Culture and traditions - North Cotabato Calivungan Festival

(Photos by Sidney Nanini)

To highlight the culture and tradition of the Indigenous People in the Province of Cotabato the provincial government of Cotabato once again held the Kavurunan Festival (Aug 28-29, 2018) as an important part of the Kalivungan Festival. Around 500 IPs from different municipalities and lone city of Kidapawan joined the said festivity at the Provincial Pavillion just earlier.

Governor Emmylou "Lala" Taliño Mendoza graced the occasion and expressed her thankfulness to the different tribes that joined the festival. 

The Kavurunan also paved the way for IPs or Lumads to show their talents and skills through music, songs, dances, and rituals. 

This is also a way for them to preserve their culture and traditions said Talino. (Roville Ann Sotto/Jimmy Sta Cruz)

PDEA head insists magnetic lifters contained drugs

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency chief Aaron Aquino leads the inspection of four magnetic lifters recovered by PDEA at a warehouse in Cavite. (Photo courtesy of PDEA)

MANILA -- Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director General Aaron Aquino on Thursday insisted that the four magnetic lifters found in a Cavite warehouse contained a ton of shabu (crystal meth) despite negative results from swab testing.

During the inquiry of the House committee on dangerous drugs on the PHP6.8-billion alleged shabu smuggling, Aquino said swabbing is not a 100 percent measure to detect the presence of illegal drugs.

"It doesn't mean that if you swab something and it's negative, there's no drugs there," Aquino said.

When further asked by Marikina City Rep. Miro Quimbo if he is convinced that the four magnetic lifters did contain illegal drugs, Aquino replied, "Yes, sir. They contained illegal drugs."

During the last hearing, Bureau of Customs (BOC) chief Isidro Lapeña said they conducted a swab testing for the presence of illegal drugs on the magnetic lifters, which yielded a negative result.

"The four pieces of magnetic lifters, including the aluminum foils in the area, were swabbed and examined for its possible presence of shabu but this yielded negative result for the presence of dangerous drugs," Lapeña said during the August 14 hearing.

Aquino, however, said drug-sniffing dogs detected drugs in the four magnetic lifters.

He was particularly confident in the K-9 dog named Odel saying it "will never be wrong" in its detection and has achieved a lot of accomplishments. "Definitely we believe in our K-9."

The PDEA K-9 unit conducted sweeping operation, which yielded positive response twice from the K-9.

Aquino earlier claimed that the empty magnetic lifters found in Cavite were similar to the two magnetic lifters seized at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) last August 7 with 355 kg. of shabu estimated to be worth about PHP2.4 billion.

Based on the comparison of the magnetic lifters recovered at MICP and in Cavite as presented by PDEA, the key similarities are found in the cabling, power supply, method of concealment, and size of holes. (PNA/By Filane Mikee Cervantes)

NFA assures rice sufficiency in Marawi, Lanao Sur towns

MARAWI CITY -- The National Food Authority (NFA) here announced that Lanao del Sur and Marawi City are not experiencing shortage of rice, with the average price hovering around P27 to P32 per kilo or about P1,250 to P1,500 per sack.

Khayamera Dialem, Administrative Officer of NFA-Lanao del Sur Provincial Office based in Marawi City, said Monday their storage as of August 24 has 10,000 bags that can cater to Marawi City and the whole province of Lanao del Sur. By next month, September, another 10,000 bags will arrive as addition to its buffer stocks, he added.

Even during the Marawi siege, Dialem said they did not run out of supplies because of the relief supplies from the different local and international non-government organizations that helped the displaced residents during the five-month war in last year.

"Tuloy-tuloy naman ang releases natin at priority natin ang DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development), ang LGU (local government unit) at mga rice retailers natin," Dialem said. (We have a continuous release of rice supply as our priority is for DSWD and Marawi LGU, including rice retailers).

Lanao del Sur and Marawi City have buffer stock consumption of 9,000 bags a day but this will not be consumed because of the relief distribution. The agency, however, continues to monitor its 40 accredited NFA outlets in Marawi City to make sure no one is hoarding rice supplies.

"So far wala pa tayo'ng na-monitor na may hoarding pero hindi naman tayo huminto, (so far we have not monitored any hoarding but we are keeping an eye on this)," Dialem added.

