Coronavirus Lockdown: Innovations With Empathy, Pre-Pandemic Mass Schedules, and More!

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

Philippines-based Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) has changed operations due to the pandemic.

https://futureiot.tech/rcbcs-pandemic-playbook-innovations-with-empathy/

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, Philippines-based Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) jumped to fifth from ninth among the country's largest private universal banks in terms of assets. The lender credits the achievement to an innovation playbook that prioritizes and aligns the country's interests with its own.

The bank's total resources went up from 767.1 billion Philippine pesos in 2019 to 1.2 trillion pesos by the end of 2022, up approximately 56%, an impressive feat given that geographic constraints in the country of 7,100 islands impact the financial system. As of 2019, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) estimates that 71% of the population remains unbanked.

After the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic, the Philippine government imposed stay-at-home orders with varying degrees of restrictions from March 2020 to March 2022, one of the longest lockdowns in Asia, resulting in severe limitations in the movement of people, goods and trade. In Metro Manila and 38 other provinces where business activities ground to a halt, people struggled to shift to digital channels to pay for basic goods and services and meet daily needs, while the most vulnerable sectors depend on financial aid.

“This pandemic puts banks on the frontline. We have now become part of the solution rather than the cause,” RCBC President and CEO Eugene S. Acevedo stated in the bank’s 2020 annual report.

The report noted that in the first year of the pandemic, RCBC rolled out ATM Go, its digital disbursement platform, which was one of the channels used to distribute the government’s financial aid to families affected by the lockdowns. By the end of the year, the bank has helped disburse 12.43 billion pesos of cash subsidy to more than 3.3 million households in 72 of the country’s 82 provinces.

Anticipating the impact of lockdowns on businesses, RCBC set aside 9.4 billion pesos in loan loss provision, which is 2.5x higher than the normalized provisions in the previous year. It also introduced the COVID Assistance and Recovery (CARE) program, which adjusted loan repayment terms for businesses based on “realistic expectations.” As of end-2020, the bank said 78.7 billion pesos of loans were placed under the program.

For its employees, it rolled out the pandemic and infectious disease plan, which includes health and safety protocols in the workplace, shifting to work-from-mode whenever possible, mobilizing its resources to allow nearly half of its branches in Metro Manila in Luzon to continue serving clients, and consolidating branches as foot traffic declined.

“At RCBC, we live by the mantra "innovations with empathy" and this inspires all members of the RCBC community to devote 100% of their skills, talent, and energy into conceptualizing designing and even offering products and services that are not only top-notch but reflects the desires or even lifestyles and aspirations of every Filipino,” said Lito Villanueva, chief innovations and inclusions officer.

That's good for customers and employees. 

The Philippines has secured 24.9 million dollars from the UN to upgrade its health systems. 

https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/10/30/business/top-business/ph-secures-249-m-un-grant-for-health-systems/1993595

THE United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on Tuesday announced the approval of a $24.9-million grant to the Philippines, which FAO representative Lionel Dabbadie said "will enhance the country's health systems, from bolstering disease surveillance and early warning systems, to strengthening laboratory networks and cross-sectoral collaboration."

The UN agency will co-lead the grant's implementation under the Resilient Philippines project. The money will come from the Pandemic Fund, launched by the Group of 20 (G20) in 2022 to directly respond to global vulnerabilities following the outbreak of Covid-19. The G20, composed of 19 countries, plus the European Union and African Union, was formed to address issues affecting the global economy including financial stability, climate change mitigation and sustainable development.

Dabbadie said the project was timely since the Philippines consistently ranked high in the World Risk Index, a statistical model that provides an assessment of the latent risk of 193 countries to disasters caused by extreme natural events and the negative impacts of climate change.

The project also marks the implementation of One Health — an integrated, unifying approach to balance and optimize the health of people, animals and the environment. "It is crucial because diseases don't respect borders, whether geographical, species or ecological," Dabbadie said, adding that One Health will help detect, prevent and respond to health threats like zoonoses, antimicrobial resistance and transboundary animal diseases.

The Pandemic Fund aims to strengthen response to disease outbreaks especially in the most vulnerable countries. More than just a funding mechanism, Dabbadie said it provided governments with a crucial opportunity to institutionalize and sustain their efforts towards building long-term pandemic resilience and health security.

The FAO official also called for strengthened efforts to integrate One Health principles and the Sustainable Development Goals of the Agenda 2030 across all levels.

He urged strong collaboration and more innovative funding to face evolving threats to human, animal and environmental health.

