Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Sunday, September 15, 2024. Today’s episode is brought to you by Wilcon Depot, The Philippines’ leading home improvement and construction supplies retailer—your Trusted Building Partner. READ: Lawmakers clash on OVP budget TWO lawmakers over the weekend opposed the decision of the House Committee on Appropriations to slash the budget of the Office of the Vice President by 1.2 billion pesos, saying they should have followed “tradition” by showing the office “courtesy” in the budgeting process. The panel’s senior vice chairman, Rep. Stella Luz Quimbo, announced on Thursday that the OVP would receive a budget of 733 million pesos from its original proposal of 2.037 billion pesos for 2025. The 1.2 billion pesos cut from the OVP budget would go instead to social assistance programs of the Department of Health and the Department of Social Welfare and Development. The decision came after Vice President Sara Duterte engaged in a testy exchange with the panel on August 27 over questions on the use of the agency’s confidential and intelligence funds in 2022.
Get the latest news delivered to your inbox Sign up for The Manila Times newsletters By signing up with an email address, I acknowledge that I have read and agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy READ: Hospital arrest for Quiboloy ruled out SEN. Risa Hontiveros, on Saturday, expressed strong opposition to the camp of Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KoJC) founder Apollo Quiboloy’s request for hospital arrest in Davao City. Hontiveros said in a statement the fugitive preacher should be receiving any form of special treatment. She said Quiboloy had no right to choose where he wanted to be detained.
Advertisement READ: ‘Most beautiful ship’ now in Manila THE visit of the renowned Italian training ship (ITS) Amerigo Vespucci to the Philippines is a significant milestone for Italy’s maritime engagement in Southeast Asia, the vessel’s commander said during the visit of local media on board the “floating embassy” on Saturday. Amerigo Vespucci arrived in the Philippines Thursday night and is currently docked at the Manila harbor. The ship will remain in the country for several days, during which cadets aboard the vessel will continue their training and participate in cultural exchanges. Capt. Giuseppe Lai said this was the first time that Amerigo Vespucci had visited the Philippines as part of a global tour to promote bilateral maritime cooperation and further cement Italy’s naval ties with the region.
READ: Teves’ lawyer says extradition is off THE lawyer of the fugitive and expelled congressman Arnolfo Teves Jr. said on Saturday that a court in Timor Leste had invalidated the Philippine government’s request to extradite him to face murder charges here. In a press conference Saturday, lawyer Ferdinand Topacio presented documents he said were issued by the Timor Leste Court of Appeals ruling as “null and void” its earlier decision to reject Teves’ appeal against his extradition. The Manila Times tried to reach an official from the Department of Justice or the Palace to verify Topacio’s claim but was unable to do so. Citing the documents he presented, Topacio said a new trial would be conducted on the extradition of Teves. They also mean that the first extradition request is null and void and that the extradition will not push through as the government has been claiming, he said. Teves is facing 10 counts of murder, 12 counts of frustrated murder and four counts of attempted murder before the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 51 concerning the March 4, 2023 shootings in the town of Pamplona in Negros Oriental.
Advertisement READ: Government satisfaction rating up 11 points THE majority of Filipinos are satisfied with the performance of the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., giving it a “good” +40 net satisfaction rating in June, according to the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey. Conducted from June 23 to July 1, the survey showed that 62 percent of Filipinos were satisfied, 15 percent were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied, and 22 percent were dissatisfied with the performance of the national government. This yielded a net satisfaction rating of +40 (percentage of satisfied minus percentage of dissatisfied), which SWS classified as “good.” SWS said this was an 11-point increase from the +29 rating in March 2024 but 12 points lower than the +52 rating in December 2023. It attributed the improvement in the administration’s net satisfaction rating from March to June 2024 to increases across all geographic areas.
* Andrea Trinidad, a Filipina entrepreneur, runs a bed and breakfast called Wander Woman in Palawan, Philippines. * The business focuses on sustainable tourism and eco-friendly practices. * Wander Woman offers a unique experience by combining traditional Filipino hospitality with modern amenities. * The bed and breakfast is located in a scenic location with stunning views of the Palawan landscape.
A. The Rise of Social Media and the Erosion of Empathy
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* Marlen Ronquillo’s column explores the question of whether humanity has lost its capacity for empathy and compassion. * Ronquillo argues that the rise of social media has contributed to a decline in genuine human connection. * She cites examples of online interactions that lack empathy and compassion, such as cyberbullying, hate speech, and the spread of misinformation.