Toronto Metropolitan University's Independent Student Newspaper Since 1967 Music has always been a huge part of my life I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t surrounded by it My parents used to always wonder where I got this passion from especially considering most of my family works in medicine or business I didn’t exactly come from a family of musicians when living in the Philippines but I did grow up in a family that loved music. Even though I didn’t have a musical background music was something I always felt drawn to It was the one thing that stayed consistent in my life Though my family back home never pursued music Family gatherings weren’t just about food and conversation they were full of impromptu jam sessions and karaoke battles on Christmas and New Year’s Eve The living room would turn into a stage and the night would go on with the Catral-Fabul family voices layered over each other The quintessential occasional off-key notes made everyone burst out laughing and yet these dissonant laughs became my grounding a lot changed when my family moved to Canada I was 17 years old at the time and it was a huge transition not as many family karaoke sessions and a large and unfamiliar community I had to start over in so many ways—new school new people and a completely different environment I left the comfort of my childhood home—friends and family that were a part of my life for years this change made me want to pursue music more than ever. Music has brought me comfort in times when I felt lost or uninspired whether I was feeling overwhelmed with change or struggling to find my place in a new environment my way of making sense of everything. I would play instruments without knowing a single chord completely unaware of how ridiculous it probably sounded Maybe they saw my passion—or just couldn’t handle my horrendous guitar playing—because shortly after they signed me up for guitar lessons at a nearby music centre. I thought it would be another extracurricular activity something I would do for fun like when they signed me up for ice skating or tennis lessons as a kid The moment I could strum along to a melody and recognize what I was playing Upon completing my first lesson, I got my first real classical guitar. The first song I learned was “Rude” by MAGIC! and I played it for weeks until I learned another song it felt like I had unlocked a whole new world one where I could bring the songs I loved to life in my own way. I’d take any and every opportunity to pick up a ukulele or guitar I fear I was one of those kids who didn’t know when to stop I started off by performing covers anywhere I could—school performances I remember how nervous I’d get before every performance It was one of the few moments where I felt completely at home Soon after completing lessons, my guitar teacher noticed I had an interest in singing while playing guitar as well, so he referred me to Sir Guy He pushed me beyond what I thought I was capable of and utilize proper singing techniques. Learning piano was especially challenging because it required me to read and play at the same time the guidance I received from Sir Guy quickly resulted in progress It wasn’t just about memorizing songs anymore: it was about truly feeling and understanding the music how to interpret and how to make music on my own a way to experiment with what I was learning on the guitar songwriting became something more personal to me It became an outlet—a way to say things I couldn’t always express in conversation. my thoughts turned into melodies and lyrics I pushed myself out of my comfort zone and started performing outside of school at open mics and professional gigs I kept rehearsing the lyrics and chords in my head before getting on stage for my first open mic performance. I was so nervous but knew I wanted to do it, and I did. It was at Jess & Pats open mics have become a big part of my journey and the thought of performing in front of strangers was very nerve-racking I knew that if I wanted to grow as a musician One of the biggest lessons I learned throughout all this was that repetition builds mastery and consistent practice turns skill into second nature. Once my family and I settled down in Canada in 2022 I immediately tried to pick up where I left off in the Philippines One of my mom’s friends invited me to perform a few songs at a little Filipino picnic gathering. My journey has not just been about talent. It’s about my work ethic, who I know and how I can collaborate with others. Now, I’m in my first year at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), studying professional music, exploring the different sides of the industry and most importantly, myself. I know I have a lot more to learn and that excites me. Every day, I find new reasons to fall in love with music all over again. I’m blessed to have friends and family who support me in what I want to do, especially my parents who work hard and help me be able to pursue my art. So, what’s next for me? Honestly, at this very moment, I don’t exactly know. But I do know that wherever I end up, music will be at the heart of it. Maybe I’ll be performing, maybe I’ll be producing, maybe I’ll be organizing the next big music festival. Maybe I’ll be doing all of it. The music industry is huge and I want to be part of it in as many ways as possible. I want to bring artists together, create experiences and shape how music is shared with the world. Seven-year-old me never imagined that one day she would be moving from her hometown in San Pedro, Laguna to studying and pursuing music in Toronto. She turned that little girl’s passion into something real. From the Philippines to Canada, music has always been my constant guide through change, and it will continue to do so moving forward. Ipagpapatuloy ko ang pag-abot sa aking mga pangarap sa bawat pagkalabit ng aking gitara. — I will continue to reach my dreams with every strum of my guitar. Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Eyeopener (@theeyewideopen) This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page The book chronicles the 344-year history of the coastal town and captures the journey of the flourishing faith community emphasizing the transformative role of Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs) in engagement and pastoral care Spearheaded by then-outgoing parish priest Fr the book provides a visual and textual narrative of the formation of the parishioners rooted in the missionary life of its patron Blessed Peter Gonzales It also highlights current pastoral programs of the parish run by its 800-strong BEC workers in 69 puroks across 11 barangays Vignettes feature conversion stories of parishioners including their joys and challenges in leading 4,000 active families through the worship The book was written by Diana Verzosa Moraleda a development worker and former researcher at the John J Carroll Institute on Church and Social Issues who found herself back in her hometown during the COVID-19 pandemic Moraleda said she took on the job because she was deeply impressed by how the parish has transformed in recent years and believed “I felt a new vibrancy in how people practiced their faith The parish was always full with people scurrying about and I no longer saw just the usual influential families serving All our 15 chapels were renovated and held regular Masses; street masses were also common with a complete crew of lay ministers,” Moraleda said “I was awed most especially at how the usually risk-averse Aparrianos became bolder in opposing injustice such as that of black sand mining that caused much environmental damage and suffering among fisherfolk Not all parishes focus on social action in the same manner that they focus on worship.” Moraleda was referring to the 2022 Earth Day March where 1,700 fisherfolk walked for two hours from the municipal arch to the San Telmo parish to advocate for the care of the river and the sea The first-of-its-kind rally helped stop black sand mining operations in Cagayan Moraleda would later discover how the BECs also conduct family catechism in the home and Bible reading camps for children and wrote about these and the parish’s other teaching programs The book outlines the parish’s stewardship efforts raising and allocating 71 million pesos over seven years through transparency measures like the parish information management system and monthly public reports to parishioners Aside from operations and church building renovations funds were used in trainings for BEC workers Major projects included the province’s first Kolumbarium de Aparri and the San Telmo Village a sustainable housing project using typhoon-resilient earthbag technology “People realize that giving is an important component of discipleship and in journeying together in mission when they see that the parish manages resources effectively and serve the most vulnerable with integrity thereby bringing people closer to God,” Moraleda explained Catral said that Parokia San Telmo: Agayus ti Pammati iti BIag is a testament to the thriving synodality within the parish and how the community has embraced Pope Francis’s call for a ‘pastoral conversion’ through BECs “Because of God’s abiding presence in the Parish of San Telmo Living as a community of missionary disciples in the BECs–attending to the needs of the families in worship and social action–the parishioners ensure the parish’s productivity and sustainability and treasure–becomes a way of life,” Catral added Archbishop Ricardo Baccay of Tuguegarao commended the parish for its initiative stating that the book is a timely invitation for all of us who are journeying together as Church is an arduous task that demands our commitment to be more caring This is where [the book] comes as a ready guide,” he said Parokia San Telmo: Agayus ti Pammati iti Biag is available for purchase at the San Telmo Parish Office Those outside Aparri interested in obtaining a copy may contact Joey Ayson at 09157650399 Proceeds from the book will support the parish’s ongoing stewardship initiatives and future publications Asian Journal News The Filipino-American Community Newspaper Since 1991 for bits and canticles of its blistering high noon sun and bloodstained sunsets still fervently linger on every summer lover’s minds One outdoor habitué and lover of sun-drenched beaches is Hency and Aurora Catral’s first born Francheska Cheska to chums and pals is a teen of sixteen summers