"The success of this project shows what is possible when we act collectively, but the real test will be our ability to sustain and expand this progress for generations to come, leaving no one behind," Dabbadie said.

Bu t the Philippines consistently ranks high in the world risk index. That's not good. Hopefuly the money goes where it needs to go.

The pandemic is over but the Philippines is already preparing for the next one!

https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/10/31/opinion/contributors/leveraging-one-health-to-build-a-resilient-philippines/1994441

THE Philippines is already preparing to handle the next pandemic.

The country has just reached a critical milestone in the pursuit of global health security by securing a significant grant from The Pandemic Fund. Thanks to the joint efforts of the Departments of Agriculture, Health and Finance, and key stakeholders such as the World Bank and the Emergency Center for Transboundary Animal Diseases (Ectad) of the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the country's proposal stood out in this year's competitive funding round. The $24.9-million grant under the Resilient Philippines project will enhance the country's health systems, from bolstering disease surveillance and early warning systems to strengthening laboratory networks and cross-sectoral collaboration.

This success is very timely for the Philippines, a country topping the World Risk Index for the third consecutive year. The rapid decline in biodiversity — driven by deforestation, ecosystem destruction and habitat loss — has triggered the emergence and reemergence of transboundary animal diseases (TADs) and zoonoses, or diseases transmitted between species, such as from animal to human. In addition, the misuse of antimicrobials has also fueled the rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a hidden yet growing threat. Often called the "silent pandemic," AMR continues to advance unnoticed until its devastating effects are felt, compounding food security risks and socioeconomic challenges.

This project will thus mark a pivotal step in fully implementing the One Health approach in the Philippines. One Health is a framework that recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal and environmental health. It is crucial because diseases don't respect borders, whether geographical, species or ecological. By fostering collaboration across sectors, from agriculture to health and environmental management, the One Health approach helps to better detect, prevent and respond to health threats like zoonoses, antimicrobial resistance, and transboundary animal diseases. Ultimately, One Health is not just about addressing health risks but about building a resilient system that protects the well-being of people, animals, and ecosystems alike.

This success is also a collective achievement, a testament to the power of collaboration. By building on the shared expertise of its national stakeholders, the Philippines has harnessed the mutual enrichment of public health and sustainable agricultural practices. With the FAO's leadership in sustainable agriculture and the World Bank's strategic investment support, this partnership has also created a powerful synergy, culminating in the awarding of the grant to the consortium.

The Pandemic Fund was launched in 2022 by the Group of 20, composed of the world's biggest economies, as a direct response to the global vulnerabilities exposed by the coronavirus pandemic. It finances critical investments aimed at strengthening pandemic preparedness and resilience in the most at-risk countries. More than just a funding mechanism, this initiative provides governments with a crucial opportunity to institutionalize and sustain their efforts toward building long-term pandemic resilience and health security.

For us, this is just the beginning. Now is the time for all sectors — government, private industry and civil society — to rally behind this momentum and invest in sustainable, resilient systems that will protect our future. We must scale up our efforts to integrate One Health principles and the Sustainable Development Goals of the Agenda 2030 across all levels, strengthen partnerships and secure more innovative funding to face the evolving threats to human, animal, and environmental health. The success of this project shows what is possible when we act collectively, but the real test will be our ability to sustain and expand this progress for generations to come, leaving no one behind.

Yeah. More than likely they will wait for The Who to tell them wha to do. 

The pandemic has been long over but only now is Cebu's Basilica del Santo Niño back to normal operating times. 

https://www.rappler.com/philippines/visayas/basilica-minore-del-santo-nino-de-cebu-returns-pre-pandemic-mass-schedules/

The Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu announced it will return to pre-pandemic Mass schedules, including hourly services on Fridays, starting December 1.

The Augustinian friars who administer the basilica announced the new schedule in a post on their official Facebook page. 

The new schedules will be implemented in time for the increased number of massgoers and pilgrims in December and heading to January, in time for the Sinulog. During the Sinulog, held on the third Sunday of January, millions of pilgrims from all over the world converge in Cebu to venerate the Holy Child.

“As the world recovers from the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño wishes to inform everyone of the resumption of the pre-pandemic schedule of Masses and confessions beginning December 1, 2024, the First Sunday of Advent,” the Augustinian priests said in their announcement.

Aside from new Mass schedules, the Basilica Minore is also implementing a stricter dress code for churchgoers. Despite the controversy it has generated, the dress code has received mostly positive feedback, according to an Augustinian friar.

