craving for bold and flavorful coffee to fuel your daily hustle?

DAILY by Bo’s Coffee (or simply DAILY) is the best friend you look forward to seeing every morning. It gives you that much-needed energy boost to tackle the day’s tasks head on, with a smile. An iced or blended beverage from Daily is the perfect perk-me-up for people who are always on-the-go.

DAILY was born in May 2020 at the peak of the pandemic. It’s the younger sibling to Bo’s Coffee, the nation’s largest homegrown coffee chain, which has been putting the spotlight on Philippine coffee for 28 years. It was created to cater to the market’s evolving needs, a demographic that’s always on-the-go and needed a beverage to keep them on their toes.

Leveraging Bo’s Coffee’s expertise in the industry with a hefty dose of customer experience, DAILY capitalized on the emerging popularity of iced and blended coffee globally. “We started with 10 cloud stores in 2020, all of which were operating at Bo’s Coffee locations to serve grab-and-go coffee. By 2021, we already had 40 cloud stores across Metro Manila and Cebu,” said Rachel Fallarme, SVP-Chief Operating Officer.

A young brand with a cool, playful vibe, DAILY immediately struck a chord with Gen-Zs, young professionals, and college students who love affordable but quality handcrafted iced and blended coffee. As this market segment leads a fast-paced life, DAILY’s on-the-go coffee became an instant hit. By the end of 2022 and when pandemic restrictions were easing up, DAILY opened kiosks and physical stores in San Juan, SM South Mall and in commercial and business districts around the metro.

Surely it helped that this store is an offshoot of Bo's Coffee and not a start-up from scratch. 

The PMA class of 2024 has graduated. They began their term during the pandemic.

https://www.rappler.com/philippines/pandemic-babies-pma-bagong-sinag-class-2024-graduation-may-18-2024/

The Philippine Military Academy (PMA) class that began their training during the COVID-19 pandemic hurdled all the obstacles and finally reached the end of their academic journey. 

Led by the military’s commander-in-chief, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the PMA held the graduation ceremony of the Bagong Sinag Class of 2024 at Fort del Pilar in Baguio City, northern Philippines, on Saturday, May 18. Vice President Sara Duterte and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr, along with other high-ranking officials, were also present during the ceremony. 

A total of 278 cadets out of the original 350 earned their degrees on Saturday. Dubbed as “pandemic babies,” these cadets had to navigate through stringent health protocols and a shift to online and modular learning. This learning strategy impacted the PMA’s traditional hands-on and communal training environment.

The commencement exercises began with a warm welcome from PMA superintendent Lieutenant General Rowen Tolentino, followed by the presentation of the graduates by Brigadier General Jose Demar Pauly, the PMA’s dean of academics. 

This year’s valedictorian, Cadet First Class Jeneth Elumba from Surigao del Norte, reflected on the extraordinary circumstances that shaped their cadetship.

“Our class, known as the pandemic babies, started our journey in the midst of COVID-19,” Elumba said. “This unique beginning imposed stringent health protocols and forced us to adopt new learning modalities like online classes and modular training. These measures, while challenging, prepared us in unexpected ways for the complexities of military leadership.”

In his speech, Marcos acknowledged the cadets’ resiliency: “Today, you stand before us ready to serve not just as military officers but as leaders who have been tested in extraordinary times. Your ability to adapt and persevere is commendable.”

Yes, all students everywhere went through the same pandemic. Were they honored in such a manner?

Two Miss Universe bets claim they joined the pageant to settle unfinished business from the pandemic. 

https://entertainment.inquirer.net/557043/miss-universe-philippines-bets-from-laguna-pampanga-to-settle-unfinished-business

The Miss Universe Philippines 2024 pageant has attracted a lot of seasoned contestants, among them are two ladies who even brought home international titles—2022 Miss Supermodel Worldwide Alexandra Mae Rosales from Laguna and 2019 Miss Tourism International Cyrille Payumofrom Pampanga.

Both ladies have also taken part in the Binibining Pilipinas pageant, and Payumo even participated in the Mutya ng Pilipinas competition. So why still join the Miss Universe Philippines pageant? The COVID-19 pandemic has something to do with the decision, they said.

“I have unfinished business from Binibining Pilipinas, because, as you know, I joined during the pandemic, and I was working in a hotel that time, and it was really a struggle for me since we were gravely affected that time, so I didn’t have any means or financial resources,” Rosales told INQUIRER.net at the sidelines of the Miss Universe Philippines Sponsors Night held at the Manila Hotel earlier this month.

She joined the Bb. Pilipinas pageant in 2020, but the competition was postponed because of the global health crisis. It resumed in 2021, but there were only a few activities because of the restrictions imposed at that time. “So I ended up being here, and with a lot of activities. And I’m just having fun, and I love it. It would be a good thing even if I don’t win. It’s already a bonus because I was able to experience everything that I didn’t experience in Binibini that time,” the educator shared.

