DOST-SEI, partners vow more int’l victories for Pinoy STEM students

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

From math Olympiads to robotics competitions, Filipino students have been consistently making their mark in the international arena thanks to the tireless efforts of the Department of Science and Technology - Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) and its educational partners—some of whom have been the agency’s allies for well over two decades.

 

The Institute and its partners recently reaffirmed their shared commitment to promoting Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing ceremony on April 14, 2021. The entire event was held online, a poignant reminder of the unusual circumstances brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as of the determination and creativity of the various agencies to overcome these challenges.

 

“While Filipinos will always be known for our resiliency, it’s time that we thrived beyond that,” said DOST-SEI Director Josette T. Biyo. “We are thankful to our partners for helping us and our Filipino youth to grow into something bigger and brighter, through STEM.”

 

Dir. Biyo presided over the ceremony, with long-time partners in attendance including National Olympiad in Informatics, Philippines; the Asian MathSci League, Inc.; FELTA Multi-Media, Inc.; the Mathematics Trainers’ Guild, Philippines; the Philippine Foundation for Science and Technology; the Philippine Association for the Advancement of Science and Technology; the Philippine Meterological Society, Inc.; the Philippine Society of Youth Science Clubs, Inc.; and the Mathematical Society of the Philippines.

 

“Though the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the educational landscape around the world, we look forward to continue to inspire our youth to pursue STEM careers by showing them that they have the capability to win against all odds in international competitions,” Dir. Biyo concluded.

Inauguration of new Passenger Terminal Building (PTB) of theTagbilaran Port in Bohol

Wazzup Pilipinas!?


As a fulfillment of a promise, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur P. Tugade and Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) General Manager Jay Daniel Santiago formally inaugurated today, 14 April 2021, the new Passenger Terminal Building (PTB) of theTagbilaran Port in Bohol, which was heavily damaged by a strong earthquake way back in 2013.

The improvement, which involves the construction of a new state-of-the art second PTB of the Tagbilaran City’s main seaport is a vital infrastructure project aimed at providing locals and tourists with more comfortable and convenient sea travel.

The Passenger Terminal Building II is expected to greatly augment the passenger capacity of the port. From only 497 passenger capacity of its existing PTB, Tagbilaran Port can now handle 613 more passengers –almost doubling the port’s total passenger capacity to 1,110, with the completion of the second PTB.

“Nakita ko ang nangyari sa Tagbilaran dahil sa unos at earthquake. Nakita ko ang nangyayari sa ibang puerto at sabi ko: ‘Tapusin natin ang mga proyektong ito’. Nakakahiya at nakakaawa sa mga tao sa Bohol kung mananatili ang mga imprastrukturang ito na nasira, nabagyo at hindi nagagamit. Tatapusin namin ang mga proyekto sa Bohol before the end of the term of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte,” Secretary Tugade said.

The inauguration of the port’s new PTB, which was completed in October 2020, was led by Secretary Tugade and GM Santiago, with Bohol Governor Arthur Yap and other transportation and local officials in attendance.

“Yung mga pangako na ginawa ko, tinapos ko. ‘Yung mga pangako na gagawin namin ngayon, tatapusin ko ‘ho, promise. Ito ho ang pangako ni Pangulong Duterte para maipakita niya sa sambayanan, sa mga Boholano, kung anong klase at kung gaano kalalim ang pagmamahal niya sa mga taga-Bohol. Pakiusap lang ‘ho, kayo sa local government, pangalagaan ninyo at gamitin nang maayos itong mga proyekto, nang sa ganoon ay marami pa ang makikinabang at mahaba pang panahon na pakikinabangan ang mga proyektong ito. If we do the inauguration within this context, I assure you, we will come back in the future and say, noon sabi ko mission accomplished, ngayon sasabihin ko, we have delivered,” Tugade added.

For his part, GM Santiago introduced Secretary Tugade as a leader who has a genuine heart for the country and a leader who truly loves the people. He also described the Secretary as, “ART para sa Transportasyon, ART para sa Transpormasyon, at ART para sa Tao.”

Meanwhile, Bohol Governor Arthur Yap said that with the infrastructure projects being carried out under the term of President Duterte and Secretary Tugade, the province will be more progressive by achieving a diversified economy, especially amid the raging COVID-19 pandemic.

“With COVID-19, doon namin naramdaman kung gaano kalaki ang impact sa services sector. About 200,000 of our people ay nawalan po ng trabaho, tinamaan sila sa income nila. Nakita namin na walang diversity ‘yung economy namin. Kailangang ma-diversify ang economy namin at panahon na para magtayo ng infrastructure where we can expand,” Governor Yap said.

*Improved Maribojoc Port*

After the inauguration of the Tagbilaran Port’s new PTB, Secretary Tugade, GM Santiago, and other officials inspected another big-ticket infrastructure project – the Port of Maribojoc, also in Bohol.

The Maribojoc port is also one of the vital infrastructures in the province that was totally devastated by the 2013 Bohol earthquake. With works in full swing, the Maribojoc Port Improvement Project is almost complete with a 95.41% progress rate as of March 2021.

