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‘All-presidents’ meeting eyed Four ex-leaders may again be tapped to take on WPS situation

By Vito Barcelo, Macon Ramos-Araneta and Rey E. Requejo

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RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is considering meeting with former presidents to discuss the situation in the West Philippine Sea, the Palace said Thursday.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said instead of convening the National Security Council (NSC), he wants former Presidents Fidel V. Ramos, Joseph Estrada, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, and Benigno Aquino III to discuss the situation and come out with a united stand.

“Actually, the President mentioned that to me. The problem with the National Security Council is that nothing is resolved during the times he attended,” Roque said.

If the meeting pushes through, this would not be the first time President Duterte met with his predecessors. In July 2016, met with the former presidents in Malacañang.

Earlier, former senator Rodolfo Biazon lamented the Philippines’ “confusing” stand on the West Philippine Sea as he called for the convening of the NSC. Roque, however, said there was nothing confusing about the President’s stand.

“Right now, there is no confusion. The confusion is because the West Philippine Sea issue is being politicized by critics of the administration,” he said.

He claimed no territory has been lost under President Duterte.

“We will never give away our territory and we will stand by our national sovereignty and our sovereign rights,,”he added.

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File photo dated July 27, 2016 shows President Duterte during a National Security Council meeting attended by four former presidents including (from left) Joseph Estrada, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Fidel V. Ramos and Benigno Aquino III. Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque says Malacanang is inclined to ask the four ex-presidents to attend a meeting on issues besetting the West Philippine Sea. NSC file

Filipinos told: Ignore China, go out and fish in PH waters

By Vito Barcelo MALACAÑANG is encouraging Filipino fishermen to go out and fish in the country’s territorial waters in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and ignore China’s three-month fishing ban that covers parts of the sea.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Filipino fishermen are not covered by China’s annual fishing ban in the area.

His statement echoed the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS), which said the Chinese fishing ban does not apply to Filipino fishermen in areas within the territory and jurisdiction of the Philippines.

The law of other countries has no "extra-territorial application,” Roque said.

“Stay there in our traditional fishing grounds. Our coast guard is there to protect the interest of our fishermen,” Roque said in a press briefing.

China has imposed a fishing moratorium in the South China Sea from May 1 to Aug. 16.

China has been imposing the fishing ban since 1999.

Under the 1982 United Nation Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the Philippines has

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China fumes after US move on disputed waters

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CHINA on Thursday branded the United States an "out-and-out security risk creator" in the South China Sea, after an American warship sailed through waters near the disputed Spratly Islands.

Tensions in maritime waters claimed by both China and many of its neighbours have ratcheted up recently, with Beijing staging live-fire drills and sending hundreds of fishing vessels to a reef claimed by the Philippines.

China's military said the USS Curtis Wilbur, a guided missil destroyer, was warned and driven away from the contested waters near the islands, which are claimed

by China.

US actions "increase regional security risks, which easily causes misunderstandings, misjudgements and unforeseen maritime incidents," People's Liberation Army Southern Theater Command spokesman Colonel Tian Junli said in a notice posted on social media.

"This is unprofessional and irresponsible, and fully demonstrates that the US is an out-andout 'South China Sea security risk creator.'"

Beijing on Wednesday had chastised Washington for sailing the USS Curtis Wilbur through the Taiwan Strait earlier this week.

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ALWAYS READY. Philippine Coast Guard showcases its floating and aerial assets via a capability demonstration before new members of the PCG Auxilliary Executive Squadron. PCG Commandant Admiral George V. Ursabia Jr. during the demo explains how CG units work to uphold the safety of lives and properities at sea particularly in times of emergency, thus living up to their motto 'Semper Paratus' or Always Ready.

COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE

(AS OF 4 PM MAY 20)

1,165,155 TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES

6,100 51,912 NEW

ACTIVE

19,641

135

1,093,602

4,071

DEATHS

RECOVERIES

NEW

NEW

• Pfizer Palace choice for indigents • CebPac airlifts more Sinovac doses

By Vito Barcelo, Willie Casas, Macon Ramos-Araneta, Joel Zurbano and Othel Campos

the Chief Executive's directive not to announce the vaccine brands to be administered in sites.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the President PRESIDENT Rogave the order after drigo Duterte has he saw how people ordered the Deovercrowded vaccipartment of Health nation sites that give (DOH) to inoculate the US-made Pfizer the indigent population with the donated COVID-19 vaccine.

Pfizer-BioNTech COVID 19 vaccine, “The President wants the Pfizer Malacanang said Thursday as it reiterated Next page

LOCAL ROUNDUP

Romualdez: Now’s the time to invest in PH

By Maricel V. Cruz HOUSE Majority Leader Martin Romualdez on Thursday made a strong investment pitch to the members of the US-ASEAN Business Council, citing the country’s favorable economic prospects and its sustained campaign to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic.

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WHO: Threat persists, avoid travel ‘Impeach-Leonen’ begins May 27 PROGRESS against the coronavirus pandemic remains "fragile" and international travel should be avoided, the World Health Organization's Europe director warned on Thursday, but stressed that authorized vaccines do work against variants of concern.

"Right now, in the face of a continued threat and new uncertainty, we need to continue to exercise caution, and rethink or avoid international travel," Hans Kluge

said, adding that "pockets of increasing transmission" on the continent could quickly spread.

The so-called Indian variant, which may be more transmissible, has now been identified in at least 26 of the 53 countries in the WHO Europe region, Kluge said during his weekly press conference.

But he said that authorised vaccines are effective against the new strain.

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By Rey E. Requejo and Maricel V. Cruz

THE impeachment process against embattled Supreme Court Associate Justice Marvic Leonen will be completed by September, Deputy Speaker Rufus Rodriguez predicted Thursday.

The House of Representatives Committee on Justice will begin discussing the impeachment Next page

Supreme Court Associate Justice Marvic Leonen

Tiktok gone wrong: Pakistani teener dies A YOUNG Pakistani was killed as he pretended to shoot himself while being filmed by friends for a TikTok video, police said Thursday.

Hamidullah, 19, who police said was well-known locally on social media, held a friend's pistol to his temple and pulled the trigger, unaware the gun was loaded.

"The young man died on spot," said Badshah Hazrat, a senior police official in the northwestern Swat Valley.

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Aussie hoarder lived with corpse for 15 yrs AN AUSTRALIAN hoarder killed a burglar and kept the corpse for 15 years, using more than 70 air fresheners to mask the smell, local media reported Thursday.

A coronial inquest heard that Sydney man Bruce Roberts shot intruder Shane Snellman during an attempted home robbery in 2002 Next page

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FRIDAY, MAY 21, 2021

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Du30...

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Senator Grace Poe on Thursday said it is high time that the whole of government comes up with a clear and united stand on the West Philippine Sea. She said convening the NSC would be a timely intervention.

"We cannot be divided as a nation when we talk about our sovereignty.

Protecting territorial integrity is so vital to a country's survival that we must not confuse it with friendship or utang na loob," Poe said.

"This is the country's resources we are

Local...

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vaccines to be given to the poor and indigents. Under COVAX guidelines, it is A1, A2, A3 and A5," Roque said.

Pfizer will not be deployed in vaccination centers in malls. It will be deployed in barangays with low vaccine uptake, he said.

Brand to be bared just before jab The brand of COVID-19 vaccine to be administered on recipients will still be disclosed just right before the inoculation, the Department of Health (DOH) said Thursday.

However, the DOH said those who will refuse vaccination because they prefer a different brand will have to go back to the end of the line.

The DOH made the clarification a day after it announced that vaccination sites will no longer announce what brands are available on a specific date.

“When we say we won’t announce the brand, we are not going to announce the brand as of [that] day," Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said during an interview with Unang Hirit.

Senators weigh in on agnostic policy

‘Impeach...

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complaint on May 27 or next Thursday, its secretariat also confirmed.

The panel, chaired by Leyte Rep. Vicente Veloso III, will determine whether the complaint is sufficient in form and substance.

Speaker Lord Allan Velasco has assured Leonen that he would get a "fair trial" on the complaint levelled against him.

Rodriguez made his observation during the Batasan Forum even as he stressed it is the “constitutional duty” of the members of the Congress to decide on matters that are elevated to the lawmakers by concerned citizens, such as the impeachment complaint filed against Leonen.

“I believed before October, this should be finished. Because we have to do it. We should finish it, it’s our constitutional duty,” he pointed out.

Rodriguez presented the September deadline as a time frame to decide on whether to send the impeachment complaint to the Senate for trial.

He said this was not far-fetched since the lawmakers will do their jobs even during the Congress recess from June 4 to July 25.

Impeachment is the manner to remove members of the Supreme Court as stipulated in the 1987 Constitution.

Another way is the quo warranto procedure, where the task to end the judicial career of a high magistrate is delegated to the members of the Supreme Court.

This was proven legally correct and accepted after then-Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno was removed in 2018 after Solicitor General Jose Calida filed complaints against her through quo warranto.

Rodriguez, who represents Cagayan de Oro’s second district, said the end of the Leonen trial by September was projected after the impeachment complaint was referred to the House Justice Committee on Tuesday by Majority Leader Martin Romualdez.

Based on House Rules of Impeachment, the justice committee headed by Veloso will first find out if the impeachment complaint is sufficient in form, which refers to the format of the impeachment complaint.

If the complaint is sufficient in form, the committee will then determine if the complaint is sufficient in substance.

“The requirement of substance is met if there is a recital of facts constituting the offense charged and determinative of the jurisdiction of the committee. If the committee finds that the complaint is not sufficient in substance, it shall dismiss the complaint and shall submit its report as provided hereunder,” the rules state.

Filipino League of Advocates for Good Governance - Maharlika (FLAGG -Maharlika) Secretary-General Edwin Cordevilla, who filed the case against Leonen, said the magistrate committed “culpable violation of the Constitution.”

He accused Leonen of allegedly “arbitrarily, willfully, intentionally, deliberately and malevolently, with evident bad faith, failing to dispose of at least” 37 cases out of more than 81 cases that were raffled off to his court few months

talking about. There shouldn't be any debate as to whether we should protect it or not," she added.

She said there is only one constitutional answer—we should. "The only thing left for us to discuss now is how."

Meanwhile, retired Supreme Court justice Antonio Carpio said former Senate president Juan Ponce Enrile contradicted himself when he saidat a meeting this week with President Duterte that the country’s Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) did not include the South China Sea. Carpio recalled that Enrile in 1992 said that former US secretary of state Cyrus Vance Jr.' s memo in 1979 meant that the

MDT may be applied to the South China Sea, which includes the West Philippine Sea. Enrile, who served as defense minister during the administration of the President Ferdinand Marcos, backed Duterte's policy of rapprochement towards Beijing despite China’s occupation of several features inside the Philippines’s 200 nautical miles exclusive economic zone.

During the briefing, Enrile said the US failed to compel China to follow the agreement it brokered in 2012 to defuse the tension in the Scarborough Shoal where a Philippine Navy vessel and several Chinese ships were in a standoff.

Thus, when the Philippine forces left, the Chinese remained to take control of the area.

Enrile in the same briefing said that the MDT would not be triggered by a conflict in the South China Sea. During his meeting with President Duterte, Enrile said he was right to be diplomatic and friendly with China and not to depend on the United States. He also urged the President to ignore his critics.

The President, who at one point challenged Carpio to a debate but eventually backed out upon the advice of his Cabinet, said his critics "have become irrelevant" to him after he spoke to Enrile.

The Department of Health (DOH) "brand agnostic" vaccine policy or nondisclosure of vaccine to be inoculated triggered various reactions from the senators who even blamed the DOH for the communication problem over "choosy people."

Senator Nancy Binay said in general, as far as the patient's health and rights are concerned, the DOH has to put a high premium on informing those who are to be inoculated as to what type of vaccine, contraindications, side effects -- and in this case -- what brand of vaccine shall be administered.

She said if the DOH is concerned about “brand crowding,” then it’s clear there’s a communication issue.

“The DOH has been remiss in informing and educating the public and the people should not be blamed,” she said.

Senator Joel Villanueva said vaccine agnosticism will not work without vaccine advocacy.

Senator Francis Pangilinan said people should have a choice, saying the problem lies in the vaccine rollout, not in the choice of vaccines.

Deal on vaccine manufacturing signed Local vaccine manufacturers now

have access to the green lane, which facilitates the expedited permitting process for the establishment and operation of "bulk import, fill and finish COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing facilities" in the Philippines.

The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) signed Wednesday the joint memorandum circular that establishes the green lane together with the Department of Health (DOH), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Board of Investments, Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and National Task Force Against COVID-19 (NTFCOVID19).

“Bulk supplies of vaccines will be imported from abroad and the local companies will fill and package vials locally for distribution," the memo said.

More Sinovac doses arrive Another shipment of Sinovac vaccines arrived Thursday morning in Manila, bringing to 8,279,050 the total number of doses of COVID-19 vaccines received by the Philippines.

Ninoy Aquino International Airport Customs collector Carmelita Talusan said the bureau processed the release of the latest 500,000 doses of Sinovac from Beijing.

She said the shipment consigned to the Department of Health arrived at NAIA Terminal 2 around 7:30 a.m. via Cebu Pacific Air flight No. 5J-671.

New cases top 6,000 again The Philippines logged on Thursday 6,100 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of infections to 1,165,155, as three laboratories failed to submit their data on time, the Department of Health (DOH) reported.

The DOH reported 135 new fatalities, bringing the death toll from COVID-19 to 19,641.

The DOH also reported 4,071 patients recovered recently, bringing the total recoveries to 1,093,602.

Active cases were logged at 51,912.

Of the active cases, 93.1 percent were mild, 2.1 percent were asymptomatic, 1.5 percent were critical, 2 percent were severe, and 1.31 percent were moderate.

Nationwide, 59 percent of the ICU beds, 45 percent of the isolation beds, 47 percent of the ward beds, and 40 percent of the ventilators, were in use.

In Metro Manila, 59 percent of the ICU beds, 40 percent of the isolation beds, 43 percent of the ward beds, and 41 percent of the ventilators, were in use.

after he was appointed to the Supreme Court in November 2012.

The 37 cases were categorized for Leonen’s immediate decision, Cordevilla said in his filing.

Supreme Court records showed that Leonen has the highest number of cases under his docket.

The complaint said that as Supreme Court magistrate, Leonen was “mandated by Section 15 (1), Article 8, in relation to Section 16, Article III of the Constitution, which mandates the prompt action and speedy disposition of cases” to make ponencias of the cases assigned to him within not more than 24 months.

Cordevilla also accused Leonen of not doing his job as head of the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal (HRET), as the magistrate had no decision on “dozens” of electoral protests as of this month.

Leonen was also accused of refusing to file his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) for 15 times while serving as professor at the College of Law at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City.

Cordevilla earlier told reporters the impeachment complaint has clearly specified the supposed crimes committed by Leonen so that it would pass the criteria of substance pegged by the House Rules on Impeachment.

Rodriguez revealed there is a big possibility that the House majority need not take part in the impeachment complaint if 100 congressmen will agree to immediately send it to the Senate.

As of May 19, only Ilocos Norte Rep. Angelo Barba, who helped Cordevilla file the complaint, has endorsed Leonen’s impeachment.

Previously, 100 congressmen endorsed the impeachment complaint against then-President Joseph Ejercito Estrada in 2019, which led to his trial by the Senate.

“That’s the third option. The option of being able to have hundred, one hundred signatures… the impeachment complaint will be immediately transmitted to the Senate, and that complaint becomes the article of impeachment. So, diretso ‘yan… hundred signatures diretso sa Senado,” Rodriguez explained.

“Moot na ‘yung mga hearing. Wala na. Hundred persons (congressmen) already express their support for the impeachment, wala na. Just goes up [in the Senate],” he added.

Even the minority group headed by Abang Lingkod party-list Rep. Joseph Estephen Paduano is “very much interested” to participate in the proceedings against Leonen.

Paduano said in a statement his group will ensure that proper impeachment procedures would be strictly followed and carried out.

The other concern of the minority, according to Paduano, is that each member of the minority with voting rights in the committee “is free to deliver their conscience vote on the impeachment.”

Aside from culpable violation of the Philippine Constitution, Leonen as also slapped with violations of Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

Romualdez:...

The group has been supporting COVID-19 response and recovery, accelerating digital transformation, promoting ease of doing business and economic liberalization measures, and reinforcing the US-Philippines bilateral ties for regional peace and prosperity.

Some of the delegation members of the US-ASEAN Business Council include, 3M, Airbnb, Amazon, Citibank, The Coca-Cola Company, Exxon Mobil, FedEx, Google, IBM, Jhpiego, Johnson & Jonson, MSD or Merck, Oracle, PepsiCo, PMFTC, Inc., Procter and Gamble, Salesforce, Texas Instruments, Twitter, Visa, VMWare, and other multinational firms.

Meanwhile, Romualdez, president of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD), assured them that the House leadership had been working very hard with the Chief Executive to continue introducing reforms and attract more foreign investors into the country.

He cited House Bill 7749 or the Government Financial Institutions Unified Initiatives to Distressed Enterprises for Economic Recovery (GUIDE), HB 7425 or the Digital Transactions Value Added Tax, HB 7406 or Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Modernization Program, HB 6135 or Fiscal Mining Regime, and HB 7425 or Internet Transactions Act/E-Commerce Law that are part of the financial reforms outlined

by Finance Sec. Sonny Dominguez “to stimulate domestic consumption and get the economy back on track the soonest.”

“Number one on this list is President Duterte’s ‘Build, Build, Build’ infrastructure modernization program, which is the best driver of economic growth.

To reinvigorate consumer spending, the government will promote the manufacture of products that have strong and inelastic demand, notably by businesses involved in food production and logistics,” Romualdez said.

He said legislators had been exerting all efforts to ease doing business in the Philippines and make a more conducive business environment that would foster economic growth.

“These, my friends, are just a few of what we intend to accomplish in the remaining days of our term. We hope that this humble contribution of ours – coupled with help from investors and allies in the business community just like the US-ASEAN Business Council—would help us get back on our feet and bring us closer to realizing our dream of providing a better future to our fellow Filipinos,” Romualdez said.

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Speaking during the joint virtual meeting, Romualdez, chairman of the House Committee on Rules, assured senior business executives that the House leadership had been pushing economic reforms and effective pandemic response measures such as the immediate passage of the P405.6billion Bayanihan to Arise as One Act or Bayanihan 3, which are crucial to the economic recovery program of the government.