In Payumo’s case, she won her international crown in December 2019, just a couple of months before the world ground to a halt because of COVID-19. “For me it’s also unfinished business. Most of the people know that after I won, there came the pandemic. So I really didn’t enjoy my reign,” she said.

“And this is also my childhood dream, Miss Universe. All of those experiences, those defeats, and victories, are lessons learned for me to be able to join Miss Universe,” continued the statuesque Kapampangan model.

Rosales said the Miss Universe crown is still worth pursuing even after she had already brought honor to the country. “Miss Universe has changed a lot. Before, it’s all about the physical appearance. Now you can see their kindness and their advocacies, and how women are more powerful now, and it shows. And I think a crown gives a woman more power,” she explained.

One lady won the crown in 2019 but did not get to enjoy her reign because of the lockdowns in 2020 and the other did not get to experience the pageant in the fullest manner because of reduced activities in 2021. 

AirAsia Philippines has hosted the Red Star Awards for the first time since the pandemic. This award show recognizes AirAsia's Travel Agency Partners. 

https://newsroom.airasia.com/news/2024/5/16/a-day-of-gratitude-airasia-philippines-celebrates-big-wins-with-travel-agency-partners#gsc.tab=0

For the first time since the onset of the pandemic, AirAsia Philippines hosted the 7th Redstar Awards to celebrate and recognize the significant contributions of its Travel Agency Partners. 

During the 7th Redstar Awards AirAsia Philippines CEO Ricky Isla recalled that Online Travel Agents, Travel and Service Centers, and Travel Agency Partners served as AirAsia’s backbone when the airline was navigating through the pandemic.  

“AirAsia Philippines is winning because of you, our travel agency partners, for keeping the travel and tourism industry alive. We are winning because people believe in what we do here in AirAsia -- providing the best service and travel experience to millions of our guests,” Mr. Isla exalted.

Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) President Marigel Tankiang Manotok thanked AirAsia for the recognition and committed the support of its members to the airline. “Cheers to AirAsia Philippines, a true champion of affordable travel! May your wings continue to spread and bring dynamism to the Philippine travel industry”, she shared.      

There are over 1,000 AirAsia Travel Agency Partners all throughout the Philippines. Small or big, Mr. Isla noted their contributions were also pivotal to AirAsia’s success. Last year, Travel Agency Partners’ sales accounted for almost 50% of AirAsia’s flight and ancillary revenues.

“As of May 2024, AirAsia is now flying a total of 12 domestic and 13 international destinations. Because of your (Travel Agency Partners) contribution, AirAsia Philippines continues to be the leading airline for leisure destinations such as Thailand, Boracay, Tagbilaran, Tacloban, Panglao, and Cebu”, he added.

AirAsia plans on welcoming the second half of 2024 with the reopening of its Clark Hub backed with flights to new domestic and international destinations. Mr. Isla is banking on the strong support of its partners to help promote Clark as one of the major hubs in the country.    

AirAsia also plans on reopening its Clark Hub in the second half of 2024. 

One Philippine cyclists is being recognized for his efforts to spread cycling awareness.

https://www.philstar.com/campus/sports/2024/05/19/2356341/philippine-cycling-chief-receive-2024-merit-award-asian-body

The Asian Cycling Confederation (ACC) will confer to PhilCycling president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino the 2024 ACC Merit Award during the continental body’s Congress next month in Kazakhstan.

ACC secretary-general Onkar Singh informed Tolentino of the award in a correspondence dated May 16.

“The Executive Committee of the Asian Cycling Confederation has decided to confer the 2024 ACC Merit Award for your exemplary service towards the development of the sport of cycling in your region,” Singh said in his letter to Tolentino.

“I feel honored,” said Tolentino, president of the Philippine Olympic Committee, who was first elected president of the PhilCycling in 2008.

The ACC Congress is scheduled on June 6 at the Hotel Kazakhstan in Almaty.

Under Tolentino’s watch at PhilCycling, Daniel Caluag raced in men’s BMX racing at the London 2012 Olympics and two years later in the Incheon 2014 Asian Games won for the country it’s one and only gold medal.

Tolentino’s also responsible for the county’s only International Cycling Union (UCI)-standard BMX racing track in Tagaytay City which hosted the 2019 Southeast Asian Games and the 2023 ACC Asian championships.

Four Philippine-registered UCI Continental Teams also emerged under Tolentino—7-Eleven-Cliqq by Road Bike Philippines, Go-For-Gold Cycling Team, Victoria Sports Pro Cycling Team and Standard Insurance by Standardized Cycling Team.

In pandemic years 2020 and 2021, Tolentino went beyond competitive cycling by donating dozens of bicycles to various communities when the bike was the most essential mode of transportation during the lockdown.

One of his accomplishments was distributing bicycles during the lockdown.

There are still many COVID-19 variants but the DOH says the nation remains at a low risk. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1225177

The Philippines remains at low risk for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) amid reports of new variants monitored abroad, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Tuesday.

The agency said it was in close coordination with international health authorities in monitoring newly designated Covid-19 variants.