Why didn't they do this sooner?

Tourists levels are up but have not hit the target.

https://tribune.net.ph/2024/11/01/tourist-arrivals-far-from-77-m-target

As 2024 nears its end, the country’s foreign tourist arrival numbers remain sluggish and far from the 7.7-million target set by the Department of Tourism (DoT) for this year.

Initial data relayed by the DoT showed that as of 1 November, arrivals were 4,879,022 tourists short of the target.

Earlier, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco suggested that arrival numbers should not be the benchmark for determining the robustness of a country’s tourism industry, but tourism receipts.

From January to June this year, the DoT toted up P282.17 billion in tourism receipts, perking up 32.81 percent over the P212.47 billion in revenue posted in the same period last year. 

For all of 2023, from January to December, total visitor spending was P482.54 billion.

Against its tough competitors in Southeast Asia, the Philippines’ numbers are far from Thailand’s 26 million arrivals. The Kingdom is expecting 36 million foreign tourists this year.

Vietnam, another tough rival of the Philippines, has welcomed nearly 10 million arrivals in the first seven months of this year, an increase of 51 percent over the same period last year, its General Statistics Office reported.

Aggressive drive in remaining days

With this, the DoT, along with the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), has been joining global expositions to aggressively sell the

Philippines as the premier destination in Southeast Asia.

The DoT and TPB will lead the largest Philippine delegation to the World Travel Market (WTM) 2024 to be held from 5 to 7 November at the ExCeL convention center in London.

The WTM is one of the leading global business-to-business events for the travel industry, bringing together tourism professionals, government ministers, and international media to showcase innovations in travel and tourism. Founded in 1980, the event serves as a vital platform for nations to build business connections and strengthen their global presence.

“We see World Travel Market London as a vital platform to present the Philippines to a global audience, showcasing the distinctive qualities that set our country apart — from our award-winning destinations and vibrant culture to our rich gastronomy, world-class facilities, and the renowned warmth of the Filipino people,” Frasco said.

“With our largest delegation of tour operators, hotels, and resorts since the pandemic, the DoT and TPB Philippines are strategically positioned to strengthen international partnerships and solidify the Philippines as a premier destination in the global tourism market, reaffirming our commitment to transforming the country into a tourism powerhouse in Asia, as envisioned by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.,” she said.

The United Kingdom is the top source of visitors from Europe, ranking as the Philippines’ ninth-largest source market with 128,660 arrivals recorded from 1 January to 31 October 2024.

As the UK outbound travel market rebounds, the DoT said it presents a valuable opportunity for the Philippines.

Perhaps sending out the "largest delegation of tour operators, hotels, and resorts since the pandemic" will get this numbers up.

The God Culture: 100 Lies About the Philippines: Lie #29: Jason and the Argonauts Sailed to the Philippines

Welcome back to 100 Lies The God Culture teaches about the Philippines. Today's lie concerns the voyage of Jason and the Argonauts. Timothy Jay Schwab claims Jason and his men sailed the Argo all the way to the Philippines. 

In his video "Greek Oceanus World River and Rivers From Eden lead to the Philippines" Tim says the following:

Greek Oceanus World River and Rivers From Eden lead to the Philippines? Solomon's Gold Series 16F

1:00:17 And this one is extremely curious check this out once again very ancient 7th Century BC folks. From Mimnermis Aeetes' city, now that's odd, uh, Aitis, Atus hmm hmm hmm, that's a tribe in the Philippines. How about that? Now that's very curious. Also there's a fruit there, uh, in the Philippines called atis so also that could be invoked but just curious. Uh, we don't know for sure can't make that connection hundred percent but boy we keep seeing such possible ties which don't seem to be coincidence. "Where the Rays of Swift Helios the sun lie in a golden store room." Why is it a golden store room? Because it basically encloses the Garden of Eden. The walls are lined with gold which is why Solomon did such with the temple. He was copying the Garden of Eden, wow! The land of gold literally being invoked right there. "At the edge of Oceanus Where God like Jason went." So Jason and the Argonauts is a story that goes geographically at some point as far as the Philippines which means they circumnavigated Africa because they left from Greece and they didn't fly helicopters.