After the armed conflict in Marawi City ended, NFA's biggest outlet within the former main battleground was divided into smaller outlets located in different market areas in the city and the nearby Lanao del Sur towns of Marantao and Saguiaran. (PNA/By Divina Suson)

General Santos City all set for 2018 tuna fest

GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- It’s all systems go for the city’s famed 2018 Tuna Festival that will formally open on Saturday, Sept. 1, amid heightened security measures.

Vice Mayor Shirlyn Banas-Nograles said Wednesday they have finalized the necessary preparations for the “bigger and grander” festivity, which is expected anew to draw thousands of both local and foreign visitors.

“So far, everything is set and we’re ready for the opening,” the vice mayor said.

Organizers picked mardi gras as the main concept of the five-day festival, which is themed: “Megatuna Fun in Metro Gensan.”

Nograles said they have lined up new activities and spiced the usual attractions, which includes the tuna float parade, sugbahanay sa fishport, grand fish fest sa fishport, sugbahan sa dalan and the street dancing competition.

The other highlights are the 20th National Tuna Congress, foam party, tuna arts festival, tunaman triathlon, dragon boat competition, tunafest bancarera, jetski challenge and national skimboarding competition.

A carnival and flea market earlier opened at the city’s oval plaza, which is the main venue of the festival. 

Nightly shows and concerts featuring celebrities are also scheduled at the oval plaza until Sept. 5, the culmination of the festival.

Malacañang declared Sept. 5 as special non-working day in the city through Proclamation No. 562 issued on Tuesday.

The festival’s culmination coincides with the formal inauguration of the city in 1968 by then President Ferdinand Marcos.

In line with the celebration, authorities said they have doubled the security measures and deployment in parts of the city.

Chief Insp. Jovenson Bayona, operations chief of the city police office, said they have increased the presence of police personnel and force multipliers in strategic areas.

Bayona said the entire area is currently under alert level 3 in the wake of the continuing implementation of martial law in Mindanao and the spate of bomb attacks in nearby areas, with the latest in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat on Tuesday night that left two people dead and 37 others wounded.

“We’re fully prepared and we have laid down all necessary security measures to ensure a peaceful and successful festival,” he said.

Bayona said around 800 personnel from the city police and the Police Regional Office-12 would be deployed in various venues during the entire festivities. Police personnel will be augmented by 600 force multipliers composed of barangay peacekeeping teams and the city’s civil security unit.

Elements from the Army-led Joint Task Force GenSan will also be on full deployment during the festivity, he said. (PNA)

Sultan Kudarat blast death toll climbs to 3

COTABATO CITY -- The death toll in the improvised bomb explosion that hit Isulan town, Sultan Kudarat province on Tuesday night rose to three as another victim died while undergoing treatment at a hospital in General Santos City.

Welmark John Lapidez, 25, a criminology student of Sultan Kudarat State University and a resident of Bagumbayan, Sultan Kudarat, succumbed to multiple shrapnel injuries in the head and body and expired at 8:55 p.m. Wednesday at the General Santos Doctors Hospital, according to Isulan Mayor Marites Pallasigue.

The mayor also announced the cancellation of all activities related to the town’s 104th Foundation Day and 7th Hamungaya Festival.

“For the safety of everyone, the crisis management committee decided to cancel the activities. Please understand,” Pallasigue said.

A special mass for those who perished and for those who remained in the hospital will be offered at 2 p.m. at the town hall grounds.

President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to arrive Thursday afternoon in Isulan to visit the wounded victims and receive security briefing from military and police officials. (PNA/By Edwin Fernandez)

NYC welcomes Victor Del Rosario as new Commissioner representing Visayas

Newly-appointed ASec. Victor Del Rosario took his oath of office as NYC Commissioner representing Visayas in simple ceremonies led by OIC Chairperson Ronald Cardema with Division Heads and employees as witnesses on Tuesday, August 14 at NYC Office in Quezon City.

In his message, ASec. Del Rosario expressed his gratitude to President Duterte for the trust and confidence bestowed on him. ASec Del Rosario believes that good values and character formation is the most essential component towards youth development and empowerment for nation-building. 

