Day: December 16, 2023

MANILA: Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers will continue to prevail all over the country, the weather bureau said Saturday.

In its 4 a.m. weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the northeast monsoon affecting Northern Luzon will bring partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains over the Ilocos, Cordillera, and Cagayan Valley regions.

The rest of the country, including Metro Manila, will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms due to the easterlies and localized thunderstorms.

Severe thunderstorms could result in flash floods or landslides in vulnerable areas, PAGASA said

Moderate to strong winds and moderate to rough coastal waters will be experienced over extreme Northern Luzon and the eastern section of the country.

The rest of the archipelago will have light to moderate winds and slight to moderate seas.

The temperature in Metro Manila will range from 23°C
to 31°C; Baguio City, 17°C to 25°C; Laoag City, 22°C to 32°C; Legazpi City, 24°C to 31°C; Metro Cebu, 25°C to 32°C; Puerto Princesa City, 25°C to 32°C; and Metro Davao, 24°C to 33°C.
Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: Favorites Eric Jed Olivarez and Johnny Arcilla coasted to victory in the Dagitab Festival National Open men’s singles competition at the Naga City indoor clay courts in Cebu last Friday.

The top-ranked Olivarez clobbered John Patrick Paumar, 6-1, 6-0, while No. 2 Arcilla outclassed Jeffrey Jumawan, 6-2, 6-1.

Olivarez, who gained the No. 1 spot in the national singles rankings after winning last week in Parañaque, will be up against Rolly John Saga, who eliminated No. 14 Chat Conta, 6-4, 6-1.

“It feels amazing. It’s always been a dream for me to be No. 1 in the Philippines. But to be honest, I never really paid much attention to my ranking. I try to stay focused on my game and ways I can keep improving, so I was really surprised when I was told last week that I’m ranked 1 in the country,” Olivarez said in an interview on Saturday.

Arcilla, the 10-time PCA Open champion, will face No. 15 Marc Nicole Suson, who survived Kenzo Brodeth, 3-6, 7-6 (4), 10-7.

“I am ready to face the challenge ahead and d
efend my title,” said the 43-year-old Arcilla, who defeated Jan Godfrey Seno, 3-6, 6-0, 6-1, in the finals last year.

Meanwhile, third seed Elbert Anasta, No. 4 Josshua Kinaadman and No. 5 Eric Jay Tangub also made it to the next round of the event offering PHP60,000 in cash and a trophy to the champion.

Anasta, a Philippine Army sergeant, downed Francis Adrian Rosales, 6-3, 6-2, to advance against Celestino Cocoy Solon, who ousted No. 13 John Jeric Accion, 7-6 (4), 6-7 (2), 10-5.

Kinaadman demolished Jonathan Jackson, 6-0, 6-0, to set up a third-round showdown with No. 16 Abson John Alejandre, who prevailed over Matthew Crisosto, 6-2, 6-2.

Tangub trounced Max Bryant Ada, 6-0, 6-1, to advance against No. 11 Francisco Santos, a 6-0, 6-1 winner over Greek Apduhan.

Other winners No. 7 Noel Salupado over Vince Tabotabo, 1-0 (ret); Francis Eduard over No. 6 Jude Andre Ceniza, 6-3, 3-6, 10-8; Mark Alcoseba over No. 8 Heinz Aslan Carbonilla, 6-2, 6-3; No. 9 Jan Godfrey Seno over Kristian Tesorio, 6-4, 6-1; and
Raymund Goco over No. 10 Noel Damian, 6-3, 6-3.

The Dagitab Festival National Open is part of the country’s longest talent search initiated by Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro
Source: Philippines News Agency

ISTANBUL: Al Jazeera cameraman Samer Abu Daqqa, who was injured due to Israeli attacks on Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, lost his life on Friday.

Abu Daqqa was injured due to shrapnel as a result of Israel’s attacks near the Ferkhane School, Al Jazeera announced.

After being injured, Abu Daqqa took refuge in an area near Ferkhane School, where the attacks continued, and ambulances could not enter the area surrounded by Israeli forces.

First aid teams were not allowed to enter the besieged area for hours to intervene and treat the journalist who was bleeding. He could not be taken to the hospital.

Also, three civil defense workers who tried to intervene to help Abu Daqqa and other injured people trapped in the school also lost their lives as a result of the Israeli attack, according to information from local sources.

‘I can only sleep about 3 hours a day’

Pictures of Abu Daqqa during his last shots near Ferkhane School were shared on social media.

In these pictures, Abu Daqqa’s sleepless state
is noticeable, and when a journalist friend asked him for how long he has not slept, Abu Daqqa replied: “I can only sleep about 3 hours a day,” expressing his wishes for the health and well-being of all press colleagues.

Dahduh, who was injured in the hand, arm, shoulder, and abdomen, was taken to Al-Nasr Hospital in Khan Younis, while the school where Abu Daqqa sought refuge and the area surrounding the school were besieged by Israeli forces.

Another journalist injured

Meanwhile, Director of UN Information Service Allessandra Velucci said all parties must adhere to international human rights law and ensure the protection of journalists.