1:13:54 Even the Aeetes mentioned could be very well the tribe from the Philippines likely. Ends in the land of gold and Garden of Eden Philippines firmly. From Africa goes to the Far East where Prometheus, Gadreel, stole knowledge of Good and Evil giving it to the man while that happened in the Garden of Eden. It all fits, it all ties and they had to circumnavigate Africa all these many times okay? These characters especially in the Odyssey and The Iliad they're going there physically in their ships even Jason and the Argonauts went to the Philippines. That's what it says.

There are quite a lot of unbelievable claims being made in these two clips. First let's deal with the citation of Mimernus which situates Aeetes in Oceanus which is far away from Greece. The fragment of Mimnermus to which Tim is referring is discussed by Strabo in his geography. He says placing that city so far away outside the inhabited world makes the quest of the Golden Fleece implausible because "the expedition is supposed to have taken place in well-known and populous regions."

https://archive.org/details/Strabo08Geography17AndIndex/Strabo%2001%20Geography%201-2/page/170/mode/2up?q=jason

Accordingly, it is by availing himself of some such basis of fact that Homer tells his story, agreeing in some respects with matters of history, but adding to them an element of myth, thus adhering to a custom that is not only his own but one common to poets. He agrees with history when he uses the name of “ Aeétes,” when he tells of Jason and the Argo, when, with “ Aea”’ in mind, he invents “ Aeaea,” when he establishes Euneos in Lemnos, when he makes the island of Lemnos beloved of Achilles, and when, with Medea in mind, he makes the sorceress Circe “own sister to the baleful Aeétes.” 

But he adds an element of myth when he transfers to Oceanus the wanderings that follow the voyage to Aeétes’ country. For if the facts above-mentioned be assumed, then the words, “the Argo that is in all men’s minds,” are also properly used, inasmuch as the expedition is supposed to have taken place in well-known and populous regions. But if the facts were as Demetrius of Scepsis maintains, on the authority of Mimnermus _ (Mimnermus places the home of Aeétes in Oceanus, outside the inhabited world in the east, and affirms that Jason was sent thither by Pelias and brought back the fleece), then, in the first place, the expedition thither in quest of the fleece would not sound plausible (since it was directed to unknown and obscure countries), and in the second place, the voyage through regions desolate and uninhabited and so out-of-the-way from our part of the world would be neither famous nor “in all men’s minds.”

But why would Mimnermus add "an element of myth" to the well known story of Jason and the Argonauts? Because as a poet he he adapted and embellished it to fit his own artistic needs. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mimnermus

Like other archaic poets, Mimnermus adapted myths to his own artistic needs and Aelian recorded that he attributed twenty children to Niobe, unlike Homer, for example, who attributed twelve to her. According to Sallustius, Mimnermus was just as creative in his poetical account of Ismene, representing her as being killed by Tydeus at the command of the goddess, Athena, in the very act of making love to Theoclymenus—an original account that was soon accepted by an international audience, being represented on an early Corinthian amphora (pictured below). Imaginative accounts of the sun, voyaging at night from west to east in a golden bed, and of Jason the Argonaut voyaging to "Aeetes' city, where the rays of the swift Sun lie in a golden storeroom at the edge of Oceanus", survive in brief quotes by ancient authors.

Secondly let's take a look at Aeetes' City. Tim attempts to connect this word linguistically with the Aeta tribe as well as the atis fruit which is not even native to the Philippines but was introduced during the Spanish occupation nearly 2,000 years after Mimnermus lived! Both connections are wrong. Take a close look at the punctuation of the citation. 

Aietes' (Aeetes') city

Is Tim illiterate or did he simply miss that apostrophe which indicates possession? Aeetes is not the name of the city but the name of the ruler of that city. Aeetes is the son of the sun God Helios.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeëtes

Aeëtes was the son of Sun god Helios and the Oceanid Perseis, brother of Circe, Perses and Pasiphaë, and father of Medea, Chalciope and Absyrtus. 

It is from him that Jason stole the Golden Fleece. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Fleece

In Greek mythology, the Golden Fleece is the fleece of the golden-woolled, winged ram, Chrysomallos, that rescued Phrixus and brought him to Colchis, where Phrixus then sacrificed it to Zeus. Phrixus gave the fleece to King Aeëtes who kept it in a sacred grove, whence Jason and the Argonauts stole it with the help of Medea, Aeëtes' daughter. The fleece is a symbol of authority and kingship.

The Golden Fleece was found in Colchis which is also where Aeetes lived. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeëtes

Later, Aeëtes gave his kingdom to Bounos, a son of Hermes and Alkidameia, and went to Colchis, a country in western Caucasus. 