who has her early years filled with sunny bright thoughts and fond memories of her childhood Cheska is innately sentimental and compassionate she has that keen ability to perceive and understand the feeling of others Naturally endowed with an encompassing ability and inherent interest in a lot of things she finds it rather hard to narrow her focus to a specific area of concentration Her enviable social skills and aesthetic creativity could easily make her pursue a career that leads to communication arts or entertainment-related job Petite but with the right curves proportionally distributed to her 5’1” frame Her dark brown eyes easily give away her transparent reaction and unpretentious nature while her coy smile sends out an enigmatic message in contrast If there’s some truth in a name’s shaping one’s life easily then Cheska is one lucky girl to bear such moniker that connotes cleverness and with an intense desire to do something worthwhile in life the name “Francheska” means free in its Latin origin She is the school choir’s vocal soloist and lead singer in her school’s musical productions Idolism has always been part of every teen’s formative years and for Cheska American pop artist-singer-songwriter Colbie Caillat and singer-songwriter-actor-record producer Justin Timberlake tops her list as she augustly digs their music Cheska has a list of favorites and readily furnishes us with the following data from her facts-file: Scent: vanilla; reading matter: “Secret;” movie: Flashpoint Paradox; watering hole: the mall or park; pastime: watching anime; color: red; outfit: jeans and tees; snack: pistachios; actress: Natalie Portman; hobbies: writing poetry sketching and painting; dance: nothing in particular “I only dance because I could feel the music and just to keep the rhythm.” “I’m always at my best elements when I feel low and somehow jilted That’s the time when I could compose poetry effectively and pour every bit of emotion off my chest,” Cheska said “I’m more into sentimental and cheesy pieces my subjects are usually those who are close and familiar to me like my parents friends and faces of my favorite celebrities,” Cheska replied when queried about her artistic side “The nose is the hardest part to paint or draw If I can’t get it right then the entire facial symmetry is already spoiled,” she added the inevitable event became a turning point in her life Cheska knows the responsibility of being a young mature woman to some extent She’s ready and willing to explore the possibilities of what the world has to offer she doesn’t deny that she’s Daddy’s fair-haired baby which could be practically understandable being a first-born Asked if there has been any sibling rivalry among the sisters But we really compete over grades and academic achievements We always compare test results and the likes.” “If there’s one thing that I’m afraid to lose that would be my Daddy’s trust I only wish I could do and give him everything that would make him proud of me!” the sweet sixteener revealed when asked what scares her the most Every teen has a personal preference and pet peeves Cheska likes gatherings and celebrations but she never really liked big bashes and huge crowds She hates formality in the sense that she will be obliged to dress up to the nines and act accordingly what is expected of her as a young lady “One could see me all grown up but I could feel that there’s a five-year-old child within me controlling my every action and emotion But what she wanted was eventually thwarted when her parents surprised her with a formal debut party that literally caught her petrified and nearly slid off where she was seated She already had inkling about the big plan months prior her red-letter day but she merely shrugged it off thinking things might change according to her decision Her mom was persistent to hold a big affair for her since it will be the first huge event among her girls and it was something she never had when she was Cheska’s age “I have always dreamt of throwing a huge celebration for my children I want them to experience a little luxury in life that’s why I and my husband work doubly hard for them.” Aurora said “The debut of a daughter is a significant event It’s of a symbolic value with the element of a teen’s lifestyle and her implicit idea of her current status in relation to her future,” mommy Aurora also said the inevitable moment came when Cheska couldn’t do anything but change from her bobby sox to stockings seemingly a sound-off from legendary balladeer Johnny Mathis’s 1959 hit With neither question nor qualm Cheska shifted her interest from dolls to make-up kit but not trading her toys for boys (just like in the song) not just yet Putting up a party theme that could rival Hollywood’s red carpet event was the farthest from Cheska’s mind With a background view of scenic Manhattan skyline set against a dramatic interplay of the Hudson waters and a colorful horizon the posh Liberty House Restaurant in the heart of the famous Jersey City landmark was the perfect venue for Cheska’s memorable day It was a whole new ballgame for the debutante but her doting parents never consider the extent of the expenses it might incur even if it may cost them an arm and a leg Their paramount concern was just to give anything and everything that would make a difference in the life of the first debutante in the family was predominantly dressed in turquoise or with a tint of aquamarine Every attendee was ushered into the hall for a photo op and registration then later to the open patio for cocktails and socialization eye-popping visuals and pulsating music readily induced the build-up of an overwhelming ambiance and party mood A table heavily laden with a wide selection of gourmet appetizers and stimulating chips with an assortment of dips and salsas was strategically set by the patio bay for easy access while uniformed waiters milled around unrelentingly serving guests with a variety of hors d’ oeuvre The cocktail hour created a fitting prelude to the main event Drinks and wine literally flowed incessantly while every interesting conversation was enjoyably being punctuated with sips and toasts and basic measures of formality filled the air There might be a few who didn’t care much about either the appetizers or the drinks but everyone couldn’t resist the enticing magnanimity and grandeur of the panoramic natural background that all cameras were kept clicking and flashing A program presentation collectively drew the crowd into the dance hall Anjelika came in bearing the mother candle followed by Cheska’s youngest sister Bianka and Isabella Rose Villarente as flower bearers while being escorted by JP Masong Grandparents Jacinto and Trifona Catral were introduced before Cheska’s parents came out dancing with gusto to an upbeat tempo The debutante was presented while being escorted by her dad It was a moment that earned thundering applause and tremendous amount of plaudits that instantly segued to a very touching moment when Cheska had the first dance with her father They were like merely buddies having some fun when they traipsed the floor and cut the rug to a disco music The crowd went wild with Hency’s energetic dance execution ala John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever Cheska’s sixteenth birthday bash was capped with Sixteen Roses composed of Daddy Hency To accommodate every female relative and close friend the Sixteen Candles was composed of people either in pairs or in groups: Cheska’s AHA classmates; Mary Ceniza and Zandra Nicolas; Tita Eva and Zelda; Tita Edna and Yolly; Tita Nelia and Glecy; Tita Nilda and Gina; Tita Nening and Ate Monica; Kyla and Danica; Tita Scarlet and Jinky; Ate Rachel and Rebecca; Tita Susan and Loie; Ate Kai and Kristine; Laurel and Isabela; Grandma Trifona and Pining; Anjelika and Bianka; and Dad Hency and Mom Aurora Cheska’s sixteenth birthday bash was a coming out party worth-attending that generously offered an all-night of feasting and a great opportunity for social interaction it’s back to reality the morning after but not for Cheska who still savors the very essence of her turning sixteen Every bit and piece of her sixteenth birthday poignantly remains crystal clear on her mind: the warm greetings from friends and relatives All these and much more will forever be etched and treasured for a lifetime It could have been a great thing to regret had I turned down their offer and didn’t consent with the plan That was one momentous event in my life and I am truly blessed,” Cheska said in jest I woke up to a hefty sum of presents totaling close to two thousand!” She blurts in excitement “I’ll save the half and the rest will definitely go for my school supplies and a couple of girlie stuffs.” I’ll definitely be a completely different person more mature and in the process of establishing my life in preparation for a stabled future.” But when time comes that I really have to make a choice I want somebody like my Dad who is open-minded he should also be like my Dad who’s a good provider and a devoted family man,” she said “I guess anything in line with the medical field will always be a stable job,” she also said with a tone of conviction For comments and suggestions, please email: [email protected] This fall Xavier marks 50 years since the University opened its undergraduate day program to women Xavier women have continued to enrich campus life and achieve greatness Brueggeman fellows and student leaders; Division I athletes and members of the Army ROTC; and leaders within the faculty University administration and Board of Trustees Xavier’s Department of Mathematics is an especially vibrant and welcoming place for women six of the 16 permanent faculty members and about 40 percent of current math majors are women What makes Xavier such a welcoming environment for females who happen to love math including math Professor and Department Chair Dena Morton and math majors Kathleen Buch and Rhea Elcock who are planning to go to graduate school in a math-related field next year Buch: My mom is a middle school math teacher you just have to do it.” I hated math for a while I have felt more accepted as a female in math spaces than I have in political ones Morton: Math is the only thing I’ve ever wanted to do since I was 8 years old My dad was a math professor at the State University of New York-Buffalo my mom had to outlaw math talk at the dinner table Catral: Growing up in the