Manila Standard - 2021 February 18 - Thursday

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Marcos to run in 2022 polls His camp hints of a national post, but stops short it’s the presidency

By Rey E. Requejo and Rio N. Araja

Palace worried Leni may become President despite shortcomings

T

HE camp of former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. announced Wednesday that he would definitely run for national elections in 2022 after the Supreme Court, acting as Presidential Electoral Tribunal, dismissed his election protest filed against Vice President Leni Robredo.

Marcos lawyer and spokesperson Victor Rodriguez said the Marcos’ camp would be preparing for the 2022 elections.

“From the start of January 2021, our mindset is geared towards 2022 since the onset that is why we have been asking the Court to resolve the election case already and not let it become moot and academic,” Rodriguez said.

Meanwhile, the camp of Robredo believes no amount of appeal could overturn the decision of the Supreme Court sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal that junked the electoral protest of Marcos.

Romulo Macalintal, Robredo’s lawyer, said should Marcos file a plea, that would be “very hard” to overturn.

“With due respect, for me, the game is over because the decision was unanimous. Very, very hard to overturn a 15-member en banc voting unanimously to dismiss the case,” he told CNN Philippines in an interview.

Robredo, for her part, called on the public to move on amid the PET’s dismissal of Marcos’ petition.

A statement released by the Office of Deputy Speaker Mujiv Hataman of the Next page

VOL. XXXV • NO. 08 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2021 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

By Vito Barcelo MALACAÑANG on Wednesday admitted that President Rodrigo Duterte is worried that Vice President Leni Robredo may actually become president.

During his regular Monday public address, President Duterte said Robredo was not qualified to be his successor because she does not know her role in the government.

However, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said that if it does happen and Robredo becomes the president, she should first study more.

Roque made the statement in reaction to Leni’s comment that it is not up to the President to say if she is qualified to run for president or not.

Roque also said the Vice President is right “that it’s up to the public to decide who would be the president.”

“But the President is part of the public because he will also vote. Duterte knows what he is talking about," he said.

The Palace official also said that President Duterte knows if a person has what it takes to become president since he is holding the position himself. Next page

ASHES TO ASHES. A Roman Catholic lay minister equipped with a face shield sprinkles ash on the head of a churchgoer during Ash Wednesday mass at a church in Manila as the rest of the faithful queue outside (inset). The rite marks the start of Lenten season in the Catholic church calendar. AFP

Prov’l governors back MGCQ for entire country

By Maricel V. Cruz, Vito Barcelo and Joel E. Zurbano THE League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) on Wednesday said it favors putting the entire country under a modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) in March, easing restrictions

aimed at keeping the COVID-19 pandemic in check.

In an interview on radio dzBB, the league’s president, Marinduque Gov. Presbitero Velasco Jr., said governors would like to be given the authority, however, to impose lockdowns and change their quarantine status if the need arises.

He said public transport, particularly

provincial buses, should also be allowed to resume servicing their usual routes.

MGCQ is the least stringent quarantine status. Metro Manila, the Cordillera Administrative Region, Batangas, Tacloban City, Davao City, Davao del Norte, Lanao del Sur and Iligan City are under a stricter general community quarantine (GCQ).

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Roque claims VFA not a treaty, 2k live hogs to augment pork supply in metro insists Rody can scrap it alone AROUND 2,000 live hogs from South Cotabato have been transported to Metro Manila to boost supply and bring down the retail prices of pork products in the country’s metropolis, Malacañang said on Wednesday.

In an announcement aired over state-run PTV-4, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the 2,000 live hogs have arrived in Tondo, Manila and will be brought to different markets in the National Capital Region.

“This is part of measures undertaken to address the shortage of pork supply in Metro Manila so that the prices of pork products will go down, at least to the price cap set by the government,” Roque said.

A day earlier, the Department of Agriculture assured that there will be enough supply of chicken in the market to last until yearend.

Secretary William Dar said “the supply of chicken will last until the end of 2021,” adding that as far as the

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By Vito Barcelo, Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel V. Cruz MALACANANG on Wednesday said President Duterte can terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States anytime and need not ask permission from the Senate concerning

the revocation of the agreement.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque made the remarks in response to Senator Panfilo Lacson’s advice to the President to read the Constitution.

Earlier, Lacson said the Senate’s concurrence is needed before Duterte can abrogate the military pact between Manila and Washington.

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House bill to reinforce PH sea zone

By Maricel V. Cruz

PORK SUPPLY. Agriculture Secretary William Dar inspects some of the 2,000 live hogs from South Cotabato that arrived at Manila North Harbor, which the department will transport to Metro Manila markets to boost supply and bring down the retail prices of pork products in the country’s metropolis.

THE leadership of the House of Representatives was urged Wednesday to pass a bill defining the country’s maritime areas and territory for China to take notice of such delineation.

This coincided with a report that a firm based in Florida, USA, conducting satellite imagery analysis had published a report this February showing what ap-

peared to be movement and structural changes on Chinese-occupied Mischief Reef in the disputed West Philippine Sea. The development, the report quoting an expert, said, could indicate further construction operations on the artificial island, known in the Philippines as Panganiban Reef, in the days to come.

The West Philippine Sea is the Philippines' exclusive economic zone in the Next page

Taal rumblings continue, 600 families from 2 towns evacuate

COVID-19 PH

Volcano, the Batangas Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office said Wednesday.

ABOUT 600 families from two towns have been evacuA phreatic eruption is an explosion driven by the ated as the threat of a phreatic eruption loomed on Taal Next page

(AS OF 4 PM FEB. 16)

By Rio N. Araja

AT A GLANCE

553,424 TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES

1,184 29,814 NEW

ACTIVE

11,577

53

512,033

271

DEATHS

RUMBLING UNDERNEATH. Camera snapshots of Taal Volcano Island from Agoncillo, Batangas and the Main Crater show the relative calm at the surface, but the Taal Volcano Network has been recording numerous imperceptible volcanic tremors beneath the edifice since February 13, while recent field data indicates increased acidity and high temperatures of the Main Crater Lake, according to Phivolcs.

RECOVERIES

NEW

NEW

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2021

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

News

PH inks indemnity deal for 2 jabs T

HE Philippines has signed an indemnity deal required to get COVID-19 vaccines from US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and United Kingdom's AstraZeneca, an official leading the inoculation effort said on Wednesday.

Authorities submitted the agreement to the COVAX Facility, a global initiative that seeks to ensure equitable access to the vaccines, said Carlito Galvez Jr, chief implementer of the National Task Force against COVID-19 in a public briefing.

Under the indemnity deal, the national government will be responsible and shoulder the cost for adverse effects on those inoculated, NTF deputy chief implementer

Vince Dizon said.

The processing of some documents earlier snagged the arrival of an initial batch of 117,000 Pfizer doses from the COVAX Facility this month, Dizon earlier said. He did not say if the documents include the indemnity agreement. Such a deal is standard requirement for vaccine manufacturers, Dizon said.

In other developments:

• The Department of Health on Wednesday said the country needs 50,000 vaccinators to inoculate priority sectors against the COVID-19 virus.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said vaccinators will come in teams, the number of which depends on the needs of each local government unit.

The government on Wednesday assured that major airports in the country are fully prepared in expediting arrival, Customs clearances, and handling of the COVID-19 vaccine shipments.

• Customs officials from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, and the ports of Davao and Cebu made the assurance following the Feb. 11 Inter-Port

Marcos...

Marcos’ election protest case.

“What we are asking is a clear and full picture of what is the entire decision and from there we will be making a definitive statement and from there we will be making an intelligent move in our next step,” he said.

The SC Public Information Office on Tuesday released a statement, saying that the 15 members of the PET unanimously dismissed the entire electoral protest.

Copy of the decision will be posted on its website and be given to the parties once it is available.

Rodriguez said their camp is particularly interested to know from the decision on the Court acted on their third cause of action which sought the annulment of election results in three provinces in Mindanao.

Marcos filed an election protest on June 29, 2016 , claiming that the camp of Robredo cheated in the automated polls in May also that year.

In his election protest, Marcos cited three causes of action: • first, that Automated Elections System was compromised, hence, the integ-

rity of the AES could not be relied upon to declare a legitimate winner; • the second required the revision or manual recount of the actual ballots to determine the votes cast in all the 36,465 protested clustered precincts; • the third sought the annulment of election results for the VP position in the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur and Basilan, on the ground of terrorism, intimidation and harassment of voters as well as pre-shading of ballots in all of the 2,756 protested clustered precincts in the areas.

Rodriguez said setting aside the votes from Mindanao would have given Marcos the lead of about 45,000 votes.

Lawyer Ma. Bernadette Sardillo, one of Robredo's counsel, said it was "very clear" that the entire election protest was dismissed. The Robredo camp has yet to receive a copy of the Supreme Court decision, she added.

Rodriguez said he was no longer interested in a manual recount and judicial review because even if this pushed through, "it's impossible" for them to finish this in about one year and four months, when the

vice president's term would end.

He said their camp was not afraid whatever the ultimate verdict of the PET might be as they have made a strong case that there was cheating in the 2016 elections.

"We firmly believe we made made a good, clear, and solid case before the Filipino people that there was a massive cheating last 2016 election for the vice presidency and that the vice president was stolen from the real winner," he said.

He said former Comelec Chairman Andy Bautista's statement that the 2016 elections was the cleanest and its count was accurate was proven wrong when there was a recovery of 15,000 votes.

In October 2019, the PET revealed that Robredo's lead grew by around 15,000 after ballots from Camarines Sur, Iloilo, and Negros Oriental were recounted. The Marcos camp chose these pilot areas.

“When votes move by about 15,000 and you say there was a recovery, can you still say that the count was exact? Can't you now suspect or have at least doubt on the final tally that was shown in the Smartmatic-run machines?” he asked.

to the Marcos family as the government gave the ex-president's remains a hero's burial and publicly floated the idea of winding down the hunt for his hidden wealth.

In a public address delivered Monday night, Duterte slammed Robredo for criticizing his decision to demand compensation from the United States (US) for him to reconsider his decision to revoke the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).

Duterte advised Robredo to take a “refresher course” in law and believed she was unfit to be his successor.

Prov’l...

The rising food prices in the country amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic also prompted President Rodrigo Duterte to sign Executive Order 124 on Feb. 1 to impose a price cap on selected pork and chicken products in the NCR for 60 days.

EO 124 implements a price ceiling of P270 per kilo for pork kasim and pigue, P300 per kilo for pork liempo, and P160 per kilo for dressed chicken.

Roque said the government would ensure the unhampered shipment of live hogs to Luzon from African swine fever (ASF) free areas.

He added the government would allow the importation of pork products from abroad if the supply remains insufficient.

“The shipment of live hogs to Luzon will continue,” Roque said.

The Department of Agriculture is set to conduct a food security summit with local government units and the private sector to discuss ways on how to ensure food security amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture said the additional hogs delivered to Metro Manila from various provinces outside of the NCR had met the average daily requirement.

Rio N. Araja

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) has proposed placing the entire country under the MGCQ starting March 1 to get the economy going, but University of the Philippines researchers who have been tracking the pandemic said the move could lead to a new surge in COVID-19 cases, particularly because the more transmissible UK variant of the coronavirus has already been found in the Philippines.

However, House leaders led by Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, the governor’s son, expressed support for the NEDA proposal. ""I personally agree with NEDA’s proposal to place the entire country under MGCQ next month. It is about time we safely relax pandemic restrictions to lessen the impact of COVID-19 on the economy," Velasco said.

"With vaccines on the way, we should start encouraging our countrymen to patronize businesses again while strictly adhering to minimum health and safety protocols," he added.

Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda, on the other hand, said the reopening is best accompanied by a strong vaccination program for health care workers. He also batted for full restoration of public transport, saying this would spur economic activity.

The first COVID-19 vaccines have yet to arrive, despite official statements saying they would be here by mid-February.

On the other hand, Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate said putting the entire country under a more relaxed quarantine status could compromise the safety and health of the public while there is yet no free mass vaccination and testing being done.

"The question is what is keeping the CoVid vaccines from coming when they should have arrived already according to

the Department of Health (DOH)? Is the national government still waiting for preferred suppliers, like those vaccines from China, to come first so that they would be the ones that would be primarily used?

Is this the reason why there are still no signed supply agreements for the vaccines?," Zarate asked.

"As early as March last year, we have been calling for free mass testing, serious contact tracing, and, after which, free vaccination, especially for the frontline health workers who should be prioritized.

When the vaccines come and the immunizations start, then that is probably the proper time to talk about MGCQ," he said The government’s Covid-19 task force is crafting guidelines for the possible transition to “new normal” in areas where there is no Covid-19 transmission, Malacanang said.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the proposed “dos and don’ts” had been previously approved in principle by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).

Roque said there is o firm arrival date yet for the first batch of 117,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines under the COVAX facility.

“We are expecting the vaccines to arrive in the last week of February as we are still awaiting the notice from Pfizer if the vaccines have been loaded [on]to the aircraft from Brussels, Belgium,” he said.

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said the expected arrival of the first batch of vaccines was delayed by the absence of an indemnification fund for those who experience adverse effects after taking a COVID-19 vaccine—a requirement under COVAX guidelines.

Chairman Benjamin Abalos Jr. of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said they are supporting the government's move to reopen the economy affected by the pandemic but want it done gradually.

defense and security cooperation between the Philippines and the US. “It only implements the treaty and the treaty the VFA is implementing is the Mutual Defense Treaty,” he said.

The VFA is a 1998 military pact that allows US troops who will participate in joint exercises with Filipino soldiers to visit the Philippines sans visa and passport.

The Philippines, upon Duterte’s order, formally terminated the defense deal with the US on Feb. 11 last year but Duterte later put the order on hold.

Roque also said that while there are pending cases before the Supreme Court whether the abrogation of VFA would need

the concurrence of the Senate, there is no temporary restraining order against it, so the President can still abrogate the deal.

In December last year, the President threatened to abrogate the VFA if the US could not provide the Philippines with its COVID-19 vaccines.

However, Duterte later said America has to pay if it wants to keep the VFA. Senator Richard Gordon, meanwhile, said it was unacceptable to tell the Senate to keep its mouth shut on issues concerning international agreements such as the VFA. He said while he respects the President’s power to set foreign policy, he said the Senate has a role as well in interna-

tional agreements.

Gordon was reacting to a tped speech in which President Duterte slammed Senator Panfilo Lacson and said lawmakers had “nothing to do with” the country’s VFA with the United States.

He also pointed out that the 1987 Constitution requires concurrence by at least two-thirds of the 24-member Senate before any international agreement that the Philippines signs becomes binding.

The Senate, Gordon said, is the forum of the people.

“We are allowed our opinion just as President Duterte is allowed his opinion and that’s what makes living in a democracy very beautiful,” Gordon said.

ippine Sea. This will counter the Chinese law allowing its coast guard to fire at perceived intruders in the entire South China Sea, which illegally includes our West Philippine Sea,” he said.

The representative of Cagayan de Oro’s second district filed House Bill 6156 or an “An Act declaring and defining the maritime zones under the jurisdiction of the Republic of the Philippines.”

Rodriguez’s proposed definition of the country’s maritime territory includes the

Chinese-occupied Scarborough or Panatag Shoal off Zambales and Pangasinan, locally known as Bajo de Masinloc, a traditional fishing ground of Filipinos.

The Chinese Coast Guard routinely patrols this area, which Beijing seized in 2012 after a standoff between Chinese and Philippine Coast Guard vessels.

Filipino fishermen have expressed fears they might be fired upon by Chinese patrols.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has protested the enactment of the Chi-

nese law allowing its Coast Guard to fire on foreign vessels in the South China Sea, which it claims as part of its territory.

In House Bill 6156, Rodriguez said the Philippines, as a signatory and party to the 1983 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) “recognizes the establishment of various maritime zones and jurisdiction of coastal states, including its own, over which sovereignty and appurtenant sovereign rights can be exercised.”

From A1

Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao congratulated Vice Prresident Leni Robredo and celebrated what the statement called the “people's triumph” and a vindication against allegations of poll irregularities in the now-defunct ARMM areas.

When asked if Marcos was eyeing the presidency, Rodriguez replied: “We will be making an announcement as to his plan.”

Rodriguez disclosed this while maintaining they have yet to receive the copy of the PET decision unanimously dismissing the election protest.

“Everything is suspended in air until we get a copy of the decision. It’s premature to be speaking about motion for reconsideration. We are not in that route yet,” Rodriguez said in an interview over CNN Philippines.

Rodriguez stressed that they would want to determine first whether the decision covered the third cause of action in

Palace...

From A1

Roque said Duterte still prefers former senator Ferdinand Marcos to Robredo in terms of leadership skills, a day after the Supreme Court threw out Marcos’s election protest against Robredo.

In 2018, Duterte said he would resign if Marcos won the electoral protest and became vice president, enabling the former senator to take the top job under constitutional succession rules.

Duterte's election in 2016 was a boost

2k...

From A1

vegetables are concerned, "we have plenty of them. The storms in November had affected our harvest. We are now recovering. We have enough supplies.”

In a related development, Northern Mindanao has culled nearly 1,500 pigs due to African swine fever, an agriculture official said Wednesday.

Carlene Collado, regional director of the Department of Agriculture in Northern Mindanao, said the disease had affected the livelihood of over 400 backyard hog raisers.

One-third of the affected hogs came from Misamis Oriental. The disease is harmless to humans but is deadly to pigs and there is no vaccine or cure.

Collado said this wouldn't affect the supply it would be sending to Metro Manila, which would come from commercial hog farms.

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) also approved on Jan. 28 the designation of special hog lanes to ensure the unhampered shipment of pork products from Luzon and Mindanao.

Roque...

From A1

In defending the President, Roque said “Duterte did not only read the Constitution, he is also a lawyer and passed the bar examination wherein one of the questions or subject areas is the constitutional law.”

While Lacson is right that treaties or international agreements need the concurrence of the Senate, Roque said the VFA is not a treaty, according to a Supreme Court decision.

Roque clarified that VFA’s role is to implement the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) which aims to boost the

Bill...

From A1

South China Sea, which China claims in near entirety.

Deputy Speaker Rufus Rodriguez said the bill's enactment would strengthen the country's position on the West Philippine Sea. “I am urging the House leadership to take up and approve the bill which will strengthen our position on the West Phil-

From A1

Meeting on Vaccine Arrival Preparedness.

NAIA district collector Carmelita Talusan said among the topics that were discussed include the Customs pre-clearance process, documentary requirements for importation and donation, expedite handling, and logistical challenges.

• Citing the need for the nation’s concerted efforts to act to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, Senator Sonny Angara noted “we won’t just be injecting vaccines, but we’ll be injecting hope.”

Hope, Angara believes, “is perhaps the single-most important ingredient to our recovery as a nation.”

Macon Ramos-Araneta and Joel E. Zurbano

Romero lashes at ’excessive force’ vs. Lumad A PARTY-LIST lawmaker on Wednesday denounced what he described as “excessive force and inhumane treatment” to children during a supposed “rescue operation” staged by police operatives at the University of San Carlos campus in Cebu City on Monday.

In a privilege speech, Deputy Speaker and 1PACMAN Rep. Michael Romero sought a congressional inquiry into the incident.

He said the result of the raid emphasized the need to put in place standard operating procedures in the conduct of police operations involving minors or staged in the presence of children.

The Commission on Human Rights has already dispatched an investigation team to look into the situation involving the alleged rescue of Lumad children in a university in Cebu City.

“Given the different claims involving the incident, our interest is to pin down the truth and look forward to the cooperation of all parties concerned as we move forward in our independent investigation,” lawyer-spokesperson Jacqueline Ann de Guia said in a statement.

Romero also voiced concern over the media branding of the “lumad children” who were the object of the Police Regional Office 7 at the Talamban campus of USC on February 14.

“I take exception to this branding. The minors involved are children, Period,” said Romero, president of the Partylist Coalition Foundation Inc., the second largest political bloc in the Lower House.

Maricel V. Cruz and Rio N. Araja

‘Auring,’ first storm of 2021, threatens PAR

By Rio N. Araja A TROPICAL depression named “Auring” entered the Philippine area of responsibility on Wednesday, the first cyclone to visit in 2021.

As of Wednesday’s 3 p.m. bulletin, the center of “Auring” was estimated at 700 kilometers east-southeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur. Packing maximum sustained winds of 55kph near the center and gustiness of up to 70 kph, it was moving west-northwest at 15 kph.

A tail-end of a frontal system is affecting the eastern sections of Southern Luzon and the Visayas.

The northeast monsoon is also affecting the rest of Luzon.

“Auring” is forecast to make landfall in the Caraga region on the night of Feb. 20 or on the morning of Feb. 21.

Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration meteorologist Joey Figuracion said "Auring" is not yet affecting any part of the country.

The tail-end of a frontal system will bring moderate to at times heavy rain in Eastern Visayas, Sorsogon, Masbate, Albay and Catanduanes, he said.

"We advise the residents of those areas to take precautions due to rain," he said.

Taal...

From A1

heat from magma interacting with water, which can be from groundwater, hydrothermal systems, surface runoff, a lake or the sea and it pulverizes surrounding rocks and can produce ash, but does not include new magma.

Interviewed on GMA News TV’s "Balitanghali", heard nationwide, PDRRMO head Joselito Castro said the first batch of evacuees voluntarily left the island on Monday night.

According to Castro, around 600 families from Talisay and Agoncillo towns had already moved to the housing projects provided by the national government that are located in safe areas in Calabarzon.

He said concerned authorities were now checking how some of the concerned residents were not able to avail of the housing program.

Previously, nearly 50 families, or some 300 people, including children and women, were moved, the local disaster office said.

Meanwhile, newly installed Presidential Adviser for Southern Tagalog Casimiro Ynares Jr. appealed to residents at the foot of Taal Volcano to follow or voluntarily evacuate from their homes, as state seismologists continued to record increased activity in the area.

"Let us follow the pre-emptive evacuation. Life is more important than properties. The things we own can be reproduced, but we only get to live once,” Ynares said.

News

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2021

Court denies De Lima bid to nix charges

House supports DOLE on wage subsidy program

By Rey E. Requejo THE Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court on Wednesday dumped the bid of detained Senator Leila de Lima and her co-accused Ronnie Dayan to have their drug charges dismissed through a plea for demurrer of evidence.

In an Omnibus Order dated February 17, Judge Liezel A. Aquiatan denied the separate “Demurrer to Evidence” of De Lima and Dayan, who both sought the dismissal of the complaint on grounds the prosecution had weak evidence to pin them down on the drug charges in connection with their alleged involvement in drug trading and trafficking inside the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.

“The separate Demurrer to Evidence of accused Leila de Lima and Ronnie Dayan are both denied,” the court ruled.

A demurrer to evidence is a plea for the dismissal of a complaint due to the prosecution’s weak evidence presented before the court.

Judge Aquiatan also denied the plea for bail of both accused.

“The petition for bail filed by accused De Lima and Dayan are likewise denied,” the order said.

