Sacrifices of front-liners sustain battle vs. Covid-19 By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora June 12, 2021, 7:35 HERO WORSHIP. President Rodrigo Duterte (right) attends an Independence Day celebration in Malolos City, Bulacan on Saturday (June 12, 2021). He said all Filipinos, especially front-liners, battling the Covid-19 pandemic are heroes. (Photo courtesy of Sen. Bong Go) MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday honored as "modern heroes" the Filipino people who continuously battle the Covid-19 pandemic. In his Independence Day speech at the Bulacan Provincial Capitol in Malolos City, Duterte said it is an occasion to “honor our modern-day heroes — our healthcare workers, law enforcement officers, and other front-liners who have been instrumental in our fight against the Covid-19 pandemic". He also recognized the sacrifices made by front-liners at the risk of their lives. "In the past year, they have risked their own lives and sacrificed their own comfort and security to ensure that our society will continue to function despite this crisis. Maraming pong salamat sa inyong pagmalasakit at serbisyo (Thank you very much for your compassion and service)," he said. The President said a wall of heroes is now being built at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City where the names of doctors, nurses, and medical personnel who died due to Covid-19 will be inscribed. "At lahat ‘yung namatay na mga duktor, mga nurses, ‘yung mga attendants na nahawa ng Covid (All the doctors, nurses, and attendants who died due to Covid) will be honored by their names inscribed on that wall. It is now being built. And I’d like to thank the Armed Forces of the Philippines for their pagmalasakit sa kapwa Pilipino (compassion for Filipinos)," he said. The Chief Executive also conferred posthumously the Order of Lapu-Lapu with the rank of Magalong on Generals Gregorio del Pilar and Marcelo H. del Pilar, both Bulacan natives, in recognition of their "extraordinary acts of heroism that served as the foundation of this nation". The decoration was received by Marita del Pilar Villatema-Santos, the grandniece of Gregorio. "Marcelo H. del Pilar was a genius in the realm of arts and letters. Under the pen name Plaridel, he wrote fiery editorials that exposed the atrocities and injustices of the colonizers. Gen. Gregorio del Pilar, on the other hand, was hailed as the Hero of Tirad Pass, a true patriot who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our young republic," Duterte said. "It is just fitting that, more than a century since their exploits, these two sons of Bulacan continue to inspire succeeding generations of Filipinos to cherish the liberties and freedoms that they bled and fought for. On behalf of the Filipino people, allow me to convey our heartfelt gratitude to General Gregorio del Pilar and Gat Marcelo H. del Pilar. Maraming pong salamat sa inyong dalawa (Thank you very much to both of you)," he added. He urged the public to honor their legacies through small acts of heroism, especially during this time when the country is still grappling with the effects of the pandemic. Duterte said the country has come a long way since the time of the heroes it honors today. "We are now a nation that is modern, progressive, and ever thriving. However, our continued progress will only be possible if we have a strong understanding and appreciation of the liberties that we enjoy today," he said. He encouraged the nation to "move forward in solidarity and give greater meaning to the freedom that our forebearers achieved for us 123 years ago". (PNA) https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1143538 Front-liners hailed as heroes in Independence Day rites By Lade Jean Kabagani June 12, 2021, 7:20 pm HISTORIC SITE. San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora leads the commemoration rites for the 123rd Philippine Independence Day at the City Hall on Saturday (June 12, 2021). The city is home to the Pinaglabanan Shrine which serves as a memorial to 1896 Battle of Pinaglabanan, considered the first battle of the Philippine revolution. (PNA photo by Joey Razon) MANILA – Front-liners who risked their lives and continue doing so against the Covid-19 pandemic were honored Saturday in various Independence Day celebrations. San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora honored the city's medical and non-medical front-liners who are dedicating their services amid the prevailing public health crisis. "Pinaglalaban din natin na tuluyan na tayong maging malaya mula sa Covid-19 at iyan naman talaga ang araw-araw nating pinaglalaban (We are fighting to become free from the Covid-19 pandemic)," Zamora said in an interview. He recognized the efforts, dedication, and sacrifices of the city’s front-liners as their Covid-19 cases are down to 74 