“While there is an observed increase recently, it is small and lower than previously observed increases. Out of the new cases reported, seven had severe or critical disease,” the DOH said in a statement.

The World Health Organization (WHO) Covid-19 Epidemiological Update on May 17 noted three new variants under monitoring (VUM) -- JN.1.18, KP.2 and KP.3 -- which are descendants of JN.1.

As of May 12, only 11 percent or 119 out of 1,117 dedicated Covid-19 intensive care unit (ICU) beds were occupied.

Only 1,238 or 13 percent of dedicated Covid-19 non-ICU beds were used.

Based on hospital reports in the DOH Data Collect application, severe and critical Covid-19 cases admitted in various hospitals total only 116 as of May 12.

About 877 new Covid-19 cases were reported, with an average of 125 cases reported per day from May 7 to 13, 2024.

“Five deaths were recorded, which occurred in the recent two weeks (April 30 to May 13).”

The DOH called on doctors, including their clinics, hospitals, and other health facilities “to accurately and immediately report cases of Covid-19, whether tested by PCR (polymerase chain reaction) or rapid antigen test” as mandated by law.

“This will help guide public health decision-making,” the DOH said.

It's not as if COVID is a deadly disease to worth worrying about. 

The Philippines is teaming up with Lithuania to strengthen both their economies post-pandemic.

https://business.inquirer.net/459617/ph-lithuania-collab-in-future-proof-tech-economic-growth

The Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) has been pushing consistently for vital policy reforms to improve the global competitiveness of the Philippines and enable a sustainable business environment for both local and foreign investors.

Leveraging the visit of the Lithuanian business delegation —headed by Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis and Lithuanian Ambassador to Korea and the Philippines Ričardas Šlepavičius—the MAP International Relations Committee and the MAP Trade, Investments and Tourism Committee bridged two cultures to explore new opportunities, create connections, and cultivate possible business partnerships that will be beneficial to the local private sectors.

With both the Philippines and Lithuania strategically located in Asia and Europe, respectively, it is inevitable to foster a relationship in strengthening both countries’ economic growth, especially through the massive aftermath of the pandemic.

Lithuania, with its open economy and great success particularly derived from their shock-immune industries and strong future technology, makes the country a resilient partner for collaboration in foreign investments in line with the needs of the Philippine market, specifically in health care, energy, technology, manufacturing and telecommunications —in which Lithuania shows expertise. A perfect match.

A perfect match indeed.

The God Culture: The Garden of Eden Revealed Book Review

Timothy Jay Schwab who is the God Culture has released a new book titled The Garden of Eden Revealed: The book of Maps. This time around Tim is placing all his nonexistent cartographical skills on view as he examines 75+ maps proving that the Garden of Eden is in the Philippines. The problem is that, according to Tim, the Garden of Eden was submerged beneath the floor of the Sulu Sea during the flood which means NO MAP can ever tell us where the Garden is located nor is the Garden of Eden actually in the Philippines. 

Oddly enough Tim has declined to release an e-book PDF version because the maps are high resolution. That is no excuse as there are plenty of high-res maps available on the internet including those he employs. Where do you think he got the maps in this book? Since there are 75+ maps it would be too unwieldy to review every one in detail so I shall concentrate on summarizing the obvious errors and lies which are numerous and leap off every page.

First it should be noted that no map showing paradise was charted in order to give its precise geographical location. According to the author of Mapping Paradise, Alessandro Scafi:

Topological mapping, based as it is on internal reciprocal rather than external relationships between units (temporal events as well as spatial features) can reach a rigour and a rationality of its own. The topological characteristics of medieval mappae mundi (and of many other kinds of map, modern as well as medieval) have to be grasped if they — and, above al, the presence of paradise on them —are to be properly understood. Thus, the first thing to bear in mind when looking at paradise on a medieval mappa mundi is that this kind of map was not created to inform the observer of the precise latitude, longitude and size of the Garden of Eden, but to demonstrate its contiguity to the inhabited earth.

In structuring their maps, then, all medieval map makers (except those responsible for nautical charts) were working to fundamentally different principles from those of their modern counter parts.

Mapping Paradise, pg. 87

According to Scafi map makers who placed Paradise on their maps did so with the knowledge that Eden was geographically inaccessible. In fact such maps incorporated Eden and other Biblically important locales to show forth "a corresponding geography of salvation."

The challenge for the Christian compilers of maps was to combine geographical knowledge with the biblical world view. Belief in an earthly Eden urged them to render visible in their world maps a place that was geographically inaccessible (yet linked to the inhabited earth by the four rivers) and remote in time (yet still relevant as the scene of an essential episode of salvation history). A process of Christianisation of classical geography had been taking place since the early centuries of the Christian era. Traditional geographical ideas about the dimensions of the globe, its division into parts and the listing of the peoples and provinces of the inhabited world were adopted and refined to accommodate Christian themes, a process in which the Garden of Eden featured prominently.