The court’s denial of the accused’s demurrer to evidence paves the way for the court hearing for the reception of the defense evidence set on March 5, 2021 at 9 am.

In a separate ruling, the judge also granted De Lima’s demurrer to evidence in Case No. 17-166.

The grant of the plea for demurrer to evidence would mean that De Lima would be acquitted of the drug charges in Criminal Case 17-166.

However, the demurrer to evidence of De Lima’s co-accused Jad De Vera is denied.

“The Demurrer to Evidence filed by accused Leila de Lima is hereby granted,” the court said, adding that the grant of the plea for demurrer to evidence “is tantamount to her acquittal.”

The court set the hearing for the reception of evidence for accused De Vera on March 5.

Win: Senators will still hear credit card issue

SENATOR Win Gatchalian said the Senate will proceed in its investigation on credit card fraud and other unauthorized bank transactions as the existing laws show the lack of mechanisms to protect consumers from nefarious individuals.

The Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banks, Financial Institutions and Currencies said the focus of their proceedings will be the efforts on the part of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and the banks in safeguarding the interests of the consumers.

This early, Gatchalian is mulling over introducing a bill mandating consumer protection and education as one of the primary and strategic objectives of financial regulators to allow them to address financial inclusion and minimize fraudulent transactions from occurring.

“This is to spare the victims of fraudulent and unauthorized bank and credit card transactions from the tedious litigation process which often takes months and even years, the senator said.

He further explained that such a proposal is aimed at empowering financial regulators and strengthening their enforcement powers, insofar as consumer protection is concerned, to ensure that financial institutions comply with financial consumer protection regulations.Macon Ramos-Araneta

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DREDGING INSPECTION. Marikina City Mayor Marcy Teodoro, Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, and MMDA Chairman

Benhur Abalos Jr. (from left) oversee the pilot dredging activity at the Marikina River to recover the portions of the river that were illegally reclaimed. The projects consist of bamboo and tree planting and restoration of the Marikina River as part of the ‘Build Back Better’ task force’s program. Manny Palmero

Solon to Rody: Sorry for Lopez-DBP probe

By Maricel V. Cruz

T

HE chairman of the House of Representatives’ committee on good government and public accountability on Wednesday apologized to President Rodrigo Duterte on the matter pertaining to its investigation of the loans of the Lopez Group of Companies with the Development Bank of the Philippines.

DIWA Rep. Michael Aglipay, the panel’s chairperson, also said his panel would pursue its inquiry on the matter.

“I would like to apologize to our beloved President Rodrigo Roa Duterte for any inconvenience that was caused to him by reason of this committee’s first hearing,” Aglipay said during the resumption of the committee hearing Wednesday.

Anakalusugan partylist Representative Mike Defensor on Wednesday grilled the Development Bank of the Philippines in relation to the soured loans of the Lopez Group of Companies.

At the resumption of the House committee on good government and public accountability hearing on the matter, Defensor asked if the loans had collaterals.

Aglipay’s statement came in response to earlier statements of the President expressing his dissatisfaction over the congressional inquiry on the matter.

“Mr. President, I am sincerely sorry and may I humbly request for your forgiveness for the inconvenience that we may have caused you by reasons of these hearings,” Aglipay said.

“It was never the intention of this Committee to stop hearing this most important matter, instead the Committee meeting was only suspended in view of the pending submission of documents by the resource persons.”

Duterte in his public address on Feb 8 said he would not allow the National Telecommunications Commission to give ABS-CB a license to operate even if the media giant was given a new broadcast franchise by Congress.

HONORING GOMBURZA.

Feeding project to fight hunger needed—Risa

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

Manila City Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna leads the wreath laying ceremony commemorating the 149th year of the Martyrdom of Filipino Priests Mariano Gómez, José Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora or Gomburza at the Liwasang Rizal on Wednesday.

Norman Cruz

Villar: Probe surge of crimes on women, children

Rep. Camille Villar

THE chairperson of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Labor and Employment on Wednesday backed the proposed wage subsidy program of the Department of Labor and Employment under the stewardship of Secretary Silvestre Bello III. Rep. Enrico Pineda of 1-PACMAN said the program will stop employers from further retrenching their workforce.

“Our proposal and the DOLE is to subsidize the salary of workers between 25 and 50 percent,” Pineda said at a news forum.

He said “this is what we have been fighting for under the Bayanihan 3 that is being pushed by our beloved Speaker Lord Allan Velasco. If the government is able to provide wage subsidy to its employees, it will prevent the businesses from taking them off the workforce.”

Pineda was referring to Velasco’s House Bill 8628 or the proposed Bayanihan to Arise As One Act (Bayanihan 3), which seeks to provide funding of P420-billion―including P52 billion in wage subsidies―to stimulate the country’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The measure received strong bipartisan support in the House, with 224 lawmakers from the supermajority, minority and independent blocs signing on either as principal or coauthors.

Pineda revealed that since March 2020, more than 400,000 workers from the formal economy lost their jobs due to the pandemic, while more are displaced from the informal economy.

At the same time, Pineda underscored the need to expedite the rollout of the government’s COVID-19 Vaccination Program.

He urged the Department of Health to speed up the negotiation on the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines.

Maricel V. Cruz

DEPUTY Speaker and Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar has sought an investigation into the surge in the cases of gender-based violence during the pandemic and called for immediate measures to protect women and children.

In filing House Resolution 1581, Villar said the rise in the reported cases of violence against women and children during the pandemic was alarming.

“We need to tackle this issue as this seems to be neglected and victims are left with their abus-

ers at home. We need to also determine what are the possible and immediate measures to mitigate the effects of violence and strengthen support services for the victims,” Villar said.

Official reported figures of gender-based abuse could also mean that victims were having a hard time reporting the incidents to authorities as victims could be “discouraged by limited mobility and absence of public transportation,” Villar said.

Trapped at home during lock-

down, several researches suggest that harassment and sexual violence on women and children was on the rise during and after any large crisis or disaster. Experts describe this as a pandemic within a pandemic.

The Philippine Commission on Women recorded 13,923 cases of violence against women and children from the start of the lockdown last March 15, 2020, up to November 30, 2020. Of the reported cases, a total of 4,747 were cases of abuse against children.

SENATOR Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday urged the Inter-Agency Task Force on Zero Hunger to accelerate the implementation of the national feeding programs to mitigate the effects of a hunger crisis in nutrition, saying these programs had already secured appropriations for 2021.

She specifically mentioned the urgent and efficient execution of supplementary and school-based feeding programs under Republic Act 11037 or the ‘Masustansyang Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino Act, which, according to her, had an allocated budget of more than P3.8B in 2021.

“We already have existing policies addressing the nutrition situation of the country and the budget to be able to do so,” said Hontivrros.

“What we need is a sense of urgency and to ensure that these programs are implemented efficiently.”

Last year, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the agency in-charge of the government’s supplemental feeding program, was short of around 700,000 children of their 1.88M target beneficiaries.

During budget deliberations, Hontivrros said they were able to boost the budget to help DSWD cover at least 25 percent of its shortage translating to an additional 185,000 children who can be accommodated in the program.

The senator also underscored the need for the Task Force to scale up its efforts to ensure that pregnant women

Group sees no reason to repeal Anti-Terrorism Act

CRUSHED. A pair of 70-year-old women died and three were injured as this Asian Utility Vehicle fell into a ravine in Tuba, Benguet on Wednesday. The FX vehicle with license plate UEP 867 was recovered in Sitio Lasong, Barangay Ansagan, Tuba. The victims were all residents of the area. Dave Leprozo

THE Liga Independencia Pilipinas Inc. (LIPI) sees no reason why the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 or Republic Act No. 11479 should be repealed, following the third day of oral arguments on the law at the Supreme Court on Tuesday.

Jose Antonio “Ka Pep” Goitia, LIPI Secretary General, on Wednesday noted the third day of the arguments started with the interpellation of Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta on the first three enumerations in Section 4 (the definition of terrorism) which the petitioners’ lawyer Chel Diokno referred to as vague in its context.

The new law’s definition of terrorism was compared to the preceding law, the Human Security Act, of which Diokno states that the new law is absent of predicate crimes, Goitia said.

“CJ Peralta opines that the first three enumerations, all of which starts with ‘engages

Jose Antonio “Ka Pep” Goitia)

in acts intended to cause’ are preparatory acts meaning actions which may or may not lead to the commission of a concrete crime, while predicate crimes (such as kidnapping, rebellion, murder) stated in the old law should first be committed before a person could be liable for terrorism,” he said.

“If one follows the argument of Atty.

Diokno, then using the stages of felony under the revised penal code as a rule, criminal responsibility will begin from attempted felony,” Goitia added.

To simplify, he said: “When an offender gathers all requisites to execute a crime, this is called a preparatory act. If he chooses to act upon all requisites he gathered (with a guilty intention) and such attempt was unsuccessful then it is called as an attempt of a crime. I saw this perfect example of a preparatory act.”

“You plan on shooting the guy who’s sleeping with your wife. You first go to the local bar, get drunk, and talk to your bar friends about your plan, trying to round up one or two of them to help you. This is conspiracy, a preparatory act. Then, you and your cohorts go to a neighbor’s house and raid the gun safe while he is away at work, another preparatory act,” Goitia said.

A4

NEWS

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2021

SC upholds graft conviction of ex-gov Malapitan sues five councilors for cyber libel

By Jun David CALOOCAN City Mayor Oscar Malapitan yesterday filed three counts of cyber libel cases against five councilors for claiming that the digital tablets procured by the city government were substandard and the distribution process was delayed.

The mayor sued councilors Christopher E. Malonzo, Ma. Milagros S. Mercado, Alexander V. Mangasar, Ricardo J. Bagus, and Marylou N. San Buenaventura, who were seen in a series of videos uploaded online making such claims.

“If my opponents in politics aim to malign only me, then I would have dismissed this as a small irritant.

But when they start maligning and maliciously insulting the projects initiated by the city government to help in the education of the youth of Caloocan, then I cannot let that pass,” Malapitan said.

The councilors, he said, were seen in one of the uploaded videos laughing at the procurement project.

“Our program to distribute digital tablets passed through rigorous bidding. We made sure everything was in order,” the mayor added.

The Department of Education approved the specifications of the digital tablets procured by the city government.

Malapitan’s lawyer, Rico Quicho, said the councilors had every opportunity to ascertain the truth or falsity of their allegations yet they chose to air their complaint on social media.

“The head of the bids and awards committee has unequivocally expressed that the program underwent a rigorous qualification and bidding process pursuant to Republic Act No. 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act. The DepEd itself approved the specifications of the digital tablets,” Quicho said.

“From our vantage point, given that all the prequalification and bidding documents are in order and no less than the DepEd endorsed the specifications of the digital tablets, this seem to be merely political theatrics, insensitive at that, played to gain some mileage for the 2022 elections,” he added.

By Rey E. Requejo

T

HE Supreme Court has sustained the conviction of former Sorsogon Gov. Raul Lee for four graft cases involving the overpriced purchase of P5 million worth of fertilizer in 2004.

In a decision penned by Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta, the High Court denied Lee’s appeal, saying the Sandiganbayan did not commit any grave abuse of discretion when it convicted the former governor.

“The Sandiganbayan did not commit any grave abuse of discretion in the appreciation of the evidence presented by the parties. Thus, this Court finds no merit to reverse its decision and resolution,” the SC said.

“As aptly ruled by the Sandiganbayan,

there is no showing that the province’s direct purchase from Feshan Phils. Inc. at an unconscionable price of more than 500 percent of the same product, or at least 900 percent more of the suitable substitutes, is justified. Thus, the procurement resulted to the undue injury to the government,” the Court added.

Aside from Lee, two other Sorsogon officials were charged for the four graft cases.

In ruling against Lee, the high court noted the purchases of the fertilizer were

made sometime in May and June 2004.

The Commission on Audit at that time made several price canvasses in the same year and at the approximate time when the purchases were made.

“Further, the FPA (Fertilizer and Pesticides Authority) Price Monitor in September and October 2004 is approximate in time with May and June 2004. Thus, the COA canvasses as well as the FPA data that were presented and admitted in evidence by the Sandiganbayan are reasonable representations of the actual prices of fertilizers at the time the purchases were made.

These competent pieces of evidence show that the contract entered by the Province of Sorsogon was grossly and manifestly disadvantageous to the Government,” the SC said.

“Again, this Court respects the factual findings of the Sandiganbayan.”

By Vito Barcelo

Caloocan Mayor Oscar Malapitan is accompanied by Rep. Dale Malapitan in filing a cyber libel case against five city councilors before the Prosecutor’s Office Wednesday. Jun David

Declare San Jose as PH egg basket—Villar

By Macon Ramos-Araneta RECOGNIZING the huge number of 7 million eggs it generates daily, Senator Cynthia Villar sought to declare the town of San Jose in the province of Batangas as the “Egg Basket of the Philippines.”

Villar, chairperson of the Senate committee on Agriculture and Food, filed Senate Bill No. 2044 to formalize her proposal.

In her proposed measure, Villar cited a Philippine Statistics Authority report showing that of the 49,090 metric tons of eggs coming from the Calabarzon region per quarter, 705 metric

TRAFFIC SOLUTION. Sen. Cynthia Villar leads the Inauguration of the final stage of the Las Piñas River Drive in Las Piñas City. The senator was joined

by Environment Sec. Roy Cimatu, Public Works Sec. Mark Villar, Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar, Environment Usec. Jonas Leones and DENR NCR Executive Director Jacqueline Caangcan.

tons of eggs are from San Jose on a daily basis.

The Batangas Egg Producers Association said as of June 2020, there are more than 342 registered independent poultry growers in San Jose.

Egg production in San Jose started as a backyard industry during the 60s.

Over time, egg farmers from the town evolved into agri-entrepreneurs through the help of innovative practices.

Amid the challenges, including the oversupply of eggs in 2009, egg farmers of the town developed new products such as like liquid and frozen eggs.

In 2017, when the industry was hit by bird flu, BEPCO partnered with the

SAN Miguel Corporation is extending the total reach of its P1-billion TullahanTinajeros river system cleanup to 11.5 kms, close to halfway of the entire 27-km stretch, to complement ongoing flood mitigation measures in the cities of Navotas, Malabon, and Valenzuela before the start of the rainy season.

SMC president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang said the Department of Public Works and Highways has approved the company’s dredging plans for Sectors 4 and 5 of the river system, covering the length of the river from Tinajeros Bridge to Potrero in Malabon and Valenzuela cities.

The section represents an additional 6.3 kms of dredging area, in addition to the initial 5.25-km Sectors 1 to 3 from the Manila Bay in Navotas, to the Tinajeros Bridge in Malabon, which SMC had been working on.

“We are making all the necessary prep-

DENR to file cases against Runruno illegal settlers BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—The Department of Environment and Natural Resources will be filing charges against illegal settlers who refuse to leave the identified geohazard areas in Barangay Runruno in Quezon town.

Edgar Martin, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer, said the legal move is needed since some of the illegal settlers, who come from the provinces of Quirino, Isabela and Ifugao, continue to defy DENR order for them to vacate the

MUNTINLUPA Mayor Jaime Fresnedi has condemned the killing of a local traffic enforcer and offered a P100,000 reward money to anyone who could provide information for the immediate arrest of the suspect.

Muntinlupa Traffic Management Bureau traffic enforcer Daniel Manalo, 36, was shot dead Tuesday evening by an unidentified male suspect along National Road in Brgy. Tunasan.

According to the Muntinlupa City Police Station, Manalo was talking on his mobile phone when the suspect came from behind and shot him in the head.

One empty shell of caliber .45 pistol was recovered in the crime scene.

A fellow traffic enforcer who witnessed the shooting incident saaid the suspect immediately fled on foot.

MTMB chief Danidon Nolasco said Manalo was part of a road clearing team that has been conducting operations in compliance with a directive from the Department of the Interior and Local Government to clear roads of illegal obstructions.

Fresnedi said financial assistance will be given to Manalo’s family.

To report any information on the identity and whereabouts of the suspect, the public may coordinate with the Muntinlupa City Police Station at 09989674531.

Central Luzon expressway opens in May

University of the Philippines-Diliman and the Department of Science and Technology to develop egg white powder which is ideal for baking cakes and breads as well as for making mayonnaise and meringue.

San Jose, a first class municipality, celebrates “World Egg Day” annually during the month of October to spur egg consumption in the country and to enhance the industry’s production and marketing efficiency.

In 2016, the town attempted to set a Guinness record for the longest line of fresh chicken eggs in trays with around 6,000 eggs placed along the 2-km stretch of Macalintal Avenue.

SMC expands Tullahan cleanup

By Ben Moses Ebreo

P100k bounty for killer of Muntinlupa traffic officer

geo-hazard areas.

“We have been continuously telling them of the risks and their violations in living in the geohazard and forest zone areas. So far, many have complied with our order but there are still some who refuse to leave the area,” he said.

Martin said that since the Runruno tragedy that killed 10 illegal settlers during the onset of Typhoon Ulysses last year, a series of dialogues and information campaign activities have been conducted by the DENR with the help of the local government to convince the illegal settlers to

leave their high risk abodes.

Of the 411 illegal settler families, he said 28 have refused to leave the geohazard areas in sitios Bit-ang 1 and 2.

Martin said a 21-hectare relocation area in Barangay Boliwao is now being procured by the local government of Quezon.

However, only 37 families from Quezon town have qualified to be relocated in the area based on the criteria set by the National Housing Authority, which also pledged P50 million for the development of the relocation site.

arations now to move into the next phase of our river cleanup and flood management initiative. We’re investing in new equipment, and hiring more people. We are fully committed to our advocacy of cleaning up major rivers and helping our cities with flood mitigation,” Ang said.

“We thank the DPWH for approving our plans for this new stretch, which will benefit Valenzuela and upstream portion of Malabon. As soon as we acquire the special equipment, we will start work on these sections by early April, while simultaneously maintaining our dredging operations from Manila Bay in Navotas to Tinajeros Bridge, or sectors one to three,” he added.

Ang said aside from cleaning and increasing the depth of the river to accommodate more rainwater, especially during the typhoon season, the DPWH has required the widening of portions of the river.

THE Department of Public Works and Highways will open the P11.81 billion new toll-free Central Luzon Link Expressway (CLLEX) from Tarlac to Aliaga, Nueva Ecija in May. Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said in the next 90 days, the 18-km section from the connection of Subic Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) and Tarlac-Pangasinan Link Expressway (TPLEX) in Balingcanaway, Tarlac City up to the Aliaga Interchange of the CLLEX Project Phase 1 will be substantially completed.

Villar said the four-lane 30-km CLLEX Phase 1 will cut travel time between Tarlac City and Cabanatuan City from 1 hour and 10 minutes to just 20 minutes.

“The 4.10 km Tarlac Section and 6.40 km Rio Chico River Bridge Section, including 1.5 km Rio Chico Viaduct are already completed while the 9.20 km Aliaga Section and 10.30 km Cabanatuan Section are 78.46 and 85.04 percent accomplished, respectively,” Villar said.

An additional 4.8 km component of the expressway project from the junction of Carmen-Cabanatuan Road is the Zaragoza Interchange Section.

“We are seeing a quality infrastructure that will benefit around 11,200 motorists and commuters daily and ease traffic at Daang Maharlika Highway about to be delivered by the Duterte administration,” Villar added.

The new expressway is part of the mega projects under the administration’s Build, Build, Build program aimed at developing provinces through connective infrastructure.

It will also help farmers from the Philippines’ rice granary of Nueva Ecija in delivering their crops to markets in Central Luzon and Metro Manila.

COVID RESPONSE.

Navotas Rep. John Rey Tiangco and City Health Officer Dr. Christia Padolina receive two polymerase chain reaction (PCR) thermal cyclers from Budget Sec. Wendel Avisado. The machines will be placed at the Navotas City Hospital and the Tumana Health Center.

Opinion Opinion Inhuman and unjust Opinion Inhum

found

length of her compassionate release.

missed period to the stress of a night-

attend the wake and funeral of her

an ounce of human worst decisionWhat of his sion on Elections er was now being THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020 kind of justice system do we time police raid in which she and daughter—but later that same day, breastfeed baby, (Comelec) but by her accused of plotting decency and allowed political career.

River, the River have that allows this to happen?

If the two other activists were arrested. prison officials tried to reduce the Filipino people, against the Speaker, might still be the mother to ds. court and the authorities hadlazy an and ounce during the 2019 of being inBut a medical exam in prison found length of her compassionate release. alive today. period. involved ople’s elections of human decencysufficiently and allowed the she was in her first trimester.

What kind of justice system do we breastfeed her baby, in her the baby, work of the h the Not content with mother to breastfeed River On July 1, she gave birth to River, have that allows this to happen? If the River might still be his brother Lino’s being the family’s home House, and of lacking leadership nd her city’s mayor, Alan and his wife launched Lower might still be alive today. underweight at about 5.5 pounds. court and the authorities had an ounce qualities. To avert the agreed October 14 alive today. morial their candidacies for the two House of turnover Yet just month ago,Cayetano a convicted The National Union of People’s of human decency and allowed the of thea Speakership, sudRiver Representatives her lawyer Josalee had beatsession and seats Deinla. of Taguig City. The US denlyserviceman suspended thewho Congressional Lawyers (NUPL) pleaded with the mother to breastfeed her baby, River his strangled to November 16, in thetransgender process placing in uld be outgoing Reina Speaker Mae’sdefended motherhis and fought a Filipino was court to either let the mother and her might still be alive today.

Adelle Chua, Editor wife’s candidacies forher bothdaughter Taguig House jeopardy the compleies. for the rightoutofof and allowed totimely walknational-budget free after serving their ears. baby stay longer at Fabella Memorial Yet just a month ago, a convicted seats with an argument that left the Filipition that President Duterte desired. mst.daydesk@gmail.com Strike 2 for Alan d. granddaughter to incredulous: remain together, five Alan years andwill10probably monthscome of Hospital, or let Reina Mae keep River her lawyer Josalee Deinla.

US serviceman who had beat and no people aghast and Though only In time, Peter has been his incredible a Mae he sending photos and letters to the his 10-year sentence, his flight to inside the jail where they could be Reina Mae’s mother fought strangled a Filipino transgender was and his wife were not estranged, they to realize that his decision to not honor his reneging on the July THURSDAY, 2021 lk and maintained authoritiesdifferent nearly every bywith a Rep. presidential residences, withweek each freedom term-sharingeased agreement Velasco is provided with natal care facilities. for the right of her daughter and allowed to walkFEBRUARY free after18, serving THE word “strike” out of their ears. agreement that he them residing in different partsrelease, of their the worst no decision he has made in his politctation of pleading for 2019 her daughter’s pardon, less.

These pleadings were rejected. granddaughter to remain together, only five years and 10 months of and the phrase Strike 2 for Alan entered sent into,lawwith the 30 denied and ordered “But photos the prison authorities argument students icalIfcareer, whose high killer point was his being ty Jail city. but toTheir no avail. a convicted could be “striking out”the areplea has been his incredible Lawyers also asked that Reina Mae sending and letters to said the they his 10-year sentence, his flight to approval of President scurrying to the Family Code of the Phil- selected as a major political party’s candidate that the be turned over and to herauthorities lacked thenearly resources.

