NEW YORK. An earthquake struck the densely populated New York City metropolitan area on Friday morning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Residents across the Northeast reported feeling tremors in an area where such occurrences are uncommon.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake struck at 10:23 a.m. with a preliminary magnitude of 4.8, its epicenter located near Lebanon, New Jersey, approximately 45 miles west of New York City and 50 miles north of Philadelphia. Initial estimates suggested that the quake may have been felt by over 42 million people across the affected areas.
Despite the significant rumbling, New York City’s emergency notification system swiftly assured residents via social media that there were no reports of damage or injuries within the city. Mayor Eric Adams received a briefing on the event, with spokesperson Fabien Levy stating, “While we do not have any reports of major impacts at this time, we’re still assessing the impact.”
In the aftermath of the quake, residents across the Northeast shared their experiences, with reports of shaking coming from as far as Baltimore, Philadelphia, Connecticut, and even near the Massachusetts-New Hampshire border, over 200 miles away. The tremors prompted a sense of unease among many, stirring memories of the magnitude 5.8 earthquake that struck the East Coast on August 23, 2011, leaving cracks in the Washington Monument and prompting evacuations in Washington, D.C.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul assured the public of ongoing assessments regarding impacts and damages throughout the state. Similarly, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont’s spokespersons stated that officials were monitoring the situation, though no reports of significant damage had surfaced in their respective states at the time.
The unexpected seismic activity disrupted the usual rhythm of city life, with motorists honking horns on momentarily shuddering streets in Manhattan and Brooklyn residents hearing a booming sound accompanied by building vibrations. In lower Manhattan, patrons at a coffee shop discussed the startling occurrence as dishware rattled and concrete counters shook. “I noticed the door trembling on its frame,” remarked India Hays, a barista, reflecting the disbelief shared by many at the prospect of an earthquake in the area.
While the quake did not result in widespread damage or injuries, its occurrence serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of geological events, especially in regions where such phenomena are less common. As authorities continue to assess the situation, residents remain vigilant, reflecting on the fleeting but impactful disruption to their daily lives.
CALAMBA CITY, Laguna. Patay ang isang suspek sa pagpatay ng isang tricycle driver matapos ang engkwentro sa mga pulis sa Barangay San Jose, lungsod na ito nitong Huwebes.
Kinilala ng mga awtoridad ang suspek na si “Alyas Benjo” na napatay sa Barangay Parian, Calamba City noong gabi ding iyon.
Si Benjo ay tinukoy ng mga pulisya bilang salarin sa pagpatay kay Frederick Tagle, 41 anyos, isang tricycle driver na binaril habang nagmamaneho ng kanyang Rusi tricycle sa Barangay San Jose, Calamba City, noong Huwebes ng hapon.
Pagkatapos ng insidente, tumakas ang suspek patungo sa Barangay Sais. Batay sa ulat ng isang concerned citizen, natukoy ang suspek sa paligid ng Barangay Parian, Calamba City bandang 7:08 ng gabi.
Agad namang isinagawa ng mga intelligence operatives ang pagsundan sa suspek. Subalit, sa halip na sumuko, nagpaputok ang suspek nang maramdaman ang presensya ng mga operatiba na nagresulta sa engkwentro at nauwi sa kanyang kamatayan.
JERUSALEM. Two Israeli military officers have been dismissed and three others reprimanded for their involvement in drone strikes in Gaza that tragically claimed the lives of seven aid workers on a food delivery mission. The Israeli military disclosed that the officers had mishandled crucial information and breached the army’s rules of engagement.
The findings, stemming from an investigation led by a retired general, unveiled an uncomfortable truth for Israel, amid mounting criticism from key allies, including the United States. The incident has raised concerns about Israel’s commitment to safeguarding civilians in the midst of its conflict with Hamas.
Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the military’s spokesman, expressed regret over the incident, acknowledging, “It’s a tragedy…It’s a serious event that we are responsible for, and it shouldn’t have happened, and we will make sure that it won’t happen again.”
The swift investigation and subsequent disciplinary actions mark a departure from the norm, reflecting the seriousness of the situation. However, doubts linger over the effectiveness of such measures in assuaging international outcry and rebuilding trust with aid organizations operating in Gaza.
World Central Kitchen, the charity to which the slain aid workers belonged, welcomed the investigation but stressed the need for systemic change to prevent similar tragedies in the future. They reiterated calls for an independent inquiry into the incident.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken underscored the importance of Israel’s accountability, stating that the United States would scrutinize the findings closely to gauge the steps taken and their impact.
