Manila Standard - 2021 September 28 - Tuesday

twitter.com/ MlaStandard

facebook.com/ ManilaStandardPH

Missed your copy of Manila Standard? Call or text our Circulation Hotline at 0917-8848655 or email: circulation@manilastandard.net

manilastandard.net

DoH: MM likely to remain under Alert Level 4

By Macon Ramos-Araneta, Willie Casas and Darwin G. Amojelar METRO Manila may remain under Alert Level 4 despite a slow decline in COVID-19 infections, the director of the Department Next page

NO SOCIAL DISTANCING. Unmindful of the dangers of not following social distancing protocols, elderly residents flock inside the Delpan Sports Complex in Tondo, Manila to collect their monthly financial aid of P500 from the local government on Monday, September 27, 2021. Danny Pata

Rody eyes forced vaccination Says gov’t can use its police powers to do it

By Jimbo Gulle

VOL. XXXV • NO. 225 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 •TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2021 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Only fully inoculated teachers in face-to-face classes Health workers slam ‘singular’ allowance plan

By Willie Casas TEACHERS must be fully vaccinated to teach in pilot face-to-face classes, the departments of Health and Education said Monday.

teachers and non-teaching— should be fully vaccinated when they participate in the pilot face-to-face [classes],” said planning service director Roger Masapol of the Department of Education (DepEd) in an online press conference.

“We agreed that all school personnel—

Next page

HEALTH workers expressed deep frustration and anger after the DOH presented its “singular allowance” proposal on the COVID-19 benefits for health workers during a public hearing of the joint Senate Committees on Finance and Ways and Means.

By Joel E. Zurbano

Next page

NEWS / A2

Students arrive in school as in-person classes resume amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Kuwait on Sept. 26, 2021. AFP

Romualdezes hail topnotch grad of Leyte med school

By Maricel V. Cruz HOUSE Majority Leader Martin Romualdez and Tingog party-list Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez have congratulated the Remedios T. Romualdez Medical Foundation in Tacloban City for producing the 2nd topnotcher of the 2021 Physician Licensure Examination.

Next page

METRO Manila has started pre-registering minors as the government eyes starting the inoculation of some 12 million children between 12 and 17 years old by mid-October.

NBI tapped to find Mago; Duque raises reparation

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel V. Cruz

Dickson Araza Laude

The President reported that 20.3 million Filipinos have been vaccinated so far, or about 26 percent of the eligible population, leaving about at least 60 million more unvaccinated.

Duterte also said it will take 2 to 3 years before the country returns to its pre-pandemic situation.

Earlier this month, the government raised its target COVID-19 vaccination coverage to include 90 percent of the

country’s population, after the highly transmissible Delta variant ramped up herd immunity thresholds for the disease.

Apart from raising the specter of police power to inoculate the rest of the country, Duterte told government employees who refuse to get vaccinated to leave his administration.

“To get vaccinated or inoculated is Next page

Pre-registration of minors (12-17) for vax middle next month starts

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

‘PINOYS AGAINST RODY’S VP BID’

G

OVERNMENT may use its police power to compel people to get vaccinated against the coronavirus, President Rodrigo Duterte said in a televised address Monday.

THE Senate Blue Ribbon committee on Monday said they have sought the help of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to locate Pharmally employee Krizle Grace Mago, who testified last week that she had been ordered to tamper with the expiry dates of face shields that her company sold to the government.

“We’ve asked the NBI to take a look. So far, we have no news yet,” said Senator Richard Gordon, chairman of the committee, who said Mago has not responded to calls and messages from his panel.

President Duterte directed the Office of the Solicitor General to prompt the Commission on Audit on the notice of disallowance sent to Senator Gordon when he was still the head of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority over two decades ago. Duterte said Gordon has been painting everyone black in the Senate probe on contracts awarded to Pharmally while avoiding accountability on the COA disallowance.

Next page

Congress approves bill extending voter registration to October 31

By Macon Ramos-Araneta, Maricel Cruz and Vito Barcelo WITH only three days left before the Comelec deadline, the House of Representatives and the Senate on Monday approved on third and final reading a bill seeking to extend voter registration until October 31, 2021.

Senator Panfilo Lacason said Mago may be cited in contempt if she fails to attend a hearing set for Thursday.

“So far, we have no contact with her.

But we have a hearing on Thursday, and if she doesn’t show up, we can cite her in contempt,” he said.

She faces the same fate if she attends and changes her statement or becomes evasive, Lacson said.

For his part, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III given Mago’s admission, there must be “restitution” for the government, but did not say whether criminal charges must be filed against Pharmally executives.

Senators voted 23-0-0 in approving the measure that extends the registration of voters for the 2022 elections to October 31, 2021.

The House of Representatives, on the other hand, approved the counterpart measure by a vote of 193.

Once the bill is enacted into law, the Next page

A member of the militant group Akbayan Youth holds an alarm clock on one hand and a placard that bore the text “Time is Running Out” on the other as the rallyists called for the extension of the voter’s registration period. “With 4 days left before the deadline, there are still 11 million Filipino voters who are unregistered for the 2022 elections,” said Justine Balane, secretary-general of Akbayan Youth. Manny Palmero

“While waiting, our mayors in Metro Manila are now pre-registering kids just in case this gets approved immediately,” Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Benhur Abalos said.

Next page

2,509,117 18,449

158,169

37,494

93

2,313,412 21,811 (As of 4 PM, September 27)

A2

News

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2021

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

60% of Pinoys oppose Rody’s VP bid S

IX out of 10 Filipinos believe a possible vice presidential run for President Rodrigo Duterte would violate the intention of the Constitution, a recent survey by the polling firm Social Weather Stations showed.

proposal that Duterte should run for Vice President in the 2022 election violates the intention of the Constitution, which should first be amended before he may run for office again.

Sixty percent of the respondents chose the second statement, while 39 percent chose the first statement.

The remaining one percent did not give an answer.

SWS earlier released a portion of the same survey which dealt with the sat-

isfaction rating of the President, which stood at 75 percent for the second quarter of the year.

“Those who oppose a vice presidential bid for President Duterte in 2022 were highest among those very dissatisfied with his performance as President (88%),” the firm said.

Duterte last week signed his Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance (CONA) as the official vice presidential candidate of a faction of PDP-Laban

counted for in the 70-percent goal.

Many cities, particularly in Metro Manila, Baguio, Cebu, Iloilo and Davao, have already surpassed 50 percent vaccination of the target population, the President noted.

Citing vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr., Duterte says total vaccine deliveries to the country are expected to hit 100 million by end-October.

The steadier supply means the vaccination program may be expanded to cover children, the President added (see story below – Editors).

“Government is practically pleading on its knees for people to get the shots, for they are a danger to the rest of the population as a potential COVID-19 carrier,” he said.

Until most Filipinos get the jab, “life will continue to be abnormal for about 2

to 3 years,” Duterte said.

Galvez said health officials were expected to come up with guidelines to start vaccinating individuals younger than 18 in about two weeks.

Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje also said those aged 12 to 17 years old with comorbidities may be among the first in the age group to get the vaccine, as part of the country’s A3 priority group.

Despite the revised targets, Galvez previously said the government still wanted to vaccinate 70 percent of the population by the end of 2021.

This included reaching earlier targets of vaccinating 7 out of 10 residents in Metro Manila., Calabarzon, Central Luzon, Metro Cebu, Metro Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Iloilo City, and other highrisk areas by the end of October.

During the past week, she said there was a sudden and fast decrease in the number of cases in NCR. “We’re now just reporting 4,347 cases per day, 16 percent lower than the 5,145 cases the previous week,” she said.

Based on guidelines issued by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), the DOH will determine Metro Manila’s alert level.

She said an announcement on whether Metro Manila will stay under Alert Level 4 or will deescalate to Alert Level 3 may be announced on Oct. 1.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Benhur Abalos said he was hopeful the NCR would be placed under Alert Level 3 in October, citing the decreasing reproduction rates of COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila.

The independent OCTA Research Group, meanwhile, said the COVID-19 reproduction number in the NCR rose slightly on Sunday, but stayed below 1.0.

OCTA fellow Guido David said the reproduction number, which refers to the number of people that one COVID-19 case can infect—stood at 0.98, up from 0.94 on Saturday.

“The reproduction number of 0.98 was within the error range of previous days,” David said on Twitter, adding the oneweek growth rate of cases was -15 percent.

Metro Manila reported 5,653 new cases on Sunday possibly due to back-

logs in reporting, he said.

“A single day spike does not change the overall trends we are seeing, so let’s hope the downtrend continues,” David said.

Meanwhile, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Monday said it is hoping to increase the cap for international passengers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and to open up more gateways to serve more travelers.

In an online forum, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said the proposal to raise the cap for inbound international passengers at NAIA will be presented to the IATF on Wednesday.

At present, the cap for international passengers at NAIA is at 2,000 per day from the 40,000 a day pre-pandemic.

He said if capacity is increased to 3,000 a day, they would also have to increase the gateways.

Tugade said he has already instructed the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) to coordinate with local governments on the proposal to open up regional airports that can accommodate international flights.

He added that opening up more gateways for international travelers would boost the local economy of LGUs. Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific and AirAsia earlier requested the government to increase the international capacity at NAIA to help them recover from the pandemic. Full story on manilastandard.net.

The Romualdez couple lauded Dickson Araza Laude of the RTRMF, the school that nursed and housed Yolanda victims, who scored 87.67 percent rating.

Laude’s rating was close to the identical 87.83 percent rating of topnotchers Maria Inez Sellado Benedicto of the West Visayas State University-La Paz and Jude Philip Pozon Cebrecus of the Cebu Institute of Medicine.

Yedda Romualdez, a registered nurse and the chairperson of the House committee on the welfare of children, said “the RTRMF has been a center of excellence for consistently topping” the medical exams.

“Congratulations Laude for your very noteworthy achievement, your license to heal is very significant in this time of COVID-19 pandemic.

Congratulations also to the graduates and officials of the RTRMF. Truly, the school is the center of academic excellence,” she said.

RTRMF, which just celebrated its

40th anniversary last week, obtained a 79.55 percent passing rate for PLE’s first time takers.

“Continue to soar high because your great minds would further inspire many students from different parts of the country to excel. Great job,” said Martin Romualdez, chairman of the House committee on rules and president of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats.

The Romualdezes said they expected the new doctors to give their very best as their generation had been facing the biggest health crisis – the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic.

rive by the first week of October.

“We are proposing to open the vaccination for children by mid-October, because with the supply, we can handle vaccinating 12 million people aged 12 to 17,” Galvez said.

He also recommended that children with comorbidities and children of healthcare workers should be inoculated first.

The Food and Drug Administration

earlier allowed the emergency use of the COVID-19 vaccines of Pfizer and Moderna for minors aged 12 to 17.

On Sunday, three million doses of Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines arrived in the country.

The doses were transported for packaging to the temperature-controlled supply chain facility owned by Pharmaserv Express in Marikina City upon ar-

rival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport before sending them on Monday to Southern Tagalog, Ilocos, Cagayan, Central Luzon, and other areas with high cases of COVID-19.

The doses to be deployed in Metro Manila will be used for second doses.

As of Sept. 26, the country has administered 43,815,426 doses of COVID-19 vaccines.

Association of Health Workers National President Robert Mendoza said: “We oppose the DOH’s ‘singular allowance’ proposal for the health workers’ COVID-19 benefits because it would mean the removal of our special risk allowance , active hazard duty pay and meal, accommodation and transportation benefits.”

“This scheme is indeed divisive and discriminatory,” Mendoza said.

Mendoza added the DOH’s proposal would provide only one type of benefit to health workers.

“And it will be given in different categories and different amounts, and worse, not all health workers will be given the said benefits,” he said.

AHW also criticized the DOH for its proposal to categorize the provision of COVID-19 related benefits for health workers into low risk, medium risk and high risk categories of exposure.

Health workers who are classified as having low risk COVID-19 exposure will receive P3,000; medium risk P6,000; and P9,000 for those who have high-risk exposure.

“The DOH’s proposal to categorize the risk exposure of the health workers in hospitals and health facilities is completely unacceptable because the virulent virus can infect anyone.

Our data showed many health workers assigned in non-COVID areas are getting infected due to lack of protection. So everyone in the vicinity of the hospital and health facility are all considered high risk to COVID-19. Thus, all health workers must receive equal COVID-19 benefits.”

Mendoza said.

The pilot implementation will involve a maximum of 100 public schools and 20 private schools across the country. Participation in the two-month program is voluntary.

Under guidelines approved by the Department of Health and DepEd, the class size will be a maximum of 12 learners for Kindergarten, 16 learners for Grades 1 to 3, 20 learners for senior high school, and 12 learners for senior high school in technical-vocational livelihood workshops or science laboratories.

The pilot will feature a combined implementation of face-to-face classes and distance learning.

The government has ordered that COVID-19 vaccination for teachers and school personnel be stepped up, as the country prepares to hold a pilot study of limited in-person

classes in select schools, the DOH said.

In an online press briefing, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said teachers and school personnel who would take part in the pilot implementation are now required to get inoculated against the respiratory illness.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones had said COVID-19 vaccination was not a requirement for participating school personnel but Vergeire said the policy was overturned following consultations with child health experts.

“This was agreed on by the Department of Education and the Department of Health that indeed, vaccination should be there to ensure the safety of our children,” Vergeire said. Full story on manilastandard.net.

The survey, conducted from June 23 to 26, used face-to-face interviews for 1,200 adults nationwide. The sampling error margins are ±3% for national percentages and ±6% for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao.

It asked the respondents to choose between two statements: First was that Duterte should run for Vice President in the 2022 election, because they would like his management of the government to continue. The second was that the

NBI...

From A1

Rody...

From A1

“I have ordered the procurement and supply chain office of the DOH to check if there are face shields with tampered production dates from 2020 to 2021. For those face shields that were tampered, there has to be restitution for the government as to the worth of the tampered face shields,” Duque said.

Lacson clarified the Senate committee is bent on locating, not arresting Mago, adding that the offer for protective custody could not be imposed because it was voluntary.

On Monday, lawyer Ferdie Topacio denied his client, Pharmally executive Linconn Ong, will turn state witness.

Topacio described as inaccurate reports about his client asking for an executive session.

“He’s (Ong) being pressured to testify in an executive session. In that way, I will come and see Director (Rudy) Quimbo who is the secretarygeneral of the Blue Ribbon committee to convey to him our reply on what they want to happen in the executive session,” Topacio said.

He noted that Ong did not ask for an executive session, nor will he speak in such a session with members of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee.

Before Topacio visited Ong, Lacson confirmed the Pharmally executive’s request to speak to the committee in an executive session, prompting the senators to temporarily halt his transfer to Pasay City jail. Ong is currently detained at the Senate.

Lacson said he could not understand how Topacio could take back what was on record at Friday’s hearing, when Ong asked for an executive session.

Topacio said Ong is “worried about everything” and “scared.”

“He doesn’t know what is happening,” the lawyer said of the Pharmally executive.

Earlier, Gordon said Mago may be considered a fugitive if she remains unreachable, days after admitting that her company swindled the government.

“She becomes a fugitive in my book as she refuses to face us,” Gordon said.

Gordon revealed on Sunday that his committee could no longer reach Mago.

“Flight is an indication of guilt. If she cannot be reached, she is hiding something,” Gordon said in a mix of English and Filipino.

The senator said Mago could be found in her condominium unit as of Monday. He said there is speculation about Mago being protected by “certain bodyguards” but he did not offer any other details.

Despite having a paid up capital of only P625,000, the startup Pharmally cornered P8.6 billion in government contracts through the intercession of Michael Yang, former economic adviser to President Rodrigo Duterte.

really the best defense for yourself and for your fellow men,” he said.

“Government does not instill fear.

Government can appeal. Government can talk. I now encourage you, those who have yet to receive the vaccine, to get inoculated,” the President added.

Since the government launched its vaccine drive last March 1, health officials were aiming to vaccinate about 77 million Filipinos to reach a goal of 70 percent.

But with targets now raised, vaccinating 90 percent of the country’s population would include inoculating adolescents below 18 years old, since all eligible adult Filipinos are already ac-

Full story on manilastandard.net.

Pre-registration...

From A1 National Task Force Against COVID-19 chief and vaccine czar Carlito Galvez earlier said the government will have enough vaccine supply next month given the 23.75 million doses in stock and the 20 million doses expected to ar-

Congress...