They came up of baby theexpress lanreneging onweek the July The and hospital Mae compassion and position. human bepart allowed to breast milk every freedom eased by a presidential forReina the on sharippines toDuterte, the where jurisprudence the shown for this some country’s second-highest relatives.

On Aug. 13, the baby was with a lot of excuses, violating the the Unit2019 agreement he of the meaning gave birth the baby kindness, were ReinaPresident Mae and beguage givenof access to clean lactation pleading for her daughter’s release,that pardon, no less. ing of the 18th Congress of therecommended family home.

That decisionwhy clearly displeased of ed States’ national into, with theIf a convicted killer could be given toinside Reina Mae’s mother. right toentered her mother’s breast bat Speakership withher Marinduque Rep. Lord her infantDuterte—the denied the same?

Branch beTo kept mother, said thewith great consternation andDeinla. disgust President broker of the agreefacilities the Manila City Jail but child’s to no avail. game, baseball.

An approval of President ows Allan Velasco.

Cayetano would be Speak“We were shocked that the court milk,” she said. of the Filipino people, Comelec accepted ment —who wanted nothing to stand in the Female The hospital where Reina shown some compassion and human inningDormitory. comes to an Duterte, for Mae the sharave er for the the argument of Cayetano 18th Congress’ firstand 15 approved months way of timely approval by Congress of the would deny such a plea.

The judge Baby River’s health began to Judge Marivic Balisi-Umali of the gave birth recommended the baby kindness, why were Reina Mae and end, and a changeing of the 18th Congress and hiswould wife’shave candidacy.

Many cyni- General Appropriations Act for 2021. andhis Velasco the Speakership only needed to consider the motions deteriorate the following month, and her infant denied the same?

Manila Regional Trial Court Branch be kept with her mother, said Deinla. over takes place, when the person at bat Speakership with Marinduque Rep. Lord believed that the Duterte-apMore than that, in deciding to renege ex- for cal the Filipinos remaining 21 months.

It was a simThe death with of Rep. a three-month-old fromtoher as a human. reunite the mother child fails hitown threeperspective successive perfect throws calls Allan to Velasco.

Cayetano wouldand be Speakcommissioners didnot not on his agreement Velasco, Alan hey ple pointed sharing Comelec agreement; Cayetano was pitcher. The batter is said to have er for the 18thurgent Congress’ first 15 want to offend man whotothree all sensible, right-thinking babyalienated separated from her jailed from But the unfortunately compassion and grew more when themonths baby the heard to attach anythe conditions it. years Peter and Velasco wouldon have the 24 Speakership earlier were was the running mate of President Filipinos now see him to as power-hunpreThere people who were uneasy motherwho despite pleas keep the pair struck mercyout. were not extended to mother was hospitalized Sept. and her If the Filipino people want a good ex- for the remaining 21 months. It was a simRodrigo Duterte. and doubted that the gry, overly ambitious and who is anything the arrangement eaykind about and Legislative branches is all a myth. morning, I got a text reminder about my bills together shows that state authorities and child,” Reina Mae’s lawyer, Reina The death of a three-month-old With the successful campaigns of Alan, but trustworthy. ample of thesaid striking-out concept, they condition ple sharingworsened. agreement; Still, Cayetano wasMae not led ambitious Alan Peter would honor it.

They y necThere isdoing no such thing in thislunchtime, democratat about 8:30 AM and before my think so is perfectly all right. was not allowed to see her baby. baby separated from her jailed his wife and his brother, Taguig City had Strike 1 and Strike 2 have been called need go no further than the career of the heard to attach any conditions to it. proven right. As turnover neared, Cayofbe,our were land of ours. LookSpeaker atThat the way thePeter twofor line was disconnected. isAlan efficiency effectively become Cayetano City. And let ic against now-former Reina Mae Nasino, a human rights River died of pneumonia, just or international valid outgoing Speaker of the House of RepreThere were people who were uneasy mother despiteagreement pleas to shall keepbethe pair LEARLY irked by criticism of his pronouncement that etano started to signal that he would not hat the us not forget Alan’s sister, Pia, who suc- House leaders defer to will the connections, President. you. With regard to internet I Cayetano.

Strike 3 and he be out. The IS true what say that the Mr. kindCay- about branches isthat all astate myth.authorities Alanthey Peter Cayetano. the arrangement and that and the Legislative and effective unless concurred in by at worker for Kadamay, says she didn’t ITsentatives, over three months old.doubted together shows the term-sharexperienced PLDT cutting off my internet r pol- cessfully returned tohonor Both of them admitted that they will the United States must pay if it wants its Visiting Forces the Senate. The Fil- question is, what will The Honorable Genpolitics we have in this country There isleast no such thing inofthis democrathasIf had Strike 1 and Strike 2 called ambitious Alan Peter would honorgranted it. They two-thirds the members of the the court andnecing Cayetanos agreementcoming with knowfrom was pregnant when she of etano On Tuesday, a court think doing sotheisall perfectly all right. connection on the This day that the bill was hs and ipino people now had follow hisshe orders. says a Strike lot. tleman Taguig City do for 3? due.

Agreement (VFA) with the Philippines to continue, essarily reflects the character of our ic land of ours.

Look at way thethat twothe against him; another strike and he will be, were proven right.

As turnover neared, CaySenate.

The tricky part is Palace Rep. Velasco.

MarinIn other words, I was not yet technicalwas arrested last year, attributing her Reina Mae a three-day furlough to .

In a very unusual Congressional Reina MaetoNasino, a human rights could be the society.

It isauthorities also equallyadvised true had that Vice the President House leaders as inthe baseball, out. etano started signal thatand he would not President Duterte LenitoRobredo Senator lawmakdoes notdefer see Kadamay, the the VFAPresident. assays a treaty; thus, ly late inin paying.

That resulted in amy or not, selves to abide byduque’s Celebrity Sports Plaza intwo strengths the conditions of meeting missed period to the stress of nightattend the wake and funeral of her worker for she didn’t and weaknesses of our polBoth of them admitted that they Strike 1 was honor the term-sharanloounce of human ecision hisbeen er was now being ISof a has given that stipulated people and upon corporations Panfi Lacson to read the Constitution. in its eyes, the Senate has will no role in its grandchildren missing their Lord classes for a nt that ITwhat City last Monday, Allan when Quezon time police raid in which she and daughter—but later that same day, called againstthe strengths and ing agreement with itics are essentially follow his orders.

Thiswas sayspregnant a lot. know she when she accused of In plotting into business make money. the old Velasco day andwas a half.

One House cannot Speaker even get and someretention or abrogation. decency and asallowed ans we gothe elected l career. time comestofor the agreement to be Cayetano, Rep.to Velasco.

Marinweaknesses of our not society well. veryarrested unusuallast Congressional twoonother activists were arrested. prison officials tried reduce theIn a was year, attributing her againstbusinesses the Speaker, days, there was no stopping from was This could be the one the telephone to complain because the Constitution the The basic law of the land, officially ratified last Tuesday at fulfilled. by the the Commisduque’s release. lawmakIn end, whether weto like itheorsaid, not,vests meeting missed inMoreover, Celebrity Sports Plaza inofgives the mother selveslength to abide by compassionate the conditions of of being lazy and inBut a medical exam in prison found of her making as much money as they can regardperiod to the stress a nighteverything is done electronically to save on Supreme the powerAllan to review and s what foreign “inofthe President and not In this case, it was even more elab- the Session Hall of the House of Repreworstthat decision of on policy Elections erupon was when now being wesion deserve the kind government City last Court Monday, what hasWhat beenhis stipulated involved The suggestion of the means andsufficiently propriety. Nowadays cost maximize profits.

Since the services shetowas in herdemonstrates, first trimester. kind of justice system do Quezon we time police raid Lord in international which she and breastfeed her baby, COVID-19 transmission remains the p row less sentatives.

This beyond reverse anyHouse treaty or or with the senators or the vice president.” orate, solemn and ceremonial because (Comelec) but by accused of plotting we have with the kind of politicians we Velasco was elected Speaker and the time comes for the agreement to be in the work of the however, there are such things as Corporate primary political career. being provided by companies are still goal, butlegitimacy weboth cannot let Velasco’s theto situaOn July 1, she gave birth River, have that allows this to happen?

If the two other activists were arrested. from the President’s dme Lord Lower any doubt, the of the President of the country was a executive agreement if its constitutionalthe Filipino people, Robredo and Lacson had earlier critagainst the Speaker, River publicmight office. still be was officially ratified last Tuesday at and of and lacking leadership fulfilled.

Social House, Responsibility Business Ethics. tion below par, they should bewas more vote into paralyze the education of our youth. ended qualities. election.

Even Alan Peter perhaps Cayetano underweight at about 5.5 pounds. court andthat authorities had an and ounce during thePresident’s 2019 ofdemand witnessTotocan thenoagreement. document being lazy in- Session But a medical exam prison found ity isHall questioned.

On this, the question on icized the for more In this A very good example this is what the of the House of in Reprehed avert the agreed October 14 men one needs case, itthe was evenofmore elabBusinesses longer just A focus on how considerate especially during this period The enrollment of children lies within alive today. haring forced to accept reality. elections sufficiently involved was even signed.

So, make it was not only a the The Union ofchildren.

People’s human decency andbecause allowed the what roledemonstrates, theher Senate in cancelling fromperiod.

States,row saying sheThis was in firstplays trimester. of turnover of the Speakership, Cayetano sudhappened inthe the United Speakership sentatives. beyond much money they can without conorate, of solemn and ceremonial discretion of parents when theNational pandemic is stilland raging and con- justmoney to betoof elected Not content with them denly What happened in the camps of thethe between inpresident the was worka of the doubt, handshake sealed thesociety. dealsession which treaties is still pending inbirth the Supreme The this could the impression that the suspended Congressional Lawyers pleaded with mother breastfeed her baby, River Alan give Peter Cayetano and Lord any the July legitimacy of Velasco’s sidering whatthat is the good for the Com- However, let(NUPL) me restrictions emphasize that educaOn 1, she gave to River, the President the country sider the travel being imposed his brother Lino’s being the family’s home Lower House, and of lacking leadership bbling two Alans also gave us an opportunity his topanies November 16, inproduce the process placing in before criticizing the Thus, the Upper Chamber itself tion stillgovernment holds prime importance inand theher Allan must now reliable products, Philippines nation extortionists.”

Velasco. is It “a should notofhave ended witness election.Court.

Even Alan Peter Cayetano was by the before disconnecting. to the agreement.

A document court to either let the mother might still be alive today. underweight at about 5.5 pounds. city’s mayor, wife launched qualities. To avert the agreed October forced 14 toisn’t tuse cou- jeopardy to compare the contrasting leadership of stay children. the timely charge fair prices national-budget for their goods,complepay fair lives it did, ifAlan onlyand thehis term-sharing accept reality. sure of its footing insofar as its auThis considerate action should not hugely the way This prompted Duterte to fire back, was even signed.

So, it was not only a baby longer at Fabella Memorial Yet just a month ago, a convicted administration’s foreignsud-What happened The National Union of People’s their candidacies for the two House of turnover of the Speakership, Cayetano o say tion of the twocontinues House leaders.

Former AS continues to grapAs Congress to discuss the is agreement ipithatTHE President Duterte desired. wages to theircountry employees and generate fair styles affect company profits.

The bottom line was honored without them who intreaties the camps of the thority over is concerned. handshake that sealed the deal which saying the vice president is a lawyer Hospital, or let Reina Mae keep River her lawyer Josalee Deinla.

US serviceman who had beat and Representatives seats of Taguig City. The denly suspended the Congressional session Lawyers (NUPL) pleaded with the e rep- profit Speaker Cayetano, ason fartoas the I must cangovernsee, is pletime, with the doctrine COVID-19 pandemic, our 2021 budget, I call The of the ugh In Alan Peter will probably policy initiatives is silly margins.

Being considered as come a good that the services they provide be comhaving to fight it out.

The squabbling two AlansCuriously, also gave neither us an opportunity the President nor his forgets her law background every time outgoing Speaker defended his and his strangled to November 16, in thetransgender process placing in inside the jailfees where theysupport could be between Reina Mae’s mother fought educational system strives tohonor carry ona ment a Filipino was to provide the necessary the consummate political operator andcuscourt to either let the mother and her hey toand realize that his decision to not his responsible corporate citizen is now mensurate to the they charge their the two inboth the Taguig last couto compare the contrasting separation of powers mouthpieces like to leadership quote another conshe opens her camps mouth. andthe childish. wife’s candidacies House jeopardy compleproviding education toworld. students through the alternative learning man’s atomers. go-getter.

Thesenatal traits are modalities necessary ach term-sharing agreement with Rep. Velasco provided with facilities. the right offorher daughter and allowed totimely walknational-budget free after serving byword in the business This is is the to baby stay longer at Fabella Consumers havecare been complaining plefor of weeks was embarrassing to say styles of the two House leaders.

Former stitutional responsibility. This Memorial is the one “Being a lawyer, shethat should know that tion that President Duterte desired. seats with an argument left the Filipivarious learning The Departby thefar DepEd. While we is a myth in this -shar- the ifforone wants to go and survive heir worst decision hemodalities. hasgo made in his polit-to implemented reason why companies to great lengths ages forpleadings improved services but it the is the thegranddaughter These were rejected. to remain together, only five years and 10 months of Hospital, or let as Reina Mae keep River least.

Certainly, it damaged the repSpeaker Cayetano, as far I canshall see, is The doctrine of the that states: “The State protect the ment of Education provided alternative no people aghast and incredulous: Though the Constitution says that, that is my funcawait for the development of a cure and In time, Alan Peter will probably come ents career, whose high point was his being make ical rough political jungle in this country. be included in the list of the most admired feesLawyers that seemalso to beasked increasing the time. country. ofishis the House. political operator andespecially thatall Reina sending photos and to they the separation his 10-year sentence, toofconsummate insideof the jail where they could be modes education—the modular learnto this COVID-19, haveothtoMae utation he and wife notletters estranged, that that foreign policy istohis the domain togest realize his decision notflight honor the his rights subsistence fishermen, tion.

It not theirwere function,” he added. of powers hilasof a major political party’s candidate brok- selected Lord Allan Velasco, onwe the and respected companies.

Inclusion in this vaccine This is what happens when there is no real that a residences, congressman’s a isgo-getter.

These traits natal are to necessary ing which involves the distribution of adapt to the new normal, and if we are and Considering behand, allowed to express breast milk authorities nearly every eased bywith presidential maintained withweek each freedom term-sharing agreement Velasco provided with care facilities.use the President because ita isRep. in this office of local communities, the preferential It is andifferent argument we have heard this country’s second-highest position. list is much coveted because of what it does er nthe that for and to Itlow isnew forkey this reasonprefers thatcannot probably ispardon, a myth in this term is only three years, the term-sharif one wants to go far and survive the printed copies of self-learning modules, tocompetition. adapt toisthe normal, we of them residing in different parts of their the worst decision he has made in his politbe given access to clean lactation pleading for her daughter’s release, no less. that executive power is vested (Article of local These pleadings were rejected. marine and fishing resources, both many times before from the President’s decision clearly displeased President of toand the image of a company. split- That operate quietly.

He does not speak drove President Duterte to initiate the entry of the blended/online learning where set aside the fact that students need to agreement in 2019 did rough political jungle in this country. city.

Their argument sentnot lawmake students country. ical career, whose high point his being VII, Sections 1 and 17).

Andwas itcould does grant gust Duterte—the broker of the classes agreefacilities inside the Manila Jail ing but to no avail.

If a convicted killer be inland and offshore….

Thethat StateReina shall also mouthpieces.

Lawyers also asked Mae one more service is, the coms will President more than he provider. hasWhile to. Trouble When heCity was should have enough between two continue students willbeen be able to attend learning. the budget remuch sense.toThose involved Lord Allan Velasco, on the othscurrying the Family Codeinofbrokthe Phil- selected as a major candidate tedtwo ment —who wanted nothing towas stand in the the President thepolitical powerparty’s toand contract or protect, develop, andprefers conserve such repany isopen apparently owned by aI Filipino “Under our laws and Constitution, Female Dormitory. he being nominated last Monday, The hospital where Reina Mae shown some compassion human be allowed to express breast milk and honorable people.

There a signed except that classes are done via radio, mains for amendments, urgethere ourChi- ering the deal should have known that er hand, is low key and to ippines and to the jurisprudence on the for this country’s second-highest position. vedjust way of timely or approval neseJudge Davao reputed to be guarantee foreign loans on behalf of the sources.

The protection shall extend to we was abusinessman lot of talk from about bringing the chief architect of foreign policy is television, online by Congress of the legislators to back take document. ae and Marivic Balisi-Umali of the human gave birth recommended the baby kindness, why were Reina M be given access to clean lactation nature, being what it is, splitoperate quietly.

He does not speak meaning of the family home.

That decision clearly displeased President of yniAppropriations Act forCayetano 2021. sus- the closely identified him.

Whether this isthe good platforms. into consideration country (Article VII, Section 20).

But o in 15 General dignity and tothe lost glory of Branch offshore fishing grounds of subsistence President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and not When former Speaker her infant denied the same?

Manila Regional Trial Court be kept with her mother, said Deinla. theyears greatfor consternation andwill disgustshould ting To three two Speakers more than he hasinside to. When he was City Jail President Duterte—the broker oftwo the agreefacilities the Manila have been enough between apMore than in deciding or not, we will havehis to wait Since thethat, beginthe needsand ofsee. the But ed- for minds Whether quiet demeanor there—who is no wanted specific provision thatinsays pended the session for abouttoa renege month House. fishermen against foreignthere intrusion…” any whoeither probably of theinterloper Filipino people, Comelec accepted ment stand the nominated end up not satisfying of the wants two to being last Monday, honorable people.

Therenothing was a to signed Female Dormitory. not on his agreement with Rep. Velasco, Alan Let us remain ning of classes, we now, we have to bear with the two dominant ucation sector, espeection last October 6 which in the light of and new leadership style will serve that of foreign policy is the sole responsibil(Article XIII, Section 7). back be president,” Solicitor General Jose the argument of Cayetano and approved way timely approval by Congress of the as shown in the political drama we just was a lot of talk about bringing document. ears Peter alienated all sensible, right-thinking have happened seen students Judge Marivic Balisi-Umali arguof the cially Globe those teachers and well unforgiving players, and Smart/ ent for what in the remaining months bepatient and him last Monday and Tuesity of the President.

The “chiefthe ar-dignity Beyond constitutional his and his candidacy.

Many cyniCalida saidwife’s in 2019 amid criticism of When General Appropriations Act words for 2021. and thethese lost glory of the former Speaker Cayetano susent who nowalike see him as power-hunand teachers and with students belongPLDT. Let us hope that thewill entry of this witnessed. What can one really do in 15 Manila Regional Trial Court Branch violate Filipinos fore the 2022 elections, we have day, could only be interpreted as a cal believed that thereminds Duterte-apchitect ofthan foreign appear More that, in deciding tonowhere renege thehis suggestion from the Presiadministration’s policy of appease21 Filipinos months?

The agreement House. ments, Whether quiet demeanor considerate. pended the session forpolicy” about a month their plightand who ing in poor income gry,sharing overly ambitious is anything third provider, the domination of the two will or the ants wait and see. strike, Comelec commissioners did notlast on Rep.light Velasco, in his the agreement Constitution. dent’s men that one will needsserve to be elected ment toward mepointed of the ritual Beijing. during every election and new leadership style intrustworthy. adapting to these the President took to families and those October 6 whichwith in the of Alan an, to butpreemptive finally be broken.

More importantly, services In his first speech as the areas.

HouseI notice the had the called potenoffend the man who three all sensible, In alienated fact, last some provisions clearly him put well new learning mo-move in far-flung of want candidates signing ancounsel, agreement foryearswhatPeter in the remaining months bepresident before criticizing the adminHisto chief legal Salvador had Strike 1because and Strike 2 have been happened Monday andright-thinking Tueswill finally improve and charges will go down really he made some promises about earlier was the running mate President tial ofnow-former delaying passage Alan of thePeter 2021 Speaker, who nowinterpreted see him as power-hundalities.

I agree the that urge the legislators and honest elections, toofviolate 2022 elections, will have limits that be power. let against Speaker foreignwepolicy initiatives is day, Filipinos could toonly as a fore theistration’s added: If theonly critics would into make internet more affordable to the public. fairPanelo, stake. Cayetano. change, service and unity.

He has Rodrigo Duterte.no candidate wants to preemptive gry,For overly ambitious and who is aanything government budget.

He told House pursuing education in the middle ofThe the to adequate funds to education ucStrike 3 and he will bethe out. to of wait silly and see.

ITfunnel IS true what they say the21kind Legislative branches isby all a vote myth.

Over the years, some Philippine compaexample, Congress, strike, the President took and childish. To use an analogy Globe and Smart/PLDT arethat actually part it. Why? sist onBecause what they want, then maybe they and With the cheated. successful campaigns of Alan, re but question months to fulfill these promises.

Wheth-also end up butbecause trustworthy. pandemic is quite aThe challenging for to existing and problems in no uncertain terms toHonorable get their act toFilis,grown what will Genbeing In his firstmight speech as the House nies have large enough to befeat includofaddress politics we have infuture this country There is no such thing in this democratnotice the move had the potenof two much bigger corporations that are nectwo-thirds of both Houses in joint session they understand, a homeowner should run for president in the next elecboth education providers for 3? stuhiswe wife and hisdeeper, brother, Taguig City had activity Strike 1 and Strike 2 have been called is not tleman erengaged hemake caninlearning pull thema sustainable off andfor change the of orlist he be forced toStrike make his and ing from Taguig City do forand edgether in the ofwill 1,000 biggest corporations If trythat to go itbecome is not really Speaker,doesn’t he made some promises about to find providing water residents tial of delaying the passage of the 2021 essarily reflects the character of our ic land of ours.

Look at the way the two assembled, voting separately, shall have have to be an architect tions so when they president, dents alike.

For one, internet services while in quarantine. effectively become Cayetano City.

And let against now-former Speaker Alan Peter quired. inown pork barrel politics, which the House is that, hehonor. showed whoof most Asiamove. which With in itself is an Many thateverything simple because of what at stake. change, service and unity.

He the has homeowner 21 Metro area intrue its environs. budget.

He toldhe society.

Itofisthe also equally that defer tothe President. the soleleaders power theHouse existence ugly.

In they fact, they want,isPia, they can do if House provided by telecommunications com- known Theparts responsibility supporting the the us not forgetthat Alan’s sister, who suc-government Cayetano.

Striketo 3 declare and will be out. Theof aIThouse IS true what say that the kind we all them to live by,Water to of something honorthe real demonstrated workBoss hardis. in He trying to enhance that their These are Manila and Maynilad.

