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Walk-in Passport Applications are now allowed for Qualified Applicants

Ram Mancelita
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1
Walk-in Passport Applications are now allowed for Qualified Applicants

Getting an appointment for a passport application can be very tricky and annoying. There seems to be no way (almost) to get an appointment online no matter how frequently you check the agency’s website.

 To help address this issue, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced that starting March 16, 2022, walk-in passport applicants who are “fully vaccinated and qualified” will be allowed at all consular offices to reach Filipinos, especially those outside Metro Manila.

The DFA advised only qualified applicants to line up at courtesy lanes. Non-qualified applicants will not be accommodated. Now the question is, who are the ‘qualified applicants’?

Qualified Applicants

The following candidates will be accepted in consular offices’ courtesy lanes:

Qualified ApplicantsDocumentary Requirements
Senior CitizensSenior Citizen ID Card May be accompanied by one (1) adult
Pregnant ApplicantsProof of pregnancy (Medical Certificate)
Persons With DisabilitiesValid PWD ID Card
Solo ParentsValid Solo Parent ID Card
Minors aged 7 years old and belowMust be accompanied by a parent or a legal guardian Original and photocopy of Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Birth Certificate of the minor, printed on security paper Additional documentary requirements if minor is not accompanied by parents
Overseas Filipino Workers and Seafarers with incoming or active employment abroadMust present one (1) of the following: Valid OWWA E-Card Valid Employment Contract Valid Work Visa Seafarer’s Identification and Record Book (SIRB)

Applicants are also reminded to bring their proof of vaccination. Unvaccinated and partially-vaccinated applicants will not be accommodated. 

Can seniors, minors be accompanied by adults?

Yes. Children aged 7 and below must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Senior citizens may be accompanied by one adult.

Will unvaccinated applicants be accommodated?

No. Walk-in applicants will only be accommodated if they present proof of vaccination.

Can temporary off-site passport services accept walk-in applicants?

No, TOPS sites will not accept walk-ins.

Where are DFA consular offices located?

The DFA consular offices are located in the following areas:

Metro Manila

  • DFA NCR East in SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City
  • DFA NCR North in Robinsons Novalichez, Quezon City
  • DFA NCR Northeast in Ali Mall, Cubao
  • DFA NCR South in Alabang Town Center, Muntinlupa
  • DFA NCR West in SM City Manila in the city of Manila
  • DFA NCR Central in Robinsons Galleria West in Pasig City

Cordillera Administrative Region

  • SM City Baguio in Baguio City

Region I

  • CSI Mall in City of San Fernando, La Union
  • Robinsons Place Ilocos in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte
  • Robinsons Place Pangasinan in Calasiao, Pangasinan

Region II

  • City Hall Bldg., Regional Government Center in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan
  • Robinsons Place Santiago in Santiago City, Isabela

Region III

  • Malolos Central Transport Terminal and Commercial Hub by Xentro Mall in Malolos City, Bulacan
  • Robinsons StarMills in San Fernando City, Pampanga
  • Marquee Mall in Angeles City, Pampanga
  • Waltermart Paniqui in Paniqui, Tarlac

Region IV-A

  • SM City Dasmariñas in Dasmariñas City, Cavite
  • Robinsons Place Lipa in Lipa City, Batangas
  • Pacific Mall-Lucena in Lucena City
  • SM City San Pablo in San Pablo City, Laguna
  • SM Cherry Foodarama in Antipolo City, Rizal

Region IV-B

  • Robinsons Place Palawan in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan

Region V

  • Pacific Mall-Legazpi in Legazpi City

Region VI

  • Robinsons Place Iloilo in Iloilo City
  • Robinsons Place Bacolod in Bacolod City

Region VII

  • Robinsons Place in Dumaguete City
  • Pacific Mall-Metro Mandaue in Mandaue City, Cebu

Region VIII

  • Robinsons North Tacloban in Tacloban City

Region IX

  • Go-Veloso Bldg. in Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Sur

Region X

  • Clarin Town Center in Clarin, Misamis Occidental
  • SM Downtown Premier in Cagayan de Oro City

Region XI

  • Gaisano Mall of Tagum in Tagum City, Davao del Norte
  • SM City Davao in Davao City

Region XII

  • Robinsons Place General Santos in General Santos City
  • Mall of ALNOR in Cotabato City

Region XIII

  • Robinsons Mall in Butuan City

For the consular offices’ complete address and contact, head on to this link.

Cebu logs 17 new cases on March 20

Sugbo.ph Contributor
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1
Cebu logs 17 new cases on March 20

On Sunday evening, the Department of Health Central Visayas (DOH-7) released its official, consolidated data of the COVID-19 cases in the region as of March 20, 2022.

