Thousands of students, along with teachers and school personnel, were reportedly traumatized by the sound of gunfire exchanged between rebels and soldiers. During a recent conference, Unesco highlighted a strong link between school violence and mental health and called for urgent action to foster safe learning environments. It seems notable that Mrs. Duterte was also dropping the request for confidential and intelligence funds for the Office of the Vice President. Some, including Mrs. Duterte herself, seem to prefer ignoring the political factor for now. As Mrs. Duterte said, young Filipinos are the future of this country.

I AM not sure if you share the observation that social media platforms today are swarmed with announcements of seminars and online conferences on the topic of "strategy," whether they are schools offering programs like MBAs or companies promoting courses or training on entrepreneurship and strategic marketing. This is quite understandable since we live in a world that demands competitiveness in all fields, whether in business or education. This made me think of how much or how little I know about strategy. When we try to go back to some important principles or concepts concerning strategy, we need to cite the Harvard Business School's foremost professor, Michael Porter, whose authority on the subject gravitates toward the theory of "competitive advantage."

This is why a monicker says: “The reward for good work is more work.”Asking for help and being labeled by untrained and insensitive bosses as “weak and inefficient is so old-school.” But going back to the helpless and distraught leader asking for advice, there is a lot of cognitive reframing required to understand leadership and the power of asking for help. However, there are moments in a leader’s journey when they yearn for someone to step in and help carry the load. Admitting that you need help may be difficult, but asserting, “I am no Marvel or DC superhero, and I cannot do everything alone” is liberating. It’s acceptable to say, “I need help.” Mark Johnson says: “Leadership is not a solitary journey; it’s a shared expedition, where asking for help is a sign of wisdom, not weakness.”The leadership experience and journey are paved with the willingness to acknowledge one’s limitations and seek help when necessary. Don’t be afraid to say, “I need help,” because in doing so, you inspire greatness in yourself and those you lead.

MANILA, Philippines — This year’s barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) are poised to be the most violent village polls in the past 13 years, according to the latest data from the Philippine National Police. ADVERTISEMENTThese validated ERIs led to the killing of 26 persons and the wounding of 96 others. The figure was 174.3 percent higher than the 35 confirmed ERIs recorded during election day on Oct. 30. This year’s figure was almost equal to the 97 validated ERIs recorded during the 2010 village polls. In 2010 there were 97 ERIs, in 2013 there were 57 and in 2018, it was down to 40 ERIs.

More intelligence funds sought after latest Ayungin water cannon incidentThis photo taken on Nov. 10, 2023 shows China coast guard personnel sailing aluminum hulled boats at Second Thomas Shoal in the disputed South China Sea. "This incident should push Congress to finally approve a higher budget for the intelligence funds for agencies that defend our territories. "We must also upgrade the capabilities of our Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine Navy to maneuver past the Chinese blockade of our troops on Ayungin Shoal. This move occurred despite Ayungin Shoal being well within Manila's 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The CCG last August also utilized water cannons against Philippine vessels delivering provisions to the military outpost in Ayungin Shoal.

Chinese vessels in high-seas chase of Philippine boat with mediaThis photo taken on Nov. 10, 2023 shows China coast guard personnel sailing an aluminum hulled boat at Second Thomas Shoal in the disputed South China Sea. Moments later, the Philippine Coast Guard craft carrying AFP and a local media outlet slipped into the shallow waters of the shoal. China claims almost the entire South China Sea and has ignored an international ruling that its stance has no legal basis. Manila accuses Chinese vessels of harassing and blocking Philippine boats delivering food, water and materials for badly needed repairs. The Philippine Coast Guard identified five Chinese coast guard, 28 "maritime militia" and five navy vessels floating nearby.

Hospital Authority calls on people to register as organ donors on Organ Donation DayThe Hospital Authority on Saturday - the city’s Organ Donation Day - called on people to register as organ donors, adding that over 2,400 end-stage renal disease patients in Hong Kong are waiting for kidney transplants as of September this year. The Authority believed that conservative local cultures are still major barriers to organ donation, leading to suboptimal donation rates in recent years. However, it noted that the number of registrations for organ donation has slowly been increasing in recent months, and they urge citizens to support the cause. It said the process affects the patients' daily lives, also quoting patients who underwent kidney transplants who say they were given a new lease on life after the transplant. The SAR government has designated the second Saturday of November every year as Organ Donation Day.

Support swells as PH files new China protestSEVERAL countries have expressed their support for the Philippines, calling out China's "dangerous" actions in the West Philippine Sea, as the Philippines, through the Department of Foreign Affairs, filed another diplomatic protest. Under the revised IRR, the President "may either accept or reject" the recommendation of the advisory body regarding the nominees for the M.I.C. Roads after Santiago was a "tribute to her incredible achievements and a reminder of her unwavering dedication to the country." Ireland's first trade mission is in PHIn business, Ireland has brought its first high-level trade mission to the Philippines as it considers the Philippines an important market in Southeast Asia. The two-day Irish trade mission here, through the Bord Bia (Irish Food Board), aims to boost Ireland's food exports, especially dairy and meat products, and look into opportunities in partnering with local companies.