“This month tatapusin ko ang Maribojoc para maging cargo port. I assure you that Maribojoc Port will become operational, at the earliest, next month, at the latest on the first week of June. So, consider it done and accomplished,” Secretary Tugade assured.

The two port projects are an integral part of the "BUILD, BUILD, BUILD" infrastructure program of the Duterte administration, to complement the rising stature of Bohol as a major tourism destination and economic powerhouse. The Tagbilaran and Maribojoc Port projects are part of the 22 development projects of the DOTr in the province.

To date, *the DOTr and PPA have completed 15 seaport projects* in different parts of Bohol - Tagbilaran, Jagna, Tapal, Ubay, Catagbacan, Tubigon, Talibon, Inabanga, Baclayon, and Aguinning. Meanwhile, *6 more seaport projects are ongoing* in Maribojoc, Getafe, Buenavista, and Bien Unido.

To enhance air connectivity in the province, *the DOTr and the CAAP have completed and inaugurated* in 2018 the first eco-airport in the country, *the Bohol-Panglao International Airport.* The BPIA, which replaced the Tagbilaran Airport, can accommodate up to 2 million passengers annually and can cater to night-time flights.

*Reefer Vans Donated*

Moreover, to ensure food security and help the Agriculture sector amid the pandemic, Secretary Tugade turned over two Refrigerated Reefer Container Vans to the Provincial Government of Bohol.

Under the “Palamigan ng Bayan” program, the DOTr Maritime sector aims to provide mobile cold storage facilities for farmers and fisherfolks to preserve the quality of perishable goods, reduce wastage and fetch reasonable prices.

Secretary Tugade personally presented the cold storage facilities to Governor Yap, in the presence of other Bohol LGU officials, after the inauguration of the new Passenger Terminal Building of the Tagbilaran Port.

ABS-CBN to air Chinese News TV disappoints fans

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

The ABS-CBN News Channel has entered into an agreement with a Filipino-Chinese media company to air "Chinese News TV," a nightly weekday news program delivered mainly in Mandarin Chinese.

What do you think of this? 

So funny! Sinophobic woketards are triggered, having a bitch fit tonight over something they thought would never happen to their favorite media outfit: ABS-CBN, professing "in the service of Filipinos" for years, has started airing Chinese News TV (in Mandarin) via ANC Channel. 

Is there's nothing wrong with ABS-CBN upholding it's values to be fair and unbias?. Is this is a true projection of how news should be aired?. Di porke China or Chinese, issue na?.

Can ABS-CBN please clarify on this news report by Rappler.? For ABS-CBN to claim independence and yet align with the One Belt One Road  (OBOR) advocacy is not only contradicting but also very much concerning.

Statement of ABS-CBN Integrated News and Current Affairs chief Ging Reyes on Chinese News TV: 

"I understand the concerns on Chinese incursions in the West Philippine Sea & many other issues related to the country’s relations with China.  ABS-CBN News has vigorously covered these issues, in our pursuit of truth and public enlightenment. But we resist discrimination against any race or ethnicity. The airing on ANC of Chinatown News should not be equated with the intrusions in the WPS. Chinatown News is produced by fellow Filipinos who belong to the Filipino-Chinese community. They are part of Philippine society.  Rather than belittle their attempt to provide a service to their local community, it’s time we considered embracing the diversity of this land we all call home.  We have editorial control over their content, provide national news stories & ensure accuracy of the translation from Mandarin to English subtitles." - Ging Reyes

I’m sorry but we don’t buy Ms Ging Reyes’ explanation. As a solid Kapamilya, we are hurt. We feel betrayed.

At nakakatawa yung explanation na kesyo daw they don’t discriminate ethnicity bs. Bakit hindi na lang aminin na malaki yung bayad? Di ba? And imagine, in Mandarin, wtf.

In a statement, ABS-CBN said it "retains the editorial control, provides the newscast with national stories, and ensures the translation from Mandarin to English subtitles are accurate." 

Who cares if you have editorial control, etc.? The fact is YOU were controlled by these Chinese into putting this on air! SHAME ON YOU. Sayang pala ang pinag laban ng mga nagalit nung pinasara kayo. Alisin ninyo yan otherwise sirang sira kayo diyan.

We have enough Chinese enablers starting from Duterte! With that broadcast of Chinese TV, your channel makes me sick!!! Finally CAPITULATING?

While I appreciate this clarification from the ABS-CBN News chief, I do believe that the concerns aired by various individuals here were not about/related to discrimination per se—it's about the current sociopolitical climate and the timing when the agreement was inked.

At this point, a lot of us are more concerned about the implications of such actions by ABS-CBN & ANC in this time when our country's sovereignty & territorial integrity are being held in contempt by Chinese state forces.

It's not that we hate Chinese but we know CNTV is China state owned and it will just gonna broadcast propaganda for China.

Do you seriously buy that crap? China is starting to invade us and this is just part of it. How can you be so naive? Pilipinas, wag tayong pumayag dito, boycott na!