Both Ambition and control of funds are but months to fulfill these promises.

Whethin no uncertain terms to get their act tostrengths and weaknesses of our polBoth of them admitted that they will a state ofis,war (Article VI,Honorable Section 23). panies in the doctrine country, of forseparation many years of our children does notwe solewho hires an errant architect has all necthe they are also the chief cessfully returned to thearchitect.”

Senate. The Fil- question what will The Genofpull politics we in this the country orable business able, would be were something all the so-called of education reputations as at responsible water providers able to that sign contract of the many reasons why it isdoes not er he can them off have and change gether or hefrom willorders. be forced tosays make his now, have not been par with corporate those of ly depend the DepEd. As they asay, itand two itics are on essentially the strengths follow his This a Strike lot.

The Constitution also says no treaty reason to complain. ipino people now had Cayetanos coming To be clear, the Constitution sugtleman Taguig City do for 3? them- citizens—and would like to see. essarily reflects the character of our powers between the Executive, Judicial someHence, do succeed. with the government in thea 1990s set up the easy to let go of power once acquired. own move. With that, he showed who pork barrel politics, which the House is other countries. manyOthers bewailhowthe takes a village raise child.

Hence, weaknesses oftoour society astowell.

In a very unusual Congressional society.

It is also equally true that the ever, do not always measure up to the image two water companies but with a proviso.

This gentlemen’s agreement, as we all the real to live by, to something honorintermittent connection or worse, the I also callend, on our telecommunications Boss in is. He demonstrated In the whether we like it or not, A selves Celebrity Sportsthat Plazaknown in to abide by the conditions of meeting they to project. us look in at two strengths and weaknesses of our polis for the government to agree to reimburse lackareoftrying reliable signal Let especially far companies to immediately address exunderstand, means that two honorable the so-called doctrine of separation of able, would be something that we all we deserve kind ofand government what has been persons stipulated upon when Quezon City last Monday, Lord Allan companies, Globe and Smart/PLDT. Manila Water the and Maynilad inassertively case theythat in- and itics are essentially the strengths and flung areas. isting internet problems distinguished bind themto see. transmission remains These the powers between the Executive, Judicial would like s ex- COVID-19 we have with the kind of politicians we the time comes for the agreement to be Velasco was elected House Speaker and two Secondly, companies basically control the whole explore cur losses in their operations that is not due the remoteness of schools options that can lead to the necweaknesses of our society as well. primary goal, but we cannot let the situadents. vote public office. was officially ratified last Tuesday at internet and cell services of the counfulfilled. from communities makes it our difficult for essary to theirinto fault.

As we know, a couple years and drastic improvements in of teleparalyze the phone education of youth.

In the end, whether we like it or not, ad of tion tryboth as astudents duopoly.and In spite of some reports of communications teachers tolies deliver the services in of thethis country.

A President very good example what back, Duterte threatened bothiswith a In this case, it was even more elab- the Session Hall of the House of Repreenrollment of children within e end The we deserve the kind of government that necessary modules. problem improving services like This internet speed, has it is Ilawsuit also happened call on made theingovernment allow COVID-19 transmission remains the of the and possible troubles because exwhich them backedtodown from just the Speakership row considerate sentatives. This demonstrates, beyond Nonetheless, what’s important right now we to orate, solemn ceremonial at we the discretion of parents and children. we have with the kind of politicians actually been existing for many years more infrastructure projects, particularboth by teachers students. not nearlylet enough.

The internetthat speed in this collecting goal, butlegitimacy we cannot let Velasco’s the situabillions of pesosand fromLord the perienced Countries entering the Philippines, given the scenario across between several Alan Peter Cayetano any doubt, the of osing However, me emphasize educathe President of the and country was a primary vote into public office. now. The lack ofofroads and educational the building necessary roads ruling. us extend our support, instead of country still one the slowest in Asia and lygovernment tion paralyze the education of our youth. as aof result of annot arbitral I Letwitness ts on tion our waters, is that we obtain a semblance still isholds prime importance in the Allan Velasco.

Itareas should haveand ended election.

Even Alan Peter Cayetano was to the into international A very good example of this is what facilities far-flung areas,The especially in bridges in remote in said the provinces, pulling down theseagreement. efforts. At A thedocument end one of children. the in most expensive. only thing The enrollment of children lies within guess when everything is and done, the soci- lives of comfort and security that we will not be of the way it did, if only the term-sharing forced to accept reality. was even signed.

So, it was not only a The sea beckons theisprovinces, makes it all two the companies more dif- toonly facilitate the delivery of iseducational of the day, what is important is that we just happened the Speakership row agreements have their that extra efficient in these the discretion of parents and children. relevant question to ask that—Are the hold abused by other in countries.

In other words, apAs Congress continues totheir discuss the agreement wasand honored services. without them handshake What happened in the camps of the that sealed the deal which However, ficult for teachers to reach students. materials, this pandemic without posing between Alan Peter Cayetano and Lord are their revenue collection efforts. let me emphasize thatand educas we 2021 fees beinggoods, collected bypublic the two justified with overcome if a foreign nation is sincere and genuine in our budget, I call on to the governrespective interests having tooffight itinevitably out. provide Themakes squabbling two Alans also prime gave us an opportunity Apart from this, public reports circulate This pandemic an detrimental and irreversible effects on In to fact, I myself have experienced this the tion still holds importance in the Allan Velasco.

It should not have ended quality services they and should offering its help, we must be given the capaon ment provide the necessary support regarding the blatant in thealearnto the habits and learnwe must be circumspect between thelearning twothem camps theresponsible last cou- the well-being of the people and socito compare the contrasting leadership times even iflearning I errors have been loyal impact lives of children. the public consider goodinand the way it did,ourselves if only the term-sharing The sea beckons bility to defend in case of necesugh tomany the modules alternative modalities ing received by students. ing curve of children.

While problems ety.AS As much ascountry we can, continues we have to hold ple of weeks was embarrassing to say styles of the two House leaders.

Former Globe subscriber for about 22 years.

One THE to grapAs Congress continues to discuss the WORLD peace cannot be achieved by the corporate citizens? in both recognizing agreement was honored them sity, and effectively assert ourwithout independence art- implemented DepEd. While we We are inby thethe midst of an understandmay still arise even a few months into on to the thought of normalcy as we the least.

Certainly, it damaged the repSpeaker Cayetano, fartoas the I cangovernsee, is ple with COVID-19 pandemic, budget, I callason Rolando Publisher efforts ofthe one country alone. is our why 2021 The doctrine ofThis the in case oftointrusion. ive await fordifficult the development of a cure andofG. Estabillo having fight it out.

The squabbling ably time.

The prevention the school year, let us remain patient and these mutual interests, await the cure for this disease. gal Adviser educational systempolicies strivesaretoinstituted carry onto ment to provide the necessary support traditional foreign utation of theCabie House. the consummate political operator and Honor Blanco Night Editor It goes without thatincountries Ramonchito Tomeldan Managing rn- vaccine to this L.COVID-19, we haveEditor to between the twosaying camps the lastentercouseparation of powers while maintaining our providing education to students through to the alternative learning promote and preserve peace and cooperation Considering congressman’s a go-getter.

These traits are modalities necessary Jimbo Owen GullethatCityaEditor Wong/Ray S. Eñano and Associate ing into international agreements have their reof adaptChin to the new normal, if weEditors are ple of weeks was embarrassing to say various modalities.

Departthefar DepEd. While the we among participant Treaties and implemented is a learning myth incountries. this The Lino is M.only Santosthree years, Chief Photographer Pangco Pañares independence. spective interests and we must be circumspect term the term-sharif one wants by to go and survive es, to adaptJoyce to the new normal,News weEditor cannot Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher the least. Certainly, it damaged the repment of Education provided alternative the development of country. a cure and international agreements entered into by await Opinion Editorto in both recognizing these mutual interests, Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Board Member &are Chief Legal Adviser ere set aside theAdelle factChua that students need ing agreement in 2019 did not make rough for political jungleManaging in this ManilaStandard country. can be accessed at: Honorutation Blanco Cabie Editor of theNight House.

Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Editor modes of education—the modular learnvaccine to this COVID-19, we have to nations for various purposes but often with while maintaining our independence. manilastandard.net ses continue learning. While the budget re- ONLINE Anita F. Grefal Treasury Manager much sense.

Those involved in brokLord Allan Velasco, on the othJimbo Owen Gulle City Editor Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Associate Editors Considering that a congressman’s Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board Published Monday to Sunday by Philippine Manila Standard ing which goal—that involves the of adapt toand themilitary new normal, and Apart if we from are a common is, todistribution strengthen and financing.

We are facing many battles, the pandemic dio, mains open for amendments, I urge our MEMBER ering the deal should have known that Baldwin erment, hand, isPañares low key and toLino M.term R. Felipe Head—Ad Solutions Santos Chief Photographer Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de Joyce Pangco News Editorprefers is only three years, the term-sharprinted copies of self-learning modules, to adapt to the new normal, we cannot help each other. that, the economic investments brought into and its consequences across the board, the Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspilegislators Village, Makati City. Telephone to take Philippine Press Institute Adellequietly.

Chua Editor human nature, being what it is, splitoperate HeOpinion does not speak Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager numbers 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558 (connecting all and theVisiting blended/online learninghas where aside the fact that students need to ing agreement in 2019vaccines, did notinternal make The Forces Agreement been set the country due to the increased confidence The National Association challenges of acquiring into consideration departments), (Editorial) 832-5554, (Advertising) 832-5550. P.O. ting for two Speakers will more than he has to.

When he was of three Philippineyears Newspapers should enough between two continue students willbeen be able to than attend While theChairman budgetboost rein forcehave since 1998.

More two classes decades much sense.

Those aggression involved ininour brokof foreignlearning. traders from the VFA helped Box 2933, Manila Central Post the Office, Manila.

Website: conflict, and continuing waneeds of www. the edEmil P. Jurado Emeritus, Editorial Board sitions. office either has become family manilastandard.net end upSince not public satisfying of the two honorable being nominated Monday, people.

There was a signed except classes are done via radio, open for amendments, I urgethere our after, wethat have seen inevitable blunders in its mains national growth andlast development.

These ering the deal should known that ters—the latter, despite thehave present pandemic s remain ucation sector, espeheirlooms, some of those who inherited the as shown in the political drama we just document. a lot ofyielded talk about bringing television, or online to ofback take implementation, but we cannot deny that the was investments alegislators domino effect prothat we are trying to contain, anditminimize. cially those teachers human nature, being what is, split-I positions are nincompoops andreally morons. and into consideration country benefited from the United States. witnessed.

What can one do in 15 platforms. dignity and the lost glory toofmany the viding employment and livelihood Whenhas former Speaker Cayetano sus- the hope three that weyears determine the commitments of and students belongting for two Speakers will Greed for power and wealth have made Banawis thesession beginthe needs demeanor of the edToSince be specific, in the past five years, we have House.

FilipinosWhether all over thehis country. or 21 months? The agreement reminds pended quiet our treaty partners, with a careful eye on their ate. By Ernesto G.ing the for about a month in poor income end up not satisfying either of the two many of our political leaders corrupt and rapaLet us remain ning of classes, we roughly sector, espereportedly received $500 million without going ucation too style far, any otherserve coundemonstrated in fulfilling ourwe agreeme of the ritual during every election last andBut new leadership will families and those October 6 which in the light of as shown in sincerity the political drama just MOST of our people do not realize how cious. They have become the scourge, scum have seen students cially those teachers worth of military support from the US that try who enters into an international agreements, at this time when countries should be in far-flung areas. I of candidates signing an agreement for him well in the remaining months bepatient and what happened last Monday and Tueswitnessed.

What can one really do in 15 wrecked the situation of our country is to- and dregs of Philippine society, the barnacles and and students belongwere teachers in the formalike of aircraft, training, equip- fore mentthe would definitely look into perks. helping each other. urge the legislators fair and honest elections, only to violate 2022 elections, we these will have day, could only be interpreted as a which prevent the growth and development of or 21 months?

The agreement reminds day.

It’s in really bad shape. considerate. sharing their plight ing in poor income the to funnel adequate funds to education it. Why? strike, nationalBecause economy.no candidate wants to preemptive The pandemic battered and devastated vital the me of the ritual during every election in adapting to these the President took to wait and see. families and those for to address existing and future problems end up being cheated.

Inplayer his in first speech as the House Because of its destitute situation, the Philipnotice because move hadwill the become poten- liard the world.

Senator Manny Pacofnew the 11learning Southeastthe Asian nations arteries of our national economy.

It caused tremothe of his term. an He agreement seems to have in far-flung areas.

I ofbeginning candidates signing for tu- and make learning a sustainable activity pines a pariah in the If has we become try to go deeper, it isinternational not really the Speaker, is in he the made Sports some Hall Fame for about having quieted world’s favorite tourism andofinvestment tial of delaying the passage the 2021 quiao mendous losses and the closure dalities.

I agree that down a bit elections, but had notonly publicly given urgeofpromises the legislators fair and honest to violate ces while in quarantine.

China does even destination. eight service titles in boxing.

Ourbudget. countryinHe has tremendous that simplecommunity. because of what is not at stake. change, andfunds unity.toHe has 21 upit.his of many business establishments. government the House pursuing education thetold middle of pothe won advocacy to change the Constitution. to funnel adequate education Why? Because no candidate wants to mThe responsibility of supporting the respect our sovereignty.

President Lea Salonga, Marcelito Pem- With his still-high performance and acceptance be the ontheir planet Earth.

Millions lost their jobs.

Their Ambition and control of funds are but tential months to fulfill these promises.

Whethpandemic is greatest quite a nation challenging feat for to address existing andPomoy, futureCharice problems in notouncertain terms to get act toars education of our children does not soleend up being cheated.

Duterte’s dalliance with Chairand singers prestigious Before invaded thisand languishing in both education for stuthrough the iturgent to and learning a sustainable activity two of the many reasons why it is not gether er hemake can several pull them offhave andwon change the rating, orforeigners he willproviders be forced toarchipelago, make his penco, of lyfamilies dependare onnow the DepEd. As they say, it If he wecan trypush to go deeper, is notneed really Xi power Jinping once alienated Uncle the awards andquarantine. recognition over the world. barangays all the islands were services peaceful abject poverty. Many could no dents alike.in For one, internet our social arrangement from a presidential while in easy to letman go of acquired. pork barrel politics,allwhich the House is shift own move.

With that, he showed who the takes a village to raise a child. Hence, that simple because of what is at stake.

Sam who now looks at us with and We in having some of the most functional democracies. afford three meals a day. provided byvillage telecommunications comThetake responsibility supporting the to a parliamentary system.

A gentlemen’s agreement, as we all the known to pride live by, to of something honorthe I longer also call on our telecommunications real Boss is.were He quiet, demonstrated that Ambition andwould control arefrom but consternation. beautiful women on earth.

We have won four Our forebears peaceful and Some are already experiencing panies in the doctrine country, of forseparation many years If he does, he saveof thefunds country education of our children does notwe solefar companies to immediately address exunderstand, means that two able, the would be something that all the so-called of times What makes our honorable situation happy two of the many reasons whyfrom it isinfanot Miss Universe crown: Gloriasay, Diaz, people.

They were cooperative rather hunger. Thousands are getting now, have not been at par with those of disaster and spare the Filipino nation ly depend on the DepEd. As they it isting internet problems and assertively and distinguished them- than would like to see. powers between the Executive, Judicial disturbing persons and morebind precarious Margarita Moran, Pia Wurtzbach and Catriocompetitive, cordial and hospitable rather easy to let go of power once acquired. desperate and angry, a recipe for other countries. Hence, many bewail the takes a village to raise a child. Hence, my and shame. For this, Rodrigo Roa Duterte ols explore options that can lead to the necis the deepening distrust and than Gray call are allondistinctive for their beauty. The could suspicious,connection kind and tolerant rather than chaos and anarchy.

A gentlemen’s agreement, we all intermittent or worse, the na become our country’s greatestas president.

I also our telecommunications for essary and drastic improvements in telelack of the people in their gov- belligerent and stunning actress, Lisa address Soberano,exhas and hostile.

The government is bankrupt; lack of reliable signal especially in far young companies to immediately understand, means that two honorable the communications services in the country. ernment. Most of them appear in prestigious publications as the most Theyareas. were so kind and accommodating that been The country flung Mr. Ernesto Banawis persons is a student of history istingcited internet problems and assertively and distinguished bind themhas I the alsotreasury, call onempty. the government to allow considerateresigned of the possible troubles to their fate.

Theyexno theySecondly, the world.

The first MissnecUni- and government. welcomed foreign visitors andof made them beautiful is heavily indebted. the remoteness schools explore woman optionsofthat can lead to the ars more infrastructure projects, particularperienced both by teachers and students. longer care how rampant and immediately became a Filipino comfortable.

They even gave The entire bureaucracy is ridfrom communities makes it difficult for verse, essaryArmi and Kuusela, drastic improvements in citizen telenal ly the building of necessary roadsErnesto and Banawis Let us extend our support, of them pervasive corruptioninstead is, since she fell into the arms ofina young lothario for a song. dled with graft and corruption, bothlands students and teachers to deliver the when communications services the country. y in bridges in remote areas in the provinces, pulling down these efforts.

At the end married The Philippines has theThis distinction of having inefficiency. Applicants for busi- everybody is doing it. Some are even tempted necessary modules. problem has and I also callVirgilio on theHilario. government to allow considerate of the possible troubles exdif- toineptitude facilitateandthe delivery of educational of the day, what is important is that we been Yes, infrastructure we have the capacity to make our counthe common the oriental ness permits, licenses, and certifica- to engage in it. actually been watershed existing of forboth many years more projects, particularperienced both by teachers and students. nts. materials, goods, andclearances public services. overcome this pandemic without posing What really ails our country today is moral and the greatest in the world. occidental cultures, of two the world’s try tions are now required to submit not only the now.

The lack of roads andofeducational ly one the of building of countries necessary roads and Let us extend our support, instead of ate This pandemic inevitably makes an detrimental and irreversible effects on bankruptcy.

But weinhave to reinvent government sysgreatest religions, Mohammedanism and Chrisrequired documents but also supporting pesos. facilities in far-flung areas, especially in bridges remote areas our in the provinces, pulling down these efforts. At the end rn- impact to the learning habits and learntheWhat, well-being of the people and socithen, should we do? Will we just tianity The fundamental principles in the and today’smakes two contending ide- tem. sacred right of the people, the right to The sea beckons the provinces, it all thepolitical more difto facilitate the delivery ofenshrined educational of the day, what is important is that we ing The curve of children. While problems ety.

As much as we can, we have to hold become shibboleths. communism democracy. vote, has been prostituted. Votes are now sold fold our arms and wait for doomsday or the ologies, ficult for teachersand to reach their students. constitution materials, have goods, and mere public services. overcome this pandemic without posing nd- may still arise even a few months into on to the thought of normalcy as we The overhaul of the entire governYet the Filipinos notreports been completely and bought like common goods. Those who Day of Judgment?

Apart from this, have public circulate Thiscomplete pandemic inevitably makes an detrimental and irreversible effects on of the school year, let us remain patient and await the cure for this disease.

Certainly, not! machinery is in order.habits The country is sick, uprooted from cultural moorings.

They ment have more money invariably win elective regarding thetheir blatant errors in the learnimpact to the learning and learnthe well-being of the people and sociWe have been through hell and high water. retained surgery isWhile urgently needed. and enriched their positions. Vote buying has made the electoral ing modules received bycherished students.cultural very ing sick. curveA major of children. problems ety. As much as we can, we have to hold We bore with stoic courage the three and a half heritage.

There is still timeeven for thea Senate and the House exercises a complete mockery, a big joke.

We are in the midst of an understand- may still arise few months into on (www.manilastandard.net) to the thought of normalcy as we RolandotoG. Estabillo Publisher to convene themselves into a of Representatives Christians and time.

Muslims have learned Most of our leaders have made politics centuries of slavery under Spain; over 50 years ably difficult The prevention of the school year, let us remain patient and await the cure for this disease.

Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser ManilaStandard can be accessed at: Assembly to write a new constitution together in peace.

Efforts have neverEditor been Constituent Honor Blanco Cabie Night Editor L. Tomeldan Managing their profession and source of livelihood. Pol- of Uncle Sam’s economic and political exploita- liveRamonchito NAKED Anita Treasury Manager ONLINE andF. Grefal four years of brutal Japanese occupa- spared install Owen a federal system ofEditor government. The resolving conflicts them.

Gulle City ChininWong/Ray S. Eñano between Associate Editors and Jimbo itics hadmanilastandard.net become a lucrative occupation. In tion THOUGHT tion.

We can weather this super typhoon.

Baldwin R. Felipe Head—Ad Solutions people can ratify the new charter simultaneously We have shown our excellent talents and Lino M. Santos Chief Photographer Joyce Pangco Pañares News Editor their greed for power and wealth, they strive MEMBER We can and should overcome our problems character asAdelle 2022. Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser a nation. canEditor claim with the national elections in May Former Philippine Press Institute ChuaNo country Opinion to convert public office into private preserves.Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager CHARLIE V. The National Association can be accessed at: has not just broken and hardships.

We will not only survive. We to have nationals in almost all countries in the ManilaStandard The presidential system They made their positions part of the family of Philippine Newspapers manilastandard.net Anita F. Grefal Treasury Manager ONLINE MANALO will make our country a proud and valiant naEmil P.Manila Jurado Chairman Board repair. down. It Editorial is now beyond world where arebywelcome andStandard needed for Emeritus, Published Mondaythey to Sunday Philippine heirloom which can be bequeathed among Baldwin R. Felipe Head—Ad Solutions Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de their skills and professional competence, char-MEMBERThe federal system is the best way we can themselves and inherited by future genera- tion once more.

Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. Telephone Philippine Press Institute Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager The Philippines has abundant natural reget outThe ofNational the terrifying situation we are now in. acter and832-5554, education. tions. This is how dynasties arose. In many Pork shortage, numbers 832-5556, 832-5558 (connecting all Association departments), (Editorial) 832-5554,Filipinos (Advertising) 832-5550.

P.O. and of Philippine Newspapers President Duterte should now flex his musWe have outstanding in sports political enclaves all over the country, it is sources. The precious minerals, oil and gas Box 2933, Manila Central Post Office, Manila. Website: www. high prices cles and call on Congress to set up a federal no longer surprising or scandalous to see one embedded beneath the seas are unlimited and entertainment. manilastandard.net Efren Bata Reyes is considered the best bil- government. This has been his clarion call at family occupying all the top local elective po- unquantifiable. Our 7,000 islands at the center

etano’s Strike 3 be?

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EDITORIAL

What will Cayetano’s Strike 3 be?

W Good and responsible

HEN is it right to separate a mother from her infant?

Ensure support to education

Considerate action should not hugely affect company profits.

W

HEN is it right to separate a mother from her infant?