Colchis is by no means anywhere near the Philippines. It is located on the coast of the Black Sea next to Georgia. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colchis

In classical antiquity and Greco-Roman geography, Colchis was an exonym for the Georgian polity of Egrisi located on the eastern coast of the Black Sea, centered in present-day western Georgia.

Here is a map detailing the travels of Jason and the Argonauts.

http://www.argonauts-book.com/maps.html

Jason and the Argonauts did not sail to the Philippines to find the Golden Fleece. Tim's ridiculous interpretation does not fit the facts of the story at all. 

Aside from the Argonauts Tim also mentions the "characters especially in the Odyssey and The Iliad" as visiting the Philippines. Again, this is more nonsense. The Iliad is all about the Trojan war which occurred in Turkey and not about epic traveling around the world. The Odyssey is about the wanderings of Ulysses after the end of the war. Here is a map of his travels. 

https://www.thinglink.com/scene/837042097440686080

Tim's claims about Jason and Ulysses sailing to the Philippines are preposterous. The travels of the Argonauts and the Odyssey are poetic and mythical and the action of those stories takes place nowhere near the Philippines. Tim points to these tales as absolute historical proof that the Greeks were circumnavigating Africa to sail to the Philippines. That is because there is no actual history to support his claims so he is grasping at anything he can get his deceitful paws around. That Jason and the Argonauts sailed to the Philippines is merely one more lie about the Philippines being taught by Timothy Jay Schwab who is The God Culture.

Insurgency: 2,000 Rebels Neutralized

How many NPA rebels are left in the mountains and jungles holding out against all hope? It is a perennial question. The last official count in mid-August 2024 was between 1,200 and 2,000. Now the AFP is reporting they have neutralized over 2,000 NPA rebels between January and October of 2024. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1998840/over-2000-npa-rebels-neutralized-from-jan-to-oct-2024-afp

More than 2,000 New People’s Army (NPA) rebels have been “neutralized” based on the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) data from January to October this year.

AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla reported that a total of  2,218 members of the NPA, which the military labels as a communist terrorist group, were neutralized from January 1 to October 24.

“A total of 2,218 Communist terrorist group members and supporters were neutralized, broken down to 1,952 surrendered, 134 apprehended, and 132 killed,” Padilla said in a press briefing on Tuesday.

Among the items confiscated or surrendered by the NPA members were 1,084 firearms and 342 anti-personnel mines.

During the same period, Padilla said that 261 local terrorist group members were also neutralized. Of this figure, 197 surrendered, 12 were apprehended, and 52 were killed.

In August this year, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año said the NPA force continues to dwindle, adding that its weakened guerrilla fronts decreased from seven to five.

Earlier, Padilla explained that units considered weakened can no longer implement programs like recruiting members or generating resources to support their armed struggle.

That number is ludicrous and grossly inflated. How many of the 2,218 were actual NPA rebels? In July of 2023 the AFP estimated there were approximately 1,800 rebels left. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1799676/fwd-afp-npa-has-around-1800-members-left

From around 2,000 members reported in 2022, the communist New People’s Army (NPA) is now down to around 1,800 fighters, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar said on Monday.

“The CPP-NPA is down to 1,800 plus members,” Aguilar said in an online press conference. CPP stands for the Communist Party of the Philippines.

Aguilar, however, declined to divulge the primary locations of the insurgents.

“Let the military worry about the breakdown. These are tactical information we cannot divulge,” he said.

Aguilar added around 400 NPA rebels have pending cases.

“As we look at the data right now, with 1,800 plus remaining, around 400 plus of them … are facing cases,” Aguilar said

If 2,218 NPA rebels were neutralized that would mean in 2023 there were around 4,000 remaining. Clearly the AFP is once again misinforming the public on the number of remaining NPA rebels. That is nothing new and has been covered in this seres of articles many times. 

Last week the acting chairman of the CPP was arrested. The CPP claims the arrest was illegal because he is a peace consultant. They demanded his release. NSC spokesperson Jonathan Malaya laughed in response. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/10/26/funny-preposterous-says-nsc-of-cpp-claim-its-chairman-is-immune-from-arrest

The National Security Council (NSC) dismissed the claim of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) that its acting chairman, Wigberto Villarico, shall be immune from arrest since he is supposedly a peace consultant of the National Democratic Front (NDF).