“Still the most pressing problem that we have to attend to right now is the COVID-19 pandemic and the devastating effects it has wrought upon us. As of the moment, the House of Representatives is acting with dispatch in deliberating the Bayanihan 3 bill of Speaker Velasco, which seeks to provide P405.6-billion fund to help the country recover from the economic crunch triggered by the pandemic,” Romualdez, representative of Leyte's first district, said.

He also rallied support from members of the US-ASEAN Business Council for President Rodrigo Duterte’s vision and programs.

“We are awaiting the IRR (implementing rules and regulations) of the Corporate Income Tax and Incentives Rationalization Act (CITIRA), which should now include flexible tax and non-tax incentives so that.the government can better target specific investors that it wants to invest in our economy,” Romualdez, president of the Philippine Constitution Association (Philconsa), added.

Deputy Speakers Salvador Leachon of Oriental Mindoro and Weslie Gatchalian of Valenzuela City represented Velasco during the forum where they discussed the priority measures of the House leadership.

Reps. Joey Salceda of Albay, Edgar Sarmiento of Samar, Francisco Benitez of Negros Occidental and Sharon Garin of AAMBIS-OWA also joined the forum.

For over 35 years, the US-ASEAN Business Council has been the premier advocacy organization for United States corporations operating within the dynamic Association of Southeast Asian Nations, serving as the leading voice of the US private sector in promoting mutually beneficial trade and investment relationships between the US and Southeast Asia.

Aussie...

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and kept the body in his house, public broadcaster ABC reported.

After Roberts himself died in 2017 of natural causes, neighbors alerted emergency services who found his body slumped over a heater.

But Snellman's remains were not discovered amid piles of rubbish in the house until cleaners were hired to clear the estate about a year later.

The body was surrounded by more than 70 bottles of air freshener used to mask the smell, the coroner's court reportedly heard.

Roberts was said to be an extreme hoarder who rarely left his home, where more than a dozen firearms were also found. AFP

Filipinos...

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sovereign rights over features located within its exclusive economic zone or 12 to 200 nautical miles from the baseline of its territorial waters.

China continues to reject the 2016 ruling of a United Nations-backed court that junked its claims to about 90 percent of the waterway, including parts of the Philippine exclusive economic zone.

Earlier, the Philippines protested the fishing ban, saying the unilateral policy infringes on the country’s sovereignty over its waters.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said Manila does not recognize China’s fishing moratorium from May 1 to August 16 this year, as it covers waters in areas where the Philippines exercises” sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction.”

“China’s annual fishing moratorium extends far beyond China’s legitimate maritime entitlements under UNCLOS and is without basis under international law. China cannot legally impose nor legally enforce such a moratorium in the West Philippines Sea,” a DFA statement said.

China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said the ban covers “waters north of 12 degrees north latitude in the South China Sea,” areas that include Philippine waters.

In another development, a group of former police and military officers said President Duterte should withdraw his statements on the West Philippine Sea issue that do not conform with the national interest.

Retired lieutenant general Edilberto Adan, head of the Advocates for National Interest, said the officers’ group called on the President to "have a firm stand" in defending Philippine sovereignty in its territorial waters.

Adan also disagreed with Duterte that going to war with China was the "only option" to assert the Philippines' claims in the disputed waters.

“What we’re saying is war is not the only option, there are other instruments of national power that can be used," he said.

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The US Seventh Fleet described it as a "routine" transit.

The United States frequently conducts what it calls "Freedom of Navigation Operations" in the flashpoint waterway.

The South China Sea and its various islands are claimed by multiple countries including China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Japan, Malaysia and the Philippines. It is home to some of the world's most resource-rich waterways. AFP

TIktok...

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While the clip of the incident was not uploaded to TikTok, police said friends circulated it among themselves and it soon spread further afield.

"The young man was locally famous and active on TikTok," Hazrat told AFP. The 19-year-old had more than 8,000 followers and posted nearly 600 TikTok clips.

Most were of him playing pranks with friends, cricket, or featured life in the rugged and picturesque valley.

The death was just the latest incident of a social media stunt gone wrong in Pakistan.

A security guard was killed in Karachi last year while toying with his rifle as he filmed a TikTok clip, while in January another teenager died after being struck by a train while filming for the app in Rawalpindi. AFP

WHO:...

From A1

"All COVID-19 virus variants that have emerged so far do respond to the available, approved vaccines," Kluge said, adding that all COVID-19 variants can be controlled with the same public health and social measures used until now.

So far only 23 percent of people in the region have received a vaccine dose, with just 11 percent having had both doses, Kluge said, as he warned citizens to continue to exercise caution.

"Vaccines may be a light at the end of the tunnel, but we cannot be blinded by that light," he said. AFP

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COVID billionaires : Cashing in on pandemic

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T LEAST nine people have become new billionaires since the beginning of the COVID pandemic, thanks to the excessive profits pharmaceutical corporations with monopolies on COVID-19 vaccines are making, The People’s Vaccine Alliance revealed yesterday ahead of a G20 leaders Global Health Summit.

Key members of the G20 including the UK and Germany, are blocking moves to boost supply by ending companies’ monopoly control of vaccine production as COVID-19 continues to devastate lives in countries like India and Nepal where only a tiny fraction of the population has been vaccinated.

Between them, the nine new billionaires have a combined net wealth of $19.3 billion, enough to fully vaccinate all people in lowincome countries 1.3 times. Meanwhile, these countries have received only 0.2 per cent of the global supply of vaccines, because of the massive shortfall in available doses, despite being home to 10 per cent of the world’s population.

In addition, eight existing billionaires– who have extensive portfolios in the COVID-19 vaccine pharma corporations - have seen their combined wealth increase by $32.2 billion, enough to fully vaccinate everyone in India.

Campaigners from the People’s Vaccine Alliance—whose members include Global Justice Now, Oxfam and UNAIDS, have analysed Forbes Rich List data to highlight the massive wealth being generated for a handful of people from vaccines which were largely public funded.

Anna Marriott, Oxfam’s Health Policy Manager, said: “What a testament to our collective failure to control this cruel disease that we quickly create new vaccine billionaires but totally fail to vaccinate the billions who desperately need to feel safe.

“These billionaires are the human face of the huge profits many pharmaceutical corporations are making from the monopoly they hold on these vaccines. These vaccines were funded by public money and should be first and foremost a global public good, not a private profit opportunity. We need to urgently

end these monopolies so that we can scale up vaccine production, drive down prices and vaccinate the world.”

Vaccine billionaires are being created as stocks in pharmaceutical firms rise rapidly in expectation of huge profits from the COVID-19 vaccines over which these firms have monopoly control.

The alliance warned that these monopolies allow pharmaceutical corporations total control over the supply and price of vaccines, pushing up their profits while making it harder for poor countries, in particular, to secure the stocks they need.

Earlier this month the US backed proposals

by South Africa and India at the World Trade Organisation to temporarily break up these monopolies and lift the patents on COVID-19 vaccines. This move has the support of over 100 developing countries, and in recent days countries like Spain have also declared their support, as has the Pope and over 100 world leaders and Nobel laureates.

Despite this, other rich nations, including the UK and Germany, are still blocking the proposal, putting the interest of pharmaceutical companies over what’s best for the world. Italy, who are hosting the G20 Global Health Summit tomorrow, are continuing to sit on the fence

on the issue, as are Canada and France.

Heidi Chow, Senior Policy and Campaigns Manager at Global Justice Now, said: “As thousands of people die each day in India, it is utterly repugnant that the UK, Germany and others want to put the interests of the billionaire owners of Big Pharma ahead of the desperate needs of millions.

Topping the list of new billionaires who have cashed in on the success of COVID vaccines are the CEOs of Moderna and BioNTech, each with a wealth over $4 billion or more. The list also includes two of Moderna’s founding investors and the company’s chair as well as the CEO of a company with a deal to manufacture and package the Moderna vaccine. This is despite the fact the vast majority of funding for the Moderna vaccine was paid for by taxpayers. The final three new vaccine billionaires are all co-founders of the Chinese vaccine company CanSino Biologics.

Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS, said: “While the companies making massive profits from COVID vaccines are refusing to share their science and technology with others in order to increase the global vaccine supply, the world continues to

DND chief: Too many generals in military

RETIREMENT PLAN. Newlyinstalled chief of the Philippine National Police Gen. Guillermo Eleazar attends a hybrid hearing of the Committee on National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification and Reconciliation Thursday, May 20, 2021. Eleazar during the meeting is asked by senators to come up with a proposed legislation on the retirement of police personnel different from the proposed retirement law of the military and uniformed personnel. Alex Nueva España

By Macon Ramos-Araneta STRESSING that it would be healthier” for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana yesterday cited the need to reduce the general-topersonnel ratio in the military, saying there are “too many generals.”

Speaking at the Senate national defense committee hearing on bills prescribing fixed terms for the Chief-of-Staff and other key officers of the AFP and reforming the pension system of military and uniformed personnel, Lorenzana said “I say the bill is already, I think it’s OK as far as I’m concerned.”

Lorenzana was alluding to Senator Richard Gordon’s bill on the fixed terms for the chief-of-staff and other key officers of the AFP. “Except for one thing,” Lorenzana said, adding that he would like to include the lowering of percentage of generals to 0.1 as compared to the number of troops of men in the AFP. At present, he said the percentage is .125 and in fact, “we have already exceeded that percentage.”

“We see it here among the higher ups we have too many generals, and if we can put it down to 1 is to 1,000 I think that will be healthier for the organization,” he said.

“Our strength is 143,000, that means we should only have 143 generals in the Armed Forces of the Philippines. I believe, personally, that we have too many generals in the Armed Forces,” he added.

Meanwhile, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto expresseed his preference for a mixed system of a defined benefit and mutual fund for the pension of the military and uniformed personnel.

He urged the Department of Finance, the Bureau of Treasury, and the Government Service Insurance System to look into this proposal, adding that a mutual fund, if invested properly, would benefit pensioners more.

Senators push for campaign to vaccinate minors ON THE premise that outsmarting the virus requires the vaccination of students, Senator Sonny Angara on Thursday said it is time to start local studies on vaccination of minors io ensure their protection against COVID-19.

“In our basic education,they are 28 million.

Those in the tertiary are 3.4 million. If combined, their total population would put them in the Top 50 countries. Bigger than Australia’s 25 million,” noted Angara.

Senator Win Gatchalian for his part hailed the government’s plans to include teenagers in the COVID-19 vaccination program, a move that the lawmaker says would boost the basic education sector’s return to normalcy and the safe reopening of schools.

Considering the government’s plans to inoculate the younger population, he said it is essential to study how other countries, including

the United States, are rolling out the vaccines among children and teenagers.

Gatchalian added that local government units (LGUs) should start preparations for the inoculation of the younger population.

He said that health workers all the way to the barangay level should be mobilized while schools should be tapped as partners, especially in spreading awareness about the safety of vaccines.

Angara said a roadmap in children’s vaccination “will guide the executive and the legislative branches in preparing the budget of DepEd for 2022.”

The senator said the local Food and Drug Administration (FDA) should take the cue from its counterparts in the United States and other countries and start studying the use of the available Covid-19 vaccines for children below 18.

“In so far as expanding the administration of vaccines to other age groups, we should always be ahead of the curve,” Angara said.

He said “Greenlighting” certain vaccines for school-age children will address the need of “the largest population group” to be protected from the coronavirus.

“There will be no return to normalcy, no herd immunity if they are not vaccinated,” Angara added.

He said the first step is authorizing certain vaccines for certain age groups. “That is the prudent thing to do. It complies with safety protocols.”

The Philippines, Angara said, can follow the lead of the United States when its FDA allowed one of its leading vaccine brands to be administered to 12 to 15-year-olds. Macon Ramos Araneta

OFWs department bill backed

TWO senators have renewed their pitch for the creation of the Department of Overeas Filipinos, asking their Senate colleagues to support the proposed measure that will look after the welfare and interests of the OFWs. Senators Bong Go and Ronald dela Rosa noted that measures to improve the bureaucracy and protect the welfare of Filipinos wherever they are in the world are primordial concerns amid the ongoing pandemic.

G cited the need to streamline all related responsibilities concerning Filipinos overseas into one department so that decisions and actions can be made in the most expedient, most efficient, and most responsive mechanism possible.

He appealed for support to the passage of his proposed Senate Bill No. 1949, otherwise known as the Department of Overseas Filipinos (DOFil) Act of 2020, which seeks to safeguard the rights and promote the welfare and interests of overseas Filipinos.

SBN 1949 is the third version of a measure Go first filed in July 2019. The bill creating DOFil is one of the priority measures of the

GIVING BACK.

Nothing feels better than giving back and making a difference in the lives of fellowmen especially during these trying times.

PAFCMOG continued to support the conduct of community pantries by distributing assorted vegetables and food items at a barangay in Sta Ana, Manila. #ayudaserye

present administration as mentioned numerous times by President Rodrigo Duterte, including in his last two State of the Nation Addresses.

The President also certified this most recent version filed by Go as urgent.

The former presidential aide said the proposed department will be primarily mandated to formulate, recommend and implement national policies, plans, programs and guidelines that protect overseas Filipinos, including OFWs, as well as promote their interests and resolve issues concerning them in a timely and effective manner.

Dela Rosa also has sought for the establishment of a department tasked to look after the interest of Filipinos overseas without causing a “swell” to the state bureaucracy since it will be an integration of functions of existing concerned government agencies.

He authored Senate Bill No. 2110 (SBN 2110), to be known as “Department of Overseas Filipinos Act,” to rationalize and put “under one roof” the powers and functions of separate concerned offices. Macon Ramos Araneta

SLIPPERY CARGO. At around 7:45 am on May 20. 2021, a heavily loaded truck traversing the uphill portion of Brgy Bontiway, Marcos Highway skidded on the road shoulder spilling its cargo of canned cooking oil rendering the highway slippery and dangerous to other motorists. Firemen from Tuba Bureau of Fire Protection spread sawdust to absorb the spilt oil and render the major road leading to Baguio City fit and safe for motorists to travel. Dave Leprozo

face the very real risk of mutations that could render the vaccines we have ineffective and put everyone at risk all over again.

“The pandemic has come at a terrible human cost, so it is obscene that profits continue to come before saving lives.”

The 9 new vaccine billionaires, in order of their net worth are: Stéphane Bancel - Moderna’s CEO (worth $4.3 billion) Ugur Sahin, CEO and co-founder of BioNTech (worth $4 billion) Timothy Springer - an immunologist and founding investor of Moderna (worth $2.2bn) Noubar Afeyan - Moderna’s Chairman (worth $1.9 billion) Juan Lopez-Belmonte-- Chairman of ROVI, a company with a deal to manufacture and package the Moderna vaccine (worth $1.8 billion) Robert Langer - a scientist and founding investor in Moderna (worth $1.6 billion) Zhu Tao co-founder and chief scientific officer at CanSino Biologics (worth $1.3 billion) Qiu Dongxu, co-founder and senior vice president at CanSino Biologics (worth $1.2) Mao Huinhoa, also co-founder and senior vice president at CanSino Biologics (worth $1 billion)

Salceda: Work from home for call centers ALBAY Rep. Joey Salceda on Thursday expressed support for the call to allow business process outsourcing (BPO) enterprises to keep the work-from-home arrangements and to allow the same in the implementing rules of the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) Act. In a letter to IT & Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) president Rey Untal, Salceda said the “intention of the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) Act was to ensure that Philippine enterprises are competitive.”

Untal earlier asked Salceda to relax the rule under Section 309 of the tax code as amended by CREATE. The condition under Section 309 is that the activity must be “conducted or operated within the geographical boundaries of the zone or free port being administered by the Investment Promotion Agency in which the project or activity is registered.”

“This appears to me to be relevant for industries that require physical transport and storage and are therefore prone to smuggling and leakage to the domestic market. Smuggling is not a BPO-sector problem,” Salceda said.

“Unless there is a contrary Department of Finance or Bureau of Internal Revenue opinion or overriding argument, I tentatively support your request on this matter,” Salceda said.

“For industries that make use of the virtual space, a strict interpretation of Section 309 would lead to such absurd questions as ‘Are the airwaves part of the geographical boundaries of the zone?’ or ‘When a BPO service is transmitted and/or stored through facilities outside the zone, does this count as a violation of the provision?’”

“The complete process of rendering the service of a BPO does not happen exclusively within the boundaries of the zone, even if the workers are onsite. It appears to me that if the service is orchestrated in the ecozone by the BPO, Section 309 can be fully complied with,” Salceda added.

“I am thus inclined to support your request. However, as Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, it is important to me that I hear from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) or the Department of Finance (DOF) about whether such a hybrid arrangement can be abused to minimize or evade taxes,” Salceda assured IBPAP in the letter. Maricel V. Cruz

PGH reopens 5 operating rooms but ER still closed THE Philippine General Hospital (PGH) is slowly recovering after a fire struck the facility during the weekend, its spokesperson said Thursday.

Five of its operating rooms have been opened while its emergency room remains closed, said PGH spokesperson Dr. Jonas del Rosario.

“We have five separate operating rooms.

That’s not enough but at least we can operate again because around 30 operating rooms were affected by the fire. Because of that, unfortunately, our emergency room is still closed because we still cannot accept patients especially those needing emergency surgical procedures,” Del Rosario said in an interview on TeleRadyo.

Fire struck a portion of the third floor of the PGH before dawn on Sun-

day, gutting its operating room supply area where instruments are sterilized and equipment are stored.

Del Rosario hoped the PGH would be able to accommodate patients who need surgery by the end of the week as they expect to be able to open more operating rooms.

He said: “Unless it’s really life and limb threatening and they are already here we will not turn them away.

“Unfortunately, we refer to other hospitals those needing elective and semiurgent procedures but those that are really emergency cases and are right at our doorsteps, we will not turn them away. That’s why we reserve our very limited operating rooms for those cases,” he said.

As a COVID-19 referral hospital, Del Rosario said they continue to ac-

cept coronavirus patients. Coordination must be coursed through their command center by calling the hotline number 155-200.

“Coordination will be fast because the number of patients with COVID in our hospital has decreased. Now we have 110 patients out of the 250. PGH can still accommodate COVID patients,” he said. “‘We’re slowly recovering. Clearing operations continue at the operating room sterilization area with the help of the DPWH. We still could not use the operating rooms because they are still fixing it and we still need to get clearance for the electrical if we could already use it,” he said.

