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https://www.philstar.com/opinion

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Philstar.com is one of the most vibrant, opinionated, discerning communities of readers on cyberspace. With your meaningful insights, help shape the stories that can shape the country. Sign up now!

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Philstar.com is one of the most vibrant, opinionated, discerning communities of readers on cyberspace. With your meaningful insights, help shape the stories that can shape the country. Sign up now!

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https://www.gmanetwork.com/international/newsandevents/1333/award-winning-filipina-ceo-shares-her-story-of-success-in-dubai/story

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Award-winning Filipina CEO Shares her Story of Success in Dubai | News and Events | GMA International - Bringing Filipinos Abroad Closer to Home

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Catch more stories like this in Global Pinoy Unlimited only on GMA Pinoy TV!

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PH gymnast Carlos Yulo bags historic gold in World Championships

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 12)- Gymnast Carlos Yulo made history on Saturday as he captured the country's first ever gold medal in the 49th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships. Yulo tallied a total score of 15.3 in the men's floor exercise final of the event held in Stuggart, Germany.

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https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/explainer-sovereignty-sovereign-rights-west-philippine-sea

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Paterno R. Esmaquel II, news editor of Rappler, specializes in covering religion and foreign affairs. He obtained his MA Journalism degree from Ateneo and later finished MSc Asian Studies (Religions in Plural Societies) at RSIS, Singapore. For story ideas or feedback, email him at pat.esmaquel@rappler.com.

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Sovereignty vs sovereign rights: What do we have in West PH Sea?

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Paterno R. Esmaquel II, news editor of Rappler, specializes in covering religion and foreign affairs. He obtained his MA Journalism degree from Ateneo and later finished MSc Asian Studies (Religions in Plural Societies) at RSIS, Singapore. For story ideas or feedback, email him at pat.esmaquel@rappler.com.

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https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/explainer-sovereignty-sovereign-rights-west-philippine-sea

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Paterno R. Esmaquel II, news editor of Rappler, specializes in covering religion and foreign affairs. He obtained his MA Journalism degree from Ateneo and later finished MSc Asian Studies (Religions in Plural Societies) at RSIS, Singapore. For story ideas or feedback, email him at pat.esmaquel@rappler.com.

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Sovereignty vs sovereign rights: What do we have in West PH Sea?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Paterno R. Esmaquel II, news editor of Rappler, specializes in covering religion and foreign affairs. He obtained his MA Journalism degree from Ateneo and later finished MSc Asian Studies (Religions in Plural Societies) at RSIS, Singapore. For story ideas or feedback, email him at pat.esmaquel@rappler.com.

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MANILA, Philippines - Police Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, chief of the Philippine National Police, tasked the Cebu Provincial Police Office to look into an alleged beach party attended by some politicians held last month in Camotes Island.

"We will abide by the directive [to] investigate the said gathering which may have violated minimum public health safety standards and quarantine protocols and could have been a super spreader event," Eleazar said.

"I am directing the local police to closely look into the evidence and coordinate with the LGU regarding the incident."

He did not mention who the politicians in question were.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año earlier said that his department received information about the party, which took place last July 10, from an anonymous complainant.
From Interaksyon: Satire page throws shade at 'rich kids' of Cebu amid quarantine violations during weekend party
Uploaded videos of the beach party showed the guests seemingly completely disregarding minimum public health safety standards and quarantine protocols.

Eleazar encouraged the public to continue reporting to authorities violations of minimum public health safety standards and quarantine protocols.

"This incident was just reported by a concerned citizen. We urge the public to continue reporting to authorities incidents where minimum public health safety standards and quarantine protocols are violated," Eleazar said.

The PNP chief in his statement also "assured" the public that politicians are not exempted from abiding by pandemic restrictions.

However, a number of politicians and government officials have been cleared over well-documented quarantine violations, including former PNP chief Debold Sinas, who Eleazar replaced.

