Faces of the News: Nov. 10, 2019

Illustrations by Rene Elevera

Teodoro Locsin Jr.

Netizens and journalists pushed back at Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. for hurling an expletive on Twitter at Inquirer reporter Jhesset Enano, who tweeted about President Rodrigo Duterte’s absence from the closing ceremony of the 35th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit last week.

In subsequent tweets, Locsin claimed he didn’t know Enano was a woman and demanded she apologize for stating a fact.

Critics said Locsin’s act was unbecoming of a diplomat and government official and urged him to adhere to the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines also slammed Locsin for his “execrable arrogance and boorishness.”

Sarah Geronimo and Matteo Guidicelli

After six years of dating, pop star Sarah Geronimo and actor Matteo Guidicelli are finally engaged.

“I love you, my love, now and forever,”Guidicelli posted on his Instagram page on Thursday along with photos of him and Geronimo, who was wearing a diamond ring.

The couple looked giddy and goofy, with Geronimo playfully wrapping her fingers around Guidicelli’s neck. Sakal … kasal — it didn’t take long for his followers to take the hint.

Guidicelli’s comments section was flooded with congratulatory messages from thrilled fans, family, friends and show biz folk. The couple did not say how the proposal was made nor did they announce details of their weddings plans.

Leni Robredo

Despite warnings that she was being set up to fail, Vice President Leni Robredo accepted her designation as cochair of the interagency committee against narcotics.

Her appointment by President Rodrigo Duterte signals her renewed participation in the administration, nearly three years after she resigned as housing chief.

Even with the expected difficulties of the job, she said she was willing to face it if it means saving one innocent life from the brutal war on drugs.

Robredo wasted no time, too: On Friday, she met with her cochair, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency chief Aaron Aquino, and the other representatives of involved agencies. Until when the pleasantries will last remains to be seen.

Soulemane Chabi Yo and Mark Nonoy

The University of Santo Tomas battles the University of the Philippines in a crucial UAAP Final Four showdown. But before that, the Tigers copped a few victories on the side. Soulemane Chabi Yo, the team’s paint anchor, won Season 82’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) award while teammate Mark Nonoy bagged the Rookie of the Year trophy. Both have their eyes on the bigger prize.

“What’s important is the [UAAP] championship,” Chabi Yo said.

Nonoy added: “We have the [individual] awards so what we should now do is win every game because [the title is] the award we really want.”

The Tigresses’ Grace Irebu, meanwhile, will be named the MVP in the women’s division for the second straight year.

Bahareh Zare Bahari

After being stranded at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) Terminal 3 for more than 20 days, former Iranian beauty queen Bahareh Zare Bahari, 31, was granted asylum by the Philippine government on Nov. 6.

The Bureau of Immigration at Naia denied Bahari entry on Oct. 17 owing to an Interpol red notice alert requested by Iran in connection with an assault offense.

Bahari, who had come from a two-week vacation in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, claimed the case was fake and requested asylum, adding that her life would be in danger if she were deported to Iran because she was a critic of the Islamic government and a women’s rights advocate.

The Department of Justice said that as a refugee, Bahari would be given work permits and travel documents.