NATIONAL MASTER. Gllasea Ann Hilario shows her trophy and certificate after winning the Under-10 category of the National Age Group Chess Championships held in Malolos, Bulacan from July 19-24, 2022. She learned how to play chess at the age of four, after getting encouraged by her brother. (Contributed photo) MANILA - Gllasea Ann Hilario takes pride in winning the Under-10 category of the National Age Group Chess Championships (NAGCC) held at the Robinsons Place in Malolos, Bulacan from July 19 to 24. Aside from the trophy and certificate, she gained one norm in the competition to complete the three-norm requirement for a Woman National Master (WNM) title. "I am glad I was able to perform well in the tournament and become a National Master," said Gllasea Ann, who earned two WNM norms at the National Youth and Schools Chess Championships (NYSCC) Tornelo online tournament conducted from June 10-13, 2021. Both the NAGCC and the NYSCC are annual tournaments organized by the Natio
NEW BATTALION. The Army's 11th Infantry Division activates Monday (Sept. 5, 2022) a new battalion to boost the fight against the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in Sulu. The 104th Infantry Battalion is the third battalion created by the 11ID to fight the ASG in the island province. (Photo courtesy of 11ID) ZAMBOANGA CITY - The Army's 11th Infantry Division (ID) has activated another battalion to boost its fight against the extremist Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in the island province of Sulu. In a statement Tuesday, Maj. Gen. Ignatius Patrimonio, 11ID and Joint Task Force (JTF)-Sulu head, said he formed the 104th Infantry Battalion (IB) to mount a sustained campaign against the ASG. The 104IB, which officially went into service on Monday, is set to boost the capability of his command on its peace, security, and development campaign in Sulu. "I designated Lt. Col. Roland Arreola as the first-ever 104IB commander. He will lead and manage the unit 104th while undergoing organizational train
EARTHQUAKE HAZARD.The red line shows the Leyte Island fault line. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the recent movement of the Leyte Island fault line is a reminder to the public to prepare for a stronger earthquake. (Photo courtesy of AGU online library) PALO, Leyte-The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the recent movement of the Leyte Island fault line is a reminder to the public to prepare for a stronger earthquake. Phivolcs Director Renato Solidum said on Wednesday that the magnitude 5.3 earthquake in Burauen, Leyte on March 21 is expected after the 2017 Leyte earthquake. "We should take these earthquake occurrences as a reminder that we need to prepare for strong earthquakes. We don't know if this will be succeeded by big events," Solidum said in an interview with Philippine News Agency during his visit here. The Leyte Island fault line with several segments, is part of the 1,200-kilometer-long Phi
MANILA - The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) recently supplied the Philippine National Police (PNP) Media Security Vanguards (MSVs) with the initial batch of the "Handbook on Personal Security Measures for Media Practitioners". These handbooks will be dispatched and coursed through the PNP Public Information Office (PIO) under Police Brig. Gen. Roderick Alba and they will be sent to PIOs nationwide. Alba is also the Chief Focal Person of the Regional, Provincial, and City public information officers of the PNP. These information officers were also recently appointed as Media Security Vanguards by PNP Chief, Gen. Dionardo B. Carlos. "The handbook starts with the Philippine Journalists' Code of Ethics and ends with the PTFoMS Protocols. In between, basic guidance on personal security measures were thoroughly discussed," said Undersecretary Joel Sy Egco, also PTFoMS Executive Director, in a news release on Wednesday. "We are releasing the in