'UNBELIEVABLE HONOR': FILIPINA KILLED IN ISRAEL REFUSED TO ABANDON ELDERLY PATIENT

MANILA — A Filipina nurse killed in the conflict between Israel and militant group Hamas had refused to flee without her elderly patient, an Israeli official said.

Angelyn Aguirre "was a nurse from the Philippines who was caring for her elderly patient, Nira on Kibbutz Kfar Gaza," said Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem Fleur Hassan-Nahoum.

"Despite having a chance to flee the Hamas terror attacks, Angeline showed unbelievable humanity and loyalty by remaining Nira’s side during the violence, resulting in both of them being brutally murdered by Hamas. Unimaginable honor in the face of evil," she said on X.

Hassan-Nahoum said Filipinos in Israel "are very much loved and appreciated."

"They take care of our elderly, and they take of special needs children… My mother was taken care of by two wonderful carers, two wonderful nurses. I owe them so much. There’s so many people in this country that owe the Filipino community so much. For us, it’s as painful to lose one of you as it is to lose one of us,” she said, breaking into tears.

The official admitted that rescuing Hamas hostages would be “very tricky”, and the battle could take weeks or even months.

Israel is “doing everything” to prevent innocent casualties, she said.

"We’ve gotten used to this 5-day, 7-day wars with Gaza every year… This is not that. This is gonna take weeks or months. Israel’s ready, we’re resilient. We know we’re going to win. That’s not the question. The question is what price are we gonna pay for the victory. That’s really what’s painful,” she added.

Authorities said at least 2 Filipinos were among thousands killed in the war triggered by a surprise Saturday attack by Hamas, which took around 150 Israelis and foreigners hostage.

In retaliation for the attack, Israel has relentlessly pounded Gaza and imposed a complete siege on the impoverished territory of over 2 million people, cutting off water, electricity and fuel supplies.

The DFA on Thursday raised crisis Alert 3 over Gaza and called for the voluntary repatriation of Filipinos.

MARCOS MAKES ‘TOUGHEST CALL’ TO FAMILIES OF SLAIN OFWS

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. offered condolences to the families of the two Filipino victims killed in the Hamas attack in Israel and pledged to provide support to those affected. Angelyn Aguirre and Paul Vincent Castelvi were identified as the two caregivers who lost their lives in the attack.

Aguirre displayed extraordinary courage by staying with her employer during the attack, earning praise for her loyalty and humanity from Israeli officials. She had worked in Israel as a caregiver for six years, caring for her elderly patient, Nira.

Castelvi, who was expecting to become a father soon, tragically lost his life while seeking shelter during the attack. He had been planning to visit the Philippines in December to reunite with his family.

In the aftermath of the attack, numerous foreign nationals, including Filipinos, are stranded in Gaza. However, discussions about opening a humanitarian corridor for them have not yet begun, as the situation remains volatile due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Esty Buzgan, Chargé d’Affaires of the Israeli Embassy in Manila, mentioned the possibility of coordinating exits from Gaza through Egypt as an alternative option.

ISRAEL STRIKES DAMASCUS, ALEPPO AIRPORTS: SYRIAN STATE TV

DAMASCUS, Syria — Israeli strikes targeted Syria's two main airports on Thursday, Syrian state television said, in the first such attack since a Hamas assault on Israel at the weekend triggered fierce fighting.

"Israeli aggression targets Damascus and Aleppo airports," the state television reported on the messaging app Telegram, without providing additional details.

Israeli strikes have repeatedly caused the grounding of flights at the airports in Aleppo and the capital Damascus, both of which are controlled by the government of war-torn Syria.

The latest strikes came as Hamas and Israel traded heavy fire for a sixth day, after hundreds of Hamas gunmen stormed across the Gaza border into Israel on Saturday and killed more than 1,000 civilians.

They also came as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Israel, and hours after Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, in a telephone call with his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad, called on Arab and Islamic countries to cooperate in confronting Israel.

During more than a decade of war in Syria, Israel has launched hundreds of air strikes on its northern neighbour, primarily targeting Iran-backed forces and Hezbollah fighters as well as Syrian army positions.

Israel rarely comments on individual strikes it carries out on Syria, but it has repeatedly said it would not allow its arch-foe Iran, which supports Assad's government, to expand its footprint there.

