Speaker Romualdez nagbitiw; Dy pumalit

 Nagbitiw na si Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez bilang House Speaker ng 20th Congress sa gitna na rin ng flood control corruption at budget insertions na kumaladkad sa Kamara sa ilalim ng kanyang liderato.

Pumalit kay Romualdez bilang Speaker si Isabela 6th District Rep. Faustino “Bojie” Dy III matapos na makakuha ng 253 botong pabor, 28 abstain at apat na hindi bumoto. Agad din itong nanumpa sa plenaryo matapos maluklok sa puwesto.

Bandang 3:20 ng hapon kahapon nang humarap si Romualdez sa full chamber sa huling pagkakataon.

“Leadership also demands that we confront the trials of the present. ... The longer I stay, the heavier that burden grows — on me, on this House, and on the President I have always sought to support,” pahayag ni Romualdez. 

Sinabi ni Romualdez na ang kaniyang pagbaba sa puwesto ay hindi pagsuko.

“I step down not in surrender, but in service — for sometimes, the greatest act of leadership is the grace to let go, so that this institution may endure stronger than before,” wika niya.

“Masakit man sa akin, I am stepping aside so that the independent investigation may proceed freely—without pressure, without influence, and without fear. This is not surrender, but conscience,” malungkot na pahayag ni Romualdez.

Ayon kay Romualdez, ang kaniyang desisyon ay upang ibalik ang tiwala ng publiko sa institusyon upang magkaroon ng ‘full accountability’ at transparency sa gitna ng kontrobersya sa infrastructure projects. “I stand before you today with utmost humility, and with deep gratitude for the trust and confidence you have accorded me. That trust has been the source of my strength in every day of service,” ayon pa kay Romualdez, isang abo­gado mula sa University of the Philippines (UP).

“Mga minamahal kong kababayan, I leave this Chamber as I first entered it — a humble servant, ready to serve wherever duty may call.”

Magugunita na si Romualdez, pinsan ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ay naluklok na ika-24th Speaker ng Kamara noong 2022 hanggang sa pagbaba nito sa puwesto kahapon, Setyembre 17.

Bagong karelasyon ni Julia, kapatid ng mister nina Erich at Claudia!

 May name reveal ang reliable source namin sa old rich businessman na diumano’y ‘constant’ ngayon ni Julia Barretto.

Na kung makakatuluyan daw ito ni Julia, tiyak na iiwan na rin ng actress ang showbiz.

Equestrian daw ito pero ngayon ay CEO ng RestaurantConcepts Group, Inc. (RCGI), si Lucas Lorenzo.

Si Lucas ay kapatid ng mister nina Erich Gonzales and Claudia Barretto, sina Matteo and Basti Lorenzo.

Yup, brother ito ng husband ni Claudia na sister ni Julia.

At ang interview ni Lucas sa tatlerasia.com ang ipinadala ng aming source.

Ang tungkol sa kanyang pagiging CEO sa RCGI na kinabibilangan ng mga fine dining restaurants : Barcino, Bluesmith, Meat Depot, and Single Origin.

Kaya’t tinalakay doon na isa sa mga pinakamalaking hamon na nakikita niya (Lucas) sa mga nasabing sosyal na restaurant ang mabilis na paggalaw o pag-evolve ng food and beverage industry. At upang matugunan aniya ito, plano niyang manatiling nangunguna sa mga trend, pasiglahin ang mga pagbabago, pahusayin ang pagpapatakbo, unahin ang pagpapanatili, at mag-invest sa talent development. Sa kabila ng mga hamong ito, nakahanap daw ang sinasabing diumano’y karelasyon ng anak nina Marjorie Barretto and Dennis Padilla ng positibong epekto ng RCGI sa mga guest at team members ayon pa sa nasabing article. “Seeing the joy on a customer’s face as they savour a delicious meal or hearing appreciation from a team member who feels va­lued is incredibly fulfilling,” banggit niya sa nasabing interview.

Alas Pilipinas scores shocker vs Egypt for World Cup breakthrough win

 If it’s a dream, Philippine volleyball doesn’t want to wake up from.

In easily the biggest result for the country in this sport, Alas Pilipinas stunned heavy favorite Egypt, 29-27, 23-25, 25-21, 25-21, for a breakthrough first win in the FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship before an ecstatic crowd at the MOA Arena last night.

It was a magical experience for the Filipinos with so many historical moments written, none bigger than the first triumph in this mammoth quadrennial event.

And the Nationals have no intention of slowing down as they battle another fancied rival – the fearsome Iranians – going for a follow-up win that would send propel them to the Round of 16.

If they can put up the same gallant effort shown against Egypt – with heart, hustle, resilience – the Nationals could stand a chance versus Iran, ranked 14th in the world.

It was a dream-like experience for Alas as the electric atmosphere was felt and the loud celebration reverberated around the venue with the team whooping it up with ecstatic fans.

The result forged a four-way logjam among Alas, Egypt, Iran and Tunisia, which dealt the Philippines a 25-13, 25-17, 25-23 shackling in a game where the Filipinos were visibly nervous playing their first game in the Worlds.

But not on this one where the jitters were gone.

It was replaced by confidence and determination never seen in the team before its battle-scarred Italian coach in Angiolino Frigoni came in.

It was a match that produced so many heroes.

Among them was the country’s undisputed top gun Bryan Bagunas, who rifled in a match-high 25 points, including 23 power kills.

There was also the energetic Leo Ordiales, who delivered a tour de force effort with 21 hits, including crucial bombs that helped seal the deal.

Notes: National women’s team standout Alyssa Solomon is bringing her talent to Japan where she will be playing in the SV League for the Osaka Marvelous. Interestingly, Osaka was the same team Sachi Minowa, formerly Jaja Santiago, played for in the past