Just like other countries across the globe, Japan has also lifted its state of emergency.
That being said, it is now time to indulge themselves with joy after being in lockdown. Though amusement parks will be opened, it also comes with some cons. However, these cons are only for everyone’s safety.
One of the many theme parks in Japan, Universal Studios Japan(USJ), will be reopening on June 19. USJ will be reopening in three phases.
Phases of the reopening:
FIRST: All annual pass holders from the Osaka prefecture will be allowed to enter the park during a special pre-opening between June 8 & June 18. However, you need to register in advance to avail.
SECOND: USJ be opened to all residents of Osaka from June 15 to June 18 given that they have bought the special advance tickets.
THIRD: This final phase will open the USJ for everyone on June 19.
Please be reminded that regardless of their re-opening, they will still limit entry to Kansai residents only from:
Osaka
Kyoto
Hyogo
Shiga
Nara
Wakayama
Because physical distancing is a new normal, their ticket booths will be closed. But tickets can be bought online through their website.
If you’re curious about the new rules at USJ, check out this video:
Let us be happy for this progress, but still follow the safety precautions. The world will heal soon.
It is no secret that Filipinos are enamored with Korean dramas. It started years back when several Korean series aired in Philippine television and eventually took the airwaves. Since then, Korean artists have visited the Philippines for fan meets and concerts, to personally greet and feel the warm welcome of their Filipino fans.
SMART, a local telecommunications company have released a teaser announcement revealing that “The Captain is coming. Watch out for the big RiVeal.” What a SMART marketing strategy, right?
However, it does not stop there because exactly a week ago, Bench founder Ben Chan broke the internet when he posted a video on Instagram with caption, “Your crush, landing soon.” With this, people knew in their Korean hearts that it had to be Hyun Bin, the lead actor in the hit K-Drama series ‘Crash Landing on You’. I mean, who else, right? Agree, CLOY fans?
Because people are so eager to know, it did not take long for Ben Chan to spill the beans as he eventually confirmed it in one of his interviews. He also revealed that the CLOY lead actor will be visiting Manila soon, and so will his fellow K-drama actor and Face of Bench Fragrances, Ji Chang Wook.
It’s not a wonder why soon-to-be moms want to document their journey to motherhood.
Being pregnant is the start of a fruitful journey. It makes every couple giddy and ecstatic to show to the world their adorable baby bumps.
But because of the pandemic, some moms have cancelled their maternity photoshoots. But if you’re as dedicated as Joan Osabel – Caparoso, you will find ways.
Lucky for her, she’s found an amazing team from Sam Orlanes Photography to fulfill her maternity shoot desires. It may be far from the ordinary theme, it is still as creative and amazing.
If you’re planning to have your prenuptial or maternity photoshoot, even just photoshoot in general, never let this pandemic stop you from doing so. Instead, use this to unleash your creative juices for extraordinary ideas. I know you have it in you. You just have to believe.
The worldwide race for a vaccine is still going on and now there are over 100 COVID-19 vaccines that are going through trials.
Most of these proposed vaccines focus on the use of antibodies, a powerful immune-system weapon, but there are also studies of T-cells that can kill the COVID-19 virus itself.
Antibodies
These are produced by the immune-system in response to the foreign material in the body. 25 antibodies were identified as potentially competent in detecting the COVID-19 virus and binding to its spike protein that allows the virus to infiltrate our cells.
French, and American scientists studied an antibody from a patient infected with SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) virus in 2003. The antibody candidate, named S309, has been identified to neutralize COVID-19’s infection potential (published in Nature from Swiss).
T-Cells
T-cells are compounds in our immune system that helps us fight some viruses.
According to studies, killer T-cells of COVID-19 positive patients have the potential to both identify and destroy the virus and that these T-cells can also exist to some people who have never been exposed to COVID-19.
Immunologists at the University of La Jolla have also identified the presence of “Helper T-cells”, which sounds an alarm that identifies the target cell and sends biological signals to other immune cells like B-cells and antibodies.
“The immune system sees this virus and mounts an effective immune response,” Alessandro Sette, La Jolla immunologist
Andreas Thiel who was involved with a study in the University Hospital in Berlin also found out that 34% of the blood samples of 68 uninfected people had these same helper and killer T-cells. Thiel suggests that this might be because of a previous exposure to some form of coronavirus.
