Faces of the News: October 25, 2020

Celine pialago

As public sympathy poured out for the detained activist Queen Mae Nasino for the death of her 3-month-old son, the Manila Metropolitan Development Authority (MMDA) spokesperson Celine Pialago took to social media to denounce the coverage. news release of Baby River’s burial on October 19. 18, calling it “dramaserye sa hapon (an evening drama series)”.

“Not all imprisoned mothers can go to the funeral of [their] child, ”Pialago posted on Facebook. “So those who sympathize with [Nasino]First, study well the reason why you were imprisoned and know well who you are in society. “

Nasino, an organizer of poor urban communities, faces charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives.

Netizens criticized Pialago for being insensitive to grieving mothers. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque and MMDA CEO Jojo García wasted no time distancing the agency from Pialago’s “personal opinion.”

His comments did not prevent human rights lawyer Edre Olalia from offering Pialago the same assistance that his legal group gives Nasino should the MMDA spokeswoman find herself in a similar situation.

A day later, Pialago apologized to Nasino, but refused to retract his “dramaserye” comment.

—Mariejo S. Ramos

Antonio Parlade Jr.

The Philippine army general caused a stir when he warned a popular celebrity not to associate with the progressive women’s group Gabriela.

In a statement, the spokesman for the National Task Force to End the Local Communist Armed Conflict and Southern Luzon military commander, Lieutenant General Antonio Parlade Jr., called the actress and model Liza Soberano, after speaking in a webinar sponsored by Gabriela Youth.

“Liza Soberano, there is still the possibility of abdicating from that group. If he doesn’t, he will suffer the same fate as Josephine Anne Lapira, ”Parlade said, referring to a 22-year-old University of the Philippines student from Manila who was reportedly killed in a meeting between soldiers and communist rebels in 2017.

Parlade, known for his hard-line stance against the left, also warned celebrities Catriona Gray and Angel Locsin not to associate with “surface” organizations of the New People’s Army.

Parlade made headlines in November 2019 for collapsing a forum organized by local progressive groups, including the Movement Against Tyranny and the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers. Parlade later said he “came in good faith.”

—Patricia Denise M. Chiu

Sovereign Liza

The actress Liza Soberano only participated in a webinar organized by Gabriela Youth; she is not a member of Gabriela or of any group on the party list.

This was stated by Liza’s talent manager, Ogie Díaz, who added that the 22-year-old actress limited herself to talking about her experiences as a woman and as part of the youth sector.

Diaz’s explanation came after a statement made on social media by Lieutenant General Antonio Parlade Jr., chief of the Armed Forces of the Southern Luzon Command of the Philippines, took note of the actress’s support for the women’s group. progressive.

Parlade was criticized for saying that Sovereign (and “other famous whites” allegedly watched by Gabriela) should be “educated” while “not yet” a member of the New People’s Army.

A statement published by Soberano’s legal advisor, Juanito Lim Jr., on some social media platforms denounced Soberano’s “red labeling” “in the strongest terms.” Lim insisted that Sovereign remains apolitical and “does not support or antagonize the political views of any person.”

Gwendolyn Pimentel-Gana of the Human Rights Commission agreed that Parlade’s statements “amount to harassment.” “Marinel Cruz”.

Jacinda ardern

The landslide victory of the New Zealand Labor Party is widely perceived as Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s reward for her decisive actions against COVID-19.

The election was delayed by a month due to new infections detected in Auckland that led to a second shutdown in the country’s largest city.

But Ardern’s “go hard, go early” approach to coronavirus in early 2020 resulted in the country having far fewer cases compared to the rest of the world.

Young Labor candidates defeated National stalwarts in their bailiwicks by highlighting the dominant party’s success in fighting coronavirus and sticking to progressive and democratic messages.

Ardern’s victory, described as “a historic change” in the New Zealand elections, means that he could form the first one-party government in decades.

Even before the campaign, Ardern has already won admiration for his response to last year’s mass shooting by a white supremacist in Christchurch and the swift action to ban guns.

While opponents warn of his higher tax plan, Ardern vowed to limit it only to people with higher incomes. Economists are waiting to know how it would handle the expected recession after the tight closures.

Chinese billionaires

As the pandemic progresses, the World Bank expects up to 115 million people to slide back into extreme poverty in 2020.

China’s Hurun Report, which tracks the fortunes of the rich, counts new billionaires – 257 to be exact in August, thanks to the boom in e-commerce and gaming. The number brings the nation’s billionaires to 878, surpassing their American counterparts who numbered 626 at the beginning of the year.

Hurun said that despite the coronavirus lockdowns, China’s super-rich – billionaires and those with a net worth of at least $ 300 million – had already raised $ 1.5 trillion in the first eight months of the year.

Still leading the list of the rich is Jack Ma, founder of e-commerce giant Alibaba. His online shopping business increased his profits by 45 percent, bringing his wealth to $ 58.8 billion.

Pony Ma, owner of gaming titan Tencent, is in second place with $ 57.4 billion. Next on Hurun’s list is rookie Zhong Shanshan, who counts his wealth at $ 53.7 billion. Having been able to control the pandemic, China is also turning out a winner with economic growth of 4.9 percent, the only major economy expected to expand in 2020.

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