For the scribes and artists responsible for the maps, the history of salvation brought about a corresponding geography of salvation. Most of the biblical places – specific points on earth where, according to the Bible, God’s intervention had taken place – were locatable in well known regions. Although very different from our modern representations of the earth, however, medieval maps were not devotional, pastoral or theological documents. Nor were they tools of religious propaganda or sermons in visual form. Rather, they were representations of the world according to a particular conception, one that took into account the scriptural text and the teachings of the Christian faith. Assessed on their own terms, the medieval maps of the world were in fact no less scientific than any other type of map.

Maps of Paradise, pg, 46

This would explain why Jerusalem is the center of the earth on these maps. That is where Jesus Christ died, resurrected, and ascended into heaven. The death and resurrection of Christ is the center of our salvation and the Garden of Eden is the beginning of mankind from which all proceeds. Keeping these things in mind, that maps locating the Garden of Eden in the east are symbolical and not precise geography, let us see what Tim has to say about the maps in his book. 

In chapter one Tim writes:

Can the Garden of Eden be located? We have heard this question often but it is the wrong query. We should be asking: Did the ancients know at least roughly the region which house this earthly Paradise? If so, who were their markers associated and how do we accurately transpose those onto our modern maps?

Garden of Eden Revealed, pg. 10

Thus Tim is going to be interpreting all the maps he uses showing the Garden of Eden in the East and on the Earth as being literal. The main marker for finding the Garden is gold. That means the location of Garden is below a land full of gold and other treasures. If one finds the land of gold one finds the Garden of Eden.

If the ancients knew that the Garden was locked up and no longer accessible, why were they obsessed with its location? Why search for it at all? Again, it is covered within the Earth under the land of gold, pearl, and onyx stone which Ophir and brothers returned to this land after the Flood.

pg. 24-25

This literalism leads Tim to declare the removal of Eden from modern maps during the Renaissance is part of a conspiracy to hide the Garden of Eden.

The Hebrew language was certainly equating this, but we kept noticing map after map that identified the area of the Philippines Southeast of China, which is a huge marker, and one that does not really move in the transition to a new map format in the so-called Renaissance. It is incredible how much knowledge was lost in this shift which in this arena, was a continuation and even deepening of the Dark Ages.

pg. 5

As ever with Tim the British are the main culprits behind the changing of the maps and the removal of The Garden of Eden.

Of course, the illiterate British paradigm which walks back history a thousand years, knows very little of these concepts because they choose so. Their feigned unfamiliarity spouted by one historian after another is not a debate point. We do not give credence to childish debate from those who cannot even read because they concede as a group to ignore the very references that claim to disseminate in propaganda. That's a worthless colonial view steeped in the worst racism in history. Oops!

pg. 39

Why are medieval maps so different from modern maps? Why did they place the Garden of Eden in the Far East? Because they were working from the perspective of Noah and Enoch. 

However, in creating these ancient maps, they were really applying this same perspective, knowingly or not. Enoch is the origin and accurately so.

pg. 32

Noah understood the world from his grandfather Enoch and together, they represent the entire origin of this perspective continued through the ages until fairly recently when they lost the Garden of Eden and land of gold.

pg. 39

To claim that these medieval map makers were working from the perspective of Noah and Enoch is total balderdash and is to rip them from their context and put them in Tim's context. According to Tim in Noah and Enoch's perspective the earth is flat, the North Pole is the center of the world, and there are antipodes, i.e. North and South America and Australia. We see none of that on these medieval mappae mundai. Aside from that the Books of Enoch and Jubilees were never a part of the canon and never in use until recently. To interpret these maps literally via Enoch and Jubilees is to not understand them. Remember according to Alessandro Scafi, a real scholar who has actually analyzed medieval maps showing the Garden of Eden:

the history of salvation brought about a corresponding geography of salvation.

Thus these maps are symbolic.

The rest of this book is the same old junk Timothy Jay Schwab spews in all his videos. He spends a great deal of time going over the locations of Chryse and Argyre, the Aurea Chersonese, Ophir, and Tarshish. One could say this book is a bait and switch because rather than revealing the location of the Garden of Eden by analyzing medieval maps alone Tim merely uses those maps as a prop to regurgitate the same old information he has already produced in his videos about the Philippines being the ancient land of gold to which all nations flocked for riches. And all of it is wrong.

There are the same errors about the location of Cattigara, the provenance of Martin Behaim's map, and  the identification of the Lequios. For instance Tim has drawn a map allegedly showing that the Spanish mapped the route to Ophir which ended in the Philippines. 

pg. 104-105

But as I have proven many times in this blog the Lequios are NOT the same as the Lucoes. The Lequios are situated farther north near Japan and are what we know today as the Ryukyu Islands. Tim shows a map with this very identification and calls it propaganda.

pg. 106

Portion of Maris Pacific by Abraham Ortelius. This map was published in 1589 in his Theatrum Orbis Terrarum. It was not only the first printed map of the Pacific, but it also showed the Americas for the first time. Luzon was Lequios before Taiwan was given the Philippines name just as Japan was given such. It is propaganda.

