Senator Sonny Angara
Showcasing Philippine history and culture through art at the Venice Biennale
April 20, 2024 4:12 pm
For the fifth straight time, the Philippines is taking part in the La Biennale Di Venezia or the Venice Biennale. Now in its 60th year, the Venice Biennale is arguably the most prestigious and famous international art festival. A total of 88 nations will take part in the 2024 festival, including new participants Benin, Ethiopia, Timor Leste, Tanzania, Panama, and Senegal. The Philippines will once again have its own pavilion, which will be open for public viewing from April 20 to Nov. 24, 2024.
Using technology for good
April 13, 2024 4:09 pm
The Philippine National Police reported a rise in cybercrime cases during the first quarter of 2024. According to the police’s Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG), there were 4,469 cases recorded from January to March of 2024. This was an increase of almost 22 percent from the 3,668 cases over the same period in 2023. ACG director Maj. Gen. Sidney Hernia cited online selling scams, debit and credit card fraud and investment scams as the three main contributors to the increase in the number of cybercrime cases. He surmised that the increased online activity of Filipinos, as well as sophisticated cybercrime tactics and a general lack of awareness by the public could have contributed to this spike in people falling prey to cybercriminals.
A ‘Tatak Pinoy’ classroom
April 06, 2024 4:17 pm
Over the past few weeks we have started seeing an alarming trend of schools suspending onsite classes because of extreme heat being experienced in various areas of the country. With temperatures reaching the high 30s and over 40 degrees Celsius, students and teachers alike have found the sweltering heat unbearable and not conducive for learning. A survey conducted by the Alliance of Concerned Teachers showed that around 67 percent of the respondents said they experienced intolerable heat in their classrooms, with the most commonly reported result being the students’ difficulty paying attention to lessons. The teachers also noted how they were conducting lessons in congested classrooms, which results in severe difficulties for students with medical conditions.
Tatak Pinoy: What it is and what it’s not
March 30, 2024 4:06 pm
There is growing excitement about the implementation of Republic Act 11981 or the Tatak Pinoy (TP) Act — the law that will pave the way for stronger collaboration between the government and the private sector towards the development of Philippine industries, sustainable economic growth, and greater opportunities for our people in their own country. Under the law, the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) must be issued within 60 days from the effectivity of the law. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed the law on Feb. 26, 2024 so the Department of Trade and Industry and the TP Council should have the IRR ready by April 26, 2024. As a background, the TP Council is the policy and advisory body to the President and is composed of the Secretary of Trade and Industry as its chairperson; the Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and Secretary of Finance as its vice chairpersons; and the Secretaries of Agriculture, Budget and Management, Information and Communications Technology, Interior and Local Government, Labor and Employment, and Science and Technology; and four private sector representatives as its members.
Breaking barriers and making history
March 23, 2024 4:16 pm
As we celebrate National Women’s Month, we look back to the accomplishments of Filipinas and the issues that are relevant to them as part of the continuous effort to promote women empowerment and gender equality. In the past year we were witness to several milestones for some outstanding Filipino women. The Filipinas women’s national football team qualified for the World Cup, the first for the Philippines (men or women). While they failed to make it past the first round of the tournament, the Filipinas did manage to secure a victory against the host nation New Zealand. Actress Dolly De Leon became the first Filipina to be invited to become a member of the prestigious Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the organization that votes for the winners of the annual Academy Awards or the Oscars.