He also mentioned that he will serve the youth fairly, regardless of their political beliefs, race, and religion.

I

n the oath-taking, ASec Cardema expressed his appreciation to the new member of the NYC family.

“A youth servant and genuine leader is added to the NYC family to transform millions of Filipino youth into becoming nationalistic, disciplined, and productive nation-builders of the Philippine Republic,” Cardema said.

In August 2017, President Rodrigo R. Duterte appointed him as Director of Philippine Sugar Corporation (PHILSUCOR) and was later on nominated as its President and CEO.

In August 8, 2018, he was appointed by the President as NYC Commissioner representing the Visayas.

‘Scubasureros’: Heroes of the Hundred Islands National Park By Hilda Austria

SCUBASUREROS. This team of scuba divers regularly collects garbage beneath the waters of the Hundred Islands National Park in Alaminos, Pangasinan. (Photo from Mayor Arthur Celeste's Facebook account) 

 ALAMINOS CITY, Pangasinan — Scuba diving is no longer a mere leisure activity at the Hundred Islands National Park (HINP) here as  "scubasureros" also do it to maintain the cleanliness of the waters of Pangasinan's famous tourism site.

Keeping the waters of HINP pristine is a priority, since the national park attracts both local and foreign tourists with its unique characteristics.

"Scubasurero" is a term coined from scuba diving and "basurero" (garbage collector).  It has become an underwater clean-up program of the city government of Alaminos since it was launched in 2016 under the leadership of Mayor Arthur Celeste.

Assistant City Tourism Officer Rose Aruelo, in an interview with the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Monday, said some employees of the city government, who are licensed scuba divers, were the first members of the team of implementors. 

They dive into the waters of the HINP to collect garbage, especially those that are trapped in the seagrasses, on a quarterly basis, she said.

“We still have no sufficient budget and personnel then, so we could not yet do it on a monthly basis, but last year, the HINP Area Protection and Management Board passed a resolution making Scubasurero program a monthly activity,” Aruelo said.

Aside from the 17 license divers employed by the city government of Alaminos, who regularly conduct the underwater clean-up drive, volunteers from non-government organizations and national government agencies like the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Philippine National Police and Philippine Coast Guard also participate in the Scubasurero program.

Aruelo noted that the city government continues to produce more licensed scuba divers through the Open Water Scuba Diving Course Class to develop local divers to be part of the Scubasurero.

According to her, the latest scuba diving course class graduation was held last August 15. “It was sponsored by the city government and the trainees are all city government employees,” she noted.

Scubasureros collect an average of 100 kilograms of garbage in their once-a-month open water scuba diving with a purpose.

“The activity has a very positive effect because it maintains the cleanliness of the sea, so we invite more licensed scuba divers to join us; more divers mean more garbage to be collected,” Aruelo said.

The city government has 30 oxygen tanks available for use during the schedule of the underwater clean-up drive.

Aside from the Scubasurero, the HINP also implements the “Basura Mo, Iuwi Mo” program.

“We give incentives to tourists who would bring home their own trash from the islands. Upon registration, we give them trash bags and collect PHP200 as a bond, which is refundable when they get back from the islands with their own trash,” Aruelo explained.

“Aside from their refund, we also give a gift certificate (good for two persons) that entitles them to free entrance and free environmental fee on their next visit. It has no expiration as long as the gift certificate is still intact,” she added.

The smoking ban is also strictly implemented at HINP.

The national park serves an average of 1,800 local and foreign tourists daily, and higher during weekends.

About 500 tourists visit the park during the slack season, particularly the rainy season, Aruelo said. (PNA)

All smiles

President Rodrigo R. Duterte shares a light moment with Papal Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Gabriele Giordano Caccia on the sidelines of the National Heroes' Day commemoration at the Libingan Ng Mga Bayani in Taguig City on August 27, 2018. (Rey Baniquet/Presidential Photo)

NIA Region 12 and ARMM conducts stakeholders forum in S.Cotabato - Gen. Ricardo Bisaya (Ret) attended

Engr. Danilo Largo (left) together with NIA officials and stakeholders posed during the whole day forum at D'Farms garden resort, Koronal, South Cotabato (August 18, 2018).

