HEADS UP: How Do Pink, Red Bubbles on Social Media Form? (Nov. 17)

Here’s a Heads Up from reportr on news you need to know today, Nov. 17:

LIFE KIT

• The more you like posts that speak to you and the more you unfriend whose views are triggering, the more likely you are falling deeper into that pink or red bubble. Here’s how to look outside of that echo chamber.

2022 ELECTIONS

• The substitution drama is over and with the Dutertes out of his way, is former senator Bongbong Marcos now the frontrunner to be president in 2022?
• Popular TV host Willie Revillame has endorsed Sen. Bong Go and Davao City Vice Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio for president and vice president, respectively.
• Senate President Tito Sotto, campaigning for the vice presidency, said his 2019 comments on the SOGIE bill should not be seen as anti-gay because he’s “not at all” against the gays.

NEWS YOU CAN USE

• Problems with your passport appointment? Here’s what you can do while the DFA works on a fix.
• Here’s what you need to know about the Election Gun Ban that takes effect from Jan. 9 to June 8, 2022.

NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW

• President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive to scrap the face shield requirement in areas under Alert Level 3 or lower was implemented starting yesterday. 
• In all forms of public transport as long as these are in areas under Alert Level 3 at the most, face shields are voluntary.
• There were 849 new COVID cases yesterday, the lowest for 2021, the DOH said.
• These malls have also served notice that they were dropping the face shield mandate.
• Duterte has named Midas Marquez associate justice of the Supreme Court. Marquez is a former SC spokesman and court administrator.
• Starting today, health workers can avail of booster shots against COVID-19 to provide frontliners added protection against the virus.
• Scientists are closely watching how the Delta variant’s offspring or mutations will behave. For now, it’s the world’s dominant vessel for COVID-19.