Philippines and I realized that I did not have the same math background as most of my classmates. I worked hard to catch up and ended up graduating with honors It took me years to understand that men and women talk about math differently but men aren’t necessarily better at math Calculus and geometry are my favorite subjects HAVE YOU EVER FELT “LESS THAN” IN A MATH SETTING Morton: The only time I felt inferior was in grad school when there was not one female on the math faculty So I had no female role models in the department I would hear male grad students talking about math problems and think I just am not getting this.” I was terrified that I was going to flunk out—in fact It took me years to understand that men and women talk about math differently Catral (right): I was in a graduate program that had an extremely competitive environment There was an emphasis on being fast and first and students did not like to help each other It seemed like a lot of the men thrived in that environment The experience really made me second-guess myself I tend to be aware of students who are struggling in this way I try to reach out to these students to make sure they feel included. being a female who likes math wasn’t a problem But being a Caribbean-American female who likes math was really against stereotype I hope I can inspire other black women who like math to think about it differently one thing I hope to do after graduation is develop a multicultural math curriculum so that people from all cultures with any learning style can learn math I am going to spend time in Japan and Singapore to study how they teach math there. HOW DOES XAVIER PROMOTE A WELCOMING ATMOSPHERE FOR WOMEN IN MATH Morton: One of the cool things about Xavier is that women hold many positions of authority at the University the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences was Janice Walker who also is a mathematician (and current chief diversity and inclusion officer) She always expressed a lot of confidence in my abilities and encouraged me to pursue different opportunities here Buch: I think Xavier men have a lot to do with it Male math majors are very accepting of the women in our program My research advisor is math Professor David Gerberry I’ve been working with him since freshman year He has always encouraged me to present my projects at various conferences and I flew to Denver and presented at MathFest one of the biggest math conferences in the world WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO WOMEN WHO WANT TO PURSUE A MATH-RELATED CAREER Morton: It’s important to find a place where you are accepted for who you are I had all three of my children while working at Xavier and I never felt people were asking me to choose between my career and family Catral: I hope more women go into teaching math at the master’s and PhD levels because they will serve as role models for younger female students The academic track can be very challenging on your personal life so part of the job is being able to balance these aspects. I feel fortunate to be at Xavier where there is a very supportive environment for faculty I feel like part of a community where my contributions really matter Xavier University is a private university located in Cincinnati providing a liberal arts education in the Jesuit Catholic tradition Thousands in Centre County Lose Power After Severe Storms Man Dies by Electrocution in State College After Severe Storm Damaged Power Lines Road Closures Continue in Centre County After Severe Storm after a battle with Parkinson’s Disease She graduated in 1957 from the State College Area High School She then attended the Williamsport Hospital School of Nursing and became a Registered Nurse June first worked at the Willowbank Hospital in Bellefonte from 1960-1963 Hendricks and in the nursery at Mercy Hospital After moving back to the Pine Grove Mills area June worked at Centre Community Hospital in the nursery and labor and delivery Wanting to spend more time with her family June left to work in private practice with the late Dr She continued working in private practice at Geisinger with Dr She finished out her career working for Dr She enjoyed being with her children and grandchildren and looked forward to getting together for special occasions especially trips to Stone Harbor New Jersey where she had been going since she was a little girl Her homemade pink apple sauce was in high demand by all the family members June belonged to the Nursing Club and was a Girl Scout Leader as well as a Brownie Leader She attended the Pine Grove Mills Presbyterian Church She was close to her High School Classmates and was proud to be a member of the SC High Class of 1957 June is survived by a daughter; Wendy Corl and her husband of State College; a sister; Cathy Gentzel and her husband of State College; a brother-in-law; Alden Gallagher and his wife of Colorado; two sisters-in-law; Nadine Jones and her husband of Port Matilda and Naomi Gallagher and her husband of Pleasant Gap; and a sister in law Donna McGill of Pine Grove Mills She is also survived by nine grandchildren; Roman and Spencer Corl of State College; Frank Gallagher IV and his wife of State College; Nicholas Gallagher and his wife of State College; Joshua Catral and his wife of Pine Grove Mills; Megan Gallagher of Colorado; Joshua Gallagher and his fiancé of Ohio; Kyle Catral of Virginia and Finley Gallagher of Alaska she is survived by five great-grandchildren; Brendan and Colin; Sofia and Haisley and Mackenzie She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews and friends Services and Burial are private at the request of the family Memorial Contributions can be made to: Paws PA 16801 or to the Pine Grove Mills Presbyterian Church Online condolences may be made at www.kochfuneralhome.com 80% of consumers turn to directories with reviews to find a local business We offer the latest breaking news and videos straight from the Centre County region in Central PA Contact us: info@statecollege.com © Copyright 2000 – 2024 | StateCollege.com® | All Rights Reserved | State College PA – Centre County – Central Pennsylvania – Home of Penn State University This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. StateCollege.com Privacy Policy page. On the eve of the release of their second album, "Fragments," OnMilwaukee.com sat down with Karen Muehlbauer, Ignacio Catral and Keith Bauer of the Milwaukee-based indie rock band The Violet Hour to chat about their significant change in musical direction, the new album, their affinity for ping pong and how one of them is secretly a Sarah McLachlan fan. As much as it is a gigantic cliché to say that one has always had a passion for film, Matt Mueller has always had a passion for film. Whether it was bringing in the latest movie reviews for his first grade show-and-tell or writing film reviews for the St. Norbert College Times as a high school student, Matt is way too obsessed with movies for his own good. When he's not writing about the latest blockbuster or talking much too glowingly about "Piranha 3D," Matt can probably be found watching literally any sport (minus cricket) or working at - get this - a local movie theater. Or watching a movie. Yeah, he's probably watching a movie. Volume 18 - 2024 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fncel.2024.1404987 This article is part of the Research TopicRetinal Degenerative Diseases: Processes and Potential TreatmentsView all 3 articles Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a leading cause of blindness and vision impairment worldwide and represents one of the most common complications among diabetic patients and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents these approaches are invasive and have several limitations Recent studies have suggested mitochondrial dysfunction as a pivotal factor leading to both the vascular and neural damage in DR Given that Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a proven mitochondrial stabilizer with antioxidative properties this study investigated the effect of CoQ10 eyedrops [in conjunction with vitamin E d-α-tocopheryl poly(ethylene glycol) 1000 succinate (TPGS)] on DR-induced neurodegeneration using a type 2 diabetes mouse model (C57BLKsJ-db/db mice) Utilizing a comprehensive electroretinography protocol our results revealed that topical application of CoQ10 eyedrops conjugated with vitamin E TPGS produced a neuroprotective effect against diabetic-induced neurodegeneration by preserving the function and histology of various retinal neural cell types mice treated with CoQ10 exhibited thicker outer and inner nuclear layers and reduced glial reactivity and microglial cell density the CoQ10 treatment significantly alleviated retinal levels of MMP-9 and enhanced mitochondrial function These findings provide further insight into the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in the development of DR and suggest CoQ10 eyedrops as a potential complementary therapy for DR-related neuropathy At present, medical treatment for DR is only applicable to patients with proliferative DR or diabetic maculopathy, but not to patients with less advanced DR (Mounirou et al., 2022) important to note that diabetes-induced damage to the retinal neural cells and visual function which may not be revealed by conventional fundus assessments Given the immense associated socio-economical burdens it is important to develop new treatment regimens to arrest the development of DR and prevent it from progressing to its proliferative stage in order to preserve vision a natural antioxidant with mitochondrial stabilizing properties may be considered as a candidate for prophylaxis against DR The study aimed to elucidate the effect of topical application of CoQ10 eyedrops (in conjunction with vitamin E TPGS) on different retinal neural cell types with a comprehensive electroretinography (ERG) protocol which allowed a better evaluation of the electrophysiological changes of various retinal neural cells together with immunohistochemistry for the structural assessment obtained from The Chinese University of Hong Kong were housed in the Central Animal Facility of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University The mice were housed in groups of two in plastic cages with free access to standard rodent diet and water under a 12 h/12 h light-dark cycle The experimental procedures were performed according to the ARVO Statement for the