Di ko alam kung OA lang ako pero nakakainit talaga ng ulo yung ABS-CBN at Chinese media ganap.

Imagine, most of us were rallying for and alongside them the past year. Tapos biglang ganyan ib-broadcast nila. In the service of the Filipino ba talaga?

Business over integrity, ganun?

Mga utak munggo daw ang mga DDS for their statements. That show already aired on ibc13 and net25. Do your research. Bagong script nga ba nila na naman ba iyan para madivert ang attention sa president na laging absent?

Idk but is it really necessary to have a specific segment addressing their need? Why should our media, the biggest one even, adapt and not the other way around? If anything, it only helps condition people. Given everything that’s going on ABS-CBN should’ve known better.

The broadcast is in Mandarin. So malamang target audience ay hindi Filipinos and it isn't meant as propaganda for Chinese government? Perhaps it's news for the Filipino-Chinese community or the growing number of Chinese expats.

But why in Mandarin? That is not the language of our Filipino-Chinese communities, which is Hokkien.

Napakadami kong kilalang Tsinoy at HOKKIEN ang Chinese language na ginagamit nila. 

Yang Mandarin inaral lang nila saglit sa Chinese school. Marami nakalimot na. Kasi nga hindi naman Mandarin ang lingua franca nila, kundi Hokkien!

Head scratch talaga, ABS-CBN.

It could be similar to local versions of TV Patrol in provinces delivered in the local languages. So catering to a specific population lang. There is demand for news delivered in Chinese so why not provide. After all, sa cable channel lang naman to.

Pero ibang usapan naman yung regional segments. I think beyond using the local languages, they deliver news mismo galing dun sa lugar na yun. Wag natin pagbanggain yang dalawa kasi sobrang magkaiba. The point still stands, malaking question yung pagpromote nito sa OBOR.

It's FilChi news by and for the FilChi community. If its main goal is to promote OBOR to Filipinos, then it should have been delivered in Filipino. 

I'm not surprised by this though, after all, ABS-CBN is still owned by ultra-rich oligarchs & executives who look after their vested interests. Well-meaning & critical ABS-CBN journalists, reporters & writers can only do so much.

Obviously, they suffered losses. Kaya nga may mga natanggalan ng trabaho dati. Hanggang ngayon siguro.

Ang paglabas nito right after Chiara Zambrano's case doesn't add up. so may Western/European/other Asian news content na din ba sila?

Chiara, sayang yata efforts mo. Compromised? Blink twice if you're under duress.

This leaves a bad taste in the mouth.

Very disappointed with ANC.

 

Please continue showing the public the real stories in the WPS. Padayon.

Nakaka disappoint lang kasi kung usapang pera na lang din naman, walang wala na ba talagang makakapitan? Don’t the Lopezes have other companies na, ewan ko, pwede mapaghiraman?

I'm so disappointed. Napakainsensitive lang of them na alam naman nilang inaangkin na ng China mga dagat natin, gusto pa talagang e inject sa Pinoy ang pagka Intsik.

The Lopezes along with other ABS-CBN big bosses saw survival & profitable schemes out of agreements with Chinese outfits. Hence, this.

WTF! ABS-CBN! That is how the Chinese enters into one territory. They start then they grew bigger and eventually takes over. 

You can't dance with the devil! It will play you!

Sorry but still I'm disappointed ...

Promote na din natin Fil-Am, Fil-Jap, Fil-Aus, Fil-Kor, Fil-Spa...etc culture di ba?

Lantarang gaguhan eh. It's definitely all about the money. Why can't they just admit that they needed the funds to survive and earn a profit. They are a business first and foremost.

This is where we part ways I guess? Call me shallow but then again my country comes first. i'll just enjoy Netflix and YouTube, WeVerse and VLive.

We are fighting for our WPS and your giving them a platform.

Hindi na sila nahiya sa mga taong nakipaglaban at nakikisimpatya sa sitwasyon nila! Nakakasuka!

The irony. Desperate time calls for desperate measures. It's gonna be a struggle sa pawokes na Anti - China pero pro - ABS.

Soon what President Duterte said that Philippines can be a province of China will be a reality. 

Why ABS-CBN needs to rethink its partnership with CNTV?

1. In its official FB page, CNTV promotes #CCPChina's propaganda re. Xinjiang where the #UighurGenocide is taking place framing a different picture. 

2. The CNTV FB page shares posts from another FB page named CRI Filipino Service.

CRI Filipino Service is media that caters to Filipinos in China but serves at the pleasure of #CCPChina. 

3. CNTV FB page also shares news from @CGTNOfficial, a #CCPChina affiliated media organization. 

This is what we're saying when we demanded for press freedom. We are not behind the Lopezes and Katigbak because clearly they have money to spare. Iniisip natin yung mga crew, people who work in ABS-CBN with low minimum wages. In the end, moguls protect their wealth above anything.

Lastly, let's channel our anger to the Chinese govt, not the Chinese community in PH.