The whole island of Cebu — Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, and Cebu Province — recorded 17 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, 21 new recoveries, and 6 new deaths. Cebu’s total active cases declined to 902 (from 910).

Cebu City
– Total confirmed: 53,722 (+10 new)
– Total recoveries: 51,543 (+11 new)
– Total deaths: 1,684 (+0 new)
– Active cases: 495

Lapu-Lapu City
– Total confirmed: 17,035 (+0 new)
– Total recoveries: 16,489 (+0 new)
– Total deaths: 507 (+0 new)
– Active cases: 39

Mandaue City
– Total confirmed: 15,399 (+2 new)
– Total recoveries: 14,860 (+0 new)
– Total deaths: 496 (+1 new)
– Active cases: 43

Cebu Province
– Total confirmed: 46,199 (+5 new)
– Total recoveries: 43,074 (+10 new)
– Total deaths: 2,800 (+5 new)
– Active cases: 325

SUMMARY OF COVID-19 CASES IN CEBU:

  • Total Active Cases in Cebu: 902 (from 910)
  • Total Confirmed Cases in Cebu: 132,355 (+17 new)
  • Total Recoveries in Cebu: 125,966 (+21 new)
  • Total Deaths in Cebu: 5,487 (+6 new)

A total of 953 laboratory results were released.

NOTES from DOH-7:

  • *As per DOH-7, the additional deaths in the report are not due to the overnight spike in deaths but due to more accurate data collection and validating efforts. Not all of those deaths occurred today but occurred more than a week ago.
  • Reports maybe subject to change as these claims undergo thorough validation by the local healthcare offices and health personnel.

DOH-7 FULL REPORT (CENTRAL VISAYAS):

What the h*ck is an NFT?

Sugbo.ph
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2
What the h*ck is an NFT?

You’ve probably heard it from your friends, workmates, schoolmates, or just simply the term just keeps popping on the Internet. It has existed for quite a while already, but I bet you are still confused what it is.

With the rise of P2E games or play-to-earn games like Axie Infinity, which took the country by storm in the past few months, NFT is one of the familiar terms that are being tossed around by P2E enthusiasts. So, what the heck is an NFT?

Photo from Unsplash

NFT

NFT stands for “non-fungible token” which is a digital asset that is verifiable on blockchain technology. From the word non-fungible, these tokens are virtual, meaning they are basically like collectibles or ‘tokens’ except they are of digital or virtual format.

Orange Phanta bear with playing card | Photo from kun11xd on Instagram

Some of these assets include artwork, music, or in-game assets, where unique avatars are famous as NFTs. Because of its non-fungibility, this unique asset in digital form can only be traded or exchanged by any other NFTs. This gives NFTs their unique or ‘one-of-a-kind’ factor.

NFTs have been quite famous for the last two years, thanks to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, where enthusiasts have been sprouting all over, though NFTs have been around as early as 2014. Cryptocurrency booming is one of the reasons of NFT’s sudden popularity.

Blockchain Technology

Sure, the term itself is as handful as mouthful it is because blockchain technology is indeed an intricate and complicated concept. NFTs are transferred from one owner to another using blockchain technology, which creates a digital trail from seller to buyer that verifies the transaction. This encodes the unique ownership rights to the buyer (new owner).

Photo from Unsplash

This means that in order to acquire an NFT, one must have cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin, to buy a digital asset and create an account on the NFT marketplace that is connected to the cryptocurrency wallet holding the coins.

The most common blockchain NFTs use Ethereum ERC-20 tokens; this is what the blockchain utilizes to issue a smart contract on the Ethereum blockchain.

NFT vs Cryptocurrency

It is important to remember that NFTs and cryptocurrency are not the same; one would use cryptocurrency to conduct a certain transaction. Using the same blockchain technology that a specific cryptocurrency uses, an asset is built up differently when it comes to NFTs.

Whereas a cryptocurrency coin can be traded or exchanged at equivalency, the NFT cannot. This is because each cryptographic asset is set up with a unique identification code and metadata that distinguishes one NFT from another.

An exchange of money and bitcoin | Photo from Unsplash

Investing in NFTs

One of the most common reasons why NFTs suddenly got popular is because of money. People came rushing like the California gold mine, hoping to buy and invest different NFTs as much and as early as possible. But is investing in NFTs a good idea?

Buying NFTs requires due diligence on the part of the investor or collector. Same with the stock market, you need to do diligent research with a specific NFT you would like to invest in. You need to first find NFTs that you feel are going to grow in value and that you have an interest in collecting.