According to military spokespeople, the drone strikes were authorized based on flawed intelligence, with a colonel greenlighting the operation upon receiving inaccurate information about an armed individual in the aid convoy. The subsequent strikes, based on this faulty premise, resulted in the loss of innocent lives.
The incident has intensified scrutiny of Israel’s conduct in the ongoing conflict with Hamas and highlighted the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. With the enclave facing severe food shortages, the international community is pressing for urgent action to alleviate the suffering of its inhabitants.
The victims, hailing from various countries, were employees of World Central Kitchen, founded by celebrity chef José Andrés. Their deaths underscore the risks faced by humanitarian workers operating in conflict zones.
As Israel grapples with the fallout from the drone strikes, questions persist about the breakdown in communication that led to the tragic outcome. Despite efforts to coordinate with aid organizations, the military’s actions underscore the challenges of operating in a volatile environment where lives hang in the balance.
TEA Governance advocacy, where leaders behave in transparent, ethical, and accountable ways.
In almost four decades of service, a former DepEd Undersecretary never lost sight of the need to help the government in the very serious matter of Curriculum and Instruction. He also lectures in webinars, seminars, conferences, public hearings, and technical meetings. Now that he is the SEAMEO INNOTECH Educational Research and Innovation Office Manager, Dr. Diosdado “Dads” M. San Antonio’s door continues to be knocked by many opportunities to pass on his expertise to more and more younger colleagues and spread common sense methods in educational institutions.
Usec Dad’s “TEA” will surely shun those who knock and choose to be untransparent, unethical, and unaccountable, though.
Once quoted by the media as saying, “Yung level ng commitment ng mga kasama nating guro, hindi matatawaran,” (the level of commitment of our fellow teachers is unmatched) San Antonio is one with the teachers in their feelings and always looking for solutions to the various problems faced by the schoolchildren because he, too, was a public schoolteacher before being entrusted with high positions in the Education Department’s regional offices and HQ.
He would almost always co-lead in Curriculum Development; Learning Delivery; Education Assessments; Learning Resources; Teacher Education and Literacy Coordinating secretariats; and Indigenous Peoples Education. And he listens. (Remember when he did not decline questions and one of his pressers was extremely cherishing, “It was among the many options we were considering but noting the objections from our stakeholders, we will no longer propose a two-week break.”)
As a member of the Standing Committee on Basic Education at EDCOM 2 (Second Congressional Commission on Education), San Antonio constantly emphasizes “the value of empowerment as long as both DepEd officials and teachers are fully capacitated.” (Inserting his eager smile after saying that is important; we cannot have that here, anyway.)
Most of his peer-reviewed journal articles were developed out of his experience in doctoral research.
San Antonio fully agreed when a noted economist wrote in part: “It would appear that our country embarked on decentralization of basic education more than two decades ago in 2001, when the reorganized Department of Education (DepEd) supposedly adopted School-Based Management (SBM) as a governance framework. SBM purportedly transferred power, authority, and resources to the school level, and was piloted in the implementation of foreign-funded projects like Australia’s Basic Education Assistance for Mindanao (BEAM) and Japan’s Third Elementary Education Project (TEEP). Even as analyses showed BEAM and TEEP to have yielded positive effects on pupils’ performance, DepEd, for various reasons, failed to fully implement SBM beyond these pilots. A 2014 assessment by the World Bank observed that most elementary and secondary schools had put in place ‘only a minimum number of arrangements for community participation and for taking action to improve learning outcomes.’
“SBM notwithstanding, the ongoing (EDCOM) found in its first year of research and consultations that schools cannot act in the absence of a memorandum from higher up—a situation stakeholders dub as ‘memocracy,’ a tongue-in-cheek takeoff on ‘democracy.’ Local chief executives (LCEs) have affirmed this, citing how division superintendents often block local initiatives for lack of a memorandum or approval from DepEd superiors. This ‘stems from the long history of centralized and hierarchical control exerted over the DepEd bureaucracy’ (EdCom II Year 1 Report, p. 302-303). This is unfortunate, as EdCom II has heard progressive LCEs embrace education as a core function of LGUs. But ‘absence of a formal policy hinders them from taking a more active role and reaping the benefits of devolution—faster, more focused responses, and innovative solutions that address local context and needs.’” (Habito, 2024)
San Antonio’s research abroad is on SBM and he firmly believes in a “principal-teacher empowerment” to be more specific to the Philippine setting. Before all stakeholders of SEAMEO INNOTECH, he speaks, “It’s our responsibility to empower teachers so they can take risks and be innovative.” (Insert the organization’s technical and related assistance; they are not mere words.)