Meanwhile, Del Rosario thanked all those who continue to donate to the hospital. Willie Casas

A4

News

FRIDAY, MAY 21, 2021

DND eyes pact with Austal for six patrol boats worth P22b—envoy

FLAG DAY PREP. Workers show a 5-by-10-foot Philippine flag worth P3,500 in front of the Atlas flag store in Sta. Cruz, Manila on Thursday. The nation celebrates May 28 as National Flag Day under Presidential Proclamation No. 374, to commemorate the date the national emblem was first unfurled after the Philippine Revolutionary Army defeated the Spanish forces in the Battle of Alapan in Imus, Cavite in 1898. Norman Cruz

AUSTRALIAN Ambassador to the Philippines Steven Robinson on Thursday said the Department of National Defense is negotiating with Austal, a world-renowned defense contractor and shipbuilder, for the procurement of six naval offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) worth AUS$600 million (P22 billion).

In an interview with CNN Philippines, Robinson said the negotiation for the purchase of the OPVs is strongly supported by the Australian government and is part of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ modernization plan.

“We are having an ongoing discussion with the Department of National Defense as part of their modernization program and we would like to contribute to that in a meaningful way,” the Australian diplomat stressed.

Reports showed that the purchase of the OPVs from Austal has been already approved as part of the AFP’s Horizon 2, or the second tier of the military’s

Labor suspends OFW deployment to Israel amid rising Gaza tensions

By Vito Barcelo and Rey E. Requejo

T

HE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has suspended the deployment of Filipino workers to Israel amid escalating tensions and violence in the region.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III also clarified that the department did not issue a deployment ban of workers to Israel, as processing of at least 500 workers was ongoing.

“We have not banned the deployment of our workers to Israel. The processing of those who already qualified continues. We are merely suspending their actual departure while the tension is still high,” Bello said in a statement.

At the same time, the Department of Foreign Affairs said the Philippines was prepared for the evacuation of Filipinos who intend to be repatriated as conflict between Israel and Hamas militants in Gaza intensifies.

In an advisory, the DFA placed Israel and West Bank under Alert Level 1 category, while Gaza is on Alert level 2.

“The DFA is on standby with evacuation plans ready to be activated as

needed and as soon as the borders open and a humanitarian corridor is established,” the department stressed.

There are 29,473 Filipinos in Israel and 91 in Gaza.

Bello appealed to Filipino caregivers and health care workers to postpone for several days their travel to Israel to avoid the conflict.

“It will just be about a few days of delay. We just want to be sure they will be safe,” he said.

Bello said the deployment of workers to Israel would resume once their safety was assured.

“Once the bombings stop and if the Department of Foreign Affairs says it’s OK, then we will always consider de-

Cayetano sets another P10k handout today AS SUPPORT for the 10K Ayuda Bill gains ground, Taguig City Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano is set to distribute P10,000 each to around 300 beneficiaries in Laguna on Friday to highlight how the amount can help the country recover from the crisis brought on by the pandemic.

The “Sampung Libong Pag-Asa” initiative is part of Cayetano’s advocacy for the government to provide Filipinos families with cash assistance to help them purchase their basic needs and revive their sources of income amid the ongoing pandemic.

The distribution of cash aid will be broadcast live today on Cayetano’s official Facebook page, the former Speaker said in a statement.

In its launch last May 1, the “Sampung Libong Pag-Asa” highlighted the stories of beneficiaries who said the amount they received helped them rise up from the hardships they encountered when the country was placed under quarantine.

The launching program distributed P10,000 each to nearly 200 beneficiaries from 13 cities and provinces in the country.

Cayetano and his allies filed the 10k Ayuda Bill in February with the aim of providing a one-time assistance of P10,000 for every Filipino family or P1,500 per member, whichever is higher.

But the bill was not included in the House Committee on Economic Affairs’ consolidated version of the proposed Bayanihan 3.Maricel V. Cruz

ploying them,” he added.

The Labor chief also assured that those who wanted to work in Israel could still apply for jobs, but their deployment would be on hold.

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) earlier said that some 400 home-based caregivers are bound for Israel this month despite the conflict in the Jewish state.

POEA chief Bernard Olalia said the deployment of the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) was a government-togovernment agreement.

“Our first batch (consists of) 400 caregivers. They are home-based under the bilateral labor agreement,” he added.

FIRST JAB.

A resident of Las Pinas gets inoculated with the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccines for COVID-19 at a mall in Las Pinas City Wednesday.

Las Pinas Vice Mayor April Aguilar (center) observed the vaccination for persons belonging to the A1, A2 and A3 categories.

The government is targeting to inoculate 50 million to 70 million Filipinos this year.

Norman Cruz

Duties on social networks to stop online child abuse urged

By Macon Ramos-Araneta CITING global reports that Facebook Messenger was responsible for 16.8 million of the 18.4 million reports of child sexual abuse material, or 91% of the total, Senator Risa Hontiveros on Thursday said her bill to stop online sexual child abuses imposes additional duties on Facebook and other social media networks.

Under Hontiveros’ Committee Report No. 257, or an Act Providing Special Protections Against Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC), Facebook and other internet intermediaries are enjoined to block

and remove child sexual abuse or exploitation material within 24 hours from receipt of notice.

Social networks, Hontiveros said, are also bound to preserve evidence in its possession, and to develop and adopt systems and procedures for preventing, blocking, detecting, and reporting of OSAEC cases.

“My office even held bilateral meetings with Facebook and with Google because if we want to strategically address OSAEC, we really need the buyin of internet intermediaries and social media networks,” said Hontiveros during her sponsorship speech on the Senate floor on Tuesday.

Hontiveros noted that the Philippines is one of the global hotspots of child sexual abuse and exploitation committed on online platforms.

She also cited UNICEF findings that showed that in 2016, the Philippines is one of the top ten countries producing child sexual abuse and exploitation materials. The youngest recorded Filipino victim of OSAEC is a two-month-old baby, Hontiveros noted.

According to the Department of Justice, cases of OSAEC in the Philippines increased by 264.6 percent during the imposition of the enhanced community quarantine from March to May 2020.

TESDA Central Luzon lacks assessment centers

By Jess Malabanan

STATION INSPECTION. Led by Transportation Secretary Art Tugade (second from

left) and Light Rail Transit Authority-LRT2 Administrator General Reynaldo Berroya (behind Tugade), officials inspect two new stations of the LRT-2 East Extension project on Thursday.

Once the stations open, a trip from Recto in Manila to Antipolo, Rizal will only take 40 minutes, compared to a three-hour trip by bus and jeepney. DOTR Photo

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority’s limited number of accredited assessment centers have created a backlog of departing Overseas Filipino Workers applying for National Competency certificates, one of the requirements needed to qualify and be hired abroad.

In Pampanga alone, over 1,500 domestic workers applicants have been placed on a waiting list due to the limited number of government assessment centers in the province, said lawyer Eric Euda, TESDA’s Provincial Director.

“Last I checked, there were more than 1,500 applicants waiting for schedule

for National Competency Certificates 2 (NC2) for domestic workers in Pampanga alone, and these applicants and mostly residents come from nearby Metro Manila areas,” said Euda.

He said NC2 certificates cannot be secured easily, as applicants have to undergo assessment tests, which they must not fail, or else they will take reassessment to qualify for the certificate.

The coronavirus lockdowns in the past months in the National Capital Region (NCR), Euda said, sent NC2 certificate applicants straight to Pampanga.

“TESDA Pampanga was swamped

by NC2 certificates applicants. We cannot accommodate the huge number with only limited assessment centers.”

Euda pointed out.

modernization plan, subject to the availability of funds.

Under Horizon 2, the AFP is acquiring fast-attack interdictor craft missile (FAIC-M) ships, landing docks, air search radars, and other external defense equipment. The OPVs are expected to replace the World War II ships that were earlier retired by the PN. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana was reportedly considering the Australian shipbuilder, which has a shipyard in Balamban, Cebu, “at the forefront of the Navy’s OPV procurement program.”

During the interview, the envoy reaffirmed Australia’s strong support to the Philippines through their existing Memorandum of Understanding on defense cooperation and the Status of Forces Agreement (SoFA).

Robinson said Austal is also negotiating with Korean giant shipbuilder Hanjin for the operation of its Subic shipyard.Rey E. Requejo

PhilHealth: Sick workers causing delays in claims

By Willie Casas THE Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) admitted on Thursday the delays in the processing of claims for COVID-19 cases, amid a grievance from a hospital group regarding unpaid claims amounting to billions of pesos.

PhilHealth spokesperson Shirley Domingo, in an interview with Unang Balita, said the pandemic has also affected the agency’s workforce.

“There is really a delay in the processing of claims because even PhilHealth was affected by the pandemic,” she said, adding that some of their employees needed to be confined or put in isolation following exposure to COVID-19.

This developed as the Philippine Hospital Association (PHA) on Thursday criticized PhilHealth’s slow release of payments to medical facilities with COVID-19 claims that are not made under the debit-credit payment method (DCPM).

The DCPM was created last month after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered PhilHealth to expedite the reimbursement of hospital claims in high and critical risk areas as COVID-19 cases surged.

Under the DCPM, hospitals need to apply and sign an undertaking stating that healthcare facilities will receive 60 percent of the total amount of receivables subject to 2 percent expanded withholding tax.

PHA president Dr. Jaime Almora, however, said the undertakings “have provisions that are not clear to medical facilities.”

At a Senate hearing on Wednesday, Almora said private and public hospitals were forced to use their savings and borrow from in order to sustain operations due to PhilHealth’s alleged failed to pay the claims for COVID-19 cases since March 2020.

Taguig opens 9th vaccination site at Venice cinemas

By Joel E. Zurbano ANOTHER vaccination site, the ninth for Taguig City, is now open at Cinemas 1 and 5 of the Venice Grand Canal Mall in McKinley Hill, the city government announced Thursday.

This was after the local government partnered with Megaworld Corporation to use the mall’s cinemas in its vaccination program.

Mayor Lino Edgardo Cayetano said the Venice Grand Canal Mall Vaccination hub will expedite the city’s ongoing vaccination rollout, with two vaccination teams per cinema conducting inoculations to an estimated 400-people capacity daily.

“We have a good number of vaccines supplies as of now. We were told by the national government that there will be more in June. With that, the job of the LGU is to make sure that vaccination is safe, fast, and accessible. The city of Taguig wants to focus on those three things.

So, we will continue to aggressively plan our vaccination rollout,” said Cayetano.

The city chief executive said that safety is also ensured, as air exchange is monitored in both cinemas in accordance with the Labor Department’s Order No. 224, Series of 2021.

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TODAY FRIDAY, MAY 21, 2021 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Junta fires two protesting diplomats in Tokyo: report TWO officials at Myanmar’s embassy in Tokyo have become the latest diplomats dismissed by the junta after protesting the military coup in their country, Japan’s Kyodo news agency reported Thursday.

Administrator Aung Soe Moe and a junior colleague were fired after they went on strike, the agency said.

Citing a leaked document, Kyodo said some 100 Myanmar diplomats around the world have been dismissed after opposing the coup.

Myanmar’s military ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi in February, triggering a massive uprising that authorities have sought to quell with lethal force.

Kyodo said the two diplomats left the embassy compound on March 11, days after posting on Facebook in support of peaceful anti-junta protests.

They did not resign but have had their diplomatic status and passports revoked, and are living in Tokyo with the help of other Myanmar nationals, Kyodo said.

The Myanmar embassy has informed Japan’s foreign ministry that diplomatic visas for the pair will no longer be valid, Japanese government spokesman Katsunobu Kato told reporters Thursday.

“The foreign ministry is studying what kind of response is appropriate, giving consideration to Myanmar’s current situation,” Kato added.

Japan has criticised the coup in Myanmar and called for the restoration of democracy, but it has faced pressure to stake out a stronger position on the crisis.

The Myanmar embassy was not reachable for comment on Thursday.

In April, pro-junta diplomats seized the country’s embassy in London – leaving the ambassador locked out after he called for the release of Suu Kyi.AFP

Hong Kong court backs no-jury security law trials T HE first Hong Konger to be charged under Beijing’s national security law can be tried without a jury, a senior judge said Thursday in a ruling that cements the financial hub’s fast-changing legal traditions.

Tong Ying-kit, 24, was charged with two crimes under the new law a day after it came into effect after he allegedly drove his motorbike into a group of police officers during a protest.

Hong Kong’s Secretary for Justice opted

against using a jury for his upcoming trial, a decision AFP first revealed in February.

Tong challenged that decision at the High Court but lost on Thursday.

In his ruling, High Court judge Alex Lee said before the security law, a jury “was the only mode of trial then available” for such serious crimes.

“However, the same is no longer true after the enactment of the NSL (National Security Law),” he wrote.

Trial by jury for serious criminal cases has been used by Hong Kong’s common law system for 176 years and is described by the city’s own judiciary on its website as one of its “most important features.”

But the national security law, which was

penned in Beijing and imposed on Hong Kong last year, allows for cases to be tried by three specially selected judges.

“Any previous right to jury trial in the Court of First Instance, if existed, shall be abrogated in ‘criminal proceedings concerning offences endangering national security,’” Lee wrote.

Lower courts in Hong Kong that try less serious crimes also do not have juries, something Lee said showed there was no constitutional right for a jury in all prosecutions.

The security law was explicitly designed to quash dissent following huge and often violent pro-democracy protests that convulsed Hong Kong in 2019 and it has been successful. AFP

FOR THE LOVE OF DOTS. Visitors walk past an installation entitled ‘A bouquet of love I saw in the universe’

by Japanese contemporary artist Yayoi Kusama that is part of the exhibition ‘Yayoi Kusama: A Retrospective’ at the atrium of the Martin Gropius Bau in Berlin as the exhibition venue reopens. AFP

Republic of the Philippines DEPARTMENT OF AGRARIAN REFORM ADJUDICATION BOARD Region III OFFICE OF THE PROVINCIAL ADJUDICATOR Dinalupihan, Bataan -----------------------------------paradbataan03@gmail.com / (047) 240-5205 IN THE MATTER OF PETITION FOR CANCELLATION OR ANNULMENT OF DEED OF CONVEYANCE OVER LOT COVERED

BY TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE/CERTIFICATE OF LAND OWNERSHIP AWARD NOS.8341/00446476, ALL SITUATED IN BRGY. AGLAMOMA, (NOW BIAAN), MARIVELES, BATAAN GEOVANNI E. ABRIZ, Petitioners, -vs-

R-0301-0029-2021

CANDIDO N. BANTUGAN, JR. PACIENCIANA I. ABELLANOSA AND RANCHO GUAY RESORTS CORPORATION, Respondents, THE PARPO OF DAR-BATAAN AND THE REGISTER OF DEEDS OF BALANGA CITY, BATAAN, Nominal Parties. x----------------------------------------------------------------------------x SUMMONS AND NOTICE OF HEARING

Republic of the Philippines DEPARTMENT OF AGRARIAN REFORM ADJUDICATION BOARD Region III OFFICE OF THE PROVINCIAL ADJUDICATOR Dinalupihan, Bataan -----------------------------------paradbataan03@gmail.com / (047) 240-5205

TO : RANCHO GUAY RESORTS CORPORATION Unit 1403 A, Ritz Towers, Ayala Avenue, Makati City PACIENCIANA I. ABELLANOSA 42-14TH Street New Manila, Quezon City GREETINGS: You are hereby summoned and directed to file your verified answer to the complaint / petition, copy of which is herewith served upon you, within a non-extendible period of fifteen (15) days from receipt hereof pursuant to Section 1, Rule 7 of the 2009 DARAB Rules of Procedure, attaching therewith the affidavits of witness/es and documentary evidence, if, any.

Both parties are hereby directed to attend the preliminary conference of the case on July 13, 2021 at 1:30 pm.

Dinalupihan, Bataan, May 18, 2121.

HON. NOEL L. PAREL Provincial Adjudicator For the Adjudicator EMILY CRYSTAL M. NACIN Clerk to the Adjudicator

(MS-MAY 21, 28, JUNE 4, 2021)

Republic of the Philippines DEPARTMENT OF AGRARIAN REFORM ADJUDICATION BOARD Region III OFFICE OF THE PROVINCIAL ADJUDICATOR Dinalupihan, Bataan -----------------------------------paradbataan03@gmail.com / (047) 240-5205 IN THE MATTER OF PETITION FOR CANCELLATION OR ANNULMENT OF DEED OF CONVEYANCE OVER LOT COVERED

BY TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE/CERTIFICATE OF LAND OWNERSHIP AWARD NOS.8340/00446475, ALL SITUATED IN BRGY. AGLAMOMA, (NOW BIAAN), MARIVELES, BATAAN

IN THE MATTER OF PETITION FOR CANCELLATION OR ANNULMENT OF DEED OF CONVEYANCE OVER LOT COVERED BY TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE/CERTIFICATE OF LAND OWNERSHIP AWARD NOS.8445/00446496, AND 8444/00446495 ALL SITUATED IN BRGY. AGLAMOMA, (NOW BIAAN), MARIVELES, BATAAN LORD BYRON E. ABRIZ AND ROLANDO A. ABRIZ, Petitioners, -vs-

THE PARPO OF DAR-BATAAN AND THE REGISTER OF DEEDS OF BALANGA CITY, BATAAN, Nominal Parties. x----------------------------------------------------------------------------x SUMMONS AND NOTICE OF HEARING TO : JUANCHO T. BORBOR Brgy. Biaan, Mariveles, Bataan ARTURO D. PARAS Brgy. Biaan, Mariveles, Bataan ARTURO D. PARAS Brgy. Biaan, Mariveles, Bataan RANCHO GUAY RESORTS CORPORATION Unit 1403 A. Ritz Towers, Ayala Avenue, Makati City

GEOVANNI E. ABRIZ, Petitioners, -vs-

R-0301-0028-2021

CANDIDO N. BANTUGAN, SR. MANUEL C. CUBACUB AND RANCHO GUAY RESORTS CORPORATION, Respondents, THE PARPO OF DAR-BATAAN AND THE REGISTER OF DEEDS OF BALANGA CITY, BATAAN, Nominal Parties. x----------------------------------------------------------------------------x SUMMONS AND NOTICE OF HEARING

GREETINGS: You are hereby summoned and directed to file your verified answer to the complaint / petition, copy of which is herewith served upon you, within a non-extendible period of fifteen (15) days from receipt hereof pursuant to Section 1, Rule 7 of the 2009 DARAB Rules of Procedure, attaching therewith the affidavits of witness/es and documentary evidence, if, any.

Both parties are hereby directed to attend the preliminary conference of the case on July 13, 2021 at 1:30 pm.

Dinalupihan, Bataan, May 18, 2121.