EDITORIAL

gentlemen’s agreement corporate citizens

C

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Criticizing the architect A gentlemen’s agreement

A gentlemen’s agreement

ort to education

MORE OPINION ONLINE

MORE OPINION ONLINE (www.manilastandard.net)

Charter change is urgent and imperative PPI EVERYMAN

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Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher ManilaStandard

Published Monday to Sunday by Philippine Manila Standard Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. Telephone numbers 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558 (connecting all departments), (Editorial) 832-5554, (Advertising) 832-5550. P.O. Box 2933, Manila Central Post Office, Manila. Website: www. manilastandard.net

can be accessed at: manilastandard.net

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Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Anita F. Grefal Baldwin R. Felipe Edgar M. Valmorida

Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Treasury Manager Head—Ad Solutions Circulation Manager

Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua

Managing Editor Associate Editors News Editor Opinion Editor

Emil P. Jurado

selv wha the fulfi In ora the wit was han

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sho hon doc W pen last wha day pre not tial gov in n geth own the the pow

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her R for gra sen aut ple but T gav be

A gent

Ensure support to education Finding a committed ally

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30 tha rel giv “ wo onl fro Bu me and

TO THE POINT

Honor Blanco Cabie Night Editor EMIL P. Jimbo Owen Gulle City Editor JURADO Lino M. Santos Chief Photographer

Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

R C

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World

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2021 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Lightning lockdowns in Melbourne, Auckland

M

AJOR cities in Australia and New Zealand lifted stay-at-home orders for millions of residents Wednesday after successfully using snap lockdowns to quash outbreaks of virulent strains of Covid-19.

Authorities said swift action in Melbourne and Auckland helped contain flare-ups of the highly contagious UK coronavirus variant, contrasting with the less rigorous approach taken in Europe and other infection hotspots.

Announcing the end of a five-day shutdown in Melbourne, Victoria Pre-

mier Daniel Andrews hailed the tactic as a “short, sharp circuit-breaker”.

“If we had been open throughout this outbreak... total case numbers would be much, much higher and it is a certainty that I would not be reporting zero cases today,” he said.

Andrews’s decision allows around

six million residents to leave their homes, businesses to reopen and some spectators to return for the final days of the Australian Open tennis tournament.

In New Zealand, almost two million Aucklanders will enjoy similar freedoms after Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said a three-day lockdown had quelled the city’s most serious outbreak in almost six months.

“We wanted to make sure we took a cautious approach because that’s much, much better than getting it wrong and having a large-scale outbreak and a long lockdown,” she said.

Auckland is also hosting a major sporting event—the America’s Cup yachting regatta—which is expected to resume this week with crowds watching from the shoreline restricted to 100.

Both the Auckland and Melbourne outbreaks involved the more transmissible virus strain first detected in Britain.

Andrews has conceded such “hyperinfectious” variants are difficult to contain and examined tightening quarantine restrictions in Australia’s second most populous state.

While Australia has largely contained the virus, Victoria state’s Melbourne re-

Myanmar protesters stage biggest rallies since troop deployment

IN BRIEF Mt. Etna spews smoke, but is safe, Italy says MOUNT Etna, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, belched smoke and ashes in a new eruption on Tuesday, but Italian authorities said it posed no danger to the surrounding villages.

“We’ve seen worse,” the head of the INGV National Institute for Geophysics and Vulcanology in the nearby city of Catania, Stefano Branco, told Italian news agency AGI. Estimating that the eruption from Etna’s southeastern crater began late Tuesday afternoon, Branco insisted that the latest burst of activity was “not at all worrying”.

Nevertheless, with small stones and ashes raining down, authorities decided to close Catania’s international airport.

The emergency authorities said on their Twitter account that they were monitoring the situation closely in the three villages at the foot of the volcano -- Linguaglossa, Fornazzo and Milo.

Images showed a spectacular rose-colored plume of ashes above the snow-capped summit, but the cloud had largely dissipated by nightfall, while lava flows continued to glow.

At 3,324 meters (nearly 11,000 feet), Etna is the tallest active volcano in Europe and has erupted frequently in the past 500,000 years AFP

Cambodia sets up China-style internet CAMBODIA’S government moved to exert near-total control over the country’s online life Wednesday, setting up a national internet gateway which activists say will stifle freedom of expression and block content via a China-style firewall.

Cambodia has seen a rapid increase in internet use in recent years, and Premier Hun Sen’s government -- which dissolved the main opposition party in 2017 -- has intensified a crackdown on online dissent.

A government spokesman dismissed concerns over the gateway (NIG), a system which will funnel all international internet connections through a single entry point, saying it would prevent online crime and promote “national interests”.

But Phay Siphan also told AFP the authorities “will destroy those (internet) users who want to create rebellion” against the government.

A sub-decree signed by Hun Sen and obtained by AFP on Wednesday stated that the NIG would control web connections in order to enhance “national revenue collection, to protect national security and preserve social order”.

mains the country’s worst affected city, enduring more than 100 days of lockdown late last year to curb an outbreak that killed about 800.

Andrews said aggressive lockdowns may be needed again to keep the virus at bay.

“I can’t stand here and be honest with people and say this will never, ever happen again,” he said.

Ardern said New Zealand’s Covid-19 response—which involves rigorous contact tracing and widespread testing when there is a community case—had again proved effective. AFP

ROAD CLEARING. Police officers try to clear a road during a demonstration on February 14, 2021 in Port-au-Prince. Several

thousand people demonstrated on February 14, 2021 in the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince, saying the government was trying to establish a new dictatorship and denouncing international support for President Jovenel Moise. The protests were mostly peaceful, although a few clashes broke out between some demonstrators and police, who fired tear gas and rubber bullets. AFP

First 1k COVID vaccine doses to enter Gaza Wednesday AN INITIAL batch of 1,000 coronavirus vaccine doses donated by Russia will enter Gaza on Wednesday, Israel’s defence ministry told AFP, after it had blocked a shipment earlier this week.

The Sputnik V doses were “being transferred from the Palestinian Authority (in the West Bank) to the Gaza Strip in accordance with the PA’s request and the approval of the (Israeli) political echelon”, said the Israeli military department responsible for civil affairs in the occupied Palestinian territories (COGAT).

It added that “the vaccine shipment is now making its way to the Erez cross-

ing” that connects Israel to the blockaded Gaza Strip, a enclave which is controlled by the Islamist group Hamas.

Both the PA and Hamas, which have said the doses will be given to frontline healthcare workers, had condemned Israel for refusing to allow the shipment to enter Gaza on Monday.

The PA called on the World Health Organization to “condemn Israel” for the obstruction and urged it “to hold (Israel) fully responsible for the dangers arising from preventing the entry of vaccines into the Gaza Strip.”

Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem had blasted Israel’s blockage as a “vio-

lation of all international laws and humanitarian standards.”

COGAT said on Monday that a political decision was required before it could allow vaccines to enter Gaza, where Israel has fought three wars against Hamas, which took control of the enclave in 2007.

The PA is expecting some two million doses ordered from various manufacturers, in addition to vaccines from the UN-backed Covax programme, set up to help less wealthy nations procure vaccines.

The PA has said it will share its procurement with Hamas. AFP

MYANMAR’S anti-coup protesters returned to the streets in force on Wednesday with the biggest demonstrations since troops fanned out around the country to quell opposition to the new military junta.

Much of the country has been in open revolt since the military deposed Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi’s government at the start of the month and charged her under an obscure import law.

Tens of thousands rallied in Yangon, with protesters blockading roads with vehicles to stop security forces from moving around the nation’s biggest city.

“We have to fight until the end,” Nilar, a 21-year-old student who asked not to use her real name, told AFP. “We need to show our unity and strength to end military rule. People need to come out on the streets.”

Wednesday’s crowds came in defiance of more violent efforts by the regime to bring resistance to heel, following nationwide street protests and a disobedience campaign encouraging civil servants to strike.

Demonstrations over the past two days had been noticeably smaller since troops were deployed around Yangon on the weekend.

But social media platforms were flooded with calls for a show of force by protesters in the hours before the junta imposed a third consecutive overnight internet blackout.

By noon, there were anti-coup demonstrations across Myanmar, from the remote highlands region of Chin state to a small town in the Irrawaddy delta that saw a parade of protesters hoisting Suu Kyi posters. AFP

Taiwan says China pressure prevents sale of 5m vaccine doses AN ATTEMPT by Taiwan to secure five million doses of coronavirus vaccine failed at the last minute because of “political pressure”, Taipei’s health minister said Wednesday, raising fears China could be creating roadblocks for the inoculation drive.

Health minister Chen Shih-chung revealed during a radio interview that a crucial deal to acquire the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine had failed “at the final step” of negotiations with BioNTech.

“I was worried about interference from external forces all along and there were many possibilities. I was worried about political pressure. We believed there was political pressure,” he said.

“The deal fell through... because someone doesn’t want Taiwan to be too happy.”

German firm BioNTech has struck a deal with the Shanghai-based Fosun Pharmaceutical Group to bring the vaccine to China.

When asked if Beijing might be blocking the deal, Chen replied “this could be a possibility but we can’t confirm it. We are still communicating with” the company.

“It’s very rare to stop the process before swapping the contracts,” Chen said, adding BioNTech called off the December deal citing “different internal opinions” and “international vaccine distributions”.

Fosun and BioNTech did not return requests for comment.

The pandemic has highlighted the diplomatic and economic isolation China forces on Taiwan’s 23 million citizens.

Beijing sees self-ruled democratic Taiwan as part of its territory awaiting reunification, by force if necessary.

It has dramatically stepped up its pressure campaign since President Tsai Ing-wen was elected in 2016, poaching seven of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies and blocking Taipei from global bodies in-

cluding the World Health Organization.

Taiwan has survived the pandemic largely unscathed—with fewer than 940 confirmed cases and nine deaths so far —by closing its borders early, imposing strict quarantine measures and rolling out effective tracing.

But it has struggled to locate adequate vaccine supplies and only recently announced a supply of five million doses

by American pharmaceutical giant Moderna and 200,000 doses of OxfordAstraZeneca vaccine via COVAX. An analyst said Beijing has previously used the pandemic to pressure Taiwan.

“China’s continued weaponisation and politicisation of people’s health —which should be apolitical—should not come as a surprise, especially given everything that has been going on with the WHO,” tweeted Jessica Drun, a Taiwan-China expert at the Project 2049 think-tank. AFP

YOUNG VICTIM. Civilians carry a young victim at the scene of an explosion in the town of Azaz in the rebel-controlled northern countryside of Syria’s Aleppo province,on January 31, 2021. A car bomb killed at least four people, including three civilians, in the Turkish-held northern town of Azaz in war-torn Syria today, a war monitor said. The attack, which occurred near a cultural centre, also wounded more than 22 others, the CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. AFP

Manila

Standard

TODAY

LEGAL NOTICE

Notice is hereby given to the public that an Extrajudicial Settlement has been executed by the heirs of Muneyoshi Wakabayashi,namely: Catherine C. Wakabayashi, Akira C. Wakabayashi,Youmi C. Wakabayashi,and Yutaka C. Wakabayashi, all of legal age, over CCT 10514, per deed on 11 January 2021, before Notary Public John Edward Trinidad Ang, Per Doc. No. 153, Page No.31, Book No. 111, Series of 2021 (FEB. 4/11/18, 2021)

LEGAL NOTICE

Notice is hereby given to the public that an Extrajudicial Settlement has been executed by the heirs of Jose Fabricante namely: Ma. Venuza C. Fabricante, Joven C.Fabricante, Joanna Joyce C. Fabricante, Jona Mae C.Fabricante, Jeffrey C. Fabricate, all of legal age, per deed on Nov 10, 2020 before Notary Public Analyn Giba-Cinco, Per Doc No. 90, Page No.19, Book No. 1, Series of 2020.

(FEB. 18/25/MAR. 4, 2021)

Bandits kidnap teachers in Nigeria

GUNMEN believed to belong to a criminal gang have kidnapped hundreds of schoolboys from their hostels along with some of teachers in central Nigeria, an official and a security source told AFP Wednesday.

The attackers wearing military uniforms stormed the Government Science College in “huge numbers” in the town of Kagara in Niger state late on Tuesday, herding the students into a nearby forest, the sources said.

One student was dead during the kidnapping, the official said.

Northwest and central Nigeria have increasingly been targeted by criminal gangs known locally as “bandits” who kidnap for ransom, rape and pillage across the region.

“Bandits went into GSC Kagara last night and kidnapped hundreds of students and their teachers,” said an official who asked not to be identified due to the sensitivity of the issue.

“One of the kidnapped staff and some students managed to escape. The staff confirmed a student was shot dead during the kidnap operation,” the official said.

The school has around 1,000 students and it was not immediately clear how many were taken.

The security source confirmed the details of the attack and said a headcount was under way.

Troops with aerial support were tracking the bandits for possible rescue, the security source said.AFP

Virus strands half a dozen cruise ships in Cyprus HALF a dozen cruise ships have been stranded for up to nine months off Cyprus, looming large over a fishing village on the holiday island hit by the coronavirus pandemic.

Cyprus was quick to impose a stringent lockdown last March, shutting its air and sea ports as COVID-19 began to overwhelm hospitals elsewhere in Europe.

The Mediterranean island, whose economy relies heavily on tourism and shipping, opened its waters two months later to cruise liners for refuelling and anchorage.

Carnival, one of the world’s largest cruise operators, took up the offer, and its luxury ships have been anchored off the village of Moni since May, with the cruise industry immobilised by the pandemic.

Lying around two kilometres (just Kamali, spokeswoman for Princess over a mile) offshore, six cruise ships Cruises. figure prominently and have become an “We are continuing to assess the posattraction for snap-happy Cypriots. sibilities for future sailings,” she told AFP in an email.

“These ships are stuck here because Skeleton crews there is nowhere to go; there is no busiAmong the stranded ships is the ness for the time being,” said Marios Bermuda-flagged Enchanted Princess, Chrysanthou, captain of the nearby a royal-class cruise ship built in 2020 Saint Rafael marina, which is used to re- with 19 decks and measuring almost supply and rotate the quarantined crews. 330 metres (1,082 feet) in length.

“I never saw anything like this,” he Skeleton crews maintain the vestold AFP. sels, including the Bahamas-flagged “During our winter time they (nor- Seabourn Quest, which according to the mally) go to Australia or America, but Marine Traffic website arrived from Githis virus situation is everywhere now.” braltar on May 8.

Some of the ships have come and Carnival said its Princess line of gone, but others have been anchored off cruise ships had paused sailing in the Cyprus for nine months.

US and Europe until mid-May, and Sea“Our ships are off the coast of Cyprus bourn had halted some of its services awaiting return to service,” said Negin until November. AFP

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2021 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market drops on profit taking; BDO, Converge lead decliners

T

he stock market fell Wednesday on profit taking after rallying the previous day, weighed down by lingering impact of the pandemic and prospects of a slow economic recovery.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index dropped 77.63 points, or 1.1 percent, to 6,966.43 on a value turnover of P19.4 billion. Losers overwhelmed gainers, 145 to 82, with 45 issues unchanged.

Converge Information and Communications Technology Solutions Inc., a fiber internet service provider, declined 3.7 percent to P18.14, while BDO Unibank Inc., the biggest lender in terms of assets, was down 3.1 percent to P105.60.

MerryMart Consumer Corp., a supermarket chain owned by businessman Edgar Sia II, fell 1.9 percent to P7.20, but magnetite iron miner Apollo Global Capital Inc. rose 9 percent to P0.265.

Meanwhile, most markets fell in Asia on Wednesday, hit by profit-taking after a strong rally across the world in recent weeks, with investors worried

valuations may have gone too far for now.

However, analysts said that while equities have room for a drop, the general view is that they will resume their strong upward march as vaccine rollouts, slowing infection rates and the easing of lockdowns allow economies to return to normal.

After a mixed lead from Wall Street, Asian markets stuttered, having enjoyed a clear run higher so far this year.

Tokyo, Sydney, Singapore, Seoul, Mumbai, Bangkok and Jakarta all fell, while Taipei and Wellington rose.

Hong Kong reversed an early sell-off to surge more than one percent in the afternoon—to break 31,000 for the first time since June 2018—fueled by huge interest from investors in mainland China, where markets are still closed for the Lunar New Year break. With AFP

New trade rules may raise prices of roofing materials THE construction sector is one of the most deeply impacted industries in the Philippines. The pandemic lockdown directly reduced construction activities in the country as workers were unable to report to work sites amid the restrictions that hampered mobility and travel.

The construction industry suffered the brunt of the pandemic. It was one of the biggest contributors to the decline of the economy in 2020. Construction activities shrank 25.3 percent last year. The slump meant more workers were unemployed and directly led to reduced household spending.

The sector, thus, needs all the support it can get from the government. But latest regulations from the Department of Trade and Industry are not helping the industry.

Roll formers and roofing manufacturers are not in favor of the latest technical regulation recently issued by the Bureau of Philippine Standards and the Department of Industry. A department’s administrative order (DAO) is mandating the product certification of raw materials used for roofing and general applications effective on January 13, 2021.

Makers and importers of roofing items in the country say the order will result in the undersupply of materials needed to complete housing projects and key government infrastructure projects. The DAO covers hot-tip metallic coated and pre-painted galvanized steel coils and sheets for roofs and general applications.

The DTI defended the order, saying it aims to strictly ensure that hot-dip metallic-coated and pre-painted galvanized steel coils and sheets for roofing and general applications to be manufactured, imported, sold or distributed in the Philippines, meet the specified quality requirements.

The DAO covers the following technical regulations: PNS 19902004: Hot-dip Zinc-coated carbon steel coils and sheets: PNS 2003-2004: Continuous Hot-dip Zinc-5% Aluminum alloy coated steel coils and sheets; PNS 1993-2004: Continuous hot-dip aluminum/zinc-coated steel sheet of commercial, drawing and structural qualities; and PNS 201 1990: Pre-painted galvanized steel coils and sheets.

Makers and importers of roofing materials are puzzled over DTI’s rush to implement the DAO. They fear the regulation will create market distortions resulting in supply shortage and an increase in the prices of steel sheets and coils.

Representatives of the steel industry immediately appealed to the DTI and sought ample time to adjust and conform to the new requirements and standards, as well as dispose all incoming steel coils and sheets. Local manufacturers have either booked or ordered steel coils and sheets for roofing prior to the effectivity of DAO 20-10, Series of 2020.

The industry added that shipments due to arrive between January and April 2021 would not meet the minimum total coated thickness of 0.4 mm and coating mass requirements as indicated in the new order since they use PNS 67:2014 as reference standard.

The DTI eventually granted the steel industry’s appeal to provide them enough time to comply with the new technical regulation. But the department issued additional provisions requiring importers of roofing materials to submit loads of documents and certification before the release of the shipments.

The new requirements are odd. The incoming shipments have already followed the legal importation process.

Importers of roofing materials are now being required in all to submit 24 documents to have their shipments released, a clear sign of red tape in the BPS and DTI. Metal roofing, or “yero” in the vernacular, is the most popular option for residential roofs in the country. The life expectancy of metal roofing is more than thrice the durability of asphalt shingles.

The new DTI DAO adds to the prevailing high cost of raw materials, including the price of yero.

The regulation compromises the quality of roofing materials which should be thinner and yet sold at a high price, which poor families could not afford to buy, especially amid this pandemic.

The DTI, it seems, is being unreasonable in imposing new technical regulations that hamper socio-economic progress.

E-mail: rayenano@yahoo.com or extrastory2000@gmail.com

Manila

Standard TO HOLDERS OF COMMON SHARES OF TODAY

LOPEZ HOLDINGS CORPORATION

All holders of shares of common stock of LOPEZ HOLDINGS CORPORATION (“LPZ”) (the Common Shareholders and the Company, respectively) are hereby notified that FIRST PHILIPPINE HOLDINGS CORPORATION filed a tender offer report (SEC Form 19-1, including any and all of its annexes, exhibits and schedules) on 4 December, 2020 as amended on 20 January 2021 and further amended on 16 February 2021 with the Company, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) (the “Tender Offer Report”). The Bidder is prepared to acquire through a public and voluntary tender offer (the Tender Offer), subject to the terms and conditions of the Tender Offer as stated in the Tender Offer Report, a minimum of 908,459,782 common shares of the FPH’s parent company, LPZ representing approximately 20% of the total issued and outstanding common shares of LPZ and up to a maximum of 1,430,824,156 common shares of LPZ representing approximately 31.5% of the total issued and outstanding common shares of LPZ (“Tender Offer Shares”) from all the Common Shareholders of the Company (though the Ultimate Parent has agreed not to tender its common shares into the Tender Offer at the tender offer price (the Tender Offer Price) of Three Pesos and Eighty Five Centavos (P3.85) per common share

around the Cross Date, unless the Tender Offer Period is extended with the prior approval of the SEC. In this case, the block sale for the Tender Offer Shares (subject to approval of the PSE) will be on or around the eighth trading day after the end of the extended Tender Offer Period.

Delivery of each required document in relation to the Tender Offer to the Tender Offer Agent shall be deemed made only upon actual receipt thereof by the Tender Offer Agent. The Bidder or the Tender Offer Agent reserves the right to require presentation or submission of any additional documents for the purpose of, among others, enabling the Bidder or the Tender Offer Agent to determine from any Tendering Shareholder (or any person acting on its behalf, including any Participating Broker) the validity, eligibility, and acceptability of any common shares in the Company tendered pursuant to the Tender Offer.

Hence, Tendering Shareholders are strongly urged against tendering at the last minute to allow sufficient time to correct any deficiency in their application (or any document submitted in support thereof). Tendering Shareholders are also urged to indicate their telephone numbers in their respective Application Forms to allow the Tender Offer Agent to inform them immediately of any deficiency in their applications.

In addition: If you are a CORPORATE SHAREHOLDER, please submit the following:

Background on the Tender Offer First Philippine Holdings Corporation (“FPH” or ”Bidder”), intends to conduct a tender offer (“Tender Offer”) to acquire a minimum of 908,459,782 issued and outstanding common shares representing approximately 20% of the total issued and outstanding common shares of LPZ and up to a maximum of 1,430,824,156 issued and outstanding common shares representing approximately 31.5% of the total issued and outstanding common shares of LPZ, from all the Common Shareholders of the Company (though the Ultimate Parent has agreed not to tender its common shares into the Tender Offer).

If you are an INDIVIDUAL SHAREHOLDER, please submit the following:

1.

Certified true copies of the SEC Registration, the latest Articles of Incorporation and By-laws of the shareholder or equivalent constitutive documents thereof.

1.

Two (2) valid identification cards containing the photo and specimen signature of the shareholder.

FPH originally intended to acquire up to a maximum of 2,069,273,361 common shares representing approximately 45.56%, of the total issued and outstanding common shares of the Company. However, to remove the risk of LPZ falling below the required minimum public ownership and dispense with the need to pursue its petition for a voluntary delisting, the Bidder decided to reduce the maximum number of shares to be acquired from the Tender Offer to 1,567,093,124 issued and outstanding common shares representing approximately 34.5% of the total issued and outstanding common shares of LPZ. An Amended Tender Offer Report was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission to reflect such changes on 20 January 2021.