Policy recommendations for the education sector proceed out of the mouths of laudable people like San Antonio, processes occur in their mouths, and when they make a mistake, it does not leave a bad taste to others’. Go ask their partner research organizations.
San Antonio, who served six Education chiefs, wrote in his social media account that he “will treasure the opportunity to personally know (them) and work with the great DepEd Secretaries of our time.” He began new phases of his career as DepEd retiree on June 30, 2022.
Many teachers do not know San Antonio personally. The good thing is the internet of things. Check out his “Module-based professional development for teachers: A cost-effective Philippine experiment” and other papers, big ideas, and lessons, all out there for all of us to personally ponder his works before asking our bigger questions. We may try to ask him those queries and he will gamely deliver as he did in “The Future of Teaching Controversial Public Issues: The DepEd Response” at UST.
“What’s the use of submitting perfect scores if it’s not the work of your child? As a parent I’ll never do that.” That is how Usec Dads told Christian Esguerra, when asked how to deal with the pandemic woes of both the learners and their parents, adding that other parents saw “nice things in it… nare-review rin sila.”
This recipient of the 2019 Gawad Career Executive Service (CES) Presidential Award also experienced monitoring 35 incidents of errors in self-learning modules as he worked closely with co-leaders at DepEd.
San Antonio precisely detects problems and knows where to start and work to end the problems in the education sector. Like us and his EDCOM standing committee, he hopes and prays: #ItaasAngAntas (improve our levels).
Pangungumusta
Some of my 1996 NHS batchmates who in 2017 donated wall fans, the number of which totaled the number of classrooms in the school before, wanted to know: “Musta [sic] na ang silid-aralan sa tag-init at maiinit na isyu sa edukasyon sa bansa?” My response: “Go visit the classrooms. Magpainit.”
In almost four decades of service, former DepEd Undersecretary Dr. Diosdado “Dads” M. San Antonio never lost sight of the need to help the government in the very serious matter of Curriculum and Instruction. He also lectures in webinars, seminars, conferences, public hearings, and technical meetings.
Namataan ang isang namumuong bagyo ngayon sa labas ng Philippine area of responsibility, ayon sa Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). Kahit na mainit ang panahon sa kasalukuyan, binabantayan ng mga awtoridad ang low pressure area (LPA) na ito na matatagpuan sa timog-silangan ng South Cotabato.
Ayon kay weather forecaster Chenel Dominguez, ang LPA ay huling namataan sa layong 770 kilometro timog-silangan ng General Santos City province ng South Cotabato. Inaasahang ang buntot ng LPA ay magdudulot ng pag-ulan sa ilang bahagi ng Mindanao sa Biyernes, partikular sa Davao Region.
Nagpapayo ang PAGASA sa mga residente sa mga naturang lugar na maging handa sa posibleng epekto ng bagyo, tulad ng pagbaha at pagguho ng lupa. Manatiling nakatutok sa mga susunod na ulat ng PAGASA para sa mga karagdagang impormasyon hinggil sa pag-unlad ng bagyo at posibleng epekto nito sa mga komunidad.
HUALIEN, Taiwan. In the aftermath of Taiwan’s most powerful earthquake in 25 years, rescue efforts intensified on Thursday as teams scoured debris and worked to reach hundreds stranded by cascading boulders and mudslides. With a death toll of ten and over 1,000 injured, the quake’s impact reverberated through the island, leaving buildings tilting perilously and roads impassable.
The seismic upheaval struck during the morning rush hour, catching many off guard. Schoolchildren fled into the open, while families evacuated their homes through windows as buildings crumbled around them. Despite Taiwan’s readiness for such events, authorities didn’t issue their usual alerts, anticipating a milder tremor.
In Hualien County, close to the quake’s epicenter, about 200 residents sought refuge in makeshift shelters. The critical artery connecting the county to the capital, Taipei, remained blocked by debris, though some semblance of normalcy returned to daily life. Local rail services resumed partially, and major businesses, like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., resumed operations, according to the Central News Agency.
The toll of human loss was starkly evident, with fatalities concentrated in Taroko National Park, renowned for its stunning natural features. The impact extended beyond collapsed buildings, as landslides trapped hundreds, including construction worker Liu Zhong-da and his colleague, who found themselves ensnared in a tunnel.