Libungan, North Cotabato - The National Irrigation Administration (NIA-12) conducted stakeholders forum at D'Farms garden resort, Koronadal, South Cotabato  in order to update the recipients about the NIA operations at their respective areas of operations.

The whole day forum was very successful because all stakeholders,  NIA officials and other concern agencies agreed everything on what they talked about; for the good of all stakeholders or the farmers as well, said Engineer Danilo Largo, Engineering Assistant - A just earlier.

Gen. Ricardo R. Bisaya (Ret) the new Administrator of NIA was the guest speaker during the forum.

Bisaya was very thankful to the Region 12 Regional Manager Diosdado A. Rosales for his efforts to help the farmers to uplift their living conditions by giving a good services to the people by allowing the small farmers to avail the programs and other benefits of the said region.

Accordingly, Bisaya said, after he assumed as NIA Administrator last year "our farmers are the number 1 clientele of NIA, we well give them what is due them in order to help increase their production", he said.

Bisaya was very thankful to the farmers all over the country because without them, we will all hungry, he said.

Meanwhile, Governor Daisy P. Avance - Fuentes also supports the NIA development programs and she is very thankful to the NIA administrator Gen. Ricardo Bisaya to answer the problems of some stakeholders and to give a priority for the people here. (By: Becky D. de Asis-The Redline News)

Scientists confirm water ice on moon's surface for first time

WASHINGTON -- For the first time, scientists have directly observed definitive evidence of water ice on the moon's surface, US space agency NASA has said.

Most of the newly-found water ice lies in the shadows of craters near the moon's polar regions, where sunlight never reaches and the warmest temperatures never reach above minus 250 degrees Fahrenheit (about minus 157 degrees Celsius), NASA said in a statement earlier this week.

"These ice deposits are patchily distributed and could possibly be ancient," the statement said.

"At the southern pole, most of the ice is concentrated at lunar craters, while the northern pole's ice is more widely, but sparsely spread," it added.

Previous observations found possible signs of surface ice at the lunar south pole, but these could have been explained by other phenomena, such as unusually reflective lunar soil.

In the latest study, scientists used data from NASA's Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3) instrument to confirm the presence of solid ice on the moon.

M3 collected data that not only picked up the reflective properties of ice but was able to directly measure the distinctive way its molecules absorb infrared light, so as to differentiate between liquid water or vapor and solid ice.

"With enough ice sitting at the surface -- within the top few millimeters -- water would possibly be accessible as a resource for future expeditions to explore and even stay on the Moon, and potentially easier to access than the water detected beneath the Moon's surface," the statement said.

"Learning more about this ice, how it got there, and how it interacts with the larger lunar environment will be a key mission focus for NASA and commercial partners, as we endeavor to return to and explore our closest neighbor, the Moon," it added

The findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on Monday. (Xinhuanet)

PCG turns over rescued trafficking victims to DSWD

The Philippine Coastguard on Monday turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development the 23 human trafficking victims they rescued in Tawi-Tawi. (Photo courtesy: Zamboanga Coastguard Station) 

By Teofilo Garcia, Jr  

ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The Philippine Coastguard (PCG) on Monday turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) the 23 human trafficking victims they recently intercepted aboard a vessel near the country’s border with Malaysia.

Lt. Commander Noriel Ramos, Zamboanga Coastguard Station commander, said the victims were rescued on August 20 off Tawi-Tawi and were turned over to the DSWD on Monday.

The victims were escorted by PCG personnel during their travel aboard a wooden-hulled ferry, M/L Fatima, from Tawi-Tawi to this city.

Ramos said the PCG personnel were conducting patrol when they intercepted the victims aboard M/L Fatima near Bakungan Island in the municipality of Turtle Islands.

Ramos said the victims failed to present valid travel documents when they conducted onboard inspection.

Further investigation showed that the vessel was headed for Sandakan, Sabah--a Malaysian state that the Philippines has dormant claim on--via Boan Island, where their contact person was supposed to fetch them.