From A1 Commission on Elections (Comelec) will be compelled to extend the voter registration period, which ends on September 30.

“We hope the Comelec will use the one-month extension to ramp up voter registration and ensure that more people can vote next year because we cannot afford to disenfranchise voters,” Speaker Lord Alan Velasco said.

“The right to vote in an election is one essential part of the democratic process, and the Comelec is duty-bound to make sure that all eligible voters are able to

Magnitude 5.7 tremor jolts parts of Luzon

DOH:...

From A1 of Health’s Epidemiology Bureau, Dr. Alethea de Guzman, said Monday.

The entire country is now under moderate risk for COVID-19 infections, after a slight decrease in cases, De Guzman said. She said the dip in cases was reflected in the negative two-week growth rate over the last few days.

But given the current numbers, she said, the National Capital Region (NCR) may remain under Alert Level 4.

She said the metrics and numbers will continuously be reviewed.

“It’s important that we have the correct and accurate data to allow us to give the right recommendations,” De Guzman added.

She said experts will continue to study the data to determine the region’s new status for October.

Based on the DOH’s monitoring, new cases in the region dropped by 13 percent over the past two weeks, but the average daily attack rate is 33.98 cases per 100,000 population and ICU utilization is at a high 76.22 percent, putting the NCR at a high risk for COVID-19.

Metro Manila’s COVID-19 bed utilization is at moderate risk at 63 percent.

Still, De Guzman noted a decrease in Metro Manila’s number of average new daily COVID-19 cases.

Romualdezes...

From A1

register and exercise their right of suffrage,” Velasco said.

Comelec said there are already about 61 million registered voters as of September 21, 2021.

However, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that there are 73 million voters who are qualified to participate in the May 2022 polls.

Comelec Chairman Sheriff Abas earlier rejected the request of lawmakers to extend the registration until the 31st of October as it will allegedly delay the election timeline.

Instead, Abas proposed to extend the period of registration only for first time voters and only for a week after the filling of the certificates of candidacy.

Only...

From A1 Masapol said teachers must also be below 65 years old and have no comorbidities.

In a statement, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said while vaccination is not mandatory, classroom learning will be limited to vaccinated teaching personnel.

“So as not to disenfranchise unvaccinated teachers, they may teach using distance or online modules. This also presents options for parents who are still hesitant to send their children to school,” Duque said.

The DOH said it would accelerate the vaccine rollout covering both public and private school teachers and non-teaching personnel.

By Rio N. Araja A STRONG earthquake shook Luzon Monday, but there were no immediate reports of damage, the US Geological Survey and local officials said.

The deep 5.7-magnitude quake, of tectonic origin, struck off Batangas province, south of Metro Manila, at 1:12 am, with residents in the nearby capital of Manila woken by their buildings shaking.

The quake was recorded at a depth of 98 kilometers, the USGS said. The local seismological agency warned of damage and aftershocks.

According to the theory, a tectonic earthquake occurs when strains in rock masses have accumulated to a point where the resulting stresses exceed the strength of the rocks, and sudden fracturing results.

Deep quakes tend to do less damage than shallow tremors.

Earthquakes, experts say, are caused by a sudden fracture of rock masses along a fault line.

But authorities near the epicenter said they had not received any reports of damage.

“It was really strong,” said Jose Clyde Yayong, a disaster officer in Tagaytay City in Cavite.

“So far there are no untoward incidents relating to the earthquake.”

Leonardo Tristan, a disaster officer in Looc town on Occidental Mindoro island, said the force of the quake sent some residents rushing outside.

“My wife was shouting ‘there’s an earthquake!’” Tristan told the news agency Agence France-Presse.

The Philippines is regularly rocked by quakes due to its location on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an arc of intense seismic activity that stretches from Japan through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific basin. With AFP

Health...

From A1

News

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2021 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Freeze order served on 173 assets of two drug suspects

Chief Justice bares 5-year reform plan

By Rey E. Requejo CHIEF Justice Alexander Gesmundo has laid down his reform agenda under the so-called “Five-Year Program for the Judiciary”—with two items focused on case decongestion and technology-driven judiciary.

Speaking as the guest of honor at the online celebration of the 60th Founding Anniversary of the Philippine Constitution Association on Sunday, Gesmundo said case decongestion and modernization of the judiciary could speed up the resolution of cases from the 15-bench down to the lower courts.

“Even if some of the petitions are not given due course for being either procedurally or substantially flawed, they are given time— studied, discussed, and voted upon by the Court—before being denied or dismissed outright in a minute resolution. For this reason and many others, the docket of the Supreme Court has reached a record high 34 years into this Constitution,” the Chief Magistrate said.

The SC, he said, has amended its internal rules to comply with the constitutional mandate of resolving cases within two years.

Gesmundo also underscored the importance of selecting competent judges.

“The majesty of the Court is in the integrity of its magistrates and the wisdom of their decisions—they, ever mindful of the impact these decisions have not only on the parties involved but also on society and the country,in general. The majesty of the Court lies in its devotion to render justice expeditiously, without fear or favor,” the said.

Toward this end, the Judicial and Bar Council has required non-judge applicants to undergo and pass the Pre-Judicature Program of the Philippine Judicial Academy (PhilJA) to determine their readiness and suitability for the position.

The Chief Justice cited the creation of the Judicial Integrity Board (JIB), which has the exclusive jurisdiction to investigate judicial misconduct and recommend appropriate sanctions when proper.

MMDA gives flu vax to 700 elderly staff

By Joel E. Zurbano THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority has provided free flu vaccines to 700 elderly employees to protect them from respiratory and coronavirus diseases.

The vaccines, according to MMDA chairman Benjamin Abalos Jr., came from the Department of Health.

Abalos said getting the flu vaccine is very important to help prevent hospitalizations and protect the vulnerable group from getting sick.

“Our employees’ health and welfare are our priority. Through this vaccination drive, we can further boost the immunity of our elderly employees, especially those who are working in the field, which makes them more exposed to viruses,” he said.

The trivalent flu shots cover three influenza strains, namely the two influenza A strains or H1N1 and H3N2, and influenza B. In April, the MMDA started administering COVID-19 jabs to its senior citizen employees who belong to the A2 priority group set by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Abalos reiterated his call to MMDA employees to continue observing minimum health standards including wearing of face shields and face masks, frequent handwashing, and maintaining physical and social distancing.

A3

By Joel E. Zurbano and Rio Araja

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency director Wilkins Villanueva and Anti-Money Laundering Council executive director Mel Georgie Racela lead the posting of a notice of freeze order against the assets of two suspects involved in the P1.8 billion worth shabu shipment seized in 2019 at Manila North Harbor. Manny Palmero

PNPA director sacked following hazing death P

By Rio N. Araja and Macon Ramos-Araneta

HILIPPINE National Police chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar has designated Maj. Gen. Alex Sampaga as the new director of the PNP Academy (PNPA) following the death of another cadet last week.

Sampaga will replace Maj. Gen. Rhoderick Armamento effective Sept. 29.

“As a PNPA alumnus himself, I expect Maj. Gen. Sampaga to bring in innovative ideas and fresh perspective that would effectively implement the necessary adjustments in further improving the institution for each cadet to live up to its core values of Justice, Integrity and Service,” Eleazar said in a video message Monday.

Eleazar personally visited Sunday the wake of PNPA cadet George Karl Magsayo, who reportedly died of hazing-related injuries, at the PNPA compound in Silang, Cavite.

“I am disheartened that the very insti-

tution which he considered as a second home and fully trusted for protection, for learning, and for honing of skills to be an officer of the law in the future had failed him,” Eleazar said.

“This method of inflicting physical pain and other twisted concepts of instituting discipline and imposing punishment on cadets must stop, and it starts now,” he added.

Eleazar said a criminal case would be filed against Cadet 2nd Class Steven Ceasar Maingat in connection with the death of Magsayo. A separate administrative case would be filed against Maingat, which Eleazar said would assure his dis-

missal from the PNPA. The Commission on Human Rights on Monday stepped into the investigation and launched its own probe.

“CHR is deeply concerned with the death of Third Class Cadet George Carl Magsayo after allegedly being repeatedly punched by his upperclassman in the PNPA. CHR Region IV-A is now conducting an independent probe to ensure justice for Magsayo and to ascertain that preventive measures are taken that will protect young cadets from suffering the same fate,” CHR spokesperson Jacqueline Ann de Guia said.

“It is strongly condemnable that another tragic death happened due to violence within an institution where young people are supposed to build their dreams, acquire skills, and develop their character.

This incident glaringly deviates from the values of justice, integrity, and service that the institution espouses,” she added.

Pending bill to benefit 1.67m small rice farmers—Villar

By Macon Ramos-Araneta MORE than 1.673 million small rice farmers would benefit once President Rodrigo Duterte signs into law the Cash Assistance to Filipino Rice Farmers Act. “I strongly believe that our farmers need more support and assistance to cope up with the several challenges, especially now that we are in a pandemic, and their health is also at risk,” Senator Cynthia Villar said.

Villar, chairperson of the Senate agriculture and food committee, said the Cash Assistance for Filipino Rice Farmers Act of 2020 proposes that any amount in excess of the P10 billion Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) collection by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) shall automatically be given as cash assistance to rice farmers who are tilling two hectares or less of rice land.

Data from the Registry System of Basic Sectors (RSBSA) showed this would cover some 1.673 million small rice farmers.

Villar said the country’s rice farmers are continuously facing many challenges brought about by the liberalization of rice importation in 2019, the series of destructive typhoons that hit their farms, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Any amount we give to our farmers will be a big help to augment their income and improve their poor living conditions,” she said.

According to Villar, excess collection already allocated as cash assistance to in 2019 amounting to P2.135 billion rice farmers under the General Approand the P5.408 billion in 2020 were priations Act of 2021.

MORNING RUSH.

Commuters with umbrellas line up along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City on Monday, September 27, 2021.

Light rainfall greeted the first working day of the week, with a forecast of partly cloudy to cloudy skies in Metro Manila for the rest of the day. Joey Razon

NPA arms cache seized in Gapan

By Jess Malabanan

RIVER SEEDING. The local government of Iloilo City releases more than 2,386 Bulgan fingerlings at the Iloilo River.

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga—Police and military troopers stumbled upon a cache of explosives and other supplies that appeared to have been abandoned by communist rebels in a remote village in Gapan, Nueva Ecija over the weekend.

Police Col. Fritz Macariola, commander of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 3 (RMFB3), said the items were discovered by troops on combat patrol at the mountains of Gapan City.

“Our units tracked down the former NPA camp with the help of a rebel returnee who led us to the place,” said Macariola.

He said policemen and military from the 84th Infantry Battalion dug up 25 kilos of rice, four containers of gasoline, two pieces of nine volt batteries, 10 pieces of blasting caps, four electric blasting caps, a timing fuse, two pieces of toggle switch, a 60 mm mortar, and materials used to make improvised landmines.

The items were placed under the custody of the RMFB3 for safekeeping.

“Our campaign against insurgency will continue despite the threat of the coronavirus,” Macariola said.

AUTHORITIES on Monday served a freeze order on the bank and credit accounts, insurance policies, real properties, and motor vehicles of suspected drug personalities in connection with the P1.8 billion worth of shabu seized in 2019 at Manila North Harbor.

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency director general Wilkins Villanueva said the Court of Appeals 5th Division issued a resolution granting the petition for the issuance of a freeze order against the assets of Julie Hao Gamboa, alias Kimberly, and spouses Ruben and Teresita Taguba.

The freeze order covers 173 bank and credit accounts, insurance policies, 17 properties, and five motor vehicles of the said individuals.

Officials from PDEA, Anti-Money Laundering Council, and the Bureau of Customs led by Villanueva and AMLC executive director Mel Georgie Racela posted notices of freeze order on two of the suspects’ real properties which has a conservative market value of more or less P70 million in Quezon City.

Customs Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Group Raniel Ramiro said the case is in connection with the seizure of P1.8 billion worth of shabu on March 22, 2019 at the Manila International Container Port.

Combined operatives of PDEA Intelligence and Investigation Service (IIS), PDEA Regional Office-National Capital Region (RO-NCR), and BOC intercepted a total of 276 kilograms of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu, which were concealed in tea packs and came from a shipment originating from Vietnam.

“Our anti-illegal drugs operations have been successful in intercepting several high-profile cases recently. We assure the public that we are doing our best to protect our borders and secure the country from the entry of illegal drugs,” Ramiro said.

“Since the bureau is at the helm of the country’s border security, we’ve been working extensively with the MICP against illegal smuggling in our ports,” he added.

On May 31, 2019, PDEA filed a criminal complaint before the Department of Justice against Xu Zhi Jian, alias Jacky Co, a Chinese national, and 16 others for the shabu shipment.

Xu Zhi Jian, owner of the shipment, has no registered businesses and properties under his name, but managed 70 bank accounts that transacted hundreds of millions of pesos from 2004 to 2019, including transactions with entities that are the subject of separate drug-related civil forfeiture cases.

“The posting of preservation orders on the two properties sends a strong message to potential drug money launderers that despite the challenges brought about by the pandemic, the PDEA, AMLC and BOC continue to intensify efforts against personalities belonging to the upper echelon of the drug trade,” Villanueva said.

“We will be closely working together to track down the trail of drug money, arrest and forfeit the assets of drug money launderers,” the PDEA chief added.

Pangilinan hits smuggled carrots flooding markets SENATOR Francis Pangilinan yesterday expressed alarm over the reported sale of smuggled carrots from China in Benguet.

“The government should investigate this since our farmers will be put in a pitiful situation as the already lost income due to lockdown,” Pangilinan said.

He called on the government, in particular the Department of Agriculture, to investigate the alleged sale of smuggled carrots.

“The program ‘buy local’ program will be a huge help to revive our economy and boost our farmers’ earnings,” Pangilinan said.

The Benguet Farmers Cooperative on Friday disclosed that carrots from China were competing with the produce from the province.

“Right now, it is very rampant. Almost every market has smuggled or imported carrots,” said cooperative head Agot Balanoy.

“We call them smuggled because according to the Bureau of Plant Industry, they did not approve any permit that will allow imported vegetables. Therefore, it must be smuggled,” Balanoy said.

Pangilinan said smuggled produce endangers local food products amid the threat of new pests and diseases, noting that cocolisap and African swine fever both came from items brought into the country from abroad. Macon Ramos-Araneta

Hugpong-Sara movement growing in Pangasinan

By Maricel V. Cruz A CONGRESSIONAL leader on Monday expressed elation over the overwhelming and growing support to the citizen’s movement that was formed to urge Davao City Mayor Sara DuterteCarpio to run for president in 2022.

Deputy Speaker Bernadette Herrera, spokesperson of Hugpong Para Kay Sara, said “continuously and simultaneously a lot are joining the movement.”

“We have actually covered all provinces oath taking na lang of all their coordinators and leaders,” Herrera, of Bagong Henerasyon party-list, said.

Herrera made the statement as over a hundred officials and volunteers participating in a mass oath-taking of the Hugpong Para Kay Sara Pangasinan chapter at the WCC Aeronautical and Technological College last Saturday.

In an apparent show of force aimed at convincing the reluctant presidential poll frontrunner to change her mind, supporters of the local HPS chapter from the 44 municipalities and four cities of Pangasinan took turns pledging allegiance to the movement’s vision to continue the successful programs of President Rodrigo R. Duterte, as well as to future developmental endeavors of Mayor Duterte-Carpio.

The presidential daughter declared the other week that she would not consider the presidency after her father accepted his nomination as vice presidential candidate of PDP-Laban.

Duterte-Carpio cited an agreement in their family that only one of them can run for a national post in next year’s elections.

The mass oath-taking was led by newly-inducted HPS Pangasinan chapter officials Bayambang mayor Cezar T. Quiambao, president; Binalonan mayor Ramon Guico, Jr., VP for finance; Vici Ventanilla, VP for operations; Von Mark Mendoza, VP for external affairs; and Darwina Sampang, secretary and spokesperson.

QC’s Joy urges report on abuses vs. women, kids

By Rio N. Araja AMID a reported increase in the cases of domestic violence and rape against women and children, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte on Monday urged victims of abuses to surface and report such abuses.

She called on the QCitizens to seek help through the city’s protection center hotline 122, barangays, women’s desks of the Quezon City Police District, and Gender and Development office that would closely monitor and act swiftly on calls and reports pertaining to violence against women and children (VAWC), and other gender-based incidents.