“We almost got covered up,” Liu recounted, his voice laced with relief upon rescue. Elsewhere, efforts to extricate some 700 individuals stranded at a hotel faced hurdles due to damaged roads, while others grappled with uncertainty amid cracked walls and unstable structures.
The resilience of the Taiwanese spirit was palpable amidst the chaos. Hendri Sutrisno, a university professor, spent a restless night in a shelter with his family, wary of aftershocks. “We ran out of the apartment and waited for four to five hours before we went up again to grab some important stuff such as our wallet,” he shared.
As aftershocks rattled nerves, Hualien’s residents recounted the terrifying moments of the quake. “At first, the building was swinging side to side, and then it shook up and down,” said Huang Shiao-en, who experienced the tremors firsthand.
With over 400 aftershocks recorded, Taiwan grappled with the aftermath of one of its most severe seismic events in recent history. As the nation mourns the lives lost and assesses the extent of the damage, the resolve to rebuild and support those affected remains steadfast.
TALISAY, Batangas. Pinagtataga ng kanyang sariling anak ang isang 74-anyos na ina habang ito ay natutulog sa kanilang tahanan sa Barangay Aya, bayang ito nitong Martes ng hatinggabi.
Namatay sa ospital ang biktima na si Maria Rizaldo, 74, dahil sa mga malubhang sugat sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng katawan. Kasama rin sa nasugatan ang kanyang kapitbahay na si Genalyn Castillo at ang dalawang anak nito na sina isang 15-anyos na lalaki at isang 13-anyos na babae.
Sa isinagawang pagtugis, naaresto ang suspek na si Oliver Rizaldo, 40, sa kanyang tinutuluyan sa Brgy. Kiling. Ayon sa ulat ni Police Major Billy John Mactal, hepe ng Talisay Municipal Police Station, bigla na lamang umatake ang suspek habang mahimbing na natutulog ang kanyang ina sa sofa ng kanilang tahanan, bandang alas-11:30 ng gabi.
Pagkatapos ng pagsalakay sa kanyang ina, nagtungo rin ng suspek ang bahay ng kanyang pinsang babae na si Genalyn at doon ay pinagtataga rin ang dalawang anak nito.
Sa kasalukuyan, walang malinaw na dahilan ang suspek kung bakit niya nagawa ang ganitong krimen. Natuklasan sa imbestigasyon na mayroon siyang iskedyul na bumisita sa doktor upang magpasuri sa kanyang mental na kalagayan.
Nahaharap ngayon sa mga kasong Parricide at Multiple Frustrated Murder ang suspek, habang nagpapatuloy pa rin ang imbestigasyon ng mga awtoridad.
RAFAH, Gaza Strip. The procession of six foreign aid workers’ bodies, victims of Israeli airstrikes, commenced their journey back to their respective home countries on Wednesday, adding a grim chapter to the ongoing conflict. Amidst the sorrowful farewells, questions lingered regarding Israel’s justification, citing a “misidentification” that led to the fatal attack on their convoy.
The deadly strikes, which claimed the lives of three British citizens, a Polish citizen, an Australian, and a Canadian American dual citizen, along with their Palestinian driver, ignited fresh waves of criticism against Israel’s actions in the protracted conflict with Hamas. These events underscored the perilous circumstances that aid workers face as they endeavor to provide essential assistance to the besieged population, with nearly a third of Gaza’s inhabitants teetering on the brink of starvation, according to the U.N.
The victims, affiliated with World Central Kitchen, a renowned international charity founded by celebrity chef José Andrés, were distributing vital sustenance brought into Gaza via a newly established maritime corridor. Tragically, Israeli airstrikes targeted their convoy late Monday, extinguishing all lives aboard. Israeli officials have acknowledged the incident as a mistake borne out of misidentification amid the complexities of nocturnal warfare, promising a thorough investigation.
However, José Andrés, in an impassioned op-ed published in Israel’s Yediot Ahronot newspaper, refuted the notion of mere error, characterizing the strikes as a direct assault on clearly marked vehicles whose movements were well-known to the Israeli military. He decried the Israeli government’s policy, asserting it contributes to the exacerbation of the humanitarian crisis by impeding aid efforts.
In response to mounting international condemnation, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez deemed Israel’s explanation “absolutely unacceptable and insufficient,” urging a more comprehensive clarification of the tragic events. The outcry extended to Israel’s closest allies, prompting the suspension of food deliveries by World Central Kitchen and other humanitarian organizations due to security concerns.
The incident further complicates efforts to alleviate the dire situation in Gaza, particularly in the northern region where famine looms large. Amidst escalating tensions, U.S. President Joe Biden is scheduled to engage in discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, signaling growing White House frustration over Israel’s conduct in the conflict.