“We find as funny and preposterous the claim of the CPP – NPA (New People’s Army) – NDF that CPP Chairman Baylon Villarico is a ‘peace consultant’ and is therefore immune from arrest under the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantee (JASIG) signed way back during the Fidel Ramos administration,” said NSC spokesperson Jonathan Malaya in a statement Saturday, Oct. 26.

Villarico, 68, was arrested in Fairview, Quezon City on Oct. 24 on the strength of a warrant of arrest for two counts of kidnapping with murder. Villarico was tagged as one of the suspects in the kidnapping and murder of two individuals back in 2007 in Brgy. Cagsiay, Mauban, Quezon Province.

According to the NSC, Villarico replaced the late Benito Tiamzon as the leader of the CPP when the latter died in a military encounter in Samar on Aug. 22, 2022.

The CPP condemned “in the strongest terms” the arrest of Villarico as it insisted that he is a peace consultant of the NDF and, therefore, protected by the JASIG, an agreement between the Philippine government (GRP) and the NDF signed on Feb. 24, 1995 which provides safety and immunity guarantees that protect the rights of negotiators, consultants, staffers, security and other personnel who participate in the GRP-NDFP peace negotiations. 

“Being a peace consultant of the NDFP, Villarico is protected by the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG). He holds documents identifying him as such. Under the JASIG, the Philippine government agreed not to subject consultants, personnel, and staff members of the NDFP to surveillance and arrest,” CPP spokesperson Marco Valbuena said.

But the previous Duterte administration terminated the JASIG in February 2017 when the peace talks by the government with the CPP collapsed.

“So what immunity under the JASIG are they talking about?” Malaya asked.

According to Malaya, the Joint Oslo Communique signed by the Marcos Jr. administration and the NDF in November 2023 to resolve the roots of the armed conflict and end the armed struggle being waged by the CPP-NPA-NDF “did not resurrect the JASIG.” 

“The JASIG is as good as dead,” he noted.

The NSC spokesman reiterated that Villarico was arrested based on a warrant of arrest issued by the Regional Trial Court of Mauban, Quezon for his crimes.

He accused Villarico of being responsible for numerous atrocities including “against government forces, killing and liquidation of individuals, terrorist attacks on innocent communities, sabotaging government projects, and various extortion and money-making activities in Southern Luzon.”

Villarico also allegedly led violent purges within the CPP-NPA Southern Tagalog Regional Party Committee in the 1980s “where many were executed by his own hands.”

“The CPP-NPA-NDF wants him to get away with murder because he’s a peace advocate? Not so fast. It is time for him to face the court of law and to account for his crimes to the Filipino people,” Malaya said.

Meanwhile, the CPP demanded that Villarico’s rights shall be respected, that he be immediately released, and al “trumped up” charges against him be immediately withdrawn. 

They also asked that Villarico shall be be accorded his right to his own lawyer, and to a doctor of his choice as he is purportedly suffering from various ailments including spondylitis, hypertension, heart arythmia, asthma, and prostate enlargement among others.

Upon realizing their mistake the CPP demanded that Villario at least get his medicine. 

During a relief mission for tropical storm Kristine the AFP was involved in an armed encounter with the NPA. One solider was wounded. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1998024/soldier-in-relief-mission-wounded-in-clash-with-npa-in-albay

A soldier belonging to the Philippine Army’s 49th Infantry Battalion (49IB) was wounded in an encounter with a group of communist rebels in Barangay (village) Matanglad, Pio Duran town, Albay province on Sunday, October 27.

Major Frank Roldan, chief of the Army’s 9th Infantry Division’s Public Affairs Office, told the Inquirer in a phone interview that the troops were transporting relief goods for victims of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami) in Barangay Matangland when they encountered approximately 11 New People’s Army (NPA) rebels, resulting in a 15-minute exchange of fire.

“One soldier was hit by shrapnel, causing a wound on his knee. He is now stable and recovering,” Roldan said.

The troops recovered from the clash site an improvised explosive device, a detonating switch and cord, one bandolier, a cellular phone, three hammocks, and four backpacks, he added.

When asked if there were any casualties on the enemy side, Roldan said, “Still undetermined; they withdrew toward the northwest.”

Police Brigadier General Andre Dizon, Bicol police director, condemned the atrocities committed by the rebels as law enforcers were out helping those displaced by the storm that has devastated most of the Bicol Region.

“We are calling on citizens to report the presence of these communist terrorist groups and to help stop the offensive actions against the military, who are conducting humanitarian activities for TS Kristine victims,” he said in a separate phone interview on Sunday.