TO : RANCHO GUAY RESORTS CORPORATION Unit 1403 A, Ritz Towers, Ayala Avenue, Makati City

HON. NOEL L. PAREL Provincial Adjudicator

MANUEL C. CUBACUB 502 Mabolo Street, CEMBO, Fort Bonifacio, Makati City

For the Adjudicator

GREETINGS: You are hereby summoned and directed to file your verified answer to the complaint / petition, copy of which is herewith served upon you, within a non-extendible period of fifteen (15) days from receipt hereof pursuant to Section 1, Rule 7 of the 2009 DARAB Rules of Procedure, attaching therewith the affidavits of witness/es and documentary evidence, if, any.

EMILY CRYSTAL M. NACIN Clerk to the Adjudicator (MS-MAY 21, 28, JUNE 4, 2021)

Both parties are hereby directed to attend the preliminary conference of the case on July 13, 2021 at 1:30 pm.

Republic of the Philippines DEPARTMENT OF AGRARIAN REFORM ADJUDICATION BOARD Region III OFFICE OF THE PROVINCIAL ADJUDICATOR Dinalupihan, Bataan -----------------------------------paradbataan03@gmail.com / (047) 240-5205

Dinalupihan, Bataan, May 18, 2121.

HON. NOEL L. PAREL Provincial Adjudicator For the Adjudicator EMILY CRYSTAL M. NACIN Clerk to the Adjudicator

(MS-MAY 21, 28, JUNE 4, 2021)

Republic of the Philippines DEPARTMENT OF AGRARIAN REFORM ADJUDICATION BOARD Region III OFFICE OF THE PROVINCIAL ADJUDICATOR Dinalupihan, Bataan -----------------------------------paradbataan03@gmail.com / (047) 240-5205 IN THE MATTER OF PETITION FOR CANCELLATION OR ANNULMENT OF DEED OF CONVEYANCE OVER LOT COVERED

BY TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE/CERTIFICATE OF LAND OWNERSHIP AWARD NOS.8342/00446477, ALL SITUATED IN BRGY. AGLAMOMA, (NOW BIAAN), MARIVELES, BATAAN GEOVANNI E. ABRIZ, Petitioners, -vs-

IN THE MATTER OF PETITION FOR CANCELLATION OR ANNULMENT OF DEED OF CONVEYANCE OVER LOT COVERED BY TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE/ CERTIFICATE OF LAND OWNERSHIP AWARD NOS.8314/00 446441,8346/00446481, AND 8348/00446483 ALL SITUATED IN BRGY. AGLAMOMA, (NOW BIAAN), MARIVELES, BATAAN LORD BYRON E. ABRIZ AND ROLANDO A. ABRIZ, Petitioners, -vs-

THE PARPO OF DAR-BATAAN AND THE REGISTER OF DEEDS OF BALANGA CITY, BATAAN, Nominal Parties. x----------------------------------------------------------------------------x SUMMONS AND NOTICE OF HEARING TO : RANCHO GUAY RESORTS CORPORATION Unit 1403 A, Ritz Towers, Ayala Avenue, Makati City

R-0301-0024-0026-2021

CELSO RAMENTO JR., GUILLERMO MARTINEZ, HELEN CRUZ PIODO AND RANCHO ANA LIZA RESORTS, INC, Respondents, THE PARPO OF DAR-BATAAN AND THE REGISTER OF DEEDS OF BALANGA CITY, BATAAN, Nominal Parties. x----------------------------------------------------------------------------x SUMMONS AND NOTICE OF HEARING

R-0301-0030-2021

TORIBIO P. MENDIGORIN, BERNARDO C. TALAMO AND RANCHO GUAY RESORTS CORPORATION, Respondents,

TO : CELSO RAMENTO JR. Brgy. Biaan, Mariveles, Bataan GUILLERMO MARTINEZ Brgy. Biaan, Mariveles, Bataan HELEN CRUZ PIODO Brgy. Biaan, Mariveles, Bataan RANCHO GUAY RESORTS CORPORATION Unit 1403 A. Ritz Towers, Ayala Avenue, Makati City GREETINGS:

BERNARDO C. TALAMO 42-14TH Street, Brgy. Mariana, Quezon City GREETINGS: You are hereby summoned and directed to file your verified answer to the complaint/petition, copy of which is herewith served upon you, within a non-extendible period of fifteen (15) days from receipt hereof pursuant to Section 1, Rule 7 of the 2009 DARAB Rules of Procedure, attaching therewith the affidavits of witness/es and documentary evidence, if, any.

Both parties are hereby directed to attend the preliminary conference of the case on July 13, 2021 at 1:30 pm.

You are hereby summoned and directed to file your verified answer to the complaint / petition, copy of which is herewith served upon you, within a non-extendible period of fifteen (15) days from receipt hereof pursuant to Section 1, Rule 7 of the 2009 DARAB Rules of Procedure, attaching therewith the affidavits of witness/es and documentary evidence, if, any.

Both parties are hereby directed to attend the preliminary conference of the case on July 13, 2021 at 1:30 pm.

Dinalupihan, Bataan, May 18, 2121.

Dinalupihan, Bataan, May 18, 2121.

HON. NOEL L. PAREL Provincial Adjudicator

HON. NOEL L. PAREL Provincial Adjudicator

For the Adjudicator

For the Adjudicator

(MS-MAY 21, 28, JUNE 4, 2021)

R-0301-0022-0023-2021

JUANCHO T. BORBOR, ARTURO D. PARAS, AND RANCHO GUAY RESORTS CORPORATION Respondents,

EMILY CRYSTAL M. NACIN Clerk to the Adjudicator

EMILY CRYSTAL M. NACIN Clerk to the Adjudicator (MS-MAY 21, 28, JUNE 4, 2021)

Kremlin critic Navalny recovers after hunger strike JAILED Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny has “recovered” after he ended a 24-day hunger strike last month demanding adequate medical treatment, the head of Russia’s prison service said Thursday.

Navalny, President Vladimir Putin’s best known domestic critic, is serving two-and-a-half years in a penal colony outside Moscow on old fraud charges he says are politically motivated.

The 44-year-old opposition figure went on hunger strike at the end of March demanding proper treatment behind bars for severe back pain and numbness in his limbs. He ended the protest on April 23 after receiving treatment at a civilian hospital.

His last public appearance was by video link in court during an appeal hearing at the end of April, where he appeared thin and said he had started eating a couple

spoonfuls of porridge a day.

On Thursday, news agency TASS quoted the head of Russia’s Federal Prison Service, Alexander Kalashnikov, as saying that Navalny “has recovered, more or less.”

“His weight is already up to 82 kilograms (180 pounds), I think,” Kalashnikov told journalists, adding that Navalny is “eating normally.”

Navalny’s spokespersons and lawyers were not immediately available for comment. The Kremlin critic has not made a statement since early this month.

His allies have said that Navalny weighed 93 kilograms (205 pounds) when he arrived in prison in February, but that the figure had already fallen to 85 kilograms (187 pounds) by the time he launched his hunger strike. AFP

Singapore uses misinfo law to swat online virus claim SINGAPORE used a misinformation law Thursday to order Facebook and Twitter to warn users about what it said were false claims about a dangerous coronavirus strain emerging in the city.

New Delhi’s chief minister Arvind Kejriwal claimed this week on social media that a strain of the virus had appeared in Singapore that could trigger a new wave of cases in India, and urged a flight ban.

But the city-state strongly rejected what it said were “unfounded assertions” – insisting there was no such thing as a “Singapore variant.”

India’s own government also strongly criticized Kejriwal.

Singapore said a strain recently detected there, and responsible for an uptick in cases, had originated in India.

But claims about a “Singapore variant” began circulating online, prompting leaders to order Facebook, Twitter and a local technologyfocused portal to post the warnings.

Facebook and Twitter confirmed they had received the request and complied with it. AFP

New India cyclone warning as death toll reaches 110 A MAJOR new storm was brewing in the Bay of Bengal off India’s east coast, forecasters warned Thursday, just days after the biggest cyclone to hit the west of the country in decades left at least 110 people confirmed dead.

Scientists say cyclones in the region are becoming both more frequent and stronger as climate change leads to warmer sea temperatures.

Cyclone Tauktae pummelled India’s western coast late Monday and left a trail of destruction, compounding the misery for a country struggling with a devastating surge in coronavirus cases.

Even before it made landfall in Gujarat state, with gusts up to 185 kilometers per hour, heavy rains at

its outer bands and strong winds killed around 20 people in western and southern India.

In Gujarat where winds smashed windows, felled tens of thousands of trees and knocked out power for huge numbers of people, the number of dead rose to 53, officials said late Wednesday.

The toll could rise further, however, with local newspapers saying almost 80 people had died in the state, many killed by collapsing houses or walls.

In its latest warning, the Indian Meteorological Department said that a low-pressure area was likely to form on Saturday in the Bay of Bengal off India’s east coast.AFP

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Standard

TODAY

Some US Fed officials want to curb asset buying policy WASHINGTON—Some Federal Reserve officials believe the US economy may soon be healthy enough to taper asset purchases meant to aid its rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic, one of the first signs of a shift in the central bank’s easy money policies.

The revelation from the minutes of the central bank’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting held April 27 and 28 comes amid expectations that the world’s largest economy will grow strongly this year, despite fears the central bank could allow prices to rise strongly.

“A number of participants suggested that if the economy continued to make rapid progress toward the committee’s goals, it might be appropriate at some point in upcoming meetings to begin discussing a plan for adjusting the pace of asset purchases,” according to the meeting minutes released on Wednesday.

Analysts have been closely monitoring the US central bank for signs of when it would back off the measures deployed as the pandemic downturn began, including an emergency interest rate cut to zero and massive purchases of government bonds.

In its statement following its mostrecent meeting, the FOMC made no changes to its asset purchases nor did it raise its rate, which most committee members don’t expect it to do until after 2023.

But the minutes, released weeks after its conclusion, offer a behindthe-scenes look at discussions in the closed meeting, and reveal differences of opinion over how long the Fed can keep its rates at zero.

“Remember, four members in the March forecast round expect to raise rates in 2022, up from zero in December; for that to (happen), tapering can’t be delayed much into next year, and the Fed is committed to signaling a shift to markets well in advance,” Rubeela Farooqi of High Frequency Economics said.

The FOMC is currently making monthly asset purchases of at least $80 billion in Treasury securities and $40 billion in mortgage-backed securities, measures that pump liquidity into the financial system to help the ailing economy. AFP

Manila

Standard

TODAY

Business

CYAN

B3

FRIDAY, MAY 21, 2021 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market declines; Ayala Land advances

S

TOCKS fell Thursday on lack of catalysts, with investors still worried over the slow vaccine rollout in the country.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index dropped 48.07 points, or 0.8 percent, to 6,197.64 on a value turnover of P5.5 billion. Gainers, however, edged losers, 101 to 90, with 50 issues unchanged.

DITO CME Holdings Corp., the third major mobile phone company, retreated 5 percent to P9.35, while SM Investments Corp. of the Sy Group dropped 2.6 percent to P900.

Major property developer Ayala Land Inc. rose 2.7 percent to P32.20, while canned good maker Century Pacific Food Inc. climbed 4.6 percent to P23.

The rest of Asian markets were mixed in early trade Thursday after minutes showed some Federal Reserve officials contemplating a wind-down of its vast monetary easing measures, while optimism remained buoyed by the outlook for the economic recovery.

Bitcoin stabilized after Wednes-

day’s wild gyrations that saw it col- by companies hiking wages to attract lapse almost a third in one day before workers. recovering most of its losses.

The Fed has repeatedly insisted that Tokyo ended slightly higher, and it sees the upward pressures as transiSydney and Wellington added more tory and that prices will stabilize next than one percent, while Singapore, year, adding that it will maintain its Bangkok and Jakarta also rose. ultra-easy policies and record low inHong Kong dropped as it reopened terest rates until unemployment has after a midweek holiday to play catch- been tamed and inflation is running up with Wednesday’s global losses, as consistently hot.

Shanghai, Seoul, Taipei and Mumbai However, with the economy well on also retreated. the recovery track, minutes from the Global equities have soared after Fed’s April meeting released Wedneshitting their pandemic nadir in March day indicated some board members last year, thanks to central bank lar- consider the time may soon come to at gesse and mind-boggling government least begin discussing the bank’s posispending measures, with recent gains tion. also helped by the rollout of vaccines “A number of participants suggestand easing of lockdown measures. ed that if the economy continued to Manila But investors have for months make rapid progress toward the comStandard grown increasingly TODAY concerned that the mittee’s goals, it might be appropriate blockbuster bounce-back expected in at some point in upcoming meetings the world economy will fan inflation to begin discussing a plan for adjustOF THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS as the stimulus mixesNOTICE with cashed-up ing the pace of asset purchases,” the Please take notice that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the PHILIPPINE BANK consumers who have been unable to minutes OF COMMUNICATIONS (“PBCOM”) will be heldsaid. on Tuesday, 15 June 2021, 9:00 a.m.

10:00 a.m.

The meeting will be conducted virtuallypointed and can be accessed at the link spend finallytobeing let loose.

Analysts out that the meetin the Bank’s website at https://www.pbcom.com.ph/.

And data provided suggests those fears are ing came before figures showed US G E N D Arocketed more than estimated coming true as recent inflation read- Ainflation 1.

Call to Order ings in several countries beat fore- in April, meaning the worries of those 2. Certification of Notice and Quorum casts, with supply shortages and ofa the lowMinutes hawkish boardMeeting members may 3. Review and Approval of the Previous held on 14 July have 2020 4. Annual Report of Management and Approval the Audited Financial base effect from last year compounded since beenofheightened.

WithStatements AFP for 2020 Ratification of Acts of the Board of Directors and Management since the Last Annual Meeting of Stockholders 6. Amendment of the By-Laws to include BSP-prescribed board level committees 7. Election of Directors 8. Appointment of External Auditors 9. Other Matters 10. Adjournment 5.

For purposes of the meeting, only stockholders of record as of May 14, 2021 are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

N OTICE Notice is hereby given that AMANALAND CORPORATION with office address at Unit 1603-1605 The Orient Square Bldg., F. Ortigas Jr. Road, Ortigas Center, Pasig City is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as a New Developer of Economic and Low-Cost Housing (Azalea Vista Phase 3) under R.A. 11534 (CREATE LAW) and the Preferred List-Mass Housing of the 2020 IPP with a capacity of 322 house and lot units, with project site located at Brgy. Pangao, Lipa City, Batangas.

COR The Cent Boar Econ 2) un List-M 204 Brgy

Any person with valid objection/s on the abovementioned project may file his/her objection in writing, under oath, with the BOI within three (3) days from the date of this publication.

men unde date

(SGD.) ANGELITA F. ARCELLANA Director Infrastructure and Services Industries Service (MS-MAY 21, 2021)

In compliance with SEC Resolution No. 196, Series of 2015, a copy of the Unaudited Interim Financial Statements of PBCOM with Management Discussion and Analysis for the period ended 31 March 2021 shall be posted in PBCOM’s website at https:// www.pbcom.com.ph/ on or before 07 June 2021. A hard copy of the said interim financial statements shall be provided within a reasonable time upon request by any stockholder.

Copies of the following documents will be available upon request: (i) Minutes of the Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on 14 July 2020; (ii) Information Statement; (iii) Management Report; (iv) Audited Financial Statements for the year 2020.

PBCOM IS NOT SOLICITING PROXIES.

MICHAEL STEPHEN H. LAO Corporate Secretary

(MS-MAY 21, 22, 2021)

(MS-MAY

N OTICE Notice is hereby given that AMANALAND CORPORATION with office address at Unit 1603-1605 The Orient Square Bldg., F. Ortigas Jr. Road, Ortigas Center, Pasig City is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as a New Developer of Economic and Low-Cost Housing (Azalea Vista Phase 1) under R.A. 11534 (CREATE LAW) and the Preferred List-Mass Housing of the 2020 IPP with a capacity of 419 house and lot units, with project site located at Brgy. Pangao, Lipa City, Batangas.

COR The Cent Boar Econ 1) un List-M 798 Brgy

Any person with valid objection/s on the abovementioned project may file his/her objection in writing, under oath, with the BOI within three (3) days from the date of this publication.

men unde date

(SGD.) ANGELITA F. ARCELLANA Director Infrastructure and Services Industries Service (MS-MAY 21, 2021)

In light of the community quarantine measures still in place, PBCOM will be holding a virtual Annual Meeting. The conduct of the Annual Meeting will be streamed live, and stockholders may attend, participate and vote only through proxy, remote communication or in absentia. The requirement and procedures for voting in absentia and participation through remote communication are set forth in the Information Statement.

Stockholders who choose to vote by proxy must submit and address their signed proxy to the attention of the Corporate Secretary at 5/F PBCOM Tower, 6795 Ayala Avenue corner V.A. Rufino Street, Makati City or via e-mail at CorporateSecretary@ pbcom.com.ph not later than 5:00 p.m. on or before 07 June 2021.

(MS-MAY

N OTICE Notice is hereby given that AMANALAND CORPORATION with office address at Unit 1603-1605 The Orient Square Bldg., F. Ortigas Jr. Road, Ortigas Center, Pasig City is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as a New Developer of Economic and Low-Cost Housing (Azalea Vista Phase 2) under R.A. 11534 (CREATE LAW) and the Preferred List-Mass Housing of the 2020 IPP with a capacity of 315 house and lot units, with project site located at Brgy. Pangao, Lipa City, Batangas.

COR The Cent Boar Econ 3) un List-M 203 Brgy

Any person with valid objection/s on the abovementioned project may file his/her objection in writing, under oath, with the BOI within three (3) days from the date of this publication.

men unde date

(SGD.) ANGELITA F. ARCELLANA Director Infrastructure and Services Industries Service (MS-MAY 21, 2021)

(MS-MAY

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC

BACK TO CAFES. People gather at a terrace of a cafe in Marseille, southern France, on May 19, 2021, as cafes, restaurants and other businesses re-opened across France after closures during the COVID-19 pandemic. The French joyfully made their way back to cafes and prepared long-awaited visits to cinemas and museums as the country loosened restrictions in a return to semi-normality after over six months of COVID-19 curbs. Cafes and restaurants with terraces or rooftop gardens can now offer outdoor dining, under the second phase of a lockdown-lifting plan that should culminate in a full reopening of the economy on June 30. AFP

NOTICE is hereby given that the estate of the late GLENN G. SARNE consisting of a conjugal condominium unit located at Fountain Breeze Condominium Units High Rise Building 7, covered by Condominium Certificate of Title No. 0102018003990, of the Registry of Deeds of Parañaque City, has been Self-Adjudicated by his lone surviving heir, his lawful wife, DONNA MARIE VILLABLANCA, before the Notary Public Atty.

