Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by M. Standard
Dinagyang Festival: A vibrant celebration of Iloilo’s heritage, faith
In the heart of Iloilo City, Philippines, a vibrant tapestry of history, faith, and pulsating rhythms unfolds every fourth Sunday of January. It is the Dinagyang Festival — a kaleidoscope of color, movement, and devotion, drawing thousands to witness its electrifying spectacle. Dinagyang is one of the many festivals in the country that serves as a testament to Filipino culture and rich history.
Dozens arrested in Ecuador after hospital assault
Quito, Ecuador – Police in violence-plagued Ecuador arrested 68 people Sunday who had attempted to take over a hospital in the country’s southwest in the midst of a “war” between drug gangs and the security forces. The arrests came as Quito agreed with neighboring Andean nations Peru, Colombia and Bolivia to launch a new security network, with the deal reached at an emergency meeting held as the region watches bloodshed spiral in once-peaceful Ecuador.
Advocacy group pledges support for peace talks
The Political Officers League of the Philippines (POLPhil) said it will support peace talks between the government and communist rebels to achieve lasting peace. The POLPhil recently held the National Peace Advocates Summit (NPAS) at the Hive Hotel Convention Place in Quezon City, where POLPhil members pronounced their commitment to peace. About 200 people attended the summit representing various sectors including transport, labor, academe, and government.
Ayala Land Premier heralds first corporate tower development One Vertis Plaza
Ayala Land Premier (ALP), the legacy brand for premium properties of listed, full-line real estate company Ayala Land Inc. (ALI), has added a new dimension to its solid reputation as the top high-end real estate developer in the country as it nears completion of its very first office project, One Vertis Plaza.
PCSO releases P1.4-B prizes in two days; smashes records under GM Robles
The year 2024 is fast shaping up to be a banner and record-breaking year for the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) as it continues to register record sales, while also churning out multi-millionaires one after the other to the delight of millions of Filipino bettors.
Tips on how to start an egg farm
Starting an egg farm isn’t always a walk in the park. But to those who want to try their hand in the venture, Lendl Arakama, a former OFW turned egg farmer, has some helpful tips to prepare aspiring farmers for the road ahead. His first piece of advice is to study the business before starting. It includes researching what type of chickens to get, preferably those with a satisfactory egg production rate, where to get them, what enclosure fits them best, etc.
Nadal sees ‘potential’ in Saudi Arabia, signs up as tennis ambassador
Riyadh—Rafael Nadal was named ambassador for the Saudi Tennis Federation on Monday, as the Gulf kingdom aims to host more professional tournaments as part of a broader sports push. “Everywhere you look in Saudi Arabia, you can see growth and progress and I’m excited to be part of that,” the 37-year-old Spaniard, winner of 22 Grand Slams, said in a federation press release. “I continue to play tennis as I love the game.
Israel says war to wind down in Gaza; UN demands ceasefire
Jerusalem—Israel on Monday said the “intensive” phase of its war on Hamas in devastated southern Gaza would end “soon” as the UN chief pleaded for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire”. Hamas announced the death of two of the Israeli captives it abducted during its October attack that triggered the war, in a video Israel condemned as a “brutal use of innocent hostages”.
PH to showcase products in EU-based consumer goods fair
DESIGNPhilippines, the country’s banner that markets the creativity and artisanship of competitive Filipino brands and manufacturers in the international stage, will participate in the leading European trade show Ambiente in Messe Frankfurt, Germany from January 26 to 30, 2024. This year, Ambiente presents contemporary perspectives on modern lifestyle–taking on circular design, careful use of resources, rediscoveries from the archives, and new innovations as key inspirations.
Prepping for Sinulog
PREPPING FOR SINULOG. Devotees of the Child Jesus use multi-colored umbrellas while attending Mass at the Basilica del Santo Nino in Cebu City on Friday. The Sinulog festival, which honors the Child Jesus and is one of the country’s biggest feast days, is set for Sunday, Jan. 21. Alan Tangcawan - Advertisement -
War on gangs - Manila Standard
Members of the Armed Forces check a car during an operation to protect civil security in Quito, on Thursday after Ecuador’s president Daniel Noboa gave orders Tuesday to “neutralize” criminal gangs after gunmen stormed and opened fire in a TV studio, as bandits threatened random executions on a second day of terror in the country. Gangs declared war on the government after Noboa announced a state of emergency following the prison escape on Jan 7 of one of Ecuador’s most powerful narco bosses. AFP
BingoPlus Holds a 2-day Special Block Screening of “Mallari” - Manila Standard
BingoPlus, the first live streaming bingo platform in the Philippines, successfully hosted a 2-day special block screening of the MMFF horror film entry “Mallari,” starring BingoPlus endorser Piolo Pascual, held last January 6 and 7 at the Bonifacio High Street Cinema and The Podium Directors Club Cinema, respectively. “Mallari” narrates the horrifying story of Fr. Severino Mallari, a 19th-century priest during the Spanish occupation, and his descent into madness.
