HEADS UP: Why Rice is Life for Filipinos (Aug. 24)

Here’s a Heads Up from reporter on news that you need to know today, Aug. 24:

CULTURE EXPLAINED 

• Netizens cried slander when a viral Twitter post accused rice of being ‘too ethnic’, preventing the global rise of Filipino cuisine. Here's why in the Philippines, rice is life.

PIXEL WORLD

• Which hashtags ruled the first half of 2021? According to Twitter, Filipinos couldn’t stop posting about Miss Universe Philippines Rabiya Mateo, the McDonald’s BTS Meal and pop group BGYO.

NEWS YOU CAN USE

• Here’s how you can pursue your passport appointment during the MECQ if your papers were held up during the lockdown.
• Here’s how APORs can ride the MRT and LRT-2 for free during the MECQ period in Metro Manila.
• Comelec is also opening voter registration sites in Ayala Malls. The deadline staysom Sept. 30.

NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW

• A new record high 18,332 COVID cases were confirmed yesterday, breaking the record that was set just three days before.
• Metro Manila is opening immunizations to non-residents of the capital region to hasten the rollout of jabss, the MMDA said.
• Here’s how Malacanang plans to spend taxpayers’ money based on the 2022 budget proposal that it submitted to Congress.
• Pasig City authorities are investigating the cause of giant cracks on Topaz Road in Ortigas Center.
• Russia’s single dose Sputnik Light COVID vaccine has secured emergency use authorization from the Philippines’ FDA.
• Thousands of OFWs bound for Hong Kong can now go there for work after Manila sorted out an issue regarding the lack of uniform vaccine cards for the Philippines.
• Travel time between BGC and NAIA will be be cut to 15 minutes after a portion of Lawton Avenue was widened to six lanes from four.
• An Afghan woman who fled Taliban rule in her country gave birth to a baby boy upon landing in Germany.