The Quezon City Police District also "cleared" QC councilor Franz Pumaren for his food distribution activity in Brgy. Old Balara that attracted over 6,000 residents, claiming there were no quarantine violations.
READ: Whatever happened to: Quarantine violators in Philippine government

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PNP orders probe into politicians' alleged Cebu beach party

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MANILA, Philippines - Police Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, chief of the Philippine National Police, tasked the Cebu Provincial Police Office to look into an alleged beach party attended by some politicians held last month in Camotes Island.

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https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1475355/qc-starts-home-deliveries-of-business-permits

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MANILA, Philippines - Business permits in Quezon City will now be delivered straight to the homes of applicants as the local government launches its Automatic Document Delivery System (ADDS).

"Before, applicants have to set an appointment or book a courier service at their expense just to pick up their business permits. Now, we have already partnered with Airspeed that will do the delivery for them for free and for their convenience," Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said in a statement on Wednesday.

After the applicant's submission of a unified application form and requirements to the Quezon City e-services, an evaluation and verification will be then conducted by the Business Permits and Licensing Department (BPLD), Zoning Administration Unit, City Assessor's Department, and other concerned departments.

Approved and completed permits will then be released at the Business One-Stop Shop and forwarded to the new system.

The ADDS will "separate documents for filing and delivery, print the KyusiPass, encode the documents ready for release, and print a unique QR code that includes the recipient's address." The documents will then be delivered to the applicant.

The BPLD is also issuing an electronic copy of the document once the business application is approved.

Stickers and seals are also attached to the envelope to guarantee that documents are not damaged or tampered with.

Quezon City issues 200 to 250 business permits per day.
RELATED STORIES Business establishments in QC now required to use KyusiPass QC issues rules vs panic buying, hoarding during ECQ Belmonte: No walk-ins in Quezon City vaccination sites
/MUF

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QC starts home deliveries of business permits

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MANILA, Philippines - Business permits in Quezon City will now be delivered straight to the homes of applicants as the local government launches its Automatic Document Delivery System (ADDS). "Before, applicants have to set an appointment or book a courier service at their expense just to pick up their business permits.

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Roque

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Who is Mommy Divine, Sarah Geronimo’s mother? (rappler.com)

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https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/18/21/ateneo-suspends-entrance-exam-again

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https://opinion.inquirer.net/143243/an-issue-of-existence

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https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2021/08/18/2120855/phivolcs-downgrades-bulusan-volcano-normal-alert-level

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https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/08/19/21/govt-preparing-2nd-flight-for-pinoys-in-afghanistan

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Gov't preparing 2nd flight for Pinoys in Afghanistan

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The Philippine government is preparing to repatriate 100 more Filipinos out of Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover of its capital.

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https://mb.com.ph/2021/06/12/gen-z-thoughts-on-independence-day-show-your-love-for-country-by-voting/

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(The Freeman) - August 1, 2021 - 12:00am

CEBU, Philippines - Maureen Wroblewitz, who brought pride to the Philippines in 2017 as the first Filipino winner of "Asia's Next Top Model" (ANTM), was among the many personalities who recently inked a contract with ABS-CBN in what was dubbed as the Star Magic Black Pen Day.

The 23-year-old Filipino-German model said she grew up watching TFC (The Filipino Channel) and recalls getting mesmerized with Anne Curtis and Kathryn Bernardo's acting skills. She imagined then how amazing it would be to someday be like the two top Kapamilya stars.

"It is nerve-wracking and kinda scary but I know that this step is really important," said Maureen of her career's new chapter as a Kapamilya artist. "Even though I am nervous and kind of terrified, I am also extremely excited to see what's in store."

Maureen said she's always up for challenges. Like her time on ANTM where she emerged victorious despite being the youngest among the contenders plus the issues she had to deal with, she takes her official entry into ABS-CBN's fold as yet another challenge to conquer.

"I just have to stay humble and authentic because character plays a big role in any industry. Just like in Asia's Next Top Model, I will prove here that I'm not just a pretty face, because I also love acting," she said.

Even since she rose to public prominence, Maureen's facial features have often been compared to that of Liza Soberano. Maureen said she's been a fan of the beautiful actress since 2015, and while she'll definitely be intimidated in her presence, she would jump at the chance to work with Liza.

