Philippines

HAVANA — Some electricity was restored in Cuba after the island nation’s worst blackout in at least two years left millions without electricity for two days. Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy said Saturday the country had 500 megawatts in its electrical grid early Saturday, compared to the three gigawatts that are normally generated. He posted on the social media platform X that “several substations in the west now have electricity.” O Levy also said two thermoelectric power plants are back and two more will resume their operations “in the next few hours.” About half of Cuba was plunged […]…

Keep on reading: Cuba gets some electricity back after major outage

MAGALLANES, SORSOGON, Philippines — For Shaira Carvajal, 24, a history teacher, attending the 455th commemoration of the first Catholic Mass held in Luzon was more than just a work obligation but a deep commitment to history. Carvajal joined her townmates and visitors on Thursday at Sitio Gibalon in Barangay Siuton in celebrating what is believed […]…

Keep on reading: Faith, history meet in Magallanes

CEBU CITY, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed into law the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program, a nationwide initiative aimed at helping students who are struggling academically, particularly in reading, mathematics, and science. He signed the bill into law on October 18, 2024. The ARAL Program will target K-12 learners who need additional support to meet the minimum proficiency levels set by the Department of Education (DepEd). The law provides free interventions for students from Kindergarten to Grade 10 in public schools, focusing on those returning to school after a break, those who are below the […]…

Keep on reading: New law to help struggling students in reading, math, science

It seems some protests “to save Cebu” in recent times, have conversations centered on the Philippine energy transition, which have been slanted heavily towards extreme ideology. They were ignoring engineering, scientific, policy, and economic variables that should weigh more predominantly in discussions about a very technical and heavily-regulated industry such as the electric power sector. Take for instance some activists mobilized by the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ) in Toledo, Cebu who oppose the expansion of the Therma Visayas coal-fired power plant, accusing the facility of illegality (without evidence) and the sector of prioritizing “profit over health” (again without […]…

Keep on reading: When protests to save Cebu do more harm than good

Maris Racal’s latest film “Sunshine” has been nominated at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA) 2024 following its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) last month. APSA recently announced the list of nominees on social media which included “Sunshine” as a nominee in the Best Youth Film category. Philippines’ “Sunshine” will be competing against India’s “Boong,” Australia’s “Magic Beach,” China’s “She Sat There Like All Ordinary Ones” and New Zealand’s “The Mountain.” Project 8 Projects, the production company founded by Antoinette Jadaone, director of “Sunshine, and Dan Villegas, celebrated the nomination on its social media pages. “YOU […]…

Keep on reading: Maris Racal’s ‘Sunshine’ nominated at Asia Pacific Screen Awards 2024