Does Tim not see there are the Lequios grande and Lequios pequenno? That is NOT Taiwan. Those are the Ryukyu Islands! Ferdinand Pinto was shipwrecked on those islands and placed them at 29 degrees north. 

In this manner we departed from Pungor the capital City of the Island of Lequios, of which I will here make a brief relation, to the end that if it shall one day please God to inspire the Portugal Nation, principally for the exaltation and increase of the Catholick faith, and next for the great benefit that may redound thereof, to undertake the Conquest of this Island, they may know where first to begin, as also the commodities of it, and the easiness of this Conquest. We must understand then that this Island of Lequios, scituated in nine and twenty degrees, is two hundred leagues in circuit, threescore in length, and thirty in bredth.

Pinto, pg. 188

How can Tim be trusted to correctly interpret the maps in this book when any map which contradicts him is brushed off as propaganda and he ignores what Fernando Pinto actually wrote? How can he be trusted to interpret the linguistics of these maps when he still confuses and conflates Lucoes and Lequios being unaware that they do not refer to the same peoples? They are not even pronounced the same as the "c" in Lucoes is soft and not hard. The answer is he cannot and should not be trusted with the task. 

There are many more of the same errors in this book but it is not worth the time to go through all of them.

The bottom line is Timothy Jay Schwab's book The Garden of Eden Revealed is wholly worthless as he is not interested in understanding the maps locating paradise within their proper milieu. Instead Tim wrenches these maps out of all context bescumbering them with his erroneous interpretations as propaganda for the Philippines all the while rudely excoriating those who do not share his views and demand proof for his claims by calling them retards incapable of thinking. 

We realize the academic scoffer would then demand archaeology of this house or they will never believe it. Who cares? They have no position as who is dumb enough to leave gold sitting there as a museum for those tp discover after the land was devoured for gold in the Spanish and American eras. How ridiculous! These are uncapable of thinking. They set up false narratives and then, demand that everyone operate in the same obtuse manner they employ. That is retarded.

pg. 128

"Uncapable" is not even the proper word. Tim is in desperate need of an editor. 

Tim does not care to understand these maps as they were written but abuses them for what "proof" they can furnish for the Philippines being the Garden of Eden. For Tim it's a simple formula: The Garden of Eden is in the East, the Philippines is in the East, therefore all maps with The Garden of Eden in the East must mean the Philippines is being described. 

But as Tim teaches the Philippines is not the Garden of Eden anyway because it is submerged beneath the floor of the Sulu Sea and is inaccessible except to its lone inhabitants Enoch and Elijah. Once again Timothy Jay Schwab who is The God Culture has given the world a book that is stunning in its ignorance and is fit only for wastepaper. But at least it looks good. 

Insurgency: Red-Tagging Threatens Life, Liberty, Security

After a landmark Supreme Court ruling red-tagging is back in the news again. 

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2024/05/08/2353570/sc-grants-protection-writ-ex-bayan-muna-solon-declares-red-tagging-threatens-life-liberty-security

The Supreme Court has granted a petition of writ of amparo for Siegfred Deduro, a former lawmaker from Bayan Muna Partylist after authorities associated him with the communist insurgency. 

In a 39-page decision dated July 4, 2023, the high court declared that associating red-tagging and guilt by association jeopardizes a person’s fundamental rights to life, liberty, or security, setting aside the ruling of the Iloilo Regional Trial Court (RTC) in dismissing the former lawmaker’s amparo petition. 

“Petitioner should not be expected to await his own abduction, or worse, death, or even that the supposed responsible persons directly admit their role in the threats or violations to his constitutional rights, before the courts can give due course to his petition,” the decision read. 

“In such cases, the consummation of the threat to petitioner's life, liberty, or security, or the commission of the abduction or killing may be the subject of proper administrative or criminal proceedings,” it added.

A writ of amparo protects individuals whose right to life, liberty, or security is violated or threatened by unlawful acts of public officials, employees or private entities.

The case stemmed after the military officers led by Maj. Gen. Eric C. Vinoya in 2020 explicitly said that Deduro and others are members of the hierarchy of the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed with the New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).

It was then reported by Bombo Radyo Iloilo and the state-run Philippine News Agency and that there were posters that were put up in different locations in Iloilo about Deduro and other activists as members of the CPP-NPA.

Unidentified men also often follow the former lawmaker, according to the SC.

This prompted Deduro to file an amparo petition before the Iloilo RTC making the Vinoya and other military officers the respondents.

The RTC, however, dismissed Deduro’s petition on Oct. 26, 2020, saying that the former lawmaker’s allegation of red-tagging was “baseless.”

This prompted Deduro to elevate the petition before the SC, assailing the dismissal of the RTC.

In ruling in favor of the former lawmaker, the high court said that red-tagging depicts a “likely precursor to abduction or extrajudicial killing (EJK),” citing previous cases of enforced disappearances and EJK.