“The increase in the number of cases of abuse has been alarming. We cannot allow this to happen, and we need an immediate action. We consider home as a safe space, and therefore we have to ensure the safety of the people against violence,” Belmonte said.

“What is important is that we have sent a strong signal that the victims have someone to turn to and to defend them,” she said.

The mayor said the city government, along with the police, is set to launch a unified information management system to facilitate the monitoring and hasten the investigation of VAWC cases.

“We cannot let any QCitizen suffer from gender-based violence in Quezon City, especially during the pandemic,” she stressed.

In a Quezon City Peace and Order Council meeting, QCPD director Antonio Yarra reported a 66.67 percent increase in VAWC cases and a 21.54 percent increase in rape cases for the first eight months of 2021 compared to the same period last year.

A4

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2021

News

Aksyon members swell to 600, most from Visayas, Mindanao Local leaders A queue to sign KSYON Demokratiko, the party backing Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Domagoso for President, will be fielding at least 600 national and local candidates in the 2022 elections after its membership swelled by 300 percent, its top official said.

Aksyon Demokratiko has issued “easily more than 500 to 600” Certificates of Nomination and Acceptance (CONA), a requirement for candidates running under a political party, for the upcoming polls, Aksyon chairman Ernest Ramel Jr. told ABS-CBN News.

“We have a lot of CONAs issued to Visayas candidates and candidates from Mindanao,” he said.

“However, the problem is they cannot go here for the physical oath taking.

What we’re looking at is a possibility of traveling to their areas and do the oath right there. That is just a possibility right now,” he said.

In 2016, Aksyon Demokratiko only had 400 members nationwide and “that number was further reduced before the 2019 midterm elections,” Ramel said.

But Aksyon began getting inquiries about membership again after Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto, the party’s executive vice president, won the mayoralty race, ending the decades-long reign of the Eusebio dynasty, he said.

As of Sept. 27, about 50 government officials from across Luzon took their oaths before party president Domagoso

PROMDI’S BET. Senator Manny Pacquiao (second from left) is formally nominated for his presidential bid by the national

political party PROMDI (Progressive Movement for the Devolution of Initiatives) founded by former Cebu Governor Lito Osmeña during the kickoff ceremony at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Cebu City. According to Osmeña’s son Mimo, they chose Pacquiao because the boxing legend turned senator represents the dreams and aspirations of all “promdis”. Lino Santos

Trillanes: If VP Robredo not running for president, I will

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Antonio Trillanes IV on Monday stressed he will join the presidential race if Vice President Leni Robredo will not run for president in 2022.

To date, Trillanes said they are pushing for Robredo to be the standard bearer of the opposition in next year’s elections.

Robredo, the highest elected official of the opposition, has remained mum about vying for the presidency or seeking a local position in her home province of Camarines Sur. According to Robredo, she still has until October 8 to decide on her political plans.

Meanwhile, over 220 delegates

from Liberal Party chapters from all over the nation attended its online General Assembly to plan for the 2022 elections and engage in a consensus-building exercise for the party’s platform.

Robredo is the current chairman of the Liberal Party, which ruled during the previous administration of the late President Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Aquino III. In the assembly, the delegates presented resolutions on the party’s stand on economy, human rights, justice system, pandemic response, and poverty alleviation among others.

The draft resolutions will be endorsed in the party’s National Executive Coun-

cil Meeting today, Sept. 28.

According to Trillanes, if the Vice President does not declare her own bid by noon of the last day of filing of candidacies, he will file his candidacy for president.

If she does, Trillanes guaranteed that he and his Magdalo party will rally behind Robredo and make sure she wins the presidency.

“Our push for VP Leni to run for President continues. If she pushes through, let us make her win. But if she does not decide by 12 noon of Oct. 8, I will push through for the presidency. We will not let the true opposition lose without a fight,” said Trillanes.

with BBM’s Federal party

By Rey E. Requejo WITH only a week before the start of the filing of certificates of candidacy for the 2022 elections, local and national political leaders are queuing up for their membership in Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) of which former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. is expected to join them soon.

On September 18, the PFP concluded its national convention, which approved unanimously to defer the election of its chairman because such a position was reserved for the former senator.

Partido Federal’s hybrid virtual convention also endorsed Marcos, who is fondly called “BBM,” as its “Best Bet Mo” for the presidency in next year’s local and national elections.

“When the candidates found out that BBM had a place in the Federal as chairman and the party’s opposition to the presidency, many wanted to join, so the registrants flocked,” PFP secretary general Tom Lantion revealed.

Lantion said local political bigwigs around the country have started registering for their membership and oath-takings are scheduled one group after the other.

“Our party secretariat is very busy now with the membership documentation of bigshots from the so-called Solid North down to their alliances in Metro Manila, Visayan islands and Mindanao,” he added.

Over a dozen local officials and well-known political personalities led by former Rep. Mat Defensor of the Third District of Quezon City have sworn allegiance to PFP during oath-taking rights for new members administered by Lantion recently via Zoom at Annabel’s Restaurant in Tomas Morato.

Aside from Defensor, executives from Valenzuela City, Quezon City, Cavite, Batangas, Batanes, Masbate and Zamboanga took their oath to follow PFP’s vision.

They included Balud, Masbate Mayor Marilie Lim and her full slate - Vice Mayor Ruben Jude Lim and council members Melissa Aninang, Real Bajande, Roque Dela Cruz, Salvador Delfin, Jr., Geilord Macuha, Jinky Nuevo, Serafin Sese, Jr., and Paulino Tacurda.

BARMM solon proposes Lanao del Sur capacity upgrade for 6 gov’t hospitals

OATH TAKING. Samira Gutoc Tomawis and radio show host Carl Balita take their

oaths as senatorial bets and new members of Aksyon Demokratiko with more than 60 local officials from different cities and provinces before party president and Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso at Plaza Lawton, Manila, on Monday.

Norman Cruz

‘UP Security Bill will create safe haven for criminals and terrorists’ ONLY criminals and terrorists will benefit from House Bill (HB) 10171 or the University of the Philippines (UP) Security Act, while its students, faculty, residents, and business owners will be left unprotected.

Associate Provincial Prosecutor and National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) Region VI task force spokesperson Flosemer Chris Gonzales said in Monday’s virtual press conference that HB 10171 is unconstitutional and only serves a few people.

Gonzales said the bill, which would prohibit the right of the state to exercise police authority under Article II, Section 5

as Aksyon continues to consolidate local support days before the filing of candidacies for next year’s elections.

Most of these new members are incumbent officials from Luzon who are seeking to challenge administrationbacked candidates in their respective bailiwicks, and 23 Luzon leaders joined Aksyon Demokratiko after Domagoso confirmed his 2022 bid “There will be more officials who are joining whether they are part of the party officially or not,” Ramel said.

“I think at the start, there were people who were joining, the younger ones, because of Mayor Vico, but when Mayor Isko came in, there were a lot of people who expressed interest in joining and eventually there were more after we elected him as party president and after he declared his plan to run for chief executive,” he added.

of the Philippine Constitution, is “absurd.”

He said it will only provide a safe haven for wanted criminals and terrorists such as the Communist Party of the PhilippinesNew People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) in the guise of academic freedom.

“If we read the contents (provisions) of the bill, it appears winawala ang security ng UP. So very ironic. The title is UP Security Bill pero pagbinasa natin yun laman ay tinatanggalan ng seguridad ng mga taga-UP mismo, lalo na yung mga kabataan yun mga estudyante,” Gonzales emphasized.

“Dahil ang nilalaman ng Bill ay all pro-

hibition referring to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) and other law enforcement officers Para bang sinasabi natin pag-pumasok ka sa lahat ng UP campuses, the AFP and PNP officers are at the mercy of the UP administration,” he said.

“Kapag gumagawa kasi tayo ng batas, ang tanong lagi nating ay who benefits from the law? Etong House Bill 10171, the government will definitely not benefit from this. Etong mga students will not benefit from this. So, who will really benefit from this? The law breakers. Yung mga nagvaviolate ng batas,” the prosecutor said.

DR. SAFRULLAH M. Dipatuan, Bangsamoro Transition Authority Member of Parliament and Committee on Health Chairperson, has presented Parliament Bill 102, a bill he principally authored proposing the upgrading of Balindong Municipal Hospital in Lanao del Sur before the BTA plenary.

Parliament bill 102 aims to upgrade the existing Balindong Municipal Hospital in Bindayan, Lanao del Sur from its present 10bed capacity to a 50-bed capacity district hospital since most hospitals in BARMM had reached their capacity limit due to the continuous rise of COVID-19 cases.

“It is my dream to modernize all hospitals under BARMM,” said Dipatuan during the legislative session.

To date, Dipatuan had authored and proposed more than 40 bills and resolutions aimed at strengthening BARMM’s health system capacity, infrastructure, and policies.

In a statement, Dipatuan provided a list of other proposed hospital upgrades that he had principally filed for further legislative action: • Proposed Bill No. 75- An Act Upgrading the Existing Dr. Serapio B. Montaner Al-Haj Memorial Hospital in Lanao Del Sur from its Present Level I with 25 Bed-Capacity into Level II with 100 Bed-Capacity and Appropriating Funds therefor and for Other Purposes.

• Proposed Bill No. 79- An Act Upgrading the Existing Wao District Hospital in Lanao Del Sur from its Present Level 1 With 25 Bed-Capacity into Level 2 With 100 Bed-Capacity and Appropriating Funds therefor and for Other Purposes.

• Proposed Bill No. 102- An Act Upgrading the Existing Balindong Municipal Hospital in Lanao Del Sur from its Present Level I with 10 Bed-Capacity into Level 2 With Fifty Bed Capacity and Appropriating Funds therefor and for Other Purposes.

LISTUP AID. A woman

volunteers to fill out the registration form of a senior citizen after she forgets to bring her reading glasses at the Comelec registration site in Robinson’s in Pandacan Manila on Monday.

Danny Pata

Opinion Illegal drugs smuggled through the BOC express lane me only the gullible will believe the supposition that top officials actually do not know about their men’s lucrative rackets.

Unfortunately, the loss of revenues billions of pesos in uncollected tariffs on imports is not only the problem the “tara express-lane” presents.

BoC insiders have it that international illegal drugs traffickers and gunrunners have been using the Port of Manila “tara express-lane” to smuggle in their contraband goods.

Sources in the law enforcement agencies say it was through the same modus that billions of pesos worth of crystal meth or “shabu” were seized in a series of raids recently.

Authorities said the shabu valued at almost P5 billion could not have been smuggled any other way than through BoC until they were found in Zambales and Cavite provinces.

A contingent from BoC joined the Philippine National Police, Philippine Drugs Enforcement Agency and the Armed Forces in the operations where four Chinese nationals were killed in a resort in Candelaria, Zambales.

Not many details, however, were disclosed about the Chinese mafia and the origin of the drug shipment that ended up in northern Luzon provinces and Cavite.

President Duterte said illegal drug trafficking is as rampant as ever with shipments worth billions and billions of pesos perpetrated by international drug syndicates.

Digong, in fact, chided Guerrero last year over reports that illegal drugs smuggling continued after his predecessors were sacked one after the other in connection with shabu smuggling through the Port of Manila.

Former Customs commissioner Nick Faeldon was fired in 2017 in the wake of the smuggling into the country of P6.4 billion worth of shabu contained in several metal cylinders.

Former BoC chief Isidro Lapeña who replaced Faeldon similarly screwed up when shabu contained in big magnetic lifters and valued at P11 billion passed through customs and went missing.

I tried to get hold of Commissioner Guerrero for comment on the issue but the BoC chief was unavailable.

Perhaps, the President would like to take a look-see at Port of Manila’s “tara express-lane” for illegal drugs, among other hot items.

THE “ber” months have begun with September which signals the good tidings of Christmas for some people like those unscrupulous employees at the Port of Manila, South Harbor.

I remember it was in early September last year when we called out Bureau of Customs (BoC) Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero about the “tara” or “tong collection” by some of his men who targeted imported general merchandise.

I refuse to believe that Guerrero, who has kept his post longer than his two predecessors in Aduana, actually tolerates the continuing corrupt practice.

I was trying to reach Customs Commissioner Guerrero, but he was unavailable.

But I wonder: How can the former Armed Forces chief not know what the hooligans are doing just outside his office building?

How can he not notice the way some BoC officials exude the prosperity of the yuletide season this early, amid the COVID-19 pandemic and massive poverty in the country?

Customs insiders disclosed the resurgence of an old modus: Brokers and importers have been paying P4,000 for every 40-footer container and P2,500 for each 20-footer container for a “hassle-free” and quick processing of their containers.

Some 5,000 containers pass through customs in South Harbor each day so we’re talking about tens of millions of pesos per day.

Under this “tara” arrangement, the BoC personnel no longer open and inspect the containers and, therefore, importers get to pay drastically lower taxes despite the high value goods contained in them.

Some old hands at the waterfront told

We need foreign investment ONE big problem of the country amid the COVID-19 pandemic is joblessness with the imposition of restrictive health protocols which limit the activities of small and big businesses. They create a lot of joblessness, which in turn worsens poverty nationwide.

According to the latest statistics, we now have 5 million to 6 million of jobless adult Filipinos, my gulay! That’s a lot of people who are getting hungry. Unless something is done, the increasing number of people going hungry nationwide can create problems like more crimes that can affect national security.

Santa Banana, considering the fact that COVID-19 health crisis won’t go away for more years yet to come, there have been numerous proposals to ease joblessness!

Among them is to attract more foreign investments to create more jobs. But, the problem is that our Constitution has adopted a very restrictive and repressive policy to limit foreign investments to 40 percent under the 60-40 provision.

There is an urgent need to amend the Constitution, but calling a convention to amend the 1987 charter and what mode presents a big problem. It is for this reason why the Senate has deemed it necessary and even critical to amend the Public Service Act to open up for a start on two sectors of the economy, specifically the transportation and telecommunication sectors, to facilitate the entry and infusion of much-needed foreign investments.

I have been to many of the foreign trips of Presidents, like Fidel V. Ramos, Erap Estrada and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, and foreign businessmen continue to deplore the prohibitive and restrictive 60-40 mandate of the Constitution. And this is the reason why among Southeast Asian countries, the Philippines continues to be at the bottom of the totem pole when it comes to foreign investment. Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and my gulay, even Laos and Cambodia have opened their countries to foreign investment.

The last group of businessmen that have been pressing for a start to attract foreign investments are the Foundation for Economic Freedom, the Makati Business Club and the

UP School of Economic Alumni Association. My gulay, foreign chambers of commerce have also been urging the government to do away with that restrictive and prohibitive policy in the Constitution.

I would like to quote portions of the resolution of business groups. This was passed on to me by my good friend, former Finance Secretary Gary Teves: “We, the undersigned, express our strong support for the liberalization of the Philippine economy through the passage of the amendments to the Public Service Act. We believe that this is the most consequential piece of legislation towards maximizing opportunities to attract foreign investments to create jobs and build the infrastructure for economic recovery and growth as the country struggles against the effects of the pandemic.

We need capital that would translate to jobs.

“The intention of the amendments to the Public Service Act is to open key sectors of the economy, specifically the transportation and telecommunications sectors to facilitate the infusion of much-needed foreign investment. Any moves to retain the 60-40 foreign equity restrictions and add legislative franchise requirements where none existed prior to the Act, will thwart the intention of the bill and the positive impact that can bring to the business community and consumers.

“Furthermore, a main objective of the amendments to the Public Service Act is to define public utilities. A key criteria in the proposed definition is that public utilities must be natural monopolies. Both transportation and telecommunications companies that operate are not natural monopolies.

There are numerous transportation companies and three telecommunications companies that operate viably in the country. We caution the Senate against including favored subsectors under the public utilities definition in order to protect them from competition. It is crucial to apply the propos definition consistently in identifying the sectors that should be considered public utilities to maintain the internal integrity of the bill.

ManilaStandard

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

ONLINE

can be accessed at: manilastandard.net

MEMBER

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2021

B1

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

T

Just stop it HERE was a time when President Duterte, addressing those in his government that were corrupt, would say, “Just stop it.”