Fil-Am comic bombs at Golden Globes
Fil-Am comedian Jo Koy landed an opportunity of a lifetime when he was asked to host the 81st Golden Globes Awards on Jan 7, but tanked so terribly that many are saying his burgeoning career in the mainstream could be over. His misogynistic jokes about Taylor Swift and Barbie failed to land, as did most of his cringey, awkward monologue. “Oppenheimer and Barbie are competing for cinematic box office achievements.
Ajinomoto Philippines launches new, incentivized recycling program
One of the country’s top food product manufacturers, Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation (APC), is starting the new year clean with its new green initiative – SariCycle. In partnership with the Quezon City Government and avid advocate for proper waste management Basic Environmental Systems & Technologies, Inc. (BEST), the campaign aims to reduce plastic waste in the city through an incentivized approach.
Speaker hails drop in inflation, vows House will help stabilize food prices
Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Sunday vowed that the House of Representatives, in partnership with President Marcos, will continue to pursue programs to further bring down inflation by reducing or at least stabilizing food prices. Romualdez made the commitment in reaction to the report of thePhilippine Statistics Authority that inflation eased for the third straight month last December to 3.9 percent, from 4.1 percent in November and 4.9 percent in October.
Churning success from dairy carabao farming
Carabaos are often regarded as gentle giants that can also be reliable farmhands, as these animals are effective in plowing fields to boost soil fertility. But to others, like the Manalili family, carabaos are also profitable. On their farm in Floridablanca, Pampanga, they raise carabaos to produce liquid gold: carabao milk. Carabao milk is richer in flavor and creamier than cow’s milk due to its higher butterfat content, making it an ideal ingredient for making desserts.
‘Rice prices may increase by P2/k’
An agriculture group on Thursday warned the public of possible P2 per kilo price increase in rice prices due to price hikes in the international market and low rice harvest. “International prices have gone up. In Thailand and Vietnam, the prices are more or less the same. The traders and millers base their buying price on that, so the price is increasing,” SINAG president Rosendo So said in a television interview.
Back to school - Manila Standard
The holidays over, it’s back to the daily grind of normal life. Parents and guardians escort pupils of the President Corazon Aquino Elementary School cross the Batasan Road in Quezon City as it is time for the children to go back to school. Robert Oswald P. Alfiler - Advertisement -
On Mr. Hilario’s ‘Power rates’
This is in reference to the article “Power rates: Up, up and away” of Mr. Ernesto M. Hilario which was published in the Manila Standard on Dec. 29, 2023. While Meralco does charge varying rates for different customer segments, this structure of power rates is followed not just by Meralco but by all private distribution utilities and electric cooperatives in the country. It also bears emphasis that the distribution sector in the Philippines where Meralco belongs is highly regulated.
Israelis, Palestinians end dark year with war
Israelis and Palestinians end a dark year on Sunday, with no end in sight to the deadliest military offensive on Gaza, triggered by Hamas’ bloodiest attack on Israel. There has been no respite from Israel’s air raids, artillery fire or ground fighting with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, to the despair of Palestinians surviving the onslaught.
DIALING UP THE FUTURE
Today’s market poses new challenges and opportunities for telecommunications companies and their consumers. In 2023, many brands introduced groundbreaking technology that made connectivity more accessible and efficient. As the year draws to a close, it’s time to look back at the innovations that shaped a whole year. One notable development in 2023 was the 5G rollout.
An end-of-the-year call to aspiring farmers
Farming can be a daunting task for those who have no prior experience, even in gardening, where the care of plants is considered an already delicate process that requires a lot of time and effort. Compared to gardening, farming allows people to be profitable rather than more leisure-focused. As the backbone of the agriculture industry, there are many things to consider when deciding to jump into farming for the first time.
DA Western Visayas officially receives Korean-style smart greenhouse
The Department of Agriculture – Western Visayas (DA-WV) recently received the keys to the Smart Greenhouse and Capacity Building project, funded by the Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs of the Republic of Korea (MAFRA).
Dress rehearsal - Manila Standard
Personnel of the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Marines are immerse in a drill at the Rizal Park preparatory to the celebration of the 127th Rizal Day on Saturday, December 30. Norman Cruz - Advertisement -
In quest for the elusive peace
Convenors of the National Ecumenical Prayers for Peace release white doves symbolic of their vision of lasting peace after a ceremonial signing with their thumbprints of a commitment to help end the decades-long conflict between government and the communist rebels in the country. The event, held at the University Hotel in University of the Philippines, Diliman.
