BALITANG MARINO DAILY NEWS for March 18, 2025
HEADLINES
China says military exercises near Taiwan punishment for ‘separatism’
Top SKorean court urged: Don’t delay Yoon ruling
DNV White Paper on Safe and Scalable Adoption of Ammonia and Hydrogen Fuels
Philippines’ ICTSI Plans $580 Million in Port Upgrades in 2025
European Energy: First e-methanol produced at ‘world’s largest’ commercial PtX facility
Diesel prices down, no change for gas
DOH reports significant rise in measles cases among unvaccinated children
Duterte signs off on British-Israeli lawyer as defense counsel
High dengue cases in Negros Occ., Bacolod spark fresh warnings
Dole readies over 70 job fairs nationwide
Stricter travel permits for minors seen to curb child trafficking
Easterlies, amihan continue to bring rains over parts of PH
Atin Ito to bring musicians to West Philippine Sea
Miss Globe 2024 Diana Moreno is proud to be ‘sobrang Latina’
Alden Richards advocates for running, helps organize fun run for a cause
Here are 3 things that make Zia Grace so endearing according to Julia Montes
NBA: Cavs win streak halted after Magic comeback
Draper dashes Alcaraz’ 3-peat hopes
Norris holds off Verstappen to win rain-hit Australian Grand Prix
6 Ways to Stay Cool in Extreme Heat
FULL NEWSPAPER
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
China says military exercises near Taiwan punishment for ‘separatism’
March 18 —— Chinese military exercises near Taiwan were punishment for Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te’s continued promotion of “separatism,” according to a stern statement out of Beijing, as Taiwan hit back by calling China a troublemaker. China, which has never renounced the use of force to bring democratically governed Taiwan under its control, has stepped up military and political pressure against the island in recent years.
Taiwan’s defense ministry said China had carried out “joint combat readiness patrols” — one in the morning and one in the afternoon — sending 54 Chinese warplanes including J-10 jets and drones to areas near Taiwan. It said the Chinese aircraft flew in airspace to the north, west, southwest and east of Taiwan, and that Taiwanese air and naval forces were dispatched to keep watch. Among them, 42 planes crossed the Taiwan Strait’s median line, an unofficial buffer between the two sides, the ministry said. If the Lai administration “dares to provoke and play with fire, it will only bring about its own destruction,” a spokesperson for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office said in the statement.
Taiwan routinely reports such military activity by China, but China’s government very rarely offers comment on them. Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council said Beijing had continued to threaten the island militarily, raising tensions in the Taiwan Strait and destabilizing regional peace and stability.
The Chinese Communist Party is a “troublemaker” in every sense of the word, the council said, urging ally countries to stop China’s military expansion. Taiwan’s security officials have said China was trying to normalize drills near Taiwan, carrying out such patrols near the island every 7-10 days on average. Lai said last week that China had deepened its influence campaigns and infiltration against the island, pledging measures to tackle Beijing’s efforts to “absorb” Taiwan. China views Taiwan as its territory, a claim rejected by the government in Taipei. Lai has repeatedly offered talks with Beijing but has been rebuffed. He says only Taiwan’s people can decide their future.
Source: rappler.com
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Top SKorean court urged: Don’t delay Yoon ruling
SEOUL, March 18 —— South Korea’s opposition party urged the country’s Constitutional Court to rule swiftly on suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment, saying delays were “irresponsible” and causing social unrest.
Yoon was impeached by lawmakers over his disastrous Dec. 3 declaration of martial law, and the court last month held weeks of tense impeachment hearings to decide whether to formally strip him of office. Despite experts predicting a verdict by mid-March, the Constitutional Court has yet to rule, making Yoon’s case the longest deliberation in its history. Some 100,000 people took to the streets of the capital Seoul over the weekend, police said on Monday, with protests demanding Yoon’s immediate removal from office, alongside large gatherings in support of him.
“The nation and its people have reached their limits. Tension and patience have already been pushed beyond their bounds,” opposition lawmaker Kim Min-seok told a party meeting on Monday. “We await a responsible decision from the Constitutional Court. Any further delay would be abnormal and irresponsible,” he said. Police have said they were prepared to mobilize “all available equipment” to prevent unrest when the court announces the impeachment verdict.
Yoon’s supporters have already stormed a Seoul court once, smashing the doors and windows of a district court in the capital after a judge there extended Yoon’s detention, and authorities have warned of violence around the impending verdict. “We are discussing the temporary closure of nearby shops and gas stations on the day of the verdict,” a police official told Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Monday.
Park Hyun-soo, acting chief of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, told reporters last week that law enforcers would “designate the area within 100 meters of the Constitutional Court as a protest-free zone, effectively creating a ‘vacuum’ in that space.” Park said police were undergoing additional training involving the use of pepper spray and batons, adding that the agency was also considering deploying police special forces to “respond to bomb threats.”
