Here are all the top stories for July 1, 2021.
PHIVOLCS raises alert level 3 on Taal Volcano after phreatomagmatic explosion
At 3:16 p.m. today, PHIVOLCS reports of a phreatomagmatic explosion occuring at the Taal Volcano in Batangas. Fume from the crater also reached an height of about 1 kilometer. However, no volcanic earthquakes were recorded.
Later in the evening, two explosions were again recorded between 6:26 and 6:28 p.m., and another one at 7:21 p.m., with the highest smoke reaching the height of 200 meters.
Evacuation has also been ordered for residents in several towns near the radius of the volcano.
In recent days, Taal recorded increased activity, which started with the release of sulfuric gas in the air in nearby Batangas towns. That has caused residents to feel nauseous. The said volcanic smog or vog has also blanketed the National Capital Region and nearby provinces. In NCR, the vog has mixed with the pollution from vehicles and industries, which created orangey skies for the past few days.
PHIVOLCS also confirmed that about 14,000 tons of sulfuric gas was discharged by Taal over the course of three days.
Duterte to run for VP in 2022, at least for now
Speaking at the testing of the LRT 2 Eastern extension to Antipolo, President Rodrigo Duterte announced that he will be running for the Vice Presidential post in the upcoming 2022 elections.
This culminates weeks of push and pull between him and the rulling party PDP-Laban, as the party pushes Duterte to run for VP and let him choose his own running mate that will then run for the Presidency.
However, Duterte clarified that this is only for now. For him, this pronouncement might protect him in the next few months from what he called possible detractors.
Bea Alonzo officially transfers to GMA Network
Today, the Kapuso network welcomed its newest star and it’s no other than former Kapamilya actress Bea Alonzo.
Alonzo, who was associated with GMA’s archrival ABS-CBN for two decades, is the latest celebrity to jump ship from Mother Ignacia. Recent transferees to Kamuning include Richard Yap, Albert Martinez, Beauty Gonzales, and commedienne Pokwang.
Bea is set to star in a movie remake with Alden Richards.
Read the full story here: Bea Alonzo signs with GMA Network
iWantTFC makes 10,000 hours of content free for PH users
The Kapamilya OTT service iWantTFC has opened access to about 10,000 hours-worth of content — ranging from originals, teleseryes, movies, news and current affairs shows — to all users in the Philippines. Advanced episodes of current TV series are now available for free.
Despite that, premium subscribers of the service will still get additional perks like ad-free viewing, among others, iWantTFC added.
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=341662544069085&id=111986697036672
Australian TV networks switch affiliations
On the midnight of July 1st, viewers in regional Australia saw a change that returned two TV networks to their status quo in 2016. Nine and Channel 10 have returned to their previous affiliate partners.
Over at Nine, the network switched back to WIN Television, their original affiliation partner until 2016. Upon returning to WIN, Nine also brought with them 9Go and 9Gem. 9Life will follow suit on August 1. The major casualty of this change, however, is the cancelation of 9 News Local as WIN’s in-house regional news bulletin will take its place.
10 had also moved back to Southern Cross Austereo (SCA). Along with that switch back, the Channel 10 has also made a return to regional Australia as they previously went by the name WIN in several regions over the last 5 years. It will be the first time that the 10 Bold and 10 Peach names will be introduced to those audience as they went by the name WIN Bold and WIN Peach until June 30, 2021. 10 Shake has also expanded into SCA’s territories as its content was previously exclusive to 10play during the WIN tenure.
Gilas Pilipinas falls short in OQT match versus Serbia
Gilas Pilipinas faces its first defeat at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament. That comes after finishing 7 points behind their rival World’s basketball number 5, Serbia.
Gilas versus Serbia finished at 76-83, in favor of the latter. Despite losing the game, the team still has the chance to enter the semifinals if they win over World’s basketball number 19, the Dominican Republic.
The Gilas vs. Dominican Republic game happens on July 2, 2021 at 2:30 a.m., Philippine time.