2 dead, 7 missing as fishing boat sinks in Mindanao Sea

TWO fi shermen were confi rmed dead and seven still missing after their boat capsized at the high seas off mainland Mindanao, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported on Friday.

The PCG said search and rescue operations were going on for the missing boat skipper and six of his crewmembers.

Fourteen of the 23-man crew of the Genesis 2 fishing vessel were rescued by other fishing boats

UST library gets Nestor Mata’s book collection

THE University of Sto. Tomas, through the UST Miguel de Benavides Library, received the valuable book collection of the late journalist Nestor Mata from his family.

Mata was a highly influential figure in the world of journalism, particularly known for his works as a prime media journalist. Born on January 16, 1926, he was a renowned Thomasian Filipino journalist whose writing career spanned six decades. He was also known as the lone survivor of the 1957 plane crash that killed then President of the Philippines Ramon Magsaysay and 24 others.

Throughout his career, Mata covered a wide range of historical events, including political upheavals, wars and natural disasters. His photographs have graced the pages of renowned global publications, such as Time, Newsweek and Life Magazine, among others. He had a keen eye for capturing raw emotions and telling stories through his lens, providing a unique perspective that connected viewers to the events he documented.

Mata worked with a government radio station before becoming a reporter with the Philippine Herald newspaper and covered the Korean War as a war correspondent. He covered topics that involved politics and foreign affairs. In 1953, he was assigned by his newspaper to cover the then-newly elected President Magsaysay.

Beyond his skills as a journalist, Nestor Mata was also known for his professionalism, dedication, and courage. His contributions to journalism have been widely recognized, earning him numerous accolades and awards throughout his career. Nestor Mata’s legacy continues to inspire aspiring photojournalists and journalists worldwide, reminding them of the importance of their role in documenting history and giving a voice to the voiceless.

RELIEF GOODS FOR TAWI-TAWI FISHERFOLK.

A sherman, one of some 250 villagers in Mapun, Tawi-Tawi receives a pack of relief goods courtesy of the Ministry of Social Services and Development of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Distribution of the so-called “family packs” involved elements of the Philippine Coast Guard station in Northern Tawi-Tawi, the Philippine Air Force Tactical Operations Squadron, the Mapun Maritime Special Boat Crew, the 312th Company of the Marine Battalion Landing Team, and the Mapun Police Station.

In Brief

Acuzar warns vs. housing stings

THE Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) on Friday warned the public against housing projects without license to sell.

shortly after the pre-dawn incident on Thursday, which took place 337 kilometers east of the main southern island of Mindanao.

The body of one of the fatalities was retrieved Thursday after the vessel sank in the Philippine Sea, and a second body was found early Friday, Joseph Dacuyan of the PCG in Davao Oriental province said. “At that time the waves were really strong and the fishermen were surprised and did not anticipate they would be that strong,” Dacuyan said. The vessel “sank within minutes” after it started taking in water, he said. The cause of the accident was being determined.

A PCG patrol vessel and five other boats of the fishing company, based in the southern port of General Santos city, are continuing the search, Dacuyan said.

Observers said the Philippines, an archipelago of more than 7,000 islands, has a poor shipping safety record, with scores dying in mishaps at sea each year, usually aboard wooden-hulled outriggers used for fishing or to move people from one small island to another. AFP

A NEW FACE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Photo shows (from left) In nivan president Shigeki Nakamura, Secretary Ivan John Uy of the Department of Inforrmation and Communication, and Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center executive director Alexander Ramos jointly presiding the formal launch of a 200-Gigabyte Internet connectivity at the CICC building on A. Roces Ave. Quezon City.

Manny Palmero

Speaker, Tingog solon hail surfer Esquivel’s win in Bali

By Maricel V. Cruz

WORLD-class Filipino surfer Rogelio

“Jay-R” Esquivel, Jr. has again reaped kudos from Congress leaders as he bagged the gold medal in the World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series Padrol Longboard Classic held in Bali, Indonesia on June 3-4.

Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and his wife, Tingog Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez, lauded Esquivel for this latest feat, saying the Filipino surfer “continues to bring the country pride and honor by winning in international surfing competitions.”

