More news about how the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines is being handled by the public and the government.
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| https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/lifestyle/artandculture/980109/leviste-buys-germany-house-where-jose-rizal-completed-noli-me-tangere/story/ |
Batangas 1st District Representative Leandro Leviste has purchased the house in Wilhelmsfeld, Germany where national hero Jose Rizal completed his famed novel “Noli Me Tangere.”
A post on his Facebook page said the lawmaker purchased the house to preserve the site.
(The goal of buying and preserving this house is to maintain a historical site where the ideas that helped spark the Philippine Revolution and shape the Filipino nation were born.)
According to the lawmaker’s office, Leviste's mother Senator Loren Legarda asked him to purchase the home, where Rizal lived while studying ophthalmology at the University of Heidelberg. The house had served as a home to pastors since 1886, but hasn’t been in use since the COVID-19 pandemic.
(After the COVID-19 pandemic, the house was no longer being used, which is why it was brought to the attention of Cong. Leandro’s mother, Senator Loren Legarda. Because no one else was going to buy the house to preserve it, Sen. Loren suggested to Cong. Leandro that he buy it, at no cost to the government, and turn it into a museum open to all Filipinos and foreign visitors in Wilhelmsfeld to understand the life and works of Rizal.)
Leviste held a signing ceremony last week, along with Dr. Franz Hack Ullmer, the great-grandson of Pastor Karl Ullmer, who was Rizal’s friend.
Also present at the signing were representatives of the Protestant church that owned the house; Dr. Tobias Dangel, the Mayor of Wilhelmsfeld; and Herbert Ehses, the Germany chapter commander of the Knights of Rizal.
(Dr. Ullmer also gave Cong. Leandro a table similar to the one Rizal used when writing Noli Me Tangere, along with other items from the Ullmer family’s Rizal collection.)
It will be interesting to have a museum about the Philippine Revolution thousands of miles away from the Philippines.
In 2020 one farmer got the idea to open up his sunflower farm to tourists. The pandemic shut it down quick but now tourism is blossoming.
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| https://pia.gov.ph/news/sunflowers-to-sustainable-tourism-shilan-blossoms-into-community-tourism-village/ |
Barangay Shilan in La Trinidad, Benguet is one of the emerging eco-tourism destinations in the region. It promotes experiential and community-based tourism – a tourism that is not only for sightseeing but empowering the community.
One of the attractions here is DarJane’s Sunflower Farm, which start was not easy and intended to be.
Farm owner Mario Mateo narrated that he planted more than 10,000 sunflowers in 1,500 square-meter lot but did not bloom in time for Valentine’s Day in 2020. Thinking of how to cope up with their expenses in growing the flowers, they came up with an idea to open the farm to visitors for sunflower viewing.
Visitors flocked to the place providing employment for some of the residents. It also opened an opportunity for farmers and small business owners to sell their products to the visitors.
Unfortunately, lockdown was implemented in mid-March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
With the slack of activities, Mateo devoted his time improving the farm.
After the pandemic, DarJane’s Sunflower Farm reopened but not many people went to the area.
Tourism boom with government assistance
With the help of various government agencies, hope begun to bloom again on the farm, which is just 12 kilometers away from Baguio City.
Mateo and his daughter attended various trainings by the Department of Trade and Industry, which inspired them to develop their unique products- sunflower cake and sunflower butter. They also introduced sun coffee or coffee infused with sunflower that is really perfect for the cool climate of Benguet.
Through a loan from the Small Business Corporation, an attached agency of the DTI, Mateo plans to enhance the experiences on their farm. This includes the establishment of an infinity pool and a glass walk.
“We are grateful to the DTI for their great help in promotions and daytoy seminars, assistance with the assistance, free stickers, packaging and endorsements from the SB Corps,” said Mateo.
The DTI continues to provide assistance to small business owners who need support. The agency has established Negosyo Centers where micro, small, and medium enterprises can access assistance and guidance.
“Number 1 biggest banner we have is the Negosyo Center wherein they conduct series of trainings. If there is a need in the community, they can provide a Negosyo center,” said Sara Ubfan of DTI Baguio-Benguet.
DarJane’s Farm has also partnered with the Technical Education Skills and Development Authority, and expected to start accepting students taking courses in organic agriculture, production programming, and barista this March or April.
Community tourism village
After joining a tour organized by the Department of Tourism (DOT), Mateo envisioned a broader dream, one that extended beyond his own farm but for the entire community. Inspired by his experience, he conceptualized the Shilan Community Tourism Village, a tourism for the community.
“There are natural sites here, they can be retouched and connected and transformed. We have done it.”