It is time for him to heed his own advice, when it comes to attacking the Senate for uncovering corrupt practices in the government’s procurement of emergency medical supplies during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Contrary to what he or his advisers may think, he is scoring no points for digging up a two-decades- old allegation against Senator Richard Gordon, the chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee that is investigating the questionable purchases of pandemic supplies by the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM). He looked even worse when he said he would ask the Office of the Ombudsman to look into it—a threat to use government resources to go after his political enemies.

He also came across as petty and petulant when he took cheap shots at Gordon’s heft and Senator Panfilo Lacson’s hairstyle.

The President is scoring no points.

Finally, the President scored no points for loyalty when he admitted to appointing Lloyd Christopher Lao, a volunteer election lawyer during Mr. Duterte’s 2016 presidential campaign, to head the PS-DBM out of a sense of gratitude. It was Mr. Lao who later bought P8 billion worth of overpriced face masks, face shields and personal protective equipment (PPE) from a small startup, Pharmally Pharmaceuticals Corp., which was backed by the President’s friend and one-time economic adviser, Michael Yang, a Chinese businessman from Davao City.

Now, thanks to the Senate Blue Rib-

bon hearings, we have learned that not only were the goods sold by Pharmally overpriced, some of them had been tampered with to change the production dates to meet government requirements. Pharmally, we are learning, not only gouged the Filipino people, they swindled us by selling us shoddy goods.

With their unspeakable profits, executives of this company bought themselves a Lamborghini, Porches, and a Lexus sports utility vehicle—all while tens of thousands of poor Filipinos lined up to collect cash aid from the government during the pandemic.

A legitimate company would surely have reinvested their profits and plowed them back into the business, especially if it was under-capitalized, as Pharmally was. Instead, they bought luxury cars.

Against all that we are now learning, it is heartbreaking to hear the President of this nation defend his friends in Pharmally and his one-time election lawyer.

After all, he owes his loyalty first to the Filipino people, not his Davao pals. Mr. President, just stop it.

Duterte before the International Criminal Court THE Rome Statute was adopted by 120 States on 17 July 1998 to establish the International Criminal Court. This is the first time in the history of humankind that States accepted the jurisdiction of a permanent international criminal court for the prosecution of the perpetrators of the most serious crimes committed in their territories or by their nationals after the entry into force of the Rome Statute on 1 July 2002.

The International Criminal Court, however, is not a substitute for national courts.

According to the Rome Statute, it is the duty of every State to exercise its criminal jurisdiction over those responsible for international crimes. The International Criminal Court can only intervene where a State is unable or unwilling genuinely to carry out the investigation and prosecute the perpetrators.

The primary mission of the International Criminal Court is to help put an end to impunity for the perpetrators of the most serious crimes of concern to the international community as a whole, and thus to contribute to the prevention of such crimes.

What are the crimes under Article 5 of the Statute of Rome over which the ICC may exercise jurisdiction?

The jurisdiction of the ICC shall be limited to the most serious crimes of concern to the international community as a whole.

The Court has jurisdiction with respect to the following crimes: (a) The crime of genocide which means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group. (b) Crimes against humanity which means any of the following acts when committed as part of a widespread

or systematic attack directed against any civilian population, with knowledge of the attack. (c) “War crimes” which means grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, namely, any of the following acts against persons or property protected under the provisions of the relevant Geneva Convention and other serious violations of the laws and customs applicable in international armed conflict, within the established framework of international law. In the case of an armed conflict not of an international character, serious violations of article 3 common to the four Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, namely, any of the following acts committed against persons taking no active part in the hostilities, including members of armed forces who have laid down their arms and those placed hors de combat by sickness, wounds, detention or any other cause. And (d) “Crime of Aggression” which means the planning, preparation, initiation or execution, by a person in a position effectively to exercise control over or to direct the political or military action of a State, of an act of aggression which, by its character, gravity and scale, constitutes a manifest violation of the Charter of the United Nations.

The Court may exercise its jurisdiction with respect to a crime referred to in article 5 in accordance with the provisions of the Statute if: (a) A situation in which one or more of such crimes appears to have been committed is referred to the Prosecutor by a State Party in accordance with article 14; (b) A situation in which one or more of such crimes appears to have been committed is referred to the Prosecutor by the Security Council acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations; or (c) The Prosecutor has initiated an investigation in respect of such a crime in accordance with article 15.

What is the role of the Prosecutor under article 15 of the Rome Statute? The Prosecutor may initiate investigations proprio

“There is strong interest among foreign investors from various countries to invest in the Philippines. We must maximize the opportunity by sending a strong signal to the global community that the Philippines is open for business to facilitate the entry of a wider range of investors and new technologies to help the country transition to a digital economy.

“At this juncture, instead of keeping our service sector closed to foreign investments in the guise of national security, it is important for the country to carefully balance our need to attract foreign investments while protecting our national security. The proposed Senate bill incorporates safeguards that address the nature of the risk, instead of using an ownership ban as a blanket solution.

“The status quo has proven insufficient to address the needs of the country. Retaining the 60-40 foreign equity restriction will prevent the accomplishment of the intentions of the proposed reform to liberalize the Philippine economy to attract greater foreign investments, facilitate competition, fund infrastructure and improve the quality of public service in the country.”

We have seen how vital transportation is to workers and the labor sector amid all the restrictions and health protocols because of the inadequacy of transportation when people have to walk for miles to go to work and for them to wait hours on end to wait for transportation.

The three telecommunications firms

-- PLDT-Smart, Globe and Dito can stand foreign competition. But, more importantly, since we are in the age of digital technology, there is a need for foreign technology.

And I know how inadequate our Internet is.

This Senate bill to seek amendments to the Public Service Act is not only needed, but extremely critical and urgent if the country must claim to belong to the community of nations.

The proposed amendments to the Public Service Act, to my mind, is just the start of a new Philippines. If we have a new President next year, we should know what is needed in the country, which is the need to create jobs, which is a priority.

••• The entry of Manila Mayor Isko Moreno in the race for presidency in 2022 makes the polls more interesting. There are now five candidates to choose from. There is Sara Duterte-Carpio, who I believe is still in the race even if her father, President Duterte says he wants to be Vice President. There is also former Senator Bongbong Marcos who I think will probably slide to Vice President under Sara. If not, I think he will run on his own. Then there are Senator Ping Lacson and Senate President Tito Sotto, who are running as President and Vice President, respectively. Senator Manny Pacquiao is also there, with no Vice President yet, and I believe Vice President Leni Robredo will run if she can make a go of her efforts to unite some of the opposition candidates. But, under whom, is the question.

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

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

motu on the basis of information on crimes within the jurisdiction of the Court. It analyzes the seriousness of the information received, seeks additional information from States, organs of the United Nations, intergovernmental or nongovernmental organizations, or other reliable sources that he or she deems appropriate, and may receive written or oral testimony at the seat of the Court. And finally, it submits to the Pre-Trial Chamber a request for authorization of an investigation if upon determination there is a reasonable basis to proceed with an investigation.

The ICC can only intervene where a State is unable or unwilling genuinely to carry out the investigation and prosecute the perpetrators.

If the Pre-Trial Chamber should determine that there is a reasonable basis to proceed with an investigation, and that the case appears to fall within the jurisdiction of the Court, it shall authorize the commencement of the investigation.

The refusal of the Pre-Trial Chamber to authorize the investigation shall not preclude the presentation of a subsequent request by the Prosecutor based on new facts or evidence regarding the same situation. If, after the preliminary examination, the Prosecutor concludes that the information provided does not constitute a reasonable basis for an investigation, he or she shall inform those who provided the information. This shall not preclude the Prosecutor from considering further information submitted to him or her regarding the same situation in the light of new facts or evidence.

A few weeks ago, the Pre-Trial Chamber ordered the Prosecutor to proceed with the formal investigation in the Philippines. How it arrived at this conclusion and what future proceedings would look like will be tackled in the next few columns.

Website: tonylavina.com Facebook: deantonylavs Twitter: tonylavs

MORE OPINION ONLINE (www.manilastandard.net)

Secretary Duque’s alarming economic forecast

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Joyce Pangco Pañares

Managing Editor Associate Editors News Editor

Emil P. Jurado

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

Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

B2

World

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2021 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Germany’s Social Democrats win election amid uncertainty

F

RANKFURT—Germany braced for a period of political unpredictability Monday after the Social Democrats narrowly won a general election but faced a rival claim to power from outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative camp.

Preliminary official results showed that the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) narrowly won the vote at 25.7 percent, while Merkel’s centre-right CDU-CSU bloc sunk to a historic low of 24.1 percent.

The Green party placed third at 14.8 percent, its best result yet but still short

of expectations.

The SPD’s chancellor candidate, Finance Minister and Vice-Chancellor Olaf Scholz, said he had a clear mandate to govern.

Despite the poll drubbing, his conservative rival Armin Laschet also claimed the right to try to build the next govern-

ment – kickstarting a scramble for possible coalition partners.

For a country used to political stability after 16 years of Merkel’s steady leadership, the coming weeks and months promise to be a rocky ride.

Western allies are watching closely, aware that domestic preoccupations could blunt Germany’s role on the international stage and create a leadership vacuum in Europe.

Laschet, 60, and Scholz, 63, both said their goal was to have a new government in place before Christmas.

Citizens “want a change in govern-

ment,” said Scholz, who ran an errorfree campaign that cast him as a safe pair of hands, contrasting sharply with Laschet’s series of gaffes.

Poker game “The poker game for power begins,” wrote Der Spiegel weekly.

The Sueddeutsche newspaper said the vote revealed that “Germans longed for change, but lost their nerve a bit.”

In the fractured political landscape of the post-Merkel era, the most likely outcome will be a three-way alliance -- ending the post-war tradition of two-party coalition governments. AFP

Amtrak ‘sorry’ as train derails, kills 3; probe set WASHINGTON ― Amtrak on Sunday expressed condolences to the families of three persons killed when a train derailed the day before in northern Montana, saying it was “fully cooperating” with an investigation into the deadly incident.

“We have no words that can adequately express our sorrow for those who lost a loved one or who were hurt in this horrible event,” the US rail operator’s CEO, Bill Flynn, said in a statement.

Around 141 passengers and 16 crew members were traveling from Chicago towards the Pacific coast on Saturday afternoon when eight of the 10 cars came off the tracks at around 4:00 pm (2200 GMT), killing three people and injuring dozens more.

“We are fully cooperating with the investigation, working closely with National Transportation Safety Board, the Federal Railroad Administration, local law enforcement and response agencies,” Flynn said.

“We share the sense of urgency to understand why the accident happened; however, until the investigation is complete, we will not comment further on the accident itself.”

Rescuers rushed to evacuate everyone on board after the derailment, with Amtrak later saying local authorities had confirmed “that three people have lost their lives as a result of this accident,” adding there were also “reported injuries.”

Footage posted on social media showed people waiting by the tracks, luggage strewn next to them, with train carriages seen listing off the rails and at least one toppled onto its side. AFP

MARS ROVER. In this image released by NASA, the Perseverance Mars rover, using its WATSON camera, took this selfie over a

rock nicknamed “Rochette” where two holes can be seen where the rover used its robotic arm to drill rock core samples on September 10. The rover collected two probable samples volcanic rock, NASA announced, stressing that the presence of salt in these rocks was an indicator of favorable conditions to possibly detect traces of ancient life. AFP

San Marino votes to allow abortion in referendum ROME―The tiny state of San Marino voted Sunday to allow abortion in a historic referendum result that will bring the predominately Catholic nation in line with most of the rest of Europe.

Some 77.3 percent of voters approved a motion to allow the termination of a pregnancy up to 12 weeks.

After that, abortion would only be allowed if the mother’s life was in danger or in the case of foetal abnormalities that could harm the woman physically or psychologically.

The picturesque republic of San Marino, situated on a mountainside in the

centre of Italy, is one of the last places in Europe along with Malta, Andorra and the Vatican to have a total ban on abortion.

In traditionally Catholic Ireland, abortion was made legal in 2018, also after a referendum.

There were celebrations at Sunday’s result among members of the San Marino Women’s Union (UDS), which had initiated the referendum and campaigned for a “Yes” vote against the governing party and the Catholic Church.

“It’s a victory for all the women of San Marino, over the conservatives and

reactionaries who believe women have no rights,” UDS president Karen Pruccoli told AFP. “It’s a victory against the Catholic Church who were our opponents and tried everything to prevent this result.”

More than 35,000 people were eligible to vote in Sunday’s referendum, around one third of them based abroad.

The turnout was 41 percent, some 14,500 people.

In the absence of opinion polls, nobody had wanted to predict the result in a country where the influence of the Church remains strong. AFP

Iceland falls short of Europe’s first women-majority Althing parliament

YOUNG CADETS. Transnistrian cadets of the Suvorov military school visit an Orthodox church during the Alexander Nevsky Memorial Day in the town of Bender, Moldova. AFP

Myanmar junta pins internet blackouts on anti-coup fighters wrecking towers BANGKOK―Myanmar’s junta has denied suspending the internet in conflictwracked regions, blaming a recent spate of data blackouts on anti-coup protesters who had destroyed military-owned communications towers.

The Southeast Asian country has been in chaos since the military toppled Aung San Suu Kyi’s government in February, triggering huge democracy protests that security forces have sought to quell in bloody crackdowns.

Some in the anti-coup movement formed local “people’s defence forces” in their townships to fight back, and in recent weeks destroyed several communications towers belonging to militaryowned Mytel in western Chin state.

Reports of an internet and data blackout—particularly in regions where local defence forces and the military are locked in conflict—emerged soon after.

The junta’s foreign ministry on Saturday denied that the State Administration Council—as the military regime dubs it-

self—was responsible.

“In fact, the recent internet connections were disrupted due to the terrorist acts such as destroying of communication towers by terrorist groups,” the ministry said in a statement.

“The Ministry urged some foreign missions in Yangon to thoroughly verify information before making statements.”

Post-coup Myanmar is no stranger to internet blackouts, with the junta imposing one in the early hours of February 1 as soldiers arrested Suu Kyi and other top politicians from her National League for Democracy party.

A nationwide mobile data blackout was also imposed during the nighttime hours in the weeks following the powergrab.

On Sunday, anti-coup fighters told AFP that telecommunications services in Pinlebu, Kawlin and Wuntho townships in northern Sagaing region— where clashes with the military have been fierce—were down since the early hours of the day. AFP

REYKJAVIK―Iceland believed briefly Sunday it had become the first country in Europe to have a women-majority parliament after its election a day earlier, but a recount showed it fell short, an election official told AFP. Of the 63 seats in the Althing parliament, 30 were won by women, or 47.6 percent, following the recount in one of Iceland’s constituencies, the head of the electoral commission in the Northwest constituency, Ingi Tryggvason, said.

Earlier Sunday, projections based on final results had credited women with 33 seats, or 52 percent.

“We decided to hold a recount because the result was so close,” Tryggvason said, adding that no-one had requested the recount.

Further recounts in other parts of Iceland were not ruled out.

No European country has had more than 50 percent women lawmakers, with Sweden until now coming closest at 47 percent, according to data compiled by the World Bank.

Iceland has long been a pioneer in gender equality and women’s rights,

BORDER TREK.

Haitian migrants cross the jungle of the Darien Gap, near Acandi, Choco department, Colombia, heading to Panama, on September 26, on their way trying to reach the US. They started on foot -- and armed with machetes, lanterns and tents -- the dangerous trek of at least five days to Panama through the Darien jungle, battling snakes, steep ravines, swollen rivers, tropical downpours and criminals often linked to drug trafficking. AFP

and has topped the World Economic Forum’s ranking of most egalitarian countries for the past 12 years.

The country, which was the first to elect a woman as president in 1980, had been quick to celebrate the presumed milestone.

“I am 85, I’ve waited all my life for women to be in a majority... I am really happy,” Erdna, a Reykjavik resident, told AFP earlier.

“This is yet another example of how far we have advanced on the road to full gender equality,” Icelandic President Gudni Johannesson had told AFP. Unlike some other countries, Iceland does not have legal quotas on female representation in parliament, though some parties do require a minimum number of candidates to be women.

Around the world, five other countries currently have parliaments where women hold at least half the seats, according to the Inter-Parliamentary Union: Rwanda (61 percent), Cuba (53 percent), Nicaragua (51 percent) and Mexico and the United Arab Emirates (50 percent). AFP

Unusual UN meet ends sans talk on Taliban, Myanmar sides UNITED NATIONS—The UN General Assembly in New York ends Monday but without speeches by those in power in Afghanistan and Myanmar, one of many quirks at this year’s diplomatic marathon that saw 100 leaders defy coronavirus fears to meet in person.

