Day: April 18, 2024

ISTANBUL: USA Basketball revealed on Wednesday that the men’s national team roster for Paris 2024 will include LeBron James, Steph Curry and Kevin Durant.

The team unveiled the 12 basketball stars, including three-time Olympic champion Durant from the Phoenix Suns and the NBA’s all-time scoring leader James from the Los Angeles Lakers, who won gold medals at the 2008 and 2012 Games and a bronze at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

“In addition to Durant and James, the 2024 USA Men’s National Team features Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat), Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns), Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors), Anthony Davis (Los Angeles Lakers), Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves), Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers), Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers), Jrue Holiday (Boston Celtics), Kawhi Leonard (L.A. Clippers) and Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics),” USA Basketball said in a statement.

Managing Director Grant Hill said it was an honor to introduce the 2024 team and he is grateful to the 12 players for their commitment to repre
sent the US.

“These decisions weren’t easy, but it was a pleasure to go through the process and reach this outcome,” he added.

USA Basketball will begin training camp July 6 in Las Vegas.

Following a game against Canada, the US will rush to the international training window that begins when the US hosts Australia and Serbia on July 15 and 17, respectively, at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.

The Olympics will take place from July 26 to Aug. 11.

“This must be a dream. Team USA,” the Olympics wrote on X.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Wednesday (US time) paid a courtesy call to United States Rep. Ami Bera of California’s 6th District at the Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. where the Filipino delegation was surprised when the American lawmaker offered them beer and Philippine popular street food ‘balut’.

Bera’s offer of beer and balut, basically boiled duck egg, served as a symbolic display of camaraderie and cooperation between the US and the Philippines.

Aside from the Speaker, the Philippine delegation included Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio ‘Dong’ Gonzales Jr., Deputy Speaker David ‘Jay-jay’ Suarez, Majority Leader Manuel Jose ‘Mannix’ M. Dalipe, Agusan del Norte Rep. Jose ‘Joboy’ Aquino ll, House Secretary General Reginald ‘Reggie’ Velasco, Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez, Ambassador to Japan Mylene Garcia-Albano, and House Deputy Secretary Generals Jennifer ‘Jef’ Baquiran, David Robert Amorin, and Sofonias ‘Ponyong’ Gabonada Jr., and other House officials and Philippin
e embassy officers.

Strengthening of diplomatic ties and crucial regional matters were discussed during the meeting.

Against the backdrop of geopolitical tensions, both Romualdez and Bera emphasized the importance of fostering stability, peace, and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.

Bera underscored the significance of the current geopolitical landscape, emphasizing the necessity of cooperation while respecting each other’s sovereignty.

“It’s an important time in the region. None of us wants conflicts. We seek cooperation but we should respect each other’s sovereignty. We stand close to each other,’ Bera said.

In response, Romualdez expressed his gratitude for the unwavering support of Bera and his district, reaffirming the enduring friendship between the Philippines and the US.

“Our gratitude and appreciation for your support, especially from your district as your home. We will not take that for granted. You are a true friend to the Philippines,’ Romualdez said.

Romualdez also highlighted the hist
oric trilateral partnership between the United States, Japan, and the Philippines.

“Who could have imagined that history would once again be made-the trilateral meeting of the US, Japan, and the Philippines? These are times that unite us, as we look towards the future,’ Romualdez said.

They also discussed enhancing defense capabilities, promoting economic opportunities, and strengthening trade relations between the two nations.

Both leaders emphasized the importance of initiatives such as the reauthorization of the Generalized System of Preferences, investments in green economies, and partnerships in global infrastructure projects.

However, amidst the serious talks, the concept of “balut diplomacy” emerged as a lighthearted yet meaningful gesture of cultural exchange.

Bera, who prepared the traditional Filipino delicacy, suggested drafting a memorandum of understanding to be sent to the respective embassies, referring to it playfully as “balut diplomacy.”

“We do joint partnerships, English language. Let
‘s draft and forward it to the Embassy. Call it balut diplomacy,’ he said.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: Changes to the project cost, revised parameters, and terms and conditions of the Cancer Center Project of the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) Manila will be up for the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board’s approval on April 25.

“[There] will be a NEDA Board [meeting] on April 25 so hopefully, it will be approved,” Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center Executive Director Cynthia Hernandez said on the sidelines of European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines Luncheon in Makati City on Thursday.