The couple extended to Esquivel financial assistance to help defray the costs of participating in international sporting events such as the WSL.

“Jay-R Esquivel continues to make our country proud by winning interna- tional competitions one after another. His contributions to putting the Philippines in the world surfing map is not only honoring our country, but encouraging tourists to visit our surfing spots,” Speaker Romualdez said.

By winning the qualifying series, Esquivel earned a ticket to the WSL World Longboard Tour and became the firstever Filipino to do so.

Rep. Romualdez said just last February, they also personally congratulated Esquivel for winning the WSL La Union International Pro Longboard Qualifying Series.

“And now here we are again, in awe of Jay-R’s achievements in world surfing competitions, making history not only for himself but for the rest of the Filipino nation. Your accomplishments truly deserve praise and recognition,” the lady lawmaker said.

Esquivel was also part of the team that finished fourth at the International Surfing Association (ISA) World Longboard Championship in El Salvador last May, just behind world surfing leaders France, Brazil and Peru.

It was described as a “historic feat marking the Philippine Longboard Team’s debut in the world group competition.”

The two House leaders said that they will continue to support the sports of surfing in the country, as it encourages the youth to persevere and dream when someone like Esquivel wins international competitions.

“Jay-R deserves all the support and recognition he can get, after making history after history in the world stage of surfing. We hope his example is followed by the youth of today and one day reach for their dreams,” they said.

“Real-estate projects without license to sell and certificates of registration are prone to risks which include undersized lots, low quality units, issues in land titling, and limited access to basic utilities and services,” Housing Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar said.

“We encourage home buyers to be vigilant, and demand for these documents before letting go of their hard-earned money,” he added. Acuzar cited the risk of falling victims to unscrupulous individuals or groups and acquiring sub-standard real estate property. He lamented that there were rampant real estate advertisements posted on social media, which had become the most convenient platform for non-compliant developers to pull off their illegal activities and victimized unsuspecting buyers.

Real-estate developers must secure LS and CR from DHSUD prior to the selling of real estate projects to ensure that it passed the minimum standards as required by the law. Rio N. Araja

Mom files kidnap rap vs. orphanage exec

AN executive of an orphanage in Quezon City that was padlocked due to violations is facing an abduction suit before the prosecutor’s office for alleged refusal to return a child to his mother despite several requests.

The child’s mother yesterday filed charges of kidnapping and failure to return a minor under Article 270 of the Revised Penal Code against Gentle Hands Inc. (GHI) executive director Charity Graff. Because she was a solo parent, and that her son’s nanny took an indefinite leave, the complainant said she brought her son to the GHI in January for only a monthlong accommodation.

She complained she encountered difficulties in visiting her son, and that there was a time she was just allowed to see him for only 10 minutes. Amid her repeated requests for longer visitation hours, she said Graff accused her to be a “worthless mother.”

“It came to a point where I would go to GHI in the hopes of seeing my son, only to be totally denied access to him and forcefully sent home by respondent Graff,” she said. Rio N. Araja

Mariveles tribesmen get own health center

RESIDENTS, notably members of an indigenous tribe in far-flung Barangay Biaan in Mariveles, Bataan can now have easy access to basic health services, according to local authorities, citing the opening of a tribal health center in the village.

Mariveles Mayor AJ Concepcion and National Commission Indigenous People provincial officer Richard Piaga led the opening of the health facility on Tuesday. .

“Nagpapasalamat po tayo sa nakatulong nating upang maging posible ang pagkakaroon ng Health Center sa komunidad ng Brgy. Biaan upang magbigay daan at masiguro ang maayos na pagtugon sa pangangailangang kalusugan,” Concepcion said. “Sa tulong ng pasilidad na ito, maaari ng ma-access ng ating mga katutubo ang mga serbisyong medikal na di na kakailanganin pang bumiyahe ng malayo. At ito rin ay magbibigay ng mabilis na pagresponde sa mga sitwasyong may emergency na maaaring maganap sa barangay,” he added. Providing accessible health services to people of Mariveles was a priority program of the municipal government. Butch Gunio