Ramos identified the rescued victims as Gemma Malicay, 34, Lavern Garcia, 27, Rofel Ticon, 24, Vivian Sagang, 45, Jeston Sagang, 22, Velardo Sagang, 48, Johny Boy Alpay, 29, Zamboanga del Norte; Luwela Bajao, 34, Reindon Binarao, 21, Zamboanga Sibugay; Arsenia Dela Cerna, 53, Yolanda Minas, 46, Zamboanga del Sur;

Elbert Castro, 25, Emelinda Escultor, 41, Zamboanga City; Ralife Ticon, 30, Chilo Arnuco, 34, Misamis Occidental; Teresita Pacunla, 48, Lanao del Norte; Lenie Joy Canalan, 25, South Cotabato; Gay Gablac, 23, Davao Oriental; Romeo Argallon, 50, Davao del Norte; Virginia De Asis, 45, Bohol; Harib Vilara, 29, Cebu, Luzviminda Santos, 48, Pasig City; and, Melvin Evangelista, 35, Marikina City.

He said the rescued victims are temporarily housed at a DSWD-run center for displaced persons. (PNA)

CDO studes dominate 'Higalaay' street parade tilt

(Photo courtesy of Higalaay Festival page)

 By Jigger Jerusalem  

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Bugo National High School was adjudged as the champion in this year’s Higalaay Carnival Street Parade held Sunday afternoon, August 26, besting other 10 contingents.

Other winners were the Mamabuaya National High School and Macabalan National High School as first runner-up and second runner-up, respectively. The competition started at Luna-Velez Sts. and ended up at the Rodelsa Circle in Barangay Nazareth, while the Carnival Queen and King awards went to the Mambuaya National High School.

As part of its presentation, the contingent from Barangay Patag did a short dramatization of the conflict in Mindanao. The group also brought in a military truck to the contest venue as props.

The Higalaay Carnival Street Parade is one of the core events of Cagayan de Oro’s annual feast in honor of St. Augustine, the city’s patron saint, on August 27-28. Other core events included the dragon boat race, rodeo and horse show, Ms. Cagayan de Oro, Mindanao Fashion Summit, among others.

Meanwhile, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), upon the request of City Mayor Oscar Moreno, had ordered telecommunications companies to cut off their signal for three days during the holding of major activities from August 26-28.

Security precaution

In his August 24 memorandum, NTC Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba had directed Globe Telecom Inc., Smart Communication Inc., Digitel Mobile Philippines Inc., and ABS-CBN Convergence Inc. to “temporarily cut off all network services along the routes of the following Higalaay Festival 2018 activities,” specifically the Higalaay Festival Carnival Street Parade on August 26, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Float and Civil Military Parade on August 27, from 7 a.m to 12 noon; and religious procession on August 28. From 4 a.m. to 8 a.m.

Responding to a complaint a netizen posted on social media, the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo) spokesperson, Supt. Mardy Hortillosa, apologized for the jamming of the cellphone signal.

He added: “We are very sorry to cause this inconvenience to all,” Hortillosa said, “but our safety can’t be paid with our convenience. It’s better to sacrifice for a little bit rather than to suffer the consequences that we will regret.”

“It’s very easy to say it now that this idea is not good but try to imagine if there will be an unexpected terroristic attack that will happen in the city just because we failed to do this? Hope that everybody will understand that safety and security are better than convenience,” he added. (PNA)

3rd KaTambolit Festival in Libungan NCot gathered thousands of tourists - lechon" parade

Libungan North Cotabato - The 3rd KaTambolit Festival in Libungan North Cotabato gathered thousands of tourists coming from adjacent municipalities of North Cotabato and nearby provinces in order to witness the different litson parade in the said municipality today.

The Local Government Units of Libungan headed by Mayor Christoher "Amping" Cuan celebrated this yearly Katambolit Festivals embraces of its traditions and source of income and celebrating the  57th founding anniversary of the municipality here, said the mayor.

Accordingly, KaTambolit stands for "Kaumahan", Tambol means tugtugan, then "lit" is litsonan.

During the festivity,  different "litsons" displays in different versions and styles suited on each barangay's known tag named together with their known products.

Mayor Cuan said, that this 3rd Katambolit festival of his municipality will truly colorful and beautiful festivities ever happen now in Libungan  today,  since he elected as mayor here. 

Because people from different barangay's  are sincerely participated and shows their supports to the present mayor here, he added.

