News Roundup 27 July 2021
Jul 27, 2021 • 4 min Read
7,186 new COVID-19 infections push Philippines caseload to 1.56M | PHILSTAR.COM – Local health authorities on Tuesday reported 7,186 more COVID-19 infections, bringing the national caseload to 1,562,420.
- Active cases: 56,477 or 3.6% of the total
- Recoveries: 5,672, pushing total to 1,478,625
- Deaths: 72, bringing total to 27,318
‘No priority but the pandemic’: Robredo urges unity, Bayanihan spirit among gov’t and supporters | PHILSTAR.COM – A day removed from President Rodrigo Duterte’s sixth and final State of the Nation Address, Vice President Leni Robredo on Tuesday urged unity and cohesion from both the national government and her base of her supporters amid the coronavirus pandemic. “The president’s SONA is over. We heard lists of numbers and projects. And yet there were things we had hoped would be given emphasis but were not. I face you today in the hopes of filling a gap; of imparting a truth that must be affirmed by any leadership,” she said Tuesday. “There is no debate as regards the reality: Much is left to do to address, and lift ourselves up from, this pandemic.” Despite clocking in at over two and a half hours, Duterte’s SONA the day before was largely incomplete as the chief executive failed to touch on his concrete plans for the Delta variant of the coronavirus, tensions in the West Philippine Sea, ending contractualization, among others. Speaking in a live-streamed public address, the vice president praised Filipinos and communities, especially in the private sector, for “coming to [each other’s] rescue” over the coronavirus-induced quarantines. The vice president also called on the administration to center its focus squarely on helping Filipinos through the coronavirus pandemic. “Aside from laying down policies, we know that government has another very important responsibility: To orient us towards a single direction; to remind us that whatever our disagreements, we are ultimately one nation. The mission of government, especially in times of crisis, is to cultivate unity,” she said. “Can you imagine what more we could have accomplished if everything, including decisions and policies of the government, was oriented towards this same bayanihan spirit?”
Panelo congratulates ‘destabilizer’ Diaz on Olympic win | INQUIRER.NET – Chief presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo, who previously linked Olympic gold medallist Hidilyn Diaz in a conspiracy to discredit the administration, on Tuesday said the athlete’s recent win in the Tokyo Olympics “makes Filipinos proud.” In 2019, Panelo, who was then the presidential spokesperson, presented to the public six matrices linking several individuals and groups, including Diaz, to an alleged plot to oust President Rodrigo Duterte. But in a complete turnaround, Panelo said Diaz’s achievement during the Tokyo Olympics “serves as an inspiration to all Filipino athletes.” “Her feat makes us Filipinos proud. Her getting the gold is a testament to the Filipino race’s talent and indefatigable spirit,” Panelo said in a statement. “It serves as an inspiration to all Filipino athletes that getting gold in the Olympics is no longer a dream but a reality. Congratulations Hidilyn Diaz !!!” he added.
Sacrifice, exile: how Filipina Hidilyn Diaz made Olympic history | Manila Bulletin – Triumphant weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz will now forget the years of exile, sacrifice, training and nutrition that took her to the Philippines’ first Olympic gold by tucking into her favourite sweet passions, cheesecake and bubble tea. “Yes I will eat a lot tonight,” she smiled as she told AFP of her plans after her final massive 127kg lift eclipsed China’s world record holder Liao Qiuyun in the women’s 55kg class and gave her country a first gold after 97 years of Olympic competition. “I mean I’ve been sacrificing my food, and this is the time to celebrate together with the people who are behind me. So I’m really thankful I can eat now, yes,” said the 30-year-old who stands just 5ft 1in tall (1.58 metres). Diaz, 30, was already assured a place in her country’s sporting folklore, alongside the likes of Manny Pacquiao, as the only woman from the sprawling archipelago ever to win an Olympic medal when she took a surprise silver in the 53kg class in Rio five years ago. That ended a 20-year medal drought for the country who first competed on the Olympic stage in 1924 in Paris.
