Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Easter Sunday, March 31, 2024.
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READ: PH eyes Australia to boost fleet vs threats in WPS
THE Philippine Coast Guard is looking at another ally to help boost its fleet and enhance its maritime capabilities amid reported Chinese aggression in areas in the West Philippine Sea covered by the country's exclusive economic zone. The Coast Guard is currently eyeing the possible acquisition of two patrol vessels from Australia's global shipbuilder and defense prime contractor. The Guardian-class 39.5-meter patrol boat from shipbuilder Austal has caught the Coast Guard's interest as the Philippine government moves to favor local construction. Austal has a shipyard in Balamban in the province of Cebu. The Australian government provides this class of patrol ships to small South Pacific Ocean countries as part of its Pacific Maritime Security Program, a maritime security program designed to develop a more integrated maritime security system to meet the challenges of managing the Pacific maritime domain. Although such patrol boats are armed with light weapons, they can be upgraded with medium caliber guns like 25/30 millimeter chain guns aside from 12.7 millimeter heavy machine guns.
READ: 'Life a Christ-like life, share blessings'
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. urged Filipinos to live Christ-like lives, especially in sharing their blessings with the poor, the sick and the downtrodden. The President made the statement as he joined Filipino Christians in the solemn celebration of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ this Easter Sunday.
READ: CBCP: Don't forget why Jesus died
THE Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines said that the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ is best understood by not forgetting why he died on the cross. Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula said that Jesus rose again not just to vindicate himself but also his beloved flock.
READ: Ex-DFA chief bares fighting 'discrimination'
FORMER Foreign Affairs secretary Delia Albert said decades ago, she and fellow women diplomats in the department experienced discrimination when it came to choosing a foreigner for a husband. Albert shared this fact on March 19, when Romania conferred on her the National Order of Merit with the rank of commander for her "commendable" work in enriching Philippines-Romania ties. She received the honor bestowed on her by Romanian President Klaus Werner Iohannis through Ambassador of Romania to the Philippines Raduta Dana Matache. Albert served as the first female and 23rd D.F.A. secretary. Albert, who led the D.F.A. from Dec. 22, 2003 to Aug. 18, 2004, joined the department in 1967.
READ: 'Biased' poll on Cha-cha gets another House critic
COUNT House of Representatives Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe among those who have taken offense at a recent survey on Charter change commissioned by independent pollster Pulse Asia, calling it a "biased" survey. The survey, released last Wednesday, March 27, and conducted from March 6-10, showed that 88 percent of respondents were against changing the Constitution in any form. Of the total, 75 percent were strongly against the move, saying the 1987 Constitution must not be changed now or at any other time.
BUSINESS: US Fed's inflation fight remains on track – Powell
The recent rise in US inflation hasn't stalled the Federal Reserve's ongoing fight against rising prices, Fed Chairman Jerome Powell said on Friday, shortly after the publication of fresh government data. Powell spoke shortly after the Commerce Department released data showing the Fed's favored inflation gauge rose at an annual rate of 2.5 percent in February, up 0.1 percentage point from a month earlier. But so-called core inflation, a closely watched measure that strips out volatile food and energy costs, eased slightly.
SPORTS: Ginebra, Magnolia clash on Easter Sunday
Over to sports, basketball action resumes on Easter Sunday with crowd drawer Barangay Ginebra clashing with longtime rival Magnolia in the main game of the Season 48 P.B.A. Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum. The Gin Kings (2-1) and the Hotshots (1-0) collide at 6:15 p.m., following the match between powerhouse and defending champion San Miguel Beer (2-0) and Phoenix (1-3) at 3 p.m. Ginebra coach Tim Cone admitted the long break marked by the All-Star Weekend held recently in Bacolod City, as well as the Lenten Season posed as a challenge for them.
READ: Opinion and editorial
Marlen Ronquillo is today's front page columnist, as he looks into the issues of child malnutrition.
Today's editorial discusses the drop in book reading among Filipino adults. Read the full version in the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.
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