Rogelio J. Bolivar as per Doc. No. 94; Page No. 10; Book No. IV; Series of 2021.

(MStandard-May 21, 28 & Jun. 4, 2021)

Amsterdam sex workers return after COVID ‘catastrophe’

N OTICE

to their workplaces as vaccines temper the outbreak, Kelly said it was also simply good to be back at work.

“It’s so nice to see my colleagues again and have AMSTERDAM, Netherlands—Dutch sex workers returned to Amsterdam’s red light district on Wednes- some regularity in my life. Sitting at home is really day after six “boring” months off, as the government boring,” she said.

“It’s just a pity that there are not many tourists yet, began to ease coronavirus restrictions.

Sex workers could be seen in their canal side win- because that’s what keeps Amsterdam ticking.”

‘Careful with our hygiene’ our business model herewith relies tourism,” dow booths for the first time since early December, Any person validonobjection/s on he the added. abovementioned project may file his/her objection in writing, Another sex worker, Jeanne, said it was unfair they However he also backed calls for local authorities during which time many say they had no government under oath, with the BOI within three (3) days from the had been excluded when other professions such as to clean up theof area and make it less frantic. support. date this publication.

Amsterdam officials have even talked of moving The rooms where they meet clients now have of- hairdressers had been allowed to reopen months ago.

(SGD.) ANGELITA F. ARCELLANA “We can also get sick and we can contaminate our the sex workers to a center on theDirector outskirts of town to ficial COVID-19 guidelines attached to the walls clients so we are without fail very careful with our reduce the impact on the historic area, Industries even ifService many Infrastructure and Services warning people to wash their hands, and wear a mask hygiene,” she said. people who work there want less drastic measures. AFP if they wish.

“I’m extremely happy that we are open again afterManila “Everything related to handManila such a long time without having work,” said aStandard sex washing and such measures we were Standard TODAY doing it before,” she said.

TODAY worker who identified herself as Kelly.

With its neon-lit booths and sex “For many girls it’s a catastrophe, surely because the red light district has most of them got no support from the government shows, N OF O STOCKHOLDERS TICE NOTICE OF THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERSNOTICE OF THE ANNUAL MEETING long been one of Amsterdam’s main and had to work illegally.”

Notice is hereby given that AMANALAND Please take notice that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders ofPlease the PHILIPPINE take noticeBANK that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the PHILIPPINE BANK tourism draws, even ifwillsome CORPORATION office address at 2021, Unit 1603-1605 Prostitution is legal in the Netherlands but the governOF COMMUNICATIONS (“PBCOM”) be heldlocals on Tuesday, OF 15 June 2021, 9:00 a.m. (“PBCOM”) COMMUNICATIONS will be held with on Tuesday, 15 June 9:00 a.m.

The Orient Square Bldg., Ortigas Jr. Road, to 10:00resent a.m. Thethe meeting will be conducted virtually and can be accessed at the link overcrowding and behavto 10:00 a.m. The meeting will be conducted virtually andF. can be accessed at Ortigas the link ment banned it along with other “contact professions” provided in the Bank’s website at https://www.pbcom.com.ph/.provided in the Bank’s website Center, Pasig City is applying for registration with the at https://www.pbcom.com.ph/. ior of young groups of mainly male Board of Investments (BOI) as a New Developer in December during the second wave of coronavirus.

AGENDA of Economic and AGEND A Low-Cost Housing (Azalea Vista As a result many sex workers were forced to work visitors.

Phase 1) under R.A. 11534 (CREATE LAW) and the 1. Call to“Now Order the girls are open again, 1.

Call to Order illegally, often in unsafe conditions, sex worker Preferred List-Mass Housing of the 2020 IPP with a 2. Certification of Notice and Quorum 2. Certification of Notice and capacity Quorum 419 house and lot units, with project site the and bars are open again, ofit’s a step Meeting 3. Review Approval of the Minutes the Previous on 14 July 2020 of the Minutesof unions said.

3. held Review and Approval the Previous on 14 July 2020 located atof Brgy.

Pangao, Meeting Lipa City,held Batangas.

4. Annual Report of Management and Approval of the Audited Financial Statements 4. Annual Report of Management and Approval of the Audited Financial Statements forward actually, I’m really happy,” But like many other people across Europe returningfor 2020

NoticeDavey is hereby said bar manager Mell,given 27. that AMANALAND CORPORATION with office address at Unit 1603-1605 “This has hard Bldg., time F.for everybody Thebeen Orient aSquare Ortigas Jr. Road, here Ortigasin Center, Pasig Cityin is this applying for registration with the Amsterdam, especially district.”

Board of Investments (BOI) as a New Developer Barber ofKieran Deacon, 23, said the return the Economic and Low-Cost Housing (Azalea of Vista Phase under“very R.A. 11534 and the sex workers had3)been good(CREATE for theLAW) atmosphere Preferred List-Mass Housing of the 2020 IPP with a of the area. capacity of 322 house and lot units, with project site at Brgy.

Pangao, Lipato City, Batangas.

“I hopelocated that the tourists start get back, a lot of

By Julie Capelle

(MS-MAY 21, 2021)

for 2020 Anyofperson with valid objection/ssince on thethe aboveRatification of Acts of the Board of Directors and Management since the Last of the Board 5. Ratification of Acts Directors and Management Last mentioned project may file his/her objection in writing, Annual Meeting of Stockholders Annual Meeting of Stockholders 6. Amendment of the By-Laws to include BSP-prescribed board level committees under oath, with the BOI within three (3) days from 6. Amendment of the By-Laws to include BSP-prescribed board level committeesthe 7. Election of Directors date of this publication.

7. Election of Directors 8. Appointment of External Auditors 8. Appointment of External Auditors 9. Other Matters (SGD.) ANGELITA F. ARCELLANA 9. Other Matters 10. Adjournment Director 10. Adjournment Infrastructure and Services Industries Service For purposes of the meeting, only stockholders of record as of May 14, 2021 are For purposes of the meeting, only stockholders of record as of May 14, 2021 are (MS-MAY 21, 2021) entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting of Stockholders. entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

5.

MICHAEL STEPHEN H. LAO Corporate Secretary (MS-MAY 21, 22, 2021)

(MS-MAY 21, 2021)

(SGD.) ANGELITA F. ARCELLANA Director Infrastructure and Services Industries MICHAEL STEPHEN H. Service LAO Corporate Secretary

NOTIC SARN Founta 7, cov 201800 been S DONN Rogeli IV; Ser

NO OT T II C CE E N

N COR The Cent Boar Econ 2) un List-M 204 Brgy.

Any person person with with valid valid objection/s objection/s on on the the aboveaboveAny mentioned project project may may file file his/her his/her objection objection in in writing, writing, mentioned under oath, oath, with with the the BOI BOI within within three three (3) (3) days days from from the the under date of of this this publication. publication. date

A ment unde date

(SGD.) ANGELITA ANGELITA F. F. ARCELLANA ARCELLANA (SGD.) Director Director Infrastructure and and Services Services Industries Industries Service Service Infrastructure (MS-MAY 21, 2021) (MS-MAY 21, 2021)

CYAN

(MS-MAY

NO OT T II C CE E N

Notice is is hereby hereby given given that that AMANALAND AMANALAND Notice CORPORATION with with office office address address at at Unit Unit 1603-1605 1603-1605 CORPORATION The Orient Square Bldg., F. Ortigas Jr. Road, Ortigas Ortigas The Orient Square Bldg., F. Ortigas Jr. Road, Center, Pasig Pasig City City is is applying applying for for registration registration with with the the Center, Board of of Board of Investments Investments (BOI) (BOI)as asa aNew NewDeveloper Developer Economic andand Low-Cost Housing (The(Azalea Ridge Phase of Economic Low-Cost Housing Vista 1) under1)R.A. 11534 LAW) andLAW) the Preferred Phase under R.A.(CREATE 11534 (CREATE and the List-Mass List-Mass Housing ofHousing the 2020ofIPP capacity Preferred the with 2020a IPP with of a 798 house and house lot units, project siteproject locatedsite at capacity of 419 andwith lot units, with Brgy.

Nueva Victoria, Mexico, Pampanga. located at Brgy. Pangao, Lipa City, Batangas.

N COR The Cent Boar Econ 1) un List-M 798 Brgy.

Any person person with with valid valid objection/s objection/s on on the the aboveaboveAny mentioned project project may may file file his/her his/her objection objection in in writing, writing, mentioned under oath, oath, with with the the BOI BOI within within three three (3) (3) days days from from the the under date of of this this publication. publication. date

A ment unde date

(SGD.) ANGELITA ANGELITA F. F. ARCELLANA ARCELLANA (SGD.) Director Director Infrastructure and Services Industries Service Service Infrastructure and Services Industries (MS-MAY 21, 2021) (MS-MAY 21, 2021)

N OTICE

A protester holds a placard during the World Wide Demonstration for Freedom in Amsterdam on May 15, 2021. The protest against the COVID restrictions, lockdowns and vaccine passports is (MS-MAY 21, 22, 2021) taking place in several cities worldwide. AFP

CYAN

Notice is is hereby hereby given given that that AMANALAND AMANALAND Notice CORPORATION with with office office address address at at Unit Unit 1603-1605 1603-1605 CORPORATION The Orient Orient Square Square Bldg., Bldg., F. F. Ortigas Ortigas Jr. Jr. Road, Road, Ortigas Ortigas The Center, Pasig Pasig City City is is applying applying for for registration registration with with the the Center, Board of of Board of Investments Investments (BOI) (BOI) as asa aNew NewDeveloper Developer Economic andand Low-Cost Housing (The(Azalea Ridge Phase of Economic Low-Cost Housing Vista 2) under3)R.A. 11534 LAW) andLAW) the Preferred Phase under R.A.(CREATE 11534 (CREATE and the List-Mass List-Mass Housing ofHousing the 2020ofIPP capacity Preferred the with 2020a IPP with of a 204 house and lot units, with project site located at capacity of 322 house and lot units, with project site Brgy.

Nueva Victoria, Mexico, Pampanga. located at Brgy. Pangao, Lipa City, Batangas.

In light of the community quarantine measures still in place, In PBCOM holding quarantine measures still in place, PBCOM will be holding light of will the be community a virtual Annual Meeting. The conduct of the Annual Meeting will beAnnual streamed live, The conduct of the Annual Meeting will be streamed live, a virtual Meeting. and stockholders may attend, participate and vote only and through proxy, stockholdersremote may attend, participate and vote only through proxy, remote communication or in absentia. The requirement and procedures for voting in absentia communication or in absentia. The requirement and procedures for voting in absentia and participation through remote communication are set forth in the Information and participation through remote communication are set forth in the Information Statement.

Statement.

Stockholders who choose to vote by proxy must submit and address their Stockholders whosigned choose to vote by proxy must submit and address their signed proxy to the attention of the Corporate Secretary at 5/F PBCOM Ayala Notice is hereby that AMANALAND proxyTower, to the 6795 attention of the Corporate Secretary at 5/F given PBCOM Tower, 6795 Ayala Avenue corner V.A. Rufino Street, Makati City or via e-mail at CorporateSecretary@ CORPORATION at Unit 1603-1605 Avenue corner V.A. Rufino Street, Makati City orwith viaoffice e-mailaddress at CorporateSecretary@ pbcom.com.ph not later than 5:00 p.m. on or before 07 June 2021.

The Orient Square Bldg., F. Ortigas Jr. Road, Ortigas pbcom.com.ph not later than 5:00 p.m. on or before 07 June 2021.

Center, Pasig City is applying for registration with the In compliance with SEC Resolution No. 196, Series of 2015, In a copy of the Unaudited BoardNo. of196, Investments (BOI) aascopy a New compliance with SEC Resolution Series of 2015, of the Developer Unaudited Interim Financial Statements of PBCOM with Management Discussion and Analysis Interim Financial Statements ofofPBCOM withand Management and Analysis Economic Low-Cost Discussion Housing (Azalea Vista for the period ended 31 March 2021 shall be posted in PBCOM’s website at https:// for the period ended 31 MarchPhase 2021 shall be posted in PBCOM’s website https:// 2) under R.A. 11534 (CREATE LAW)atand the www.pbcom.com.ph/ on or before 07 June 2021. A hard copy of the said interim www.pbcom.com.ph/ on or before 07 June 2021. Housing A hard copy of 2020 the said Preferred List-Mass of the IPP interim with a financial statements shall be provided within a reasonable time upon statements request by any financial shall be provided within a reasonable time upon request by any capacity of 315 house and lot units, with project site stockholder. stockholder. located at Brgy. Pangao, Lipa City, Batangas.

Copies of the following documents will be available upon request: of thedocuments will be available upon request: (i) Minutes of the Copies(i)ofMinutes the following Any person with valid objection/s on the aboveAnnual Meeting of Stockholders held on 14 July 2020; (ii) Information Statement; (iii) Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on 14 July 2020; (ii) Information Statement; (iii) mentioned may file objection Management Report; (iv) Audited Financial Statements for theManagement year 2020. Report; (iv) Audited Financialproject Statements forhis/her the year 2020. in writing, under oath, with the BOI within three (3) days from the PBCOM IS NOT SOLICITING PROXIES. date of this publication.

PBCOM IS NOT SOLICITING PROXIES.

NOTIC SARN Fount 7, cov 20180 been S DONN Rogel IV; Se

(MS-MAY

NO OT T II C CE E N

Notice is is hereby hereby given given that that AMANALAND AMANALAND Notice CORPORATION with with office office address address at at Unit Unit 1603-1605 1603-1605 CORPORATION The Orient Square Bldg., F. Ortigas Jr. Road, Ortigas Ortigas The Orient Square Bldg., F. Ortigas Jr. Road, Center, Pasig City is applying for registration with the the Center, Pasig City is applying for registration with Board of of Board of Investments Investments (BOI) (BOI)as asa aNew NewDeveloper Developer Economic andand Low-Cost Housing (The(Azalea Ridge Phase of Economic Low-Cost Housing Vista 3) under2)R.A. 11534 LAW) andLAW) the Preferred Phase under R.A.(CREATE 11534 (CREATE and the List-Mass List-Mass Housing ofHousing the 2020ofIPP capacity Preferred the with 2020a IPP with of a 203 house and house lot units, project siteproject locatedsite at capacity of 315 andwith lot units, with Brgy. Nueva Victoria, Mexico, Pampanga. located at Brgy.

Pangao, Lipa City, Batangas.

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Any person person with with valid valid objection/s objection/s on on the the aboveaboveAny mentioned project project may may file file his/her his/her objection objection in in writing, writing, mentioned under oath, oath, with with the the BOI BOI within within three three (3) (3) days days from from the the under date of of this this publication. publication. date

A ment unde date

(SGD.) ANGELITA ANGELITA F. F. ARCELLANA ARCELLANA (SGD.) Director Director Infrastructure and Services Industries Service Service Infrastructure and Services Industries (MS-MAY 21, 2021) (MS-MAY 21, 2021)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

(MS-MAY

CYAN

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

B4 FRIDAY, MAY 21, 2021

NCR Plus sees to regain P30-b worth of trade opportunities

By Othel V. Campos THE economy is expected to regain up to P30 billion in trade and business opportunities with the recent transition of the so-called “NCR Plus” bubble to the general community quarantine, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said Thursday.

Lopez said in an interview the economy was slowly getting better as more companies and businesses reopened, providing support to the economy and opening jobs to hundreds of thousands of Filipino workers.

“The NEDA [National Economic and Development Authority] has its computations that about P60 billion was lost during the ECQ [enhanced community quarantine]. That further went down to about P30 billion when restrictions eased to MECQ [modified enhanced community quarantine]. Now that we are in the GCQ, we expect to regain anywhere between P2 [billion] and P30 billion or somewhere in the middle,” he said.

Lopez said with the shift to “GCQ with heightened restrictions,” the number of non-operational businesses was expected to decline to a range of 8 percent to 9 percent from 12 percent under the MECQ and 15 percent under the ECQ. Data showed that at the height of pandemic in 2020, about 40 percent of businesses were closed.

Lopez said that as the country moved to better quarantine levels, employment would continue to improve and accommodate the remaining 400,000 to 500,000 workers from 1.5 million workers who lost their sources of income when the ECQ was reinstated.

The department noted that with the reopening of the economy, businesses were strictly adhering with the minimum health protocols.

“We are monitoring all the businesses especially the newly-opened industries and those allowed with increased capacities. And there are also other agencies monitoring the business sector, with us,” Lopez said.

SMC SLEX posted 11% growth in Q1 income to P679m

By Darwin G. Amojelar SMC SLEX Inc. said Thursday net income rose 11 percent in the first quarter from a year ago on higher vehicle traffic volume.

The tollway unit of San Miguel Corp. said net profit amounted to P679.1 million from January to March, up from P614.1 million it earned in the same period last year.

Revenue amounted to P1.37 billion in the first quarter, or 5 percent higher than last year’s P1.31 billion, reflecting the improvement in traffic volume this year compared to the previous year.

“SLEX traffic volume in the first quarter has shown gradual recovery since the start of the year, which has already started to catch up to pre-COVID-19 growth levels,” SMC SLEX said.Govt It said the effect of the ECQ restrictions in the first quarter was only for three days, compared to 15 days in the same period in 2020.

The company said, however, the recent spike of COVID-19 positive daily cases in the NCR, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal and Bulacan from March 29 to May 14 was expected to have a significant impact on the SLEX traffic volume for the second quarter.

The company said operating expenses went up by 17 percent in the first quarter to P53.4 million from P45.8 million last year on higher advertising to improve public awareness of the major RFID rollout for the mandatory cashless toll payments project of the Department of Transportation.

SMC SLEX earlier said it allocated P5.44 billion for 2021 capital budget including P4.6 billion for Toll Road 4 Project. TR4 is a four-lane road from Sto. Tomas, Batangas to Lucena City, Quezon.

Business Udenna acquires Shell’s 45% stake, takes over Malampaya

By Alena Mae S. Flores

T

HE Udenna Group is set to take control of the $4.5-billion Malampaya gas-to-power project in northwest Palawan after the Shell Group agreed to sell its 45-percent to the camp of businessman Dennis Uy for up to $460 million.

Shell Petroleum N.V. said Thursday it signed an agreement with Malampaya Energy XP Pte. Ltd., a subsidiary of Udenna Corp., to sell its 100-percent shareholding in Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. Spex holds a 45-percent operating interest in Service Contract 38, which includes the producing Malampaya gas field.

Aside from Spex, the other partners in SC38 are UC38 LLC, a subsidiary of Udenna (45 percent) and state-owned PNOC Exploration Corp. (10 percent).

