News Roundup 19 June 2021
Jun 19, 2021 • 3 min Read
Philippines sees 6,959 new coronavirus infections | PHILSTAR.COM – Local health authorities on Saturday reported 6,959 more COVID-19 infections, bringing the national caseload to 1,353,220.
- Active cases: 59,439 or 4.4% of the total
- Recoveries: 9,407, pushing total to 1,270,243
- Deaths: 153, bringing total to 23,538
On Rizal’s 160th birth anniversary, Robredo calls on Filipinos to be beacons of hope | PHILSTAR.COM – On the 160th birth anniversary of national hero Jose Rizal, Vice President Leni Robredo called on Filipinos to be beacons of hope to weather today’s challenges, including the coronavirus pandemic. “Tinatawag tayong maging bukal ng pag-asa, at tumugon sa mga hamon ng panahon — ang paglutas ng pandemya, ang pag-ahon sa kahirapan, ang pagtaguyod ng ating dignidad at karapatan,” Robredo said. (We are being called to be beacons of hope and to answer today’s challenges — to solve the pandemic, to rise above poverty and to advocate for our dignity and rights.) She added that the occasion of Rizal’s birth anniversary calls on Filipinos to strengthen their faith. The vice president also hoped that Rizal becomes an example for the next generation of Filipinos for them to fight for what is right and just.
Kiko Pangilinan urges youth to vote as PH marks Rizal’s 160th birthday | INQUIRER.NET – Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan on Saturday called on the youth to register as new voters for the coming 2022 national elections. In a statement commemorating Dr. Jose Rizal’s 160th birthday, Pangilinan said young people have been vital in the country’s growth and resilience especially during the COVID-19 pandemic and that their voices should be heard when choosing the next leaders in the government. “Sa ating kasaysayan, hindi pa tayo binigo ng kabataan. Noon at ngayon, ang kabataan ang mitsa ng pagbabago. Sa darating na taon, magpapasya tayong lahat sa takbo ng bansa habang hinaharap ang epekto ng pandemya. Ito ang magpapasya sa ating mga kinabukasan,” said Pangilinan. “Kaya hinihimok natin ang ating mga kabataan na dalhin ang kanilang sigla sa pagsisigurong lahat ay rehistrado at lahat boboto.” (Throughout our history, the youth have never let us down. Then and now, the youth are the spark for change. In the coming year, we will all be part of the country’s trajectory while in the middle of the pandemic. This will decide our fate. That’s why I’m calling on all of our young people to bring their vigor to make sure that we are all registered and that we will all vote.) The Commission on Elections said 4.8 million new voters have registered. The poll body said the figure topped its target for the coming 2022 national elections. Pangilinan said that this welcome development is just the start of more things to come.
Robredo supporters hold feeding program in 29 areas | Manila Bulletin – While Vice President Leni Robredo has yet to decide on seeking the highest post in the land, her supporters conducted a simultaneous feeding program on Saturday, June 19, in 32 sites across the country. Team Leni Robredo, a group of vice president’s supporters behind the movement convincing her to run for president in 2022, identified these feeding sites from Baguio City in Luzon to Marawi City in Mindanao. Blogger Jover Laurio, one of the volunteers who organized the feeding program, said they had 41 teams which participated nationwide. These feedings programs were held in Quezon City, Navotas, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Pasig, Valenzuela, Marikina, San Juan and Pasay in National Capital Region; Catanduanes, Laguna, Quezon, Rizal, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Albay, Cavite, Bulacan, Masbate, Isabela, Baguio, and Zambales in Luzon; Cebu, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Leyte and Samar in the Visayas and Basilan and Marawi in Mindanao. ”Gaya ng sinabi ni VP Leni Gerona Robredo mas mahalagang tulungan natin ang ating mga kababayan sa panahon ng pandemya (Like what VP Leni Gerona Robredo said, it is more important to help our countrymen during a time of pandemic),” she said in a Facebook post. Robredo’s supporters served meals of lugaw (porridge) and pandesal (bread) to people in some areas. Trolls have long been calling Robredo “Lugaw Queen” or “Leni Lugaw” in social media. Her derisive nickname was born out of the photos of her campaign team selling porridge that spread online during the 2016 elections.