Photo from Unsplash

NFT marketplaces where sales and auctions are conducted is a good place to gain knowledge about a certain NFT or if is it worth investing or not. YouTube, Discord channels, Telegram channels is also a good place to learn more about them. A growing community interested in NFTs will help you learn about the topic. However, be careful too with people you ask about NFTs as they might scam you or urge you to buy a worthless NFT, taking advantage of your lack of knowledge.

Photo from Unsplash

Overall, NFTs are continuously growing as a trend. Some argue that their popularity can help artists expand their collection and work, while some it diminishes the general idea of ‘making art’, where people get more focused on the financial value.

Cebu Survey: Who are your Cebu City Mayor and Vice Mayor for 2022 Elections?

Ram Mancelita
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3
Cebu Survey: Who are your Cebu City Mayor and Vice Mayor for 2022 Elections?

Elections 2022 is just around the corner.

Voters selected from among candidates for all local positions: a town mayor, vice mayor, and town councilors, as well as members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, the vice governor, governor, and representatives for the seven districts of Cebu (including two districts of Cebu City, the lone district of Lapu-Lapu City and the lone district of Mandaue City).

Cebu City Mayor

Margarita Osmeña, a former city councilor and wife of former mayor Tomas Osmeña, is challenging incumbent mayor Michael Rama for the position of mayor. Outgoing city councilor David Tumulak has also joined the race as an independent candidate.

Cebu City Mayor 2022 Survey Live

  • Margot Osmeña
    29% 1.8k / 6.4k
  • Mike Rama
    18% 1.1k / 6.4k
  • David Tumulak
    52% 3.4k / 6.4k

Vice Mayor

Incumbent city councilors Raymond Alvin Garcia and Franklyn Ong are competing for the position of vice mayor along with former city administrator Bimbo Fernandez.

Cebu City Vice Mayor 2022 Survey Live

  • Bimbo Fernandez
    14% 559 / 3.8k
  • Raymond Alvin Garcia (Team Rama)
    37% 1.4k / 3.8k
  • Franklyn Ong (Team Margot)
    47% 1.8k / 3.8k

Cebu logs 37 new cases on March 19

Sugbo.ph Contributor
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1
Cebu logs 37 new cases on March 19

On Saturday evening, the Department of Health Central Visayas (DOH-7) released its official, consolidated data of the COVID-19 cases in the region as of March 19, 2022.

The whole island of Cebu — Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, and Cebu Province — recorded 37 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, 20 new recoveries, and 11 new deaths. Cebu’s total active cases jumped to 910 (from 890).

Cebu City
– Total confirmed: 53,713 (+21 new)
– Total recoveries: 51,535 (+19 new)
– Total deaths: 1,684 (+4 new)
– Active cases: 494

Lapu-Lapu City
– Total confirmed: 17,035 (+3 new)
– Total recoveries: 16,489 (+5 new)
– Total deaths: 507 (+1 new)
– Active cases: 39

Mandaue City
– Total confirmed: 15,397 (+3 new)
– Total recoveries: 14,860 (+0 new)
– Total deaths: 495 (+1 new)
– Active cases: 42

Cebu Province
– Total confirmed: 46,194 (+10 new)
– Total recoveries: 43,064 (+1 new)
– Total deaths: 2,795 (+5 new)
– Active cases: 335

SUMMARY OF COVID-19 CASES IN CEBU:

  • Total Active Cases in Cebu: 910 (from 890)
  • Total Confirmed Cases in Cebu: 132,339 (+37 new)
  • Total Recoveries in Cebu: 125,948 (+20 new)
  • Total Deaths in Cebu: 5,481 (+11 new)

A total of 1,415 laboratory results were released.

NOTES from DOH-7:

  • *As per DOH-7, the additional deaths in the report are not due to the overnight spike in deaths but due to more accurate data collection and validating efforts. Not all of those deaths occurred today but occurred more than a week ago.
  • Reports maybe subject to change as these claims undergo thorough validation by the local healthcare offices and health personnel.

DOH-7 FULL REPORT (CENTRAL VISAYAS):

18-year-old Filipino opens Shoe Restoration Business with just P300 capital

Marel Baluyos
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1
18-year-old Filipino opens Shoe Restoration Business with just P300 capital

Now, the youngsters of this generation aren’t all in TikTok or Instagram and many other social media platforms, some of them are actually building their own businesses. Better start it young they say.

