#InaaSAMnaGintongKorona: Miss Grand International 2021

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The new Miss Grand International 2020 is USA. Third Beauty pageant. Unplaced at Miss Universe 2014, Top 20 at Miss Earth 2019 representing Ghana.

She's a Ghanaian with an American citizenship so I'll take it as a win for Africa too.

History repeated itself (goosebumps)!

Miss Universe 2012 × Miss Grand International 2020

During the coronation night held in Bangkok, Thailand tonight, Samantha was crowned First Runner-Up despite an outstanding performance and a unique answer at the final Question & Answer portion.

The story in Miss Universe 2012 happens in Miss Grand International 2020: The one who says the best answer settles in second.  

Congrats, Samantha Bernardo! For us Filipinos you are the Miss Grand International 2021 

BAWI TAYO SA MISS UNIVERSE!

Well anyway, congratulations to the both of them. Philippines, you know the drill. Eyes on Miss Universe. It's the real battle! 

Your turn, Queen Rabiya!

On a positive note, Miss Grand International elevated pageantry during this pandemic. How they staged this pageant should be emulated. Miss Universe, better step it up.

I might get my Miss Universe loyalty card revoked for appreciating Miss Grand International's production . 

Tbh nag-improve ang system nila and ang quality ng mga candidates.

Miss Grand International's questions are mind-boggling. Miss Universe should learn from MGI especially on crafting timely and relevant questions. 

To be fair ha, quality answers from the Miss Grand International queens. The gowns too! I dare say this year's pageant is better than the previous Miss Universe pageant. 

And the platform they gave to Miss Myanmar! 

We can make fun of Miss Grand International all we want but the political awareness they’re doing right now for Myanmar is just wow. Miss Universe wouldn’t even dare to do this. Most Americans don't care about Asians. 

I love how Miss Grand International address the issue in Myanmar. Brave to call out Myanmar. Bukod sa maganda ang production, spontaneous and smooth ang pageant, may substance itong pageant na ito. Very promising.

True to its words, the organization made this year a grandslam competition. They made it appear like we're watching Miss Universe with some touch of Miss Earth and other beauty contest. But this is MGI. And it is just so meaningful, I almost cried. 

We can’t also deny the fact that Samantha  and the rest of her team are delivering the Miss Universe standard.

Idk about ya'll but I really felt Samantha Bernardo winning Miss Grand International that night. She gave us Filipinos the Miss Universe tension, taking MGI to another level. She deserved it so much. 

The competition was Miss Grand International but Samantha Bernardo's overall performance was suited for Miss Universe.

This gave me Janine Tugonon Miss Universe 2012 vibes. Gave the best answer but had to settle for second place. 

Miss Universe lost Janine Tugonon.

Miss World lost Catriona Gray but now a Miss Universe

Miss Grand International lost Samantha Bernardo

SAMANTHA ISN'T DESTINED FOR MISS GRAND INTERNATION, SHE'S DESTINED FOR THE MISS UNIVERSE CROWN!

Why always Philippines?

Sadly, Samantha will be beyond the age limit of Miss Universe after her reign as Miss Grand Philippines. I wish they will change the restrictions soon.

Philippines records highest one-day tally of coronavirus cases

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

The Philippines records its highest one-day tally of coronavirus cases on Friday, March 26, 2021, with 9,838 new cases.

Total cases now at 702,856.

Almost 10K cases in a day. More than a year of pandemic. And yet this admin keeps on believing the falsehood that they made that we are “excellently handling” this pandemic. 

This is the result of incompetence and hubris. This is the government's failure.

Shocking that there are still people who are rooting for this current administration that still have the audacity to make face on screen. GRABE NA!

Scary na talaga sa panahon ngayon lalo na when you have unprofessional government officials who are running the country making bleh faces on TV. Disgusting!

Frontliners cried upon hearing the news na almost 10K yung positive today.

“umiiyak na kami. pagod na pagod na kami.”

Please let’s do our part in minimizing this outbreak.

It’s what we fear. What’s alarming is some of the severe cases who are admitted are young people without comorbidities.

The fastest way to slow down transmission is to implement ECQ for 2 weeks at least. It's bad for the economy but if we don't do it, our healthcare system will collapse in a week time.

Hospitals are running out of beds, facilities and equipments. There should be a sense of urgency at this time.

As the country breaks again its record for the highest single-day increase in COVID-19 cases, we are calling on the government to expand its testing scope and healthcare capacity to avoid overwhelming hospitals. 