2.

A notarized Secretary’s Certificate substantially in the form prescribed by the Bidder setting forth resolutions of the tendering shareholder’s Board of Directors authorizing the tender and sale of the Company’s shares and designating the signatories for the purpose.

2.

For shareholders acting through an attorney-in-fact, a duly notarized Irrevocable Power of Attorney substantially in the form prescribed by the Bidder (N.B. Endorsement of stock certificate/s must be made by the shareholder himself).

On 21 January 2021, LPZ withdrew its petition for voluntary delisting of its 4,629,532,611 common shares from the Main Board of the Philippine Stock Exchange.

3.

Copy of the latest General Information Sheet (GIS) filed with the SEC or any equivalent documents thereof and certified as a true copy of the original by the Corporate Secretary or equivalent persons having official custody of corporate shareholder’s records.

3.

Two (2) duly accomplished signature cards containing the specimen signature of the shareholder and verified by his broker (the name of the broker and the broker’s signatory must be specified) or officer of the bank (the name of the bank and the bank’s officer must be specified) where he is maintaining an account.

4.

Two (2) duly accomplished specimen signature cards containing the specimen signature of the Applicant’s designated authorized signatories and verified by the Applicant’s Corporate Secretary or equivalent person having official custody of corporate shareholder’s records.

4.

Two (2) copies of valid IDs of the bank’s signatory is also required.

5.

Photocopy of two valid IDs of the authorized signatory/s certified as true copy of the original by the Corporate Secretary.

To address concerns and the risk that LPZ may still fall below the public ownership requirement, the Bidder decided to further reduce the maximum number of shares to 1,430,824,156 issued and outstanding common shares representing approximately 31.5% of the total issued and outstanding common shares of LPZ. A Second Amended Tender Offer Report reflecting such changes was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on 16 February 2021.

The Tender Offer shall be subject to the terms and conditions attached as Exhibit A of the Tender Offer Report, and the fulfillment of the following prerequisites (“Tender Offer Prerequisites”): (i)

In the course of the Tender Offer, a minimum of 908,459,782 issued and outstanding common shares representing approximately 20% and up to a maximum of 1,430,824,156 issued and outstanding common shares representing approximately 31.5% of the total issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company shall have been (a) validly tendered (which means offered for sale to the Bidder) by the Company’s shareholders (“Tendering Shareholders”); (b) eligible for or otherwise capable of being purchased by the Bidder; and (c) accepted for purchase by the Bidder.

(ii)

The Bidder shall have obtained all organizational, contractual, and regulatory approvals, consents, and authorizations for the acceptance and purchase by the Bidder of the Tender Offer Shares before the expiration of the Tender Offer Period.

(iii)

Each of the Tendering Shareholders shall have obtained all the required approvals and authorizations to enable it to transfer the common shares to the Bidder before the expiration of the Tender Offer Period, and such Tendering Shareholder is not aware of any objection, adverse claim, dispute, or notice concerning such Tendering Shareholder’s right to tender and transfer the Tender Offer Shares.

(iv)

In the sole determination of the Bidder, no material adverse change in or affecting the business, operations, property, condition (financial or otherwise), or prospects of the Company shall have occurred.

(v)

That the request for extension of the Tender Offer Period to 8 March 2021 shall have been cleared by the SEC.

Originally, there were other prerequisites pertaining to the delisting of the common shares of the Company. Since the voluntary delisting of the common shares will no longer be pursued, these prerequisites will no longer be imposed by the Bidder. The prerequisite that the Philippine Competition Commission render a decision that the Tender Offer is exempt from notification or clearance was fulfilled on December 16, 2020.

If you have lost your share certificates: Common Shareholders who have lost their share certificates are required to submit (1) a notarized Affidavit of Loss in the form prescribed by the Bidder, (2) Affidavit of Publication executed by the publisher of newspaper of general circulation attesting that the affidavit of loss and the details required under Section 72 of the Revised Corporation Code of the Philippines have been published in a newspaper of general circulation in the place where LPZ has its principal office once a week for at least three consecutive weeks, and (3) an applicable surety bond in an amount of twice the closing price per share of the LPZ shares as of the date of execution of the affidavit of loss, multiplied by the number of shares covered by each lost stock certificate, which bond shall run for a period of one year.

If you are a PARTNERSHIP, please submit the following: 1.

Copy of SEC Registration or any equivalent constitutive document of the Common Shareholder certified as true copy of the original by the Partnership Secretary or equivalent person having official custody of the partnership records.

In the event any of the Tender Offer Prerequisites is not met, the Bidder may, upon notice to the SEC and shareholders of LPZ, withdraw the Tender Offer by providing written notice of withdrawal of the Tender Offer on or before Settlement Date. The Bidder also reserves the right to waive any of the Tender Offer Prerequisites, as may be allowed.

2.

Copy of the latest Articles of Partnership or equivalent constitutive document of the Common Shareholder certified as true copy of the original by the Partnership Secretary or equivalent person having official custody of the partnership records.

Pursuant to Rule 19.9.5 of the implementing rules and regulations of the Securities Regulation Code, in the event that the Tender Offer Shares (following acceptance by the Bidder of the Applications from Tendering Shareholders) exceed 1,430,824,156 outstanding common shares representing the maximum outstanding common shares sought by the Bidder, all Tender Offer Shares shall be scaled back on a pro rata basis and rounded down to the nearest share. Provided that, the Bidder may (at its sole discretion) accept, purchase acquire all the Tender Offer Shares provided that, in the Bidder’s determination, such acquisition would not breach or would be reasonably likely to cause a breach of any legal or regulatory restrictions applicable to the Bidder or the Company.

3.

Notarized Partnership Resolution authorizing the sale of the Common Shareholder’s LPZ common shares, designating signatories for the purpose and indicating the specimen signature of the signatories, substantially in the form prescribed by the Bidder.

Tendering Shareholders whose Tender Offer Shares have been scaled back or otherwise adjusted shall be notified of such fact by the Tender Offer Agent on or before the Settlement Date and Tender Offer Shares that are not accepted and acquired by the Bidder due to such scale back shall be returned by the Tender Agent to the relevant common shareholder. The Philippine Depository & Trust Corp. (“PDTC”) transfer and upliftment fees incurred arising from the return of Tender Offer Shares occurring due to a scaled-back as described here, shall be for the account of the Bidder.

Copies of the Tender Offer Report (SEC Form 19-1, including any and all of its annexes, exhibits, and schedules), are available at the PSE Electronic Disclosures Technology portal (http://edge.pse.com.ph), company disclosures section for FPH. Any Common Shareholder who wishes to secure a copy of the Tender Offer Report may likewise do so at the office of the Tender Offer Agent or download a copy from www.fphc.com.

The Tender Offer Price The consideration for the Tender Offer Shares shall be Three Pesos and Eighty Five Centavos (P3.85) per share (the Tender Offer Price), payable by way of credit in the nominated bank account or by check as hereafter provided.

The Tender Offer Price does not include customary selling charges amounting 0.621% of the total transaction value (excluding broker’s commission, which shall be for the Tendering Shareholder’s account), and shall include the following Selling Charges Type of Fee

% of Value of the Transaction

Stock transaction tax

0.600%

Fees payable to the Securities Clearing Corporation of the Philippines

0.010%

PSE transaction fees

0.005%

SEC fees

0.005%

Stock Investment Protection Fund

0.001%

After deducting the Selling Charges from a Tendering Shareholder’s account, the net Tender Offer Price is estimated to be Three Pesos and Eight Hundred Twenty Six Centavos (P3.826) per common share.

If the Tendering Shareholder will lodge its shares through the Tender Offer Agent, other fees such as lodgment fee and EQ trade transfer fee (as applicable) will be for the account of the Bidder. If the Tendering Shareholder will lodge its shares through a different PSE authorized broker, other fees such as lodgment fee and EQ trade transfer fee (as applicable) will be for the account of the Tendering Shareholder.

The selling broker’s commission, including value added tax, shall be payable by the Tendering Shareholder, subject to mutual agreement between the Tendering Shareholder and the broker.

BDO Unibank Inc. has confirmed that the Bidder has sufficient resources, including cash, which are available to satisfy full acceptance of all of the Tender Offer Shares that may be tendered pursuant to the Tender Offer.

The Tender Offer Period The Tender Offer started at 9:00 am on 22 January 2021 and shall end on 8 March 2021. The extension of the Tender Offer Period to 8 March 2021 (from the original end-date of 19 February 2021) is still subject to SEC clearance.

As of date hereof, 47,771,852 shares have been deposited by stockholders of LPZ for the Tender Offer.

During the Tender Offer Period, any Tendering Shareholder of the Company may offer all or a portion of their common shares in the Company for acceptance by and sale to the Bidder in accordance with, and subject to the terms and conditions of, the Tender Offer.

Tendering Shareholders who previously tendered their shares are permitted to withdraw such tendered shares at any time while the Tender Offer Period remains open.

The accepted Tender Offer Shares are intended to be crossed through the PSE eight (8) business days after the close of the Tender Offer Period or on 18 March 2021 (“Cross Date”), subject to any extension of the Tender Offer Period with the approval of the SEC. Subject to the confirmation of the PSE that the parties may proceed to consummate the Tender Offer and the approval by the PSE of the crossing of the Tender Offer Shares, the sale and purchase of the accepted Tender Offer Shares shall be settled on the tenth (10) business days after the close of the Tender Offer Period or on 22 March 2021 (“Settlement Date”).

Acceptance

The Tender Offer Agent will accept an Application on behalf of the Bidder on the condition that the Tendering Shareholder has been certified by the Stock Transfer Agent as a Common Shareholder of the Company at any time during the Tender Offer Period and that the signature/ endorsement on the stock certificate(s) submitted matches the signature on file with the Stock Transfer Agent or with the Company, if such is available. If a Tendering Shareholder does not have any signature card on file, or the signatures on the certificates and on the Application differ from the signature on file with the Stock Transfer Agent, the Stock Transfer Agent shall certify the same to the Bidder. The Bidder shall exercise its sole and reasonable discretion to accept or reject the Application. The Tender Offer Agent shall rely on the signature affixed on the Application and on the validated endorsement of the relevant stock certificates. Neither the Bidder nor the Tender Offer Agent shall be required (nor are they expected) to make further inquiries into the authenticity of the signature. A Tendering Shareholder shall hold the Bidder, the Tender Offer Agent, the Buyer Agent, their respective officers, directors, agents, or advisers free and harmless from any and all damages that may arise or result in the Bidder’s/ Tender Offer Agent’s acceptance of the Application.

Applications received after the end of the Tender Offer Period shall be rejected, unless the Tender Offer Period is extended by the Bidder, upon prior approval of the SEC. Tendering Shareholders whose Applications have been rejected, in whole or in part, shall be notified of such fact by the Tender Offer Agent on or before the Settlement Date.

Settlement The consideration shall be payable within ten (10) business days from the lapse of the Tender Offer Period (the Settlement Date). Should the Settlement Date fall on a day other than a business day, the payment of the relevant consideration shall be made on the next business day.

On Settlement Date, the Tender Offer Agent shall provide the payment by way of credit to a nominated bank account or check in the amount of the total Tender Offer Price in the name of either: (i) each selling broker which delivered the scripless shares of its tendering clients (scripless shareholders), or (ii) the Tendering Shareholders that have delivered certificated shares directly to the Tender Offer Agent.

Checks shall be available for pick-up at the Tender Offer Agent’s office beginning Settlement Date up to thirty (30) days thereafter. Checks not claimed shall be mailed or delivered to the Tendering Shareholders, at their own risk, to the registered address indicated in the Application Form.

When collecting payment, the Tendering Shareholders shall present the Shareholder’s Copy of the Application as well as a proper identification document (e.g., driver’s license, passport or company I.D. with photograph and signature). Duly authorized representatives of Tendering Shareholders shall be required to present either a duly notarized secretary’s certificate for corporate shareholders or a duly notarized special power of attorney for individual shareholders.

Withdrawal Any or all of the Tendered Shares may be withdrawn by the relevant Tendering Shareholder any time during the Tender Offer Period, but only up to 12:00 pm of 8 March 2021, by submitting a written request for the withdrawal of the relevant Tendered Shares to the Tender Offer Agent, together with a copy of the Tendering Shareholder’s Copy of the Application issued by the Tender Offer Agent. For a withdrawal to be effective, the written notice of withdrawal must be timely received by the Tender Offer Agent at the address(es) set forth herein.

The written request for the withdrawal of any Tendered Shares must specify: (i) the name of the Tendering Shareholder and (ii) the number of Tendered Shares to be withdrawn.

If the stock certificates evidencing the Tendered Shares have been delivered to the Tender Offer Agent, the serial number of such certificates must likewise be indicated in the written request for tendered shares. The Bidder has the right, in its sole discretion, to determine the validity of the written request.

Any Tendered Shares that are withdrawn in accordance herewith shall be returned in the same form they were received to the PDTC Participant (if previously lodged with the PDTC Participant) or to the Tendering Shareholder (if previously certificated), as the case may be, within thirty (30) business days from the end of the Tender Offer Period. The cost of returning the Tender Offer Shares shall be borne by the Tendering Shareholder making the withdrawal.

Tendering Shareholders are advised to read the Application Form, the Tender Offer Report (including in particular the Terms and Conditions of the Tender Offer appended as Exhibit A thereof) as filed by the Bidder with the SEC, PSE and the Company. For queries, please contact the Tender Offer Agent at the contact details set forth below. Copies of the Application Form and the Tender Offer Report may also be obtained by Common Shareholders, free of charge, from the following: BDO Securities Corporation Address: Tel No.: Fax No.:

Tender Offer Process - For Certificated or Scrip Shareholders

20F BDO Corporate Center, 7899 Makati Avenue, Makati City +63 2 8840-7080, 8840-7000 +63 2 8878-4156

Tendering Shareholders holding stock certificates who wish to offer all or a portion of their common shares for acceptance and sale to the Bidder should, within the Tender Offer Period, (i) submit their original stock certificates to the Tender Offer Agent or a stockbroker accredited by the PSE for authentication by the Stock and Transfer Agent or the Company, and subsequent lodging with the Philippine Depository & Trust Corp. (PDTC), and (ii) after such lodgment, comply with the procedures set out in the immediately succeeding sub-section (For Non-Certificated or Scripless Shareholders).

For inquiries on the Tender Offer, please contact any of the following personnel of BDO Securities Corporation through their telephone numbers and email addresses provided below:

If the Tendering Shareholder does not have a trading account with a stockbroker accredited by the PSE, it/he/she must open such an account with the Tender Offer Agent or such stockbroker within the Tender Offer Period.

Ms. Michelle Gaspar +632 8840-7000 local 32104 gaspar.michelle@bdo.com.ph

Ms. Janet Amora +632 8840-7000 local 41115 amora.janet@bdo.com.ph

Tender Offer Process - For Non-Certificated or Scripless Shareholders Tendering Shareholders whose shares are lodged with the PDTC who wish to offer all or a portion of their common shares for sale to the Bidder, must instruct their brokers (Participating Brokers) to accomplish and submit, on their behalf, the duly accomplished Application to Tender Shares (the Application), together with all the requirements stated therein to the Tender Offer Agent, and instruct their Participating Broker to electronically transfer their shares to the Tender Offer Agent for receipt by the Tender Offer Agent prior to 12:00 pm on 8 March 2021 in order to participate in the tender.

All the tendered and accepted Tender Offer Shares will be purchased by the Bidder via a block sale through the facilities of the PSE, subject to the approval of the PSE, on or

Mr. Donald Buensuceso +632 8840-7000 local 33667 buensuceso.donald@bdo.com.ph Yours truly, The Board of Directors FIRST PHILIPPINE HOLDINGS CORPORATION (MS-FEB. 17 & 18, 2021)

:

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

B4

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2021

PSE INDEX CLOSING

Wednesday, February 17, 2021 -86.33 PTS. 7,047.85

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE ADVANCES DECLINES UNCHANGED

17,232,909,019 179,546 19,354,378,660.69 82 145 45

F oreign e xchange r ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2021

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

48.0540

Japan

Yen

0.009430

0.4531

UK

Pound

1.390500

66.8191

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128997

6.1988

Switzerland

Franc

1.120699

53.8541

Canada

Dollar

0.788271

37.8796

Singapore

Dollar

0.753409

36.2043

Australia

Dollar

0.775600

37.2707

Bahrain

Dinar

2.655337

127.5996

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266638

12.8130

Brunei

Dollar

0.750582

36.0685

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000072

0.0035

Thailand

Baht

0.033478

1.6088

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

13.0838

Euro

Euro

1.210800

58.1838

Korea

Won

0.000904

0.0434

China

Yuan

0.155419

7.4685

India

Rupee

0.013725

0.6595

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.248262

11.9300

New Zealand

Dollar

0.721300

34.6614

Taiwan

Dollar

0.035689

1.7150 Source: BSP

Metrobank gives P3 cash dividend after posting net income of P13.8b METROPOLITAN Bank & Trust Co., the country’s second largest bank, on Wednesday declared a special cash dividend of P3 per share, in addition to the regular dividend of P1 per share. The bank said its strong and sustained capital position prompted this move.

Metrobank continues to build buffers as it booked provisions of P40.8 billion. While income before provisions increased by 26 percent to P61.8 billion, the bank reported a P13.8-billion net income in 2020.

“Our strategy of early and aggressive provisioning in 2020 has made Metrobank stronger and well-prepared to weather future risks. Despite the events of 2020, our core business remains solid and we remain ready to be a key partner in economic recovery. Our high capital buffer has given us the opportunity to distribute more dividends this year. We will continue monitoring economic conditions and considering strategies that will maintain a balance between strong capital and optimal returns,” said Metrobank president Fabian Dee. The bank’s capital ratios are still among the highest in the industry.

Based on December 2020 balance sheet, Metrobank’s capital adequacy ratio is estimated to move from 20.2 percent to 19.1 percent and common equity tier 1 (CET1) ratio from 19.3 percent to 18.2 percent after dividends.

Both measures are still substantially higher than the 11-percent minimum regulatory threshold for CET1 and 10 percent for CAR. Non-performing loans have been manageable, with an NPL ratio of 2.41 percent from 1.30 percent in 2019. Nonetheless, the bank set aside P40.8 billion in provisions for bad loans, four times more than the P10.1 billion provisions booked in 2019. As a result, NPL cover went up to 163 percent from 103 percent in 2019, strengthening the bank’s capacity to withstand more bad loans.

The growth in operating income was supported by strong revenues and improving operating efficiency. The 22-percent increase in low cost current and savings accounts (CASA) to P1.3 trillion propelled total deposits to reach P1.8 trillion in 2020, reflecting the bank’s solid deposit franchise.

Business Metro Pacific sells entire stake in Thai toll road firm

By Darwin G. Amojelar

M

ETRO Pacific Tollways Corp. said Wednesday it sold its entire stake in Don Muang Tollway Public Company Limited for $149.25 million.

Metro Pacific said in a disclosure to the stock exchange FPM Tollway (Thailand) Limited, a 100-percent indirect subsidiary of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp., signed agreements with several parties for to sell 100 percent of its shareholdings in AIF Toll Roads Holdings (Thailand) Co. Ltd. AIF Toll Roads owns about 29.45 percent of the outstanding shares of DMT. DMT is the operator of a major toll road facility in Bangkok, Thailand and holds the concession for a 21.9-kilometer elevated toll road facility in Bangkok.

“MPTC has decided to take advantage of the increased interest from third parties to acquire MPTC’s entire shareholdings in DMT,” MPIC said.

“The transaction will allow MPTC to realize a gain on its investment in DMT and benefit from the increased liquidity,” it said.

The parties said the purchase price was determined after

considering the AIF Toll Road’s interest in DMT, the value of the assets and business of DMT and in comparison to previous offers.

Metro Pacific said the whole amount would be paid in cash on the closing of the transaction. The company said the proceeds from the sale would be used to fund MPTC’s other projects.

MPIC through MPTC also owns a 44.9-percent interest in CII Bridges and Roads, which has several road and bridge projects in and around Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

MPTC operates the North Luzon Expressway, SubicClark-Tarlac Expressway, Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway and Cavite Laguna Expressway in the Philippines.

It is also building an 8.3-kilometer toll road known as the Cebu-Cordova Bridge project, linking the island of Mactan to mainland Cebu through the municipality of Cordova.

The company is also constructing the NLEX-SLEX Connector Road, an eight-kilometer, four-lane toll road linking the North Luzon Expressway and South Luzon Expressway, passing through Metro Manila and using the existing Philippine National Railway alignment as its route.

Metro Pacific’s attributable net income fell 57.67 percent in the first three quarters of 2020 to P5.01 billion from P11.80 billion a year ago, following the lockdown and border restrictions implemented by the government in the first half.

DoubleDragon gets SEC nod on P14.7-b IPO of REIT group

By Jenniffer B. Austria THE Securities and Exchange Commission said it approved on Tuesday the P14.71-billion initial public offering of DDMP REIT, a real estate investment trust sponsored by DoubleDragon Properties Corp. and the Yujuico family.

Documents showed the SEC in a meeting Tuesday approved DDMP REIT’s public offering of 5.942 billion common shares with an over-allotment option for another 594.2 million common shares for P2.25 apiece.

The offering period is set from March 5 to 11 while the target listing date under the main board of the Philippine Stock Exchange is on March 19.

Net proceeds from the offering will be reinvested in the Philippines, as provided under the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 9856 or the Real Estate Investment Trust Act of 2009.

DoubleDragon plans to invest the net proceeds in four office towers and three hotel projects in Boracay, Cebu and Baguio.

It will also invest in the construction of 20 warehouse complexes to add to its portfolio of five industrial warehouses.

Its current portfolio includes six office towers with retail components within DD Meridian Park in Pasay City.

The company’s leasing spaces cater to a mix of tenants such as business process outsourcing companies, government agencies and corporate locators.

DDMPT REIT will have a public ownership of 36.67 percent after the IPO, while DoubleDragon and Yujuicos will continue to own 44.33 percent and 19 percent, respectively.

Credit Suisse (Singapore) Limited, DBS Bank Ltd., Nomura Singapore Limited and PNB Capital and Investment Corp. will act as joint global coordinators for the REIT offering.

IN BRIEF PH drops to 96th spot in e-commerce

USAID SUPPORT. The United States Agency for International Development marks the successful completion of its E-PESO project in the Philippines. The project has promoted broad-based economic growth and financial inclusion by significantly increasing the use of digital payments in the country. Joining the project’s closing event are (clockwise from top left) USAID mission director Lawrence Hardy II, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno, Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Caesar Dulay and Social Welfare Secretary Rolando Bautista.

Philippine Metalworkers Association accused of misrepresenting local automotive industry

By Othel V. Campos LAW firms representing top automotive companies in the Philippines on Wednesday accused the Philippine Metalworkers Association of misrepresentation.