Photo from Allen Hale Jaguimit via Smart Parenting

This is what Allen Hale Jaguimit has proven as at just 18 years old, a teenager, he had opened a shoe restoration business. And what’s amazing about it is that he started with just P300 as his capital.

He has successfully restored over 70 pairs of shoes and counting.

His shoe restoration business is one of buy-and-sell which he started building in 2019. Buy-and-Sell businesses involves buying something (from thrift shops or other sources), then restoring or improving these products before reselling for a higher amount.

Photo from Allen Hale Jaguimit via Smart Parenting


Opportunities and ideas do present itself in difficulties as it started when he had to restore his worn-out shoes.

Raised by a single mom, Michelle Jaguimit, he is someone who have loved leather shoes for a long time as he’s a fan of Michael Jackson. His dream was wearing the same shoes as what his idol wore on “Thriller” but was sadly out of budget. He even shared that he goes to the ukay-ukay every day to look at his dream shoes.

To be able to afford the loafers which was sold at P1,500. Though it took a long time of saving as he helps out his mom too whenever he can.

So, shoes have already been kind of a passion for Allen at that time.

He learned to care for the shoes he dreamed of which somehow developed a passion in him for shoe restoration.

Photo from Michelle Jaguimit Photo via Smart Parenting

Impressive sales:

  • A pair of Charles Tyrwhitt shoes- got for P300 but sold for P2,500
  • Two shoes- initially bought for P3,000 but sold for P9,600
Photo from Allen Hale Jaguimit via Smart Parenting

Now, that’s a steal indeed and a profitable business for sure.

Remembering Bobby Nalzaro, Cebu’s respected journalist, TV & Radio anchor

Marel Baluyos
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0
Remembering Bobby Nalzaro, Cebu’s respected journalist, TV & Radio anchor

Cebu has lost a broadcasting media icon.

Cebu’s very own tri-media personality Bobby Nalzaro also admiringly called as “Super Bob” died on Thursday, March 17, 2022, at 58 years old.

Photo from Bobby Nalzaro Facebook Page

He was one of the gems of broadcasting as a journalist, radio commentator, columnist, and news anchor all at the same time. He was working on all these before his passing caused by multiple organ failures:

  • Anchor of GMA Regional TV’s Balitang Bisdak
  • Radio GMA Cebu’s station manager
  • Host of Super Radyo dySS-AM (daily commentary program)
  • Columnist for SunStar Cebu and Superbalita

Bobby Nalzaro was born as Pablito Galeza Nalzaro in Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte, on August 11, 1963 and started in radio at the age of 16.

Art and Photo by Enrico Santisas

Professional Career Timeline

  • 1980- anchor/reporter of Radio DXRZ (UMBN/RMN) in Zamboanga City
    • studying Bachelor in Mass Communication at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University.
    • reporter of Zamboanga Express (local newspaper)
  • 1987- transferred to Cebu and joined DYMF Bombo Radyo Cebu for ten years until he became the acting Station Manager
  • 1997- resigned from Bombo Radyo and joined GMA 7/RGMA Cebu
  •  1999- became TV news anchor for Balitang Bisdak
  • 2011- regional anchor for Balita Pilipinas Primetime on GMA News TV
  • 2019- filed for 4 counts of libel by Ramon Miguel Osmeña, son of former Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña. (in connection with two articles Nalzaro published for SunStar and Superbalita Cebu)
  • 2022- program director and chief operations officer of Super Radyo DYSS 999 Cebu of RGMA Network, Inc.,
  • served as Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) Cebu chapter chairman and KBP regional coordinator.

Bobby Nalzaro was one tough broadcaster as he didn’t hold his punches in his commentaries. A trait that earned him enemies left and right. Unafraid and bold he embodied a true broadcasting media personality which gained him followers and admirers too.

“by providing the public with accurate information for seeking the truth; for giving justice to the oppressed and victims of abuses; for helping the needy and exposing graft and corruption, illegal activities and anomalies in government and the private sector.”

– BOBBY NALZARO
Photo from Bobby Nalzaro Facebook Page

Numerous Awards

  • KBP national award for Best Public Affairs Program Host for Radio (2004)
  • Garbo Sa Sugbo Awardee by Cebu Provincial Government
  • Achiever’s Award in Mass Media by the Zamboanga del Norte Provincial Government
  • 23 of Cebu’s Most Influential People (2005) by SunStar Cebu

His media career spanned over 40 years, Nalzaro was an inspiration and a constant in the media world which ensures that he will be missed indeed.