Two weeks ago, the spokesman of president Duterte claimed the government's pandemic response has been "excellent."

“We did a very good job given that... we lack health facilities and we lack funds for the health sector,” Harry Roque said.

Magyabang ka pang vhaklang 'to!

Then.....now:

JUST IN: CHED allows 24 colleges, universities to hold limited face-to-face classes beginning second semester of AY 2020-2021.

CHED Chairman Prospero De Vera says these schools can "bring their third and fourth year students for hands-on training and laboratory classes." 

DOST develops S-PaSS for easy coordination in areas with different travel restrictions

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Our right to travel has now become a privilege because of this pandemic. What we should not neglect is our creativity, collab opportunities, and care for our fellow men inspite of the struggles and disappointments. 

Let us also use technology to aid us in our quest for convenience and efficiency in our mobility requirements. We have to level up, digitize and implement technology to surpass the challenges.

The S-PaSS is a one-stop online communication and coordination platform for travelers, LGU and the PNP, developed by DOST to efficiently manage our travels.

Even with the vaccine, and when this pandemic is over, the possibilities using S-PaSS are promising.

Imagine all LGUs connected as one, making the processing of travel requirements fast and easy. We prefer to transact within the convenience of an app rather than fall in line to long queues at different establishments just to secure a travel permit from our location to or through different cities or provinces. We deserve better than this.

With 40 provinces already on board as adaptors of this technology, I'm looking forward to a better way to travel with the help of the S-PaSS.

The Department of Science and Technology developed the Safe, Swift and Smart Passage or S-PaSS, an innovative travel management system for local travelers who are returning to or visiting different localities in time for the holidays, for vacation or for business.

The S-PaSS is a travel management system that can facilitate local travel where the public can access information on travel restrictions implemented by different Local Government Units (LGU) due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The S-PaSS is not a contract tracing system like the StaySafe.ph which is a community-driven contact tracing, health condition reporting and social distancing system being adopted by LGUs and also approved by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases or IATF.

As a travel management system, the S-PaSS will facilitate a safe, swift, and smart coordination of travels to the destination LGUs. Travelers can check the travel restrictions of their destination through https://s-pass.ph. 

If the final destination has restricted travel policy, the traveler can now apply for a Travel Coordination Permit (TCP) through the S-PaSS. The TCP now replaces the previously required Travel Authority. 

On the other hand, if the final destination of the traveler is classified as unrestricted but will have to pass through restricted LGUs before reaching their final destination, travelers should also apply for a Travel Pass-Through Permit (TPP) aside from securing the TCP required by the place of final destination.

Previously, LGUs issue the Travel Authority to local travelers including returning Overseas Filipino Workers, locally stranded individuals, and emergency travelers. With the adoption of S-PaSS by the IATF, S-PaSS will allow the LGUs now to issue the Travel Coordination Permit (TCP) to replace the previously required Travel Authority.

To use the S-PaSS, travelers just need to register using their personal mobile number. They have to check the documents required by the LGU they are going to, apply for the TCP, and submit it through the website. Most LGUs have contact numbers for easy coordination and verification of the status of approval of their TCP. However, the length of time for the approval of the TCP may vary depending on the LGU where the traveler is going to. The DOST, as the developer of the system, is not responsible for how long or how fast the LGUs will approve the traveler’s TCP. 

DOST Regional Office VI has started conducting several trainings to educate the LGUs on how to use the S-PaSS since they will be the primary service provider for the said system.

The S-PaSS is a system that will also provide the LGUs real-time monitoring of all incoming travelers to the respective localities while the system will also provide the travelers their travel history.

DOST’s S-PaSS was institutionalized by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for Emerging Infectious Diseases through Resolution No. 101 last February 26, 2021 as a one-stop communication and coordination platform for travelers and Local Government Units (LGUs).  DOST is now coordinating directly with LGUs for the activation of their accounts and for the full roll-out.  Likewise, necessary orientation as well as trainings for the LGUs are being conducted for the full implementation of S-PaSS. 

The formal launch of the S-PaSS will be held on 26 March 2021 at 3:30PM via DOST-Philippines Facebook page to be attended by high-ranking officials from the DOST, Department of Interior and Local Government, League of Provinces of the Philippines, League of Cities of the Philippines, local chief executives, the media and other partners and stakeholders. 

(S&T Media Service)

By Joy M. Lazcano, DOST-STII

#ScienceforthePeople #SPASS

DOST Region VI