Udenna earlier acquired the 45-percent interest from Chevron Malampaya LLC

for about $565 million in March 2020.

Udenna’s Malampaya Energy said that following the Spex deal, “the central pillar of the nation’s energy infrastructure will be 100-percent operated

by Filipinos for Filipinos.”

“We are tremendously proud of Malampaya Energy for acquiring one of Shell’s most successful natural gas assets in Asia, which of course includes the world-class SPEX team currently operating Malampaya,” said Udenna Corp. chairman and chief executive Dennis Uy. Shell said in a statement the base consideration for the sale is $380 million, with additional payments of up to $80 million between 2022 and 2024, depending on asset performance and commodity prices. Subject to partner and regulatory consent, the transaction is targeted to be completed by the end of 2021. The transaction has an effective date of Jan. 1, 2021.

“Since it began commercial operations in 2002, Malampaya has supplied a significant portion of the Philippines’ energy demand and it will continue powering the country with indigenous gas following a safe transition of the asset and its experienced workforce,” said

Shell’s Upstream director Wael Sawan.

“Today’s announcement is consistent with Shell’s efforts to shift our Upstream portfolio to one that is focused on nine core positions,” Sawan said.

Shell assured the Spex staff would continue their employment under the new ownership, providing continuity and contributing to ongoing operational reliability and safety. Malampaya and its staff made significant contributions to the Philippines and to the local community over the past two decades and are expected to continue playing an important role in providing energy for the Philippines.

Belinda Racela, a top executive of Malampaya Energy, said the ongoing safety and reliability of Malampaya is the group’s top priority and would be delivered by the same experienced team of upstream professionals from SPEX working with consistent practices.

“They will be strongly supported by our newly established Upstream Decision Review Board of industry leaders and the ex-Chevron and ex-Shell upstream specialists in our Malampaya Energy business, who are already actively involved in managing the Malampaya consortium,” Racela said.

PSE INDEX CLOSING Thursday, May 20, 2021

-48.07 PTS. 6,197.64

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE ADVANCES DECLINES UNCHANGED

2,974,448,584 89,079 5,518,411,864.34 101 90 50

F oreign e xchange r ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • THURSDAY, MAY 20, 2021

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

47.8300

Japan

Yen

0.009160

0.4381

UK

Pound

1.411800

67.5264

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128788

6.1599

Switzerland

Franc

1.107420

52.9679

Canada

Dollar

0.824606

39.4409

Singapore

Dollar

0.749400

35.8438

Australia

Dollar

0.772200

36.9343

Bahrain

Dinar

2.655619

127.0183

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266652

12.7540

Brunei

Dollar

0.746603

35.7100

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000070

0.0033

Thailand

Baht

0.031807

1.5213

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

13.0228

Euro

Euro

1.217700

58.2426

Korea

Won

0.000884

0.0423

China

Yuan

0.155429

7.4342

India

Rupee

0.013659

0.6533

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.241779

11.5643

New Zealand

Dollar

0.717000

34.2941

Taiwan

Dollar

0.035797

1.7122 Source: BSP

IN BRIEF

Alliance Global’s profit reaches P2.6b ALLIANCE Global Group Inc., the holding company of businessman Andrew Tan, said Thursday first-quarter net income declined 13 percent to P2.6 billion from P3 billion in the same period last year as core businesses were slow to recover from the impact of the pandemic.

AGI said in a disclosure to the stock exchange first-quarter consolidated revenues also dropped 16 percent to P31.8 billion from last year’s P38 billion.

The group said that while the liquor business displayed strong performance in the first quarter, this was offset by the continued weakness of real estate, gaming and quick service restaurant businesses.

“During the first two months of the year, most of our businesses have already rebounded, sustaining the momentum achieved during the holiday season. However, the momentum has been halted temporarily due to new restrictions imposed as a result of surges in new cases at the end of March,” said AGI chief executive Kevin Tan. Jenniffer B. Austria

OSS-Center workers question COA audit WORKERS of the One Stop Shop Interagency Tax Credit and Duty Drawback Center, an agency of the Department of Finance, questioned the results of the “special audit” undertaken by the Commission on Audit on the agency’s operations since 2015.

Lawyer Marlon Mercado said the COA special audit team’s allegation that P8.85 billion of tax credits were illegally issued was based on altering the actual provisions of Article 39 (j) of Executive Order 226, or the Omnibus Investment Code, of which the OSS-Center is one the state agencies tasked to implement it, and tampering contents of an OSS-Center executive committee resolution passed on Oct. 18 , 2020.

The twin moves appeared to fit the desired conclusion of the audit team that the subject TCCs were all issued without any legal basis at all, said Mercado, who was representing the workers in their legal battle.

The OSS-Center asked the Supreme Court for certiorari and writ of prohibition after the office received since 2018 from COA on different intervals 11 batches of 578 notices of disallowances involving eight firms and total amount of P2.216 billion.

MORE VACCINES. Cebu Pacific carries another batch of 500,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses from Beijing to Manila. The shipment was the third to be picked up by CEB, in coordination with the Department of Health. Aboard CEB’s chartered A330 flight 5J 671, the vaccines were safely flown in temperature-controlled containers and arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 7:35 Thursday morning.

PH wins $164-m outsourcing contracts with over 5,000 jobs THE Philippine information technology and business process management industry landed new contracts worth over $164 million that will generate new jobs and support the sector’s growth of 5 percent in 2021, an official of the Board of Investments said Wednesday.

BOI executive director Corieh Dichosa sad “over the last 12 months ending April 2021, the Philippines received quotation requests for outsourcing that will require 5,470 fulltime jobs and representing over $164 million in contract value.”

“The Philippines is a top-tier destination for IT-BPM services and remains as one of the leaders in the glob-

al IT-BPM industry,” Dichosa told a Hungarian business delegation during the second day of the Hungary- Philippines Online Business Forum.

Industry data showed the Philippines IT-BPM ranked first in voice related services and second in non-voice accounting for 13 percent of the global market.

Tholon’s Global Innovation Index also placed the Philippines among the top 50 digital nations. In terms of revenue, the local industry reached $26.3 billion in 2020, with a potential to reach $29 billion by 2022.

Despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the industry’s manpower grew by almost 6 percent, bringing the

total industry headcount to 1.3 million. The industry projects manpower to increase by around 130,000 fulltime employees cumulatively between 2021 and 2022.

BOI managing director Ceferino Rodolfo said the Philippines continued to hit high marks in foreign investments despite the pandemic.

“As of May 2021, compared with January to full month of May last year, investment at the BOI was already 48 percent higher. In fact, despite the pandemic last year, the BOI recorded its second highest investment approval level in our 53-year history,” he told Hungarian investors.

Othel V. Campos

Nokia to transform PLDT, Smart network NOKIA said it will supply its digital operations software, cloud infrastructure software and AirFrame servers to enhance the nationwide network of PLDT Inc., the Philippines’ largest, fully-integrated telecommunications company, and its wireless unit Smart Communications Inc. The suite of solutions will also standardize 1PLDT and Smart’s virtualization environment for multi-vendor applications. The deployment, which is already underway, will allow PLDT and Smart’s integrated network to increase agility, flexibility and reduce operating costs and time to market when deploying new consumer and enterprise services, with the primary focus of significantly improving customer experience, speed of delivery, and cost of production.

Nokia said it would deploy its digital operations software to automate the round-trip lifecycle management of network functions, as well as network-facing and customerfacing services. As PLDT and Smart evolve their integrated network from physical to virtual form, the solution will manage two interrelated flows.

Govt likely to maintain investment-grade rating

By Julito G. Rada BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno said Thursday he remains confident major credit rating agencies Moody’s Investors Service, Fitch Ratings and S&P Global Ratings will keep their investment-grade ratings for the Philippines despite the country’s rising debt-to-GDP ratio.

“Definitely, the debt-to-GDP ratio is rising but it is within [or below] the threshold [or international standard] of 60 percent [debt to GDP ratio]. But we are very careful of that,” Diokno said in an online briefing Thursday.

The latest data showed the government’s debt-to-GDP ratio rose from 39.6 percent in 2019 to 54.5 percent in 2020 as the government borrowed more money to fund COVID-19 response efforts.

Credit ratings agencies earlier cited the country’s low debt ratios as one of the reasons for their decisions to retain

the Philippines’ credit ratings. The government’s debt stock hit a new high of P10.41 trillion as of February 2021.

Diokno said the Philippines was in a better position compared to neighboring countries. “So there is no fear that we can be downgraded [by the credit rating agencies],” he said.

The country’s foreign debt as of end 2020 reached $98.5 billion, up by $14.9 billion from $83.6 billion in 2019. The end-2020 external debt figure represented 27.2 percent of the country’s GDP. The latest ratio also indicates the country’s sustained strong position to service foreign borrowings.

Data showed that in addition to implementing monetary policy easing and liquidity measures, the Monetary Board approved $15.5 billion in foreign borrowings as of May 7, 2021 to support government efforts to ease the impact of the pandemic. Of these, $1.2 billion will be used for the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines.

NUMISMATIC BOOK. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas unveils its latest publication on cultural heritage titled, ‘Yaman: History and Heritage in Philippine Money’. The coffee table book highlights the numismatic collection of the BSP and features stories from piloncitos—considered the earliest form of coinage in the Philippines—all the way to the present-day New Generation Currency. Distinguished historian Ambeth Ocampo authored the book in collaboration with renowned photographer Wig Tysmans, who captured the curated pieces that highlight the country’s rich numismatic heritage.

Sports

Denice is no underdog against Seo in World GP IT’S no secret that a lot of fans and analysts believe South Korean veteran “Arale Chan” Seo Hee Ham is the odds-on favorite to beat #1-ranked contender Denice “Lycan Queen” Zamboanga and move on to win the whole ONE Women’s Atomweight World Grand Prix.

After all, Seo has been one of the most feared fighters in the division for more than a decade, having terrorized opponents in her days competing in DEEP, Jewels, Road FC, Rizin FF, and the UFC. But when Zamboanga and Seo meet in the Circle this May 28 at ONE: EMPOWER, the Filipina’s head coach at Marrok Force in Bangkok believes fans will be shocked and in awe with how she will take home the victory and score a massive upset.

“I’ve been working with Denice everyday and she is so hungry and motivated to win this fight. I can feel the excitement and confidence in her. This is a great fight and I believe fans will be very happy to watch it,” said William Aranguiz, Director for Mixed Martial Arts at Marrok Force in Bangkok.

“We developed a very robust training camp for her, designed with everything she needs to beat Seo Hee Ham. Our entire coaching staff has complete confidence that she will defeat Seo and move on to the next round.”

Aranguiz is a former Chilean mixed martial arts fighter who now guides the talent at Marrok Force, including Zamboanga and her older brother, fellow ONE Championship talent, Drex.

Aranguiz has been impressed by Zamboanga’s work ethic since joining the gym last year, and believes she possesses the right mindset required to reach immense success.

When her bout against Seo was announced a while back, Aranguiz says they immediately went to work. Now they are ready to see the fruits of their labor and take out a highly regarded foe.

“It was a long and hard 12 weeks of training since we got that call to face the Korean, and Denice has made huge strides as a martial artist. I’m personally excited to witness it all come together on fight night,” Aranguiz said.

“Denice is just a different fighter right now. We’ve really transformed her into an absolute beast. She is much more controlled now, and we’ve tightened up her game a lot. Her boxing and wrestling have improved tremendously.”

Aranguiz understands why fans are picking Seo to win. Seo does have more experience than Zamboanga, and is the more proven talent. However, the Chilean star also feels fans will be surprised with how Zamboanga will be able to handle the South Korean puncher, with all the tools they have worked on in camp.

FRIDAY, MAY 21, 2021

C1

GETTING READY. Barangay Ginebra holds its first full practice and scrimmage session on Thursday at the Lyceum International Maritime Academy gym in Batangas as the reigning PBA Philippine Cup champion Kings start preparation for the coming 46th season.

‘Improving’ Knott bags 2 silvers in Italian meet

By Peter Atencio

F

ILIPINO-AMERICAN standout Kristina Knott braved cold weather and kept up with the world-class field as she settled for two silver medals behind Rio Olympics’ veteran Marie-Josée Ta Lou of the Ivory Coast Wednesday afternoon (Thursday in Manila) at the International Meeting of the City of Castiglione della Pescaia in Italy.

After Ta Lou, ranked no. 3 in the world, dashed to a 10.96-second gold-medal win in the women’s 100 meter run, the 25-year-old Knott followed behind at 11.30 seconds for the silver.

Ta Lou’s sub-11 second time allowed her to hit the Olympic Qualifying Standard in the event for her best showing of the season.

It was Knott’s second best time of the season, after she endured a cold 16*C temperature and settled down under a generous breeze of +4.0 meters/second.

Later, Ta Lou, a bronze medallist in the World Championships, dominated the 200 meters in 22.88 seconds Kristina Knott

with a +4.9 meters/second breeze.

Again, Knott was right behind in 23.9 seconds, which was also her second best time of the season.

“We got second in the 100 at 11.30, our second fastest of the season. It was a windy race, +4.0. The winner was 10.96m, a legit competitor Mary Jose Ta Lou. At this point, the objective is to race and place,” said Knott’s coach Rohsaan Griffin.

Griffin added that Knott’s 23.19 clocking was also her second best of the season, considering the windy condition. Griffin noted that the Fil-Am standout is now improving.

“The rest will come in time. At this point, we have

40 days, which is plenty,” said Griffin.

Knott is still targeting the Olympic qualifying standard of 11.15 seconds in the 100-meters and 22.8 in the 200 meters.

French Cynthia Leduc placed third with 11.39 seconds in the women’s 100m, with fourth place going to Italian relay runner Irene Siragusa in 11.43.

In the the 200 meters, Siragusa made it to third in 23.55 seconds, with Australian Jacinta Beecher trailing in fourth (23.67 seconds).

Knott is now getting ready to return to the United States to join the Jacksonville World Athletics Continental Tour Silver level event.

Last week, Knott ran against the world’s best and ended up in fifth place with a clocking of 23.74 seconds at the International Meeting City of SavonaMemorial Giulio Ottolia in Savona, Italy.

British favorite Dina Asher Smith, who finished fifth in the 2016 Rio Olympics, broke the meet record in 23.06 seconds.

Another British, Beth Dobbin took the silver in 23.06 seconds, while Italian Dalia Kaddari landed third in 23.21 seconds.

Meanwhile, Filipino-Moroccan Yacine Guermali overshadowed another Philippine mark after a second-place finish in the Portland Distance Carnival over the weekend.

Soldier-athletes’ detailed service officially sealed THE Philippine Sports Commission, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine Olympic Committee, and the Philippine Paralympic Committee on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding officially placing on detailed service (DS) 117 military athletes and coaches of the national team.

Represented by PSC chairman William Ramirez, AFP Chief of Staff General Cirilito Sobejana, Cong. Abraham Tolentino and Michael Barredo, respectively, the four organizations signed the agreement in a virtual ceremony.

Gen. Sobejana, in his speech highlighted the importance of the MOU as it symbolizes the united commitment of all parties to pursue aspirations to bring pride to our country. The agreement which is aimed to “develop potential gold medalists in international sports competitions” has among its provision the option to terminate the DS of certain athletes should there be a case of the ongoing conflict in their NSAs or on cases of misconduct or breach of discipline as provided for in AFP regulations.

The PSC chief, who had the chance to

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Randy M. Caluag, Assistant Editor

Shown here are (from top left, clockwise) Philippine Olympic Committee president Rep. Abraham Tolentino, Philippine Paralympic Committee President Michael Barredo, Philippine Sports Commission chairman William Ramirez and Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Cirilito Sobejana.

sign a number of previous agreements for He said that the partnership has evolved detailed service, recognized the unprec- into a very valuable venture benefitting edented partnership in this new agreement. Philippine sports. Ramirez also stressed

that the PSC will have tighter monitoring of everyone on detailed service as the athletes should “act as befitting a soldier. They are soldiers first before they are athletes.”

Among those under the detailed service agreement are three-time weightlifting Olympian and Tokyo Olympics qualifier Hidilyn Diaz, Southeast Asian Games perennial champion boxer Josie Gabuco, 2019 SEA Games gold medalists Melcah Jen Caballero (rowing), and Jermyn Prado (cycling).

“Sports is a battle that brings glory to the country. We are grateful to the AFP for allowing them to be with us in our battle of friendship and diplomacy. They are our frontliners in sports.” said Rep. Tolentino.

Barredo, meanwhile, expressed his gratitude: “We are thankful, honored, and privilege that we are part of this quadripartite agreement. Our soldiers with disabilities will continue to fight, represent and hopefully get the first gold medal (for the country) in the Paraly mpic games.”

Zamboanga City out to stamp class in VisMin Cup ZAMBOANGA City is seen as a powerhouse team in the Mindanao leg of the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas VisMin Cup, with Cebuano guard Eloy Poligrates spearheading the Zamboanguenos once the Mindanao leg kicks off.

Known as a flashy left-handed guard, Poligrates can help the Zamboanguenos stamp their mark in the VisMin Cup. The team also includes slamdunk champion and former Cebu Sharks forward JR Puerto, along with ex-Shark John Reel Saycon and former University of San Carlos bigs Charles Pepito and Kent Cabañog.

“We got players, who played in big tournaments. But this tournament is for the local players we have in the team to show their talents also,” said Zamboanga City coach Rodolfo Jose A. Abad Jr. Abad talked about the team’s coming campaign with Zamboanga del Sur Gov. Victor Yu and team owner, Zamboanga del Sur Rep. Ruel Cabardo.

Zamboanga del Sur will clash with the likes of Zamboanga City, Pagadian, Ozamis, Iligan, Basilan, Dipolog and Roxas in the Mindanao leg which was supposed to tip off on May 25 in a bubble setting at the Mindanao Civic Center in Tubod, Lanao del Norte.

But because of a spike in COVID-19 cases in the area, the opening has been rescheduled for another date, time and venue.

Other members of the team include Eric C. Bangcoyan, Russel Moneva, Shawn A. Labisores, Orly Biwang, Charles Pepito, Mario Junio, Garexx Puerto, Levert Lintayan, Daryl C. Cruz, Vanrolph Amoquis, Kenith Dela Cruz, Jeffrey Tajonera, Ruben Caritan, Archie Cabrila, Hans Sison, JR Raf lores, Adrian Salvador Celada, Dan Sara, John Calvin Jabello, Klent Singedas and Constancio Lumingkit.