“The foregoing accounts of red-tagging depict it as a likely precursor to abduction or extrajudicial killing. Being associated with communists or terrorists makes the red-tagged person a target of vigilantes, paramilitary groups, or even State agents,” the SC said. 

“Thus, it is easy to comprehend how a person may, in certain circumstances, develop or harbor fear that being red-tagged places his or her life or security in peril,“ it added.

The SC then ordered the RTC to conduct a summary hearing regarding the amparo petition. 

“The RTC is REQUIRED to conduct a summary hearing on the Petition and the interim relief of Production Order within 10 days from receipt of this Decision. After hearing, the RTC shall DECIDE the case within 10 days from the time it is submitted for decision. It is further ordered to FURNISH this Court with a copy of the decision within five days from its promulgation,” the high court’s decision read. 

What makes this a landmark case is that for the first time the Supreme Court has recognized red-tagging to be not only a fact but a danger to those who are tagged. This case has caused the human rights advocates to rejoice and once more call for the abolition of the NTF-ELCAC.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1938905/groups-renew-call-for-the-abolition-of-task-force-vs-communist-rebellion

Members of progressive groups have reiterated their call to abolish the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac).

It comes after the Supreme Court (SC) declared that red-tagging or linking people to communist rebels threatens life and liberty.

Former Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate said that since alleged trumped-up cases and harassment — including red-tagging — originated from the NTF-Elcac, the government must now move to repeal Executive Order (EO) No. 70.

He made the statement in a press briefing on Thursday at the Batasang Pambansa complex.

EO No. 70, which gave life to NTF-Elcac, was crafted during the time of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

While member-agencies maintained that the task force seeks to counter armed insurgency, several groups have claimed that NTF-Elcac is only out to malign and threaten people expressing legitimate dissent.

“Because of this decision from the SC, our call to hold accountable people responsible for red-tagging is stronger,” he said.

“Threats and killings happened because of these trumped-up cases, which we know was really initiated by NTF-Elcac,” said Zarate.

“So we reiterate our call to abolish this, repeal Executive Order No. 70 released by former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte, and remove powers from the NTF-Elcac,” he added.

But NTF-ELCAC officials say that the Supreme Court ruling also favors them. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1939875/sc-ruling-also-favors-ntf-elcac-official-claims

The controversial National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac) welcomed on Sunday the Supreme Court’s landmark decision recognizing red-tagging as a real threat to the lives and civil liberties of Filipinos.

The task force, which was not a party of interest in the case, claimed that the decision gave the state a chance to “present witnesses and evidence gathering” on Deduro’s alleged involvement in the communist insurgency.

“The SC’s decision shed light on the RTC’s procedural lapse in dismissing the case without requiring the respondent to file a return, thereby depriving the state [of] due process,” said NTF-Elcac executive director Ernesto Torres.

Torres made the remarks in an apparent bid to deflect demands that the NTF-Elcac be abolished or defunded because of allegations of repeated violations of democratic freedoms.

Torres insisted that accusations of red-tagging were only meant to deflect underground organizations’ “terrorist-grooming,” which he defined as attempts to systematically recruit and radicalize select individuals through manipulation and control.

It is not exactly clear how the ruling favors the NTF-ELCAC since they are involved in red-tagging. Contrary to the SC ruling Torres claims that accusations of red-tagging are only a smokescreen "meant to deflect underground organizations’ “terrorist-grooming."  

Likewise the National Security Council claims the ruling has nothing to do with the NTF-ELCAC and that associating them with the case "boggles the mind."

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1224571

The National Security Council (NSC) on Monday dismissed calls made by leftist groups calling for the abolition of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).

NSC Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya made the remark after Karapatan, Gabriela, and Human Rights Watch, among others, called for the task force's abolition following the Supreme Court's (SC) ruling declaring red-tagging a threat to people's life, liberty, and security, and could warrant the issuance of a protection order.

He, however, emphasized that nowhere in the SC's 39-page decision granting a writ of amparo to former Bayan Muna party-list lawmaker Siegfred Deduro does it state that NTF-ELCAC was responsible for red-tagging.

The SC ruled in favor of Deduro, whose petition for such relief was dismissed by the Iloilo Regional Trial Court (RTC).

"The SC never said that the NTF-ELCAC is a notorious red-tagger. The NTF-ELCAC is not a party to the case nor was it impleaded so why it is now being linked to this decision boggles the mind? It's non-sequitur," he added.

He also noted that the SC, in its ruling, explained that it was not "making a categorical ruling on the merits of the writ of amparo."

The SC also said the RTC must determine the relevance and consistency of the evidence presented by both parties.

"So clearly, the SC was merely correcting a procedural lapse on the part of the Regional Trial Court and ordered the remanding of the case to the RTC for the conduct of summary hearing. The NTF-ELCAC has nothing to do with this case. Period," Malaya noted.

Malaya, meanwhile, said these abolition calls are unfounded and uncalled for as the body has been instrumental and a "game changer" in the successful campaign against the New People's Army (NPA) and their allied and front organizations.