Cardo Dalisay and other iconic Kapamilya teleserye characters are returning to TV to bring entertainment, inspiration, and relief to Filipinos as some of the well-loved ABS-CBN shows will be shown on Kapamilya Channel, which will be available on cable and satellite TV nationwide beginning June 13.
Kapamilya Channel will be available on SKY, Cablelink, G Sat, and most member-cable operators of the Philippine Cable Television Association (PCTA) nationwide.
While Kapamilya Channel will initially be seen by cable and satellite TV viewers only, ABS-CBN will find more ways to reach more Filipinos and bring news, public service, and entertainment to every Kapamilya around the world.
Viewers can watch favorite Kapamilya shows:
‘FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano’ starring Coco Martin
‘A Soldier’s Heart’ starring Gerald Anderson
‘Love Thy Woman’ starring Kim Chiu
‘It’s Showtime’
‘ASAP Natin ‘To’
‘Magandang Buhay’ with Melai, Jolina and Karla
‘The Voice Teens’ with Leah Salonga, Apl.de.ap, Bamboo, Sarah Geronimo
‘TV Patrol’
‘Paano Kita Mapasasalamatan’ hosted by Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo (every Saturday)
‘Iba ‘Yan’ hosted by Angel Locsin (every Sunday)
‘The World of a Married Couple’ (New top-rating K-drama series)
Filipinos from all over the world, meanwhile, will not be left out because they will be able to watch all Filipino programs on Kapamilya Channel, including the new episodes, on TFC.
Encouraged by the overwhelming love and support of the public, ABS-CBN remains committed to serving its audiences even after it was ordered to stop operating its radio and television stations on May 5 by the National Telecommunications Commission.
The cable and satellite TV channels that will carry the Kapamilya Channel are owned and operated by other companies and are not covered by the cease and desist order issued by the NTC to ABS-CBN.
Welcome your favorite Kapamilya shows on Kapamilya Channel on SKY, Cablelink, G Sat, and most member-cable operators PCTA nationwide beginning June 13.
In a world that’s strongly fighting for freedom, equality and acceptance, the pride month have never been more powerful.
June is the month dedicated to celebrating the LGBTQ+ communities all around the globe. But with what the world is facing now is more than just pride — it’s a constant battle against any kind of discrimination.
The pride month has always been celebrated loudly and joyously with lots of parades and marches but with the pandemic, it will be different this year. Though not in the streets, the events will still be actively participated through Zoom, TikTok and other social media platforms, keeping people connected and celebrating.
June was chosen as the pride month as it was the month when the Stonewall riots happened. These protests have changed gay rights for a lot of people in America and beyond.
“A lot of people were very repressed, they were conflicted internally, and didn’t know how to come out and be proud. That’s how the movement was most useful, because they thought, ‘Maybe I should be proud.”
– L. Craig Schoonmaker
Pride has always been about unity, love and friendship. To raise awareness and to celebrate on how far gay rights have come. It serves as a reminder of how damaging homophobia was and still can be and therefore must be stop.
From the word itself Pride, being proud of who you are no matter who you love.
“Love wins.”
Global Pride Day is June 27.
#BlackLivesMatter, #JunkTerrorBill
More than just equality, pride month also speaks for freedom and justice. Even until now, our world still continues to fight for what is right and just. Here’s what you should know about the #BlackLivesMatter and #JunkTerrorBill movements.
The Black Lives Matter (BLM) is an international human rights movement, originating in the African-American community, that campaigns against violence and systemic racism towards black people. BLM regularly holds protests speaking out against police killings of black people, and broader issues such as racial profiling, police brutality, and racial inequality in the United States criminal justice system.
In the Philippines, the House of Representatives approved the final reading House Bill (HB) No. 6875 or the proposed Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020. In an article from Rappler, under this bill — “individuals who propose, incite, conspire, and participate in the planning, training, and facilitation of a terrorist attack could face a sentence equivalent to life imprisonment without parole.”
The same punishment goes for persons who provide support to terrorists and recruit others to be a member of a terrorist organization. Persons found guilty of the following acts will be punished with 12 years of imprisonment:
Threatening to commit terrorism
Inciting others to commit terroristic acts
Voluntarily and knowingly joining any terrorist group or association
Being an accessory in the commission of terrorism
Under the anti-terror bill, a suspect can be detained without a warrant of arrest for 14 days, extendable by 10 more days. They can also be placed under surveillance for 60 days, extendable by up to 30 more days, by the police or the military.