Use of Animals in Ophthalmic and Vision Research and were approved by the Animal Subjects Ethics Sub-committee (ASESC) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (approval no.: 19-20/85-SO-R-STUDENT) Fasting blood glucose levels were measured monthly from baseline to 4-month after commencing the experiment with a digital blood glucometer (Accu-Chek® Performa which reflect the diabetic status over the prior three to four months were measured at baseline and at 4-month after commencing CoQ10 treatment using DCA® Vantage Systems (Siemens Medical Solutions Diagnostics Blood samples were collected from the tail veins after overnight fasting All assessments were conducted between 9 am to 10 am Food and water consumption were measured thrice weekly Mice with a fasting blood glucose level ≥ 13.9 mmol/L at 9-week of age were included in the study The diabetic mice were divided into two groups group 1 mice (CoQ10 treated) received one drop (approximately 30 μl) of CoQun® (0.1% CoQ10 and 0.5% vitamin-E TPGS in buffered isotonic solution Italy) eyedrops topically twice a day for four months while group 2 mice (db/db control) received the same amount of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) the animals were kept restrained for about 20 s to allow absorption of the eyedrops The remaining volume was gently swiped off at the canthus The fasting blood glucose levels, HbA1c levels, body weight (Supplementary Figure 1), and total consumption of food and water (Supplementary Table 1) of the db/db mice in control and treatment groups did not differ statistically throughout the experiment implying CoQ10 eyedrop treatment had a minimal effect on the glycemic status of db/db mice The in vivo retinal functions were assessed with full field ERGs (ffERGs) at baseline, 1-, 2-, and 4-month after CoQ10 treatment as described previously (Lam et al., 2023) the mice were dark-adapted overnight (at least 16 h) prior to testing in the experimental room The animals were anesthetized with a weight-based intraperitoneal injection of Ketamine 100 mg/ml (Alfasan International BV Holland) and Xylazine 20 mg/ml (Alfasan International BV) The corneas of both eyes were anesthetized with Proxymetacaine 0.5% (Provain-POS® Germany) and maintained moist by a drop of 3% Carbomer 974P gel (Lacryvisc® The pupils were dilated using a drop of solution mixed with Tropicamide 0.5% and Phenylephrine 0.5% (Mydrin®-P The animals were then placed on a warming table maintained at 37°C A gold ring electrode was placed in contact with the cornea as the active electrode Two platinum needle electrodes were inserted subcutaneously at the base of the tail and the forehead as the ground and reference electrodes The impedance of the active and reference electrodes was less than 10 kΩ Visual stimuli with white light-emitting diodes were delivered by a Ganzfeld bowl (Q450 Stimulation and data recording were performed using the RETI-Port system® (Roland Consult) according to a customized protocol with stimulus intensities varying from −4.32 log cd s/ m2 to +1.3 log cd s/ m2 The signals were amplified and band-pass filtered from 1 to 30 Hz and 1 to 1,000 Hz for scotopic threshold response (STR) and scotopic a- and b-wave 40 sweeps of response were averaged with a stimulus frequency of 0.5 Hz The number of sweeps and stimulus frequency was reduced at higher flash intensity levels The stimulus intensities were calibrated by a photometer (ILT1700 MA) and converted to unit photoisomerizations/rod (R*/rod) The stimulus responses within operational range of the rod cells (< −0.3 log cd s / m2) were fitted with a sigmoidal curve using the Naka-Ruston equation a saturating hyperbolic function that describes the relationship between b-wave amplitude and flash intensity to determine the maximum b-wave response (Bmax) Oscillatory potentials (OPs) were isolated by digital filtering of the raw signal recorded at +1.3 log cd s/m2 using a fast Fourier transform (FFT) and subsequent inverse FFTs with an algorithm computed in the free software environment R (v4.0.4) The raw data was first converted from the time domain to the frequency domain Spectral components beyond the cut-off frequency (65 Hz to 300 Hz) were then eliminated The inverse FFT was performed to reconstruct the OP waveform in the time domain Implicit times of OP were measured from the stimulus onset to the peak of the OP Individual OP amplitudes were measured from the peak to the adjacent trough The first four major OP wavelets were included for analysis Photopic ERG was conducted in a subset of animals on a separate day (without dark adaptation before the test) using the same system The animals were presented to a uniform white background of 30 cd/ m2 and white light-emitting diodes flash (+0.47 log cd s/m2) was used as the stimulus The signals were amplified and band-pass filtered from 1 to 1,000 Hz and 40 sweeps of response were averaged with a stimulus frequency of 0.5 Hz The amplitude and implicit time of b-wave were used for analysis These samples were then blocked with 10% donkey serum in TBS (0.5% Triton X-100 and 0.1% Sodium Azide in Dulbecco’s phosphate-buffered saline pH 7.2) at 4°C overnight to reduce nonspecific labeling The samples were then incubated with primary antibodies at 4°C in TBS with 3% donkey serum for four days. Following incubation, the samples were washed several times and transferred to a 3% normal donkey serum-TBS solution containing donkey-host secondary antibodies at 4°C overnight. DAPI (Invitrogen, D1306) was used to stain the nuclei in the retina. The details of antibodies used are listed in Supplementary Table 2 The data of each individual animal was averaged from three retinal sections with each group consisting of at least five animals the flat retinas were processed with ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule-1 (iba-1) antibody Four regions of each flat retina around one disk diameter from the optic nerve head and two retinal regions (i.e. ganglion cell layer to inner plexiform layer and outer plexiform layer) were imaged with a 20× objective The number of microglia (iba-1 positive cells) was counted with the cell counter in ImageJ The data of each individual animal was averaged from the four regions per retina each group consisting of at least four animals A semi-quantitative analysis approach was used to assess the MMP-9 levels in the retina of the mice in the two groups due to the limited number of samples from this longitudinal study The MMP-9 levels were evaluated by quantifying the fluorescence intensity levels in the retinal sections after immunostaining with ImageJ The images were first converted to gray scale The mean fluorescence was measured across the whole retinal section imaged and the value subtracted from that of the background each group consisting of at least five animals retinal sections of a wildtype mouse were processed using the same procedure Only trace fluorescence signals were detected in the negative control confocal images The mitochondrial bioenergetics of the retinas of the db/db mice in both groups were assessed by measuring the oxygen consumption rate (OCR) with a Seahorse XFe24 Extracellular Flux Analyzer (Agilent Technologies Four mice were chosen randomly from each of the db/db treated and db/db control groups One eye from each animal was enucleated and dissected to harvest the whole-mount retina in ice-cold PBS Three 1.5 mm diameter punches were obtained from the neural retina using a biopsy puncher (Miltes Instrument The retinal punches were obtained adjacent to the optic nerve head to minimize any discrepancy in cell density Each retinal punch was then carefully placed in the center of the well of an XF24 Islet capture microplate (Agilent Technologies) with the ganglion cell layer facing up and then covered with Islet Fluxpak mesh inserts Agilent Technologies) containing 5.5 mM glucose (G6152 Sigma-Aldrich) and 1 mM sodium pyruvate (11360070 Gibco) was added to each well and the retinal punches incubated at 37°C in a non-CO2 incubator for one hour to allow the temperature and pH to reach equilibrium The OCR was then measured under basal conditions and after serial injection of 1 μM carbonyl cyanide-4-(trifluoro-methoxy) phenylhydrazone (FCCP; 15218 and a mixture of 10 μM rotenone (13995 Cayman) and 20 μM antimycin A (A8674 USA) to determine values for basal respiration the retinal punches in each well were lysed with EB2 lysis buffer and 1% (w/v) ASB14 with protease inhibitor cocktail (Roche Applied Science The protein concentrations were determined using the Bradford Protein Assay (Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc. USA) according to the manufacturer’s guidelines for normalization of the OCR values The values were then normalized to those of the control mice Shapiro–Wilk test was used to ensure the data was normally distributed prior to the use of a parametric test mixed-model ANOVA was used to analyze the within-group Independent sample t-test (with Welch correction when appropriate) was used for comparison between the two groups Netherlands) was used for the statistical analysis Differences with a p-value < 0.05 were considered significant Effect of CoQ10 eyedrops conjugated with vitamin E TPGS on scotopic ERG b-wave at different experimental timepoints (A–D) Stimulus-response plots showing the amplitude of scotopic ERG pSTR (–4.32 to –3.9 log cd s /m2) and b-wave response (–3.3 to +1.3 log cd s /m2) recorded from control db/db mice (n = 11) and CoQ10 treated mice (n = 12) at different experimental timepoints The responses within the rod operative range (i.e. ≤ –0.3 log cd s /m2) were fitted with sigmoidal curves using the Naka-Ruston function to deduce the maximum b-wave response (Bmax) value (E) The Bmax value of the two groups of mice over the experimental period (Data presented as mean ± SEM Simple main effect analysis: *p < 0.05 (F) Representative scotopic ERG waveform at +1.3 log cd s/m2 of the db/db control mice (gray) and CoQ10 treated mice (red) at 4-month the Bmax value of the CoQ10 treated db/db mice became significantly stronger than that of the control mice The results further supported the protective effect of CoQ10 eyedrops on the cone-related pathway Effect of CoQ10 eyedrops conjugated vitamin E TPGS on photopic ERG b-wave at different experimental timepoints (A) The photopic ERG responses of the control (n = 5) and CoQ10 treated db/db mice (n = 5) were measured at +0.47 log cd s/m2 (Data presented as means ± SEM Simple main effect analysis: *p < 0.05) (B) Representative photopic ERG waveform at +0.47 log cd s/m2 of control mice (gray) and CoQ10 treated mice (red) at 4-month Effect of CoQ10 eyedrops conjugated vitamin E TPGS on inner retinal function at different experimental timepoints (A) Representative waveform showing scotopic threshold response (STR) at –3.9 log cd s/m2 of the db/db control mice (gray) and CoQ10 treated mice (red) at 4-month Arrow shows the positive STR (pSTR) of the CoQ10 treated db/db mice (B,C) Bar charts showing the mean amplitude of pSTR measured at different stimulus intensities of the control db/db mice (n = 11) and CoQ10 treated mice (n = 12) at baseline and 4-month The oscillatory potentials (OPs) were isolated by digitally filtering the raw ERG signals recorded at +1.3 log cd s/m2 (D) The representative OPs waveforms of the db/db mice in control (gray) and CoQ10 treated (red) group at 4-month Arrows indicating the peaks of OP1 to OP4 of the CoQ10 treated db/db mice (E,F) Bar charts showing the mean amplitudes of OP1 to OP4 and of the control mice (n = 11) and CoQ10 treated mice (n = 12) at baseline and 4-month (Data presented as mean ± SEM The effect of CoQ10 eyedrops conjugated vitamin E TPGS on preserving the retinal structure of db/db mice (A) Representative confocal images of the retinal sections of the two groups of mice processed for DAPI (white) Dot plots comparing the thickness of the (B) outer nuclear layer (ONL) and (C) inner nuclear layer (INL) of the control db/db mice (n = 6) and CoQ10 treated mice (n = 7) (D) Representative confocal images of the retinal sections focusing on the ONL of the two groups of mice Bar charts comparing the number of (E) photoreceptors and (F) cone cells of the control db/db mice (n = 6) and CoQ10 treated mice (n = 7) The number of photoreceptors was assessed by counting the DAPI stained nuclei (blue) and the number of cones by counting the soma co-labeled by GNAT2 (green) over an 80 μm- and a 160 μm-segment (G) Representative confocal images of the retinal sections of the control db/db mice and CoQ10 treated db/db mice processed for PKCα (red) and DAPI (blue) Dot plots comparing the (H) rod bipolar cell density and (I) number of rod bipolar cell axon terminals of control (n = 6) and CoQ10 treated db/db mice (n = 7) (J) Representative confocal images of the retina sections of the control and CoQ10 treated mice processed for PKCα (red) and bassoon (green) (K) Dot plots comparing the rod bipolar cell dendritic boutons of control (n = 5) and CoQ10 treated db/db mice (n = 7) (L) The representative confocal images of the retinal sections processed with GFAP (red) which reflects the extend of glial reactivity from the two groups of mice (M) Dot plots showing the GFAP score of the control (n = 5) and CoQ10 treated mice (n = 6) (Data presented as mean ± SEM Independent sample t-test: **p < 0.05) CoQ10 treated = 41.85 ± 6.35; Independent sample t-test: t = −3.488 suggesting an ameliorated loss of synaptic connectivity between photoreceptor and the second-order neurons The results showed that CoQ10 eyedrops conjugated with vitamin E TPGS could significantly reduce gliosis in the retina of db/db mice (db/db control = 2.22 ± 0.34 vs CoQ10 treated = 1.41 ± 0.16; Independent sample t-test: t = 2.302 The effect of CoQ10 eyedrops conjugated vitamin E TPGS on retinal microglial cells in db/db mice (A) Representative confocal images of the flat mount retina of the db/db mice in the treatment and control group processed for iba-1 (green) with that of heterozygous non-diabetic control (db/+ mice) included as reference The morphology of the iba-1 positive cells in the CoQ10 treated group appeared to be more ramified than that of the db/db control (B) Dot plots comparing the number of iba-1 positive cell per imaged area of the control db/db mice (n = 4) and CoQ10 treated mice (n = 5) at GCL-IPL and OPL (Data presented as mean ± SEM Independent sample t-test: *p < 0.05) The effect of CoQ10 eyedrops conjugated vitamin E TPGS on mitochondrial bioenergetics and MMP-9 levels of the retinas of db/db mice (A) The oxygen consumption rate (OCR) curve measured from the retina of the two groups of mice with the Seahorse Mito Stress assay The value was normalized to the protein concentration (B) Bar charts comparing the key mitochondrial function parameters of the control (n = 4) and CoQ10 treated mice (n = 4) (Data presented as means ± SEM (C) Representative confocal images of the retinal sections processed with MMP-9 (red) DAPI (blue) was used to counterstain the cell nucleus to indicate different retinal layers of the two groups of mice Negative control retinal sections (primary antibody omitted) from wild type mice show only trace fluorescence (D) Dot plots showing the mean fluorescence levels of the images which reflect the levels of MMP-9 in the retina of the control (n = 5) and CoQ10 treated mice (n = 7) MMP-9 has been detected in various retinal cell types The immunoreactivity of MMP-9 was found more prominent in vessel and ganglion cell layer in db/db mice retina while CoQ10 eyedrops conjugated with vitamin E TPGS attenuated the increase in fluorescence intensity (Data presented as means ± SEM The ameliorated retinal mitochondrial bioenergetics of the CoQ10 treated db/db mice were accompanied by an alleviated immunoreactivity of MMP-9 (Figures 6C, D) Results from immunohistochemistry showed that the retinal sections of CoQ10 treated db/db mice had a significantly lower immunoreactivity toward MMP-9 compared to the control db/db mice (db/db control = 6.44 ± 1.32 vs CoQ10 treated = 2.49 ± 0.36; Independent sample t-test: t = 3.364 These findings suggested that mitoprotection may be beneficial in ameliorating DR Mitoprotective agents, elamipretide and short-chain quinones, have been shown to improve visual acuity (measured with optokinetic response) and gliosis, and preserve ganglion cell count and total retinal thickness in a previous study using a type 2 diabetic rat model (Daniel et al., 2021). Indeed, diabetes affect the entire neovascular unit of the retina (Sinclair and Schwartz, 2019) the effect of mitoprotective therapy on retinal neural cells The current study sought to investigate the protective effect of a topical form of CoQ10 (in conjunction with vitamin E TPGS) on diabetes-induced retinal neurodegeneration with a comprehensive ERG protocol and immunohistochemistry to elucidate its effect on different retinal neural cells The effect of this topical formulation on mitochondrial biogenesis in the diabetic retina was also assessed ex vivo The findings suggested that CoQ10 (in conjunction with vitamin E TPGS) could ameliorate the functional and structural changes of a range of retinal neural cells under diabetes and could be considered as a complementary treatment against DR The current study showed that db/db mice receiving CoQ10 eyedrops conjugated with vitamin E TPGS exhibited a stronger pSTR and OP1 amplitude compared to the control db/db mice indicating a strong inner retinal function An initial improvement in the outer retinal function was also observed in the CoQ10 treated db/db mice in which a significantly stronger rod-driven b-wave maximum amplitude response was found compared to their age-matched diabetic controls after two months of treatment although the effect was not sustained at 4-month the ERG result revealed a preserved scotopic ERG b-wave response at +1.3 log cd s/m2 in CoQ10 treated db/db mice in which the response was driven by both rod and cone cells which directly reflects the function of the cone-related pathway It was found that CoQ10 treated db/db mice has a significantly stronger photopic ERG response compared to the control db/db mice after receiving the CoQ10 eyedrops for one month This suggested a protective effect of CoQ10 eyedrops on photoreceptor cone cells and their related postsynaptic pathway which is responsible for the central vision of humans the number of rod-bipolar cell dendritic boutons was found to be significantly preserved in CoQ10 treated db/db mice compared to the controls This effect may be attributed to the enhanced retinal mitochondrial bioenergetics with CoQ10 treatment observed in this study retinas of db/db mice in the treatment group appeared to have less gliosis thus a reduced level of MMP-9 may also imply a lower ROS level in the retina of the CoQ10 treated db/db mice in the current study In-depth exploration of how CoQ10 can moderate MMP-9/TGF-β singaling may provide further therapeutic insight for DR incorporating female animals may enhance the translatability of the research outcome It should also be noted that no apparent vascular change was observed in the animal model within the relatively short experimental period Further study is warranted to determine whether topical treatment of CoQ10 with vitamin E TPGS would have any beneficial effect on diabetic retinal vasculopathy Our findings suggest that topical application of CoQ10 eyedrops (conjugated with Vitamin E TPGS) produce a protective effect against diabetic-induced neurodegeneration in the retina of male db/db mice by preserving the functions and histology of various retinal neural cell types The retina of db/db mice in the treatment group also exhibited an alleviated level of MMP-9 and stronger mitochondrial function compared to the controls These findings provide further insight into the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in the development of diabetic-induced retinal neurodegeneration and suggest that topical application of CoQ10 eyedrops (conjugated with Vitamin E TPGS) may serve as a complementary therapy against DR-related neuropathy The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors The animal study was approved by the Animal Subjects Ethics Sub-committee (ASESC) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University The study was conducted in accordance with the local legislation and institutional requirements The authors declare that financial support was received for the research This study was supported by General Research Fund (GRF) of the Hong Kong Research Grants Council (15106018 and 15104819) the Research Centre for SHARP Vision (RCSV) in The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (1- BBCX) and the InnoHK initiative of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government We thank the Centralised Animal Facilities (CAF) the