The legal counsels said during the virtual preliminary hearing for definitive safeguard duties on imported vehicles called by the Tariff Commission that PMA workers did not have the authority to represent the industry unless they were “armed with the power of attorney” of all vehicle companies in the Philippines.

The legal counsels said the Department of Trade and Industry’s statement citing PMA as a national union of electronics and metal workers, and not as representative of the domestic motor vehicle industry, was debatable.

China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products representative Atty.

Rodolf Britanico said if the PMA does not represent the industry as defined under Section 6 of the Safeguards Act that petitioner for safeguards refers to domestic producers, then the group has “no personality to represent the domestic industry.”

The legal teams also questioned the ability of PMA to come up and present the evidence when they are not even part of the automotive industry and the group’s lack of adjustment plans given the proposed imposition of safeguard duties.

SGV & Co. represented car firms Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. and Isuzu Philippine Corp. while Abad Alcantara and Associates represented Bermaz Auto. Inc., the distributor of Mazda in the Philippines.

Angara Abello Concepcion Regala and Cruz Law Offices attended the hearing for Mitsubishi Motor Philippines Corp. and ABO Law Firm for Sojits G Auto Philippines Corp., distributor of China brand Geely cars.

AYALA DONATION.

Ayala Corp. president and chief operating officer Fernando Zobel de Ayala leads a virtual turnover ceremony on P4.5-million worth of testing kits and other medical supplies from the Ayala group to the local government of Quezon City. Mayor Joy Belmonte receives the donation that will help augment the city’s mass testing efforts.

Kingstone Energy has no registered project, says DOE

By Alena Mae S. Flores KINGSTONE Energy, one of the disqualified bidders for the 20-year power supply of Manila Electric Co. has no registered project, raising questions on its qualification, the Department of Energy said Wednesday.

“They don’t have any registered project with us. Neither committed nor indicative. If they will build a new coal plant, that’s not included in the committed or indicative capacities that we have. Then it will be covered already by the moratorium,” Energy Assistant Secretary Redentor Delola said.

Kingstone Energy and two other disqualified bidders can still file an appeal with the Meralco third party bids and awards committee to participate in the CSP with the financial bid opening set on Feb. 19. Meralco is bidding out the supply of 1,800 megawatts, “If they [Kingstone] want a new coal plant, then they cannot participate. It is possible they have a joint venture with an existing proponent that is in the list, but we cannot establish that yet,” Delola said.

Several groups raised concern over the planned coal project of Kingstone Energy in the wake of the coal ban announced by the agency last year.

The DOE issued a moratorium on endorsement of the application and development of new coal-fired power projects.

Under the DOE memorandum, existing and operational coal-fired power generation facilities as well as any coal-fired power project in the parameters listed by the DOE would not be affected by the advisory.

THE Philippine dropped 10 places in e-commerce readiness to 96th spot from 86th place among 152 countries in the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development B2C E-commerce Index 2020.

Europe remained the most prepared region for e-commerce, but wide gaps were noted by the survey with countries with the lowest level of readiness.

“The e-commerce divide remains huge.

Even among G20 countries, the extent to which people shop online ranges from 3 percent in India to 87 percent in the United Kingdom,” said UNCTAD director Shamika Sirimanne.

Switzerland led the survey, ahead of the Netherlands. The only non-European economies among the top 10 are Singapore, which ranked 4th and Hong Kong (China) at 10th position. Other economies that made it to the top ten were Denmark, United Kingdom, Germany, Finland, Ireland and Norway.

Othel V. Campos

Eastern spending P2.8b for expansion

EASTERN Communications said Wednesday it is spending P2.8 billion this year to upgrade and expands its connectivity and ICT services nationwide.

The company said the expansion plans would cover wider service areas including Davao, Cagayan De Oro, Dumaguete, Tagbilaran, Bacolod, Roxas, Kalibo, Caticlan, Boracay, Naga, Legazpi, Iriga and Sorsogon.

Eastern Communications started laying fiber optic cables to address requirements of companies in central business districts and placed strategic hubs in various regional locations to better serve the local enterprises in the area.

The company said it would expand more services to empower various locations in line with the “Digital Cities” program, a government initiative geared towards sustaining the rapid growth of the information technology and business process management sector and promote countryside development. Darwin G. Amojelar

BPI, DTI team up to support SMEs

BANK of the Philippine Islands, the thirdlargest lender in terms of assets, teamed up with the Department of Trade and Industry to support small and medium-sized enterprises as they recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under the memorandum of understanding, BPI Business Banking will support DTI programs such as SME Roving Academy, Kapatid Mentor Me, Youth Entrepreneurship Program and regional trade fairs.

The bank said it would also provide free trainings to SMEs on ways to secure a business, manage and leverage on loans and bank in the new normal.

Eric Luchangco, BPI business banking head, said the bank recognizes its role in supporting companies and helping the economy grow as it aims to build a more financially inclusive Philippines.

“We hope that through this partnership with DTI, we will be able to make it clear to our SME customers that they are not too small to be served by a large bank. We believe they deserve to have access to the same kind of financial products and services that larger companies already have access to,” said Luchangco. Julito G. Rada

Sports

Lillard shines as Blazers rip OKC Thunder; Celtics win LOS ANGELES—Damian Lillard drained three clutch three-pointers in four possessions in the final quarter Tuesday, and the red-hot Portland Trail Blazers held on to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 115-104 for their fifth consecutive NBA win.

Lillard finished with 31 points for the Blazers, who charged out to a 24 point lead in the third quarter but allowed the Thunder back in it.

Lillard drained the first of his three threes with just over four minutes left in the final quarter as he and Gary Trent combined to score 12 unanswered points to extend the Blazers win streak to five straight games at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma.

Lillard scored 14 of his 31 in the fourth quarter as Portland made 20 baskets from beyond the arc.

Trent added 19 points and Enes Kanter had a game-high 21 rebounds.

Luguentz Dort delivered 23 points and Hamidou Diallo came off the bench to score 17 for the Thunder, who took the lead halfway through the fourth after holding Portland to two-of-13 shooting to begin the final quarter.

In Boston, Jaylen Brown scored 27 points, Jayson Tatum had 21 points eight assists, and the Boston Celtics fended off a 43-point performance by Nikola Jokic to beat the under-manned Denver Nuggets 112-99.

Kemba Walker added 17 points for the Celtics, who have lost four of their last five contests.

Jamal Murray, of Canada, had 25 points and Facundo Campazzo added 15 in his first start for the Nuggets.

Murray also had nine turnovers.

Also, Zion Williamson finished with 31 points as the New Orleans Pelicans defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 144-113 to salvage the final contest of a four-game road swing.

New Orleans seized control by holding the Grizzlies to just 49 points in the second and third quarters.

Reserve Josh Hart score a seasonhigh 27 points and Willy Hernangomez had 14 as the Pelicans’ reserves outscored the Grizzlies’ bench 57-30.

Brandon Ingram scored 22 and Lonzo Ball had 13 in the win.

AFTER making a triumphant return to the Philippine Basketball Association recently following more than a year of suspension, Calvin Abueva is looking to play a full season ahead, this time with new team Magnolia.

The Beast will be bringing his intense, high-octane brand of game to the Hotshots after his old team Phoenix Super LPG and Magnolia agreed in a trade, which also involved talented guard Chris Banchero, plus draft picks.

Rene Pardo, Magnolia’s representative to the PBA board, and Paolo Bugia, team manager of Phoenix Super LPG, confirmed the news to the Manila Standard.

“We saw an opportunity to get better.

As you all know, hindi naman maganda ipinakita namin sa bubble tournament, so once we saw the opportunity to get Calvin Abueva, we immediately grabbed it,” said Pardo in a telephone interview. “It’s a winwin situation for both camps.”

Bugia couldn’t agree more with Pardo as the entry of Banchero will help shore up the shaky backcourt of the Fuelmasters.

In the recent bubble tournament, Abue-

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2021

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Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers drives to the basket during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. AFP

Knott to join World Athletics Silver Tour after 2-week break Philippine record in the 23 years ago. heats of the women’s Knott seeks to become 60-meter run. the women’s qualifier for The 25-year-old Knott the Philippines in the Toclocked 7.22 seconds in the kyo Olympics and join pole second heat to break the vaulter Ernerst John Obiena, national mark for the third boxers Eumir Marcial and time.

Irish Magno, and gymnast But with the schedules Carlo Yulo, who have alof the 60-meter and the ready qualified.

200-meter race close, and The Fil-American does within 16 minutes of each not wish to qualify through other, Knott deferred from ranking and universality joining the finals of the two slot, according to Philippine events due to fatigue.

Athletics Track and Field Retired Asian sprint Kristina Knott chief Philip Ella Juico. queen Lydia de Vega“I am confident on KrisMercado held the national indoor record tina Knott. She does not want to qualify when she clocked 7.37 seconds in Japan in terms of ranking or universality slot.

By Peter Atencio

A

FTER resting for two weeks, new Philippine sprint queen Kristina Knott is competing again.

Knott is set to see action in the fourth leg of the American Track League, also known as World Athletics Silver Tour indoor meet at the Randal Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville.

Her coach Rohsaan Griffin said this following the resetting of the fourth leg’s date because of schedule conflicts last Sunday.

Two weeks ago, Knott posted a new

Abueva-Banchero swap a “win-win” deal

By Rey Joble

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Reuel Vidal, Assistant Editor

va led the Fuelmasters both in assists and rebounds. The pride of Angeles City averaged 13.67 points, 10.67 rebounds and 6.67 assists per game.

“There were two things why we agreed to trade Calvin for Banchero.

First, we have a chance of getting a steady point guard to set the tone for the team. Second, we saw this year’s Rookie Draft as deep in talent and we have a chance to move up from 10th to sixth.

That makes a lot of difference as you can definitely select a talented rookie at No. 6, which can fill the void left by Calvin,” added Bugia.

Prior to the trade, Phoenix, which went one win shy of reaching the championship round of the recent bubble tournament, was supposed to select at No. 10, but part of the Abueva-Banchero exchange was the shifting of draft picks between the two teams. Magnolia was set to select No. 6 before the traded happened.

This put the Fuelmasters in a better position to build for their future.

Phoenix Super LPG was also able to get an extra second-round pick in the latest deal with the Hotshots, which means the Fuelmasters will be selecting two players in the second round of the draft class

Calvin Abueva: From Fuelmaster to Hotshot

that is expected to be the deepest since the 1989 edition.

With Banchero coming in, Phoenix is expected to have him playing the starting point guard spot, where he will join franchise player Matthew Wright, forward Jason Perkins, center Justin Chua and its no. 6 pick, who is expected to be another forward to replace the spot vacated by Abueva.

For Magnolia, bringing in Abueva will reunite him with his college teammate Ian Sangalang. Both players were key figures in San Sebastian’s last championship run in the NCAA in 2010.

The entry of Abueva proves to be beneficial for the Hotshots, who missed the services of Marc Pingris last time around.

A many-time All-Defensive Team member and a nine-time PBA champion, including a grand slam in 2014, Pingris has been riddled with numerous injuries the past few years and his current condition cast doubts on his possible return this coming season.

Abueva, an undersized forward who plays with so much passion and energy like Pingris, is an insurance for the Hotshots.

Alex Eala: Filipino sports icon in the making Alex Eala, the next Filipino sports icon?

IT WAS in October 2012 when wellrespected Cebuano tennis guru John Pages first laid his eyes on now tennis ace and Globe ambassador Alexandra Maniego Eala.

Pages, a renowned businessman who once served as regional director of the Philippine Tennis Association, was helping his daughter Jana prepare for a group tournament in Puerto Princesa, Palawan when he noticed a seven-year old girl, standing no taller than the threefoot-high tennis net, engaged in an intense rally with her older brother.

Although Eala was just seven years old at the time, Pages took note that the little lady competed in the Unisex-10-and-under category and played against boys and girls who were much taller and older. Right then and there, Pages had an inkling of just how bright the future would be for this kid.

“I don’t think Alex won that 10-andunder Palawan tournament, but it was obvious, given her steely focus and the

intensity of her left-handed shots, that she was a future star,” shared Pages.

Eight years later, Eala is already the country’s latest sports phenomenon.

She is the world’s third-ranked junior tennis player, the 15-year old burnished her reputation further by breaking into the Women’s Tennis Association top 1,000 when she entered the week as the no. 942 ranked player in the world.

This came on the heels of her very first professional title win when she vanquished Spanish netter Yvonne Cavalle-Reimers in the finals of the first leg of the ITF World Tennis Tour W15 Manacor.

“Alex Eala is only 15 but she’s already competing and winning against mucholder and more experienced players in the women’s tour,” shared Pages.

Eala, who has been a Globe ambassador since 2013, has not only helped place the Philippines on the tennis map but also serves as a beacon of inspiration for young Filipino tennis players everywhere.

“The young Filipino tennis players are greatly inspired with what Alex has achieved in the international tennis scene. She has proven that best efforts and passion coupled with action will reap successful results. It inspires a lot of junior tennis players to be the best they can be and to keep playing,” said Shan Osorio, the marketing officer of the Citigreen Tennis Resort Cebu, a tennis hub in the south which regularly hosted grassroots tennis tournaments before the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

“Alex has shown the world the best traits of the Filipinos. She is hardworking both inside and outside of the tennis courts and she is very determined to achieve her dream to succeed at the professional level,” Osorio added.

A once-in-a-generation talent, Eala wields a lot of influence that will help transform the tennis scene in the country, according to tennis coach and tournament organizer Mario Inguito Craiz.

She wants to qualify on her own,” said Juico.

Knott has already shattered three Philippine records set by de Vega-Mercado.

She surpassed De Vega-Mercado’s record twice in a row during the KMS Invitational Tournament in Birmingham, Alabama two weeks ago.

She first did it after topping the first heat in 7.33 seconds, beating Ashanti Tigner’s 7.76, and Amanda Lowe (7.81).

In the finals, Knott took the gold with an even lower time of 7.32 seconds, with Ashley Kelly taking the silver in 7.62 seconds, and Jasmine Riley settling for the bronze in 7.67 seconds at the Metrocross Plex tracks in Birmingham, Alabama.

Knott could have won the silver if she competed in the 60-meters later.

Belingon sees Loman as future world champ FORMER ONE Bantamweight World Champion Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon expects great things from ONE Championship’s recent acquisition, Stephen “The Sniper” Loman.

The five-time mixed martial arts champion is the latest signee of The Home Of Martial Arts, and he’s been regarded as the best Team Lakay talent outside of the promotion.

Now that he’s set to enter the global stage—and in Belingon’s division nonetheless—“The Silencer” can’t help but be excited for his teammate.

“I’m very happy and excited because right now we have another guy [from Team Lakay] in the bantamweight division,” Belingon said.

“I think he’ll fit in Stephen “The Sniper” and fare well whoever he Loman faces first because he’s a complete fighter. One thing I can say—expect fireworks.”

When asked what advice he would give his younger teammate, “The Silencer” was keen on reminding “The Sniper” to stay hungry.

Loman has been widely successful outside of ONE, winning his last eight matches to enter the promotion with a solid 14-2 record.

But with an impressive resume comes great expectations, and that’s why Belingon’s reminding Loman to stay on his toes—especially in a division loaded with talent from top to bottom.

“He has to stay focused and keep winning,” Belingon said.

“That’s the only advice that I give to Stephen so he can reach his goals and become a champion in ONE in the future.”

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Sports

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2021

Snap lockdown quashes outbreak in Melbourne; fans poised to return MELBOURNE—Stay-at-home orders will be lifted for six million Australians in the state of Victoria Wednesday after a successful five-day lockdown, allowing businesses to reopen and some spectators to return to the Australian Open tennis tournament.

Snap restrictions were ordered last Friday after a small outbreak of the more infectious UK coronavirus variant prompted fears Australia’s successful battle to contain the pandemic could be undone.

The five-day closure of schools and businesses now appears to have limited the outbreak—which was linked to a quarantine hotel for overseas travellers—to 19 people, with no new cases reported Wednesday.

Snap lockdowns ordered by authorities in Australia and New Zealand appear to have worked well in controlling new waves of infections—in contrast to Europe, where restrictions have been less rigourous.

Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews said businesses and schools can reopen and residents can host small groups of visitors from 11.59 pm Wednesday, hailing the “short, sharp circuitbreaker” that got on top of the virus.

“If we had been open throughout this outbreak... total case numbers would be much, much higher and it is a certainty that I would not be reporting zero cases today,” he said.

Andrews had warned residents the strain was “hyper infectious”, prompting fears among Melburnians who last year spent more than 100 days in a lockdown to contain an outbreak that infected thousands and killed about 800 people.

The latest five-day restrictions appear to have limited the cluster’s growth to just six new cases since the lockdown began.

Andrews’ announcement paved the way for tennis fans to return to watch the year’s first tennis Grand Slam as the Australian Open’s final rounds get underway at Melbourne Park.

Tickets are now on sale for Thursday’s matches, but it was unclear what restrictions would be placed on crowd sizes.

Andrews said meetings would be held later Wednesday to determine “a safe number” of attendees for the event.

“They were already were reduced but may have to be reduced further,” he said of crowd sizes. “But that matter will be resolved in the next few hours.” AFP

Czech Republic’s Karolina Muchova reacts after winning against Australia’s Ashleigh Barty during their women’s singles quarter-final match on Day 10 of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne. AFP

Muchova in dreamland after stunning top seed

M

ELBOURNE—Karolina Muchova said she was living a dream Thursday after staging a stunning comeback to upset Ashleigh Barty and storm into the Australian Open semi-finals, rallying from a set down.

The Czech 25th seed looked on her way out after Barty raced through the opening set, but after a medical timeout Muchova returned a different player to win 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 on Rod Laver Arena as the Australian crumbled.

She will face Jennifer Brady for a place in the final after she American beat Jessica Pegula in three sets.

“I think it’s a goal you’re setting up when you’re playing tennis. For me, at least, it’s the majors, the Grand Slams, to go far,” said Muchova, whose best previous Grand Slam result was the Wimbledon quarter-finals in 2019.

“For me to be in semi-finals, it’s like a dream and I’m really happy for that.”

The tide turned after the medical timeout, with Barty losing momentum.

Muchova, who is unbeaten this season, said she felt dizzy and needed a break.

“I think it was bit of the heat. Yeah, it

got to me. I was feeling kind of dizzy, like really, really lost and almost fainting. So I just asked for help,” she said.

“Definitely they cooled me down with the ice. I was a bit in a shadow. Doctor checked my pressure, my temperature and everything.”

‘Tough one today’ Her come-from-behind win ended top seed Barty’s hopes of becoming the first home winner at the Australian Open in 43 years after Chris O’Neil in 1978.

Barty, the 2019 French Open champion, had made a flying start to her year, winning the warm-up Yarra Valley Classic, and had not lost a set before meeting Muchova.

“Tough one today, without a doubt,” said the Australian. “I would have loved to have done a little bit better. Not my day today.”

Muchova had also not dropped a set in the tournament, but that changed against

Barty, who worked break points on the Czech’s opening serve and converted the second with a forehand winner.

She broke again for a 5-0 lead and sealed the set in 24 minutes, with Muchova winning only 11 points, hitting just one winner against 13 unforced errors.

There was no let-up from Barty early in the second with another immediate break then a service hold to love with Muchova spraying the ball everywhere.

The 24-year-old Muchova called the trainer at 1-2 and he appeared to check her pulse and temperature before a medical timeout was taken.

When she returned, it was a different match as Muchova broke back straight away.

The Czech was far more competitive and earned another break for 5-3 then took the set as the error count mounted from a rattled-looking Barty.

Barty was broken in the first game of the third set as Muchova kept the pressure up and as the Australian’s confidence drained away, she missed easy shots as Muchova surged to a famous victory. AFP

Japan starts vaccine rollout with healthcare frontliners TOKYO—Japan began vaccinating healthcare workers against the coronavirus on Wednesday, rolling out a cautious inoculation programme with just over five months until the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Japan has so far approved only the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, and started administering the first shots at a Tokyo hospital on Wednesday morning.

Tokyo Medical Centre director Kazuhiro Araki became the first person in Japan to receive the vaccine outside of clinical trials.

“The vaccine plays an important role in anti-coronavirus measures. So I thought as a director I should take the lead and get the shot,” he told reporters afterwards.

“I don’t like getting shots very much,” he admitted.

“But it wasn’t painful, so it was good.

I was relieved.”

Nurse Rino Yoshida, wearing a face mask and visor, was calm and relaxed as she was vaccinated.

“The mortality rate and the risk of illness have gone down overseas, so hopefully vaccinations starting in Japan can change the situation here,” she told public broadcaster NHK. Speaking afterwards, vice health minister Hiroshi Yamamoto told reporters he was “really moved” to witness the first shots being administered.

“I want to thank from the bottom of my heart the healthcare professionals who are working on the coronavirus frontline,” he added.

Twelve staff at the facility are being vaccinated on Wednesday, in front of the media, with a total of 800 in line to receive shots— including administrative personnel.

Japan is planning to initially vaccinate 40,000 healthcare workers across the country, and will study the effects of the two-dose vaccine on 20,000 of them.

Doses will be administered three weeks apart, with the people in the study group asked to keep daily records of any side effects or reactions, local media said.

The country then hopes to vaccinate around 3.7 million health workers from March—with jabs for around 36 million people aged 65 or older starting from April.

The programme will extend later to those with pre-existing conditions or working with the elderly, and eventually to the general population, but there has been little detail yet on the timing for that. AFP

National orienteering in talks with possible tourney hosts PUP, TUP

By Graham C. Lim THE National Orienteering of the Philippines is in serious talks with top sports officials from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines and Technological University of the Philippines regarding the possibility of their Manila schools being co-hosts to the National Orienteering Qualifying Tournament.

The proposal was laid out recently in a discussion with Lualhati Dela Cruz, Chairperson of Master in Physical Education and Sports Program of the PUP. The NOP plans to hold its National Junior-Youth Orienteering Championship in mid-October 2021, with the winners of the qualifier representing the country in the 4th Asian Junior and Youth Orienteering Championship to be held in Hong Kong from December 23 to 27, 2021.

Dela Cruz will submit the NOP proposal to PUP president, Dr. Manuel M. Muhi, for final approval.

Parallel to this, the NOP also approached Allan Soria, athletic director of the TUP, regarding the school’s possible

THE BOTTOM LINE LITO CINCO PARITY in competition in sports leagues is an ideal setup, but not necessarily achieved.

Looking at the PBA, it will take a lot of imagination to say that there is parity, not with the way some teams are dominating the league in the past years.

Now, do I have anything against the fact that this is happening?

No, because I look at it from the business point of view of companies wanting to win as they will do whatever it takes to win—that is business,

hosting of the NOP National Orienteering Championship qualifying tournament at year’s end, the winner of which is to see action in the Asian Orienteering Championship to be held in Pohang, Korea from May 1 to 5, 2022 and the World Orienteering Championship in Denmark in July 2022.

Soria is awaiting the blueprint of the NOP proposal before presenting it to Dr. Jesus Rodrigo F. Torres, TUP president, for official confirmation.