In addition to the impeachment verdict, Yoon also faces a criminal trial on charges of insurrection for declaring martial law in December, making him the first sitting South Korean president to stand trial in a criminal case. He was detained in a dawn raid in January on insurrection grounds, but was released in early March on procedural grounds.
Source: manilatimes.net
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MARITIME NEWS
DNV White Paper on Safe and Scalable Adoption of Ammonia and Hydrogen Fuels
March 18 —— As the shipping industry continues its transition to carbon-neutral fuels, ammonia and hydrogen are emerging as possible fuel options, however mandatory regulations governing their use are not yet in place. DNV’s latest white paper, Safe introduction of alternative fuels – Focus on ammonia and hydrogen as ship fuels, provides shipowners with insights and tools to navigate the evolving regulatory landscape and safely implement these fuels.
Both hydrogen and ammonia have properties that introduce new safety risks, triggering the need for increased focus on safety in ship design, construction, and operation. However, the lack of specific mandatory international regulations for ships running on these fuels is a barrier to their widespread adoption. With its latest white paper DNV aims to support customers in implementing these fuels by providing increased predictability through classification rules and early dialogue with Flag Administrations. The paper also outlines the relevant safety challenges and considers the industry’s efforts to ensure safe adoption and operation of these fuels at sea.
Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen, CEO Maritime at DNV said: “In Maritime’s journey towards decarbonization, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Hydrogen and ammonia are emerging as possible solutions, and we are already seeing a growing newbuilding orderbook. To scale them up and get the benefits of the zero-carbon fuels, we will need, careful planning, technical expertise, upskilling of seafarers and deeper collaboration across the industry and beyond.”
DNV is leading several initiatives to support the development and adoption of ammonia and hydrogen as marine fuels. These include the Nordic Roadmap for Future Fuels project, the Green Shipping Program, and the MarHySafe joint development project.
Linda Hammer, Principal Engineer at DNV and lead author of the whitepaper, stated: “To safely operate ships using hydrogen or ammonia as fuel, ensuring that the crew understands the specific hazards of these fuels and the safety features built into the design is vital. This will require updates to the safety management system, building in detailed operating procedures, comprehensive training for up-skilling personnel, and potentially making organizational changes. All of which are essential for developing a robust safety culture throughout the organization.”
DNV has developed prescriptive classification rules as far as possible, aimed at ensuring increased predictability for owners, designers, and shipyards. The first edition of the classification rules for ammonia-fueled ships was published in 2021, and the rules for hydrogen-fueled ships were published in July 2024.
Source: maritime-executive.com
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Philippines’ ICTSI Plans $580 Million in Port Upgrades in 2025
March 18 —— Philippine-based International Container Terminal Services (ICTSI) has announced a major program of upgrades at key terminals around the world. After posting its most profitable year ever in 2024, with earnings of $850 million, it plans to invest $580 million in capital expenditures for 2025. “Our balance sheet remains strong, giving us the financial strength and flexibility to pursue new opportunities and invest in existing projects,” said ICTSI in a statement.
Some of the planned projects in this round of financing include the new ICTSI terminal in Bauan, Batangas in Philippines. The construction of the Luzon International Container Terminal (LICT) was announced in October. With the funding now available, construction could begin in the second quarter. The $800 million terminal is scheduled to be completed in 2028 and will become the Philippines’ largest privately funded maritime terminal investment.
Another project planned for expansion is ICTSI’s Matadi Gateway Terminal (MGT) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Last week, ICTSI said that it will be undertaking several key projects at the terminal this year, aimed at improving operational efficiency and customer service. One of the major initiatives is the construction of a 2.65-kilometer road linking the Port of Matadi to the national highway network. The first phase covering 1.75 kilometers was completed in June last year. The second phase began last month. Upon completion, the improved road access is expected to reduce container dwell times and streamline cargo deliveries to the port. Matadi is DRC’s main port serving the sprawling city of Kinshasa and the surrounding hinterland.
Other terminals ICTSI is targeting for upgrades include completing the Phase 3 expansion of Mexico’s Contecon Manzanillo terminal in Colima. In addition, ICTSI is also pursuing equipment upgrades in its Rio Brazil Terminal, Brazil.
Meanwhile, ICTSI is still battling with Maersk in a court case in South Africa over the operation of the Durban Container Terminal Pier 2 (DCT2). The hearing of the case proceeded in the KwaZulu-Natal High Court last week. Maersk, through its subsidiary APM Terminals, had moved to the court seeking review of Transnet’s decision to award ICTSI the concession for DCT2. APM Terminals cited irregularities in the awarding of the tender. While the case is nearing its conclusion, the terminal has been left without an operator for over one year. The concession is part of Transnet’s privatization initiative, aimed at resolving persistent port inefficiencies in Durban and other major ports across South Africa.
Source: maritime-executive.com
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European Energy: First e-methanol produced at ‘world’s largest’ commercial PtX facility
March 18 —— Danish renewables developer European Energy has commissioned the first reactor and produced the first e-methanol at its Kassø Power-to-X facility, dubbed the world’s largest commercial e-methanol facility.
European Energy revealed the milestone on March 12, 2025, stating that the first five tons of e-methanol had been produced at the Kassø Power-to-X facility. The methanol was produced in the first methanol line out of two at the facility and was achieved using biogenic CO2 sourced locally at the biogas facility in Tønder.
The green hydrogen production at the facility began in January 2025. Now, by combining hydrogen with biogenic CO2 in the reactor, the first methanol has been successfully produced—demonstrating the functionality of the plant’s methanol loop, European Energy said. As the next step, the production will be ramped up and the facility will have the capacity to produce 42,000 tons of e-methanol with three electrolyzes from Siemens Energy and a methanol loop designed and constructed by European Energy. The electroliers have a combined capacity of 52.5 MW and are powered mainly by the nearby Kassø Solar Park facility, which is also developed and operated by European Energy.
According to the company, the facility will be fully ramped up during the second quarter of 2025. “We are thrilled to have produced the first e-methanol at our Kassø facility. This is a pivotal moment on the journey that started four years ago and the lessons learned will enable us to refine the process, improve efficiencies, and bring down costs for future projects,” said Emil Vikjær-Andresen, EVP and Head of Power-to-X at European Energy. “This proves that Power-to-X offers a practical, scalable solution to decarbonize industries that cannot rely on direct electrification.”
One of the end-users of the e-methanol produced at the Kassø Power-to-X-facility will be Danish shipping major Maersk.
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PHILIPPINE NEWS
Diesel prices down, no change for gas
MANILA, Philippines, March 18 —— Fuel prices are set to decline once again today, marking a third straight week of cuts for diesel and kerosene.
Shell, Caltex and Seaoil will roll back diesel and kerosene prices by P0.20 and P0.40 per liter, respectively, while gasoline prices will remain unchanged. Petro Gazz, Cleanfuel, PTT Philippines and Jetti would implement the same adjustments, except for kerosene, which they do not offer. These price movements will bring the year-to-date net increase for gasoline and diesel to P2.15 and P2.85 per liter, respectively. Kerosene prices, on the other hand, will have a year-to-date net decrease of P0.70 per liter.
The Department of Energy attributed the adjustments to “growing signs” of a slowdown in US and global economies, potentially dampening fuel demand. Also contributing to the rollback were fears of an oversupply in the market amid plans by OPEC+ to increase oil production starting next month.
According to an industry source, fuel prices were also affected by mounting concerns over US tariffs and countermeasures by affected countries. Last week, oil companies reduced gasoline, diesel and kerosene prices by P1.70, P0.90 and P1.80 per liter, respectively.
Source: philstar.com
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DOH reports significant rise in measles cases among unvaccinated children
March 18 —— The Department of Health (DOH) has reported a notable surge in measles-rubella cases in the Philippines, with a total of 922 cases recorded from January 1 to March 1, 2025. This marks a 35% increase compared to the same period last year with 683 cases reported.
The rise in cases has been particularly alarming in several regions, including the National Capital Region, CAR, Ilocos, Bicol, Western Visayas, and SOCCSKSARGEN. Among the reported cases, 625 or 68% were of children who were either unvaccinated or had not completed their measles vaccination regimen.
Measles, a highly contagious disease, spreads easily through coughing and sneezing. According to Health Secretary Ted Herbosa, “Ang isang batang may tigdas ay pwedeng makahawa sa labing-anim na iba pang mga bata. Kaya mahalagang mapigilan natin ang pagkalat ng sakit na ito.”
If left untreated, measles can lead to severe complications such as pneumonia, brain infections, and even death, particularly among children under five years of age. However, these complications can be prevented if children are vaccinated against measles. “Itong mga sakit na ito ay napipigilan ng bakuna gaya ng MMR vaccine. Magpabakuna po tayo sa pinakamalapit na health center,” Herbosa added.
As part of the ongoing efforts to curb the measles outbreak, the DOH continues to conduct routine measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination for children aged 9-12 months at health centers nationwide. Additionally, a catch-up immunization drive will be held this March for children aged 13-59 months in selected regions, including Central Luzon, Calabarzon, SOCCSKSARGEN, and BARMM. The catch-up immunization aims to vaccinate children who missed or have not completed their MMR doses. Completing two doses of the measles vaccine is critical, and the DOH encourages parents to coordinate with their local health centers to schedule their child’s vaccination.
The DOH also reminds the public to maintain proper personal and respiratory hygiene, such as washing hands with soap and water, to prevent the spread of infections. Parents and guardians are advised to seek immediate medical consultation if their children exhibit symptoms of measles, which include high fever, body rashes, cough, runny nose, and red eyes.
Source: gmanetwork.com
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Duterte signs off on British-Israeli lawyer as defense counsel
March 18 —— Former President Rodrigo Duterte has signed a document on his engagement of British-Israeli lawyer Nicholas Kaufman as his defense counsel in the International Criminal Court, former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said.
According to Mariz Umali’s report on “24 Oras,” Medialdea made the confirmation after he visited Duterte at the Scheveningen Prison. Duterte is under the custody of the ICC to face crimes against humanity charges in connection with the killings under his war on drugs. “Okay naman siya, he’s in very high spirits… Medyo nakahabol na ng tulog,” Medialdea said when asked how Duterte was.
Medialdea said his visit to the former president lasted for an hour. He said there were many protocols to follow before he could meet Duterte. Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque also made clear that Vice President Sara Duterte will not be a part of the defense team. “Dahil sa saligang batas natin ay may pagbabawal sa pag-practice ng propesyon,” Roque said.
Source: gmanetwork.com
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High dengue cases in Negros Occ., Bacolod spark fresh warnings
BACOLOD CITY, NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines, March 18 —— Dengue cases in Negros Occidental and this city continue to increase despite a stepped-up campaign to eliminate breeding places of mosquitoes, local health authorities said.
In Negros Occidental, dengue cases reached 1,256 with six deaths from Jan. 1 to March 8 this year, according to the Provincial Health Office (PHO). The number is 412.65-percent higher compared to the 245 cases recorded over the same period last year, the PHO said.
Bago City has the highest number of dengue cases at 254, followed by the cities of La Carlota and Kabankalan, with 95 cases each.
Source: inquirer.net
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Dole readies over 70 job fairs nationwide
MANILA, Philippines, March 18 —— The Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) on Friday said it will bring employment opportunities closer to Filipino job seekers through nationwide job fairs offering thousands of local and overseas job openings this March.
On its website and social media pages, the Dole published schedules of over 70 job fairs in 16 regions. In Metro Manila, eight job fairs were held in the first two weeks of March, with about a dozen more scheduled up to the end of the month.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the country’s employment rate reached 95.7 percent in January 2025, slightly improving from 95.5 percent in January 2024. In terms of actual figures, 48.49 million Filipinos were employed in January 2025, an increase from 45.90 million in January 2024 and 48.16 million in October 2024, respectively.
In his official statement on the January 2025 Labor Force Survey, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said the Dole “will continue to promote the Trabaho sa Bagong Pilipinas through monthly or bi-weekly job fairs, linking vulnerable groups to sustained income opportunities, and support MSMEs through accelerated Adjustment Measures Programs initiatives in the countryside” to further strengthen the labor market.
Source: inquirer.net
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Stricter travel permits for minors seen to curb child trafficking
MANILA, March 18 —— A senator underscored the need for stricter permits for minors traveling abroad to prevent child trafficking. In a statement, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian emphasized that implementing the Travel Clearance for Minors Traveling Abroad (MTA) would not only streamline the issuance of travel permits but also reinforce safeguards against trafficking by verifying the identities of children, their parents, guardians, or travel companions. “By enforcing stricter measures, we will also strengthen efforts to prevent cases of child trafficking,” he said.
The senator called for increased cooperation among the Bureau of Immigration and other agencies under the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) to bolster anti-trafficking measures. He also cited the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2022 as a key legal framework guiding efforts to combat trafficking and child exploitation. “We must always ensure the welfare and safety of our children so they do not fall victim to any form of violence or abuse,” he added.
Source: pna.gov.ph
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Easterlies, amihan continue to bring rains over parts of PH
MANILA, March 18 —— The easterlies and the northeast monsoon or “amihan” will continue to bring rains in some areas, the weather bureau said. Scattered rains and thunderstorms will prevail across Zamboanga Peninsula, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi due to the easterlies. The northeast monsoon will cause rains over Cagayan Valley, Aurora, and Quezon.
Moderate to heavy rains in the aforementioned areas could result in flash floods or landslides, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said. Meanwhile, amihan will also bring light rains over the rest of Luzon. The rest of the country will continue to experience isolated rain showers or thunderstorms due to the easterlies, PAGASA said.
Strong to gale winds, rough to very rough seas are forecast across Northern Luzon. Moderate to strong winds and moderate to rough seas will prevail over Central Luzon and the eastern section of Southern Luzon. Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate with slight to moderate seas.
No low pressure area is expected to develop or enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility, PAGASA said.
Source: pna.gov.ph
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Atin Ito to bring musicians to West Philippine Sea
MANILA, Philippines, March 18 —— A Philippine group that leads civilian missions to the West Philippine Sea plans to return to the tense waterways in May to hold a “peace and solidarity” concert.
The Atin Ito (“This is ours”) Coalition announced that its third civilian mission will set sail on May 25, featuring musical performances as a creative approach to asserting Philippine sovereignty amid ongoing tensions with Chinese vessels in the South China Sea. “We are setting sail with a message of peace and solidarity through music,” Rafaela David, co-convenor of the coalition, said at a press conference on Monday. “Through the power of art and collective action, we will fight for what is rightfully ours — not with weapons of war, but with the unyielding force of music and solidarity,” she added.
The upcoming mission follows Atin Ito’s first two missions held in December 2023 and May 2024, respectively. Edicio Dela Torre, another convenor of Atin Ito, said the coalition’s civilian missions have helped the public better understand the West Philippine Sea issue as a matter of the Philippines asserting its legal rights. Having a “concert at sea” would be a peaceful way of asserting the Philippines’ territorial integrity, Dela Torre said. “We are always being accused of being the ones starting fights… But we don’t want to add to that. We want peace and solidarity,” Dela Torre said in Filipino. “The power of culture and arts is important in delivering messages. I hope this new initiative will break another ground so that we can call attention and ask people to engage at the level they can,” Dela Torre added.
Filipino artist Noel Cabangon and rock group Rouge will join the mission. Japanese artist Fumiya Sankai also expressed support for the mission through a video message during the press conference. During the Monday press conference, Kiko Aquino Dee connected the Philippines’ efforts to assert its sovereign rights over the West Philippine Sea with civic responsibility, urging Filipinos to “vote for leaders who will stand up for the Filipino people and fight for the country’s interests above all.”
The West Philippine Sea refers to the waters in the South China Sea that overlap with the Philippines’ 370-kilometer exclusive economic zone. A rotating fleet of Chinese vessels has been prowling the waters off Zambales since the start of the year and refusing to heed radio challenges from the Philippine Coast Guard to leave. The Philippines says the illegal presence of the Chinese Coast Guard in the West Philippine Sea violates both international and domestic laws, including the 2016 arbitral award that nullified its so-called nine-dash line claim in the resource-rich South China Sea.
Source: philstar.com
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ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
Miss Globe 2024 Diana Moreno is proud to be ‘sobrang Latina’
March 18—— What makes a Latina beautiful? For Miss Globe 2024 Diana Moreno, the three qualities of a Latina that make them attractive are being “empowered, humble and resilient.” The 27-year-old beauty queen from Colombia sat down with The STAR in an exclusive interview and shared her Japanese-Latina roots, memorable visit in the Philippines, and her reign as Miss Globe. She was in the country recently and was billeted at Araneta City as part of her Asian tour. “I think Latinas are powerful in beauty pageant(s) because they are secure about themselves and have that energy like (being) happy. And I think Latina loves to enjoy everything. I think Latina is sexy! Haha!” she said on Latina traits that she is proud of.
Diana also hopped into the “Sobrang Latina” trend, where she recreated the viral TikTok video. She found it “amazing and incredible” how Filipinos have expressed their admiration for Latina beauties. She was thrilled to be in Manila, for the first time, because she had heard a lot of good stuff about the Philippines prior to coming here. “My mom told me about how amazing (the) Philippines is. She said, ‘You will really enjoy it because the people are so kind.’ I also tried halo-halo and it’s amazing. Filipinos are always in my heart and I really want to come back.”
Diana cited the Filipino fans’ love and high-energy that greeted her when she arrived. “It was incredible. I also met a Filipino fan in Thailand and he told me how Filipinos love me. I love them back. Filipino fans are lovely, kind and they support me. And that is amazing because I feel that love. That’s why I keep working hard.” The Filipina beauty queens that she admired most are Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray and Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach. She also developed a close friendship with Philippine representative and Miss Globe 2024 second runner-up Jasmin Bungay. They plan to travel together after Diana’s Asian tour.
Diana was born in Japan to Colombian parents and lived there for years. She moved to Colombia when she was 11. She speaks Japanese and hopes to come back to Japan in April for the Sakura season and meet up with her friends.
Source: philstar.com
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Alden Richards advocates for running, helps organize fun run for a cause
March 18 —— Alden Richards has now turned his running hobby into an advocacy!According to Aubrey Carampel’s report in “24 Oras”, the Asia’s Multimedia Star helped organize a fun run for a cause event for the Movie Works Welfare Foundation (Mowelfund), of which he is a board member. “We’re calling it ‘Lights, Camera, Run! Takbo para sa Pelikulang Pilipino.’ So all the proceeds of the fun run will go directly to Mowelfund,” Alden said.
Meanwhile, veteran actress and Mowelfund board of trustees member, Boots Anson Rodrigo, shared they hope the fun run fosters camaraderie among the members and non-members of the film industry. “It’s a health-oriented activity at bukod po dun sa pagiging health-oriented nito, ito po inaasahan namin na mag-fo-foster ng camaraderie, goodwill, pagsasama between ‘yung mga members ng industriya at ‘yung mga non-members na meron pong puso para sa pelikulang Pilipino,” she said.
Alden also invited several showbiz personalities and celebrities, including his friends and running buddies Barbie Forteza and Kristoffer Martin. Also joining the fun run is “24 Oras” Game Changer host and Kapuso sportscaster Martin Javier, who recently participated in the 2025 Tokyo Marathon. “Napakagandang initiative nito. Lalong-lalo na po ngayon napakaraming into health and wellness, at saka ‘yung running ngayon ‘yung medyo go-to na exercise,” said Martin. The fun run, which will be held on May 11 at Mall of Asia, is open to the public. According to Alden, runners have the option to go in their favorite movie costume, may it be local or international.
Source: gmanetwork.com
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Maymay Entrata to perform ‘Nasaan ang Hiling’ for ‘Snow White’ PH release
March 18 —— Maymay Entrata was announced as the singer for “Nasaan ang Hiling” for the Philippines’ theatrical release of the live-action “Snow White,” shortly after she was speculated to be the performer of the song. Entrata was revealed to be the singer of the live-action film’s theme song on its social media platforms, along with a photo of the actress dressed up as Snow White.
Entrata said she is excited for her fans to see her rendition of “Nasaan ang Hiling” in a separate post. “Hi everyone! Ako po si Maymay at sobrang excited na ako na mapakinggan niyo po ang ‘Nasaan ang Hiling,’ ang Filipino version ng ‘Waiting on a Wish.’ Hiling ko po sana na manood po tayo sa sinehan ng March 19,” she said. Entrata’s full performance of “Waiting on a Wish” has yet to be uploaded on the production company’s social media platforms, as of this writing.
The actress-singer caught the attention of netizens after she was speculated to be the country’s representative to perform the theme song of “Snow White,” which was originally sung by its lead star Rachel Zegler. Aside from Entrata, actress and singer Bae Suzy was tapped to perform the Korean version of “Waiting on a Wish.”
The live-action “Snow White,” which also stars Gal Gadot, Andrew Burnap, Ansu Kabia, Hadley Fraser, and Lorena Andrea,” will hit theaters in the Philippines on March 19. Per reports, changes to Snow White’s character include her origin story and her romance with her “true love.”
Source: inquirer.net
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SPORTS NEWS
NBA: Cavs win streak halted after Magic comeback
LOS ANGELES, March 18 —— Paolo Banchero scored 24 points as the Orlando Magic overturned a 13-point deficit to end the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 16-game NBA unbeaten streak with a gutsy 108-103 road victory. Cleveland, the runaway Eastern Conference leaders, had looked poised to extend their franchise-record winning run after surging clear of Orlando early in the third quarter. But after a season where they have staged hefty winning comebacks of their own, the tables turned on Cleveland in the face of a furious burst of Orlando scoring.
The Magic outscored Cleveland 35-23 in the third quarter with Franz Wagner leading the charge with nine points and Banchero adding seven. Although Cleveland led by a slender 83-82 margin heading into the fourth quarter, and threatened to stretch away once more after Donovan Mitchell’s driving layup made it 91-84, Orlando refused to roll over. Eight more points from Wagner in the final frame and five apiece from Banchero and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope saw the Magic home to silence a 19,432 sellout crowd at Cleveland’s Rocket Arena.
Former No. 1 NBA Draft pick Banchero finished with 24 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists while Wagner added 22 points with eight rebounds and two assists as Orlando improved to 32-37 to remain eighth in the Eastern Conference standings. “It’s a big win,” Banchero said after what was the final leg of a five-game road trip for Orlando. “We knew this was going to be probably the toughest game of the trip. “To come in here against one of the better teams in the league, also on a win streak — big win.”
Mitchell led Cleveland scoring with 23 points, with Jarrett Allen finishing on 20 and Darius Garland adding 19. Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson praised Orlando’s performance and said it demonstrated the depth of quality in the league. “Huge credit to them,” Atkinson said. “This league is humbling, and if you think you’ve won 16 in a row or whatever, right around the corner is a playoff team and a tough team to play.”
The Oklahoma City Thunder continued their serene march towards the Western Conference No.1 seeding with an emphatic 121-105 road victory over the Milwaukee Bucks. NBA Most Valuable Player contender Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder scoring with 31 points as Oklahoma City improved to 56-12, a massive 13 games clear of the second-placed Houston Rockets.