Nike Factory Store in Mactan, Cebu offers up to 70% OFF this weekend

Ram Mancelita
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0
Nike Factory Store in Mactan, Cebu offers up to 70% OFF this weekend

Sneakerheads, it’s the weekend! This is the ideal time to pay a visit to a Nike Factory Store and treat your feet to a new pair of sneakers.

The March Madness Sale at the Nike Factory Store in Mactan, Cebu will always have the coolest footwear for your activities, whether it’s for a long stroll, hike, run, or play. With top-notch Swoosh shoes, hit the streets in style and train for your chosen sport.

You can get your hands (or feet) on a pair or two at a mind-blowing 70% discount from March 15, 2022 to March 21, 2022.

LOCATION

Nike Factory Store Mactan is located at “The Outlets at Pueblo Verde”, Mactan Economic Zone II Basak, Lapu Lapu City, Cebu (15 minutes away from Mactan Cebu International Airport).

Opening hours is 10AM to 8PM daily.

Cebu logs 27 new cases on March 18

Sugbo.ph Contributor
-
1
Cebu logs 27 new cases on March 18

On Friday evening, the Department of Health Central Visayas (DOH-7) released its official, consolidated data of the COVID-19 cases in the region as of March 18, 2022.

The whole island of Cebu — Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, and Cebu Province — recorded 27 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, 250 new recoveries, and 10 new deaths. Cebu’s total active cases declined to 890 (from 1,116).

Cebu City
– Total confirmed: 53,692 (+12 new)
– Total recoveries: 51,520 (+214 new)
– Total deaths: 1,679 (+4 new)
– Active cases: 493

Lapu-Lapu City
– Total confirmed: 17,032 (+2 new)
– Total recoveries: 16,491 (+5 new)
– Total deaths: 506 (+0 new)
– Active cases: 35

Mandaue City
– Total confirmed: 15,394 (+3 new)
– Total recoveries: 14,862 (+10 new)
– Total deaths: 494 (+0 new)
– Active cases: 38

Cebu Province
– Total confirmed: 46,184 (+10 new)
– Total recoveries: 43,070 (+21 new)
– Total deaths: 2,790 (+6 new)
– Active cases: 324

SUMMARY OF COVID-19 CASES IN CEBU:

  • Total Active Cases in Cebu: 890 (from 1,116)
  • Total Confirmed Cases in Cebu: 132,302 (+27 new)
  • Total Recoveries in Cebu: 125,943 (+250 new)
  • Total Deaths in Cebu: 5,469 (+10 new)

A total of 1,222 laboratory results were released.

NOTES from DOH-7:

  • *As per DOH-7, the additional deaths in the report are not due to the overnight spike in deaths but due to more accurate data collection and validating efforts. Not all of those deaths occurred today but occurred more than a week ago.
  • Reports maybe subject to change as these claims undergo thorough validation by the local healthcare offices and health personnel.

DOH-7 FULL REPORT (CENTRAL VISAYAS):

Get to know Alfredo Yao: The man behind Zest-O, breadwinner at 12

Marel Baluyos
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1
Get to know Alfredo Yao: The man behind Zest-O, breadwinner at 12

If you haven’t had a sip of the juice of the nation in the 90s and early 2000s then you have been living under a rock. We all recognize a zest-o drink when we see one and it flashbacks to all our childhood memories.

Photo from Zest-O Facebook Page

But did you know that the man didn’t even get to finish his studies and became the breadwinner at age 12?

Meet Alfredo Yao, the owner and founder of zest-o. He grew up in poverty and could barely finish elementary and highschool but was able to overcome those many challenges and have clearly succeed in life.

Photo from Primer

Born on November 23, 1943, Alfredo Yao’s life wasn’t an easy one. Lost his father at the age of 12, with 5 siblings and a mother only earning money as a sidewalk vendor.

Yao did a lot of sideline jobs just to earn money. He was able to enroll at Mapua Institute of Technology with the help of their relatives but didn’t get to complete it due to financial difficulty.

He decided to learn the ins and out of business as it generates good money. After saving up enough money, he started Solemar Commercial Press, his very first business and got rich from it.

Zest-O origins

He brought the invented doypacks from Europe in 1979. With only juice manufacturing companies willing to try the new packs, he concocted his own juice drink.

The very first Zest-O drink was made in the year 1980 from his very own kitchen. The first batch was sold out so quickly and the rest is history.

Photo from Zest-O Facebook Page

Zest-O have become an empire in itself offering many flavored drinks and also offering dairy products, power drinks, carbonated beverages, water noodles, condiments, and many more. It also holds 80% of the juice market in the Philippines which makes it the bar to beat.

Everyone can make it, with the right perseverance and hard work. Take it from Alfredo.

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