In February last year, the NEDA Board first approved the UP-PGH Cancer Center Project.

The Cancer Center Project will be pursued through a Build-Transfer-Operate (BTO) contractual arrangement.

The Cancer Center will have a total capacity of 300 beds and will bring together into one facility the 150 existing PGH private beds and 150 existing PGH basic or ward beds, outpatient care, cancer diagnostics, and facilities for chemotherapy, radiotherapy, an
d oncological surgery. As a solicited PPP project, the private partner will design, finance, construct, and commission a new standalone center.

The PPP Center earlier disclosed that prospective bidders include the Ayala Healthcare Holdings, Inc., Plenary Asia Pte Ltd., Scheirman Construction Consolidated Inc., and Siemens Healthcare Inc.

On Nov. 20, 2023, however, the UP-PGH submitted its request for approval of changes in the parameters, terms, and conditions of the project.

Following such request, the project cost increased from PHP6.05 billion to PHP9.49 billion.

“Some of the assumptions were pre-pandemic, and when they were drafting the detailed terms and conditions, I think PGH realized [that] they need to substantially upgrade the standards especially if they want it to be world class,” Hernandez said.

“So there were adjustments to the project cost which necessitated another round of NEDA approvals,” she added.

Since some of the bidders also expressed concern about the viability of the project, He
rnandez said the new terms and conditions would hopefully “make it more market-friendly.”

She said the project is targeted to be awarded within the year.

Source: Philippines News Agency

BACOLOD CITY: The Technological University of the Philippines (TUP) – Visayas, based in Talisay City, Negros Occidental, has been commended by local officials for its outstanding performance in the April 2024 Electronics Engineers and Electronics Technicians Licensure Examinations.

Results released by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) on Wednesday afternoon showed that magna cum laude graduate Niele Shem Banas topped the electronics engineers’ examination.

TUP also emerged as the top-performing school for electronics technicians.

Both Talisay City Mayor Neil Lizares and 3rd District Rep. Jose Francisco Benitez posted separate congratulatory messages for the feat achieved by TUP-Visayas.

In a statement on Thursday, TUP-Visayas campus director Eric Malo-oy credited the university’s success in the engineering and engineering technology programs to curriculum development initiatives, as well as laboratory and equipment augmentation.

‘We also attribute this to the commitment of each faculty and sta
ff to delivering quality education,’ he added.

Malo-oy said Bañas would receive a topnotcher’s incentive of PHP200,000.

Bañas, the lone topnotcher from Western Visayas, garnered an average score of 91.80 percent, taking the top spot among the 1,330 passers out of 3,130 examinees.

In the Electronics Engineers Licensure Examination, TUP-Visayas achieved a 71.05 percent overall passing rate, with 54 passers out of 76 examinees, surpassing the 42.49 percent national average.

TUP-Visayas was the number one top performer in the Electronics Technicians Licensure Examination among schools with 50 or more examinees and with at least 80 percent passing average.

A total of 67 out of its 72 examinees passed, with a passing percentage of 93.06 percent.

According to the PRC, 1,819 out of 2,538 hurdled the Electronics Technicians Licensure Examination.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: The Maharlika Investment Corp. (MIC) on Thursday unveiled its new logo inspired by the Philippine Eagle.

In a statement, the MIC said the new logo embodies the strength, focus, and enduring power necessary to elevate the country.

It said the design reflects the sovereign wealth fund’s commitment to building benefits for the country’s future generations.

The Maharlika logo has three stars that represent Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, while the central sun symbolizes national unity and the fund’s reach across the archipelago.

The MIC said the logo’s colors – bold red, blue, and yellow – reflect the Philippine flag, demonstrating a deep respect for God and country.

“This logo signifies our commitment to realizing the vision of MIC for a revitalized, economically vibrant Philippines. As a catalyst for sustainable, inclusive growth, we are champions of progress and models of transparency and accountability,” Maharlika President and CEO Rafael Consing Jr. said.

“Guided by our investment pillars, we are
dedicated to elevating the quality of life of the Filipino people and leaving a legacy of prosperity for the country. Together, we will soar towards a brighter future for our nation.”

The MIC serves as the sole vehicle responsible for mobilizing and utilizing the Maharlika Investment Fund for investments in transactions aimed at generating optimal returns on investments.

Source: Philippines News Agency