Peter Atencio

Eala pulls off gritty win vs Spanish foe in world tour FILIPINA tennis sensation and Globe ambassador Alex Eala showed sheer determination as she upended Spanish rival Alba Carrillo Marin in a thrilling three-set encounter, 6-3, 5-7, 7-5, in the opening round of the International Tennis Federation World Tennis Tour W25 Platja D’Aro in Spain on Wednesday night.

It was a back-and-forth match that saw both players show their familiarity with one another after already clashing twice in the pro circuit. When the dust settled, however, it was the Filipina powerhouse that grabbed the victory after a whopping three hours and nine minutes to earn a spot in the second round where she will take on another Span-

iard in Irene Burillo Escorihuela, who is the no. 265 ranked player in the Women’s Tennis Association singles rankings.

The opening set saw Marin surge ahead, 2-0, but Eala gathered her bearings and won five of the next six games to move closer to capturing the first set at 5-3. Despite Marin’s best efforts to stay alive in the first set, Eala was able to close it out, 6-3, thanks to a powerful backhand shot.

Marin, though, refused to give in as she started the second set much in the same way that she began the first, moving ahead, 3-1. But the resilient Eala came back once again and tied the game at 4-4. After both players held serve

in the next two games, Marin eventually broke through and claimed the second set, 7-5, to send the match to a deciding third set.

The final set was a nip-and-tuck encounter that stayed tied at 5-5. Eala then found the edge she was looking for as she broke Marin’s serve to move ahead, 6-5, before winning the final game to put the match on ice, 7-5.

Eala is in for a very hectic week as she is also competing in the doubles tournament with Russian partner, Oksana Selekhmeteva.

Eala, a long-time Globe ambassador, is looking to clinch her second professional title after she opened this year with a championship in the first leg of the W15 Manacor back in January.

Alex Eala

C2

Sports

FRIDAY, MAY 21, 2021

James’ 34-foot trey lifts LA to playoffs

L

OS ANGELES—LeBron James overcame blurred vision Wednesday to score a 34-foot three pointer with under a minute left as the Los Angeles Lakers rallied from a first half deficit to beat the Golden State Warriors 103-100 and reach the main draw of the NBA’s West playoffs.

James, who said he could only see out of one eye, hit the game winner for the defending NBA champions in dramatic fashion as it came over top of Warriors superstar Stephen Curry with the shot clock expiring.

Moments before the desperate heave from well back of the three-point line, James had been fouled hard by Warriors Draymond Green while he drove to the basket.

James said he got poked in the eye which blurred his vision, but the fourtime league MVP showed he is better with one eye than most players in the league with two.

“After Draymond fingered me in the eye I was literally seeing three rims.

I just shot for the middle one,” said James, who had a triple double of 22 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.

The victory gives the Lakers the seventh seed in the West playoffs main draw and a first-round matchup with the second-seeded Phoenix Suns in a series that begins Sunday.

The Warriors will get another chance to get into the main playoff draw, but they now must beat the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday.

James and Green collided with just over two minutes left and the Warriors ahead 98-97.

The officials reviewed the play to see if it warranted a flagrant foul but after viewing the video decided to go with the lesser penalty. James, still smarting from the poke, made one of the two free throws to tie it 98-98.

James joked later that he would have a pirate patch on his eye after the game.

Instead, like a swashbuckling buccaneer, he stole a victory right out from under the Warriors’ noses.

“I have been poked in the eye before so I just tried to keep my composure,” said James.

It was a tale of two halves for the Lakers who were down 28-22 at the end of the first quarter and by 13 at halftime, 55-42.

The Lakers turned the tables in the second half, outscoring the Warriors 35-24 in the third quarter and then made better plays down the stretch

in the fourth.

“They hit us in the mouth in the first half and we just had to respond and we did that,” James said.

Curry poured in a game-high 37 points for the Warriors who were one of the hottest teams in the league heading into Wednesday’s play-in game.

Golden State beat Memphis at home on the final day of the regular season to earn the eighth seed in the play-in tournament.

Canada’s Andrew Wiggins finished with 21 points for the Warriors while Green had two fouls and two turnovers in the last five minutes.

Green finished with five fouls, six turnovers and just two points.

“They made a run in the third quarter and we turned the ball over,” said Curry.

Anthony Davis scored a team-highs of 25 points and 12 rebounds for the Lakers.

Spurs eliminated In the other play-in game, the Grizzlies earned the right to face the Warriors next by beating the 10th-seeded San Antonio Spurs 100-96.

Lithuania’s Jonas Valanciunas finished with 23 points and 23 rebounds for the Grizzlies in front of a pandemiclimited crowd of 7,019 at FedExForum arena in Memphis.

Dillon Brooks delivered a game-high 24 points and Ja Morant chipped in 20 for the Grizzlies.

Memphis, who won five of six contests to close out the regular season, are back in the postseason for the first time since the 2016-17 season.

The Spurs were eliminated from the playoff race for the second straight season after equalling the league record of 22 straight postseason appearances.

DeMar DeRozan and Rudy Gay scored 20 points apiece for San Antonio, who limped into the play-in tournament after losing four consecutive games to finish the regular season.

Keldon Johnson added 11 points and 11 rebounds, Dejounte Murray contributed 10 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists and Jakob Poeltl had 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Spurs. AFP

Pioneer Adhesives holds ‘Pinta ng Tibay’ Challenge PIONEER Adhesives Inc, makers of leading brand Pioneer Epoxy, is challenging boat makers all over the country to showcase their artistry and creative imagination through the Pioneer “Pinta ng Tibay” Pintura Challenge.

The contest, which will run from May 4 to June 30, 2021, is an open boat painting contest that aims to promote and showcase the creativity and craftsmanship of the Filipino wooden boat builders in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

With the theme “Pyesta ng Bangkang Makulay at Matibay 2021” the contest is open to wooden boats ranging from 3 to 15 meters long and used either for racing, fishing, recreational sailing, or as a passenger and tourist carrier. Pioneer is encouraging single participants, groups, and even communities to join the nationwide contest.

As part of the contest rules, all entries must use Pioneer Marine Quick Dry Enamel (PMQDE) and Pioneer Pearl Glaze as paint for the entire boat. The artwork can be done by brush, roller, or spray via compressor.

Submission of entries is until July 9, 2021 11:59 p.m..

Criteria for Judging include Creativity (30%), Relevance to the theme (30%), Color Combination (30%), and Overall Impression (10%). The Champion will win P70,000 in cash, and the runners-up and Voters’ Choice will also receive corresponding cash prizes with over P300,000 in total prizes.

Lachica is new PSA president

DAGGER THREE. LeBron James shoots a three point basket to win the game for the Los Angeles Lakers against the Golden State Warriors at the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles. AFP

Frayna, Bersamina vie in World Chess Cup THE National Chess Federation of the Philippines FIDE World Chess Cup. has nominated Woman Grandmaster Janelle Mae NCFP chief executive officer Grandmaster Frayna and International Master Paulo Bersamina Jayson Gonzales said they have decided to nomito represent the country in the men and women nate Frayna and Bersamina for the two slots al-

Janelle Mae Frayna and NCFP CEO Jayson Gonzales pay Col. Harold Argamosa, Executive assistant to the Philippine Army Commanding General, a courtesy call recently.

lotted to the country because they have no more time to hold tryouts.

Frayna, who turned 24 Wednesday, will be the country’s lone bet in the women’s World Cup slated July 10 to Aug. 6 in Sochi, Russia, while Bersamina will join IMs Daniel Quizon and Michael Concio, Jr. in the men’s edition of the same event from Aug. 1-28 in Minsk, Belarus.

Quizon, 16, and Concio, 15, clinched their spots by topping the Asian Zonal 3.3 Championships two weeks ago.

Frayna was in the final month of her Army training, but had to cut it short after she was called upon for the World Cup and the Hanoi Southeast Asian Games in November.

“We also thank Rep. Abraham Tolentino, PSC chairman William Ramirez, NCFP president Rep. Prospero Pichay, Jr. and LT. Gen. and USEC Arthur Tabaquero for helping us get Janelle to start her training,” said Gonzales, who also showed gratitude to Lt. Gen. Jose Faustino, Jr., Brig. Gen. Danilo Carino, Col. Harold Argamosa, Col. Nilo Vinluan, Col. John Antonio Divinagracia and Col. Dexter Macasaet.

Aside from being the country’s first and only WGM, Frayna will also make history as the first Filipina to see action in the World Cup. Meanwhile, about 15 Filipinos, headed by IM John Marvin Miciano, are eyeing to clinch one of the 10 slots to Minsk in the Asian Continental Championship unfolding Friday.

Sangiao proud of Pacio’s work in gym IT has been a while since ONE Strawweight World Champion Joshua “The Passion” Pacio competed in the ONE Championship Circle, but Team Lakay head coach Mark Sangiao isn’t sweating it.

Watching the 25-year-old work day in and day out at Team Lakay Central Gym in La Trinidad, Sangiao, he’s confident that “The Passion” will be prepared when called upon to defend his strap.

“Despite being out of action in the ONE Championship Circle, [Joshua] lives here in the gym. I have to make sure that Joshua doesn’t remain stagnant, so when the time comes that he’s up for a World Title defense, he’s ready,” Sangiao said.

“We’re working on the things that he needs to improve, the small details in his game that we need to tweak, but I know

that he’ll be ready when the time comes.

“The nice thing about Joshua is that he’s willing to learn. When you teach him something, he’ll work on it, he’ll study it, he’ll train it, and then he’ll show it inside an official match. His training reflects in our matches, and that’s the reason why he’s still a World Champion today.”

Because of the way Pacio works in the gym, the soft-spoken mentor believes that his prized pupil is the ultimate example of the modern-day Team Lakay star, as he has proven to be effective wherever the match goes.

“Joshua can do it all in the Circle. He can knock you out, he can submit you, he’s a complete mixed martial artist now,” Sangiao said.

“You look at Joshua, you see the next generation of Team Lakay.”

That type of fire and work ethic is

certainly expected from him, as he’s the only ONE World Champion remaining in the Philippines after Brandon “The Truth” Vera dropped the ONE Heavyweight World Title to Arjan “HYPERLINK “https://www.onefc.com/ athletes/arjan-bhullar/”Singh” Bhullar on Saturday, 15 May, at ONE: DANGAL. It’s going to be hard at the top, but Sangiao is confident that the challenge will keep the fire burning in Pacio.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s pressure on his part, but we have to motivate him being the lone [ONE] World Title holder from the Philippines.”

Catch all the ONE Championship action by downloading the ONE Super App.

Joshua Pacio

TEMPO Sports Editor Rey Virgilio Lachica heads the new set of officers of the Philippine Sportswriters Association.

Lachica, 54, was unanimously voted as president of the country’s oldest media organization during its virtual general assembly, a first in the history of the PSA, held recently.

He succeeded Tito Talao of the Manila Bulletin who served as president the past two years.

A product of University of the East where he once served as sports editor of The Dawn, the school’s official student publication, Lachica of Marbel, Cotabato, carries with him a vast wealth of experience in sportswriting that spans more than three decades working for Malaya, Riyadh Daily, Manila Bulletin, and Tempo.

Named by Lachica as his First and Second Vice Presidents are Nelson Beltran of the Philippines Star and Francis Ochoa of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, respectively.

Appointed as secretary is Jasmine Payo of Rappler, long-time People’s Journal sports editor Joe S. Antonio is named treasurer, Gerry Ramos of SPIN. ph as assistant treasurer, and the Philippine Star’s Abac Cordero as auditor.

Talao heads the PSA Board whose members include Jimmy Cantor (Malaya), Dodo Catacutan (SPIN.ph), Lorenzo Lomibao Jr. (Business Mirror), Riera Mallari (Manila Standard), Ed Andaya (People’s Tonight), Mae Villena (PM), Ramil Cruz (Abante Tonite), Emil Noguera (Manila Times), Julius Manicad (Daily Tribune), and Ferdz Delos Santos (Abante).

Former PSA president and current Daily Tribune Managing Editor Aldrin Cardona is named as group adviser.

Sarmenta offers skills workshop VETERAN sports broadcaster and communication professor Sev Sarmenta offers his latest online workshop, Power Up Your Presentations with four Saturday modules in June.

With more than three decades in broadcasting, corporate communication as well as academic and workshop teaching, Sarmenta provides veteran and upcoming executives and entrepreneurs time-tested techniques to build communication confidence and clarity, so vital in today’s multi-platform business context. The workshop offers live coaching, lectures and handouts.

Limited slots are available. Log on to bit.ly/powerupclass for details.

Workshop begins on June 5.

Entertainment

nickie.standard@gmail.com FRIDAY, MAY 21, 2021

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Morissette shines in viral song cover SINGER Morissette Amon is finally releasing her official recording of “Shine” today in celebration of the song’s silver anniversary this year.

The timely release is a re-introduction of “Shine’s” original lyrics composed by multi-awarded songwriter Trina Belamide who has joined forces with Star Music to reproduce the well-loved composition originally sang by Ima Castro and later rendered by Regine Velasquez-Alcasid.

ABS-CBN Music creative director and OPM hitmaker Jonathan Manalo has

teamed up with Filipino-American musical director Troy Laureta to give “Shine” a fresh gospel waltz vibe while retaining its overall feel.

Morissette’s own version happens after years of singing the OPM tune live on numerous occasions here and abroad. The Kapamilya artist’s YouTube performance video of “Shine” on the Wish Bus has garnered over 7.9 million views and has figured in numerous reaction videos of vocal coaches from different countries who were blown away by her rendition.

“Shine” was originally a Metropop

entry first recorded by Ima and performed live by Sweet Plantado during the 1996 Metropop Song Festival held at the Araneta Coliseum where it won second place.

In 2004, the Asia’s Songbird recorded the song for a product commercial and has since then become part of her various shows’ repertoire.

Morissette’s official version of “Shine” will be out on music streaming services starting today while the song’s music video will be out on May 30 on Morissette’s YouTube channel with a TV launch on ASAP Natin ‘To on the same day.

Morissette covers the iconic hit ‘Shine,’ which celebrates its 25th year.

‘Babawiin Ko Ang Lahat’

lead stars reflect on their characters in series finale Established in 2007, the ISFFM is among the few remaining silent film festivals in the world and the first and oldest Southeast Asian silent film festival.

International Silent Film Festival Manila marks 15th year ON its 15th year, the International Silent Film Festival Manila (ISFFM) has stepped up efforts to promote silent filmmaking in the Philippines by establishing Mit Out Sound (MOS): International Silent Film Lab 2021.

The ISFFM is a joint partnership among the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), Embassy of France in Manila, Philippine Italian Association, Goethe-Institute Philippinen, Instituto Cervantes de Manila, and Japan Foundation, Manila.

Established in 2007, the ISFFM is among the few remaining silent film festivals in the world and the first and oldest Southeast Asian silent film festival. It is an awaited cultural event among cinephiles and music lovers as it brings together film classics and Filipino musicians on the same stage to perform and reinterpret stories.

Through the online MOS: International Silent Film Lab, the ISFFM aims to encourage the production of silent films and discover new talents who will be mentored by local and international filmmakers on story development, editing, technicalities, and other elements of silent filmmaking to better translate their visual narratives.

The ISFFM committee will choose 10 filmmakers to undergo the intensive MOS film lab. The FDCP, through its Film Cultural Exchange Program (FCEP), will conduct all MOS activities, including the Visual Storytelling Lab, Safe Filming Lab, and Editing Lab sessions that will be held via Zoom.

Participants will each be awarded a production grant worth P50,000 to produce their silent shorts that will premiere at the Silent Short Film Competition in the 15th ISFFM in November 2021.

During the festival’s culmination, incentive awards will also be given: Best Film Award (P20,000 with trophy and certificate), Jury’s Special Prize Award (P10,000 with trophy and certificate), and Jose Nepomuceno Award (P15,000 with

trophy and certificate).

“Philippine Cinema has lost most of its early silent films. This sad reality inspired the creation of the first Mit Out Sound: International Silent Film Lab in order to revive the interest in silent filmmaking and enhance the expertise of Filipino filmmakers in creating unique and quality films,” said FDCP Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño.

She noted that silent filmmaking is crucial in the history of Philippine Cinema because the first movie produced and directed by a Filipino, Dalagang Bukid

by Jose Nepomuceno, was a silent film.

The classic’s release date of Sept. 12, 1919 was the basis of the declaration of Sine Sandaan or One Hundred Years of Philippine Cinema.

Since the production of silent films only appeals to a few filmmakers, the ISFFM has issued a nationwide call for entries by amateur and professional filmmakers aged 16 and above.

With the theme “Reimagining the Past with the Present,” the MOS: International Silent Film Lab seeks to celebrate film retrospective and pay homage to Philippine silent cinema. Submissions must present the filmmakers’ artistic and contemporary reimagination and recreation of any of the following Filipino silent film classics.

Interested filmmakers should submit the following requirements in an organized Google Drive folder with a shared viewing setting to specialprojects@fdcp. ph until June 18: ● Presentation deck of the story treatment (Applicants may submit a maximum of two treatments.) ● Accomplished application form ● Official government ID ● Portfolio of past works To download the application form and view the full mechanics, visit https:// www.fdcp.ph/mitoutsound, and for inquiries, contact Julienne Calugcug at jmcalugcug.fdcp@gmail.com or specialprojects@fdcp.ph.

K-Pop idol group Tri.be drops new record

I

T’S never easy saying goodbye to a project that has given you so much experience. But Pauline Mendoza, the female lead in Babawiin Ko Ang Lahat, its ending is just the beginning of more “beautiful things” to look forward to.

In a series that tackles a dramatic story of a family and highlights the strength of a young woman, viewers can learn a few things especially from the characters that its lead stars portray.

“Iris is such a strong woman. A lot of people can resonate with her. I personally can relate to her because she’s taught me so many things. She’s not just a character, she’s someone you can emulate because she’s a symbol of hope and strength,” Pauline shared with Manila Standard Entertainment in a virtual interview.

As the series airs its final episode today, the star-studded cast of Babawiin Ko Ang Lahat also sends their sincerest gratitude to all their followers for the overwhelming feedback and for allowing the show to pull off a victory in the ratings game. Further, the cast members are also grateful to all the viewers for following the journey of different characters who have different reasons for wanting to get back whatever it is they lost.

Moreover, Pauline shares the biggest lesson she wants the viewers to learn from her character, “’’Yung pagiging strong niya as a person. Lalo ngayon na may pinagdadaanan tayong pandemic, maraming tao ang nalulungkot at nagkakaroon ng anxiety. ‘Yung character ni Iris, sobrang dami niyang pinagdaanan sa buhay at isinakripisyo para sa pamilya niya. Just have faith in God and believe in yourself. You need to learn how to stand using your own feet,” Pauline added.