"Because of the NTF-ELCAC, the NPA has been strategically defeated with its last remaining nine weakened guerilla fronts with around 1,000 remaining armed members scattered in remote areas. Peace is finally within our reach," he added.

Why exactly is mind boggling? The SC ruled that red-tagging poses a threat to life, liberty, and security and the NTF-ELCAC is indeed a notorious red-tagging orgainzation. The link is not far-fetched in the slightest. 

The Army also claims, contrary to the SC ruling, that red-tagging does not exist. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/5/14/army-3rd-id-chief-denies-red-tagging

Major Gen. Marion Sison reiterated that the 3rd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army is not involved in red-tagging.

“It is not a government policy. Such words do not really exist,” said the head of the 3rd ID following the decision of the Supreme Court (SC) to grant a Writ of Amparo or court protection to former Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Siegfred Deduro.

Deduro is an Ilonggo activist allegedly red-tagged by the 3rd ID in 2020 under the leadership of Major Gen. Eric Vinoya.

Sison reaffirmed the 3rd ID’s commitment to protect the interest of the people and uphold their rights and within the rule of law.

“As part of the Army's duties and obligations to the people of Western and Central Visayas, we abide by and respect the rule of law,” he said.

“This principle serves as the bedrock of our operations in ensuring the people that the Army conducts its operations within the bounds of the law. I am more than confident that this case will uncover the truth,” added Sison.

That is an amazing deflection and twisting of the SC ruling. It may not be government policy to red-tag individuals and groups but government officials including the AFP, the PNP, and the NTF-ELCAC routinely do so and the SC called such labelling a threat to life.

Government officials say they are only engaged in truth telling. They claim that because Joma Sison declared certain groups to be legal fronts of the CPP they are de facto terrorist organizations and have warned LGUs to not support them. 

https://visayandailystar.com/army-to-lgus-landowners-do-not-support-npa-front-organizations/

The Army’s 3rd Infantry Division yesterday enjoined local government units (LGUs), businesses, landowners, small and medium enterprises, as well as the local populace to refrain from, desist, resist, and avoid by any means necessary the giving of any financial and material support to the CPP-NPA-NDF, or any of their front organizations.

The long arm of the law will reach those who violate the law with severe penalties as provided for under our anti-terror laws, disclosed Lt. Col. J Jay Javines, 3rd Infantry Division Civil Military Operations officer.

We ask that our LGUs and their chief executives, including our local legislators, be prudent and vigilant so that CPP NPA affiliated organizations cannot exploit our legal processes and cannot have access to government funds and resources, Javines further said.

Javines said those charged for various violations of Republic Act No. 10168 or the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012, which he did not identify, were afforded due process under our laws.

These cases are a result of tedious case build-up and have garnered the support of the peace-loving people of Negros Island, he added.

This is a manifestation of our people’s collective resolve and aspiration to attain a just and lasting peace by ending the CPP-NPA-NDF and their lifeline by cutting all sources of funds to finance the communist terrorist group’s (CTG) terror activities, Javines further said.

While not spelled out definitely the NPA front organizations are certainly all those groups associated with the Makabyan Bloc. But since those groups are allowed to operate freely and have not been declared terrorist organizations by the Anti-Terrorism Council this warning is indeed red-tagging. Of course the government denies they are red-tagging. They are merely truth telling. 

Dog Rice

A while back I bought some "Dog Rice" for my dogs.

I bought it because it was cheap. But that may not have been the best idea. I mix the rice with squash and pour dog food on top of it and the dogs eat it up but perhaps "dog rice" is not so hygienic. In fact, dog rice is being sold to the poor because regular rice prices have increased substantialy.

https://www-gmanetwork-com.translate.goog/news/balitambayan/talakayan/883956/bigas-na-para-pagkain-ng-aso-na-p30-k-binibili-na-rin-ng-mga-hikahos/story/?_x_tr_sl=tl&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp&_x_tr_hist=true

Due to the hardships of life and the expensive price of rice, the poor are now forced to pay for the rice that is sold at P30 per kilo with "dog food" written on it.

In Darlene Cay's special report, she met 53-year-old Mylene Canoy in Catmon, Malabon, who makes a living from charcoal.

According to Canoy, their income as a couple is not enough to feed their children, and they also have a grandchild.

In fact, even if he earns P50 a day, it is still not enough to buy a kilo of good quality rice. Sometimes, there are days when they don't eat three times a day.

To fill his stomach, he buys the cheapest rice he can find. Similar to Melba Sacayanan's store, which is P30 per kilo but considered dog food or food for animals.

Based on the records of the Philippine Statistics Authority, the year 2013 was the last time the price of regular milled rice reached P30 per. Today, the good variety of rice reaches P50 per kilo and above.

That is why the government issued an order last month to put a price ceiling of P41 per kilo for regular-milled rice and P45 per kilo for well-milled rice.

Compared to regular rice, the P30 per kilo "dog food" rice grain has a dark and yellowish color. Its grain is also crushed and there are also small black things that look like stones mixed in.