The UN representative of Afghanistan’s former regime was expected to defy the Taliban with an address Monday after the group requested its new foreign minister be allowed to speak instead.

The Taliban wrote a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres last Monday requesting that Amir Khan Muttaqi be allowed to “participate.”

The letter noted that Ghulam Isaczai, Afghanistan’s UN envoy under Ashraf Ghani, who was ousted last month, “no longer represents” Afghanistan at the United Nations.

The plea was due to be considered by a committee that included the United States, Russia and China, but a UN official told AFP the meeting didn’t take place.

A diplomat said the Taliban sent their request “too late,” paving the way for Isaczai, whom the UN still recognizes as Afghanistan’s representative, to speak.

If he does take the opportunity, he could demand a strengthening of sanctions against the Taliban, as he did during a Security Council meeting on September 9.

The week of speeches was originally due to end with Afghanistan, Myanmar and Guinea, but the situation of the latter two countries also stirred up further intrigue going into the last day.

A high-level UN diplomat told AFP that “an agreement” had been reached between the United States, Russia and China preventing Myanmar’s UN ambassador—an outspoken supporter of the democracy movement who has refused junta orders to quit—from speaking. AFP

Ex-Italian minister nixes Richard Gere as migrant witness ROME―Plans for actor Richard Gere to testify against former Italian interior minister Matteo Salvini for abuse of migrants threaten to turn the case into a show trial, the far-right leader said on Sunday.

Gere—a Hollywood star known as a campaigner on Tibet and other rights issues—will testify against him in the so-called Open Arms case, according to remarks Salvini made at a political meeting that were reported by the Ansa news agency.

“If someone wants to turn the trial into a show and wants to see Richard Gere, let him go to the cinema, not to a court,” the head of the populist and nationalist League party said according to Ansa.

“I know him as an actor, but I don’t understand what kind of lessons he wants to give me,” he added, promising to ask for an autograph for his mother.

Salvini is accused of kidnapping and abuse of power in August 2019 by preventing more than 100 migrants from disembarking from a rescue ship —even as conditions on board deteriorated.

Gere had boarded the Open Arms ship to support the migrants, a visit mocked

by Salvini at the time.

Migrants were only allowed off the Open Arms vessel after six days, following an order by the prosecutor’s office.

Salvini has said he was protecting the country with his so-called “closed ports” policy, which aimed to stop people attempting the dangerous Mediterranean crossing to Italy. AFP

Business PSEi September 27, 2021

TOP GAINERS 1 2 3 4 5

EURO SOC GMA7 I OPM

LAST PRICE 1.87 0.75 15.6 1.26 0.011

CHANGE 0.25 0.09 1.54 0.12 0.001

% CHANGE 15.43% 13.64% 10.95% 10.53% 10.00%

6 7 8 9

GMAP AP ICT ABS

14.52 34.2 204 13.38

1.26 1.55 9 0.54

9.50% 4.75% 4.62% 4.21%

10

ZHI

0.199

0.008

4.19%

B3

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2021 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks end flat; Aboitiz Power up S TOCKS closed virtually flat Monday as investors kept a nervous eye on developments in the crisis at troubled Chinese property giant Evergrande as it teeters on the brink.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index added 4.73 points, or 0.07 percent, to 6,956.26 on a value turnover of P7.6 billion. Losers, however, beat gainers, 120 to 78, with 42 issues unchanged.

International Container Terminal Ser-

vices Inc. of tycoon Enrique Razon Jr., the biggest port operator, climbed 4.6 percent to P204, while Aboitiz Power Corp. of the Aboitiz Group rallied 4.8 percent to P34.20.

GMA Network Inc., the largest broad-

casting company, surged 11 percent to P15.60, while AC Energy Corp. of the Ayala Group rose 3.4 percent to P12.10.

Equity markets mostly rose in Asia on Monday following a broadly positive lead from Wall Street.Hong Kong was among the best performers on bargainbuying after suffering a blow-out last week, though traders were still none the wiser about whether Evergrande paid interest on an offshore bond that was due last Thursday.

While concerns about an economi-

cally disastrous collapse of the firm have abated for now, analysts warned there was a long way to go before markets were out of the woods.

Reports at the weekend said Chinese authorities had ordered local housing chiefs to put the company’s cash in ringfenced accounts to make sure it is used to complete construction projects.

Observers said the move showed homeowners were taking priority for the government as it tries to temper social anger. With AFP

Evergrande EV’s unit shares slump on liquidity woes

TOP LOSERS 1 2 3 4

GREEN RCI BKR EVER

LAST PRICE 2.2 0.75 0.9 0.39

CHANGE -0.26 -0.06 -0.07 -0.03

% CHANGE -10.57% -7.41% -7.22% -7.14%

5

DD

10.78

-0.8

-6.91%

6 7 8 9

APC VVT FPI VUL

0.28 14.02 0.29 1.16

-0.02 -0.98 -0.02 -0.07

-6.67% -6.53% -6.45% -5.69%

10

LMG

4.34

-0.25

-5.45%

MOST ACTIVE 1

ICT

VOLUME 2,876,830

VALUE (PHP) 583,714,440

2 3 4

ACEN MONDE CNVRG

47,737,900 22,916,700 10,255,900

571,496,296 465,113,245 388,194,125

5 6

BPI AP

4,715,640 8,806,800

380,563,767 302,402,870

7 8 9

TEL URC ALI

170,720 2,050,930 6,644,200

289,015,710 271,514,901 224,766,640

10

SM

226,980

217,927,880

Grape pickers are at work during the wine harvest in the Domaine Cheveau on September 22, 2021 in Solutre-Pouilly, on the first days of the harvest in this part of Burgundy. AFP

Burgundy’s prized vineyards reel as weather pelts harvest SOLUTRE-POUILLY, France— Heavy rains, frost, hail and disease have battered vineyards across France this year but few places were hit as hard as Burgundy, where growers are warning of the poorest harvests in memory.

“In a normal year it would be full by 9:30 am,” said Julien Cheveau as he watched workers dump grapes into a cart at the muddy edge of his field in Solutre-Pouilly, part of the famed Pouilly-Fuisse appellation.

But as the lunch break approaches, the mound of golden yellow grapes has yet to reach the top of the bin.

The very factors that make Burgundy whites and reds a favorite of wine fans—small but prestigious houses, the predominance of chardonnay grapes, relatively high altitudes—made the region particularly vulnerable to the extreme weather.

“Sometimes you can go down an entire row without even having to empty your bucket,” said Aurelie Cheveau, Julien’s sister-in-law and co-manager of their namesake vineyard.

An April cold snap struck from Bor-

deaux in the southwest to Champagne in the northeast, but in Burgundy nighttime lows plunged to minus eight Celsius (18 Fahrenheit).

And Chardonnay grapes, which make up two-thirds of Burgundy, suffered more than others from the freezing temperatures, destroying buds just as they were emerging after a mild winter.

“Eventually the vines started growing again but then we had a huge hailstorm on June 21, and all our hopes were obliterated in 15 minutes,” Cheveau said.

Then came September downpours that fostered rapid mildew growth just as ripening was at hand—she pointed with her shears to bunches of shriveled grapes, and others shot through with purple veins and covered with fine white fuzz, the hallmark of rot.

“There’s really not much left. In certain areas we’ll have losses of up to 95 percent,” she said, with estimates of 70 to 90 percent for Pouilly-Fuisse as a whole.

‘Only 35 barrels’ The rest of Burgundy was also hit with losses far exceeding the 30 percent forecast for French vineyards overall.

“I’ve lost 75 to 80 percent here,” said Ludivine Griveau, director of the storied Hospices de Beaune, amid half-filled crates of pinot noir from the renowned slopes of Corton.

She said she’ll be lucky if losses are kept to 50 percent at the rest of the 60 hectares that abut the historic hospital, whose wines include Pommard and Echezeaux appellations.

“This year I only ordered 35 barrels, usually it’s 120 to 150,” Griveau said.

Even if the quality of the surviving vintages remains stellar, price hikes spurred by rarity are unlikely to make up for the lower output.

That could put the squeeze on Burgundy houses in particular, since most are smaller operations—the average vineyard is just six and a half hectares (16 acres).

That means they don’t have the extensive domains and financial stamina of bigger producers found elsewhere in France.

“These yields are historically low,” said Francois Labet, president of the Burgundy Wine Bureau, estimating overall losses at 30 to 50 percent. AFP

BEIJING, China―Shares in debtladen Evergrande’s e-vehicle unit slumped by more than 10 per cent Monday after the firm scrapped a proposed Shanghai listing, and with the property developer mired in a liquidity crisis.

Evergrande is struggling with more than $300 billion of debt from a yearslong acquisition binge, including into electric vehicles once billed as a rival to Elon Musk’s dominant Tesla brand.

There are fears any defaults on tens of millions of dollars of interest payments could spark a chaotic implosion of the firm, China’s second-largest developer, with major repercussions for the domestic economy and the rest of the world.

Shares in Evergrande New Energy Vehicle, also known as Evergrande Auto, fell to HK$1.95 in early trading in Hong Kong Monday, after it scrapped the planned Shanghai listing via a Sunday stock exchange filing.

In a separate exchange filing late Friday, Evergrande NEV said its parent company’s cash crisis would have a “material adverse impact” on production.

The firm warned of a “serious shortage of funds” which forced it to suspend “paying some of its operating expenses and some suppliers.”

It admitted “there is no guarantee that the Group will be able to meet its financial obligations under the relevant contracts,” as it looks for strategic investors.

The car unit’s share price has lost 80 per cent of its value since February this year.

Evergrande’s travails have spooked global markets and raised fears of a tightening of Chinese consumer confidence, which could quickly seep into everything from home buying to demand for steel as well as the appetite for luxury goods.

As the debt crisis threatened to overwhelm the company last week, Evergrande agreed a last-minute deal with domestic bondholders that would avoid default on one bond payment. AFP

Manila

Standard

Rekindling ties after the pandemic HAVE you noticed that our interaction with colleagues vastly diminished during these long months in quarantine? Many of us who have been working from home since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic have not seen each other in the flesh for 18 months now.

The online apps we use to conduct virtual meetings provide a poor substitute for physical presence. We prefer not to show up on cam and simply hide behind empty black boxes on the screen.

Those who report physically at the office also experience barriers in expressing warmth. The friendly nod or smile and the facial expressions that light up conversations are now hidden under face masks. Physical interactions like handshakes or beso among the ladies can no longer be done in strict observance of health protocols.

Before the pandemic, the office is our community away from home. We interact with officemates eight hours per day, five days a week. These interactions and activities extend through lunch, coffee breaks, beyond office hours, and into our personal lives, built over countless conversations, food, shared passions, interests, and purpose.

Back then, while managers had to protect company time from being spent by workers on long breaks, they also recognized that these breaks helped build rapport and trust within the team. Employees who share the same passions and interests are likely to foster acquaintances and friendships. This turned the office from simply people with diverse backgrounds into a community of somehow like-minded individuals. It helped supervisors manage people more efficiently as workers tend to demonstrate a common set of behaviors except for some outliers. (For a country with a work culture that values collective effort and team success over personal achievement, it is desirable to create an environment where people collaborate, avoid animosity, and trust each other.)

When the lockdown was announced, many companies hastened their respective digital pivots to ensure business continuity and facilitate communication among organization members even when they are remote. Access to company email and apps which support instant messaging and video conferencing were provided to employees. Teams also created group chat threads in various messaging apps to keep in touch and stay connected.

But a year and a half into the pandemic, many of these group chats are no longer very active. Save for occasional birthday and holiday greetings and a few chain messages and shared posts, long conversations on topics the employees normally discussed in detail and with great enthusiasm before the pandemic do not surface in group chats. Exchanges have become primarily transactional or work-related, and the personal social media accounts and messaging apps have turned into work tools.

This disengagement from group conversations could be at-

TODAY

LESTER D. LAT tributed to several factors. One could be due to the demanding nature of telecommuting, where work sometimes extends beyond the eighthour shift, and there is no time left to socialize. Another reason could be technical limitations such as weak connectivity and unfamiliarity with various features of online messaging apps. Also, some employees may not be too fond of the chat feature and prefer physical dialogue rather than typing and sending their insights and opinions for everyone to see. Moreover, even if all team members are in one messaging group together, employees have varying use of social media, and not all of them can read and respond at once.

Hence, conversations immediately end after just a few replies.

Work from home mode has become a potent strategy to ensure business continuity in this pandemic, and it pushed individual workers to do their jobs more independently. But team success has become reliant on individual contributions rather than collective actions.

With vaccine supply already becoming stable, companies are probably designing their back-to-office strategies by now. Human resource managers and team heads must see the need to consider interventions that could help bring back bond and cohesion to the team separated physically for more than a year. As an emergent strategy, some teams already started to remind members to show up on video during meetings. This way, the organization sends a message about its preference for team spirit rather than individualism.

When people gradually return to the office, team activities that do not require a lot of physical contact may be introduced to returning workers. Also, companies may redesign some jobs to involve more people and to re-establish communication and participation.

It is not clear yet when the pandemic will finally end and if organizations will abandon telecommuting and revert to onsite work for all their workers. While we cannot fully gauge if work from home has had adverse effects on erstwhile strong team dynamics, people managers should not forget to include team building mechanisms into their return to office strategies—to rekindle old ties and let esprit de corps grow once again in the organization.

Green LiGht

The author is an MBA student at the Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business, DLSU. He can be reached at lester_lat@ dlsu.edu.ph.

The views expressed above are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official position of DLSU, its faculty, and its administrators.

NOTICE TO OBTAIN STOCKHOLDERS’ APPROVAL

BY WRITTEN ASSENT TO ALL STOCKHOLDERS: NOTICE is hereby given that in the special meeting held on July 29, 2021, the Board of Directors, on motion made and seconded, resolved to amend Article II (Primary Purpose) and Article III (Principal Office) of the Amended Articles of Incorporation, subject to the written assent of stockholders representing at least 2/3 of the outstanding capital stock of the Corporation.

Stockholders as of record date, August 20, 2021, are entitled to notice and to vote by written assent which will be secured from October 7, 2021 until October 11, 2021, 12:00 p.m. To request for an assent form, submit not later than five (5) business days before the start of the voting period on October 7, 2021, a copy of a valid government-issued ID with full name, signature, and photograph and if applicable, proxy form with supporting documents evidencing appointment and authority of the designated proxy, at: OFFICE OF THE CORPORATE SECRETARY SPC POWER CORPORATION 7th Floor, BDO Towers Paseo, 8741, Paseo de Roxas Makati City, 1209 info@spcpower.com cc: mraguinaldo@spcpower.com Upon validation of the requirements, the Office of the Corporate Secretary shall transmit the official assent form by electronic mail.

All assent forms must be returned by electronic mail at info@ spcpower.com cc:mraguinaldo@spcpower.com by the end of the voting period on October 11, 2021, 12:00 p.m.

Electronic copies of the Information Statement and SEC Form 17Q and other related documents are posted on www.spcpowergroup. com and on PSE Edge.

Makati City, August 23, 2021.

By: MISHELLE ANNE R. RUBIO-AGUINALDO Assistant Corporate Secretary (MS-SEPT. 28 & 29, 2021)

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

B4

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2021

Business

Japan firm buying 27% of Aboitiz Power

By Jenniffer B. Austria

C

ONGLOMERATE Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. said Monday it is selling a 25.01-percent stake in Aboitiz Power Corp. to JERA Asia Pte. Ltd., Japan’s largest power generating company, for $1.463 billion or P74.6 billion.

The Aboitiz family’s privately held parent company also agreed to sell an additional 1.99-percent stake in Aboitiz Power to JERA Asia.

Post-transaction, AEV’s stake in Aboitiz Power will be reduced to 52 percent from 77 percent, while JERA Asia will be the second largest shareholder in Aboitiz Power with a 27-percent ownership.

AEV said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the transaction would allow Aboitiz Power to benefit from the experience and expertise of Japan’s largest power generator.

It will also enable AEV to generate cash proceeds to fund the conglomerate’s growth objectives.

“This transaction unlocks significant capital that will be used toward fuel-

ing the AEV Group’s growth initiatives.