In another clash with the Philippine Army on All Saint's Day an NPA rebel was killed. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/11/1/npa-killed-in-all-saints-day-clash

A New People’s Army rebel was killed in an encounter with the Army 12th Infantry Battalion in Sitio Hilwan, Barangay Manica, Libacao town, Aklan province on Oct. 31.

Troops were in the area conducting foot patrol in response to information from residents that communist fighters are conducting extortion activities when they figured in the gunbattlle.

A 10-minute firefight erupted and recovered from the encounter site were an M16 rifle, three magazines, a bandolier,  backpack, and personal belongings.

Major Gen. Marion Sison, 3rd ID commander, lauded troops for standing their accomplishment.

“This encounter highlighted the strengthened cooperation between the Army and Aklanons, working together to sustain the environment of Aklan as a peaceful and communist-free province,” said Sison in a statement on All Saints’ Day.

The NPA was in the area conducting extortion activities and was able to fight the AFP. But the AFP has been saying the NPA is leaderless and unable to carry out such actions. Seems they are wrong. 

Meanwhile 7 NPA rebels in Caraga surrendered to the PNP.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1236909

Seven New People’s Army (NPA) members surrendered to the Police Regional Office in Caraga (PRO-13) on Oct. 30 following negotiations led by police units across the region, the office reported Friday.

Among those who surrendered was a 27-year-old rebel, identified only as Alias Dems, a member of the Sandatahang Yunit Pampropaganda (SYP) Sikop of the NPA’s North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC).

Dems surrendered to the Agusan del Norte Provincial Police Office (ADNPPO), turning over a .22-caliber Smith & Wesson revolver, 20 rounds of ammunition, and an improvised explosive device (IED).

Also surrendered on Oct. 30 were Alias Junior, 23, from the disbanded Guerrilla Front 4-A’s SYP Kingdom, and Alias Nelo, 30, of SYP 21C under the NCMRC, who yielded to the ADNPPO. "Nelo" turned in a .38-caliber revolver with four rounds of ammunition.

Negotiations facilitated by PRO-13 Intelligence and Butuan City Police also persuaded Alias Boy, 39, a former Squad Uno member of dismantled Guerrilla Front 4-A, and Alias Da, 38, of the Milisya ng Bayan (MB) under SYP 21C, to leave the NPA on Oct. 30.

Additionally, two rebels identified as Alias Badi, 33, an MB member under Guerrilla Front 14 of the North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee, and Alias Jord, 30, of Guerrilla Front 20 of the Southern Mindanao Regional Committee, surrendered to police in Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur on Oct. 31. Both turned over two .38 revolvers, four rounds of ammunition, a rifle grenade, and an IED.

The surrendered individuals will undergo profiling and debriefing as part of the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program, which assists former rebels in reintegrating into society.

“May these achievements serve as a wake-up call to those still bound by Communist Terrorist Group ideologies. PRO-13 stands ready to guide those willing to embrace peace,” said PRO-13 Director Brig. Gen. Alan Nazarro.

The PNP received the NPA rebels' weapons and the rebels will now receive thousands of pesos worth of aid. Not a bad trade.

Getting Bumped and Using Bad English in the Philippines

A great source of pride in the Philippines is that Filipinos are proficient in English. They are so proficient that not only do foreigners travel to the Philippines to learn English but American companies are hiring Filipinos to tend virtual fast food kiosks in New York City.

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/567764/filipino-virtual-cashiers-taking-orders-at-new-york-restaurants

Your next order of fried chicken at a New York City restaurant may come with a “hello” from the Philippines.

Virtual assistants based in the Philippines have become a sought-after option for companies who want to do more with less.

 Some restaurants in New York City are now exploring this option to keep up with the rising costs of labor, rent and other overhead expenses.

As minimum wages soar – $16 in New York City and now $20 for fast food workers in California – restaurant owners are feeling the pinch.

Beamed on flat-screen monitors at self-service kiosks, virtual hosts from the Philippines are now taking orders at restaurants, including Yaso Kitchen, Sansan Chicken in Long Island and East Village. They welcome customers with flashing smiles — a hospitality trait Filipinos are renowned for.

The company pays Filipino virtual assistants $3 per hour — way less compared to US wages but considered a competitive rate in the Philippines.

Aiming to incorporate fair wages into fiscal accountability, Chi Zhang told Fortune, “We pay 150% more than the average cashier job in the Philippines.”

