Rizal monument, ilalagay sa Alberta, Canada

ni Lolet Abania | June 3, 2021

Isang 3-talampakang monumento ng Pambansang Bayani na si Dr. Jose Rizal ang nakatakdang ilagay sa isang parke sa Alberta, Canada.

Ayon sa Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), mula sa obra ng Pilipinong iskultor na si Toym Imao, ang Rizal monument ay ilalagay sa Nose Creek Regional Park sa Airdrie, isang sikat na venue para sa Filipino community events, bilang tribute rin sa mga Pinoy na nasa Alberta.

“The Rizal Monument will be a tribute to all the hardworking Filipinos in Alberta, which hosts the second-largest Filipino population in Canada, and will be a source of pride for the whole Filipino community,” ani Philippine Consul General Zaldy Patron sa isang statement ngayong Huwebes.

Sinabi rin ng DFA na una nang iminungkahi ni Patron ang nasabing monument kay Airdrie Mayor Peter Brown noong Hunyo, 2019.

Inaprubahan naman ito ng Airdrie City Council sa kanilang March 1 at April 6 sessions.

“We are very proud and pleased to announce our support for a community project that recognizes and celebrates Airdrie’s unique Filipino heritage,” sabi ni Brown.

“The monument will make a welcome addition to our already beloved Nose Creek Regional Park,” dagdag niya.

Inaasahang makukumpleto ang Rizal monument sa October, 2021.

Banat ni DFA Sec. Locsin sa China, pinalagan ni Spox Wenbin

ni Ronalyn Seminiano Reonico | May 4, 2021

Hindi pinalagpas ng China ang naging matapang na pahayag ni Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr. kamakailan laban sa naturang bansa dahil sa patuloy na presensiya ng mga Chinese vessels sa West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Pahayag ni Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin sa regular press briefing sa Beijing, "Facts have proven time and time again that megaphone diplomacy can only undermine mutual trust rather than change reality.

"We hope that [a] certain individual from the Philippine side will mind basic manners and act in ways that suit his status.”

Noong Lunes, matatandaang nag-tweet si Locin ng: “China, my friend, how politely can I put it? Let me see… O… GET THE F*** OUT. What are you doing to our friendship? You. Not us. We’re trying. You. You’re like an ugly oaf forcing your attentions on a handsome guy who wants to be a friend; not to father a Chinese province."

Ayon kay Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, humingi ng paumanhin si Locsin sa Chinese ambassador, ngunit paglilinaw ng Foreign Affairs secretary, tanging kay China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi lamang siya nag-sorry.

Saad pa ni Locsin, “To my friend Wang Yi only. Nobody else.”

Nilinaw naman ni Wenbin na mananatili ang kanilang pagtulong sa Pilipinas sa kabila ng mga isyu sa WPS.

Saad pa ni Wenbin, "China has always been and will remain committed to properly handling differences and advancing cooperation with the Philippines through friendly consultation, and will continue to provide assistance within its capacity to the Philippines in its efforts to fight the epidemic and resume economic development.”

Sputnik V, darating na

ni Mary Gutierrez Almirañez | April 30, 2021

Darating na sa ‘Pinas ang 15,000 doses ng Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccines galing Russia matapos itong ma-delay nang dahil sa ‘logistic concerns’, ayon sa kumpirmasyon ni Philippine Ambassador to Russia King Sorreta.

Batay sa kanyang Facebook post kahapon, "First shipment of Sputnik V vaccines (15,000 doses) left today, 29 April, from Moscow and should be in Manila by May 1. More to come in the next weeks and months. Great working with the DOH, DFA, Special Envoy for Russia and the other members of the IATF to make this happen."

Matatandaang nu’ng Linggo pa lamang ay nag-abiso na ang pamahalaan hinggil sa magiging delay sa ika-28 ng Abril, kung saan nakatakda rin sana itong masundan ng 480,000 doses kinabukasan.

Nauna nang sinabi ng Department of Health (DOH) na nangangailangan ang Sputnik V ng cold storage facility na hindi lalagpas sa 18 degree Celsius na temperatura, kaya may posibilidad na hindi lahat ng local government units (LGU) ay mabibigyan nito.