Liezel Lopez, in turn, expresses what she hopes for the viewers to witness should there be another season, “I wanted to share with the viewers kung ano ‘yung background story ni Trina. Bakit siya lumaking masama? Ano ‘yung nangyari sa kanila sa Japan? Bakit longing siya

‘Babawiin Ko And Lahat’ lead stars Pauline Mendoza, Dave Bornea, and Liezel Lopez

sa pagmamahal ng isang tatay at sobrang mahal na mahal niya si Randall? Mas maganda kung laliman ‘yung story niya.”

“She’s more to share than her being an antagonist,” she carried on.

Meanwhile, Dave Bornea reveals some of his greatest takeaways from

starring in the series, “Best gift for me is ako po ‘yung napiling main leading man ni Pauline and I was given the chance na maipakita ‘yung work ko, my commitment to my character, and the experience with my co-stars. Of course, ‘yung aral din po from our veteran co-actors na sobrang generous when it comes to sharing ‘yung ideas and learnings for our craft.”

Playing equally vital roles in the series are Neil Ryan Sese as Inspector Jun, Therese Malvar as Lala, Tanya Gomez as Menchie, Gio Alvarez as Greg Madrigal, and Manolo Pedrosa as Justin Roxas.

This original series, created by the GMA Entertainment Group, is headed by SVP for Entertainment Group Lilybeth G. Rasonable, FVP for Drama Redgie A. Magno, SAVP for Drama Cheryl Ching-Sy, Senior Program Manager Anthony R. Pastorpide, and Executive Producer Nieva S. Magpayo.

Don’t miss the much-awaited finale of Babawiin Ko Ang Lahat—under the helm of director Jules Katanyag— today on GMA Afternoon Prime.

Ben&Ben stages digital show via kumu Live Events Tri.be is a South Korean girl group formed in 2021 by TR Entertainment and Universal Music Group.

UNIVERSAL Music Group Korea’s first K-Pop idol group Tri.be has unveiled its second single album, CONMIGO, via Republic Records. It features the title track “RUB-A-DUM” and accompanying anthem “LORO.” With CONMIGO, these fiery and fierce women-only amplify their signature “Girl Swag,” radiating contagious levels of self-confidence in the process.

As a high-energy call-to-arms, “RUB-A-DUM” nods to the timeless tale of the Pied Piper and invites fans to follow with the clarion call, “Everybody come play with Tri.be,” making it irresistible not to.

On “LORO”––Spanish for “Parrot”–– the girls preach about finding confidence in your true self. They might just urge you to mirror Tri.be’s magnetic moves, much like a parrot. Musically, the multinational group fuses a young and refreshing mix of Dancehall and

Reggaeton beats like never before.

The first-of-its-kind quadrilingual group, Tri.be consists of seven members—Songsun, Jinha, Hyunbin, and Soeun hailing from Seoul, Kelly and Jia from Taipei, and Mire from Tokyo—and speaks and sings in English, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean.

Earlier this year, they teamed up with two of the most famous K-Pop producers in the world, S.Tiger [BEAST, IU, 4Minute, MOMOLAND, EXID, T-ARA, Apink, HyunA] and none other than TRI.BE’s supportive big sister EXID’s ELLY. Tri.be’s name comes from the combination of the words “triangle,” which signifies the most perfect shape, and “being,” leading to the slogan, “We are perfect as we are.” The group conveys the message of self-love and confidence by unapologetically flaunting their key concept of “Girl Swag.”

GET ready for a night of heartfelt your favorite ‘upuan’ or ‘pahingahan’ at music as the country’s top artist and home with your Smart Bro Pocket WiFi Smart ambassador Ben&Ben takes device or Prepaid Home WiFi on this on the concert stage in a live virtual Smart Facebook Post or Smart Twee show exclusively via kumu Live Events with the hashtag #SmartBenAndBen. tomorrow night at 7:00.

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by Smart Bro, the virtual concert Smart Bro and Prepaid Home WiFi gives band members Miguel, Paolo, customers can stream Ben&Ben’s Pat, Agnes, Poch, Keifer, Andrew, upcoming concert and enjoy more Folk band and Smart ambassador Jam, and Toni a platform to reach of their favorite online content by Ben&Ben stages a virtual concert out to their fans and perform their registering to Double GIGA offers, via streaming app Kumu chart-topping hits including “Maybe which come with twice the data for this Saturday. the Night,” “Leaves,” “Pagtingin,” their choice of everyday apps.

“Lifetime,” and “Kathang Isip.” The Smart enables subscribers to enjoy concert will also be the first time their favorite content seamlessly with the band will perform their latest singles “Upuan” and Smart 5G, the fastest 5G network in the Philippines as cited “Magpahinga” live.

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To know more about the Smart Bro devices and offers To join Smart Bro’s promo, simply post a photo of you on that suit your lifestyle, visit www.smart.com.ph/bro.

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TRAVEL & LEISURE

FRIDAY, MAY 21, 2021

Life

Smart Communication’s Marylou Gocotano assists Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma as he TRAVEL & LEISURE tries on a VR device allowing him to tour Cebu’s religious sites and settings at the ‘Mga Hulagway sa Pagtuo’ exhibit.

My tale Filipino faith of the two cities in focus

A

S PART of the celebration of 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines, the Archdiocese of Cebu and SM malls recently mounted a series of exhibitions that showcased art, heritage, and religious treasures.

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s s

Life

Bernadette Lunas, Editor manilastandardlife@gmail.com @manilastandardlife @MStandardLIFE

San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora cites the discipline and stamina he acquired as a Centennial pilgrim image of him Our run the former basketball player helps Lady of Fatima city efficiently.

At SM City Cebu, viewers were transported back in time with “Mga Hulagway sa Pagtuo” at the Northwing Atrium. The exhibit, staged in partnership with Smart Communications, Inc. and InnoPub Media, utilized advanced digital tools to allow visitors to experience the displays in one sitting.

The centerpiece was a replica of a Spanish colonial church which guests were able to explore with the help Panaw My good friend Mayor Richard Gomez of saOrmoc Pagtuois the mobile app which quick best example of auses seamless response (QR) codes and virtual reality transition from being a showbiz box office (VR) The appand is effective available for drawdevices. to a consummate

download at the App Store, Google Play Store, and Huawei App Gallery.

The QR codes were equipped with rich multimedia contents; whereas the VR videos transported guests to Cebu’s beautiful and grand stone churches. The mobile app contains all exhibit materials that can be accessed at the venue, serving as an exhibit guide and companion.

During the exhibit, Smart Communication’s Marylou Gocotano and Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma were some of those who were able to virtually tour Cebu’s religious sites and settings inside the replica of the

Cebuano artist Jun Impas poses with his painting of Saint Pedro Calungsod.

church using VR devices.

Marian and Santo Niño exhibits with paintings and images of the Blessed Mother and the Christ Child were also held at SM City Cebu. Some of the images mounted were the Nuestra Señora de la Regla, patroness of Lapu-lapu City; the centennial pilgrim image of Our Lady of Fatima; the Holy Child of Providence; the Holy Child of Malolos.

Meanwhile, SM Seaside City Cebu hosted the “Filipino Faith through the Hands of Cebuano Artists”, an exhibit featuring religious artworks by talented Cebuano artists, including, among others, the painting of Visayan saint Pedro Calungsod by Jun Impas.

The Holy Child of Providence

government leader.

Recalibrating tourism’s standards

couldn’t contain her excitement over the pearls and jewelry she bought during her visit.

On June 10, the El Deposito Underground Tunnel will be inaugurated and added to the tour. This 150-meter underground passageway marks the location of the large water reservoir which played an important role in Manila’s history, from the Spanish era to the Japanese occupation. Hopefully, by that date, quarantine restrictions would have been eased so we can sample San Juan’s revitalized Historical Biking Tour.

Next on focus was my good friend, IN PREPARATION for the reactivation of DON’T worry, we’re not going to have an movie/TV actor and sportsman Richard the global tourism industry, our urgent task English Literature session today because Gomez, the Mayor of Ormoc City, who I isI don’t to findplan waystotodo adapt to the new reality, a review on Charles am very grateful to for the endless things the changing preferences expectations Dickens’ historical noveland about London he has been doing to put my mother’s of leisure travelers who have been severely and Paris during the French Revolution. home city on the tourist map. affected by this Instead, I’mpandemic. going to share with you Before his tenure, Ormoc was a Tourism marketing experts now ask what I learned about two prosperous cities sleepy town and was the drug capital of themselves, “How do we restore travel closer to home, at the sixth installment Eastern Visayas. But with the wave of confi dence? do we potential of the virtualHow Kapihan Samake New York the tourists feel at ease, from the time they plan Mayor Gomez’s magic wand, it is now a other day. bustling city, the economic, cultural, and their trips until theyagain, return by home?”

Hosted, once the Phil-Am transportation hub of Western Leyte. It Everybody should feel safe when making Press Club of New York with the theme, has also become the Concert Capital of their leisure trips, if the to get “Fiesta Filipinas”, the industry session isfeatured Region 8. The Philippine National Police back to its pre-COVID accomplishments. two young, good-looking, dynamic, and has declared it the first drug-free city in Safe travel, based on World Travel and hardworking local government leaders the country and one of the three safest Tourism Councilinteresting (WTTC) and guidelines, is who bannered attractive the movement of in people from one cities. place cities, the others being Cotabato and tourist attractions their respective to another, health University and safety Puerto Princesa.

Former following De LatheSalle Thanks to its well-managed seaport protocols prescribed by the World Health basketball varsity standout Francis terminal and the new Airport Passenger Organization (WHO) and backed by the Zamora is the Mayor of San Juan and Terminal, Ormoc easily became a World Tourism (UNWTO), refers to his cityOrganization as The Heart of Metro favorite of MICE (meetings, incentives, while ensuring that these people, their Manila because of its geographical destinations shouldexhibitions) now take the limelight. event modes transportation, theirinorigin and conventions, locationofwhich is right smack the center It is then useless to lower prices as organizers.

Its biggest pre-pandemic destination adhere to such protocols. of the metropolis. cost is event not as had big athousands factor as fear in the mass of is athletes As a guide talked to potential He animatedly about the leisure biggest participating decrease of leisure traffic.Eastern A great Visayas majority in the travelers, the WTTC now issues a Safe pre-pandemic tourist draw in his city, Regional is lookingAthletic for less crowded (EVRAA), destinations Association Travels PassWattah to tourism establishments the Wattah Festival (a phonetic putting where anthe effective healthcare city high up oninfrastructure the list of all over the world that consistently reference to water) which takes place preferred is in place.destinations Of course, whatever for sportsmarketing tourism. comply with the prescribed health and every June 24, the Feast of St. John the This promotions we make must be supported was followed by the National safety Still, a calls signifi Baptist. protocols.

The fun celebration forcant city Teachers by government action and policies.

Most Day celebration which, again, number tourists hesitant totomake officials of to go aroundare in firetrucks spray brought of all, leisure travelers will now prefer thousands of educators to thea the trip.

In fact, Bloom Consulting, a water on everyone along the way and the destination with a team ready to respond city. leading Europe-based agency, conducted receiving jubilant crowd in turn wildly to Added whatever crisiswell-attended may arise. events are to these adouses survey creating various scenarios, water back at these officials and on theWhat changes and augmentations did our very popular pre-pandemic citywide ranging fromIt’s no not more travel restrictions, each other. surprising that water celebrations tourism establishments have to thousands put up to which attracted to no quarantine required at destination, is the main element in this enjoyable of visitors of their safety? towns and tourists from neighboring to virus spread is controlled, to a curethe is assure celebration because it commemorates The standard health and protocols cities in the rest of the safety Visayas.

The found. variance of 15by toSt. 45 John. percent of baptismAof Jesus Christ are now in place.

Asideoffrom the usual face extravagant display attractive colors theLast respondents manifested their refusal year, however, the city officials in the Parade of Lights, hosted by the to a leisure as trip. didtake it differently the whole country was So, what by facts do we, inrestrictions, and Rotary Club, takes place every June. But restrained quarantine the travelwere industry, haveThey, to instead, had the bigger event is the Pinya Festival, a crowds a no-no. colorful and lively street dancing festival consider? the “Basbasan Sa San Juan”, during which that pays homage to the city’s patron Although this pandemic the image of St. John was brought around saints (Peter and Paul) and to its main brought about adecreased the city while priest blessed everyone produce, the Queen Pineapple, deemed disposable income along the way.

With for the contamination one of the sweetest in the world and the everybody, it is not index currently stilltheatmain its peak, it looks like symbol of Ormoc. reason for the reluctance of last year’s sedate and quieter celebration There are many other attractions tourists to amake will make repeatthe thistrip. year. the city offers – the Dominador Tan Feeling unsafe kills the Mayor Zamora also talked about the Mansion, a 1930s relic of what used to desire to travel for leisure. interesting Historical Bike Tour which For wholaunched feel readyright before the be the Japanese military headquarters; was those actually Ormoc Bay Shipwrecks which divers to travel, outdoor pandemic sneakedand in low– the reason why its will find very interesting as they show density destinations will momentum as popularity could not gain what’s left of five Japanese and three now bewere theirrequired top choices, people to stay indoors. The American battleships nestled several and places with good health tour starts at the City Hall and covers a hundred feet below sea level. There is infrastructure will now be number of exciting attractions. also the Tongonan Geothermal Plant, preferred.

The Pinaglabanan Shrine, with a the most modern in the country. Of How then should the monument handcrafted by renowned course, those who want a leisurely and tourism respond sculptor industry Eduardo Castrillo, marks relaxing tour will enjoy the Lake Danao to this new mindset of battle of the the location of the first Natural Park, the Alto Park, and the travelers?

We have Katipuneros against tothe Spaniards. Veterans Park. repackage what we offer, The Katipunan Museum houses many After a very informative session with to conformartifacts to visitors’ historical and possessions of these two energetic and industrious expectations and needs, revolutionary leader Andres Bonifacio. mayors who, in my opinion, represent the meaning, we have to put was the first The Marcos Mansion newIbreed government leaders, I could the lockdown, cravedofa deluxe meal so I had lunch forward something that is After residence of former President Ferdinand only wish atthat the rest would at a five-star hotel.

Looking the waiter, I wasn’t sureexhibit if he appealing and very safe.

Marcos and family, where they spent the same dynamism and dedication as would serve me food or surgically remove my tonsils.

Smaller and low-density 10 years before moving to Malacañang these two. Then, maybe next time, this Palace. column would probably banner a tale of The Iglesia Ni Kristo premises has a HUNDRED cities. the former residence of the late Felix Manalo, the original leader of this

Joy Nostalg Hotel and Suites Manila is one of the two hotels in the country that immediately earned the coveted WTTC Safe Travels Pass.

When boarding a flight these days, you will be greeted by cabin attendants in PPEs, making you wonder whether you’re going on a trip or being admitted to a hospital’s ICU.

coverings, negative RT-PCR test results, PPEs, temperature scans, foot baths, physical distancing, hand sanitizers, protective plexiglass barriers, health declaration and contact tracing forms, each sector of the industry has some enhancements to these basic items.

Airline ticket offices, travel agencies, and tour operators now encourage online check-in and contactless ticket purchase. At airports, cleaning and disinfecting measures

It is then useless to lower prices as cost is not as big a factor as fear is in the decrease of leisure traffic. of high-touch areas have been intensified, and they attend to senior citizens, PWDs, and pregnant women in a separate area.

On board the aircraft, cabin air is refreshed every two minutes, flowing from top to bottom, while cabin surfaces and lavatories are rigorously disinfected with high-grade eco-friendly cleaning mixture. The aircraft is also fitted with hospital-grade air filtration system that screens out 99.99 percent of airborne viruses and bacteria. In-flight meals

are served in sanitized containers.

At hotels and resorts, same-day negative Rapid Antigen Test or negative RT-PCR test is required of each guest, and the number of guests allowed in a room depends on its size. Online advanced reservations are encouraged, and contactless transactions are practiced from check-in to check-out, including cashless payments.

At tourist attractions, visitors’ entry is controlled through pre-registration and allocated time slots. One-way entrance and a separate one-way exit are used to prevent guest clustering, while floor markers and demarcation lines ensure physical distancing.

Digital maps and menus are provided, while tour guides use lapel microphones to avoid hand contact.

All of these I mentioned add up to the new reality of our tourism industry, the new standards of safety, making traveling a completely different ballgame altogether.

With these enhancements now in place, I can confidently say, we’re ready for the new breed of leisure travelers.

For those who are still hesitant to make that leisure trip, here’s a gem-of-a-reminder from American motivational speaker and author Jack Canfield—“Everything you want is on the other side of fear!”

For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@gmail.com.

YOUR WEEKEND CHUCKLE If April showers bring May flowers, what do May flowers bring? Pilgrims.

Casa de Memoria marks 5th year with Segundo auction LHUILLIER-MANAGED auction house Casa De Memoria celebrates its 5th anniversary with its second auction of the year on May 22.

The Segundo auction, the second of the house’s quarterly auctions, will feature exquisite pieces from the 17th to the 20th century by renowned Filipino and European artists.

An extensive array of religious artworks such as the oil painting of Santísima Trinidad, a mid to late 19th-century oil painting on canvas depicting the Holy Trinity attributed to Justiniano Asunción (1816 - 1896) and the St. Jerome oil painting from 18th to 19th century on wood by Juan Arzeo will go under the hammer. Another oil painting at the auction is a 19th-century icon painting on wood depicting St. Barbara by Antonio Malantic.

More sets of paintings will also be available at the auction, like the threepiece reverse glass paintings depicting Quotidian scenes from the 18th century and a pair of watercolor paintings of the picturesque Cagayan River and Jolo by Capt. Eduardo Moreno Esteller, a Spanish soldier stationed in the Philippines.

Bidders can also look forward to the historic Philippine Map from the 18th century, portraits sketched by Romeo Tabuena (19212015), and Manuel Montoya’s depiction of a courtyard scene in the 19th century.

An 18th-century engraved map of the Philippines and neighboring countries signed by Isaak Tirion.

A 19th-century oil on canvas painting of the Holy Trinity attributed to Justiniano Asuncion.

Also up for bidding are the sophisticated ivory boxes from the 19th century, an English ivory trinket box and an Anglo-Indian Sadeli box, which has minute parquetry out of dyed horns, bones, pewter, and mother of pearl with a wooden interior.

Go to www.casadememoria.com for more information.

A 19th-century depiction of a courtyard scene by Manuel Montoya.