In Los Angeles the Lakers snapped a four-game losing streak and dealt a blow to the Phoenix Suns’ hopes of reaching the playoffs after powering to a 107-96 victory. Phoenix, sitting 11th in the Western Conference and just outside the play-in places, badly need wins as they attempt to force their way into the postseason reckoning. But 33 points from Luka Doncic and another assured performance from Austin Reaves, who scored 28 points, carried the Lakers to a comfortable victory that left the Suns on 31-37 in the Western Conference standings.
In other games the Philadelphia 76ers scored an upset 130-125 win over the Dallas Mavericks on the road. Quentin Grimes led the scoring for a depleted Sixers line-up missing Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Kelly Oubre Jr, finishing with 28 points.
Source: news.abs-cbn.com
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Draper dashes Alcaraz’ 3-peat hopes
INDIAN WELLS, March 18 —— Jack Draper ended Carlos Alcaraz’s bid for a rare Indian Wells ATP Masters three-peat toppling the Spaniard to book a title clash with Holger Rune. Britain’s Draper, ranked 14th in the world, held his nerve to beat Alcaraz 6-1, 0-6, 6-4 and reach the first Masters 1000 final of his career.
Denmark’s Rune, ranked 13th, triumphed 7-5, 6-4 over world number six Daniil Medvedev, who had been runner-up to Alcaraz each of the past two years. “This one hurts,” admitted Alcaraz, who was trying to join Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic as the only men to win three straight titles in the California desert. “I don’t want to lose any match, but I think this one was even more special to me. It was difficult today, a lot of nerves in the match.”
Draper ended Alcaraz’s 16-match winning streak in the California desert, leaping out of the gate and wrapping up the first set in 23 minutes as Alcaraz failed to get to grips with the left-hander’s serve.
Source: philstar.com
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Norris holds off Verstappen to win rain-hit Australian Grand Prix
MELBOURNE, Australia, March 18 —— Lando Norris kept his cool in a rain-hit and incident-packed season-opening Australian Grand Prix Sunday to edge world champion Max Verstappen with Lewis Hamilton 10th on his Ferrari debut.
The pole-sitting Briton took the chequered flag by less than a second from the Dutchman, with Mercedes’ George Russell third after a chaotic race in Melbourne that saw three drivers crash before the end of the first lap. With the safety car repeatedly forced into action after a slew of accidents on the wet Albert Park circuit, Norris held on to clock a fifth grand prix win and second in a row after topping the podium at the final race of 2024 in Abu Dhabi.
RB rookie Isack Hadjar, Alpine’s Jack Doohan and Williams’ Carlos Sainz last year’s winner all failed to finish the first lap on a track made treacherous by earlier torrential rain. Norris came into the season as favourite for the 2025 drivers’ title and cemented his status as the man to beat. “It was amazing, a top race, especially with Max behind me. I was pushing, especially the last two laps it was a little bit stressful, not going to lie,” said Norris. “Tricky conditions, but there are the ones that are enjoyable and we ended up on top so I’m happy.”
Verstappen, who is aiming to become only the second driver to win five straight world titles after Michael Schumacher, was in the hunt early but an uncharacteristic error on lap 18 dented his chances until another safety car put him back in the frame. “It was a difficult race, but at the end it was fun,” said the Dutch star. “It was pushing, fighting for the win but I’m just happy to bring it home, score good points and this is a good start for us.”
In the unpredictable conditions, with rain on-and-off, Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli was an eye-opening fourth on his debut while Williams’ Alex Albon came an encouraging fifth. Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll was sixth ahead of Nico Hulkenberg in a Sauber. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc came eighth, with Norris’ teammate Oscar Piastri and Hamilton rounding out the top 10. Russell was content with third, given the circumstances. “It was a great race to come home in P3. And well done to Lando, a race like that when you are leading is probably your worst nightmare,” he said. “I was quite enjoying it to be honest, hoping the two guys ahead made a mistake and I could slip through.”
While torrential rain eased for the main event, the tricky conditions were rammed home when Hadjar skidded and hit the wall on the formation lap and was out before the race even started. The start was aborted and when the green lights finally came on, Norris, on intermediate tires, made a clean jump and kept his position at the first corner.
Verstappen also had a flying start and passed Piastri to go second while Leclerc moved up two places to fifth. But the race was interrupted minutes later when Doohan ploughed into the wall, then the experienced Sainz did the same on his Williams debut. They restarted after a safety car with Norris holding his spot ahead of Verstappen and with Piastri they began pulling clear of fourth-placed Russell. With the track drying, the gap to Russell was eight seconds by lap 13. But with his tires starting to wear, Verstappen brushed the gravel on lap 18 and Piastri flashed past back into second.