as of June 11. "Bahagi po sila ng ating laban para tuluyang maging malaya ang ating bansa at ang ating lungsod laban sa Covid-19 (They are part of our fight so that our country and our city would free from Covid- 19)," Zamora said. He also reported more than 34,000 residents are already vaccinated, equating to 45 percent of the city's 85,400 target population for inoculation. "Tayo ay right on track sa ating laban sa Covid-19 at habang bumababa bilang ng mga kaso, tumataas naman po ang bilang ng mga nababakunahan (We are right on track in our fight against Covid-19 and while our number of cases and decreasing, our number of vaccinees are increasing)," he said. The mayor said the local government targets to be the first to halt the pandemic as it was also the source of the country’s first local transmission. Zamora said the vaccination program is the last phase of the city government’s fight against Covid- 19 and he believes mass population protection will be achieved soon. "Panawagan sa bawat isa, tayo po ay magpabakuna. Ito po ay makakapagbibigay ng proteksyon at para sa ating pamilya at mahal sa buhay (My call to everyone, let's get vaccinated. This will give us protection, our family and loved ones)," he said. New heroes In Pasig City, Mayor Vico Sotto also lauded medical front-liners who are trying to halt the dreaded virus. Sotto said the good that came out of the pandemic was uniting Filipinos and the emergence of heroes who stepped up amid the health crisis. "Sa laban natin ngayon kontra Covid, una nating ipakita na tayo po ay united sa laban natin kontra Covid-19. Tsaka na po muna 'yung mga bagay katulad ng politika. Unahin po muna natin yung mga bagay kung saan iisa lang naman yung kalaban natin (In our fight against Covid-19, let's show that we are united against the pandemic. Let's set aside other things like politics. Let's prioritize dealing with our common enemy)," Sotto said during ceremonies at the Pasig Rizal Park. Navotas Mayor Toby Tiangco encouraged the public to cooperate in beating the pandemic. "Gawin sana natin ang ating makakaya para tayo ay makalaya mula sa gapos ng pandemya na mahigit isang taon nang nagpapahirap sa ating lahat (Let's do our best to break free from the shackles of the pandemic that has been hitting us for more than a year now)," Tiangco posted on social media. "Kung nagawang magka-isa at magtagumpay ng ating mga ninuno para masagip ang Inang Bayan, magagawa rin nating magtulungan para mabigyang proteksyon ang bawat isa laban sa (If our ancestors were able to unite and succeed in saving our Motherland, then, we can also work together to protect each other against) Covid-19," he added. The Pasay City government joined the celebration by offering flowers in various heroes' monuments around the city. In Taytay, the local government led by Mayor Joric Gacula held its Independence Day ceremony in a mall. "May we continue to fight for Philippine sovereignty for the generations after us," the local government said in a social media post. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1143539 Phivolcs cautions vs. high SO2 emission in Taal By Ma. Cristina Arayata June 12, 2021, 3:38 pm (Screenshot from Phivolcs' Facebook page) MANILA – The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) advised the public on Saturday to take the necessary precautions, as high levels of sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission have been observed in the Taal Volcano in the past two days. The public is urged to protect themselves but Phivolcs is not necessarily advising them to opt for evacuation, Philvolcs Director Renato Solidum Jr. confirmed to the Philippine News Agency (PNA). He, however, also noted that the threat of phreatic eruption or steam-driven explosion persists at alert level 2 (increased unrest). In an advisory, Phivolcs said the highest SO2 emission ever recorded for Taal averaged 9,911 tons per day last June 10, and Solidum said the high SO2 emission persists. "Peak measurements were obtained within a period of vigorous upwelling at the Main Crater Lake, which occurred continuously between 6 p.m. of June 9 and 10 a.m. of June 10, and generated 1.5- km.-tall steam plumes," the advisory added. Because of high levels of SO2 aerosol over the western Taal Caldera, residents in three barangays of the municipality of Agoncillo, Batangas – Banyaga, Bilibinwang, and Subic Ilaya – have experienced throat irritations and observed sudden dry-out or vegetation kill in crops, plants, and trees after a period of rain. "These observations were reported to us by the municipal agricultural office and (are) currently under further investigation," Phivolcs said. This is unprecedented, according to Solidum. The SO2 gas emissions from the Taal Main Crater have been measured by "campaign UV spectrometry" around the Taal Lake shore, based on the advisory.