According to NOP president Antonio Tiu, NOP Secretary General Eric Samson and his deputy secretary-general Raul Ballado have been tasked to coordinate with the representatives from the PUP and TUP. NOP is now accepting athlete’s membership.

For more information, contact Samson, Ballado, JC Clarito (NOP School Affairs) and Sean Elijah W. Siy (NOP Student-athletes affairs) at their respective Facebook accounts.

Training preparations for the national competitions have begun with online training programs offered to all athlete-

actively discussing the early preparations by the NOP with the AOF, through Eugene Chow from Singapore, Lok HinMa from Hong Kong and Kimiya Ochiai from Japan.

“Belgium’s Dirk Goossens has been very helpful as the NOP adviser for international competitions,” said Ballado, who is also is in close coordination with Raphael Mak, a Hong Kong native who is currently living in Sweden, to seek guidance in the conduct of the NOP Junior Orienteering qualifying tournament to the 4th AsJYOC this December.

A former member of the Police Special Forces, Ballado has been tasked to scout for potential orienteering athletes (male and female) that meet the age requirement of 20 years old or younger in the Junior category.

Lualhati dele Cruz (PUP) (Clockwise, from left) Lok Hin-Ma from Hong Kong, The athletes may come from the during an meeting online Eugene Chow from Singapore and Kimiya Ochiai high school and university ranks or with Raul Ballado from Japan elsewhere as long as he/she is within the age requirement. participants to familiarize them with the Orienteering Federation coming from The NOP is affiliated with the Intercompetition’s regulation as presented by Singapore, Japan, and Hong Kong. national Orienteering Federation, which the Executive members from the Asian Both Samson and Ballado have been is based in Sweden.

A dream of parity in the PBA plain and simple.

Of course, there will be the detractors, pointing out the obvious that the real competition is between the two rival groups—San Miguel Corp., under Ramon S. Ang, and the MVP group of Manny Pangilinan.

But again, these are the groups who are interested in basketball and can afford to finance several teams simultaneously. You see, it is easy to say that the PBA should only allow one team each from each group, but then how many teams will be left?

Alaska, Rain or Shine, Blackwater, Phoenix, North Port and Terrafirma, plus one each from SMC and MVP—

that makes it 8.

But I know that the PBA in the past has already determined what is the right number of teams to make the league feasible, and sorry it is not 8.

But I am just dreaming, right? So stretch the imagination, who do you think will be left to represent each group?

For SMC, the Beermen as the longest staying PBA member is the logical choice, but Barangay Ginebra is the league’s most popular team, so what happens?

For the MVP Group, it’s a toss up between TNT, the original PBA team in the league (remember Mobiline?),

but under Tony Boy Cojuangco’s PLDT until MVP bought the company and maintained the team, and NLEX. So again you ask, what happens?

Also, stretching further one’s imagination in this theoretical situation that even I do not see happening, if all the SMC and the MVP Groups do merge into one team each, can you imagine the All-Star teams that would come from the best players of San Miguel Beer, Ginebra San Miguel, and Magnolia in one team, and another from TNT, NLEX, and MERALCO? So did we solve the parity problem or will we see a resurrection of the Crispa-Toyota days of old when these two teams simply took turns in winning championships?

Well, some would say I am ap-

proaching it wrongly, that in the event that the two rival groups do agree to field only one team each (and please remember, this will not happen), all the players in the league should go into a special draft and the remaining 8 teams draft one after the other until all the teams can form their new teams.

And with each team, then capable of beating one another, now that is called parity.

As I have been saying, this will not happen.

What actually happened is that I stretched my imagination to the fullest, and this was the result, a PBA league that has reached parity—in my dreams.

Now that I have achieved my dream, I can go to sleep already.

Entertainment

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2021

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Buzzy Lee, Spielberg’s daughter, releases debut album

Sasha Spielberg, a.k.a.

Buzzy Lee, daughter of the legendary American film director Steven Spielberg, debuts as a recording artist with album ‘Spoiled Love.’

F

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

BUZZY Lee is a musical alias that hides a famous name: Sasha Spielberg, daughter of the legendary American film director Steven Spielberg. But there is little hiding on her Spielberg confessional debut album, Spoiled Love.

“I definitely put it all out there,” she tells AFP. “I said everything I would say to my AFP diary -- in fact, one of the songs, ‘Circles,’ includes a real diary entry.”

Lee, 30, has parked her car on the side of the road in Los Angeles for the phone interview -- “the most LA way to do an interview ever!” she says, laughing.

But much of her melodic new album has its roots in a broken relationship in France, and

YUGEL LOSORATA

OR an icon known for his written words spoken by famous actors or plot lines that turn Filipino movies into classics, it’s interesting to note that screenwriter Ricky Lee’s ultimate passion is music.

I was fortunate enough to land a slot in the 14th batch of his famed free scriptwriting workshop years ago.

For a number of Sundays, I got to witness the soft-spoken master impart his thoughts, share his experiences, and simply just appear in front of us to serve as an inspirational figure.

The workshop boosted my psyche as a writer-musician.

“Music ang ultimate passion ko.

It energizes me, connects me, keeps me grounded, and elevates me,” Sir Ricky, as workshoppers call him, shared in an email interview. “Pag nalulungkot ako, pag masaya, pag di makasulat, pag nagsusulat. Basta, sa akin music ang magic sa lahat.”

If not for this ongoing pandemic, I would have revisited his home library where his workshops are usually held or spend time with him sound-trippin’ in his living room.

When I asked what type of music he often listens to, I was a bit surprised as I was kind of expecting some slow-tempo genre to calm his mind. His response: “I usually play rock, or at least any bouncy tune.

The beat pushes me kasi. Like when I was

there are plenty of other Gallic influences, from her love of Anglo-French singersongwriter Charlotte Gainsbourg to the cheese-flavored names she used for working song titles (“Brie” made the cut, but sadly not “Camembert” and “Gruyere”).

The album was recorded with ChileanAmerican producer and electronic artist Nicolas Jaar, a close friend since they met aged 18 on their second day of college.

By coincidence, they both have film directors for fathers -- even if Alfredo Jaar is best known for his photography and visual art -- and that influence emerges in their collaborations, especially the new album’s

Music to Ricky Lee writing ‘Para Kay B,’ (novel) I was playing Coldplay’s ‘Viva La Vida’ CD the whole time. It really energizes me in a deeper way.”

Yeah, that’s music from a 21st-century stadium act, not by a folk singer in the ‘70s.

As he himself admits, his playlist is eclectic. He listens to Broadway, rap, hard rock, OPM, and, yes, BTS. Lately, he’s been listening to Ed Sheeran’s cover of “Make It Rain,” and Cheyenne Jackson’s take of Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come.”

The seasoned scriptwriter’s grasp for such a diverse list of preferences is tight and telling. It has helped him face with a rejuvenated mindset the everchanging people who want to learn from him. He noted, “Bago ako magsimula ng bawat araw sa workshop, I would turn on

my playlist to prepare me. My usual playlist consists of some of my favorites — Bruce Springsteen, Van Morrison, Arcade Fire, Sufjan Stevens, The Decemberists, Green Day, and Joni Mitchell.”

He elaborated on the value of rhythm and cited his work for the classic Moral to demonstrate it. He explained, “Yung rhythm ng music ay nakakatulong nang malaki sa rhythm ng script na sinusulat ko. Like when I was writing ‘Moral,’ I followed its structure on the rhythm of Van Morrison’s ‘Madame George.’

Very loose, free-flowing lang, paulit-ulit na dumadaloy lang.”

If there’s any doubt how music matters to one incomparable artist whose medium makes its own sound minus any music, here’s a climactic take from him who made us all believe that miracle happens through us: “Music talks of infinity, mga di maikulong sa salita o sa screen. I don’t think I can write, nor survive, pag namatay ang music sa mundo.”

Film industry icon Ricky Lee is currently working on five film projects, the sequel to his novel ‘Para Kay B,’ and his memoirs.

Korea stands together with Philippines THANKS to the global ascent of Hallyu -- exports of cultural through various projects that build friendly and collaborative content including computer games, K-pop, and broadcasting relationships between Korea and developing countries.

KOICA Country Director Song Min Hyeon who is in programs -- Filipinos have been enamored of anything Korean.

During this time of the pandemic, a lot of Filipinos turned charge of Regional Planning, Budget, and Program evaluation to Korean content online to pass the time as entertainment has responded to some of the questions pertaining to COVID-19 projects. become a big part of our lives.

Korea has had a long-standing partnership with the Philippines Truth be told, Korean entertainment is not the only reason why Filipinos should be thankful for the nation that made “Korean since Filipino soldiers fought for South Korea’s democracy during the Korean War more than 70 Wave” a global phenomenon. years ago. Through KOICA, As the world continues the South Korean government to battle COVID-19, the extends the friendship and Korean government has been assistance to The Philippines. continuously sending aid and Aside from that, the Philippines assistance to the Philippines to is a priority recipient of grant help its fight against the deadly aid due to its high potential to pandemic when cases began achieve its development goals. to rise last year. The bilateral Through KOICA, South ties and friendship between the Korea continues to build mutual two countries have deepened cooperation, partnership, and because of the continuous respect with the Philippines. support and cooperation amidst The organization has these challenges. conducted some Emergency “Korea Stands Together With Support Projects as part of The Philippines,” is the banner In the COVID-19 situation, South Korea doesn’t just entertain of the KOICA Philippines in Filipinos through exporting broadcasting content, it also continues the COVID-19 response last response to the challenges and to provide assistance and stronger collaboration with the Philippines year. It has turned over 400 metric tons of well-milled rice difficulties brought about by through KOICA, an organization that grants aid. valued at USD 400,000 to the COVID-19.

KOICA stands and acts together to achieve inclusive and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to sustainable development in the Philippines. It is continuing to support the Philippine government’s relief efforts for poor and work with the Philippine Government, civil society organizations, vulnerable families in Metro Manila and neighboring areas who have been affected by the community quarantine due to the and other agencies as main partners in delivering grant aid.

In the COVID-19 situation, KOICA continues to provide COVID-19 pandemic. The rice was locally produced in Western assistance and stronger collaboration with the Philippines in Visayas where KOICA supported agriculture projects.

KOICA also donated 7 walk-through air-conditioned COVID-19 order to rise above the challenges brought by the pandemic.

These projects are based on ODA Korea: Building TRUST test booths with a total cost of USD 123,000 to the Philippine Bureau (Transparency, Resilience, Unity, and Safety Together) that The of Immigration (BOI) and six hospitals through the Department of Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of the Republic of Korea Health (DOH). In addition, KOICA is also proceeding the additional launched as an initiative to support its partner countries with support such as developing the sound pressure room to strengthen COVID-19 response and sustainable development programs last the response of epidemic disease of the Korea-Philippines Friendship Hospital in Cavite. Likewise, we held a webinar for June 2020.

KOICA was established in 1991 by the Korean government health professionals from the Department of Health (DOH) and to provide Grant Aid and Technical Cooperation Organization international organizations as well as the medical staff of the hospital to contribute to the advancement of international cooperation regarding the COVID-19 Response last December 2020.

pair of instrumental tracks.

“I tend to think very cinematically -- ha, of course!” she says.

“Most of my songs start like soundtracks, an imaginary score... then I put words and melodies if there are words. Sometimes there aren’t.”

Lee made a few appearances in her father’s films as a young girl but it was the piano that really drew her.

She formed a group -- Wardell -- with her brother, Theo, for a time, before teaming up with Jaar as the band Just Friends.

“It’s hard for us to be in a room and not make music,” she ends. AFP

CNN Philippines launches first-ever podcast ‘Suddenly Family’ CNN Philippines announces the release of its first podcast, Suddenly Family, hosted

by Emmy-winning journalist Samuel Burke.

Inspired by three astonishing DNA results in his own life, Burke masterfully draws on his own experiences as he unravels the mysteries of over a dozen families around the world whose lives are unexpectedly turned upside down by DNA testing.

In 2019, Burke gifted his father a DNA test, only to discover they’re not related to the Burke family and that his small Jewish family is actually part of a large Mormon family. As he delved deeper into his family roots, Burke also learned his mother had a sister whom she had no knowledge of.

And, astonishingly, Burke found out that a cousin who his family believed had died of AIDS, is actually alive.

“As a journalist, I’ve always loved to ask meaningful questions,” Burke says, “but I never dreamed I’d have to ask questions this intimate to my own family and to perfect strangers who have allowed me into the most earth-shattering moments of their lives.”

The inaugural episode launches on Feb. 19 on all podcast platforms of CNN Philippines: Spotify, Apple, Google, and YouTube. “Suddenly Family” delves into the unexpected and sometimes dark side of consumer DNA testing. New episodes will be available every week, for free through 2021. Link of the Suddenly Family podcast: http://bit.ly/ SuddenlyFamilySpotify For decades, DNA kits were used

“Suddenly Family” is an original series exploring shocking DNA results, hosted by award-winning international journalist Samuel Burke.

by the medical and legal communities to trace paternity, better understand genetic diseases, and as evidence in crime scenes. Now, the sky-rocketing popularity of these at-home kits is exposing ancestry and genealogy secrets for families across North America and Europe while it’s just begun to take off in Asia. Stunningly, 27 percent of mailin DNA testing say they learned about close relatives they didn’t know about previously (Pew Research).

Alex Gonzaga speaks seriously about the future as she enters life’s new chapter THERE probably isn’t anyone in the country who has not heard of the antics of Alex Gonzaga whether on television, the big screen or online.

She has always been seen as the counterpoint to her sister Toni Gonzaga.

Someone who was the wild, wacky one.

“From day one naman, when I entered show business, it has always been my uncaring, off-the-cuff and galawgaw ways that have endeared me to fans and the public,” said Alex Gonzaga. “I was young, carefree, and rebellious in my own way while si Ate Toni talaga ang mas serious, mas dutiful daughter and ate na image talaga sa mata ng publiko.”

Alex stressed that this public image, the wild and wacky sister of Toni Gonzaga was in fact what she used as her “pondo,” her investment and foundation to make a name for herself in the industry.

“I had to zero in on something, something I believable, I can build on, and use to endear me to the public,” she added.

Of course, Alex added that it did not hurt to have a more established sibling in show business to teach her the ropes and guide her as she started life in the public eye, but she knew she had to be known for something more than being the sister of Toni Gonzaga.

“What people did not realize then na syempre, our parents raised us a certain way and that deep down, I was s8ll a product of that up bringing di ba,” Alex exclaimed. “I had a strong sense, a strong pondo ng mga pangaral ng mga magulang, a foundation of being Godfearing, a need for a sense of purpose, and above all financial security para sa future namin.”

A few years back, Toni and Alex on their own ventured into a business venture aside from their show business careers.

One of the more notable venture of the sisters were their Happy Cup Milk Tea business in 2017.

Alex said, “These business, yung milk tea namin is really a product of the deep lessons on preparing for the future that we have learned from Mommy Pinty, na lagging maging handa, laging may nakatabi na fall back.”

Actress and social media personality Alex Gonzaga reflects on being a wife and finding new investments.

Alex did not stop there. She invested as well in her own future with her product endorsements and YouTube channel, as a sought-after online content creator that has generated millions upon millions of followers which definitely generated more financial security for the young thespian.

Alex married long-time boyfriend Mikey Morada, a businessman and City Councilor in Lipa Batangas in November during the height of the pandemic.

“I have to be wiser in my investments, I have to be wiser in spending money, need na mas maingat sa mga desisyon kasi I no longer just have to look after myself, may sarili na ako ngayong pamilya.”

“This deal that I have now with Villarica Pawnshop is a blessing,” Alex added. “Kasi pag nasa isip ko pawnshop, ibig sabihin nun sangla, parang utang ba na may collateral. But while talking to them, I learned so much that the industry pala ng pawnshop has transformed.

Especially in this time of the pandemic, where businesses are closing, that companies are right-sizing left and right, people need to adjust the way they think or else risk their future and their families.

With more than 500 branches nationwide, Villarica remains to be a leading pawnshop with the highest appraisal value and a preferred money remittance (“cash padala”) and money changer outlet in the Philippines.

To learn more about other services like bills payment, POS withdrawal, auctioned jewelry selling, and even loading, and most especially how Villarica can help you ensure your future.

Visit www.villaricapawnshop.ph for more information.

Life

Bernadette Lunas, Editor manilastandardlife@gmail.com @manilastandardlife @MStandardLIFE

C4

HOUSEHOLD

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2021

Live, play, entertain: Self-contained community provides residents’ needs

WIDE-OPEN SPACES. A stunning vista of Taal Lake, Laguna de Bay, and Mount Makiling greets golfers at Tagaytay Highlands International Golf Club.

Residents of the mountain resort community are afforded amenities, wide spaces, and services accessible in the vicinity of their homes, such as a variety of cuisines served in restaurants and the Sports Center’s well-equipped fitness gym.

A

SELF-CONTAINED community, where residents and their guests can live, play, learn, and entertain, has become more popular and preferred as citizens experience movement restrictions due to the pandemic.

Mount Makiling.

In addition to expanding its portfolio of luxury homes, it continues to upgrade its existing facilities and amenities— part of the privilege and exclusive benefits of members, their families and their guests.

Eating out in a restaurant, exercising in a gym or a spacious outdoor space, and enjoying other amenities without leaving the vicinity of your residence is a privilege.With the ongoing health situation driving Filipino families toward wide-open spaces and tranquil environments, Tagaytay Highlands continues to fast-track its latest expansion projects within Horizon Terraces, whose modern Asian-themed Garden Suites come with shared access to a lush Central Garden, swimming pools, therapeutic walkways, playground, and terraced gardens.

Soon to be completed are Horizon

For foodie residents Its well-loved restaurants and dining places include Concha’s Garden Café, which offers gastronomic renditions of Filipino classics. Diners with a yen for authentic Japanese dishes must try Aozara Japanese Restaurant’s light a la carte menu.

Meanwhile, Amare La Cucina, located on Gourmet Avenue, has the biggest selection of pizza and pasta. For more robust fare, steak for example, the place to be is Highlander Steakhouse on Belle View Drive.

Other dining establishments include China Palace, for authentic Cantonese

Terraces’ Garden Villas, a three-level townhouse development in the Midlands enclave. Units in its first cluster are currently undergoing architectural and structural works and will soon boost the resort community’s portfolio of upscale homes.

Next to be launched is Highlands’ recently unveiled luxury project, Provence, which evokes the charms of Southern France. Sprawled on a gently sloping terrain along the scenic road of Lakeside Fairways, Provence features floral landscapes and lawn gardens, and a breathtaking view of Taal Lake and

‘Practical’ Sarah Geronimo named Grab brand ambassador GRAB Philippines taps singer-actress Sarah Geronimo to become its brand ambassador on account of her “strong sense of practicality” and versatility.

“As someone who came from a humble background, alam ko kung gaano kahalaga (I know how important it is) to make the most out of every peso. Mas lalo pa ngayon na (Especially now that) I started my journey into married life,” shared Geronimo.

“I am very much excited to be working with Grab!

May mga campaigns and initiatives kaming inihanda para sa lahat, and I am sure that kung sino ka man, ano man ang iyong budget, may makikita kang sulit na deals and exciting promos sa Grab na para sa iyo (We have prepared campaigns and initiatives for everyone, and I am sure no matter who you are or whatever your budget is, you will find Grab deals and promos for you),” enthused the pop superstar.

The Kilo-Kilometrong Pa-promo campaign designed by Grab and Geronimo includes discounts and perks across the app’s services. Grab users can unlock these deals today until March 7 by using the promo code GRABWITH-

specialties; and The Great Room at The go-karts, while adults can head to the fitSpa and Lodge, known for its healthy ness gym. meals served in an authentic log cabin setting.

For all residents SM Group of Companies’ leisure develFor active residents opment provides residents access to townTagaytay Highlands prides itself on ship services and support facilities such as having two of Asia’s most exciting golf round-the-clock security, a 24/7 lifeline courses: the Tagaytay Highlands Inter- emergency medical facility, affiliations national Golf Club and the Tagaytay with nearby hospitals and clinics, firefightMidlands Golf Club. The first comes ing services, chapels, Wi-Fi connections, a with a stunning vista of Taal Lake, helipad, and a 7-Eleven outlet.

Laguna de Bay, and Mount Makiling.

It also enjoys proximity to business The second is a championship golf hubs, schools, retail establishments, gascourse that appeals to the sport’s more oline stations, industrial and technologicompetitive enthusiasts. cal parks, and access roads.

Non-golfer members/homeowners To ensure safety of all, the developmay pursue an equally active lifestyle ment’s staff conducts routine cleanat the Country Club. For nature-tripping ing and disinfection. All facilities and and outdoor fun, residents and guests personnel strictly adhere to sanitation can go for a trek on the mountainside procedures and safety protocols such or pedal their way around the property’s as hand sanitation, wearing of face bike trail. Children can while away the mask and face shield, and social disafternoon at the fishing pier and pedal tancing.

Sleep well in the right bed

By Steph Llarena

SARAHG. Those who will use the promo code for GrabFood orders at least P400 will get free delivery within Metro Manila or at least P250 for outside the metro.

Other perks include P40 off on GrabCar fares which a user can use twice during the promo period, P1 booking fee for first-time users of Grab Delivery, and P50 cashback for those paying cashless for Grab services.

THE National Sleep Foundation posits the feel of mattress, pillows, and sheets affects the quality of sleep.

“Your mattress,” it says, “should be comfortable and supportive so that you wake up feeling rested, not achy or stiff.”

But the kind of mattress, even of sheets, depend on the kind of sleeper a person is (many back sleepers prefer firm mattress; side sleepers favor soft mattress) and on the temperature (breathable cotton is ideal in warmer months).

Choosing the right bed that suits the sleeper’s preference and situation is the first step to getting that good night’s sleep. And a good and sufficient sleep, experts say, strengthens immune system and improves attention, memory, and concentration, among many other benefits.

SM Home has an ongoing mattress and linen sale wherein bed and bath essentials are discounted up to 70 percent.

Shoppers may opt to buy in stores or order online through SM’s Call to Deliver service or ShopSM app.

To further help shoppers sleep truly well every night, SM Home offers the following tips: Thread count matters in sheets, as the higher the number, the softer they feel. Linen whose thread count is between 200 and 400 will feel smooth, soft, and breath-

able.

Choose the right and quality material for bed covers. Cotton and bamboo are organic materials that are breathable, anti-microbial, and eco-friendly.

Those who are having a hard time sleeping may opt for weighted blanket as it provides deep pressure stimulation to relieve pain, lessen anxiety, and improve mood.

Change your mattress every five to eight years. This helps alleviate tension at the back and prevent aches and pains. Also, change the bedding in season. Microfiber beddings are best for cold weather while cotton sheets are ideal in summer.

Wash sheets, blankets, and pillowcases in warm water at least once a week for hygiene purposes. Those who have allergies must use gentle laundry detergent.

The firm and snuggly Mr. Big BodyScale pillow is filled with Elasta fiber.