News Roundup 26 December 2023
Dec 26, 2023 • 4 min Read
PH ‘restrained, responsible’ in West PH Sea row — Nat’l Security Council | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has been very restrained and responsible amid the tensions surrounding the West Philippine Sea, and the same can’t be said for China, according to National Security Council spokesperson Jonathan Malaya.
Malaya made the reaction on Beijing’s claim that the Philippines actions in the WPS are “extremely dangerous.”
“As the world has seen, it is not the Philippines that has been engaged in provocations, bullying and aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea,” Malaya told INQUIRER.net in a Viber message on Tuesday.
“In fact, the Philippines has been very restrained and responsible but the same cannot be said of China,” he added.
Beijing used water cannons and what Manila deems as “dangerous maneuvers” against its vessels during the regular resupply mission in a military outpost in Ayungin Shoal as well as its operations in Scarborough Shoal.
Full Story at: PH ‘restrained, responsible’ in West PH Sea row — NSC (inquirer.net)
Fiducia Supplicans: Blessing, not marriage, for same sex couples | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines—It is now possible for a priest to bless couples of the same sex and couples in irregular situations with the release of the document Fiducia Supplicans by the Vatican Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith.
The declaration, which was released on Dec. 18, was reviewed and approved by Pope Francis, who was elected to the pontificate in 2013 after the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI.
However, its release has stirred controversy, with some expressing strong opposition, while others coming forward to back the document, which has been prepared in “consultation with experts.”
As stressed by the Dicastery, there was a “careful drafting process” and that the content of the document was discussed in the Congresso of its Doctrinal Section.
‘Landmark’
Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, said that Fiducia Supplicans is “clear in its content and intent.”
He pointed out that in the document, the prefect of the Dicastery stressed that “this declaration remains firm on the traditional doctrine of the Church about marriage.”
Full Story at: Fiducia Supplicans: Blessing, not marriage, for same sex couples | Inquirer News
ACT’s Christmas wish: New DepEd secretary | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Teachers and education personnel wish to have a new Department of Education (DepEd) secretary this Christmas due to what they describe as the failure of Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte to address the issues within the education sector, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) said yesterday.
The ACT released on Christmas Day the “12 Wishes” of teachers and school employees for Christmas, which is headlined by a call for a new DepEd secretary alongside a transformative shift in working conditions and better wages.
“One of the main wishes of many teachers and education personnel is for the DepEd to have a new secretary who prioritizes teachers and students, and one that has real experience in the education sector,” the ACT said in a statement.
It stressed that Duterte, who has been education chief since June last year, could not enact “tangible changes” in the education sector.
“The salaries of many teachers and school staff remain low and unsustainable. The Philippines continues to fail in various international student assessments such as the PISA (Program for International Student Assessment). Under Sara Duterte’s leadership, the DepEd continues to red-tag and attack teachers and staff who express their calls and interests,” the group lamented.
“With the number of problems facing the education sector, there is a need for a new DepEd secretary who will respond to the issues facing the sector,” it added.
Full Story at: ACT’s Christmas wish: New DepEd secretary | Philstar.com
Inoue breaks down Tapales to become undisputed super bantam king | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines – For 10 rounds, Marlon Tapales tried his darn best to weather the typhoon that is Naoya Inoue.
But Tapales could only do so much, and despite his notable skill and effort to slip, block or parry Inoue’s best shots, still succumbed to the Japanese sensation’s power in the 10th round of their super bantamweight unification bout Tuesday night at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.
In a remarkable demonstration of punching power and patience, Inoue sent Tapales down in the fourth round, kept the Filipino champion on the defensive, then eventually broke him down in the 10th to become the unified world 122-pound champion.
Full Story at: Inoue breaks down Tapales to become undisputed super bantam king | Philstar.com