Most importantly, we look forward to the new strategic partnership with JERA as we welcome their trust, expertise and commitment to help the AEV Group drive change for a better world by accelerating Philippine economic growth and promoting the development of clean energy,” AEV president and chief executive Sabin Aboitiz said.

AEV said it would call for a special stockholders’ meeting on Dec. 9, 2021 to approve the sale.

Aboitiz Power and JERA identified potential areas for collaboration across multiple fronts, including joint development of LNG-to-power projects, fuel sourcing and management of LNG, potential participation in aspects of plant O&M, and exploration of the use of new

generation technologies.

“We look forward to working collaboratively with JERA to achieve our 10-year vision of increasing our generation portfolio to 9,200 megawatts by adding 3,700 MW of renewable capacity resulting in a 50:50 balance between our Cleanergy and thermal portfolios,” Aboitiz Power president and chief executive Emmanuel Rubio said.

Established in 2015, JERA is joint venture between two major Japanese electric companies—TEPCO Fuel & Power Inc. and Chubu Electric Power Co. JERA’s Philippine affiliate, TPEC Holdings Corp., is a joint venture partner of Aboitiz Power’s holding company for thermal power generation assets of Therma Power Inc. in Pagbilao Energy Corp.

PSE INDEX CLOSING Monday, September 27, 2021 4.73 PTS. 6,956.26

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES

1,635,774,506 108,333

TOTAL VALUE ADVANCES DECLINES

7,607,244,143.29 78 120

UNCHANGED

42

F oreign e xchange r ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2021

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

50.4220

Japan

Yen

0.009033

0.4555

UK

Pound

1.367000

68.9269

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128442

6.4763

Switzerland

Franc

1.082134

54.5634

Canada

Dollar

0.790077

39.8373

Singapore

Dollar

0.738880

37.2558

Australia

Dollar

0.725900

36.6013

Bahrain

Dinar

2.653364

133.7879

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266631

13.4441

Brunei

Dollar

0.736160

37.1187

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000070

0.0035

Thailand

Baht

0.030084

1.5169

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

13.7285

Euro

Euro

1.172100

59.0996

Korea

Won

0.000848

0.0428

China

Yuan

0.154634

7.7970

India

Rupee

0.013548

0.6831

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.238834

12.0425

New Zealand

Dollar

0.701100

35.3509

Taiwan

Dollar

0.036053

1.8179 Source: BSP

IN BRIEF Peso falls to 18-month low of 51 per US dollar

THE peso depreciated on Monday to an 18-month low against the US dollar, pulled down by the attractiveness of the greenback following US Fed’s earlier signal of tapering bond purchases.

The peso lost 35 centavos to settle at 51, weaker than its closing of 50.65 a greenback on Friday. It was the local currency’s weakest level in 18 months, since it hit 51 per dollar at the close on March 27, 2020. Total volume traded reached $1.261 billion on Monday, up from $1.185 billion in the previous currency trading.

Michael Ricafort, chief economist of Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., earlier said in a report that aside from the Fed’s hint of tapering bond/asset purchases, other reasons for the peso’s weakness were the concerns over the Evergrande mess in China that caused some global safe haven flows to the US currency, and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ downward revision of the balance of payments surplus projection for 2021.

“The US dollar/peso exchange rate went up over the past 3.5 months since posting 47.61 on June 1, 2021 in anticipation for the seasonal increase in importation activities in the third quarter,” Ricafort said.

Julito G. Rada

RDBs to support financial inclusion

BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno said Monday the government’s first-ever issuance of retail dollar bonds will support financial inclusion efforts, a major agenda of the central bank.

Diokno said RDBs, which provide investment opportunities to small investors like overseas Filipinos, would provide various benefits for the economy.

The Bureau of the Treasury sold a total of $866.2 million worth of onshore RDBs from the maiden issuanceon Sept. 16—more than twice the originally programmed $400 million—amid high demand. Proceeds will help augment the government’s resources for pandemic response.

RDBs are accessible to small investors, as these require a minimum investment of only $300.

“Retail dollar bonds provide a special opportunity for small and mid-sized investors to earn and, at the same time, help fund the government’s recovery and resiliency programs,” Diokno said. Julito G. Rada

Globe Telcom deploys 5G SA technology

CEBUANA LHUILLIER’S SUPPORT. Cebuana Lhuillier Foundation Inc., the corporate social responsibility arm of Cebuana Lhuillier, teams up with GoNegosyo on a campaign to actively support the humanitarian efforts provided by various private sectors. The foundation actively takes part in COVID-19 response by empowering healthcare institutions to ramp up more tests and vaccinations. Attending one of the Tulong sa Pagbangon campaign activities are CLFI executive director Jonathan Batangan (fourth from the left) and Dr. Philip Estinar of Sta. Ana Hospital (fifth from the right), along with CLFI employees and hospital staff.

GLOBE Telecom Inc. said Monday it is deploying 5G Standalone (SA) technology to further improve its mobile broadband speed and offer more services.

“Globe is creating new possibilities with 5G SA. We are all set to leverage these enablers to make our 5G value proposition more compelling and competitive. 5G SA will allow us to do more services for multiple industries with new business models,” said Globe president and chief executive Ernest Cu. The 5th and latest generation mobile network is known for high-speed applications such as 4k and 8k video streaming, augmented and virtual reality and ultra-fast internet served to deliver immersive content consumption.

Globe said 5G SA goes beyond speed.

With its network slicing capabilities, low latency, always-on connectivity and integration with edge computing, the technology allows the adoption of new concepts and mission critical digital services such as industrial automation, remote surgery and autonomous vehicles. Darwin G. Amojelar

Fitch unit expects 7 groups keen on running 165-MW Casecnan hydroplant BSP to raise rates by 75 bps in 2022 99% of businesses provided support to employees in 2020

By Alena Mae S. Flores

By Julito G. Rada

FITCH Solutions, a unit of Fitch Group, said Monday it expects the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to increase the policy rate by 75 basis points to 2.75 percent in 2022, on rising inflationary pressures, gradual recovery in domestic activity and expected monetary policy tightening by the US Federal Reserve.

The 75-bps hike in policy rate was an upward revision from its previous estimate of a 50-bps increase in 2022.

Fitch Solutions said the increase might happen after the BSP possibly maintained the policy rate at a recordlow of 2 percent for the rest of 2021.

“We at Fitch Solutions maintain our expectation for the Bangko Sentral Ng Pilipinas to keep its key policy rate on hold at 2.0 percent through 2021, but we now expect 75 basis points of hikes in 2022 to 2.75 percent, revised up from 50 bps previously,” Fitch Solutions said.

“External pressures from the US Fed, a gradual recovery in domestic activity and still elevated inflationary pressures will spur the BSP to begin tightening as early as Q222 [revised from Q422],” it said.

Fitch Solutions said inflation was expected to averaged 4.5 percent in 2021 and 3.7 percent in 2022, revised upward revision from 4.0 percent and 3.4 percent previously, owing to elevated food and energy prices and continued supply-side issues.

The BSP kept its key policy rate at a record low of 2 percent in the Sept.

23 policy meeting in support of the economy that is gradually recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Monetary Board noted upside inflationary pressures which would see inflation run at the upper bound of its 2 percent to 4 percent target range.

Inflation in August accelerated to 4.9 percent from 4 percent in July.

“Our expectation for a more hawkish stance from the BSP comes as external monetary policy conditions continue to put pressure on the more dovish emerging market central banks,” Fitch Solutions said.

The US Fed signaled at its September policy meeting a slightly more hawkish tilt to its policy rate outlook, with over half the Federal Open Market Committee members projecting a hike in 2022.

SEVEN companies expressed interest to participate in the bidding for the operation and maintenance service contract of the 165-megawatt Casecnan hydroelectric power plant in Nueva Ecija province, state-run Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. said Monday.

PSALM conducted on Sept. 24 the pre-bid conference for the procurement of the OMSC for the Casecnan hydro power plant in which seven prospective bidders attended.

These are KEPCO KPS Carabao Corp., Soosan ENS Co. Ltd., China Energy Engineering Group Heilongjiang Energy Engineering Co. Ltd., MarinePower Industry Asia Pacific Corp., Atdinum Energy Inc., SN Aboitiz Power-

Magat Inc. and First Gen Hydro Power Corp.

“The procurement of an O&M operator will ensure the continuous generation of energy as well as the uninterrupted irrigation service of the Casecnan project upon Casecnan’s turnover from the CEWEC to the government on Dec. 11, 2021,” PSALM president and chief executive Irene Besido-Garcia said.

The OMSC will start on Nov. 26 to give the operator sufficient lead time to familiarize itself with the operations of the Casecnan hydro plant.

It will also allow the operator to mobilize its personnel in preparation for the actual operation and maintenance beginning Dec. 12. The OMSC will be effective for one year while PSALM is working on the privatization process for the Casecnan hydro plant.

The terms and conditions of the procurement were discussed at the pre-bid conference.

“The conference also provided the interested bidders an opportunity to ask questions and request for clarification on concerns relative to the requirements mentioned in the bidding documents,” PSALM said.

The agency set the bid opening on Oct. 12 at 10:15 a.m. which will be done through a hybrid arrangement where people can participate at the PSALM office or opt to join the videoconferencing. After the bid opening, the evaluation of bids will follow. Late bids will be rejected outright.

The OMSC has an approved budget of P462 million which will be sourced through PSALM’s 2021 and 2022 corporate operating budgets.

GCASH-DMCI TIEUP.

Mobile wallet leader GCash teams up with the DMCI companies to enable the latter’s more than 18,000 employees and clients to adopt cashless solutions crucial during the pandemic.

GCash Enterprise is the mobile wallet’s digital service solution for business owners, providing a wide range of digital financial tools and services to help enterprises, big and small, serve the needs of their customers and employees.

GCash Enterprise also offers business solutions that allow companies to incorporate digital finance in their daily operations, such as salary and allowance disbursements and payroll.

Active ODA loans surged by 47% to $30.7b last year, says NEDA THE country’s active official development assistance portfolio reached $30.7 billion in 2020, up 47 percent from $20.9 billion in 2019, the National Economic and Development Authority said in a statement Monday.

The active ODA portfolio consisted of 30 program loans, 76 project loans and 251 grants.

Among these, 59 loans and grants were signed in 2020, consisting of 20 program loans ($8.2 billion), 14 project loans ($2.9 billion) and 25 grants ($140 million).

The governance and institutions develop-

ment sector recorded the highest share in last year’s ODA portfolio, amounting to $5.0 billion (45 percent). This was followed by the social reform and community development sector (31 percent).

Meanwhile, the infrastructure development sector, which historically accounted for the largest share, came in third (16 percent).

NEDA said the government secured ODA to augment its COVID-19 response, such as the procurement and delivery of vaccines, support for the emergency cash assistance

program, provision of medical supplies and equipment, construction of isolation and quarantine facilities, and strengthening the capacity of existing health facilities.

“Because of our strong fiscal position, we were able to procure a total of 195 million vaccine doses from both the government and private sector, provide emergency cash transfers for those affected by the quarantines, and strengthen our overall response to address the pandemic,” NEDA Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua said. Julito G. Rada

NEARLY all businesses extended support to employees even as lockdowns reduced sales, closed operations and prevented some staff from working in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, a survey conducted by businesses groups shows.

The Management Association of the Philippines, Institute of Corporate Directors and Makati Business Club said Monday while most participants of the survey saw revenues fell, everyone focused on minimizing the retrenchment of employees.

“The survey results show that Philippine business, in this pandemic, is a caring, nurturing and compassionate sector in our society,” said Rex Drilon, chairman of MAP’s shared prosperity subcommittee and chairman of ICD. The groups said majority maintained and even added workers, underscoring the private sector’s role in helping Filipinos provide for themselves and take care of their families.

The survey was conducted from April 6 to May 16 by organizations who signed the MAP- and ICD-led covenant in November last year. It gathered 200 respondents from 34 organizations.

MBC coordinated the survey while the Philippine Survey and Research Center processed the data.

The survey showed that about 99 percent of 200 executives in the survey said their companies provided some form of support for their regular employees, 71 percent of contractual employees and 65 percent of agency employees.

“This reflects the true character of the good Filipino: caring, nurturing and compassionate,” Drilon said.

The survey also showed that businesses continued pay for non-reporting regular employees (45 percent), provided special financial assistance, advances, loans for regular employees (43 percent) and gave pay to non-reporting contractual employees (31 percent). They also offered special financial assistance, advances, loans for contractual employees (27 percent), and continued pay for non-reporting agency employees (30 percent) and special financial assistance, advances, loans for agency employees (25 percent).

“The Philippine private sector always plays an outsize role in helping government respond to crises: this is already automatic,” said Francis Lim, president of MAP when ICD and MAP spearheaded the covenant. Alena Mae S. Flores

Sports Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Randy M. Caluag, Assistant Editor TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2021

C1

Volleyball stars to be feted in Puso PH Awards

By Peter Atencio

M

EMORABLE times and experiences will be highlighted when players, coaches and teams are feted on Wednesday evening in the first Puso Pilipinas Premier Volleyball League Awards.

A combination of pictures shows British Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton’s 100 Grand Prix victories (from 2007 in Montreal to Sotchi in 2021). AFP

‘Magical moment’ as Hamilton hits 100 wins SOCHI—Lewis Hamilton described becoming the first driver to win 100 Formula One races as “magical” on Sunday while his Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff hailed the landmark as “mind-blowing”.

The 36-year-old Briton reached his century by winning the rain-lashed Russian Grand Prix at Sochi.

Seven-time world champion Hamilton also moved back to the top of the drivers standings by two points from Max Verstappen, who finished second in a Red Bull.

“It’s a magical moment,” said Hamilton.

“I could only ever have dreamed of still being here and having this opportunity to win these races and get to drive against such phenomenal talent this late in my career.

“To continue to build with Mercedes, of which I’m so proud of everything we’ve done, not only on track but also off and yeah, this is just a special moment for everyone that has been a part of it. I’ve had the most incredible team.”

Hamilton won his first F1 race in Canada in 2007 as a 22-year-old and behind the wheel of a McLaren.

He was also the sport’s first black race winner.

His 99th victory came on home ground at Silverstone in July this year but it was achieved in controversial circumstances.

On the opening lap, Hamilton, determined not to let Verstappen escape, charged through on the inside. The Dutchman shut the door, hit Hamilton and careened out of the race.

Hamilton served a 10-second penalty, then hunted down Charles Leclerc to grab an eighth home victory.

“There were moments where you didn’t even know if it was going to happen,” admitted Hamilton on the long wait to convert 99 into 100.

Wolff described Hamilton’s achievement as “mind-blowing”.

“Those final few laps were so intense, but we managed to make the right calls and lead the field across the finish line,” he said.

“A big congratulations to Lewis on his 100th win. What we are witnessing is just mind-blowing.

“It’ll be talked about for the next few days, but it’ll only be years down the line when we realise that we’ve all been part of this journey. AFP

Cabagnot regains timing, confidence in SMB triumph SAN Miguel Beer’s Alex Cabagnot is getting back the confidence that he seems to have lost following a knee injury he sustained two months ago.

The clutch game-winner he scored last Sunday literally put the 6-foot Cabagnot back on his feet.

“They gave me the opportunity to play. So my apprehension went away, and my timing went back,” said Cabagnot after his basket handed the San Miguel Beermen an 88-87 win over NorthPort and the momentum after Game 1 of their best-of-three quarterfinal series in the 2021 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup quarterfinals at the DHVSU Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga.

The 38-year-old Cabagnot went on to finish with 20 points for the Beermen, who are now a win away from making the semifinals.

Recently recovered from his injury, Cabagnot arrived and joined the Beermen inside the PBA bubble only last week in Pampanga, with little or no practice with the team before the game.

“He told us that he will be back. Alam ko nagpapa-kundisyon siya. Tamang-tama ang pagdating niya, medyo kulang kami sa firepower,” said Beermen coach Leo Austria.

Mo Tautuaa backed up Cabagnot with 15 points, along with Best Player of the Week CJ Perez with 14, Chris Ross with 12 and Junemar Fajardo with 10.

This was Cabagnot’s first time on the floor with the Beermen, after he was sidelined by a torn meniscus and sprained ligament in his left knee last July 28.

Cabagnot’s basket came with just 1.5 seconds left in the clock off a pass from Tautuaa as he nailed his shot past Sidney Onwubere’s outstretched arms in the closing seconds. Peter Atencio

Eleven awards will be given away during ceremonies which will celebrate the success of the last PVL conference, held last month in Bacarrat, Ilocos Norte.