As the world mourns the loss of these aid workers, concerns mount over the potential ramifications of heightened hostilities. The recent strike on Iran’s consulate in Damascus, attributed to Israel, has raised fears of a broader conflict, with Iranian officials vowing retaliatory actions against Israel and its allies across the region.
BANGKOK. After years of grappling with human-monkey conflicts, Thai wildlife officials presented a comprehensive plan on Wednesday to restore peace to the central Thai city of Lopburi, which has been besieged by macaque mayhem for over a decade.
The macaques of Lopburi, revered as symbols of local culture and a major tourist attraction, have increasingly become a source of tension. Numerous attempts to control their population and mitigate conflicts have failed, prompting residents and businesses to demand action.
Incidents of macaques snatching food from humans have escalated, leading to dangerous encounters resulting in injuries. Recent events, including a woman dislocating her knee after being pulled by a monkey and a man knocked off his motorcycle by a hungry primate, have sparked outrage and underscored the urgency for intervention.
Athapol Charoenshunsa, Director-General of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, outlined the strategy during a press conference in Bangkok. The plan involves rounding up approximately 2,500 urban monkeys and relocating them to massive enclosures. However, a limited number will remain free within the city, under the supervision of wildlife experts.
“I don’t want humans to have to hurt monkeys, and I don’t want monkeys to have to hurt humans,” stated Athapol, emphasizing the need for a humane resolution to the conflict.
A monkey-catching campaign has already commenced, targeting the more aggressive alpha males. Thirty-seven monkeys have been captured thus far, with most transferred to wildlife authorities in the neighboring province of Saraburi, while others were relocated to the Lopburi zoo.
Once enclosures are completed, authorities plan to capture the remaining monkeys, especially those in residential areas, and allocate separate cages for different troops to prevent conflicts.
Anticipating swift resolution, Athapol expects the first phase to commence within weeks, assuring that the enclosures will effectively contain thousands of monkeys.
Lopburi, located 140 kilometers north of Bangkok, boasts a rich cultural heritage intertwined with its resident macaques. However, the escalating conflicts have prompted calls for action, with some attributing the issue to human feeding habits that attracted and accustomed monkeys to seeking food from humans.
Despite previous efforts to limit feeding, which inadvertently exacerbated tensions, authorities acknowledge the need for a more comprehensive approach. Phadej Laithong, Director of the Wildlife Conservation Office, stressed the importance of adapting to coexist with the city’s monkeys, recognizing the role of habitat destruction in prompting their search for food.
Previous population control measures, including neutering, have proven insufficient, prompting authorities to explore more effective solutions. With similar issues reported across numerous provinces, efforts to address human-monkey conflicts extend beyond Lopburi to other regions facing similar challenges.
ROME. Pope Francis led a poignant moment of reflection on Wednesday, gathering thousands to pray for the aid workers tragically killed in an Israeli strike in Gaza, as well as for a young Ukrainian soldier named Oleksandre, who fell victim to what the Pontiff described as the “madness of war.” During his address, Francis reiterated his plea for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and urged for the release of hostages held by Hamas since October 7th. With heartfelt prayers for the families of the seven World Central Kitchen workers slain, he emphasized the urgent need for humanitarian aid to reach the suffering people of Gaza and for concerted efforts to prevent the conflict from escalating further. In a deeply moving gesture at the conclusion of his general audience, Pope Francis shared with tourists and pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square the rosary and camouflaged New Testament belonging to 23-year-old Ukrainian soldier, Oleksandre, who lost his life in the eastern city of Avdijevka. These cherished mementos were presented to Francis two weeks prior by Sr. Lucia Caram, an Argentine-born nun residing in Spain, renowned for her tireless humanitarian efforts in Ukraine. Recalling a private audience with the Pontiff on March 13th, Caram recounted Francis’ emotional reaction as she presented him with Oleksandre’s rosary and New Testament, both of which he kissed, having blessed the rosary previously for distribution in Ukraine. As Pope Francis displayed the items, he tenderly flipped through the pages of Oleksandre’s well-worn New Testament, underscoring the tragic loss of a young life full of promise. Calling for a moment of silent prayer, the Pontiff implored attendees to remember “this kid and so many like him, killed in this madness of war.” This poignant tribute follows previous instances where Pope Francis highlighted relics from the conflict in Ukraine, including a battered Ukrainian flag recovered from Bucha, the site of early Russian atrocities.
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