UN urges rescue of 185 Rohingya refugees adrift in Indian Ocean
Geneva, Switzerland – The United Nations has called for the urgent rescue of 185 people, mainly women and children, on a distressed boat last heard to be near the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Indian Ocean. Around 70 of those onboard are children and 88 are women, the UNHCR refugee agency said in a statement. “At least a dozen are feared to be in critical condition with one individual reported to have already died,” it said.
Clash of Champs - Manila Standard
Japanese Naoya “Monster” Inoue (left) and Filipino Marlon Tapales display their world championship belts during the final presser at the Yokohama Bay Sheraton Hotel and Towers in Yokohama, Japan for their Dec. 26 title showdown at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo. Wendell Alinea - Advertisement -
MPVA Champs - Manila Standard
The Bacoor City Strikers Metro Land Builder Lady Altas celebrate after defeating the Negros Blue Hawks (28-26, 25-14, 25-23) in a do-or-die Game 3 to capture the 1st Maharlika Pilipinas Volleyball Association title at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo City. Trece Martires City native Shaila Omipon was named 1st Best Outside Hitter and Most Valuable Player. (Dennis Abrina) - Advertisement -
From furniture making to GAP farming
In the mountains of Pide, Sagada, Mountain Province, Cariño P. Diosan, owner of Kuya Cary’s Veggie Farm, who exchanged his carpentry tools for a farmer’s hat, demonstrates the unexpected possibilities that arise when passion and perseverance are united. His farming journey began in 2009, an unexpected detour from his previous life as a furniture maker.
Anti-gov't rally - Manila Standard
People demonstrate against the new government of Argentine President Javier Milei in front of the National Congress in Buenos Aires Thursday after he unveiled a series of measures to deregulate the country’s struggling economy, eliminating or changing more than 300 rules via presidential decree, including on rent and labor practices. AFP - Advertisement -
Russia still banned from Olympics ‘but things may change’, says Coe
Paris—Russian competitors remain banned from track and field events at next year’s Paris Olympics but Sebastian Coe on Monday conceded that “the world changes” and said the situation was being monitored. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said earlier this month that athletes from Russia and its ally Belarus would be able to compete in Paris as neutrals, outside of team events and as long as they did not actively support the war on Ukraine.
PH contributions to human rights
This year’s celebration of Human Rights Day on Dec 10 is special because it marked the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The Philippines played an essential role in drafting the Universal Declaration – one of the most profound and influential expressions of human values and rights ever produced and the world’s most translated document. General Carlos P.
Inmates to benefit from DA, DOJ project
Forty-year-old “Kamote” relates the benefits of the Department of Agriculture and Department of Justice Reformation Initiative for Sustainable Environment for Food Security Project or DA RISE to Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) like himself during the harvest festival of the 4.5-hectare (ha) demonstration farm at Iwahig Prison and Penal Colony on Dec. 7, 2023.
Turkish women’s volley team attacked
Istanbul—A Turkish women’s volleyball was attacked by spectators during a game in Adana leaving one player requiring stitches to her knee, the club’s president said on Wednesday. Mesut Karabulut, president of the club from Malatya, a city severely affected by the February 6 earthquake, announced he had filed a criminal complaint against opponents Imamoglu Belediye and their supporters.
China’s Xi visits Vietnam to counter US influence
Hanoi – China’s President Xi Jinping arrived in Vietnam Tuesday for his first visit in six years, as he seeks to counter the United States’ growing influence with the communist nation. Xi will meet the leader of Vietnam’s ruling Communist Party, Nguyen Phu Trong, after Hanoi upgraded diplomatic ties with Washington when US President Joe Biden visited in September.
A thankless job - Manila Standard
The lawyer Paris Real’s recent reported complaint with the Ombudsman against former Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) Commissioner Alfredo J. Non for alleged gross inexcusable negligence is baseless and bereft of factual and legal bases. It is obviously a retaliation for Non’s post-retirement participation as intervenor in the Meralco cases now pending before the commission.
Action for climate justice
Civil society groups in the Philippines are preparing mobilizations in key cities today as part of more than 300 global to demand urgent climate action while governments are meeting at the 28th Conference of Parties or COP28 in Dubai. Thousands of members of grassroots movements, faith-based groups, non-government organizations and multi-sectoral alliances will converge in Quezon City. Simultaneous actions will also be held in at least 55 areas across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
Life in BGC takes an exciting turn at Uptown Modern
Anticipation and excitement continue to go up in Uptown Bonifacio, property giant Megaworld’s 15.4-hectare township development in Taguig City, particularly following the company’s recent launching of its sixth residential condominium tower in the township, the 54-story Uptown Modern.