Before the establishment of the tourism village, there were consultations made and the Shilan Tour Guides Association was organized.
Aside from DarJanes, village is also home to Garden nen Ines and Martin’s Hobbit House, two waterfalls and a historic cave that played a role during World War II, and other attractions. Various community products such as coffee and flowers, arts and crafts are also showcased and promoted here.
Every visitor brings economic opportunities for the community. Aside from the community members who serve as tour guides, it also helps in generating income for those who serve as garage attendants as well as in selling various community products. The tourism village currently has more than 200 beneficiaries.
With the cooperation and unity of the community, the Shilan Community Tourism Village won second place in the DOT’s Search for Best Tourism Village in 2024.
It also received the Tourism Village Builders Award from the Benguet provincial government. The cash prize was poured into the further development of the tourism village.
“We are grateful because they noticed that Shilan is another tourist destination. That’s why we can show you that Shilan is one of the best places to visit.”
Tourism for the community
DOT-Cordillera Regional Director Jovita Ganongan said that the search for the best tourism village is part of their recovery plans after the pandemic. She said it is to strengthen tourism villages, especially in the Cordillera.
“It’s really more of organizing tourism villages to organize and to develop their tourism, a tourism that is sustainable, responsible, participatory, and resilient,” Ganongan said.
Mateo and the community proved that with genuine concern, initiative, and strong support from the government, hope and growth in life can flourish, especially in communities that are united.
Like a sunflower facing the sun to grow and bloom, success is achieved when challenges are faced together for a brighter tomorrow.
With help from the government he not only grew his farm as a tourist spot but also the whole community. That is quite a pandemic recovery story.
Unemployment numbers are looking like 2022 again.
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| https://business.inquirer.net/579180/unemployment-rate-jumps-to-pandemic-era-high-of-5-8 |
Philippine unemployment soared to a pandemic-era high of 5.8 percent in January, with 2.96 million Filipinos out of work. The number went up from 2.26 million in December, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Friday.
The joblessness rate also rose from the 4.4 percent recorded in December, marking the highest level since June 2022 when it stood at 6.03 percent.
This came as the labor force participation rate slipped to 62.3 percent, equivalent to 50.89 million Filipinos. This was 64.4 percent or 51.69 million in December.
Measures of job quality also deteriorated. About 6.35 million employed Filipinos said they were seeking additional work or longer hours to boost their income. This was a sharp increase from 3.93 million in December.
This pushed the underemployment rate to 13.2 percent from 8 percent.
Meanwhile, the employment rate fell to 94.2 percent, equivalent to 47.94 million Filipinos with jobs. This came from 95.6 percent or 49.43 million in December.
Of course it has nothing to do with a virus but of course history does rhyme even if it doesn't repeat.
Delta airlines shut down shop during the pandemic and is now eyeing a comeback.
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| https://insiderph.com/delta-eyes-manila-comeback-after-pandemic-exit-as-competition-heats-up-on-us-routes |
Delta said it intends to launch daily nonstop Los Angeles–Manila flights by summer 2027 using Airbus A350-900 aircraft.
Before suspending its Philippine service in 2021 during the pandemic, Delta served Manila via Tokyo or Seoul.
The plan surfaced in a filing with the US Department of Transportation tied to taipan Lucio Tan's Philippine Airlines’ application to launch Manila–Chicago service. It was earlier reported by the Manila Bulletin newspaper.
Delta’s planned return would add to growing competition on US–Manila routes, where United Airlines already operates multiple nonstop services linking the Philippine capital with key US gateways.
For Philippine Airlines, which has long dominated the Manila–US corridor among Philippine carriers, the potential entry of another US airline could intensify competition for passengers traveling between the two countries.
The US–Philippines market is one of the largest long-haul travel corridors for the country, supported by a large Filipino diaspora in North America as well as strong tourism and business travel demand.
Delta said it does not oppose PAL’s Chicago route request in principle but urged regulators to defer action on the application until US carriers are assured of commercially viable airport access in Manila.
The airline argued that US carriers continue to face constraints securing slots, gates, and related airport infrastructure at Manila, which are necessary to launch and sustain nonstop services.
At the same time, Philippine carriers have expanded their presence in the US market through new routes and increased frequencies, including the launch of Manila–Seattle nonstop service.
Delta emphasized it is not seeking to block PAL’s Chicago route, but is asking regulators to delay approval until the Philippine government provides assurances that US airlines will have access to the slots and infrastructure needed to operate Manila flights on commercially viable terms.
The matter was disclosed in a document where Delta said the proposed Manila-Chicago route by PAL should be delayed until the Philippine government can assure access to American air carriers who provide non-stop service.
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