Maureen, who has been dating Cebuano singer-actor JK Labajo, shied away from giving names when asked which leading men are on her wish list. She indulged interviewers though when asked how her relationship with JK has managed to be smooth-sailing so far: proper communication and trust, said the former "Eat Bulaga" host.

Recently, the Miss Universe Philippines organization revealed their top 100 delegates and Maureen delighted her fans with what to some was her surprise entry, having earlier played coy when asked if she was joining this year.

In the Star Magic digital conference with her fellow brand new signees, Maureen expressed uncertainty about joining the quest to be Rabiya Mateo's successor because she wanted to be battle-ready. She added that time though, that she was not closing her doors.

Following MUP's reveal, Maureen posted an apology on her social media: "Surprise, I apologize for the white lies. As difficult as it was, I had to keep this as a secret. It was not until I received my sign from the universe that I knew I couldn't wait for that feeling of readiness and that I'd have to take that first step in order to feel ready."

On why she pushed through despite feeling unready, Maureen said she doesn't want to have any regrets. "I don't want to grow old thinking that I should've joined, alternatively, I would like to say 'I'm glad I've joined."

Some of the Filipina beauty queens who commended her decision were Hannah Arnold, Katarina Rodriguez, Maureen Montagne, and actresses Iza Calzado and Maymay Entrata.

As one of the Top 100 delegates, Maureen is expected to undertake several virtual tasks in the succeeding weeks. The delegates will next be cut down to 75, 50, and then 30. Only 30 will be chosen as official candidates to compete live on the coronation night this September 25. - Jonas Raymond Tatoy, CNU Intern

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Maureen Wroblewitz set to prove she's more than a pretty face

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Maureen Wroblewitz, who brought pride to the Philippines in 2017 as the first Filipino winner of "Asia's Next Top Model", was among the many personalities who recently inked a contract with ABS-CBN in what was dubbed as the Star Magic Black Pen Day.

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https://www.tatlerasia.com/the-scene/people-parties/a-cinderella-story-pia-wurtzbach

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https://www.philstar.com/opinion/2021/05/22/2099969/editorial-your-body-your-choice

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https://www.philstar.com/the-freeman/opinion/2021/08/18/2120824/editorial-firefighters-guns-hospitals-no-nurses

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https://news.abs-cbn.com/blogs/business/08/17/21/can-our-olympians-afford-to-keep-all-their-prizes

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If Yuzuru Hanyu of Japan recovers from an ankle injury in time for the Winter Olympics, he'll be one of the Games' biggest stars. Not since 1952 has a men's champion successfully defended his gold medal in figure skating. Credit... Chang W. Lee/The New York Times

"People see Hanyu for the first time and they become hysterical or they're moved to tears. It's like their lives are complete."

If Yuzuru Hanyu of Japan recovers from an ankle injury in time for the Winter Olympics, he'll be one of the Games' biggest stars. Not since 1952 has a men's champion successfully defended his gold medal in figure skating. Credit... Chang W. Lee/The New York Times

Good luck totems can carry a skater only so far, though.

This is a story about obsession - the preoccupation that Hanyu's fans have with a transcendent international star and his own ambition for impeccable victory.

Two and a half weeks after the Moscow competition, Hanyu's fixation with difficult jumps led to an ankle injury. Ligament, tendon and bone damage to his right ankle kept him off the ice for more than a month, just as he was supposed to enter his final preparation for the 2018 Winter Games in February in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

Hanyu was named to Japan's Olympic team in late December. Officials said they hoped he could recover. But the Winter Games were only weeks away and Hanyu's ankle remained unstable. He could not yet practice his jumps.

Until he can complete a triumphant routine, uncertainty will shroud Hanyu's availability and reliability for the Olympics, creating agita not only for his fans but at the highest levels of his sport.

At the least, the injury has threatened to jeopardize Hanyu's chance of becoming the first repeat men's champion since Dick Button of the United States in 1948 and 1952.

On a larger scale, Hanyu would be one of the Games' few inimitable figures, hailing from a country that vibrantly supports the fading sport of figure skating. His absence, or his inability to compete at his best, would dim the star power at a global event where ticket sales and interest have lagged. And Olympic marketing experts could miss a huge opportunity to cultivate the Asian market for the 2020 Summer Games in Tokyo and the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing.