Many Filipinos have slammed the anti-terrorism bill’s “draconian” provisions.
On April 25, the Comelec extended the suspension of the voters’ registration up until June 30, 2020. This is in lieu to the enhanced community quarantine being implemented in the country.
“The extension was approved in light of the extension of the implementation of the ECQ until May 15 in select areas in the country,” said COMELEC Executive Director Bartolome J. Sinocruz, Jr.
“The conduct of voter registration is not yet advisable since there will be restrictions on the movement of people and on certain activities,” he added.
“The period from May 1 to June 30 will give the Commission time to put in place anti-COVID-19 measures in relation to the conduct of the registration of voters once it resumes,”
Before the suspension, Comelec first suspended voter registration in all cities and municipalities on March 9. However, because of the new normal, a “No Face-to-Face Transactions” policy is to be observed in their offices.
“In order to ensure the safety of the public during the COVID-19 pandemic, the offices of the Comelec nationwide will be instituting a ‘No Face-to-Face Transactions’ policy,”
Their employees are being mandated to always:
wear a face mask
practice handwashing and hand hygiene
observe physical distancing
If you are not yet a registered voter, I would highly encourage you to register. With the crisis that we are experiencing, we all need to work hand in hand to help our nation look for the right people to do the job. Let’s just continue praying.
Our June has just gotten lovelier and edgier for we will get to witness the spectacle of a Strawberry full moon which will also pass through the faint outer shadow of the Earth, making a penumbral lunar eclipse, the second of four penumbral lunar eclipses this year.
A lunar eclipse happens when the Earth aligns between the Full Moon and the Sun where it blocks the Sun’s rays from reaching the Full Moon.
Asia, Australia, Europe, Africa and the South Eastern areas of South America might notice the Moon turn slightly darker, or seem less bright, during the maximum phase of the eclipse.
Date and time
Strawberry Full Moon: starts showing after sunset on June 6, 2020 (Saturday)
Lunar Eclipse: June 6, 2020 (Saturday)
Starts at 1:45 AM to 5:04 AM
Peak time at 3:24 AM
The Strawberry Full Moon Lunar Eclipse may be experienced and be visible for as long as 3 hours and 18 minutes depending on your area.
Thanks to everyone who joined their hands in praying for holy masses to be resumed. Today, June 3, Holy Masses and other religious activities if churches are also ready to resume.
Executive Order no. 17-F was signed by Governor Gwendolyn Garcia on the evening of Tuesday, June 2. EO no. 17-F “encourages” the holding of religious activities in the whole province of Cebu.
Though such activities were allowed, following the strict physical distancing and allowing only 50% of the holding capacity of the venue is still a must.
Garcia said during her press conference yesterday that she was assured by Archbishop Jose Palma that Catholic Churches in the Archdiocese are now ready to hold physical Masses.
Governor Garcia, however, has left the further guidelines and restrictions to the leadership of the Churches;
“I hope that is now very clear. I am confident that Archbishop Palma, alang sa atong kaigsuonang Katoliko, magpagawas sa mga patakaran usab sa Archdiocese kabahin sa holding of Masses sa mga simbahan (I am confident that Archbishop Palma, on behalf of our Catholic brothers, will issue guidelines that will be followed in holding Masses in the different churches in the Archdiocese),”
– Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia
“Suffice it to say, as far as the provincial government of Cebu is concerned and as far as this governor of Cebu is concerned, we are strongly encouraging the holding of religious activities limited to 50 percent capacity of [the] venue,” Garcia added.
Amid our fear of the pandemic, we all need spiritual healing to fuel ourselves to keep going. Praise God!
With a vision to believe in the pursuit of equality for every athlete, Nike honors every voice of those who want to make a difference and BETRUE.
This year, Nike celebrates equality through the pride month with their BETRUE sneaker, the Air Force 1. Known for its chunky silhouette, this pair will surely catch more attention because of its new and cool colorways. Since this month’s movement is the Pride Month, Nike dedicates this new pair to the LGBTQ+ community.
However, if you’re a fan of Nike, but is a minimalist, fret not. Nike is sticking to the ivory colorway of AF1. Rainbow flags are printed on the tongue and the outer side of each sole, next to the Nike logo. Some holographic deets will also be adorning the classic pair.
Nike Air Force 1 BETRUE is set to be released on June 19 in the US for $120 (P6,055). While awaiting for a local release announcement, let’s continue hoping and look at their website for updates.