Hong Kong's anti-graft agency chief said on Saturday that authorities will crack down on those who urge people to cast blank votes in elections, including those who relayed the message. Speaking on a TV program, ICAC Chief Danny Woo Ying-ming, said the anti-graft body will strictly enforce the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance in the upcoming District Council elections. Meanwhile, Woo said the agency will establish the Hong Kong International Academy Against Corruption next year. Two floors at the agency’s North Point headquarters, as well as the training camp in Tuen Mun, will be utilized as school campuses. He said the academy will organize training for anti-corruption professionals from around the world, as well as for the public and private sectors in Hong Kong, with an aim of organizing 20 overseas and 10 local courses next year for some 2,000 people.

39 Filipinos remain in Gaza amid Israeli-Palestinian conflictPalestinian families fleeing Gaza City and other parts of northern Gaza towards the southern areas, walk along a road on November 10, 2023 amid ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement. MANILA, Philippines — Over three dozen Filipinos are still in Israeli-occupied Gaza as bombs target Palestinians, more than a month into the conflict. The DFA had placed Gaza under Alert Level 4 last October due to the intensification of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, making evacuation for Filipinos mandatory. Entry permits remain a problemAccording to De Vega, some Palestinian spouses of Filipinos were not given clearance to leave. The "Operation al-Aqsa Storm," conducted by Palestinian militants, is reportedly a response to attacks by Jewish settlers, along with confrontations in Jenin and the Al-Aqsa mosque.

Two workers were hit by falling metal bars at a construction site in Yau Ma Tei on Saturday, with one of the workers said to be unconscious after the incident. The incident happened at around 1.43 pm today on the construction site located at the intersection of Ferry Street and Kansu Street. Sources said the metal bars fell from a height when they were being lifted by a crane. The other worker was said to be pinned under the metal bars. Two other workers also suffered minor injuries when evading the falling metal bars.

LOS ANGELES, California: A US jury on Thursday found Robert de Niro's production company liable for gender discrimination against a former employee who said she had been forced to perform "stereotypically female" jobs for the actor. The jury dismissed the original lawsuit filed by Canal Productions against Chase Robinson. "We are delighted that the jury saw what we saw and returned a verdict in Chase Robinson's favor against Robert De Niro's company, Canal Productions," her lawyer David Sanford wrote in a statement to Agence France-Presse (AFP). De Niro, who did not attend Thursday's hearing, was not found individually liable. Earlier in the two-week trial, he had testified that Chase Robinson's claims were "nonsense."

CUPERTINO, California: Apple has agreed to pay $25 million to settle allegations that it engaged in a pattern of discriminatory hiring practices when filling some of its jobs during 2018 and 2019. Apple on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023, has agreed to pay $25 million to settle allegations that it engaged in discriminatory hiring practices. Apple on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023, has agreed to pay $25 million to settle allegations that it engaged in discriminatory hiring practices. Most of the settlement amount — $18.25 million — will be funneled into a fund to compensate victims of Apple's alleged discrimination. The rest of the money covers the fine that Apple is paying for its hiring practices during the time frame covered in the settlement.

MOGADISHU — The United Nations has described floods that uprooted hundreds of thousands of people in Somalia and neighbouring countries in East Africa following a historic drought as a once-in-a-century event. Camps for people displaced by an Islamist insurgency and the worst drought in four decades have also been flooded, causing people to flee for a second time, aid groups say. Large-scale displacement, increased humanitarian needs and further destruction of property remain likely, OCHA said, with some 1.5 million hectares (3.70 million acres)of farmland potentially being destroyed. ADVERTISEMENT“Extreme weather linked to the ongoing El Niño risks further driving up humanitarian needs in already-vulnerable communities in Somalia and many other places,” said Martin Griffiths, Under-Secretary-General, the UN’s Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator. “We know what the risks are, and we need to get ahead of these looming crises,” he said.

LUCENA CITY—Following the record-high volume of sulfur dioxide (SO2) spewed by Taal Volcano in Batangas province on Thursday, experts warned anew of health risks posed by volcanic smog or vog on residents near the area. The gas from the volcano is toxic, especially for the elderly,” said Sheila Tan, 70, another Tagaytay City resident, over the phone. The volcano had been relatively quiet until July 11, 2022 when Phivolcs placed it under alert level 1 after it showed signs of low level of unrest. Phivolcs said entry into the Pulo, especially the vicinity of the main crater and the Daang Kastila fissure, as well as human activities on Taal Lake, must remain prohibited. Subscribe to our daily newsletter SIGN ME UPShould an uptrend or pronounced change in monitored parameters forewarn of renewed unrest, the alert level may be raised back to alert level 2, Phivolcs warned.