Even if Hanyu can participate, the Winter Games will be his first competition in three months. And he won't have Pooh to comfort him inside the rink. The presence of Pooh's likeness would contravene Olympic rules of sponsorship and branding.

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When healthy, his ambitious athleticism allows him to perform remarkable four-revolution jumps known as quads. And the emotion and interpretive skills of his artistry and musicality have made him a figure of fascination. He covers the ice with the creativity of a brush stroke and the precision of a stylus.

"He's the most complete athlete in figure skating, probably ever," said Stephane Lambiel of Switzerland, the 2006 Olympic silver medalist who is now a coach.

Hanyu can appear delicate, a boyish Christopher Robin with his Pooh. He also blurs rigid gender lines with his performances, possessing a grace and elegance that fans and journalists say are prized in Japan over a hypermasculine style of skating.

It is his aim, he says, "to stir something in people's hearts."

And, too, Hanyu is a relentless competitor who persevered after a devastating 2011 earthquake and tsunami struck northeast Japan and rattled his hometown, Sendai. He rotates so fast and tightly on his jumps that his body seems to disappear on its thin axis.

"He's got this aura, this special presence that only he has," said Midori Ito, who in 1992 became the first Japanese skater to win an Olympic medal, taking second place in the women's competition at the Winter Games in Albertville, France.

Even Hanyu's physique - slender body, long neck, arms and legs - is atypical for a Japanese skater, said Ito, who is now a skating analyst.

"I am an athlete, and as an athlete it's normal to keep challenging to do more and more," Hanyu has said.

He fell twice during his free skate at the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia. He said he wanted to deliver an unblemished, more inspired performance at the 2018 Winter Games.

"Could he win without the big, giant tricks? Yes," said Hanyu's coach, Brian Orser, who won two Olympic silver medals competing for Canada in the 1980s. "But that's not him. He's willing to take the risk. He's visualizing a greater win than last time. It wasn't that magical moment you usually see at the Olympics."

While the popularity of figure skating has nose-dived in the United States for several reasons, including the lack of a women's star and the indifference of younger fans, the sport thrives in Japan, especially among women.

Over the past quarter-century, Japan's singles skaters have enjoyed regular international success that has been both engaging in its artistry and groundbreaking in its athleticism.

Japanese fans flock to international competitions, buying tickets by lottery, often finding it easier to obtain seats outside of Japan than inside. At a tiny rink in Barrie, Ontario, Hanyu's fans have even camped out overnight to be first in line when the doors opened. And Japan's television networks and corporate sponsors are vital to bankrolling the International Skating Union.

"It's keeping the sport alive," said Jason Dungjen, a former American national pairs champion who coaches Japanese skaters.

Five Japanese television networks covered Hanyu's performance at the Rostelecom Cup in Moscow. So did several dozen print journalists and photographers who recorded his every jump, spin and utterance. Last spring, the skating website icenetwork.com found Hanyu on the cover of 19 publications called mooks - a combination of magazine and book - at a Japanese bookstore.

The bookstore was not in Tokyo. It was in Midtown Manhattan.

"It reminds me of when Michael Jackson was in his heyday, or meeting the Pope," said Jackie Wong, a prominent skating blogger and former skater who lives in New York. "People see Hanyu for the first time and they become hysterical or they're moved to tears. It's like their lives are complete. It's crazy."

As Hanyu was introduced in Moscow for the short program at the Rostelecom Cup, Japanese fans waved small national flags. On one side of the rink alone, there were 16 banners proclaiming "Go Yuzu" and other exhortations. As Hanyu began to perform to Chopin, the crowd grew so quiet that the scrape of his blades could be heard in the upper reaches of Megasport Arena.

A month earlier, Hanyu had set a world record for points for a short program. But in Moscow, he landed clumsily on a quadruple loop and put his hands to the ice after an awkward combination jump. The judges placed him second to Chen. Still, Hanyu's appreciative fans showered the ice with dozens of Pooh dolls.

"Did you see the Poohs?" Yoshiko Kobayashi, the high-performance director of the Japanese Skating Federation, later asked an American reporter. "The ice turned yellow."