Iran, which backs Hamas, on Saturday celebrated Hamas' assault on Israel, though it insisted it was not involved in it.

GOV'T HAS LEADS ON LOCAL HACKER WHO MAY BE BEHIND PSA DATA BREACH

MANILA — The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) on Thursday said it found leads on a local hacker who could be behind a recent data breach at the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

The breach was "not as sophisticated" as the Medusa ransomware attack that infected the systems of state insurer PhilHealth in late September, said DICT Undersecretary Jeffrey Ian Dy.

"Hindi siya parang international crime syndicate that has very advance ways of extracting date… It seems like a local hacker [targeted PSA] and we already have some leads," he told TeleRadyo Serbisyo.

"Because they are less sophisticated, they are also leaving digital footprints… This one kasi I think ang motivation n’ya mas pride. Pinagmamalaki niya, sinasabi niya, ‘May data leak dito, download n’yo yung file, libre,’" added the official.

The PSA earlier said the breach did not affect information from the national ID and the civil registry system, which houses databases including birth certificates.

The cyberattack was limited to the community-based monitoring system or CBMS, which regional offices use to submit data from household surveys that look into families' income and number of members, among others, said Dy.

According to the PSA website, CBMS is used as a basis for poverty alleviation programs.

"Initial pa lang ito, so hindi pa namin alam yung buong picture," Dy added.

The official argued that the recent cyberattacks justified DICT's proposal to get confidential funds.

IMMIGRATION OFFICERS TO WEAR BODY CAMERAS SOON

MANILA — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) is planning the use of body cameras to promote transparency in the agency and address rising complaints against its personnel.

BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said the bureau was in the process of procuring the body cameras which it eyed to use by the end of the year.

“This is to ensure accountability sa ating mga tauhan particularly sa mga paliparan similar sa ibang bansa sa mga law enforcers nila they have body cameras that can record kung ano ang nangyayari entirety ng duty nila,” Sandoval said during a televised briefing.

Sandoval said the body cameras would have a livestreaming feature which would allow the Office of the Commissioner to monitor personnel.

Meanwhile, the BI has also resumed the procurement of electronic gates for the country’s international airports. The agency targets to convert 50 percent of their operations via electronic gates by 2023.

“We have 21 e-gates distributed in international airports. Prior to the pandemic natigil ang further procurement, pero ngayon inuumpisahan ang procurement ng karagdagan, lalo na at sumisigla na naman at dumadami ang bilang ng mga travelers,” Sandoval said.

Sandoval said the budget for the procurement of the electronic gates was included in the proposed 2024 national budget.

RAINS AHEAD ON FRIDAY THE 13TH AS LPA, SUPER TYPHOON BOLAVEN MOVE AWAY

While most of the country will experience generally hot weather this Friday the 13th, some areas may experience scattered rains as a low pressure area and super typhoon Bolaven both move farther away, PAGASA said.

The LPA 305 kilometers west of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan at 3 a.m. It may leave the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on Friday or Saturday, said PAGASA weather forecaster Rhea Torres.

The trough or extension of the LPA will bring cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms    in Occidental Mindoro and the northern portion of Palawan, Torres told TeleRadyo Serbisyo.

Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Apayao, and Abra can expect partly cloudy to cloudy skies with light rains due to the northeasterly surface windflow.

Metro Manila and the rest of the country will experience fair weather that may be marred by isolated rains or thunderstorms in the afternoon or evening, Torres added.

Meanwhile, Bolaven was last spotted 2,455 kilometers east northeast of extreme northern Luzon. It is moving away from PAR at 25 kph.

"Malayong-malayo na po siya sa ating landmass," Torres said.

PALACE ANNOUNCES REGULAR HOLIDAYS, SPECIAL DAYS IN 2024

MANILA — Malacañang on Friday released the list of regular holidays and special days in 2024.

Proclamation No. 368, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Wednesday, removed the EDSA People Power Revolution anniversary from the list. But it added Chinese New Year and Christmas Eve as special non-working days.

The proclamation listed the following regular holidays and special non-working days that would be observed next year.

