SINGAPORE - Azel Tan, seven, and his brother Aden, three, love spending time outdoors. They had withdrawal symptoms when recreational facilities had to close during the circuit breaker. Their mother Serene Wu, 36, recalls their shock when she showed them the news. "When they saw tape barriers surrounding our usual playground, reality sank in. Aden asked many questions about why he couldn't play with his friends. Azel was devastated he could not go for his in-line skating lessons or play soccer with his neighbours at the open field downstairs," says Ms Wu, a teacher-turned-mumpreneur. Like Azel and Aden, children across the island have had their routines upended by the pandemic. More are finding themselves lost in the shifting tide of changes across all aspects of their lives, with parents who may be too busy fighting their own Covid-19 calamities to steer them to safety. In such a volatile and uncertain environment, experts say it is vital that children develop resilience ... » Learn More about Teach kids to bounce back from Covid-19 crisis
Am i going to have a heart attack
Expert witnesses flay officer in Floyd death
A mural of George Floyd in New York MINNEAPOLIS: Police and medical experts delivered withering testimony against Derek Chauvin in the second week of trial for the white former Minneapolis police officer charged with killing George Floyd by kneeling on the Black man's neck for more than nine minutes. Chauvin listened impassively as the experts testified that he used inappropriate "deadly force" in subduing the handcuffed 46-year-old, in violation of police procedures. Police chief Medaria Arradondo The chief of Minneapolis police said Monday that his former subordinate had violated the department's training and its "values" in kneeling on a "prone, handcuffed individual." Kneeling on Floyd's neck could have been reasonable during the "first few seconds" of his May 25, 2020 arrest but it should have ended quickly, he said. "Once Mr. Floyd had stopped resisting, and certainly once he was in distress and trying to verbalize that, that should have stopped," said Arradondo, ... » Learn More about Expert witnesses flay officer in Floyd death
Gerald on admitting relationship with Julia: ‘Para akong nabunutan ng tinik’
Yam Concepcion (left) and Gerald Anderson in “Init sa Magdamag” It’s something I felt I just had to do for my peace of mind,” said actor Gerald Anderson as he described his much-talked-about interview with TV host Boy Abunda, wherein he finally admitted to dating Julia Barretto. “I don’t think it has affected my career at all. Personally, nabunutan ako ng tinik. Aside from that, I didn’t feel any other effect on me. My life is still the same. We actually have bigger problems to deal with these days than my interview with Tito Boy. After that, I’ve decided to move on,” Gerald told reporters during a media gathering to promote his latest drama series, “Init sa Magdamag,” on the Kapamilya Channel. When asked how the present state of his emotional well-being has affected his portrayal of Christopher Salcedo, his character in the series, the 32-year-old actor replied: “Actually, I’m good at separating my personal life from what I’m doing at work. Whatever it is that I’m going through ... » Learn More about Gerald on admitting relationship with Julia: ‘Para akong nabunutan ng tinik’
What Ate Vi loves about daughter-in-law Jessy
Vilma Santos I love you, Lucky” was Ate Vi’s (Vilma Santos) standard extro line in her shows back in the day. That was how she showed affection for her son, Luis Manzano, on national television. Now, it’s Lucky’s turn to say “I love you” to his bride, Jessy Mendiola. I sent Ate Vi questions about Luis. In her answers, she still refers to him as Lucky. It only goes to show that even if he’s already a married man, Luis will always be her “baby.” Ate Vi is a “Luckynian” for life. With a mom like her, Lucky hit the jackpot since birth. Here’s my chat with Ate Vi: What was running through your mind as Luis and Jessy were getting married? I got misty-eyed. I was asking myself, “Is this really happening?” My mind went on flashback mode to the time when Lucky was still a baby. Nagpapatawa si Lucky most of the time, so everything went smoothly. How did things go between you and [your ex-husband] Edu Manzano during the wedding? Sa mga oras na ‘yon, nagkatinginan kami ni Edu. We ... » Learn More about What Ate Vi loves about daughter-in-law Jessy
What a Good Friday
March to March, 13 months, and another Good Friday. This Good Friday, however, is like a summary of the whole month, like some unlucky Friday the 13 th rather than a highlight of a major religious remembrance. March 2020 to March 2021, first base and back to first base, but not yet a full circle because we do not see the ending yet. A pandemic came upon us, is still upon us. No one spared, everyone disrupted. Thirteen months of abundant lessons characterized the March-to-March period, yet it is as though we learned nothing. Why else are where we began, but worse? It took months from March 2020 to reach a peak in Covid infections last year. This March, we began by breaking records and no one has a clear idea when this will end without strict lockdowns. Even with lockdowns, no one is clear how long that should be in order to dramatically put us at safer infection levels. We are now down to vaccines as our only hope, or so we are told. Other than vaccines, our health authorities ... » Learn More about What a Good Friday
Government should prepare to allow Muslim nurses to wear the tudung: PM Lee
SINGAPORE: The Government should prepare to allow Muslim nurses to wear the tudung with their uniform, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Saturday (Apr 10). Speaking to reporters after a closed-door dialogue with Malay Muslim community and religious leaders on Saturday, Mr Lee said: “I told them that I had concluded that we should prepare to make such a move for nurses because people's attitudes have changed, because in social and work settings, the tudung is now more common. "And on its own, we can see the merits of allowing ... Muslim nurses to wear the tudung with their uniform if they wish.” He added that the community leaders knew that the Government has been considering allowing Muslim nurses to wear the tudung for “quite some time”, because the Government has been “engaging and consulting them quietly”. "PREPARE THE GROUND": PM LEE But before the change is made, the Government will need to “prepare the ground”, said the Prime Minister. “We have to make sure ... » Learn More about Government should prepare to allow Muslim nurses to wear the tudung: PM Lee