Like all virtual assistants from the Philippines, recognized as one of the largest English-speaking nations, Amber and other Filipinos working for Happy Cashiers speak perfect English.

Every thing about this article is quite awful. Not only are Filipinos taking jobs from Americans because of inflated minimum wage laws but the owner of the company is proud that he pays Filipinos a measly $3 per hour which is "150% more than the average cashier job in the Philippines." $3 is P175 which is practically nothing. 

The article also notes the Philippine is "one of the largest English-speaking nations" and Filipinos "speak perfect English." While it may be true that many Filipinos have perfect inflection and diction the use of English in the Philippines can be quite odd. 

Take the word bump.

a light blow or a jolting collision

A typical use of the word bump would be, "I fell and bumped my head." It may have been startling and jolting but it's a very slight thing. Bump is typically used for collisions that are slight. The word collision is used for violent interactions like a car crash. 

In the Philippines that is not the case as the following news articles show. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1923033/pedestrian-dead-2-hurt-after-truck-bumps-them-in-cavite

A female pedestrian died and two others were injured Monday after a speeding truck hit them in Carmona City in Cavite province.

The Region 4A police reported that an Isuzu Rebuilt aluminum van driven by one “Fernando” accidentally bumped Jemerine Bombani, 29; Sheryl Cantuba, 45; and Burlet Sevilla, 48, while the three were crossing the pedestrian lane around 7:30 p.m. along Governor’s Drive.

The three pedestrians suffered grave injuries and were rushed to the hospital but Bombhani died on the way.

“Due to his uncalculated speed the truck driver did not notice the three victims” who were about to cross the pedestrian lane, the police said.

The headline says a truck bumped three pedestrians while the article notes the truck was speeding. A speeding truck does not bump anything. It collides with the object and tears right through it. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1961436/2-riders-dead-after-motorcycle-bumps-parked-tractor-in-quezon

Two motorcycle riders died early Tuesday, July 16, after their vehicle bumped into a parked tractor in Candelaria town in Quezon province, police said.

The motorcycle, ridden by a still unidentified driver and backrider factory worker Emerson Alviso, 21, was traveling along the Maharlika Highway around 2:15 a.m. when their vehicle slammed into a parked tractor head on the side of the road in Barangay Masin Norte, a spot report from the Quezon police said.

Both riders suffered fatal injuries and died on the spot.

Again, another news item with the headline saying motorcycles bumped a parked tractor while the article says they "slammed into a parked tractor." Slamming is not bumping. Slamming is a lot more violent.  

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1940783/5-tuk-tuk-passengers-dead-4-others-hurt-in-3-vehicle-mishap-in-quezon

Five passengers of a “tuk-tuk,” a three-wheeled motorcycle, died, and four others were injured early Wednesday, May 15, in an accident involving two other vehicles at the Maharlika Highway in Lopez town in Quezon province.

The Quezon police said in a report that the tuk-tuk being driven by Julius Brin, 32, was traveling at 2:10 a.m. to Albay province when it was bumped from behind by a truck driven by Ernesto Alberto, 51, in a section of the highway in Barangay Canda Ilaya.

Upon impact, the tuk-tuk suddenly burst into flames and bumped the rear section of a passenger bus driven by Amor Pedragosa, 47, running ahead.

The bus also caught fire, but its passengers were all unharmed.

After the collision, the wayward truck fell and rested on its right part on the side of the road. The driver was not hurt.

The report said four of the tuk-tuk passengers – Cheska Jucares, 28; Riza Brin, 25; and two boys, Jasper and Jarid died on the spot from severe burns on their bodies. Jaymar Lunas expired while being treated at the hospital in the town center.

This article says a tun-tuk was "bumped from behind by a truck," burst into flames upon impact, and then bumped into a passenger bus which also caught fire. That is not a bump. A mere bump would not cause a vehicle to burst into flames. After using those inaccurate words the article then describes the accident as a collision. Why not use that word all along? 

The headline calls this collision relating in 5 deaths a mishap. What is a mishap?

an unlucky accident

Certainly it was an accident and everyone hurt and dead was unlucky but it was obviously much more than that. It was no mere mishap but a result of bad driving likely including speeding and tailgating.

There is nothing grammatically wrong with these articles. The issue is the author's use of understatement. Bump is never a word that should be used in to describe a horrific and violent traffic collision which results in death. In the Philippines words are used to cover up events. One instance being the word "salvage" to describe a murder victim. Speaking English well is not just a matter of pronunciation. It is also a matter of understanding nuance and using words correctly.