PVL president Ricky Palou said the festivities will be a unique experience to the participants as it will definitely connect them with their fans and supporters.

“It’s something different, something new. And it should be exciting. I’m sure the fans will enjoy it,” said Palou on Monday.

The virtual awarding rites will be held starting at 7:30 p.m., to be held at the One Sports Channel 91

by Cignal TV. Among the awards that will be given out is the Dime specialist award, which is about a player who can pass the ball to a specific target.

Another is the Ate Award, which is all about player leadership. The Upbeat Award will be handed out to a player or squad with a great reaction to a point scored.

Next is the Crowning Moment, which highlights a team’s celebration to a point. They will also have awards on the Hardest Hitter, the Block Party, the Tiktokerist of the Conference, the Best Server, and the Best Save.

PLDT-Smart executive Jude Turcuato said they are partnering with social media platform TikTok on the awards.

“The awards is for us to remember and celebrate the success of the tournament, and volleyball in the Philippines,” said Turcuato.

Organizers said they were to hold the tournament despite the difficulties and challenges posed on organizers in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.

PH volley teams head to Thailand for Asian tilt

Alex Cabagnot

VOLLEYBALL officials led the sendoff for the national men’s and women’s national teams competing in two continental club tournaments in Thailand starting next week.

The sendoff was held last Saturday at the De La Salle Sentrum in Lipa City, with Philippine National Volleyball Federation Honorary chairman Rep. Alan Peter S. Cayetano, Taguig City District 2 Rep. Lani L. Cayetano, PNVF President Ramon “Tats” Suzara, Secretary General Don Caringal and National Team Commission chairman Tonyboy Liao attending the afternoon affair.

The women’s teams, represented by Team Rebisco and Team Choco Mucho, have just wrapped up their month-long bubble training in Lipa City and will leave on Tuesday (September 28) to compete in the Asian Women’s Club Volleyball Championship slated from October 1 to 7 in Nakhon Ratchasima.

The men’s squad, which will carry the name Team Rebisco, will wind down its bubble training in Lipa City this week and will fly to Thailand on October 4 for the Asian Men’s Club Volleyball Championship set from October 8 to 15 also in Nakhon Ratchasima.

Former House Speaker Cayetano of Taguig City, reaffirmed his being the federation’s “godfather” as he rallied the athletes to represent the country well despite the tremendous challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

All three teams’ preparations and participation for the Asian championships are supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, Rebisco and Taguig City.

The two women’s teams is made up of 24 athletes, eight coaches and one referee, while the national men’s squad is composed of 18 athletes, seven coaches and one referee.

Aby Maraño is the team captain of Team Rebisco, with Brazilian consultant Jorge Souza de Brito as its head coach, while Iris Tolenada will be the skipper for the Odjie Mamon-mentored Team Choco.

Handled by coach Dante Alinsunurin, Jessie Lopez is Team Rebisco’s team captain.

Cayetano to critics: Private sector paid for SEAG cauldron FORMER House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said the construction of the P50-million cauldron used during the Philippines’ hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games Games was funded by the private sector.

In an interview with television host Boy Abunda on September 25, Cayetano said the government did not pay for the construction of the cauldron, which was labeled as “overpriced” and “extravagant” by critics.

“People will be surprised because the government didn’t spend a single cent on it. Because the private sector paid for it,” he said.

Cayetano, who was chair of the Philippine South East Asian Games Organizing Committee in 2019, said the cauldron was much cheaper than the ones used in the previous editions of the SEA Games.

The cauldron was designed by the late National Artist for Architecture Francisco Mañosa, regarded as one of the most influential Filipino architects of the 20th century.

“I could have come up with a more humble one. Pero

debut natin ito sa buong mundo. Ipinapakita natin na ‘yung facilities natin (ay) world-class,” Cayetano said.

The former PHISGOC chair also said unfounded accusations of corruption about the cauldron pushed sponsors to withdraw funding for the 2019 SEA Games.

“Much more would have been paid by the private sector kung ‘di nagkaroon ng crab mentality at siniraan.

Kasi marami kaming sponsors na umatras,” he said.

Cayetano also said he never profited from the SEA Games.

“My life in politics has not been perfect, but ni singko sa SEA Games, wala akong ginalaw,” he said.

More than 5,000 athletes from 11 countries participated in the 2019 SEA Games. Breaking its previous records, the Philippines emerged overall champion and secured a total of 387 medals, 149 of which were gold, when the games drew to a close in December 2019.

Olympic Council of Asia Vice President Wei Jizhong praised the organizers and President Rodrigo

The SEA Games cauldron

Duterte for the successful hosting of the SEA Games, saying the country is prepared to host larger sporting events. Maricel Cruz

C2

Sports

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2021

PSA Forum tackles GAB Summit, Filbasket THE latest endeavor of the Games and Amusements Board and the newest basketball league to be launched in the country are up for discussion in the online session of the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum this Tuesday.

GAB Chairman Abraham ‘Baham’ Mitra is going to talk about the Professional Sports Summit which the government agency will be hosting for the third straight year.

The event set on Wednesday via Zoom, is going to give a report on the state of Philippine sports during the pandemic and efforts to safeguard the welfare of Filipino professional athletes.

Joining Mitra in the second part of the session that starts at 10:00 a.m. is former Ateneo standout and head of basketball operations of Nueva Ecija team in the MPBL Jai Reyes, who will discuss the launching of Filbasket, the home of Filipino Basketball.

The weekly public sports program is presented by San Miguel Corporation, MILO, Amelie Hotel Manila, Braska Restaurant, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), powered by Smart, and Upstream Media as its official webcast partner.

The session is being livest reamed via the PSA Facebook page f b.com / Philip pineSportswritersAssociation and also officially shared by Radyo Pilipinas 2 Facebook page.

Jai Reyes

La Union grabs share of cage lead

Yuka Saso of the Philippines finished tied for 4th with American Danielle Kang, 2 shots adrift of champion Nasa Hataoka in the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship at Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers, Arkansas. AFP

Hataoka nails 5th LPGA victory; Saso tied for 4th

L

OS ANGELES—Japan’s Nasa Hataoka followed up a pair of aces with a hot start in Sunday’s final round to capture the NW Arkansas Championship for the second time.

Hataoka kept the accelerator down, draining three birdies in her first four holes Sunday in a closing round of four-under 67 for a 16-under 197 total.

The 22-year-old Hataoka clinched her fifth career LPGA Tour title to go with her first in 2018 which came at the same tournament.

Major champions Yuka Saso, of the Philippines, and American Danielle Kang placed fourth at 14-under overall, two shots adrift of Hataoka.

“My first win being here and of course the two holes-in-one, it kind of feels like it’s my power spot,” said Hataoka.

The co-leader heading into Sunday’s final round, Hataoka rolled in two hole-in-ones in as many days during her opening two rounds of the 54-hole event at the Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers, Arkansas.

Hataoka aced the 175-yard par-three No. 6 on Saturday with a five iron, one day after she aced the par-three No. 11 in a second straight round of 65.

She became just the fifth player in LPGA Tour history to make two aces in one tournament and the first since her Japanese compatriot Ayako Uehara at the 2016 Women’s Open.

Minjee Lee, who started the final round tied with Hataoka for the lead, shot a 68 to grab a share of second place

Philcycling welcomes nationwide bike lane expansion thru PAREX THE country’s national sports association for cycling yesterday welcomed the inclusion of dedicated bike lanes in the soon-to-be-constructed Pasig River Expressway (PAREX) as it will extend the existing bike lane network laid out by the government, even as it emphasized efforts to ensure the protection of cyclists and bikers who are using these thoroughfares to go to work or for fitness and leisure.

Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, president of the Integrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines, welcomed the possible inclusion of San Miguel Corporation’s 19.37-kilometer PAREX to the 313-kilometer Metro Manila Bike Lane Network that cuts through the cities of Pasig, Marikina, Quezon City, Caloocan, Manila, San Juan, Mandaluyong, Makati, Pasay, Las Piñas, Parañaque, and Taguig.

This bike network, inaugurated last

POC president Rep. Abraham Tolentino

with South Korea’s Ji Eun-Hee, who had a 67.

Hataoka stormed out of the gate, making birdie on her first two holes.

After a par at the third hole she birdied the par-four No. 4.

She made another birdie on the parfive seventh and then rolled in her fifth and final birdie on No. 11. Her only blemish was a bogey on the parfour 13th after blasting her approach shot over the green.

“It was pretty tight, very stressful because the other players were so close to me. It was pretty stressful for me, yeah,” said Hataoka, who also won the LPGA Marathon Classic in July.

Stacy Lewis and world No. 2 Ko Jin-Young ended in a tie for sixth at 12 under. Eight players tied for eighth at 11 under, including 2017 Arkansas champion Ryu So-Yeon, who shot a blistering 62 in final round. AFP

July, is part of nationwide 497-kilometer network that also includes Metro Cebu and in Metro Davao and touted to be longest in the country.

“We thank San Miguel Corporation for the inclusion of bike lanes in this transport infrastructure that will also benefit cyclists and leisure bikers along with car users and commuters,” said Rep. Tolentino, who is also Philippine Olympic Committee president.

“The pandemic has rekindled the Filipinos’ love for cycling and biking and it is now one of safest ways to go to work and one of the easiest ways to get fit to protect and gain immunity against COVID-19.”

“Although sports are generally at a standstill during the pandemic, we tend to see it differently in the national cycling association,” Tolentino said. “With more Filipinos taking up cycling and biking whether for competition, fitness, and leisure and the government’s construction of road infrastructure dedicated to them, we are doing very well in the promotion of this sport.”

The PAREX, will be built along the banks of the Pasig River and will connect Radial Road 10 in the City

Johnson sets tone for US’ young Ryder Cup victors KOHLER—Dustin Johnson led by example at Whistling Straits this week, becoming just the fifth player in Ryder Cup history to win five of five matches as he spearheaded America’s sensational 19-9 victory over Europe.

The oldest player on a new-look squad that had an average age of 29.4, Johnson was the only American to play five matches.

With his 1-up win over Paul Casey the world number two became the first American since Larry Nelson in 1979 to win in every session.

The only others to accomplish the feat were Americans Arnold Palmer and Gardner Dickinson in 1967 and Italy’s Francesco Molinari for Europe in 2018.

In characteristic fashion, two-time major winner downplayed the accomplishment, but his youthful teammates were less reticent.

“That’s 5-0, ladies and gentlemen, 5-0,” Collin Morikawa crowed with a nod to the two-time major winner.

“I had good partners though,” said Johnson—who teamed with Morikawa to win two foursomes matches and a fourballs and won another four-balls match with Xander Schauffele.

Johnson capped the run with his narrow victory over Casey—who had already lost to the American three times in the first two days.

Their singles match was a close affair, the first five holes tied before Johnson rolled in a tricky 11-foot birdie putt at the sixth to go 1-up.

The lead didn’t last long, as Casey won the par-3 seventh with a par as Johnson failed to reach the green.

Johnson was back on top with a birdie at the eighth and went 2-up with a fourfoot birdie at the 10th.

He wouldn’t trail again, Casey able to take him to the final hole but unable to capture a first point of the week.

“You know, starting the week, if you had told me I was going to go 5-0-0, I probably would have said you were crazy,” Johnson said. “I didn’t think I was going to play five matches.

“Obviously, got off to a good start and had some good partnerships there with Collin and Xander, so captain just kept us rolling.

“I felt like the game was coming together,” added Johnson. “Ryder Cup is always a fun week. “It’s so much fun for us to come out and play golf like this just because we don’t usually do it.”

The victory gave Johnson something to celebrate on a Whistling Straits course where he suffered bitter disappointment in the final round of the 2010 US PGA Championship. AFP

Dustin Johnson of team United States reacts as he walks off the on the 15th green during Sunday Singles Matches of the 43rd Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin. AFP

THE La Union PAOwer grabbed a share of the lead in the team standings after defeating the Paranaque Aces, 93-78, in the Chooks-to-Go NBL Chairman’s Cup 2021 at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center last Sunday.

Jayson Apolonio scored a game-high 23 points and hauled 10 rebounds, and Kirk Agulan fired 21 points for the PAOwer as they join idle Quezon Barons on top of the team standings with a 3-0 win-loss record.

Billy Boado had 14 points and 10 rebounds, and Ian Ralf Llona had 12 points and 13 rebounds for La Union as it swept its weekend games in San Fernando, Pampanga.

La Union defeated Muntinlupa, 91-83, last Saturday.

In other games, the Taguig Generals also completed a sweep of their weekend games, beating the Laguna Pistons, 79-75.

Francisco Tancioco had 27 points and buried the goahead triple with 7.2 seconds left, giving the Generals a 76-75 lead. They hanged on to claim the victory with the Generals starting out the season with a 2-0 win-loss record.

The Muntinlupa Water Warriors outclassed the Bulacan DF Republicans, 10385, to improve their win-loss record to 2-1.

Biboy Enguio had another double-double with 29 points and 12 rebounds for the Water Warriors, who bounced back from their loss to La Union last Saturday.

The loss was the first for the Republicans after four games after their stunning win over the Pampanga Delta, 93-91, last Saturday.

of Manila to C-6 road in Taguig.

Tolentino lauded SMC for taking into consideration not only cyclists but also pedestrians, as the project will also feature pedestrian lanes, which he said can further encourage people to lead healthy, active lifestyles as these can be used by runners and walkers, alike.

“We at Philcycling thank SMC for its efforts, and we call on them to please ensure that these bike lanes will be wide enough, and provide protection for cyclists,” he said. “It is not just a matter of appropriating space for bike lanes, but also making sure these are properly marked, easily identifiable, and protected by barriers.”

The Department of Transportation said that existing bike lanes under the Metro Manila Bike Lane Network measure between 1.5 to three meters. These lanes also feature concrete delineators and flexible rubber bollards to separate the bikers from motor vehicles as well as white and green pavement markings using thermoplastic paint, bollards bolted to the ground, bike symbols and signages, solar-powered road studs, and bike racks

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2021

LIMITED EDITION

Showbiz newbies Andrew Gan, Ron Angeles, and Jomari Angeles top bill ‘Limited Edition,’ a romantic BL drama about finding one’s elusive and everlasting love.

O

A different kind of everlasting love

NCE upon a time, three fine gentlemen named Jethro, Arnold and Mario, figure in a different kind of love, complete with its many saccharine trappings, weep-triggering tribulations and promise of happily ever after which are all in Limited Edition.

Limited Edition is a romantic drama about finding one’s elusive and everlasting love with a love triangle story arc that gives it more kilig, heartstrings pull, and a fairy-tale like conclusion of who ends up with who.

“What makes him lovable is his innocence and simplicity,” says Jomari Angeles about Mario. “Not all of us are born with the right knowledge about life and love right away. He is a hopeless romantic.”

Andrew Gan, on being Jethro enthuses: “The most challenging part about being him is how to feel like him,

to live in his shoes, and give justice to that feeling of falling in love with another young man. I want to be truthful lalo na pag naramdaman na niya na he is in love with Mario.”

“Well, his only fault is that he fell in love with Mario as well,” declares Ron Angeles who is Arnold. “I should say my being a pambansang third wheel is solidified and becomes a notch higher in this romantic BL drama. Ilalaban ko talaga yung feelings ko for Mario and my character has sincere and pure intentions.”

Director Jill Singson Urdaneta avers: “The process of love and loving, of being loved and in love, everyone who will give us their time and support, they will witness it in Limited Edition. The many discoveries about one’s self, insecurities exposed, the willingness to compromise and sacrifice, to make a relationship work because all relationships need a lot of work and commitment to make it work. All these and more, are in this drama about romantic connections and everlasting possibilities.”

Other cast members are Donna Cariaga, Michelle Jhoie Ferraris, Miss Iyah Mina, Yayo Aguila, and Ruby Ruiz.

Introducing are Anton Arceo, Aaron Concepcion, Celine Dorado, and Luke Hembling.

Story by Bernard Umali, screenplay written by John Fontanos, Limited Edition was produced by world-famous shoe designer Jojo Bragais, with Michelle Jhoie Ferraris as co-producer.

The new BL series in town starts streaming Oct. 2, 8:00 p.m. on BRAGAIS TV.

