HIV and COVID-19

A new report from the World Health Organization (WHO) confirms that HIV infection is a significant independent risk factor for both severe COVID-19 presentation at hospital admission and in-hospital mortality. Overall, nearly a quarter of all people living with HIV who were hospitalized with COVID-19, died. COVID-19 is threatening the gains in fighting the HIV epidemic. It is leading… Read More »

THE CLIMATE CRISIS

IT’S  WORSE THAN YOU THINK PART 1 “Parade of Storms,” “Atmospheric Rivers,” “Swarms of Tornadoes“: These are headlining in all of 2021, terms that have never been used before.  Just what is a “PARADE OF STORMS”? There is nothing technical about the phrase, only that a storm does not come in one after another, not a day apart anyway.  A typhoon,… Read More »

Quo vadis, Joe Manchin?

WHAT IS THE TROUBLE with the Democratic Party? Are they going crazy?  They have the presidency, the Senate and the House of Representatives.  They have full control of the Executive and Legislative branches of government!  They haven’t done so well in a very long time.  They passed the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill, which surpassed any government program since… Read More »

A New Beginning

It feels tentative to have typed 2022 to date this piece. But I am undoubtedly looking forward to 2022 for many reasons – foremost of them because it might just be the year when covid will be a thing of the past, just like many of us are hoping as well. Except maybe (Big MAYBE, in short, in… Read More »

Charo: Tears of Victory

And the winner is…..Charo, who’s a recipient of countless awards and recognitions did it again!  This time for her fine acting performance in “Kun Maupay Man It Panahon” at the recently concluded Metro Manila Film Festival.  You must remember that Charo got her first major acting award in her very first film ITIM as Asia’s Best Actress (1978)… Read More »

Welcome 2022… what blessings do you have for us?

I greet the New Year with great hope and positivity as always, with a solemn prayer for better things tucked in for good measure. Better things because I am feeling blessed as can be, having overcome the greatest hurdles of my life, which come with bringing you the news through Balita. Looking back, it is interesting to note… Read More »

Random Glances

“I’ve far outlived my usefulness.” Susan Wiggs, The Lost and Found Bookshop (2020). Alone Odd guy I am. Social nature has not spoilt me. I long for quietness, A peaceful music to behold. I’m judged to be different, Bear it with stings and bruises. I grew up not knowing my friends, Family is all I have! The Winding… Read More »

Christmas Gift Bags for Isolated and Lonely Seniors

Christmas is the time for family and friends to celebrate the holiday season together. Unfortunately, for many seniors in our community this time of the year only increases their sense of isolation and loneliness. This past year and a half had been challenging for everyone and even more so for many of seniors who are on their own,… Read More »

Audit Confirms FCT’s Major Accounting Deficiencies

FCT had a Third Party Independent Audit and had presented the Audit Report in the off-again-on-again Annual General Meeting (AGM) last November 14, 2021. Failing grade   Yale PGC LLP, the third party Independent Auditor, issued FCT a qualified audit report for 2016, 2017, and 2018.  On page 1 of the Opinion Section of the Independent Auditor’s Report, the… Read More »