Norris and Piastri powered 18 seconds ahead of the Dutchman before Fernando Alonso put his Aston Martin into the wall on lap 34 and the safety car came out again. All teams used the opportunity to make their pit stops with Norris and Piastri emerging on hards and Verstappen on mediums. After the safety car peeled off, Norris flew into a two-second lead before Piastri, pushing hard, skidded onto the grass to drop down the field as Verstappen powered past. But again a safety car was required when Red Bull’s Liam Lawson spun, with Norris, Verstappen and Russell the top three at the restart with seven laps left. Verstappen pressed Norris hard for the win when they got going again, but the Briton was able to hold on.
Source: philstar.com
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FEATURED ARTICLE
6 Ways to Stay Cool in Extreme Heat
With temperatures increasing, it’s important to pay attention to how the heat is impacting your body. In extreme heat — which is considered a prolonged period of high heat and humidity — your body works extra hard to maintain a normal temperature. Each year, extreme heat causes more deaths than other weather-related hazards.
Here are 6 ways to keep you and your loved ones cool this summer:
1. Drink water.
Keep you and your pets hydrated. Drink more fluids, regardless of how active you are. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink.
2. Find air conditioning.
If your home does not have air conditioning, go to the shopping mall or public library. Check to see if your community set up emergency alternatives for cooling centers, as normal cooling centers may not have enough space for social distancing. Even a few hours spent in air conditioning can help your body stay cooler when you go back into the heat. Keep in mind that while electric fans may provide comfort, when the temperature is in the high 90s they will not prevent heat-related illness.
3. Insulate your house.
You can keep your house cooler by insulating it and covering your windows with drapes or shades. Use window reflectors such as aluminum foil-covered cardboard to reflect heat back outside.
4. Wear sunscreen.
Sunburn affects your body’s ability to cool down and can make you dehydrated. If you must go outdoors, protect yourself from the sun by wearing a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, and by putting on sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher 30 minutes prior to going out.
5. Never leave pets or people in a closed car.
Cars can quickly heat up to dangerous temperatures, even with a window cracked open. While anyone left in a parked car is at risk, children are especially in danger of getting a heat stroke or dying.
6. Avoid strenuous activities.
Try to limit your outdoor activity to when it’s coolest: morning and evening hours. Rest often in shady areas so that your body has a chance to recover.
When your area is experiencing extreme heat, it is also important to be able to recognize the signs of heat-related illness. There are three main types: heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
• For heat cramps, you want to look out for muscle pains or spasms in the stomach, arms or legs. If this happens, immediately find a cooler location and remove excess clothing.
• For heat exhaustion, you may experience heavy sweating, paleness, muscle cramps, weakness, dizziness or vomiting. You will want to go to an air-conditioned place, remove clothing or take a cool bath.
• For heat stroke, you may experience a high internal body temperature (above 103 degrees), rapid and strong pulse, red skin, dizziness or confusion. You should call 9-1-1 and then attempt to cool your body in whatever ways are available to you.
If you experience any of the symptoms of heat-related illness, you should also take sips of a cool sports drink, which helps you replenish vitamins lost when sweating.
Source: www.fema.gov
Our Services
- Devote every managerial effort to become more efficient and profitable.
- Continue to employ competent and fully certified seafarers for our customer in order to gain excellent standing with both local and foreign governments, maritime unions, training institution, P & I Correspondent and the likes.
- Control the manning process systematically; be flexible and proactive in fulfilling both seafarers and customers’ requirements, presenting innovative solutions wherever possible.
- Keep excellent market knowledge and ability to respond quickly to any changes in order to provide a sustainable service to customers.
- Become a market preference in terms of high quality service.
Our Mission
- Maintain pools of highly qualified, motivated and dedicated seafarers who fulfill the demanding requirements in safeguarding the safety of ship and the environment.
- Lifetime Profession- Develop training and education program that involves many initiatives geared towards ensuring that personnel starting their employment with MBM are given every opportunity to progress their career through the ranks and via shore-based employment.
- Provide a decent and stable working environment so that both seafarers and shore staff can contribute to the best of their abilities.
- Transparency and Honesty- Be fair and have corporate financial activities comply with rule of law.
2012 CAR CARRIER OF THE YEAR AWARD
We are please to announce that 10 vessels have demonstrated excellence in safety, delay-free, and bunkering-saving operations and have thus been selected to receive the Car Carrier of the Year Award for 2012
The M/V Santa Lucia saved human lives.
The M/V Santa Lucia, an 180,000-ton bulk carrier we operate with 22 Pilipino crew, saved human lives.
In the early hours of March 16, while sailing in the Molucca Sea, Indonesia, on a voyage from Japan to Australia, the ship received a distress call from an Indonesian fishing boat.
The M/V Santa Lucia proceeded to the site and rescued all 15 crew members from the boat. All the rescued crew were safe and sound and handed over to Indonesia’s coast guard in the afternoon of the same day.