Matt Lozano sings his heart out with unearthed composition Andrea Torres expresses desire to work with John Lloyd IT CAN be remembered that when news about John Lloyd Cruz’s possible sitcom with GMA surfaced months ago, Andrea Torres’s name was strongly mentioned as his leading lady. Of late though, there are insiders who say that the project won’t push through anymore.

But there are also reports that say it will start anytime soon.

Asked about the present state of Lloydie’s anticipated maiden show for the Kapuso network, Andrea tried to mince her words but was all out in her desire to work with the versatile actor.

“I don’t have any concrete information about it at this point. Of course, I would be very grateful if it pushes through. But as for updates, I don’t have any,” she stated and further said that she will not get disappointed in case the project wouldn’t push through.

“To be honest, my mindset now is like, it would take a lot for me to become affected and sad. I always think that if something is not given to me, it’s not really meant to be.

Even before when I heard that my name was mentioned as the possible leading lady in the sitcom, I didn’t claim it since there’s nothing concrete yet. I didn’t absorb it given that there’s no story conference yet,” she explained.

Apart from John Lloyd, Andrea is excited with the thought of working opposite newlytransferred GMA stars.

“I’ve always been vocal that I want to work with John Lloyd. If ever it comes true, I’ll be very happy. Whatever opportunity to work with him or let’s say Bea (Alonzo) or Xian (Lim), I’ll be glad and honored to accept. It’s just a happy thought that now, it’s already possible. It would surely be thrilling since you haven’t worked with these people yet.

It’s interesting to know how you’re going to blend together. And I’m certain I can get tips from them. So, I’m just looking forward to this idea.”

When it comes to resident GMA actors, she has two names on top of her list aside from Dennis Trillo who she shares the frame with in their currently airing soap Legal Wives.

“I haven’t worked with Gabby Concepcion and Tom Rodriguez yet. I think it will be a great experience if ever,” Andrea ended.

Andrea Torres still hopes to work with prime actor John Lloyd Cruz one day.

C3

VOLTES V Legacy actor Matt Lozano is set to first win the hearts of the Filipino audience through his musicality via his debut single under GMA Music entitled “Walang Pipigil.”

Matt composed it back in 2011, with a different melody and arrangement. This song is about a relationship that’s getting cold, and the guy is trying to keep it warm to save their dying love.

Through this single, he wants to give comfort to people who are experiencing heartbreaks, “My first love inspired me to write ‘Walang Pipigil.’ I want the audience to understand that there’s hope to every struggle in life.”

Matt, who will be playing the role of Big Bert in the muchanticipated live action series, is excited to be able to share his voice and is thankful to GMA Music for the platform to do so, “I’m so excited to be able to share my voice and passion for playing the guitar.

That’s why I’m very thankful to GMA Music for the freedom they gave me when it comes to making music. I’ve been waiting to release ‘Walang Pipigil’ for 10 years now. And I think now is the perfect time to let people hear my music.”

“Walang Pipigil” debuted at the number 2 spot on iTunes PH sales chart upon release and also made it to Spotify’s Fresh Finds playlist.

“Walang Pipigil” is now available for download on iTunes and for streaming on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and other digital streaming platforms worldwide.

Actor and singer Matt Lozano drops his debut single, a song he composed 10 years ago.

AS TRIBUTE to his 50-year legacy in the filmmaking industry, the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP)’s Philippine Film Archive (PFA) showcases free screenings of nine films from the seminal works of Elwood “El Maestro” Perez on the FDCP Channel until Sept. 30.

PFA’s “50 Years / 50 Films: An Elwood Perez Film Retrospective” features Perez’s Isang Gabi…

Tatlong Babae!, Inday Garutay, Masarap, Masakit ang Umibig, Nakawin Natin ang Bawa’t Sandali, Stepsisters, Ibulong Mo Sa Diyos, Bilangin Ang Bituin Sa Langit, Otso, and Esoterika: Manila.

Perez, a two-time Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP) Awards Best Director and threetime Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) Best Director, directed his first feature film Blue Boy in 1970.

Among the famous celebrities he has worked with are Star For All Seasons Vilma Santos-Recto, Philippine Cinema’s “Superstar” Nora Aunor, and the reigned “Sex Goddess of Philippine Movies” in the ‘70s and ‘80s, Alma Moreno.

Nestor Cuartero of the Society of Philippine Entertainment Editors (SPEEd) expressed the significance of the retrospective: “The Elwood Perez Retrospective is an opportunity for today’s audiences to absorb the cinematic art of the director known in his time as a superstar director.”

“Elwood ‘El Maestro’ Perez is the only living master of his generation with over 50 films in his name. As we near the end of the very 1st celebration of Philippine Film Industry Month, we honor one of Philippine Cinema’s icons through a film retrospective of his notable works,” said FDCP Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño.

“The Elwood Perez Retrospective” is part of the 1st Philippine Film Industry Month celebration spearheaded by FDCP. To watch the “50 Years / 50 Films: An Elwood Perez Film Retrospective” titles, log in at the FDCP Channel (or create an account for free) and click the Basic tab. For more information and inquiries, visit https:// philippinefilmarchive.fdcp.ph/ and https://www.facebook.com/ FDCPPFA.

KathNiel marks decade of reel and real life journey KATHRYN Bernardo and Daniel Padilla are kicking off the year-long celebration of their tenth anniversary as the country’s premier love team with an exclusive and special documentary called KathNiel: Isang Dekada, which details their life-changing journey as a reel and real-life couple.

Made with love by KathNiel and was released on Saturday (Sept. 25) on Kathryn’s YouTube channel Everyday Kath (youtube.com/everydaykath), the docu features an honest sit-down conversation with the pair as they look back on the moment they fell in love, their remarkable achievements, and the highs and lows of their relationship.

Kathryn and Daniel give details about their unforgettable first meeting on the set of their first series Growing Up, the significance of their blockbuster movie to their relationship, the impact of their iconic love team on their personal lives, and

‘Shang-Chi’ leads box office for fourth week

Actor Simu Liu is the breakout star of Marvel’s “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” which has dominated the North American box office for four straight weeks

FDCP screens Elwood Perez films online

Film director Elwood Perez

EXTRAINTERNATIONAL

building a solid relationship with their fans.

Joining KathNiel to talk about their undeniable chemistry on-and-off cam are their closest loved ones and friends, colleagues, director Cathy Garcia Molina, screenwriter Carmi Raymundo, and die-hard KathNiel fans.

ABS-CBN, meanwhile, continues to commemorate KathNiel’s 10th year with the streaming of exclusive offerings on Star Cinema’s and ABSCBN Entertainment’s YouTube channels, such as KathNiel movie highlights and supercuts; the online show Secret Movie Files, where they share behindthe-scenes trivia about She’s Dating the Gangster; KathNiel Playdate, where they answer light questions and take on fun challenges, Spanish-dubbed episodes of Pangako Sa ‘Yo, and free streaming of their hit movies Barcelona: A Love Untold, Must Be Love, and She’s Dating the Gangster.

DISNEY blockbuster Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, featuring Marvel’s first leading Asian superhero, dominated the North American box office for its fourth weekend, taking in $13.2 million, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations said Sunday.

That estimated figure, for the Friday-throughSunday period, kept the film -- which stars ChineseCanadian actor Simu Liu as a former assassin in the shadow of an evil father (Hong Kong legend Tony Leung) -- well ahead of its closest rival, newcomer Dear Evan Hansen.

The musical teen drama starring Ben Platt, distributed by Universal Pictures, was set to take $7.5 million, knocking 20th Century’s sci-fi comedy Free Guy to third with $4.1 million. It stars Ryan Reynolds as an everyman bank teller who discovers he’s actually a non-player character in a huge video game.

Fourth went to Universal’s slasher film Candyman, a reimagining of the 1992 classic, which took in $2.5 million.

That nudged it just past Cry Macho, the gritty Warner Brothers drama by Clint Eastwood, who directs and stars as a retired rodeo rider helping a teenager and his fighting rooster leave Mexico. It earned $2.1 million.

Disney’s Jungle Cruise leapfrogged over another horror movie, Malignant, to take the sixth spot with $1.7. AFP ••• ‘Moulin Rouge!’ wins big as Tony Awards return to Broadway Broadway on Sunday finally honored its best and brightest at the Tony Awards, more than a year late due to the coronavirus pandemic, with US actor Leslie Odom Jr jukebox musical hosted the Tony Awards Moulin Rouge! concert gala. sweeping the competition with 10 trophies.

The event took on a new look this year: most of the awards were handed out in a two-hour ceremony livestreamed before the main event -- a concert celebrating the return of live theater in New York after an 18-month hiatus.

“Everyone here is vaxxed and tested, and everyone is wearing a mask -- every Broadway theater is going to look like this for a while and that’s ok,” host Leslie Odom, Jr. said at the start of the concert gala at the Winter Garden Theatre.

Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla are celebrating their 10th year of being one of the most successful onscreen pairs in local showbiz.

Life

Bernadette Lunas, Editor

manilastandardlife@gmail.com @manilastandardlife @MStandardLIFE

C4

HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2021

Better future with higher education

Health is bliss

EU TO STAGE VIRTUAL EDUCATION FAIR FOR FILIPINOS

Immunity-boosting vitamin C supplements of Nutrabliss by Watsons.

WATSON’S brand of vitamins and supplements offers different ways to incorporate immunity-building and anti-aging products into one’s routine.

Products of Nutrabliss by Watsons are available in various formats, such as capsule, regular tablet, chewable tablet, effervescent tablet, ready-todrink, and powdered.

Health supplements include Nutrabliss Mixed Berries + Vitamin C, ready-to-drink for daily skin and eye protection; Nutrabliss Iron + Folic Acid chewable tablets that help generate new red blood cells and carry oxygen to vital organs and muscles; Nutrabliss Multivitamins and Minerals chewable tablets that help prevent and treat mineral deficiencies; Nutrabliss Ascorbic Acid + Grape Seed + Vit B Complex in capsule, which protects the immune system; and Nutrabliss Ascorbic Acid with Rosehips Vegetarian Capsules for skin, bone, and joint health; Dissolve and drink Nutrabliss Ascorbic Acid Effervescent Tabs packed with 1000mg of vitamin C essential for the growth, development, and repair of body tissues; or the Nutrabliss Vitamin B-Complex + Vitamin E Effervescent Tabs.

Also available in effervescent tablets is the beauty and immunity boosting supplement Nutrabliss Sodium Ascorbate + Collagen + COQ10.

Harnessing the power of collagen to keep skin younger looking are Nutrabliss Collagen + Vitamin C chewable tablets, Nutrabliss Collagen tablets, Nutrabliss Daily Collagen sachets that can be added to drinks; and Nutrabliss Hyaluronic Acid + Collagen ready-to-drink.

Nutrabliss by Watsons is available in over 900 stores nationwide, at watsons.com.ph, and via the Watsons mobile app.

IN PURSUIT OF HIGHER EDUCATION. The 2021 European Higher Education Fair is happening online on Oct. 1-2. A total of 140 higher education institutions will be joining the two-day fair.

By Bernadette Lunas

L

UC Veron, the European Union (EU) ambassador to the Philippines, heard the same thing many Filipinos have heard from their parents: “Your education is your only inheritance.”

Bless their hearts, the ambassador said, his parents lived up to their words.

“Education is a fundamental right, it opens opportunities to better understand the world we live in,” said EU Ambassador Veron as he highlighted the importance of quality education at the virtual launch of the 2021 European Higher Education Fair (EHEF), themed “Go Higher with EU”.

Despite the challenges brought about by the pandemic, the fair is pushing through online on Oct. 1-2. “By going virtual,” Veron said, “we have more higher education institutions promoting their programs”.

This edition will be its biggest yet, with 140 European higher education institutions joining the two-day fair offering post-graduate programs (MA and PhD) to talented Filipinos wishing to study in EU member states Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Ireland, Spain, France, Italy, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria, Finland, Sweden, and, for the first time ever and bringing the most number of institutions to the event, Poland.

“EU wants to give Filipino students access to education, and we also want to underscore the importance of mobil-

By Theriz Lizel R. Silvano

ity innovation and lifelong learning,” shared Veron, adding the program helps “establish connections” between the Philippines and EU through exchange students, scholars, and researchers.

Participants can look forward to two days of activities including webinars on specialized courses and programs, country presentations, and live chats with representatives, alumni, and scholars from participating institutions.

They can also get more information about the Erasmus Mundus, the EU scholarship program that sends and financially supports Filipino students.

Lily Freida Milla, OIC deputy executive director of the Commission on Higher Education, said 65 Filipinos under the Erasmus program “will be embarking on their educational journey in the EU this year”.

“The Philippines has always been in the top 10 countries in the application for the Erasmus program,” said Veron.

Ace Dela Cruz, an Erasmus scholar who studied at University of Warsaw in Poland, said the program allowed him to understand and empower himself and others. “The program went beyond academic studies and gatherings or travels,

The education fair aims to allow Filipino students to assess the education and living opportunities in the EU and obtain information about scholarship programs available.

it was more about nurturing a deeper sense of self.”

According to Veron, “one of the reasons we have this fair is to allow Filipino students to assess the education opportunities and living opportunities in the EU.” For Elaine Caoibes, taking up International Business in Finland has opened her to many opportunities.

“Prior to my current work in a multinational company, I have also experienced working in a Finnish government agency and several other case companies. I have attended courses and events from partner universities abroad, and if it weren’t for the pandemic, I would’ve gone for a student exchange in which the university supports financially. I have also worked part-time and earned some money during my studies.”

To join the virtual fair, register at www.ehefphilippines.com.

Ace Dela Cruz

On-the-go vitamins and supplements in various formats.

Elaine Caoibes

Face mask for workout

Robots on sanitation duty

BUSINESSES have deployed smart sanitation technologies to upgrade their COVID-19 cleaning and disinfection protocols. These robots take on the recurring tasks required in ensuring public’s health and safety while they are inside the establishments. They also reduce person-to-person interaction.

Ben Ben disinfecting robot

Okada’s Ben Ben In keeping with its True Clean. True Safe. True Heart (3T) campaign, Okada Manila has invested in advanced cleaning equipment like Ben Ben. Ben Ben is a robot equipped with high-intensity UVC light “that purges the DNA of viruses and bacteria”.

The robot is harsh on microorganisms but friendly with guests as it is programmed to say a few words, provide special broadcasts, and give directions to key locations in the property. Joining Ben Ben, with a much more robotic name, is BJDG-XD100, a disinfection robot that eliminates bacteria and viruses by misting disinfectants.

Diversey’s TASKI Intellibot

Solaire’s TASKI One of the world’s safest luxury hotels, as confirmed by the Forbes Travel Guide, Solaire Resort and Casino utilizes various sanitation technologies such as UVC light, UVC-equipped air conditioning system, Hygieia’s smart solutions, and Diversey’s TASKI Intellibot.

TASKI Intellibot is a hands-free cleaning robot with sensor technology that ensures proper navigation and allows it to clean without causing harm to people around it. It has four different cleaning modes that can clean up to 9,600 square meters “per shift”, and comes with two proprietary technology that reduce water and chemical use.

Santi (right) with brother SAM

SM’s Santi Part of SM Supermalls’ #SafeMallingAtSM campaign is the deployment of Santi, a sanitation robot that disinfects areas with VirusDOC, an FDA-approved disinfectant that is 100 percent hypoallergenic, non-toxic, and non-corrosive.

Santi diffuses the disinfectant it carries, which, according to earlier reports, can kill 99.9 percent of microorganisms within seconds. A friendly cleaning robot, Santi is equipped with an HD camera for face recognition and a microphone to greet customers.

Santi joins his “brother” SAM, the country’s first indoor smart robot, that first arrived in select SM Supermalls to help customers navigate their way inside.

The robot brothers can be seen roaming around SM Megamall and SM Aura Premier, among other SM malls.

PERSONAL care and pharmaceutical company Philusa Corporation launches a copper face mask made for wearing while exercising.

Mediplast Copper Mask is made of breathable cloth with copper and its alloys (brass and bronze). According to Philusa, the mask can be reused up to 30 times “with 90 percent excellent performance even after 30 washes”.

It adds, the mask’s copper and alloy material provides it with antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties, according to test results from authorized testing centers.

It comes in three sizes (small, medium, large) and in five colors (black, white, pink, yellow, blue mint). It is available at Mercury Drug stores and soon on Philusa’s LazMall and Shopee Mall stores at P259 apiece.

Mediplast Copper Mask