Heightened alert during the holidays
Quezon City police chief Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan checks on operatives of the District Anti-Crime Reaction and members of a bike patrol team deployed at Gateway Mall in Araneta City, Cubao, Quezon City in line with their heightened alert status during the Yuletide season. Danny Querubin - Advertisement -
Go bats for more Paris 2024 funding at Siklab Youth Awards
Recognizing the importance of the country’s campaign in the 2024 Olympics in Paris, Senator Christopher Go said he will help seek additional funding to aid Olympiad-bound athletes in their preparation. Go, chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Sports, made the pledge during the third Siklab Youth Sports Awards staged Monday night at the Market! Market! Activity Center, Ayala Malls, BGC in Taguig City, where he was feted with the “Sports Godfather” award.
House starts grilling of SMNI show, franchise
The House Committee on Legislative Franchises on Thursday launched its investigation into potential violations of the legislative franchiseof Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI), where some of itstelevision anchors have been accused of spreading fake news and engaging in red-tagging. This move follows a privilege speech by House Deputy Majority Leader David Jay-Jay Suarez, addressing accusations from SMNI anchors Eric Celis and Lorraine Badoy, who claimed that Speaker Ferdinand Martin G.
UN report urges bold climate action
With global temperatures soaring and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) reaching unprecedented levels, dramatic action is needed to steer the world away from runaway climate change and align it to the objectives of the Paris Agreement, a major UN report has found.
Ukrainian army says Russia launched ‘record’ 75 drones
Kyiv, Ukraine – Ukraine said on Saturday it had downed 74 out of 75 drones Russia launched at it overnight, in what it said was the biggest such attack since the start of the invasion. The Ukrainian army said Russia had launched a “record number” of Iranian-made Shahed drones, the majority of which targeted Kyiv, causing power cuts as temperatures dipped below freezing.
Cancer Facility - Manila Standard
President Marcos (second from left) tours the facilities of the Healthway Cancer Care Hospital (HCCH) as guest of honor of its inauguration on Friday in Taguig City. Mr. Marcos emphasized the importance of early cancer detection and affirmed the goal of easing the bill for cancer patients through the Cancer Assistance Fund. PCO Photo - Advertisement -
Strategic partnership for healthy watersheds
This partnership is another beacon of hope that MTFI will be able to achieve its goal of 10 million more trees planted by 2030 Six years ago, the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage Services which I headed as Administrator — launched the Annual Million Trees Challenge and pledged to help rehabilitate seven critical watersheds that impact on water supply in Metro Manila and neighboring provinces. Our endeavor was supported by the private sector and different stakeholders.
Coast Guard in action
Officers of the Coast Guard Sub-Station Claveria save a baby along with other passengers of a submerged motorbanca in the waters off Fuga Island and Sanchez Mira in Cagayan Province on Thursday. On Friday, Coast Guard District North Western Luzon participate in drills on maritime law enforcement in the Region 1 Inter-Agency Maritime Exercise (MAREX) 2023 in the waters off the City of San Fernando, La Union (below). PCG Photos - Advertisement -
BingoPlus Joins ABS CBN in Spreading the Holiday Spirit on Inspire Music Launch and Star Magical Christmas 2023
BingoPlus, the first and only live streaming bingo in the Philippines, serving as the leading entertainment gateway of Filipinos, spreads the jolliness of Christmas by showing unparalleled support towards ABS-CBN in empowering local artists and delivering top-tier enjoyment to the community in recent events. On November 15, 2023, BingoPlus joins the unveiling of ABS-CBN’s newest record label in a press conference at the Academy of Rock, Quezon City.
Salvador shocks Jahns; Ababa, Tabuena lead march of top guns
Santa Rosa, Laguna—Elmer Salvador pounced on Keanu Jahns’ costly mishit on No. 8 and went on to essay a big 4&3 triumph as the ICTSI The Country Club Match Play Invitational unfolded with a blend of unexpected turns and seasoned triumphs here Tuesday.
Makati gov’t shuts down 24 establishments for operating without business permits
The Makati City government has ordered the closure of 24 establishments for operating without business permits. Inspectors from the city’s Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO) issued closure orders to J. Benedicto & Associates, and L.B. Ferrer Apartment, both in Barangay Valenzuela; Greetime VIP Online Shop, DunkCover Inc., Amun-Ra Gaming Center, Ativo Land Corporation, all located in Barangay Bangkal; ESL Technical Services Inc.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with M.
Contact M., search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack