In the City of Las Piñas, Mayor Imelda Aguilar made clear that patients – initially the immunocompromised – who need a 2nd booster for COVID-19 can walk-in at their local vaccination sites, the Manila Bulletin reported. If you are a local resident who is immunocompromised and you have already received one booster shot (or 3rd shot following two doses of most COVID-19 vaccines) previously, then you must pay close attention to the details here.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…
Las Piñas Mayor Imelda Aguilar has announced that the city government is now accepting walk-ins for the second booster shot of immunocompromised individuals.
Aguilar reminded those 18 years old and above who are immunocompromised individuals to bring their original vaccinations card that indicates the primary series and booster dose given to them at least three months prior.
She said those who will be receiving their second booster shot can visit SM Center and Southmall from 10:00 a.m. to 12 noon; Villar Sipag Hall from 12:00 noon to 4:00 p.m.; Village Square and Robinsons Mall from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., and University of Perpetual Help System Dalta’s covered court from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The mayor said those who have not received their first and second doses against the Covid-19 can also visit the identified vaccination sites by the city government or visit the Las Piñas Facebook page to determine the schedules of vaccination.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a Las Piñas City resident who was successfully boosted previously for COVID-19, how long has it been since you received it? Are you located near a vaccination site that accepts patients for the 2nd booster shot?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Colegio de Muntinlupa (CDM) celebrates its feat in the recent Registered Master Electrician (RME) licensure examination as one of its students has placed 6th in the overall ranking, and for clinching a passing rate of 100%.
The April 2022 RME is the first licensure exam that CDM has participated in since its establishment last 2018. The RME passers from CDM are Arvin Tolentino (Rank 6), Dennis Mañozo and Joshua James Racelis.
The Registered Master Electrician licensure exam was conducted on April 26-28 at testing centers in NCR, Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Koronadal, Legaspi, Lucena, Pagadian, Pampanga, Rosales, Tacloban, Tuguegarao and Zamboanga.
Mayor Jaime Fresnedi congratulates CDM’s first batch of Registered Master Electricians for the honor that they have given to the City.
He said that the students’ achievement is a testament that the local government’s investment to the residents’ education is “money well spent.”
Along with scholarship programs, Fresnedi administration has realized the establishment of Colegio de Muntinlupa which aims to provide top-notch education on engineering and science & technology for Muntinlupa students and residents from nearby cities.
CDM College Administrator and former DOST-NCR regional director Dr. Teresita Fortuna noted that the results in the recent RME exam will serve as an inspiration for the institution to continually provide outstanding training and support to the students to help them become industry-ready.
Fortuna added that institution prides itself in their quality training on science & technology from highly-esteemed faculty and facilities with top-of-the-line industrial equipment.
Recently, CDM announced that it will offer the following new programs: BS Architecture, BS Construction Engineering and Management, BS Environmental Engineering, BS Industrial Engineering, and BS Robotics Engineering.
The programs are in addition to the existing engineering courses: BS Civil Engineering, BS Computer Engineering, BS Electrical Engineering, BS Electronics Engineering, and BS Mechanical Engineering.
Situated in Posadas Avenue in Barangay Sucat, Colegio de Muntinlupa was founded with five initial engineering courses. CDM will hold its first commencement exercise this year for the first batch of graduates.
The Colegio de Muntinlupa (CDM) building. (photo source – Muntinlupa PIO)
Through City Ordinance No. 2022-310 (ISKOLEGIO), the local government of Muntinlupa also offers scholarship and financial assistance to city residents who are students and alumni of CDM:
Financial Assistance Grant for Academically Outstanding Students (FAGOS)
CDM-Student Leaders Financial Assistance Program (CDM-SLFA)
Financial Assistance Program for CDM Board Licensure Examination Review (CDM-BLER)
Under the CDM-FAGOS category, students whose general weighted average meet the guidelines shall receive a financial grant from 5,000 – 10,000 pesos. For CDM-SLFA, all qualified members of the CDM-Supreme Student Council shall be granted monetary assistance with respect to their position in the organization. While for CDM-BLER, students who have earned their degree from CDM may qualify for the program and be eligible for the funding of board licensure examination review.
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
The 31st Southeast Asian Games (AKA the 31st SEA Games, SEA Games 31 and Hanoi 2021) is just one week away from formally opening in the City of Hanoi in Vietnam. As for the Philippine sports delegation attending the region’s biggest sports event, their campaign has received a financial support of more than P200 million from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and more money could be released, according to a BusinessWorld news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the BusinessWorld report. Some parts in boldface…
THE Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) have cough up more than P200 million to fuel the country’s ambitious campaign to defend its overall title in the Hanoi Southeast Asian Games (SEA) set on May 12 to 23.
“The PSC had already released more than P200 million and could reach P230 million to fund the country’s SEA Games participation,” a source on Monday told The STAR.
Part of the Philippines’ 987-strong delegation, which included 646 athletes, had left for Hanoi on Sunday and on Monday while the bulk of it will follow suit next week in time for the opening ceremony on May 12.
There (rest) of the delegation will arrive on May 13.
Kickboxing, which will be led by former mixed martial arts champion Honorio Banario and 2019 SEA Games gold medalist Jean Claude Saclag and Gina Iniong Arao, flew on Monday.
The national kickboxers are out to eclipse, if not duplicate, their three-gold, two-silver and one-bronze harvest in the last edition of the biennial meet.
Jomar Balangui, Renalyn Dacquiel, Carlos Alvarez, Kurt Lubrica, Daryl Chulipaz, Emmanuel Cantores, Claudine Veloso, Gretel de Paz, and Zephania Ngaya are the other members of the team.
PSC commissioner and the country’s Hanoi Games chef de mission Ramon Fernandez and Philippine Olympic Committee President Abraham Tolentino are both optimistic of the Filipinos’ chances.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a sports enthusiast based in the Philippines, do you think that P200 million to P230 million is enough funding to help Team Philippines achieve its gold medal targets in the SEA Games there in Vietnam?
With the 2022 National and Local Elections all set to happen on May 9, several vote counting machines (VCMs) and ballot boxes were distributed to the many polling centers in different barangays around Muntinlupa City, the Manila Bulletin reported.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Manila Bulletin report. Some parts in boldface…
Vote counting machines (VCMs) and ballot boxes for the May 9 national and local elections were delivered to different polling centers in nine barangays in Muntinlupa on Tuesday, May 3.
Personnel from the Office of the City Treasurer, together with the Commission on Elections (Comelec), Philippine National Police (PNP), and Department of Education (DepEd), delivered VCMs and ballot boxes for 432 clustered precincts located mostly in schools.
On May 4, the final testing and sealing of VCMs are scheduled to be held in polling centers in Barangays Putatan, Bayanan, Poblacion, Tunasan, Alabang, Ayala Alabang, Buli, Cupang, and Sucat.
Muntinlupa has a total of 311,750 registered voters.
The above article ended stating polling centers located in schools and villages are as follows: Putatan Elem. School, Lakeview Elem. School, F. De Mesa Elem. School, Soldiers Hills Elem. School, Bayanan Elem. School-Unit 1, Bayanan Elem. School-Main, Muntinlupa Elem. School, Itaas Elem. School-Main, Muntinlupa National High School, Itaas Elem. School-Annex, Sto. Nino Village Covered Court, Tunasan Elem. School, Villa Carolina 2 Covered Court, JPA Subdivision Covered Court, Lodora Village Covered Court, Victoria Homes Elem. School, Villa Carolina 1 Covered Court, Park Homes Covered Court, Alabang Elem. School, Pedro E. Diaz High School, San Jose Village Clubhouse, De La Salle Santiago Zobel School, Buli Elem. School, Cupang Elem. School, San Beda College, Sucat Elem. School, Posadas Village Clubhouse and Bagong Silang Elem. School
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a Muntinlupa City resident, are you going to vote in the elections on May 9? If you will vote that day, have you done your personal research as to which candidates to vote for?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Recently in the City of Parañaque, four Chinese nationals were successfully rescued by the local police and the people who previously detailed them were arrested, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the most recent report of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…
Four Chinese nationals, who were detained by their two fellow citizens and an (Indonesian) in a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operation (POGO) office, were rescued by police operatives in Parañaque City on Thursday, April 28.
Brig. Gen. Jimili Macaraeg, Southern Police District (SPD) director, identified the rescued victims as Zhang Dedi, 26; Mo Jun Feng, 33; Chen Shi Ying, 25; and Huang Zhi Ping, 32.
Macaraeg said the suspects — Henry Saputra, 33, an Indonesian; Jacky Chen, 25, and Luo Bo, 26, female, both Chinese nationals — were arrested during the operation.
He said police investigators are still checking the real identities of the suspects as they believe that they are only using fictitious names.
The SPD chief said the victims were rescued at about 11:30 p.m. inside the First Great Palace Technologies at Pascor Drive, Barangay Santo Niño, Parañaque City.
Macaraeg said members of the Parañaque City Police launched the rescue operation after the live-in partner of Dedi, Yellah Monares, asked for police assistance and reported that the victim had been missing since March 31, this year.
Monares also told police that Dedi was able to call her, informing her that he was detained at a POGO office and forced to work without salary.
“Despite our warning, foreign nationals continue to get involved in unlawful detention incidents. It is high time that we strengthen collaboration with our foreign agency counterparts and intensify our intelligence gathering to diminish these scheming plans and address kidnapping/illegal detention incidents and other forms of lawlessness, particularly victimizing their compatriots,” Macaraeg said.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What do you think about this latest news development? Do you believe it is time for local authorities to investigate each and every POGO office within Parañaque to find out if people were forcibly detained by those who deliberately commit unlawful detention?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Ren Sato and Yuka Sato shone as champions with ease, catapulting Japan to regain her thrones in the 2022 NTT ASTC Subic Bay International Triathlon–29th edition of the country’s longest-running triathlon event with international cast–at Subic Bay Freeport Zone Sunday.
Asia’s No. 3 and 56th in the world rankings Ren Sato and inaugural Youth Olympic Games triathlon gold medalist and Rio Olympics 2016 15th placer Yuka Sato (10th– Continental Ranking; 90th– World Ranking) clocked one hour 43 minutes and 11 seconds and 1:58:49 in living up to their billings as top seeds in the elite men and elite women divisions, respectively.
Japan’s Ren Sato the Elite Men’s champion. (photo credit: Henry Vargas)
The Elite Women’s champion Yuka Sato of Japan at the finish line. (photo credit: Henry Vargas)
The other medalists in both divisions of the 1.5-kilometer swim, 40km bike and 10km grind organized by Triathlon Association of the Philippines in cooperation with Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, Philippine Sports Commission and Philippine Olympic Committee pulled the rug from under the favorites.
Ryoya Tamazaki, ranked 14th in Asia and 201th in the world, made it 1-2 Japanese finish in the elite men, checking in 26 seconds adrift of Sato at 1:43:37; it was Tamazaki’s first podium finish in 13 starts. Another 11 seconds behind at 1:43:48 was Australia’s Oscar Dart (27th-CR; 189th– WR).
On the women’s side of the race sanctioned by World Triathlon and Asian Triathlon Confederation with Standard Insurance, Asian Center for Insulation Phil (ACIP), Pocari Sweat, Aurora Suites & Pavilion and FINIS as sponsors, Hong Kong’s Yan Yin Hilda Choi grabbed the silver in 2:00:37 and Slovakia’s Margarita Bicanova (2:01:02) the bronze.
The last time the Japan dominated SUBIT was in 2013 when it was staged in conjunction with the Asian Triathlon Championships (second time TRAP hosted it). Yuka Sato then finished runner-up to Mariko Adachi who had retired and Yoichi Hosada, who topped the 2021 JPN Triathlon National Championships was the men’s gold medalist.
Top 10 finishers included: men– 4th Tsz To Wong HKG (1:44:00); 5th Genta Uchida JPN (1:44:16); 6th Jason Tai Long Ng HKG (1:44:33); 7th Makoto Odakura JPN (1:44:56); 8th Kanta Ando JPN (1:45:21); 9th Koki Yamamoto JPN (1:45:46) and 10th James Tan HKG (1:45:52); women– 4th Brown Bailee HKG (2:02:14); 5th Yoshiko Eda JPN (2:02:35); 6th Charlotte Hall HKG (2:02:47); 7th Chia-chia Chang TPE (2:03:03); 8th Chi Wen Chang TPE (2:03:35); 9th Kotomi Anzai JPN (2:04:21) and 10th Cade Wright HKG (2:05:12).
The Top 5 Elite Men with SBMA chairman Rolen Paulino, Sr. during the awarding ceremony. (photo credit: Rey Nillama)The Top 5 Elite Women during the awarding ceremony. (photo credit: Rey Nillama)
Emerging as top performers among the locals were 32nd seed John Chicano (1:51:02) and 26th Andrew Remolino (1:52:11) who placed 22nd and 23rd, respectively, and 18th seed Raven Alcoseba who landed in 13th position as the country’s top woman triathlete Kim Mangrobang who recently returned from her training base in Portugal retired in the run phase.
Chicano’s and Remolino’s times were faster than the clocking of 1:53:26 of the former when he clinched the first gold medal for the PHI in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.
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The above information was sourced from an official press release issued by the Triathlon Association of the Philippines. Some parts were modified for this website.
For related triathlon stories about the Subic Bay International Triathlon and the SEA Games this year, click here, here, here and here.
If you are a resident of Muntinlupa City who has been boosted for COVID-19 and many months have passed since then, be aware that the rollout of 2nd booster shots is ongoing within the city (starting with the immunocompromised patients with the other types of patients to follow), according to the Manila Bulletin. Now is a good time to contact the local authorities or the local vaccination sites (MunCoVac) to find out if a 2nd booster shot is available for you.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Manila Bulletin report. Some parts in boldface…
The Muntinlupa City government has started giving second booster shots on April 26 to immunocompromised people.
Data from the City Health Office showed that 14 people were vaccinated with the second booster shot on the first day.
Of the 14, four were in Barangay Alabang, three each in Cupang, Putatan and Tunasan, and one in Poblacion.
As of April 26, a total of 128,361 fully vaccinated individuals have received their first booster shots in Muntinlupa.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued on April 13 the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) approving the second Covid-19 vaccine booster shot to senior citizens, immunocompromised people and frontline healthcare workers.
According to the Department of Health (DOH)), the second booster shot is being given “in cognizance of current evidence of waning immunity and protection from severe disease.”
The DOH announced that the immunocompromised population aged 18 and above will be the first to be given a second booster shot, and frontline healthcare workers and senior citizens will follow.
Under a DOH memorandum, immunocompromised individuals are classified as those with immunodeficiency state, HIV, active cancer or malignancy, transplant recipients, undergoing steroid treatment, patients with poor prognosis / bed-ridden patients, and other conditions of immunodeficiency as certified by a doctor.
The vaccine brands to be used for the second booster shot are Pfizer, Moderna, Sinovac, Sinopharm and AstraZeneca.
The second booster shot is administered three months after a person receives the first booster shot or third dose.
To find out if you are qualified for the 2nd booster shot in Muntinlupa City, visit the MunCoVac Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/MunCoVac/
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a Muntinlupa City resident, what do you think about this recent development? How long has it been since you received your booster shot? Have you checked what is the definition of immunocompromised under the Department of Health (DOH)?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Japan served notice it is all out to regain her pre-eminence in the NTT Asia Cup SUBIT as she entered a powerhouse squad in the 29th edition of the country’s longest running triathlon event outside of the National Championships set at Subic Bay Freeport Zone this Sunday (May 1).
Asia’s No. 3 and 56th in the world rankings Ren Sato is installed as the No. 1 seed in the elite men category followed by Tsudoi Miyazaki, ranked 4th in Asia and 59th in the world.
In the elite women, inaugural Youth Olympic Games triathlon gold medalist and Rio Olympics 2016 15th placer Yuka Sato (10th– Continental Ranking; 90th– World Ranking) gets the top billing and Tsudoi Miyazaki (14th-CR; 145th– WR) the main supporting role.
Rounding out the top 5 men favorites are: Rio 2016 veteran Azerbaijan’s Rostislav Pevtsov (47th– CR, 76th-WR), Genta Uchida (8th– CR; 97th– WR) and the last SUBIT (2019) champion Hong Kong’s Oscar Coggins who finished 33rd in the Tokyo 2020 (10th– CR; 120th-WR).
Completing the pundits’ choices for a podium finish in the distaff side is Australia’s Jessica Ewart-mctigue (16th-CR; 153- WR).
The last time the Japanese ruled the elite men was in 2017 when they romped off with 1st,3rd and 5th positions with the Koreans inserting themselves in-between; and in the elite women in 2015 when they finished 1-2.
Partnering with organizing Triathlon Association of the Philippines in SUBIT are Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority under newly-installed Chairman and Administrator Rolen C. Paulino, Philippine Sports Commission and Philippine Olympic Committee with Standard Insurance, Asian Center for Insulation Phil (ACIP), Pocari Sweat, Aurora Suites & Pavilion, and FINIS as sponsors.
Seeing action in SUBIT where top performers gain points for continental and world ranking are hopefuls from aside Japan, Azerbaijan, Hong Kong, and Australia are Chinese-Taipei, India, Singapore, Slovakia and the Philippines.
Conspicuously absent are the Chinese, particularly Mengying Zhong, the back-to-back women’s champion of the last two editions of SUBIT.
The country’s bets to the 31st Hanoi SEA Games, namely, Kim Mangrobang, Raven Faith Alcoseba, Lauren Plaza, Andrew Kim Remolino, Fernando Casares and John Chicano banner the Team Philippines.
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The above information was sourced from an official press release issued by the Triathlon Association of the Philippines. Some parts were modified for this website.
For related triathlon stories about the Subic Bay International Triathlon and the SEA Games this year, click here, here, here and here.
As the 31st Southeast Asian Games (AKA the 31st SEA Games, SEA Games 31 and Hanoi 2021) in Vietnam comes closer, the excitement and suspense grow stronger which naturally comes with foreseeing the outcome (note: positions and medals) in certain sports events. For this, we will focus on the triathlon and duathlon events of this year’s SEA Games through what was mentioned during the Philippine Sportswriters Association’s (PSA)recent livestream that had 2019 SEA Games gold medalist John Chicano and triathlon-duathlon coach Melvin Fausto as guests which the Manila Bulletin reported about.
Going back to the current topic, Chicano and Fausto were interviewed live by the PSA and you can watch the full video at https://fb.watch/cDsxPptWcH/
2019 SEA Games gold medalist John Chicano and coach Melvin Fausto (lower-right corner) during the PSA livestream of April 26, 2022.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin sports report about the PSA livestream. Some parts in boldface…
The Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP) guns for 1-2 finishes in the triathlon and duathlon events of the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam next month.
National team coach Melvin Fausto disclosed this Tuesday, adding they are sending their strongest teams to achieve that goal.
The triathlon squad is composed of Fer Casares, Kim Remolino, Kim Mangrobang and Raven Alcoseba, with John Chicano and Lauren Plaza as reserves.
The duathlon crew, meanwhile, will have Chicano, Raymund Torio, Mangrobang and Alex Ganzon Dumaran with Casares and Alcoseba as reserves.
Fausto said the shift of Chicano from triathlon to duathlon is a strategic move to achieve that gold medal.
Chicano competed and won the gold in triathlon at the 2019 SEAG edition.
“Si John kasi, he’s a strong runner like Raymund. Duathlon talaga siya malakas, so yun yung wino-work out natin ngayon,” Fausto said during the Philippine Sportswriters Association online forum.
For Chicano, it would be a challenge. He is also using the SEAG as a training ground for his duathlon event at the 2022 World Games in Birmingham, Alabama in July.
“Sana makuha namin yung gold and silver kasi maganda naman yung teammup namin ni Raymund,” Chicano said.
“Pukpukan din yung preparation namin dito sa Clark.”
Aside from the medals, Fausto said they are also seek to improve their athletes’ times by aiming to finish under one hour and 50 minutes in triathlon.
“Mas focused na tayo sa time ngayon eh. Part na yun ng strategy. Like nung last SEAG, naka-focus kami mag 1:55 sa triathlon tapos nag-1:53 si John for the gold medal. Ngayon ang focus namin maka 1:50 to win the gold,” Fausto said.
“Saka yung goal natin is to improve their time to world-class level, lalo na si John na qualified sa World Games.”
As you can see in the above excerpt, the stakes are high for the Philippine Team on triathlon and duathlon. They have been training intensely not just for the SEA Games (set for May 12 to 23, 2022) but also for the Subic Bay International Triathlon. They are training intensely as they know that their Southeast Asian competitors in triathlon and duathlon have intensified (see the related details in the paragraph below). They are training not just for medals but for honors for the Philippines. That being said, May 2022 is indeed a crucial month for the Philippine Team members and their coaches as they have two major events to compete in.
The notable details
During the early part of the PSA livestream, coach Melvin stated that triathlon is indeed a growing sport and in due time it will become a more relevant sport for Filipinos and Asians. The coach made clear his dedication to triathlon is very strong. Take note that he was involved during the Philippine Team’s previous SEA Games campaigns. When it comes to their SEA Games competitors, the coach mentioned Indonesia as a well-supported and growing force in triathlon. He also mentioned that competitors from Singapore, Malaysia and host country Vietnam will be present. That being said, expect fierce competition for the SEA Games triathlon and duathlon gold medals. With regards to John Chicano, things will be different as he will engage in the men’s duathlon at this year’s SEA Games. For the newcomers reading this, duathlon is a multisport event with a run-bike-run format.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What do you think about the triathlon and duathlon events in the SEA Games this year? Do you believe the Philippines will win gold and silver in the SEA Games triathlon and duathlon events? Do you intend to visit Subic Bay to watch in person the SUBIT on May 1? Do you plan to travel all the way to Vietnam to watch the SEA Games events in-person?
As the COVID-19 situation in the Philippines continues to be at low risk (note: low numbers of new COVID-19 cases reported daily), the nation is not only recovering gradually but also growing with regards to the national economy and tourism. More on tourism, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed recently that the Philippines is opening its borders to travelers from Israel without a visa, the Manila Bulletin reported.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…
The Philippines is now opening its doors to Israelis without a visa, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Monday, April 25.
“We are delighted to once again welcome our Israeli friends to our country, just in time for the summer!” Philippine Ambassador to Israel Macairog S. Alberto said.
“Aside from the breathtaking natural beauty, colorful culture, and endless adventures that await Israelis in the Philippines, it is the warm hospitality and genuine friendship of Filipinos that truly make the travel meaningful and unforgettable,” Alberto added.
Since April 1, the country started opening its doors for Israelis without a visa. They only need to be fully vaccinated, undergo RT-PCR test within 48 hours or a laboratory-based antigen test within 24 hours pre-flight, and have a travel insurance with a minimum coverage of USD 35,000 which covers Covid-19 treatment.
The DFA assured visitors that they will feel safe while in the country as almost 100 percent of Philippine tourism workers are fully vaccinated and tourism establishments are complying with local health guidelines.
Aside from islands such as Boracay, El Nido, and Cebu, which are constantly listed as the world’s top beach destinations, the Philippines also boast of destinations that appeal to the adventure-loving Israeli traveler. These include swimming with whale sharks in Oslob and Donsol, snorkeling with sea turtles in Apo Island, scuba diving in Anilao, surfing in Siargao, volcano trekking in Bicol, diving shipwrecks in Coron, and exploring Puerto Princesa’s Underground River.
The above article ended stating that travelers from Israel may check the official website of the Department of Tourism (DOT) (click https://beta.tourism.gov.ph/) and they can get in touch with the Tourism Promotion Section of the Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv, or send an e-mail to telaviv.pe@dfa.gov.ph.
If you truly believe in Lord Jesus, the Holy Spirit and God the Heavenly Father wholeheartedly and you continue to be faithful (not religious), you should be aware that Christians are meant to stand united with Israel, love the Jewish people and pray for the peace of Jerusalem. You can do your part supporting Israel by donating to Christians United for Israel (CUFI). Do not forget to read the Holy Bible, then pray in tongues to the Lord in the privacy of your room with the door shut.
Author Carlo Carrasco 