Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Sunday, November 19, 2023.
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6.8 quake leaves 7 dead, damaged infra, power cuts
THE 6.8 magnitude earthquake off southern Mindanao on Friday killed at least seven people, damaged infrastructure, triggered power cuts and sent people fleeing to the streets. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who is in San Francisco, California, attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, ordered all concerned government agencies on Saturday to provide immediate assistance to the victims of the earthquake that hit Sarangani, Davao Occidental. Vice President Sara Duterte participated in a meeting with Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin to review the response of different government agencies. Marcos designated Duterte as the country's caretaker and acting president.
Marcos-Xi SCS talks 'work in progress'
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Chinese President Xi Jinping tried "to come up with the mechanisms to lower the tensions" in the South China Sea, the results of which, the Philippine leader said, were a "work in progress." Marcos said he requested the meeting to "once again voice concern on some of the incidents that were happening between Chinese vessels and Philippine vessels, culminating in the actual collision in the West Philippine Sea," which the Philippines and China are both claiming.
Marcos partners with TikTok for small traders
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. partnered with social media platform TikTok for "edutainment," a combination of education and entertainment, to help small-scale sellers and entrepreneurs, particularly with the country's 50 million users. During his meeting with TikTok Chief Executive Officer Shou Zi Chew at the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in San Francisco, California, Marcos said he wanted TikTok to train local sellers, particularly those in the rural areas, to promote their products. The President noted the popularity of TikTok among its users and agreed with Chew on how to train local sellers and promote their products through the platform.
Michelle Dee among top picks in Miss Universe 2023
THE highly anticipated 72nd Miss Uni-verse competition will be held today, Saturday, November 19 (Manila time), in El Salvador, where 84 delegates from all over the world are vying for the crown to succeed Filipino American R'Bonney Gabriel of the United States. With the closed-door interview, preliminary competition and national competition staged a couple of days ago, several beauty pageant sites are now ticking off their favorites. Those who were predicted to win the crown include Sheynnis Palacios of Nicaragua, Karla Inelisse Guilfú Acevedo of Puerto Rico, Anntonia Porsild of Thailand, Maria Brechane of Brazil, Melissa Flores of Mexico and Diana Silva of Venezuela, among others. The Philippines' own Michelle Dee was also included in the Top 5 and Top 10. Missosology, the beauty pageant website that covers and analyzes the Big 5 — Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss Earth, Miss International and Miss Supranational — as well as other relevant male and female pageants around the world, has revealed its final hot picks.
AI seen to improve digital economy
Over to business, institutions, private and public sectors are keen on using artificial intelligence solutions to create a more inclusive and improved digital economy in the region. With the theme "The Application of A.I. in Financial Services," of this year's Singapore Fintech Festival, several public and private institutions have collaborated to enhance digital financial services and make it available and accessible to all, especially those underserved communities and the micro, small and medium enterprises.
Ginebra, Magnolia clash in epic Manila Clasico
Headlining sports, after running away with three straight wins to open Season 48, Magnolia Chicken Timplados gets its first acid test when it tangles with defending champion Barangay Ginebra in an early showdown between two powerhouse squads in the 2023-2024 P.B.A. Commissioner's Cup on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Both teams came off big victories last Friday. The Hotshots annihilated the previously unbeaten NorthPort Batang Pier, 112-74, while the Gin Kings debuted for the season with a 100-86 demolition of winless Converge FiberXers. Magnolia enters the game playing like a well-oiled machine, behind American import Tyler Bey, who has been the main anchor of the team's offense and defense in its 3-0 start for the import-spiced conference.
Marlen Ronquillo is today's front page columnist, as he reflects on the release of former senator Leila de Lima.
Today's editorial also weighs in on De Lima's temporary freedom. Read the full version in the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.
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