News in Pictures: September 22, 2024
WALL OF STARS
A woman on Friday looks at a mural at a portion of Edsa in Makati City featuring Dolphy, Nora Aunor and other icons of Philippine cinema and entertainment. The mural was unveiled on Thursday by the Metro Manila Film Festival to mark its 50th year. Despite public and media attention being focused mainly on today’s celebrities, there remains a steadfast following for the stars of a bygone era. This following includes, not surprisingly, the current stars themselves, who have time and again supported film restoration efforts and other activities upholding their industry’s own legacy. —NIÑO JESUS ORBETA
CONTINUING LEGACY
Activists from the southern Tagalog region hold a protest rally on Friday outside the Supreme Court and Department of Justice to call for justice for the nine activists killed in the “Bloody Sunday” police-military raid of March 7, 2021. The demonstration was also timed with the eve of the commemoration of the declaration of martial law. Veteran activists who remain faithful to the observance of this chapter of modern Philippine history point out its continuing influence, after more than half a century, on state conduct toward civil liberties. —RICHARD A. REYES
RADIATION TREATMENT VS MOSQUITOES
A science student puts her hands inside a glass case containing mosquitoes during a demonstration on Friday to keep the insects sterile held at the National Youth Science, Technology and Innovation Festival in Pasay City. The Department of Science and Technology organized the event, partly to show participants the “sterile insect technique” developed by the agency together with the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute. Through that process, mosquitoes are exposed to radiation to prevent them from breeding further. —RICHARD A. REYES
INDONESIA’S NEXT LEADER
President Marcos on Friday presents President-Elect Prabowo Subianto with a map of the Philippine archipelago during a courtesy call at Malacañang before his departure also that day. Prabowo, Indonesia’s outgoing defense minister, arrived in Manila on Thursday to convey his appreciation to Mr. Marcos for his hospitality and support. Mr. Marcos in February congratulated Prabowo for his victory in the presidential election at that time. The President described the visit as “bringing a new impetus” to the Philippines’ relations with Indonesia. Prabowo is scheduled to be inaugurated on Oct. 20. —MARIANNE BERMUDEZ
SOMETHING FISHY AT FISH PORT
Customs agents on Thursday conduct a further inspection of the Tritrust and Mega Ensoleilee. The two motor tankers were impounded at the Navotas Fish Port on Wednesday after the Bureau of Customs (BOC) found the vessels carrying P20.35 million worth of unmarked fuel, which the agency said could be part of what it called a “paihi” scheme of smuggling large shipments of fuel in smaller quantities. —BOC