University Research Facility in Life Sciences (ULS) and the University Research Facility in Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience (UBSN) of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University for technical support We also thank King-Kit Li for his help with general laboratory work and Maureen Boost for providing editorial advice and scientific editing The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher The Supplementary Material for this article can be found online at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fncel.2024.1404987/full#supplementary-material Diabetic retinopathy: Loss of neuroretinal adaptation to the diabetic metabolic environment Amelioration of altered antioxidant enzymes activity and glomerulosclerosis by coenzyme Q10 in alloxan-induced diabetic rats Glial and endothelial blood-retinal barrier responses to amyloid-β in the neural retina of the rat Google Scholar Google Scholar A new view of diabetic retinopathy: A neurodegenerative disease of the eye Google Scholar TGFβ induces BIGH3 expression and human retinal pericyte apoptosis: A novel pathway of diabetic retinopathy Google Scholar The db/db mouse: A useful model for the study of diabetic retinal neurodegeneration TGF-β serum levels 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This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY) distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited in accordance with accepted academic practice distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms *Correspondence: Dennis Yan-Yin Tse, ZGVubmlzLnRzZUBwb2x5dS5lZHUuaGs= Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher 94% of researchers rate our articles as excellent or goodLearn more about the work of our research integrity team to safeguard the quality of each article we publish Mission Statement: to assist the integration of foreign residents living in Spain and this is never more accurate than when you establish yourself as a foreign resident in a new country Being able to quickly familiarise yourself with the culture and customs can help ease the transition during a challenging time This is why Euro Weekly News makes it our mission to provide you with a free news resource in English that covers both regional and national Spanish news – anything that we feel you will benefit from knowing as you integrate into your new community and live your best life in Spain you can forget about translating articles from Spanish into awkward English that probably don’t make much sense Let us be your convenient and essential guide to all things that will likely affect you as a foreign resident living in Spain They turned up at the old Cimbel shooting range privately-ownded land in a marshy area that has become an improvised rubbish tip over the years Friends of the South Alicante Wetlands (AHSA) have regularly complained about the accumulation of rubbish an opposition councillor at Catral town hall and also secretary of the Defence of the Huerta platform The abandoned shooting range where the shells of the four jet skis have appeared is part of the wetlands protection area Cruz explained to the provincial Spanish media It is now up to the authorities to trace the owners of the jet-skis which are registered by the Alicante maritime district. 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this comes at ZERO cost to our readers All our print and online content always has been and always will be FREE OF CHARGE Download our media pack in either English or Spanish Outlook: The Red Raiders will go back to the drawing board and rebuild Top returners: Sophomores Lindsey Buchheister (144 average last season) Outlook: The Huskies broke through to reach the state finals last season with virtually an all-freshman roster With the Buchheister sisters anchoring the rotation Top returners: Sophomores Kalie Castillo and Koko Katayama Outlook: Led by those two all-division first-teamers the Bridgemen have as many as seven bowlers that could see time on varsity Top returners: Seniors Allie Adamski (165) sophomores Michaella Raab (179) and Holly Amell Outlook: The T-Birds graduated just one from a group that placed fourth in Group 2 in its first trip to the state finals They won the Big North Patriot title last season and stay a favorite after moving to a new division sophomores Simmie Brisman and Jasmine Delgado Outlook: Second-year coach Jordan Saxon call this a “beginning level team but the girls are eager to learn and compete.” Top returners: Seniors Lindsay Pepper (178) Outlook: Pepper was a first-team All-Bergen pick last season and anchors a lineup that ought to contend for the division title A third state-finals appearance in four years is not out of the question Outlook: Coach Melissa Iannacone’s squad is “filled with optimistic and dedicated bowlers they can have a great season,” she said Outlook: The Cardinals continue to build with a young core and a year of experience playing together can only benefit them Top returner: Senior Arielle Wallace (186) but the All-Bergen first-teamer a good one to have as a leader Four juniors seek to step up to the varsity level three of whom are Wallace’s marching bandmates Outlook: The top trio has one year of bowling experience and they’ll be joined by five others who are new to the sport This will be a learning season for the Highlanders Outlook: Finding the right rotation will be important for first-year coach Steve Ahod as he anticipates seeing who will step up and take hold of varsity positions Outlook: The Spartans have a solid core returning and hopes of competing at the division Top returners: Seniors Mallory Minnicucci and Brooke Bertolino junior newcomer Krista Bogan is expected to make a big impact as the Green Raiders’ anchor Top returners: Seniors Caroline Gervolino (154) Outlook: The Maroons won the North Group 4 title with seven underclassmen contributing and they will be a team to watch once again especially in Baker competitions such as the Bergen tournament Top returners: Juniors Margaux Lesser (189) and Mia Aish (174) Outlook: No more National Division should be no problem for the Highwaywomen who have the talent to compete in the league as well as major tournaments They are back in the Freedom for the first time since 2011-12 MORE: 5 things to watch, rankings, bowlers to watch this season BIG NORTH: 2017-18 all-division teams NJIC: 2017-18 all-conference selections Outlook: Dempsey and Kayley Harnett are the senior leaders who will help groom an incoming crop of promising freshmen Top returners: Seniors Jennae Schechter and Shauna Siso Outlook: After winning five straight Passaic County titles and four straight divisional crowns the Indians have reached a rebuilding point who carried North Jersey’s top girls average (202) last winter will help lead them through potentially slow start to grow into a cohesive unit Fair Lawn and Wayne Hills also will contend in the division Top returners: Seniors Mamiko Swanson and Daniela Abril Outlook: The reigning division champs bring back nine including six who participated in last season’s state finals Coach Hank Kuipers calls this “perhaps the deepest and most talented girls team” the Knights have had in his six years Outlook: Many of the Ghosts are in just their second year of competitive bowling and look to build on their experience Top returners: Seniors Ashley Tepale (140) Marissa Sanchez and Nalleli Muñoz juniors Karime Henriquez and Giselle Ambroso Outlook: First-year coach Francis Vogas says the Indians will be “built around hard work and the desire to keep improving.” Top returners: Seniors Amanda Rizzo and Kayla Nelson junior Tatiyana Johnson and sophomore Camryn Gurecki Outlook: Johnson and Rizzo were named to the All-Liberty second team a year ago when the Bulldogs placed second in the Passaic tournament They have enough back to contend for the top spot in the county Clifton and Kennedy also compete in this division Top returners: Seniors Rachel Duncan (183) Outlook: Duncan improved steadily during her first three varsity seasons and figures to be a strong Bowler of the Year candidate The Braves are back in the division where they started life in the Big North Top returners: Seniors Muskaan Shah and Sydney Sweetwood Outlook: The Norsewomen appear headed for a rebuilding season since several of their new division-mates are in the same boat Expect a lot of jockeying for position in this realigned division between Bergenfield Outlook: The Spartans will try to regroup from heavy graduation losses juniors Amelia Brunda (176) and Julie Zierer Outlook: The Angels have the makeup of a division favorite especially with All-Bergen pick Brunda at anchor To defend their county and sectional titles Glaser gained experience in Baker games last year and Sarah Folk is among those looking to make the jump from JV Outlook: The Blue Eagles had one All-United selection last season when Gianna Stirone earned a second-team nod as a freshman Outlook: The Paladins may have a tough time defending their division title following the graduation of North Jersey Bowler of the Year Victoria Vucak but a large turnout of newcomers ought to build a solid foundation going forward The Civil Guard has reported a 24-year-old Spanish man in Almoradí (Alicante) for drug trafficking and for having ignored the current rules of confinement to sell the drug The buyer was also reported for ignoring the rules of confinement for going out to buy the drugs The Civil Guard saw the strange behaviour of a man leaning against the window of a car making an exchange of a package for money Agents seized a dose of hashish and a 5.5-gram bag of cocaine It was found that the buyer went from Catral to Almoradí to buy the drug His excuse was that he was going to do the shopping in a supermarket who had been denounced 9 times for breaching the restrictions decreed by the state of alarm has also been arrested in Almoradí Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" What is your favourite place in Torrevieja More than a thousand fisherfolk marked Earth Day to protest black sand mining operations in Cagayan province’s Aparri town The 1,700 fisherfolk from the town’s at least 12 barangays marched around the town to demonstrate their opposition to mining which they say is being operated in the guise of river dredging It was the first time that a protest of this magnitude was organized in the town The fisherfolk were joined by other