Meanwhile, Tourism Regional Office 12 supports the Katambolit Festival because it boosts  the economy of the municipality as well as the whole province of North Cotabato, said the mayor.

Mayor  Christopher "Amping" Cuan added,  aside this Festival celebration the government  assure  the people  to  uplift their living condition by allocating, the adopt-a-child program,  inviting investors and businesses, infra and more projects in order to boosts the living condition of the people in Libungan. (By: Becky D. de Asis/The Redline News)

PH Air Force to get 4 more OV-10 bombers

MANILA -- The Philippine Air Force (PAF) will be accepting four North American Rockwell OV-10 "Bronco" light-attack planes from the United States either by this year or in 2019, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Monday.

The Philippine government will shoulder the cost of transportation and shipment of the planes to the country, the defense chief said quoting a message from PAF head Lt. Gen. Galileo Gerard Kintanar.

These OV-10s will augment the existing six to eight units currently in service with the PAF.

The above-mentioned aircraft served as the country's premier ground-attack aircraft and was extensively used in the Marawi-conflict last year along with the SIAI-Marchetti SF-260 and Korea Aerospace Industries FA-50s in attacking terrorist targets and strongholds in the five-month campaign which started May and ended on October of that year.

PAF is the sole remaining operator of the OV-10 "Bronco" light-attack plane.

"Meron pa tayong (We still have) remaining OV 10s that we used in Marawi. They will augment these existing ones to support ground operations," Lorenzana said. (PNA/By Priam Nepomuceno)

Gov’t to hold job fair for 'Build, Build, Build' projects

MANILA -- Thousands of job vacancies in the construction sector may be filled on Sunday, Aug. 12, when government stages its own job fair dubbed Jobs Jobs Jobs Caravan.

The positions up for grabs are exclusively for projects related to the “Build, Build, Build” program, the Duterte administration's massive infrastructure program.

The career expo will be held at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said Monday.

There will be job openings for architects, engineers, finishing masons, finishing carpenters, heavy equipment operators, tile setters, welders, as well as for others with construction-related skills.

There will also be vacancies in companies and government agencies involved in the “Build, Build, Build” tp be offered.

These employment opportunities include research and development, sales and marketing, communications and public relations, legal, computer and information technology, security, and accounting and finance.

On Sunday, government offices such as DTI-Construction Industry Authority of the Philippines (DTI-CIAP), Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Transportation, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Finance, National Economic and Development Authority, and Bases Conversion and Development Authority will be leading the job fair.

According to DTI-CIAP, it will set up a booth to represent registered contractors with vacancies but have no booths in the Jobs Jobs Jobs Caravan to receive applications from jobseekers.

There will also be a one-stop-shop government service for applicants to complete their requirements.

Based on the “Build, Build, Build” website, there are 10,652 positions open for jobseekers. (PNA/By Kris Crismundo)

Chinese astronomers discover giant star rich in lithium

BEIJING -- Chinese astronomers have discovered the most lithium-rich giant star ever known, which could shed new light on the evolution of the universe.

With 3,000 times more lithium than a normal star, it was found in the direction of Ophiuchus, on the north side of the galactic disk, at a distance of 4,500 light years from Earth.

A research team, led by astronomers from National Astronomical Observatories of China (NAOC) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, made the discovery with the Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope (LAMOST), a special quasi-meridian reflecting Schmidt telescope located in NAOC's Xinglong Observatory, in north China's Hebei Province.

The telescope can observe about 4,000 celestial bodies at one time and has made a massive contribution to the study of the structure of the galaxy.

Lithium is considered one of the three elements synthesized in the Big Bang, together with hydrogen and helium. The abundance of the three elements was regarded as the strongest evidence of the Big Bang.

The evolution of lithium has been a key subject in the research of the evolution of the universe and stars. 

However, giant stars rich in lithium are very rare, with only a few found over the past three decades. This makes their study remarkably challenging, said Zhao Gang, a lead astronomer at NAOC.

"The discovery of this star has largely increased the upper limit of observed lithium abundance," said Zhao.

The newly-discovered star has a mass almost 1.5 times our sun. Details of the star were obtained by follow-up observation through the Automated Planet Finder telescope at Lick Observatory in the United States.

