Manny Villar tops list of Filipino billionaires in Forbes’ world’s richest list

by MigueL r caMus Inquirer.net

REAL estate mogul Manuel Villar Jr. topped the catalog of 14 Filipino billionaires who landed in Forbes Magazine’s 2023 World’s Billionaires List.

Villar, the founder of property developer of Vista Land & Lifescapes Inc., Allday Marts supermarkets and Vistamalls Inc., has a net worth of $8.6 billion, making him the 232nd richest person in the world.

The No. 2 richest Filipino is Enrique Razon Jr., owner of ports operator International Container Terminal Services Inc. and casino company Bloomberry Resorts. Razon has a net worth of $7.3 billion, according to Forbes.

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More Filipinos still oppose Charter change, but support for it grew – Pulse Asia

by beatrice PinLac Inquirer.net

MANILA — More Filipinos are still opposed to amending the 1987 Constitution although support for it increased since six months ago, according to Pulse Asia’s latest Charter change (Cha-cha) survey released on Tuesday, April 4.

In the poll conducted from March 15-19, Pulse Asia found that revising the Charter remains unfavorable for 45 percent and favorable for 41 percent of 1,200 adult respondents.

Compared with the same survey made in September 2022, however, Pulse Asia noted that Cha-cha has become “more pronounced” in the March audit. To recall, the September 2022 study showed 56 percent disagreed while 31 percent agreed to proposals to tinker with the Constitution.

The March Cha-cha survey was conducted after the House of Representatives passed a bill seeking to implement a resolution calling for a constitutional convention (con-con) to amend or revise the 1987 Constitution.

Of the total respondents, 45 percent opposed constitutional change (Cha-cha), with 31 percent completely against it and 14 percent considering the possibility in the future.

Another 14 percent of the respondents said they had not yet formed their opinion u PAGE 3

by DaPhne gaLVez Inquirer.net

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos will attend the coronation of King Charles III on May 6 in Westminster Abbey, London, Malacañang confirmed Monday, April 3.

Presidential Communications Office

Secretary Cheloy Garafil said the President and First Lady had accepted the invitation to attend the coronation and the reception at

Basa Air Base in Pampanga, Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, Lumbia Air Base in Cagayan de Oro City, Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan, and Benito Ebuen Air Base in Mactan, Cebu.

The Pentagon said the U.S. defense department would work closely with its Philippine counterpart to pursue modernization projects in the new locations.

But Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning, at a press briefing in Beijing on Tuesday, said the U.S. action “would only lead to more tensions and less peace and stability in the region.”

DFA: EDCA ‘reaffirms’ robust commitment to alliance, economic opportunities for Filipinos

by Kaycee VaLMonte Inquirer.net

MANILA — The Philippines on Tuesday, April 4 said recent developments in the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement reaffirm Manila and Washington’s commitment to their decades-old alliance as these also open up economic opportunities for Filipinos with infrastructure developments on the military sites.

“The EDCA will enhance the interoperability of our armed forces to collectively better respond to threats, including those requiring close cooperation and coordination for more rapid and effective humanitarian assistance and disaster response,” the Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Tuesday.

“EDCA will lead to the construction of facilities and u PAGE 2

Philippines, China meet next month on oil exploration

by Pia Lee-brago Philstar.com

MANILA — Negotiations for joint oil and gas exploration in the West Philippine Sea are set to resume in Beijing next month, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

In a statement, the DFA said Philippine and Chinese officials are set to meet for preparatory talks “sometime in May.” on oil and gas development at an early date,” the DFA said.

“The meeting will discuss parameters and terms of reference,” the DFA said in a statement.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said they would regularly provide concerned parties and the public updates on the talks.

In October, Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian said China was hopeful of finding “some way out” of its rift with the Philippines and begin the joint oil and gas exploration in the West Philippine Sea as early as possible.

Manalo said negotiations with any country should fall within the limits of the Philippine

In his state visit to China on Jan. 5, President Marcos agreed with Beijing “to resume u PAGE 2