REGULAR HOLIDAYS

Jan. 1 - New Year’s Day

March 28 - Maundy Thursday

March 29 - Good Friday

April 9 - Araw ng Kagitingan

May 1 - Labor Day

June 12 - Independence Day

Aug. 26 - National Heroes Day (Last Monday of August)

Nov. 30 - Bonifacio Day

Dec. 25 - Christmas Day

Dec. 30 - Rizal Day

SPECIAL (NON-WORKING) DAYS

Aug. 21 - Ninoy Aquino Day

Nov. 1 - All Saints’ Day

Dec. 8 - Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary

Dec. 31 - Last Day of the Year

ADDITIONAL SPECIAL (NON-WORKING) DAYS

Feb. 10 - Chinese New Year

March 30 - Black Saturday

Nov. 2 - All Souls' Day

Dec. 24 - Christmas Eve

The Palace said the proclamations that would declare national holidays for the Eid’l Fitr and Eid’l Adha would be based on Islamic calendar or astronomical calculations.

"To this end, the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos shall recommend to the Office of the President the actual dates on which these holidays shall respectively fall," the proclamation said.

THE REST

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STRONG QUAKE HITS BATANGAS; FELT IN PARTS OF METRO MANILA, NEARBY AREAS

MANILA — A magnitude 5 earthquake hit Batangas on Friday morning and shook buildings in Metro Manila and other areas, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said, as it warned of possible damage and aftershocks.

The shallow quake struck 14 kilometers southwest of Calaca City around 8:24 a.m. and sent office workers fleeing from their buildings.

"So far everything's okay. No casualties although this is the epicentre," said Rafael Cuevas, a disaster agency official in Calaca city in Batangas province.

"We felt a strong shake... for less than 10 seconds."

Mabini municipality disaster chief Arnold Panopio said: "At first it was just a slight jolt then it became strong then stopped immediately."

Panopio said no casualties or damage had been reported, but a local high school with around 2,000 students had suspended classes as a precaution.

In Manila, students wearing hard hats and office workers assembled outside buildings, waiting for the all clear to go back inside.

Phivolcs said the quake was felt at the following intensities.

Intensity 5 - Batangas City, and Lemery, Batangas

Intensity 4 - Muntinlupa; Sta. Teresita, BATANGAS

Intensity 3 - Tagaytay City, Cavite; Talisay, San Jose, Lipa, Padre Garcia, and Laurel, Batangas

Intensity 2 - General Trias, Cavite; Pateros, Quezon City, Valenzuela City, Pasay in Metro Manila; Meycauayan, Bulacan; Santa Cruz and San Pablo, Laguna

Intensity 1 - Pasig, Caloocan.

COMELEC DISQUALIFIES 3 BSKE BETS

The Comelec canceled COCs for two Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) chairman candidates and disqualified a village captain candidate. Merson C. Calubag's COC was canceled as he is the son of a local barangay member, which he had falsely denied. Ivy Jane Parohinog Miranda's COC was canceled as she falsely claimed not to have relatives within the second civil degree of consanguinity or affinity who are incumbent elected officials in her locality. Aniano Pancho Capinig was disqualified from running for Punong Barangay due to a prior illegal firearms conviction. The Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections are on October 30.

DIESEL, KEROSENE PRICE ROLLBACK, GASOLINE INCREASE SEEN NEXT WEEK

MANILA — Diesel and kerosene prices are set for a possible rollback, with an expected decrease of up to P1, according to Rino Abad, director of the Department of Energy's (DOE) Oil Industry Management bureau. Gasoline prices, on the other hand, might see a slight increase of less than 50 centavos in the third week of October.

Fears of oil supply disruptions due to the conflict between Israel and Hamas are considered speculative by Abad, as Israel is not a major oil supply source. He mentioned that neighboring countries are the primary oil suppliers, reducing the likelihood of supply disruption. The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has raised concerns in oil markets, but as of now, there has been no direct impact on physical supply.

While the International Energy Agency (IEA) acknowledged the limited impact on oil supply flows, it stated that it is prepared to take action to ensure adequate market supply, given the tight balance between supply and demand in the oil market. The IEA also coordinates the release of emergency stocks held by its member nations.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

'THE IRON HEART': APOLLO, EROS ALL SET FOR FINAL BATTLE

MANILA — Apollo (Richard Gutierrez) located Eros (Jake Cuenca) in the penultimate episode of "The Iron Heart" aired Thursday.

After being held captive, Apollo navigated Tokyo to find Eros as he sought to end his wrongdoings.

Apollo confronted Eros and said he wanted to give him a second chance but the latter refused.