Scientists from other institutions, including the China Institute of Atomic Energy and Beijing Normal University, joined the team and helped discern a possible explanation for the lithium-rich phenomenon through a nuclear network simulation with the latest atomic data.

The researchers believe the abundant lithium might be the result of a special material exchange process in the interior of the star.

Finished in 2008, LAMOST began regular surveys in 2012. It has helped Chinese scientists with a final catalog of about 10 million spectra over six years and established the world's largest databank of stellar spectra.

The results of the study were published in the latest issue of Nature Astronomy. (Xinhua)

Ceremonial signing of BOL in Malacaคang

  BANGSAMORO ORGANIC LAW. President Rodrigo R. Duterte poses for a photo with the legislators and negotiators in the peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), as well as top officials from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police during the presentation of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) to the MILF at Malacañan Palace on August 6, 2018. (King Rodriguez/Presidential Photo) 

Death toll from Indonesia quake rises to 82, hundreds injured

JAKARTA -- At least 82 people were killed and hundreds of others wounded as Sunday's 7.0 magnitude quake destroyed thousands of houses and buildings mostly in Lombok Island of central Indonesia, a government official said Monday.

The jolt forced thousands of people to flee homes and evacuation of the quake-affected people was underway, spokesman for national disaster management agency, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, said.

"The injured are being treated outside hospitals or health clinics as the buildings of health facilities damaged or are in unsafe condition," the spokesman told Xinhua in a text message.

The tremblor hit the hardest Lombok Utara district, Lombok Timur district and Mataram, the provincial capital of West Nusa Tenggara, all situated in Indonesia's tourist destination of Lombok Island, said Sutopo.

"Most of the victims were hit by debris and falling blocks of concrete," he said.

The quake triggered panic in the island and nearby Bali island as well as East Java province and people rushed out of homes and buildings, said Sutopo.

Evacuation and rescue for the victims were underway in the dark, but the efforts were hampered by poor communication access which was disturbed after the quake, he added.

By far, a total of 47 aftershocks followed the 7.0-magnitude shock which struck at 18:46 p.m. Jakarta time (1146 GMT) with the epicenter at 18 km northwest Lombok Timur district and shallow of 15 km under-earth, official of the meteorology and geophysics agency, Yusuf Khaidar Ali, told Xinhua over phone.

The tremblor was also felt strongly in nearby Bali Island and East Java province, and some damages were found in the island, including a mall shopping center and buildings, according to Sutopo.

The meteorology agency issued a tsunami warning, and the tsunami only occurred with height of below 13 cm in three spots in Lombok Island, Biana Rahayu, official at the agency, told Xinhua.

A week ago, on July 29, Lombok Island was struck by a 6.4 magnitude quake, leaving 17 people dead, 365 of others injured and 8,871 people displaced as the jolts destroyed 14,940 house

according to the disaster agency.

The quake also cut off escape routes in a mountain, a favorite tourist destination, trapping over 1,000 foreign and domestic tourists, fortunately all of them were rescued, it said.

Indonesia is prone to quake as it lies on a vulnerable quake-hit zone -- "the Pacific Ring of Fire." (Xinhuanet)

BOL signals start of peace in Mindanao: SAP Go

MANILA – Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go expressed hope that the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) will signal the start of lasting peace in Mindanao.

Go made this remark during the ceremonial signing of the BOL on Monday at the Malacañang Palace in the presence of several lawmakers and members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC).

The BOL was signed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte on July 27, 2018, days after it was ratified by the Senate and House of Representatives.

“Ang pagpirma ni Pangulong Duterte sa BOL ay nagsisilbing pagsisimula ng katapusan ng kaguluhan at paghihirap sa Mindanao.

Ibig sabihin, dito po natin makikita na kung may political will ang president, walang impo-imposible (President Duterte’s signing of the BOL signals the end of war and misery in Mindanao.

This means nothing is impossible with a president who has political will),” Go said.

He encouraged all Filipinos to take part in the next steps that the Bangsamoro Organic Law will face.

Under the new law, a plebiscite will be held in the Bangsamoro between 90 and 150 days after its effectivity. (OSAP PR)