The next day, Hanyu's fans again gathered to watch his free skate. Among them was Saori Kanayama, 30, a Japanese flight attendant who had traveled from Dubai for the competition. She had planned her vacation to attend the Olympics. All she needed was a ticket.

Hanyu's fans wrote thousands of letters to him, made dolls in his likeness and sent him origami, cookies and towels to wipe his face after training. Kanayama brought rock music CDs with her.

"He has too many Poohs," she said.

Her reasons for following Hanyu's career so closely were partly cultural. "Japanese people are shy, we are not supposed to show our honest feelings," she said. "As a skater, Yuzuru doesn't hesitate to show how much he wants to be No. 1."

Wearing a white tunic and skating as a character out of Japanese folklore, Abe no Seimei, a kind of soothsayer and supernatural protector, Hanyu landed a quadruple lutz for the first time in competition. It is the most difficult of the four-revolution jumps currently being performed, requiring the jab of a toe pick, a liftoff from the back outside edge of one skate and a landing on the back outside edge of the other skate.

But the performance was not flawless. Hanyu finished second over all to Chen. Some of his fans cried in the stands, including one wearing a costume identical to Hanyu's.

Frank Carroll, a renowned American coach who guided Evan Lysacek to a 2010 Olympic gold medal, attended the Rostelecom Cup. In his view, Hanyu seemed diminished.

"I don't see what he had a few years ago," Carroll said. "I'm sorry. I know he does some beautiful things, but I don't see the inspiration."

At a news conference, Hanyu complimented Chen as "a wonderfully talented person who does great jumps with a balletic expression."

"I need to practice more and more," Hanyu said.

The next evening, Hanyu's supporters were newly ebullient in filling the lobby of Moscow's Aerostar Hotel, where the skaters were feted at a banquet. The fans formed two lines through which skaters walked, some stopping briefly for photos and autographs.

A kind of spirit seemed to overtake Hanyu when he skated, lending him endearing masculine and feminine qualities, said one fan, Junko Ino, 36, a teacher from Fukuoka, Japan.

"He's powerful and tender," Ino said. "His emotion will heal your heart."

Sayuri Arimoto, 50, a software engineer, had traveled from San Mateo, Calif., to see Hanyu, even if it left her co-workers puzzled. "You travel to Europe just for figure skating?" they asked her.

When Hanyu was home in Japan, he sometimes skated at midnight for peace and quiet, his coach said. And in Toronto, where he trained most of the time, he occasionally called his coach to ask for a ride, uncomfortable with some fans who knew his daily routine and waited to ride the bus with him.

At the Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club, Hanyu's team makes a great effort to answer his fan mail and to keep fans, bloggers and other journalists from intruding to videotape his practices.

"You can have a bad day and nobody's going to be writing about it," said Orser, Hanyu's coach.

When he did not receive a desired result, Hanyu said, he felt a need to apologize to his fans, but did not consider the expectations of his supporters and the news media to be a burden.

"Honestly," he said through an interpreter, "sometimes I'm feeling like they treat me as a celebrity or an idol, but I'm not quite that. But I understand they're all here to support me and I appreciate that passion."

In the lobby of the Aerostar Hotel, Hanyu emerged through a side door, wearing a black suit for the banquet. He almost reached the elevators before fans noticed him. They hurried to take photos and videos. Among them was Hiroko Sato, 49, a neighbor of Hanyu's in Sendai, Japan. Her family's construction company had sustained damage during the 2011 earthquake.

Hanyu was training at the Sendai rink and, terrified, ran outside in his skates when the ice began to rumble. He and his parents and his sister were left without electricity or drinking water. They spent three days at an emergency shelter at a gymnasium. The rink closed for several months, leaving him a skating vagabond.

Upon winning a gold medal at the 2014 Olympics, Hanyu, then 19, worried aloud that his victory would be a frivolous gesture to those who had suffered in Sendai. That was not true, said Sato, his neighbor. Hanyu skated in a benefit for victims of the earthquake and donated royalties from his two autobiographies to the rink in Sendai.