"Pipigilan ko ang kasamaan, bibigyan kita ng isang pagkakataong maituwid ang mali mo, 'di kita kailangang patayin," Apollo said.

"Kill him," Eros ordered his team.

Snippets of the finale episode show Apollo and Eros in a samurai battle to conclude their rivalry.

Directed by Richard Arellano and Lester Pimentel Ong, “The Iron Heart” airs weeknights on the Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live, A2Z, TV5, and iWantTFC.

CELEBRITIES FROM MADONNA TO GIGI HADID RESPOND TO ISRAEL-GAZA WAR

PARIS — Celebrities have been expressing their horror over Hamas's attack and Israel's bombardment of Gaza, with Bono, Gigi Hadid, Madonna and others speaking up.

MUSIC

U2 frontman Bono changed the lyrics to the group's hit song "Pride (In the Name of Love") during their residency in Las Vegas on Sunday.

He called for the audience to sing for "those beautiful kids at that music festival", in reference to the hundreds killed and wounded at the Supernova festival attacked by Hamas.

Madonna posted a video on Instagram featuring footage of the violence, adding: "Watching all of these families and especially children being herded, assaulted and murdered in the streets is Heartbreaking.

"Conflicts can never be resolved with violence. Unfortunately Humanity does not understand this Universal truth. Has Never Understood it. We live in a World Ravaged by Hate," the singer added.

PALESTINE SUPPORTERS

Model Gigi Hadid, whose father is Palestinian, reiterated her support for the Palestinian cause but wrote: "While I have hopes and dreams for Palestinians, none of them include the harm of a Jewish person."

"The terrorizing of innocent people... does not do any good for the 'Free Palestine' movement. The idea that it does has fueled a painful, decades-long cycle of back and forth retaliation... and helps perpetuate the false idea that being pro-Palestine = antisemitic."

Renowned conductor Daniel Barenboim, who grew up in Israel and has campaigned for peace in the region for decades, said he "fiercely" condemned the Hamas attack on X, formerly Twitter.

But he said the siege of Gaza by Israel "constitutes a policy of collective punishment, which is a violation of human rights".

HOLLYWOOD

"I stand with Israel you should too," wrote "Wonder Woman" star Gal Gadot, who is Israeli, on Instagram.

"The world cannot sit on the fence when these horrific acts of terror are happening!"

Oscar-winner Viola Davis said anyone who failed to feel sympathy for the victims of the Hamas attack was falling for "propaganda".

"The goal of propaganda is to dehumanize. It works to dehumanize Israelis and it works to dehumanize Gazans... this weekend reminded me how widespread it is. Because a lot of people reacted to this violence with justification, not empathy."

Portman, who is US-Israeli, wrote: "My heart is shattered for the people of Israel."

The Rock said he was "heartbroken, angry and sickened" by the Hamas attack.

"I don't pretend to know everything about the complex conflict in the Middle East," he said.

But he added: "Hateful acts of terrorism like these are never justified."

SPORTS

GILAS ASIAN GAMES HERO BROWNLEE FAILS DOPING TEST

MANILA -- Gilas Pilipinas' naturalized player, Justin Brownlee, failed a doping test for carboxy-THC, a prohibited substance found in cannabis, following the team's gold medal win at the Hangzhou Asian Games. The International Testing Agency (ITA) collected his urine sample during an in-competition anti-doping control on October 7, 2023. Brownlee has the right to request the analysis of the B-samples, and the case will be referred to the Anti-Doping Division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport for adjudication under the OCA Anti-Doping Rules. He is the second Filipino athlete flagged by the ITA in the Hangzhou Asian Games, with cyclist Ariana Evangelista previously suspended for erythropoietin found in her samples.

Brownlee's failed test has raised questions about the legitimacy of Gilas Pilipinas' gold medal win and the potential consequences, including the possible rescinding of their gold medal. Some social media users have speculated on whether the team will be demoted to silver or bronze. The timing and results of the drug test have also been questioned. The Hangzhou Asian Games guidelines state that if a team has more than two members flagged for anti-doping violations, they may face sanctions, including loss of points or disqualification from an event. The situation remains uncertain as officials and athletes have yet to make statements on the matter.

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 56.66

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

It is not enough to be busy; so are the ants. The question is: what are we busy about? - Henry David Thoreau