groups from neighboring towns of Gattaran A prayer service was held at the San Pedro Telmo Parish Church where fisherfolk also shared the effects of the alleged mining operations to their livelihood and environment said the Earth Day event was intended to be a platform for the fisherfolk to express their depressing situation to the people of Aparri and its future leaders Its people’s identities are closely anchored in its waters,” Fr “The Parish of San Pedro Telmo is united with the fisherfolk in their clamor to stop ecological plunder of the river and the seas and claim their economic Fisherfolk report that the supposed river dredging project has gravely disturbed the ecosystem messed with reproductive patterns of wildlife and considerably slashed the income of 11,000 fisherfolk and their families They also lamented the threat of erosion to an area that is already perennially inundated by floods brought about by strong rains and typhoons the river restoration project went into full swing without proper consultation with the people “and it’s time that the most affected have a voice in the process” “The dredging for black sand project has far-reaching ecological effects it is also a national issue that must not be dismissed,” Fr “We plead for your compassion!” BRADLEY BREAKERS YARD have been specialists in scrapping vehicles in Spain for over 10 years and they are now proud to announce their expansion to Catral After building up a successful business in Los Montesinos they have now moved to new premises on the industrial estate in Catral which is triple the size of Los Montesinos The multilingual team travels across the Valencia Region and down to Murcia and takes care of all aspects of legally and correctly Using their own grua they can also collect your vehicle and will carry out all the necessary paperwork to see that your car is scrapped and the all important ‘baja’ is issued to you you will still be registered as the owner and will be in receipt and liable to pay the annual Suma bills Bradley Breakers can also get the necessary duplicate for you enabling everything to be done smoothly and correctly They also sell second hand cars and can carry out the owner transfers and a breakdown service is available Bradley Breakers houses literally thousands upon thousands of vehicle parts and accessories all logged and catalogued in make and year from 1990 onwards making it the one stop shop for affordable and fully functional and working second hand parts Everything from door handles and window regulators to alternators and complete motors are available with the team able to quickly source and advise on what you need and assist in any way they can They can also recommend trusted local mechanics to fit your part if you need it Everything has been fully tested prior to being sold and a warranty is offered so if they don’t have what you need one day The new site is open Monday to Friday from 9am-6pm and Saturdays 9am-2pm Bradley Breakers CatralTel: 607 848 332Whatsapp: 619 986 934Email: bradleybreakers catral1@outlook.com I have a Volvo S40 need headlights for this car it’s 2005.It’s from the UkCheers I’m looking for a number of parts for my Mercedes W129 SL 500 1992 – front seats The car is left hand drive from Italy and I live on the coasta blanca RHD need new headlight passenger side or a pair Good Morning,I have a car to dispose of as my insurance company has written it off.Could you tell me where you are in Catral so that I could come and see you to discuss the disposal.Many thanksKEITH ASHBY headlights and steering wheel for suzuki vitara 1993/4 1.6 petrol Hi,Looking for a instrument cluster for a 2005 Ford Focus.It is RHD on spanish plates but would not worry about kilometres as it stays in Spain.ThanksIan Can you tell please where I can find a breakers for Caravans and R v Looking for Ford Focus 2003 rear left side seat belt anchor looking for rims x 4 ( Steel or alloy ) to suit snow tyres 205/50 R17 on a Ford Focus mark 2 year 2010 Is your yard still open in Montesinos we live orihuela costa and have a car to scrap returning to uk hello we have Serena and Ldv convoy mini bus one caravan for scrap we have a property in betwen lorca and aledo is it possible to email me or phone me on 07798727447 as soon as posible as we go back to the UK thank you Hi i’m looking for a gearbox for a 2002 opel movano 1.9td Hi i am looking for BSI unit for Peugeot 307 1.6 year 2004 have you got one I need a pair of left hand drive headlights for my Jaguuar s type 2004 on a 54 plate Do you have the following for a Peugeot 207 2008 reg: I’m looking for a beige hand brake gator and a silver ashtray surround consul for a 2007 BMW X3 please Looking for a rear lhd sliding door for my vwt4 caravelle 1992 good afternoon do you have a let hand rear lamp for a landrover freelander 2 year 2011 thank you Hi Im looking for a replacement alloy wheel 17″ 5 spoke five nut FOR SAAB 93 Vector Convertible 2.0T 2006 on index 7572LBX in orihuela costa i can collect Lynne Eyre-Bower heads to a pub in her Valencian town for lunch with friends She moved to a working town rather than a beach resort to experience an authentic Spanish lifestyle yet once a week she loves to catch up over a British-style Sunday roast for the princely sum of €13 After two years of living in Catral after being priced out of Cornwall who shares her home with her cocker spaniel and the average (Band D) council tax £2,221 per year bought her Spanish three-bed home for €75,000 (£64,000) and her SUMA (local tax) is just €82 per year enjoying her Spanish retirement with three of her friends: Jan Spain is our top choice for a cheap life in the sun Around 130,000 British over-60s live there the cost of living in Spain is 23 per cent lower than in the UK her province of Alicante is the most popular for Britons has experienced none of the recent 'anti-tourism' demonstrations that have been seen on the Balearic and Canary Islands where housing affordability for locals is the root of the tensions 'It's great being able to sit outside for coffee who opted not to have her own swimming pool to cut down on energy costs 'Life is more relaxed here and I can live well within my means.' with a single person able to live on £600 a month Around 130,000 British over-60s live there and the UK's cost-of-living crisis remains a big driver Lynne's weekly supermarket shop is around €100 – up from €80 two years ago – and the cost of a litre of olive oil at €8.50 in Spain is similar to UK supermarkets but the €2.50 Lynne pays for the glass of wine with her Sunday lunch that would cost £5-7 in a Cornish pub has changed little a menu del dia (menu of the day) – with cheese and cured meat appetiser then grilled hake or paella and a dessert with half a bottle of wine and a coffee – has gone up from €10 to €12 in the past two years although after working for 23 years she will not get the full £221 per week But the British Telecom pension she already draws is three times the sum Numbeo suggests is needed in Spain – while nowhere near the £43,100 required for a pensioner to enjoy a comfortable UK retirement according to The Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association or even the £31,300 a year for a 'moderate' lifestyle pictured left with her friends Nicki and Jan The Spanish government also offers perks to pensioners – both Spanish-born and Britons who've taken residency The Spanish government offers perks to pensioners – both Spanish-born and Britons who've taken residency – such as discounted holidays via their town hall or a government website 'Friends in my lunch group regularly enjoy all-inclusive holidays to Tenerife Majorca and Almeria for €200-€300 per trip,' says Lynne Retirees in the Canary Islands can also enjoy cheaper ferry fares between the islands as well as resident discounts of up to 75 per cent on domestic flights the over-65s can get a 'Card 65' which gives them discounts on buses Lynne's monthly electricity bill is €64-65 This leaves more to spend on treats such as eating out After three years of government energy subsidies inflation in Spain this April was actually higher than a year ago But while energy costs are up across Europe the combined cost of utilities in Spain – electricity water and waste disposal – is 40 per cent cheaper than the UK Lynne's monthly electricity bill is €64-65 – a little less than the £80 UK average One of the government deductions was on petrol and Lynne says she pays €1.54-1.96 per litre for unleaded petrol Lynne has a 'cheap-to-run' Suzuki Alto car for which car tax is €100 a year and insurance €308 including the mandatory state breakdown/pick-up cover She pays €289 a year for house insurance but along with the hefty saving on her council tax (€82 per year) The average UK water bill in 2023/24 was £448 She pays just €48 a month for her landline/broadband/mobile package 'I pay only €12 per night for putting Lily in a kennel in other parts of the UK can be up to £45,' explains Lynne 'When Lily ate a coffee capsule she needed injections an X-ray plus pills for five days and it came to €110,' she added Ready for when she hits UK state pension age Lynne has applied for a S1 certificate (from NHS Business Services) that will let her pay less for prescriptions and access free primary healthcare she pays €1,500 a year for private healthcare – a necessary condition of her residency – via the Non-Lucrative Visa If you keep your UK property you could get stung for Spanish capital gains tax once you emigrate Advisers urge people to start financial planning 18 months before becoming tax resident in Spain a specialist cross-border financial adviser 'You will pay 20-25 per cent tax on the gain unless you are over 65 and you sell it within two years of it ceasing to be your main residence; or if you invest all of the proceeds in a new main residence [in Spain].' So the CGT on a £500,000 gain on a house (bought for £100,000 but sold for £600,000) would be €127,880 at the €1.17 exchange rate at the time of writing income from a UK buy-to-let property would first be taxed (or assessed for tax) in the UK 'While there is a double tax agreement in place it means you won't pay tax twice on the same income but you would pay the equivalent of the higher of the two bills.' State pensions and private pensions come under 'general income' and are taxed at standard income tax rates of 19-47 per cent The double taxation agreement with Spain means you won't also be