Hanyu had called her after the earthquake, she said, asking, "Are you O.K.?" and telling her, "Hang in there."

"He gave hope for us," Sato said. She teared up as she recounted the destruction of the earthquake. "He got the gold medal at the Olympics."

The second week of November, Hanyu was set to compete in his second major pre-Olympic event of the season, the NHK Trophy in Osaka, Japan. Orser, his coach, had described Hanyu as being "so focused, so driven" that he was "on the verge of manic" in his determination to win a second Olympic gold medal.

Orser tried to convince Hanyu that there should be a natural ebb and flow to a long skating season. Button, the 1948 and 1952 Olympic champion, cautioned Hanyu not to overtrain. And one of Hanyu's idols, Evgeni Plushenko of Russia, the 2006 Olympic champion, suggested that Hanyu would not need five quadruple jumps in his Olympic free skate as Chen of the United States aspired to.

Shoma Uno, a Japanese teenager who finished second to Hanyu at the 2017 world championships, was also a magnificent jumper. But Hanyu had a decided edge over other skaters in the completeness of his performance - spins, skating skills, transitions between jumps and musical interpretation, Plushenko said.

"If he has three quads and skates clean, he can win the Olympics one more time," Plushenko said. "If he does all the things he can, he's going to win easily."

The biggest hurdle to his own failed attempt to repeat as Olympic champion, Plushenko said, was injury: "In my head I was ready to skate but my body is sometimes going, 'No, wait, please, please.'"

His words were prescient. On Nov. 9, a day before the NHK Trophy began, Hanyu attempted a quadruple lutz in practice, but his legs landed in a pretzled position. More than 100 Japanese journalists turned up at a news conference that evening to learn of Hanyu's condition.

The next day, it was announced that he had ligament damage in his right ankle but would try to compete. Instead, he withdrew. (Weeks later, it would be revealed that the ankle had also sustained tendon and bone damage.)

"I am very sorry to have everyone worried," Hanyu said in a statement.

At Osaka's Municipal Central Gymnasium, where the NHK Trophy went on without Hanyu, his fans were left dejected. Zeng Yuemeng, 28, an Osaka airport worker, said she had moved to Japan from China in July because of her favorite skater. She carried a Pooh keychain on her purse.

"Because this is his country," Zeng said of Hanyu, "maybe I can see why he has become such a perfect human."

Other fans took a half-hour train ride to pray for Hanyu at a Shinto shrine in Kobe, Japan. Because the shrine's name - Yuzuruha - resembled the first name of the skater, it had become a popular place for fans to write their well-wishes to Hanyu on round wooden plaques. Hundreds of plaques hung on racks at the shrine.

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The Greatest Figure Skater Ever Is Michael Jackson on Ice, Surrounded by Winnie the Poohs (Published 2018)

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"People see Hanyu for the first time and they become hysterical or they're moved to tears. It's like their lives are complete." If Yuzuru Hanyu of Japan recovers from an ankle injury in time for the Winter Olympics, he'll be one of the Games' biggest stars.

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https://mb.com.ph/2021/08/05/filipino-olympians-are-the-bravest/

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https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2021/08/19/2121158/maine-mendoza-nikko-natividad-defend-arjo-atayde-over-baguio-incident

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Jan Milo Severo - Philstar.com

MANILA, Philippines - Kapamilya actor Nikko Natividad defended Arjo Atayde over accusations that the actor allegedly just left his film crew after testing positive for COVID-19 in Baguio.

In his Twitter account, the Hashtag member said Arjo never abandoned them and was actually rushed to the hospital.

"Hindi kame inabanduna. Nakakatawa kasi pagkakareport. At hindi rin ho tumakas. Sinugod ho sa hospital," he said.

"Napaka buti at alaga ni arjo sa aming lahat. Kaya panong sasabihing inabanduna?" he added in another tweet.

Hindi kame inabanduna. Nakakatawa kasi pagkakareport. At hindi rin ho tumakas. Sinugod ho sa hospital https://t.co/Ul3hRHyS79
- NikkoDAKS (@Hashtag_nikko13) August 18, 2021

Meanwhile, Arjo's girlfriend, Maine Mendoza, clarified that she's not tolerating her boyfriend's alleged breach of safety protocols.

