Author: Jack Heichel

Sara Duterte trends skinheadSara Duterte trends skinhead

September 25, 2017September 25, 2017
Jack HeichelJack Heichel 0 Comment

Sporting a skinhead is trending when no less than former Davao City mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio had her head shaven Tuesday to show support for her father, Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who is being pushed for the presidency by millions of Filipinos.

After castigating a netizen for accusing her of being selfish for what was publicly perceived as her opposition to her father from running for the highest post in the land, Sara Duterte-Carpio posted an instagram photo Tuesday showing her sporting a skinhead with the hashtags #Duterte2016, #kalboparasapagbabago, #NohairWecare, and #justDUit.

Her instagram post was perceived by many as the daughter’s implied support for Mayor Duterte’s presidential bid.

Many of Duterte’s supporters also had their head shaven in support of the Duterte for President movement. Wednesday afternoon, several Davao City councilors will also be having their heads shaven at a barbershop here to express their support on Duterte’s presidential bid.

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Yasay says Duterte presentation in 18-nation East Asia Group was not “tense and shocking” as reportedYasay says Duterte presentation in 18-nation East Asia Group was not “tense and shocking” as reported

August 13, 2017August 13, 2017
Jack HeichelJack Heichel 0 Comment

Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. denied reports that President Rodrigo Duterte “shocked and tensed” world leaders during a presentation he made in a meeting of the 18-nation East Asia Group in the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) meetings in Laos Thursday.

Reports claim that Duterte’s presentation of a picture of the killings perpetrated by American soldiers in the past created such a stir among attendees that included US President Barack Obama.

“This is my ancestor they killed. Why now we are talking about human rights,” Duterte was quoted as saying during his presentation.

Sec. Yasay did not confirm nor deny this but said that the meeting was held in closed door and thus everything that happened at the course of the meeting is not for him to reveal.

Yasay said though that everything that happened in the said meeting will be revealed in due time as they form part of public records.

Asked if Duterte’s presentation indeed caused tension and shock among the delegates, Yasay said he could not really say for certain.

Yasay confirmed though that President Obama was present during Duterte’s presentation and did not give any reaction. He said though that both world leaders shook each other’s hands after the presentation before Duterte hurriedly left for a bilateral meeting with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.

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Haze affects Davao RegionHaze affects Davao Region

July 11, 2017July 11, 2017
Jack HeichelJack Heichel 0 Comment

Haze from the forest fires in Indonesia have reached Davao Region.

This was the confirmation made by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) Davao Region in a radio interview Monday morning.

Ben Rosales, weather observer of Pagasa Davao, said that the haze affecting Davao was brought by the monsoon winds blowing northeast from fires in Indonesia towards the direction of the Philippines.

Since October 3, Cebu has been experiencing haze. Davao has started experiencing haze since last week.

At least eight of the ten countries in the ASEAN region have been affected by the haze, including southern Thailand and Vietnam, and most parts of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. The haze affecting Cambodia and Philippines is also suspected to have arisen from Indonesian rather than local sources.

Indonesia has struggled for years to contain forest fires, especially in the islands of Sumatra and Kalimantan.

The fires are caused by firms and farmers who engage in illegal slash-and-burn practices as a relatively inexpensive means of clearing land. Sumatra and Kalimantan possess large area of peatland, which is highly combustible during dry season. The haze has been particularly severe this year due to the El Niño phenomenon which has caused drier conditions, allowing the fires to spread more.

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