taxed in the UK – but you would need to inform HMRC and get an NT tax code to let your pension providers pay your pension gross If you have not moved yet and want a lump sum taking it while you are still a UK resident will save you tax If you have a Crown pension (government service) these remain taxable in the UK but are not taxed in Spain Lynne has no plans to return to her old village near Looe more welcoming place where children cherish their parents and old people are well cared for' Spain imposes wealth tax on residents' worldwide assets Retirees with significant assets outside Spain should seek advice on managing their tax exposure who warns: 'Expats could remain liable to UK inheritance tax on worldwide assets even if they are tax resident in Spain.' The most common mistake you can make is thinking your tax-efficient planning in the UK will work in Spain regardless of where they are held/invested 'Don't become tax resident with a portfolio of ISAs and other investments,' he warned more welcoming place where children cherish their parents and old people are well cared for 'I miss my Cornish friends and how green it is plus that you can go on long walks in the summer – but I simply can't afford to move back to the UK.' The comments below have not been moderated We are no longer accepting comments on this article This is Money is part of the Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday & Metro media group The name Ace Cafe is the same but the venue has now changed to Restaurant Nonduermas Gas Express Station near Callosa/Catral (formerly Meroil) Ace Cafe officially starts at 11:00am but the cafe is open earlier Just exit off the AP7 at Junction 733 and take the CV 913 for Callosa. Bargain Loving Brits in the Sun now has two different formats for the series: daytime and primetime The Ace Cafe event is for their Prime Time slot along with fellow enthusiasts Brian and David started up Club Torrevieja Classic and Specialist Cars Over the years many other classic car clubs and events have been formed became the club’s official ‘mascot’ and youngest member June 4th also is his birthday and along with his girlfriend Natalia they hope to bring two thirty-year old Mazda MX5s to the event plus maybe a rare Smart Roadster to the region’s largest classic car event. Everyone is welcome to bring along their classic to display their pride and joy at the event Look forward to seeing you all there and remember to smile for the camera. Prosecutor Genevieve Ayochok of the City Prosecutor’s Office reported a one hundred disposition rate on all the cases filed before it for preliminary investigation inquest proceedings and motion for reconsideration last year She reported a one hundred disposition rate on all the cases filed before it for preliminary investigation In a report signed by City Prosecutor Conrado V the City Prosecutor’s Office (CPO) received some 2,071 new complaints from January 1 to December 31 2022 as there were no complaints that were carried over for the year from 2021 He disclosed that the 2,071 new complaints were resolved where information were filed in court the complaints were dismissed or the same were referred to other investigating bodies for further investigation the CPO received some 407 new complaints from January 1 to December 31 2022 as there were no complaints that were carried over for inquest from 2021 there were some 407 complaints for inquest proceedings which were resolved with the filing of information in court the complaints were dismissed or some of them were referred to other investigating agencies for the conduct of further investigation the said office received some 139 motions for reconsideration from parties that were not contented with the decision of the office during the same period the said office was able to resolve the filed motions for reconsideration that paved the way for the CPO to have a 100-disposition rate on the said aspect Herald Express is a news organization based in Baguio City that has a weekly publication and an online news portal The newspaper is circulated in the different provinces of Northern Luzon The name of the fastest-growing publication in town is coined from the word ‘quick messenger’ which is self-explanatory © 2024 Baguio Herald Express | Website Design and Development by Neitiviti Studios Please enter your username or email address to reset your password © 2024 Baguio Herald Express | Website Design and Development by Neitiviti Studios Sign in to listen to groundbreaking journalism Philippines – A former barangay official who was in the government’s drug list was shot dead in Aparri in this province on Friday was gunned down by 3 unidentified gunmen around 4 pm on Friday Chief Inspector Pepito Mendoza Jr told Rappler in a phone interview on Saturday at ng mga tao dito na dati siyang involved sa illegal drug trade (Everyone here knows that he was involved in the illegal drug trade),” the Aparri police chief told Rappler.Mendoza said that police are not singling out the illegal drug angle in the probe.He said they are also looking into his previous business-related altercations and a love triangle as possible motives of the killing.In an 1999 en banc decision of the Supreme Court on a gross misconduct case involving Decierto’s uncle Decierto was described as a “notorious character” in Aparri.In thet SC decision Catral was found guilty of “acting improperly” on the arrest warrants for Decierto’s aides in illegal numbers game operations We love meandering along its stone pathways and steps past gardens with uncommon blooms and tranquil fountains All paths lead to seven galleries and three cafes tucked into a setting that feels like Greece The visual art and installations are expressive of today’s social realities and thought-provoking happily posing in the very photogenic corners Joven Cuanang opened his home right beside the museum grounds for a special exhibit that took guests on a trip back in time Visual artist Antonio Catral Leano presented “Kundiman,” a sepia-tinted collection in oil that used old photographs from the 19th to early 20th century Cuanang’s Spanish-style home in the late afternoon could not have been a better venue Guests came dressed in Filipiniana finery for a tertulia an old-fashioned gathering of art patrons and intellectuals with music and conversation the house’s second floor balcony offered Manila’s cityscapes to the west bathed in the golden light of sunset while to the south Laguna de Bay and mountains shimmered in silver “This exhibit is very special,” said Dr “because Antonio Catral Leano is one of the artists who won the Thirteen Artist Awards of the Cultural Center of the Philippines This means Leano is largely responsible for the whole experience one comes to enjoy The white structures set on a slope amid old trees art installations and even beds where one can gaze “We started with the gardens in the early ’90s and in the year 2000 Then we started building the museum that opened in 2010.” His career began in the late ’80s after majoring in painting at the College of Fine Arts he has held numerous solo exhibitions and has been featured in national exhibits such as Art Fair and international exhibits in Tokyo and New York He has represented the Philippines in international conferences and biennials held in Perth and his works can be found at the Singapore Art Museum and at his own ArtSector Gallery in Binangonan In addition to being a visual artist and the designer of Pinto Art Museum he designed homes for fellow artists like Philipp Ines and Winner Jumalon; is a curator and was a former museum director for Pinto installations and multimedia works throughout Pinto including “Forrest,” a tranquil room filled with green bamboo stalks Soft music wafted all throughout the gathering Just as Rizal’s poem Kundiman is about his intense love for his country and the hope that she will soon be liberated from Spanish rule Leano’s exhibit “Kundiman” is his tribute and love song to the Philippines’ past Leano’s paintings for “Kundiman” are warm and golden poignant and celebratory of the Philippine spirit throughout the ages Everyday scenes are depicted of ordinary Filipinos—women going to the market or harvesting rice a sabungero proudly holding on to his rooster These could be the faces one sees today commuting on the MRT or eking out a living selling wares on the sidewalk. bathed in golden warmth and harsh sunlight capture the grit and grace of everyday life,” writes Angelika Llana Salgada Leano “Women vendors journey to the market with their bilao and dreams upon their shoulders while farmers wear the lines of labor etched deeply into their faces a quiet joy lingers—a testament to resilience Stark contrasts of light and shadow dance across the canvases mimicking the unyielding heat of the tropical sun and the equally unyielding spirit of the people “Rough textures and gestural pencil marks ripple throughout the canvases their rawness reflecting the imperfection of memory evoke the epistolary nature of early photography carrying sentiments and stories across seas and time symbolism and color—accentuate the works offering a tactile connection to the past while grounding each scene in a larger framework of history which were historically used to aid the revolution further punctuate the revolutionary fervor of the era.” The exhibit has at its heart a number of instrumental figures in the country’s journey to freedom from the chains of colonialism Melchora Aquino (Tandang Sora) and the katipuneros The struggles of the Filipinos during the Spanish times are relatable to us today—working hard to make a living waiting for loved ones to return home from overseas struggling to survive amid inequalities and the ever-rising cost of living. “This is already the third installation of my works with this theme of really Filipino,” Leano explained The next show will also run along this narrative.” His gift is to render the harsh realities of the past and the present in tender portraits bringing the beauty of the Filipino struggle to light “Hinihintay Namin ang Iyong Pabalik” shows a mother and daughter which could be taking place today in an OFW’s family In “Kayumanggi,” a dark lass leans “Ang puso kong umiibig ay sa iyo ko iiwan” is scribbled across a painting of Maria Clara Vicky Veloso-Barrera (aka Bunny to schoolmates) is a former fashion designer who writes children’s books composes their theme songs and teaches kids to cook