Filipino Rotaractors raise funds for COVID-19 test kits

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Ignited by the eagerness to extend humanitarian aid during this COVID-19 pandemic, the Pilipinas Rotaract Convention 2021 Organizing Committee, mainly composed of Rotaractors from Rotary International District 3770, in partnership with the Pilipinas Rotaract Multi-District Information Organization, conducted a fundraising campaign entitled Project #SAMPU Sama-Sama sa Mas Pinatibay na Ugnayan Laban sa COVID-19 from April 14-27, 2020.

The campaign aimed to raise an amount of Php 160,700 to purchase 100 GenAmplify™ COVID-19 rRT-PCR Detection Kits in support of the mass testing program. GenAmplify™ COVID-19 rRT-PCR Detection Kit is the low-cost test kit invented locally by a team of scientists from the University of the Philippines National Institutes of Health, the Philippine Genome Center, and the Manila HealthTek, Inc.

With humble hopes of purchasing only 100 COVID-19 Testing Kits, the donation drive surpassed its target in just four days after the launch of the campaign. This was through the ripple effects of donations coming not just from Filipino Rotaractors but also from Rotarians and even family and friends outside of Rotary. At the end of the campaign last April 27, the team was able to raise Php 259,484 which funded the production of 161 COVID-19 test kits turned over to the University of the Philippines – National Institutes of Health last July 6, 2020. The donations came from 73 Rotaract Clubs, 4 Rotary Clubs and other donor groups and individuals across the country. 

Pilipinas MDIO is a Rotary international-recognized organization which aims at strengthening the Rotaract movement in the country. It is run by the District Rotaract Representatives and chaired by an elected Past DRR from a member district. Its programs and services are administered by a team of volunteer past club and district Rotaract leaders across the country. One of the core purposes of the MDIO is to promote multi-district service projects such as this fundraising campaign for COVID-19 test kits.

161 PCR COVID-19 test kits donated by Filipino Rotaractors to UP National Institutes of Health testing center

Turnover of COVID-19 test kits donation of Pilipinas Rotaract MDIO represented by Chair Louie De Real and Chair-Elect Manuel Joseph Franco (sixth and seventh from the left) to UP National Institutes of Health represented by Dr. Karen Sotalbo (fifth from the left)

Thank you marker to Pilipinas Rotaract MDIO posted by UP National Institutes of Health in their COVID-19 task force center

Dear Sagittarius, Libra, Virgo, Capricorn, Etc.: Your Star Sign Has Changed

Wazzup Pilipinas!

So you’re telling me I’ve been a Libra for 50 f*cking years and now all of the sudden i’m a Virgo? Nope f *ck that ima keep considering myself a Libra.

l'll know when a #Libra enters a room, they brighten it up with their calculated & balance selves. That was the truth I know since I started believing in horoscopes.

This “new” #starsign has been known about for a longggggg while, they chose not to include it. Your star sign hasn’t changed. Do your research. Ophiuchus is not a zodiac sign, it is a constellation.

I literally had to let so many people kno today because my facebook was filled with this, it started to bother me seeing for the 10th time. I could’ve sworn I had read and researched this before! Probably just people trying to scare people that don’t know about this constellation.

I remember it coming around a few years ago, guess it’s just blown up a lot now because it’s 2020 and anything can happen.

As far as I can see, the only reason people are freaking out is because a bunch of tabloid papers decided to take parts of a NASA blog post from 2016 out of context and present it as new information. It’s just super awkward seeing everyone freak out when it’s not even real news.

Your star sign could change depending on weather you are using sidereal or tropical astrology. But that's another story.

Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 is now OFFICIALLY EFFECTIVE

Wazzup Pilipinas!

SIGNED, SEALED, AND DELIVERED: The Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 or Republic Act No. 11479 is now OFFICIALLY EFFECTIVE.

The Anti-Terrorism Law was signed by Duterte on the third of July 2020 and takes effect on the midnight July 18. Because of the unclear definitions and context of “terrorism,” it is the fear of many that this Act will be used against people who dare to criticize the Philippine government.

DOJ Sec. Menardo Guevarra: "The law will take effect even without the IRR, because the promulgation of the IRR is not a condition for the effectivity of the law."

Despite the widespread controversy and opposition, the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 is now in effect.

The new Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 excludes advocacy, protest, dissent, stoppage of work, industrial or mass action, and other similar exercises of civil and political rights as among those considered as terror acts.

Several petitions have already been filed in the Supreme Court against this law.

Diin ng administrasyon, binibigyang ngipin ng batas ang mga awtoridad na tumugis sa mga umanong terorista. Pero ayon naman sa mga nababahalang abugado, mambabatas, at human rights advocates, masyado malawak ang depinisyon ng terorismo sa batas.

Many are collectively saying "Junk the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020!"

SC spokesman Brian Keith Hosaka said the four latest petitions involving Republic Act 11479 or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 “have also been consolidated together with the four earlier petitions consolidated last week.”

An eighth petition challenging the constitutionality of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 was filed on Monday by the party list group Sanlakas.

Workers from twelve labor centers and unions came together to file a petition against Republic Act 11479 or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020. They call the law anti-people, anti-worker and kontra-unyon. The group believes the law is proof of the de facto Martial Law in the country.

How the Supreme Court will rule on the petitions filed against the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 will measure the integrity and independence of the justices, House Assistant Minority Leader, and ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro said.

We vehemently oppose the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 as it lapses into effectivity on this Midnight. As the Duterte regime continues to weaponize the law to silence the public, we must all come together and exhaust all options to stop it!

This law can be utilized against activists, and honestly, the reason why a large number of people oppose the bill is that we don't trust the state enforces that will be implementing the law - considering their recent activities - murdering soldiers, raping women, and trespassing.

How can you make people trust a rogue institution that systematically prohibits their uniformed men from being accountable? Simple, reform the PNP and dismiss every officer with a criminal complaint.

Leading youth environmentalist Greta Thunberg has expressed her opposition to the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 which will give more powers to the security forces in the Philippines against terrorist organizations operating the island.

At least 45 American lawmakers have called on the Philippine government to immediately repeal the controversial Anti-Terrorism Act 2020.

Those US congressmen who called on the Ph Congress to repeal our Anti Terrorism Act of 2020 should read their own Anti Terrorism Act of 2001, compare the two laws and examine their heads, then admit to being first rate and world class hypocrites.

These American politicians focused more on PH anti-terror bill but they have no solution nor remedy in order to stop racial discrimination which turns into violence in the US.

Now that the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 is the law of the land it remains to be seen if it lives up to the hype. The law allows the government to silence the voice of Filipino citizens by setting their own definition of "terrorism." Without a competent military and police force everything will remain the same. Time will tell.