The "Eat Bulaga" host answered a Twitter user's post that said: "@mainedcm ayaw kong maniwala na kaya mong itolerate ang mali, na mas pabor sayo ang ginawa ni atayde kesa sa safety ng maraming tao. Hindi isang Maine Mendoza yun," the netizen said.

"Hello! I am not 'tolerating' him but there's just so much you do not know about the story. And I hope he gets the chance to tell his side and the context of what had happened these past few days," Maine replied.

"I also hope you do not base your judgments solely on what you see online because you might just be seeing an angle of the real scenario," she added.

Hello! I am not "tolerating" him but there's just so much you do not know about the story. And I hope he gets the chance to tell his side and the context of what had happened these past few days. I also hope you do not base your judgments solely on what you see online..
- Maine Mendoza (@mainedcm) August 18, 2021
RELATED: Magalong: Arjo Atayde, film crew get COVID-19 allegedly after breaking protocols in Baguio
Arjo Atayde camp airs side over Magalong's protocols breach accusation

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Maine Mendoza, Nikko Natividad defend Arjo Atayde over Baguio incident

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Jan Milo Severo - Philstar.com MANILA, Philippines - Kapamilya actor Nikko Natividad defended Arjo Atayde over accusations that the actor allegedly just left his film crew after testing positive for COVID-19 in Baguio. In his Twitter account, the Hashtag member said Arjo never abandoned them and was actually rushed to the hospital.

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(The Freeman) - August 16, 2021 - 12:00am

As of this writing yesterday it seems that virtually all of Afghanistan, except for its capital Kabul, has fallen to the Taliban.

By all accounts the Taliban also aims to occupy that city, now choked with throngs of refugees who fled before its advance in other parts of the country. Like we said in a previous editorial, we don't expect them to stop at nothing short of total domination of that country.

The western powers that previously occupied Afghanistan have a lot of responsibility to make sure that it doesn't fall into the hands of the Taliban again. Make no mistake that what is happening there is partly their fault; they tried to remake the Afghanistan system of governance into something acceptable to their standards and left it alone too soon.

It was a system that was too weak, even after almost two decades of nurturing. A people who are ethnically divided and used to a tribal law system will not immediately be able to grasp the nuances of democracy only after one generation.

Fortunately, US President Joe Biden seems to have understood the severity of the situation and ordered the deployment of 1,000 US troops to help secure the emergency evacuation from Kabul, on top of the 3,000 American soldiers deployed there in recent days and the 1,000 still assigned there.

Their presence, even if it is not to directly engage the enemy, will no doubt give the Taliban forces some pause. They are not likely interested to go toe-to-toe with enemies with better logistics, armaments, and air support after all.

Of course, we hope more action will be taken and by other western powers that have a stake in this region.

Again, many will ask why this should be the concern of others outside Afghanistan. They will say we are already dealing with too many issues.

They are actually right in that regard. But the problems we have now --including climate change, the pandemic, political unrest, and economic situations in many countries around the world, for example-- are usually the result of something we didn't do yesterday, or a few years back, or a decade ago.

Extremism, hate, and intolerance grew in that region, and was left to fester for decades. The result was the most horrific terrorist attack in human history that continues to affect many of us until now.

Given its history, the Taliban will be the likely source of even more problems in the future, it's better to do something about them now while they are still fighting rather than later when they have dug in.

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(The Freeman) - August 16, 2021 - 12:00am As of this writing yesterday it seems that virtually all of Afghanistan, except for its capital Kabul, has fallen to the Taliban. By all accounts the Taliban also aims to occupy that city, now choked with throngs of refugees who fled before its advance in other parts of the country.

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https://cnnphilippines.com/news/

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https://www.rappler.com/technology/gaming/call-of-duty-vanguard-release-date-announcement

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'Call of Duty: Vanguard' comes out on November 5

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Call of Duty makes a return to World War II, with four main characters fighting in separate theaters of war

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https://www.philstar.com/opinion/2021/08/18/2120728/editorial-hospitals-overwhelmed-again