But for people like Canoy who have little income now, rice that is considered for animals can be theirs.

After Canoy bought cheap rice for a kilo and a half, he had nothing left to buy a dish. That's why he just borrowed a few pieces of tilapia.

According to Canoy, he washes the rice four times to get rid of the "smell."

As for senior citizen Lolita Mabborang who only relies on P5,000 pension per month, it is also difficult to find cheap rice for her husband and wife.

"The P41 [per kilo] is like us who can't buy a delicious dish, you can't even eat the color [that] because it's brown. The P45 [per kilo] is crushed," he commented.

"It's like the poor are poorer because you can't even eat what you buy, especially if you don't buy a delicious dish," he added.

According to Sacayanan who sells "dog food" rice, each kilo used to cost P33. It used to be that people only bought it for animals.

But now, it is hard for him to call such rice for dogs or for animals because it is insulting to people that they can only buy that.

As for Cathy Estavillo, spokesperson of Bantay Rice, it is said that it is sad that poor consumers are forced to buy this type of rice because the price of the good type of rice is already very high.

He said, the sold rice that is considered for animal use is rice that is old stock or flooded. The appearance is no longer pleasant, there are stones, and even insect excrement which is said to be proof that it is not for human consumption.

Aside from the steps taken by the government to lower the price of rice in the country, the Department of Agriculture will also investigate the rice that is sold as animal feed.

Canoy said the rice he bought smelled bad but I did not not notice a peculiar smell. However I did have to wash it several times to get rid of the chaff, stones, and other questionable particles which I hope were not insect excrement. When cooked it looked this:

It certainly does not look tempting or delicious. You can see it is peppered with black specks despite having been washed several times. The dogs had no issues with this rice. No one got sick or had irregular bowel movements. However I do not believe I will be buying this rice again. 

But it's not just "dog rice" which Filipinos are buying for their dogs or themselves. NFA rice is also being bought for dogs. 

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/03/07/1899398/nfa-slams-neda-exec-over-rice-dogs-quip

The National Food Authority has expressed disgust over the comment of a ranking official from the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) that NFA rice is for dogs.

In a radio interview, NEDA Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon had said some people buy the cheap NFA rice for their dogs, saying that there is a “quality difference” and that some people buy NFA rice for other uses.

NFA officer-in-charge administrator Tomas Escarez said such remarks, coming from a ranking government official, is a slap to the more than 10 million poor Filipinos who have relied on the low-priced NFA rice for their daily meals.

“This is the highest form of arrogance, callousness and being matapobre,” Escarez said.

He added that the remark is also an insult to the more than 4,000 NFA employees nationwide who have been delivering the staple to marginalized consumers in far-flung areas, isolated island provinces and poor urban areas.

The video of Edillon’s remarks also gathered negative reactions from netizens, including NFA employees, retailers and ordinary citizens.

One netizen said Edillon was being insensitive and unprofessional, emphasizing that such comment should not even come from a public servant.

“We, retailers of NFA rice, do not sell food for dogs. There are about 200 to 500 people lining up every day for the cheap rice, do you call all of them dogs?” an NFA retailer said.

The backlash from NEDA Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon's comments are totally unwarranted. She did not call poor people dogs. She simply noted that some people are buying NFA rice to feed their dogs and for other uses. It is neither callous nor arrogant to point out this fact because it is true.

A few months after this remark was made someone on Reddit admitted that they feed their dogs NFA rice. 

https://www.reddit.com/r/phmoneysaving

• corn grits, mix it with NFA rice and dog food

So, while NEDA Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon was called out for being insensitive this person was feeding her dog NFA rice. And she is most certainly not alone.

In 2008 the NFA advised people to not buy NFA rice for their dogs, chickens, and other pets.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/regions/99768/nfa-to-pet-owners-don-t-use-rice-as-pet-food/story/

The National Food Authority in Aklan has appealed to pet owners in the province not to use NFA rice as feed to their pets, the Philippine Information Agency reported Friday. "One of the (saving) tips suggested by the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the NFA in the brochure for our Rice Conservation Program is for people to refrain from using rice or palay to feed their chickens, birds, and other pets", PIA quoted Judith Tindog of NFA-Aklan Information as saying. According to the PIA report, Tindog recently learned that a woman wanted to buy NFA rice for her pet dog. She told PIA: "I appealed to the pet owner to buy dog food instead. The NFA rice sold here in the province is for our poor provincemates who are experiencing hardships due to the price increase in commercial rice and other daily commodities, coupled with expenses due to the opening of classes." Tindog said the NFA-Aklan is only selling rice by the kilos and not by bags at 5 kilos per person at P18.25 per kilo. Malacanang has also appealed to the rich not to take advantage of NFA rice.

The fact is everyone is looking for ways to save money. One of the ways to save money is to buy cheap rice especially for your pets. But if you are going to feed your animals cheap rice I would not recommend buying "dog rice." Just buy cheap regular rice.