“Media equipment, offices, and studios must not be the target of attacks or reprisals,” she underscored.

The Israeli forces on Friday violently attacked Anadolu photojournalist Mustafa Alkharouf, who had been on duty in the occupied East Jerusalem before he was hospitalized.

The incident occurred as a group of Palestinians gathered in the Wadi al-Joz neighborhood near t
he flashpoint Al-Aqsa Mosque to pray, as restrictions imposed by the Israeli army on Friday prayers at the mosque went into their 10th week.

The head of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), Anthony Bellanger, also condemned the “violent and aggressive” attack on Alkharouf by Israeli forces.

“It’s a nightmare. It’s a catastrophic situation. So, it’s difficult to say more except that we condemn,” Bellanger told Anadolu.

Every day, civilians as well as journalists become “victims of the Israeli military,” he stressed, adding that at least 64 journalists and media workers have been killed in Gaza since Oct. 7.

He said that the federation will document all cases, including the attack against Alkharouf, for the International Criminal Court.
Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: Winning the inaugural Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference proved that National University’s (NU) volleyball program keep getting better.

NU-Sta. Elena rallied past heavily favored Cignal, 22-25, 25-22, 21-25, 25-22, 15-8 in the final at Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan Friday night.

“Na-maximize lang talaga kami kung anong dapat gawin sa mga ganung sitwasyon. Mabuti naka-survive kami sa liga na ito. Importante rin sa akin na nakuha namin ito kasi ito ‘yung nagpapatunay na ang NU volleyball program ay paangat na nang paangat (We really maximized what to do in those situations. Good thing we survived this league. It is also important to me that we got this because it proves that the NU volleyball program is going to get better),” coach Dante Alinsunurin said after the match that lasted two hours and 25 minutes.

“Sobrang memorable ito sa akin, kasi sabi ko nga, pumunta kami sa Spikers’ Turf maganda ‘yung simula namin pero kalagitnaan medyo nag-struggle talaga kami. Natamaan kami ng injuries talaga (
This is very memorable for me, as I have said, we went to the Spikers’ Turf, we had a good start but in the middle, we really struggled a bit. We were hit by injuries),” he added.

After losing to NU in the 2022 Open Conference finals, Cignal bounced back this year, winning the title via a 15-game sweep in March.

The HD Spikers were hoping for a perfect season as they topped the pool eliminations and swept the semifinal phase. But the Nationals, led by Jade Alex Disquitado and Nico Almendras, rose to the challenge.

Disquitado was named Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) after posting a career-high 34 points, including 31 attacks.

Almendras added 20 points, 22 excellent receptions and five excellent digs, while Leo Aringo Jr. had 10 points.

“Itong Finals MVP, siguro bonus na lang ito kasi ‘yung goal talaga namin ay mag-champion. Nagpapasalamat ako kay Lord kasi binigay niya sa amin ‘yung championship at nakuha ko itong MVP (This Finals MVP is probably just a bonus because our real goal is to become champion
s. I thank the Lord because he gave us the championship and I got this MVP),” Disquitado, playing in his first conference, said.

The tournament MVP honors went to 6-foot-1 middle blocker Vince Himzon after leading Saints and Lattes-Letran to fourth place.

He was No. 2 in scoring in the second round with 61 points built on 48 spikes on a 56.47-percent success rate. He was also second in blocks with 12 at an average of 0.80 per set.

Others in the elite team were Letran’s Bem-Bem Bautista (Best Outside Spiker); Cignal’s John Paul Bugaoan (Best Middle Blocker), Joshua Umandal (Best Outside Spiker) and Manuel Sumanguid (Best Libero); and NU’s Joshua Retamar (Best Setter) and Leo Ordiales (Best Opposite Spiker).
Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: The Department of Agriculture (DA) said it is expecting some three months’ worth of national rice stock inventory by the end of December in addition to rice supply sourced abroad, thus enough supply until the next harvest season.

‘At the end we’re expecting mga (around) 85 to 90 days national stock inventory by end of December which is enough na ma-itawid natin hanggang sa susunod na (to last until) harvest season come March or April,’ DA Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa said at the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City.

‘Siyempre mayroon din namang import na dumarating kasi liberalized naman iyong importation natin. Based on historical data, may dumarating din na imports additional (Of course, imports are expected because out importation system is liberalized. Based on historical data, there will be additional imports) during the first quarter,’ he added.

De Mesa said the DA is expecting at least 20 million metric tons (MT) before yearend.

The country’s imports as of November have reached 3.03 mil
lion MT, lower compared to last year’s 3.5 million MT for the same period.

‘Last year ang kabuuan (the total is) is 3.8 [MT]. We’re expecting this year mga (around) 3.2, 3.3 million metric tons wala pa iyong Indian rice. So, kumbaga, magkaroon lang na kaunting diprensiya, so plus matatag naman iyong ating (excluding the Indian rice. There will be a slight difference and we have stable) production,’ De Mesa said.

The DA is waiting for the delivery of the 95,000 MT of Indian rice out of the 295,000 MT secured by the government.

Succeeding deliveries are expected in January, De Mesa added.
Source: Philippines News Agency